EVA Design Integration for Space Station Assembly

EVA (extravehicular activity) will be a major aspect of the on-orbit assembly of the US Space Station “Freedom”. Under the auspices of NASA's Johnson Space Center, an EVA assembly integration plan has been developed. This plan provides a comprehensive approach to defining all the EVA assembly tasks and validating the systems and equipment designs for accomplishing these tasks on orbit. EVA tasks are traded off against the use of robotics devices. Task description sheets are used to compile pertinent data on all significant EVA tasks. An EVA task checklist is used to ensure consideration of all access and support equipment requirements. Evaluations of all EVA tasks are planned and scheduled, using the WETF (Weightless Environment Training Facility) at JSC or other test facilities as appropriate. This comprehensive approach provides confidence in the successful EVA assembly of the Space Station.