An Overview of Space Station Operations

This paper presents results of analyses of operations around the Space Station and the Key Issues for the Space Station Phase B contract time period (1985-1986). The specific analyses, operational sequences and techniques described in this paper include: a) Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) retrieval and return to the Space Station for servicing; b) reboost scenarios for the Space Station and the co-orbiting free-flyers; c) candidate locations and techniques for the retrieval of unmanned vehicles on the Space Station structure and; d) logistics/resupply scenarios for the Space Station system and e) other applications. This paper illustrates significant progress on critical analyses that are underway and identifies those that will be required during the detailed design and operational procedures development in the next phase of the Space Station project. The analyses described in this paper were completed under the Martin Marietta Phase B Space Station contract and the Internal Research and Development (IR&D) project D40- S (Advanced Concepts for Mission Control and Flight Crew Operations) during 1985 and 1986. A five minute film will be shown to illustrate some attractive operational options. Included are some well-developed concepts and others which have been analyzed to a preliminary level, but are "far from the drawing board."