Space shuttle news reference

306 Pages·1981·14.32 MB·English

by  United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Space Shuttle
News Reference
N/ A
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Foreword

CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ....................... 1-1
2 SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
PROPULSION .......................... 2-1
Space Shuttle MainEngines ............ 2-3
Solid Rocket Boosters ................. 2-17
External Tank ......................... 2-33
3 ORBITER STRUCTURE ................. 3-1
4 ORBITER SYSTEMS ................... 4-1
Propulsion ............................ 4-3
Power Generation ..................... 4-9
Environmental Control andLifeSupport
System ............................... 4-17
Thermal Protection .................... 4-25
Purge, Vent, andDrainSystem .......... 4-33
Avionics .............................. 4-37
5 ORBITER CREW ACCOMMODATIONS
AND EQUIPMENT ...................... 5-1
6 MISSION OPERATIONS AND
SUPPORT ............................. 6-1
LaunchandLanding Facilities and
Operations ............................ 6-3
Tracking andCommunications Network.. 6-43
Flight Operations andMission
Control ............................... 6-49
FLIGHTCREW COMPLEMENT AND
CREW TRAINING ...................... 7-1
8 TESTING ............................. 8-1
9 MANAGEMENT ........................ 9-1
10 CONTRACTORS ....................... 10-1
APPENDIXES
A Acronyms andAbbreviations ............ A-1
B Glossary ............................. B-1
C Unit Conversion Table ................. C-1
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1. INTRODUCTION

1. INTRODUCTION
Development History...................... . 1-5
A Versatile Vehicle ........................ 1-6
Space Shuttle Components ................. 1-7
Typical Shuttle Mission..................... 1-9
Crew .................................... 1-10
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PRECEDING PAGE BLANK NOT FILMED 1-3
Briefly...
The primary function of theSpace Shuttle isto deliver payloads to Earthorbit. Onastandard
mission, the Orbiter will remaininorbit for7 days,return tothe Earthwith theflightcrew and
thepayloads, landlike anairplane, andbe readied for another flight in14days.
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