Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!rochester!udel!bogus.sura.net!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!umn.edu!lynx.unm.edu!q5022531.mdc.com!user From: Cohen@ssdgwy.mdc.com (Andy Cohen) Newsgroups: sci.space Subject: Report on redesign team Followup-To: sci.space Date: 27 Apr 1993 14:30:35 GMT Organization: MDA-W Lines: 172 Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: q5022531.mdc.com The following is what they feed to us..... most has been posted already, but there are a number of items not seen here yet..... Redesign Activities Update -- Following is the weekly status on redesign, based on information provided by NASA headquarters. The station Redesign Team (SRT) provided a detailed status report to the Advisory Committee on the Redesign of the Space Station on April 22. The day-long meeting was held in ANSER facilities in Crystal City, VA; topics covered by the SRT included a preliminary mission and goals statement for the space station; science, technology and engineering research; the assessment process; and the design approach. Discussions on management options and operations concepts also were held. The Design Teams then presented the three options under study: ¥ Option A - Modular Buildup -- Pete Priest presented the A option. Priest said the team is working to define a station that meets cost goals and has identified three distinct phases of evolution - power station, human tended and permanent presence. The team will define the minimum capability needed to achieve each phase, the total cost of each phase and the achievable capability for budget levels. The A option uses current or simplified Freedom hardware where cost effective and is considering other existing systems such as the so-called "Bus-1 spacecraft," the orbiter and Spacelab. The Power Station Capability could be achieved in 3 flights with Freedom photo voltaic modules providing 20 kW of power. 30-day Shuttle/Spacelab missions docked to the power station are assumed for this phase. Human Tended Capability would be provided by the addition of the U.S. Common Module Module which adds subsystems and 9 payload racks and docking ports for ESA and Japanese laboratories. 60-day missions with the orbiter docked to the station are assumed for this phase. Different operation/utilization modes are being studied for this phase. ¥ Option B - Freedom Derived -- Mike Griffin presented the status of Option B activities. Griffin detailed the evolution of the Freedom-derived option, from initial Research Capability, to Human-Tended Capability, to Permanent Human Presence Capability, to Two Fault Tolerance, and finally Permanent Human Capability. Griffin also outlined proposed systems changes to the baseline program, with minor changes to the Communications and Tracking system, Crew Health Care System and ECLSS, and a major change to the Data Management System. Initial Research Capability would be achieved with 2 flights to 28.5 degree inclination (3 flights to 51.6 degrees) and consist of an extended duration orbiter-Spacelab combination docked to a truss segment with 2 photo voltaic arrays providing 18.75 kW of power. Human-Tended Capability would be achieved in 6 flights and add truss segments and the U.S. lab. Permanent Human Presence Capability would be achieved in 8 flights with two orbiters providing habitation and assured crew return. Two Fault Tolerance, achieved in 11 flights, would build out the other section of truss with another set of PV modules, thermal control and propulsion systems. The freedom derived configuration could achieve an International Complete state with 16 flights. Three more flights, to bring up the habitat module, a third PV array and two Assured Crew Return Vehicles (ACRV) would complete the Permanent Human Capability with International stage. Griffin told the Redesign Advisory Committee that eliminating hardware would not, by itself, meet budget guidelines for the Freedom derived option. Major reductions or deferrals must occur in other areas including program management, contractor non-hardware, early utilization and operations costs, he said. ¥ Option C - Singe Launch Core Station -- Chet Vaughn presented Option C, the Single Launch Core Station concept. A Shuttle external tank and solid rocket boosters would be used to launch the station into orbit. Shuttle main engines would be mounted to the tail of the station module for launch and jettisoned after ET separation. The module, 23 feet in diameter and 92 feet long, would provide 26,000 cubic feet of pressured volume, separated into 7 "decks" connected by a centralized passageway. Seven berthing ports would be located at various places on the circumference of the module to place the international modules, and other elements. This "can" would have two fixed photo voltaic arrays producing approximately 40 kW of power flying in a solar interial attitude. In his closing comments to the Redesign Advisory Committee, Bryan O'Connor said a design freeze would be established for the 3 options on April 26 so that detailed costing of the options can begin. The next meeting with the Redesign Advisory Committee will be May 3. Russian Consultants Arrive in U.S. -- A delegation of 16 Russian space experts arrived in the U.S. on April 21 and briefings to the SRT by members of the Russian team began on the 22nd. The group includes Russian Space Agency General Director Y. M. Koptev, and V. A. Yatsenko, also of the RSA. Others on the team include representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the Design Bureau SALYUT, the Institute of Biomedical Problems, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NPO Energia and TsNIJMASH. The Russian team briefed the SRT on environmental control and life support system, docking systems, the Proton launch vehicle, Mir operations and utilization, and the Soyuz TM spacecraft. The Russian consultants are available to the SRT to assess the capabilities of the Mir space station, and the possible use of Mir and other Russian capabilities and systems as part of the space station redesign. They will be available to the SRT through May 5. Management and Operations Review Continues -- Work continued in the SRT subgroups. The Management Group under Dr. Walt Brooks is working to develop a family of options that solve the current problems and build a foundation for the transition to development and operations. Various management options have been developed including: ¥ Lead Center with the Center Director in the programmatic chain of command. ¥ Host Center with the Program Manager reporting directly to an Associate Administrator. ¥ Skunk Works/Dedicated Program Office with a small dedicated co-located hand-picked program office. ¥ Combine Space Station with Shuttle, with the space station becoming an element of the current program. ¥ Major Tune Up to Current Organization, with current contracts and geographical distribution maintained but streamlined. The Operations Group under Dr. John Cox is building on the work of the Operations Phase Assessment Team lead by Gene Kranz of NASA-JSC, which had already begun a comprehensive review of operations and had concluded in its preliminary results that significant cost reductions are possible. As part of its work, the Operations Group has identified teams of agency experts to develop detailed evaluations of each design in the areas of assembly and operations, utilization, maintenance and logistics and testing and ground operations. What's in the Week Ahead? -- The Design Support Teams will provide a comprehensive status of their option to the Station Redesign Team on Monday and Tuesday at which point the design will be "frozen" to begin the detailed cost assessment. Also this week, the team will begin preparing for the next round of discussions with the redesign Advisory Committee, to be held May 3. Dr. Shea Steps Down -- Dr. Joe Shea stepped down as director of the Station Redesign Team on April 22 and Bryan O'Connor will take over the activities of the team. Dr. Shea submitted his resignation as assistant deputy administrator for space station analysis, but will continue to serve as a special advisory to NASA Administrator Goldin and be available to consult with the SRT. Mr Goldin accepted the resignation so that a request from Dr. Shea to reduce his workload could be accommodated. Key Milestones -- The key dates for the SRT as they are currently being carried on the schedule are: April 26 Design Freeze on Options for Costing April 27 Design Support Team Present Selected Options to SRT May 3 Status report to Redesign Advisory Committee May 15 Interim report by Redesign Advisory Committee June 7 Final report to Redesign Advisory Committee (Oct. 31-cancellation .....just my opinion...AC)