Sat, Aug 23, 2003
Concept Could Be Crucial To NASA Crew Rescue Vehicle
The Demonstration for
Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft, recently
completed design certification review for the Orbital Space Plane
(OSP) program. The OSP is a NASA initiative to develop a crew
rescue and transfer vehicle for the International Space Station.
DART is a space flight demonstrator designed to test technologies
required for the OSP to locate and rendezvous with the Station. The
DART is designed for autonomous operations. DART is controlled by
computers, and it does not have a pilot. DART is NASA's first
completely computer controlled, rendezvous capable spacecraft.
The design certification review is a lengthy technical analysis
to verify the vehicle design with regard to safety, performance and
functional requirements. The review evaluates the results of the
project's planning and analysis throughout manufacturing,
integration, and testing. The review is conducted when the vehicle
design and drawings are complete.
"The review is a key
accomplishment for the DART team," said Jim Snoddy, DART program
manager at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville (AL).
"The team is pressing ahead to ready the vehicle for a 2004 launch.
DART's demonstration of autonomous rendezvous technologies will be
key for the development of the OSP and future reusable launch
vehicles," Snoddy said.
Developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles (VA), the
DART will be launched on a Pegasus rocket from an L-1011 jet
aircraft. At approximately 40,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean, the
Pegasus will be released with the DART spacecraft.
Once the DART vehicle is launched, some of the hardware and
software tested will enable it to travel from a parking orbit
around the Earth to rendezvous, or maneuver close to, a target
satellite in space. When DART reaches the satellite, it will
perform several close proximity operations. The entire 24-hour
mission will be performed without a human pilot.
The DART is the first of three flight-testing demonstrators.
Other demonstrators for the OSP program include the X-37 flight
demonstrator developed by Boeing Expendable Launch Systems of
Huntington Beach (CA) and the launch pad abort demonstrator
developed by Lockheed Martin Corporation of Denver (CO).
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