Re: Orbiter can save itself!

"snidely" <Snidely.too@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in news:1139428480.311940.167650
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

Dr John Stockton wrote:
[...]
Any big runway on or near the East Coast of any ocean can be a
candidate.

True, but see Jorge's post from yesterday that says the edict is "White
Sands".

I've found at least one reference to a possible upgrade to Vandenberg to
allow it to be used as well. Probably won't happen, though.

ISTM that the Shuttle should have been designed for full autoland, but
with the connection between computer and landing gear being by an
electric cable or plug, always flown but normally unconnected, and
highly visible in both stowed and fitted positions from flight deck
seating.

Jorge has previously posted about the shuttle modifications required to
autoland. Some are software, some are mechanical; I'm not sure of the
status of the implementation of the modifications, though.

The hardware (a 28 foot "spider cable" that runs from the ground command
interface logic controller in the middeck to each of the affected panels
on the flight deck) has been built. Actually two cables, one for flight
and one for testing. The affected switches/pushbuttons are auxiliary
power unit low/norm press and start/run, air data probe deploy, landing
gear arm/down, drag chute arm/deploy, and fuel cell reactant valve
closure.

The software mods (a patch to the entry software that lengthens the
deorbit burn "enable window", and enables antenna management during entry
without the backup flight system) are complete.

Both were tested successfully in the shuttle avionics integration lab
last November.

It's important to understand what this capability is, and even moreso,
what it *isn't*. NASA's term for it, "Remote Controlled Orbiter (RCO)"
tells you a lot. This is not an automated or autonomous capability; it's
a barebones, minimal capability to try to get a damaged vehicle back. It
requires inflight maintenance by the crew to install it and a
considerable amount of ground commanding (and ergo, long periods of good
solid comm) to operate it. No, I take that back - it requires some of the
most elaborately choreographed ground commanding that any spacecraft has
ever seen. It carries a considerable risk of vehicle loss, and therefore
should only be used as a last resort when the vehicle has been declared
unsafe for entry with the crew.

A fully autonomous capability would require more massive
software/hardware upgrades. It simply ain't going to happen before the
fleet retires.

--
JRF

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