274 - The Shuttle's Achievements for Space Exploration

omega tau science & engineering podcast

Guest: Davide Sivolella Host: Markus Voelter Shownoter: Andy Joiner

This episode is a continuation of the two previous episodes (132, 133) with Davide on the Space Shuttle. Based on his new, second book we talk about the contributions the Space Shuttle made to space exploration in general. These include advances in space suits, the construction of the ISS, satellite servicing, its use as a science platform as well as military operations.

Introduction

00:02:37

Davide Sivolella (Episode 132 - Space Shuttle Systems | Episode 133 - Space Shuttle Operations) | Apollo program | Low Earth orbit | Understand how to work & live in space | Launch platform | Orbital workshop (ISS - International Space Station) | Repair satellites/telescope | Science platform | Falcon/BFR

Achievements

00:09:15

Launch platform | Reusable | Profitable | Approx 50 fights per year for profitability | Commercial satellite market | ~600km ceiling | Geosynchronous orbit | Rocket stage | Telecommunication satellite | Interplanetary mission | Galileo probe (Magellan - Venus | Ulysses - Sun) | Payload assist module (PAM) | Inertial upper stage | Airborne structure equipment | Springs eject the payload | Solid fueled rocket | Liquid fueled rocket | Centaur G (Centaur G prime - interplanetary missions) | STS-61-F | STS-61-G | Challenger disaster | Pressurized for structural strength | STS-61-F | Expendable rocket | Spacewalks (EVA - Extravehicular activity) | Orbiter | External tank | External protection system

Space Suits

00:29:47

Space suit | Grow taller in space | 1/3 atmospheric pressure | Tether (SAFER - Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue) | Nitrogen thruster (MMU - Manned maneuvering unit) | Columbia | SolarMax | Canadarm

Building the ISS

00:42:47

Tether experiment | Skylab | Saturn 5 third stage | STS-8 large mass manipulation | STS-61-B assemble from basic components | James Webb Space Telescope

Satellite servicing

00:54:12

Satellite servicing | Redundancy | Hubble | 5 service missions to Hubble | Rocket based attitude control system | Exhaust might contaminate the lenses | No reboost required at high orbit | Propellant | Deorbit | Telescope never had to face the sun | Outgas | STS-51-A | Incorrect production drawings of satellite | Incomplete orbital communication coverage | STS-49 | Manual capture | STS-51-I

Science Lab

01:09:07

Spacelab | Sofia (Episode 189 - SOFIA Basics | Episode 190 - SOFIA Flights) | ESA | Pressured cylinder | Unpressurized pallet | Gimbal | Pressurized tunnel to Spacelab | Mid-deck experiments | Flight deck | Spacehab | CubeSat | Payload specialist | Charles walker | Continuous flow electrophoresis | Hard vacuum of space | Space flight participants | Wake Shield Facility | Industrial space facility | Space Station Freedom | Tethered satellite experiment | Skyhook | Hypersonic | Plasma physics | Ionosphere | Gravity gradient | Self-righting | Liberation motion | Earth's magnetic field is not homogeneous | Lorentz force | Cleanroom

Military

01:59:12

Titan 34D | STS-36 | Misty | STS-38 | Prowler | STS-27 | Vandenberg | Polar orbit

Conclusion

02:10:51