Upgrading the space shuttle / Committee on Space Shuttle Upgrades, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Space Shuttle Upgrades.

Contributor:

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Series:

Compass series (Washington, D.C.)

Compass series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Space shuttles--Maintenance and repair--Government policy--United States.

Space shuttles.

Technology assessment--United States.

Technology assessment.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (82 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, c1999.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The space shuttle is a unique national resource. One of only two operating vehicles that carries humans into space, the space shuttle functions as a scientific laboratory and as a base for construction, repair, and salvage missions in low Earth orbit. It is also a heavy-lift launch vehicle (able to deliver more than 18,000 kg of payload to low Earth orbit) and the only current means of returning large payloads to Earth. Designed in the 1970s, the shuttle has frequently been upgraded to improve safety, cut operational costs, and add capability. Additional upgrades have been proposed-and some are under way-to combat obsolescence, further reduce operational costs, improve safety, and increase the ability of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to support the space station and other missions. In May 1998, NASA asked the National Research Council (NRC) to examine the agency's plans for further upgrades to the space shuttle system. The NRC was asked to assess NASA's method for evaluating and selecting upgrades and to conduct a top-level technical assessment of proposed upgrades.

Contents:

Front Matter.

Preface.

Contents.

Tables, Figures, and Boxes.

Executive Summary.

1 Background.

2 Shuttle Upgrades Program.

3 Choosing Upgrades.

4 Assessments of Proposed Upgrades.

APPENDIX A Statement of Task.

APPENDIX B Biographical Sketches of Committee Members.

APPENDIX C Shuttle Upgrades Presented to the Committee.

APPENDIX D List of Recommendations.

Acronyms.

Notes:

"This study was supported by Contract No. BASW-4938 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration"--T.p. verso.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786612082191

9780309184366

0309184363

9781282082199

1282082191

9780309517508

0309517508

9780585144535

0585144532

OCLC:

923257665