Space Shuttle Legacy. How We Did It and What We Learned. Georgia Institute of Technology. Roger D. Launius. Smithsonian Institution John Krige

Transcription

1 Space Shuttle Legacy How We Did It and What We Learned Roger D. Launius Smithsonian Institution John Krige Georgia Institute of Technology James I. Craig Georgia Institute of Technology Ned Allen, Editor-in-Chief Lockheed Martin Corporation Bethesda, Maryland Published by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA

2 Contents Preface xv Introduction xxiii Chapter 1 Defining the Shuttle: The Spaceplane Tradition 1 Roger D. Launius Introduction 1 The Power of an Idea 2 Winged Flight into Space and the Social Construction of Technology 2 Spaceplanes of the Imagination 4 A Dose of Reality 7 Spaceplanes: More than Side Trips in the 1960s 9 The Delta between the Ideal and Technological Reality 10 An Analogy: Persisting in Belief. 12 Meanings 16 Chapter 2 Designing the Shuttle: Living within the Political System 25 Roger D. Launius Introduction 25 The Politics of Adoption in Big Technology 27 The Apollo Analogy 33 Final Design 35 The Wages of Overpromising 38 So What? 39 Chapter 3 Managing the Space Shuttle: Leadership, Change, and Big Technology 47 W. Henry Lambright Introduction 47 Approach 48 ix

3 x Contents The Evolution of Space Shuttle Management Systems 49 The Apollo Analogy 50 The Lead-Center Decision (1971) 52 Donlan's Design 53 Moving toward Change 53 Fletcher Decides 54 Implementation Begins 56 A Reoriented Lead-Center Strategy (1974) 57 A NewAdministrator Makes Management Changes (1977) 58 Management Troubles 59 Tile Issues ( ) 61 NASA's Priorities Change 62 Back to Headquarters Control, The Augustine Report (1990) 66 Return to Lead-Center (1996) 67 Back to Headquarters Control (2002) 67 Control by the NASA Administrator (2005) 69 Management and the End of the Space Shuttle Program 70 Conclusions and Lessons Learned 70 Chapter 4 Engineering the Engine: The Space Shuttle Main Engine 77 R. E. Biggs Introduction 77 The Engine 78 The Requirements 80 The First 10 Years 82 Component Testing 84 Lesson Learned 85 Engine Start Sequence 85 Lesson Learned 90 HPFTP Sub-Synchronous Whirl 90 HPOTP Explosions 97 The Goals 91 The First Flight 92 The Second Decade 93 FPL Moratorium 94 FPL Development 95 Program Reassessment and Realignment 96 Challenger Flight Readiness Firing and Leaks 97 STS-26 (51-F) Engine 2023 In-Flight Erroneous Shutdown 99 Lesson Learned 100 The Tragedy of Challenger 100 Return to Flight, STS-26R 101

4 Contents xi Building Margin 702 Large Throat MCC 703 Phase 11+ Powerhead 104 ATs 705 Configurations after Challenger 706 Advanced Health Monitoring System (AHMS) 707 Appendix: SSME Management. 707 Chapter 5 Protecting the Body: The Orbiter'sThermal Protection System 111 Dennis R. Jenkins The Space Shuttle 773 Reusable Surface Insulation (RSI) 774 Phase C/D Developments 776 Orbiter ContractAward 776 The TPS 720 Conclusions and Lessons Learned 730 Chapter 6 Revolutionizing Electronics: Software and the Challenge of Flight Control 137 Nancy G. Leveson Introduction 737 Learning from Earlier Manned Spacecraft 738 Challenges to Success for the Shuttle 743 Lessons Learned, Conclusions, and Analogies 766 Chapter 7 Flying the Shuttle: Operations from Preparation through Flight to Recovery 173 N. Wayne Hale Introduction 173 Payload Development 174 Mission Planning 178 Launch 785 Conclusion 187 Chapter 8 Using the Shuttle: Operations on Orbit 191 Matthew H. Hersch Introduction : Image and Reality for NASA's"Space Truck" : From"Space Truck"to Space Station 207

5 XII Contents Toward the ISS 204 Using the Shuttle: Lessons Learned 206 Using the Shuttle: Alternatives 207 Conclusion 270 Acknowledgments 211 Chapter 9 Losing the Shuttle (or Nearly): Accidents and Anomalies 215 Stephen P. Waring Introduction 215 Accident and Architecture 276 Accidents in History. 220 Last Chances? 226 Engineering Environments 233 After Challenger. 235 Chapter 10 Constructing a Port in Orbit: The Space Shuttle and Building the Space Station 243 Howard E. McCurdy Introduction 243 The Vision of a Space Station 244 The Vision Unfolds 247 Assembly Occurs 253 Assessment and Lessons Learned 259 Acknowledgments 263 Chapter 11 AVictory for Clean Interfaces: Europe's Participation in the Space Shuttle Program 265 John Krige Introduction 265 The Big Picture 267 Defining the Scope of Collaboration 269 Dealing with the Dangers of Technology Transfer 272 The Mounting Opposition to Technology Transfer 274 The Lessons 277 Chapter 12 Living and Working on the Shuttle: The Challenge of Routine 283 Amy E. Foster Introduction 283

6 Contents xiii Habitability as a Measure of "Routine". 284 Diversity and the Space Shuttle 285 The New Scientific Mission 289 The Changing Image of Working in Space 292 Lessons Learned 296 Chapter 13 Wowing the Public: The Shuttle as a Cultural Icon 299 Linda Billings Introduction 299 What Is a Cultural Icon? 300 Public Image and Political Reality 301 Space Exploration as Spectacle: The Space Shuttle as a "Really Big Show" The Shuttle as Visual Rhetoric 308 The Beginning of the End 313 Lessons Learned: Politics, Image, and Memory 315 Chapter 14 Retiring the Space Shuttle: What Next? 323 John M. Logsdon Introduction 323 Why No Shuttle Replacement since Columbia? 326 Lessons from Attempts to Replace the Space Shuttle 333 Substituting Means for Ends 337 Crew Transportation: Commodity or Strategic Capability? 341 Chapter 15 Epilogue 345 John Krige About the Authors 353 Index 359 Supplemental Materials 377