Critical Engineering Problems of Space Stations

Abstract

From today’s vantage point, the design of long-duration operational space stations appears feasible and practical. Surprisingly, only a few critical engineering problems exist for which no unique solutions exist today.

Long subsystem operating life can result from an optimum mix of redundancy, maintainability, and checkout: a major remaining problem is the determination of means of accelerating component life testing.

Of the methods available for coping with space station abort emergencies. only crew escape modules appear to provide the required short response time and high reliability.

That man can survive in a zero g environment is now proven fact: yet undetermined are the various psychophysiological therapeutic and remedial techniques needed to ensure Man’s effectiveness during long-duration missions.

Problems of lesser magnitude include certain important engineering developments which must be achieved to ensure that space stations will perform with the highest efficiency. These efficiency- improving issues include the subsystem optimization and interface matching of the stability and control, environmental control and life support. and power subsystems.

While several potential engineering problems of the long duration space stations are discussed. the absence of a large number of major problems is really significant.