1064 lines
58 KiB
Plaintext
1064 lines
58 KiB
Plaintext
"6_2_3_13_5_2.TXT" (9670 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
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ORBITAL MANEUVERING SYSTEM
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The orbital maneuvering system provides the thrust for orbit
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insertion, orbit circularization, orbit transfer, rendezvous, deorbit,
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abort to orbit and abort once around and can provide up to 1,000
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pounds of propellant to the aft reaction control system. The OMS is
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housed in two independent pods located on each side of the orbiter's
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aft fuselage. The pods also house the aft RCS and are referred to as
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the OMS/RCS pods. Each pod contains one OMS engine and the hardware
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needed to pressurize, store and distribute the propellants to perform
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the velocity maneuvers. The two pods provide redundancy for the OMS.
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The vehicle velocity required for orbital adjustments is approximately
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2 feet per second for each nautical mile of altitude change.
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The ascent profile of a mission determines if one or two OMS thrusting
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periods are used and the interactions of the RCS. After main engine
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cutoff, the RCS thrusters in the forward and aft RCS pods are used to
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provide attitude hold until external tank separation. At ET
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separation, the RCS provides a minus (negative) Z translation maneuver
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of about minus 4 feet per second to maneuver the orbiter away from the
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ET. Upon completion of the translation, the RCS provides orbiter
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attitude hold until time to maneuver to the OMS-1 thrusting attitude.
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The targeting data for the OMS-1 thrusting period is selected before
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launch; however, the target data in the onboard general-purpose
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computers can be modified by the flight crew via the cathode ray tube
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keyboard, if necessary, before the OMS thrusting period.
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During the first OMS thrusting period, both OMS engines are used to
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raise the orbiter to a predetermined elliptical orbit. During the
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thrusting period, vehicle attitude is maintained by gimbaling
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(swiveling) the OMS engines. The RCS will not normally come into
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operation during an OMS thrusting period. If, during an OMS thrusting
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period, the OMS gimbal rate or gimbal limits are exceeded, RCS
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attitude control is required. If only one OMS engine is used during
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an OMS thrusting period, RCS roll control is required.
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During the OMS-1 thrusting period, the liquid oxygen and liquid
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hydrogen trapped in the main propulsion system ducts are dumped. The
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liquid oxygen is dumped out through the space shuttle main engines'
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combustion chambers and the liquid hydrogen is dumped through the
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starboard (right) side T-0 umbilical overboard fill and drain. This
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velocity was precomputed in conjunction with the OMS-1 thrusting
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period.
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Upon completion of the OMS-1 thrusting period, the RCS is used to null
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any residual velocities, if required. The flight crew uses the
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rotational hand controller and/or translational hand controller to
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command the applicable RCS thrusters to null the residual velocities.
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The RCS then provides attitude hold until time to maneuver to the
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OMS-2 thrusting attitude.
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The second OMS thrusting period using both OMS engines occurs near the
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apogee of the orbit established by the OMS-1 thrusting period and is
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used to circularize the predetermined orbit for that mission. The
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targeting data for the OMS-2 thrusting period is selected before
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launch; however, the target data in the onboard GPCs can be modified
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by the flight crew via the CRT keyboard, if necessary, before the OMS
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thrusting period.
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Upon completion of the OMS-2 thrusting period, the RCS is used to null
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any residual velocities, if required, in the same manner as during
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OMS-1. The RCS is then used to provide attitude hold and minor
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translation maneuvers as required for on-orbit operations. The flight
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crew can select primary or vernier RCS thrusters for attitude control
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on orbit. Normally, the vernier RCS thrusters are selected for
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on-orbit attitude hold.
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If the ascent profile for a mission uses a single OMS thrusting
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maneuver, it is referred to as direct insertion. In a
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direct-insertion ascent profile, the OMS-1 thrusting period after main
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engine cutoff is eliminated and is replaced with a 5-feet- per-second
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RCS translation maneuver to facilitate the main propulsion system
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dump. The RCS provides attitude hold after the translation maneuver.
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The OMS-2 thrusting period is then used to achieve orbit insertion.
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The direct-insertion ascent profile allows the MPS to provide more
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energy to orbit insertion and permits easier use of onboard software.
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Additional OMS thrusting periods using both or one OMS engine are
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performed on orbit according to the mission's requirements to modify
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the orbit for rendezvous, payload deployment or transfer to another
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orbit.
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The two OMS engines are used to deorbit. Target data for the deorbit
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maneuver is computed by the ground and loaded in the onboard GPCs via
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uplink. This data is also voiced to the flight crew for verification
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of loaded values. After verification of the deorbit data, the flight
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crew initiates an OMS gimbal test on the CRT keyboard unit.
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Before the deorbit thrusting period, the flight crew maneuvers the
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spacecraft to the desired deorbit thrusting attitude using the
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rotational hand controller and RCS thrusters. Upon completion of the
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OMS thrusting period, the RCS is used to null any residual velocities,
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if required. The spacecraft is then maneuvered to the proper entry
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interface attitude using the RCS. The remaining propellants aboard
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the forward RCS are dumped by burning the propellants through the
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forward RCS thrusters before the entry interface if it is necessary to
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control the orbiter's center of gravity.
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The aft RCS plus X jets can be used to complete any planned OMS
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thrusting period in the event of an OMS engine failure. In this case,
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the OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnect would feed OMS propellants to the aft
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RCS.
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From entry interface at 400,000 feet, the orbiter is controlled in
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roll, pitch and yaw with the aft RCS thrusters. The orbiter's
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ailerons become effective at a dynamic pressure of 10 pounds per
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square foot, and the aft RCS roll jets are deactivated. At a dynamic
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pressure of 20 pounds per square foot, the orbiter's elevons become
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effective, and the aft RCS pitch jets are deactivated. The rudder is
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activated at Mach 3.5, and the aft RCS yaw jets are deactivated at
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Mach 1 and approximately 45,000 feet.
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The OMS in each pod consists of a high-pressure gaseous helium storage
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tank, helium isolation valves, dual pressure regulation systems, vapor
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isolation valves for only the oxidizer regulated helium pressure path,
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quad check valves, a fuel tank, an oxidizer tank, a propellant
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distribution system consisting of tank isolation valves, crossfeed
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valves, and an OMS engine. Each OMS engine also has a gaseous
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nitrogen storage tank, gaseous nitrogen pressure isolation valve,
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gaseous nitrogen accumulator, bipropellant solenoid control valves and
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actuators that control bipropellant ball valves, and purge valves.
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In each of the OMS pods, gaseous helium pressure is supplied to helium
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isolation valves and dual pressure regulators, which supply regulated
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helium pressure to the fuel and oxidizer tanks. The fuel is
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monomethyl hydrazine and the oxidizer is nitrogen tetroxide. The
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propellants are Earth-storable liquids at normal temperatures. They
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are pressure-fed to the propellant distribution system through tank
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isolation valves to the OMS engines. The OMS engine propellant ball
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valves are positioned by the gaseous nitrogen system and control the
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flow of propellants into the engine. The fuel is directed first
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through the engine combustion chamber walls and provides regenerative
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cooling of the chamber walls; it then flows into the engine injector.
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The oxidizer goes directly to the engine injector. The propellants
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are sprayed into the combustion chamber, where they atomize and ignite
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upon contact with each other (hypergolic), producing a hot gas and,
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thus, thrust.
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The gaseous nitrogen system is also used after the OMS engines are
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shut down to purge residual fuel from the injector and combustion
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chamber, permitting safe restarting of the engines. The nozzle
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extension of each OMS engine is radiation-cooled and is constructed of
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columbium alloy.
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Each OMS engine produces 6,000 pounds of thrust. The oxidizer-to-fuel
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ratio is 1.65-to-1. The expansion ratio of the nozzle exit to the
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throat is 55-to-1. The chamber pressure of the engine is 125 psia.
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The dry weight of each engine is 260 pounds.
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Each OMS engine can be reused for 100 missions and is capable of 1,000
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starts and 15 hours of cumulative firing. The minimum duration of an
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OMS engine firing is two seconds. The OMS may be utilized to provide
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thrust above 70,000 feet. For vehicle velocity changes of between 3
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and 6 feet per second, normally only one OMS engine is used.
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Each engine has two electromechanical gimbal actuators, which control
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the OMS engine thrust direction in pitch and yaw (thrust vector
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control). The OMS engines can be used singularly by directing the
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thrust vector through the orbiter center of gravity or together by
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directing the thrust vector of each engine parallel to the other.
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During a two-OMS-engine thrusting period, the RCS will come into
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operation only if the OMS gimbal rate or gimbal limits are exceeded
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and should not normally come into operation during the OMS thrust
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period. However, during a one-OMS-engine thrusting period, roll RCS
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control is required. The pitch and yaw actuators are identical except
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for the stroke length and contain redundant electrical channels
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(active and standby), which couple to a common mechanical drive
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assembly.
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The OMS/RCS pods are designed to be reused for up to 100 missions with
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only minor repair, refurbishment and maintenance. The pods are
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removable to facilitate orbiter turnaround, if required.
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"6_2_3_13_5_3.TXT" (5392 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
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HELIUM PRESSURIZATION.
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Each pod pressurization system consists of a helium tank, two helium
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isolation valves, two dual pressure regulator assemblies, parallel
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vapor isolation valves on the regulated helium pressure to the
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oxidizer tank only, dual series-parallel check valve assemblies and
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pressure relief valves.
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The helium storage tank in each pod has a titanium liner with a
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fiberglass structural overwrap. This increases safety and decreases
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the weight of the tank 32 percent over that of conventional tanks.
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The helium tank is 40.2 inches in diameter and has a volume of 17.03
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cubic feet minimum. Its dry weight is 272 pounds. The helium tank's
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operating pressure range is 4,800 to 460 psia with a maximum operating
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limit of 4,875 psia at 200 F.
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A pressure sensor downstream of each helium tank in each pod monitors
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the helium source pressure and transmits it to the N 2 , He , kit He
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switch on panel F7. When the switch is in the He position, the helium
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pressure of the left and right OMS is displayed on the OMS press left,
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right meters. This pressure also is transmitted to the CRT and
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displayed.
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The two helium pressure isolation valves in each pod permit helium
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source pressure to the propellant tanks or isolate the helium from the
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propellant tanks. The parallel paths in each pod assure helium flow
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to the propellant tanks of that pod. The helium valves are
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continuous-duty, solenoid-operated. They are energized open and
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spring loaded closed. The OMS He press/vapor isol switches on panel
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O8 permit automatic or manual control of the valves. With the
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switches in the GPC position, the valves are automatically controlled
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by the general-purpose computer during an engine thrusting sequence.
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The valves are controlled manually by placing the switches to open or
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close.
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The pressure regulators reduce the helium source pressure to the
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desired working pressure. Pressure is regulated by assemblies
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downstream of each helium pressure isolation valve. Each assembly
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contains primary and secondary regulators in series and a flow
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limiter. Normally, the primary regulator is the controlling
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regulator. The secondary regulator is normally open during a dynamic
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flow condition. It will not become the controlling regulator until
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the primary regulator allows a higher pressure than normal. All
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regulator assemblies are in reference to a bellows assembly that is
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vented to ambient. The primary regulator outlet pressure at normal
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flow is 252 to 262 psig and 247 psig minimum at high abort flow, with
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lockup at 266 psig maximum. The secondary regulator outlet pressure
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at normal flow is 259 to 269 psig and 254 psig minimum at high abort
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flow, with lockup at 273 psig maximum. The flow limiter restricts the
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flow to a maximum of 1,040 stan dard cubic feet per minute and to a
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minimum of 304 standard cubic feet per minute.
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The vapor isolation valves in the oxidizer pressurization line to the
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oxidizer tank prevent oxidizer vapor from migrating upstream and over
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into the fuel system. These are low-pressure, two-position, two-way,
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solenoid-operated valves that are energized open and spring loaded
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closed. They can be commanded manually or automatically by the
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positioning of the He press/vapor isol switches on panel O8. When
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either of the A or B switches is in the open position, both vapor
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isolation valves are energized open; and when both switches are in the
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close position, both vapor isolation valves are closed. When the
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switches are in the GPC position, the GPC opens and closes the valves
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automatically.
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The check valve assembly in each parallel path contains four
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independent check valves connected in a series-parallel configuration
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to provide a positive checking action against a reverse flow of
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propellant liquid or vapor, and the parallel path permits redundant
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paths of helium to be directed to the propellant tanks. Filters are
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incorporated into the inlet of each check valve assembly.
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Two pressure sensors in the helium pressurization line upstream of the
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fuel and oxidizer tanks monitor the regulated tank pressure and
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transmit it to the RCS/OMS press rotary switch on panel O3. When the
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switch is in the OMS prplnt position, the left and right fuel and
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oxidizer pressure is displayed. If the tank pressure is lower than
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234 psia or above 284 psia, the left or right OMS red caution and
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warning light on panel F7 will be illuminated. These pressures also
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are transmitted to the CRT and displayed.
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The relief valves in each pressurization path limit excessive pressure
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in the propellant tanks. Each pressure relief valve also contains a
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burst diaphragm and filter. If excessive pressure is caused by helium
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or propellant vapor, the diaphragm will rupture and the relief valve
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will open and vent the excessive pressure overboard. The filter
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prevents particulates from the non-fragmentation-type diaphragm from
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entering the relief valve seat. The relief valve will close and reset
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after the pressure has returned to the operating level. The burst
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diaphragm is used to provide a more positive seal of helium and
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propellant vapors than the relief valve. The diaphragm ruptures
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between 303 and 313 psig. The relief valve opens at a minimum of 286
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psig and a maximum of 313 psig. The relief valve's minimum reseat
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pressure is 280 psig. The maximum flow capacity of the relief valve
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at 60 F and 313 psig is 520 cubic feet per minute.
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"6_2_3_13_5_4.TXT" (9352 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
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PROPELLANT STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION.
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The propellant storage and distribution system consists of one fuel
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tank and one oxidizer tank in each pod. It also contains propellant
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feed lines, interconnect lines, isolation valves and crossfeed valves.
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The OMS propellant tanks of both pods enable the orbiter to reach a
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1,000-foot- per-second velocity change with a 65,000-pound payload in
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the payload bay. An OMS pod crossfeed line allows the propellants in
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the pods to be used to operate either OMS engine.
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The propellant is contained in domed cylindrical titanium tanks within
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each pod. Each propellant tank is 96.38 inches long with a diameter
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of 49.1 inches and a volume of 89.89 cubic feet unpressurized. The
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dry weight of each tank is 250 pounds. The propellant tanks are
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pressurized by the helium system.
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Each tank contains a propellant acquisition and retention assembly in
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the aft end and is divided into forward and aft compartments. The
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propellant acquisition and retention assembly is located in the aft
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compartment and consists of an intermediate bulkhead with
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communication screen and an acquisition system. The propellant in the
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tank is directed from the forward compartment through the intermediate
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bulkhead through the communication screen into the aft compartment
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during OMS velocity maneuvers. The communication screen retains
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propellant in the aft compartment during zero-gravity conditions.
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The acquisition assembly consists of four stub galleries and a
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collector manifold. The stub galleries acquire wall-bound propellant
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at OMS start and during RCS velocity maneuvers to prevent gas
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ingestion. The stub galleries have screens that allow propellant flow
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and prevent gas ingestion. The collector manifold is connected to the
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stub galleries and also contains a gas arrestor screen to further
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prevent gas ingestion, which permits OMS engine ignition without the
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need of a propellant-settling maneuver employing RCS thrusters. The
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propellant tank's nominal operating pressure is 250 psi, with a
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maximum operating pressure limit of 313 psia.
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A capacitance gauging system in each OMS propellant tank measures the
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propellant in the tank. The system consists of a forward and aft
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probe and a totalizer. The forward and aft fuel probes use fuel
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(which is a conductor) as one plate of the capacitor and a glass tube
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that is metallized on the inside as the other. The forward and aft
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oxidizer probes use two concentric nickel tubes as the capacitor
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plates and oxidizer as the dielectric. (Helium is also a dielectric,
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but has a different dielectric constant than the oxidizer.) The aft
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probes in each tank contain a resistive temperature-sensing element to
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correct variations in fluid density. The fluid in the area of the
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communication screens cannot be measured.
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The totalizer receives OMS valve operation information and inputs from
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the forward and aft probes in each tank and outputs total and aft
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quantities and a low level quantity. The inputs from the OMS valves
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allow control logic in the totalizer to determine when an OMS engine
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is thrusting and which tanks are being used. The totalizer begins an
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engine flow rate/time integration process at the start of the OMS
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thrusting period, which reduces the indicated amount of propellants by
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a preset estimated rate for the first 14.8 seconds. After 14.8
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seconds of OMS thrusting, which settles the propellant surface, the
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probe capacitance gauging system outputs are enabled, which permits
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the quantity of propellant remaining to be displayed. The totalizer
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outputs are displayed on the OMS/RCS prplnt qty meters on panel O3
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when the rotary switch is positioned to the OMS fuel or oxid
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positions.
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When the wet or dry analog comparator indicates the forward probe is
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dry, the ungaugeable propellant in the region of the intermediate
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bulkhead is added to the aft probe output quantity, decreasing the
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total quantity at a preset rate for 98.15 seconds, and updates from
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the aft probes are inhibited. After 98.15 seconds of thrusting, the
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aft probe output inhibit is removed, and the aft probe updates the
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total quantity. When the quantity decreases to 5 percent, the
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low-level signal is output.
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Parallel tank isolation valves in each pod located between the
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propellant tanks and the OMS engine and the OMS crossfeed valves
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permit propellant to be supplied to the OMS engine and OMS crossfeed
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valves or isolate the propellant. The left or right OMS tank
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isolation A switch on panel O8 controls the A fuel and A oxidizer
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valve in that pod, and the B switch controls the B fuel and B oxidizer
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valve in that pod. When the left or right tank isolation switches in
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a pod are positioned to GPC , pairs of valves are automatically opened
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or closed upon command from the orbiter computer. When a pair of
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valves is opened, fuel and oxidizer from the corresponding propellant
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tanks are allowed to flow to that OMS engine and OMS crossfeed valves;
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and when that pair of valves is closed, fuel and oxidizer are isolated
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from the OMS engine and OMS crossfeed valves. The switch positions
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open, GPC and close are permanent-position switches. Electrical power
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is provided to an electrical motor controller assembly, which supplies
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power to the ac-motor-operated valve actuators. Once the valve is in
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the commanded position, logic in the motor controller assembly removes
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power from the ac-motor-operated valve actuator. A talkback indicator
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above each tank isolation switch on panel O8 indicates the status of
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the fuel valve and oxidizer valve. The talkback indicator is
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controlled by microswitches in each pair of valves. The talkback
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indicator indicates op when that pair of valves is open, barberpole
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when the valves are in transit or one valve is open or closed, and cl
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when that pair of valves is closed. The open and close positions of
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each left or right tank isolation A, B switch permits manual control
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of the corresponding pair of valves (one for fuel and one for
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oxidizer).
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In each pod, parallel left or right OMS crossfeed valves are
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controlled by the left, right crossfeed A, B switches on panel O8.
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The A switch controls the A fuel and A oxidizer ac-motor-operated
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valve actuators in the pod selected, and the B switch controls the B
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fuel and B oxidizer valve in the pod selected. When the A or B switch
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in a pod is positioned to GPC , the A or B pair of fuel and oxidizer
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valves is automatically opened or closed upon command from the orbiter
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computer. For example, when the A or B pair of crossfeed valves in
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the left pod is opened, fuel and oxidizer from the left pod are routed
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to the OMS crossfeed valves of the right pod; thus, a pair of A or B
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crossfeed valves in the right pod must be opened to permit the left
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pod fuel and oxidizer to be directed to the right OMS pod engine. A
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talkback indicator above the pod crossfeed switches on panel O8
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indicates the status of the selected pair's fuel and oxidizer valves.
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The talkback indicator indicates op when both valves are open,
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barberpole when the valves are in transit or one valve is open and one
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closed, and cl when both valves are closed. The left, right crossfeed
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A, B open/close switches on panel O8 permit manual control of the
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corresponding pair of fuel and oxidizer valves.
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The left and right OMS crossfeed A, B switches also provide the
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capability to supply OMS propellants to the left and right aft RCS
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engines. The left and right aft RCS will not be used to supply
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propellants to the OMS due to differences in pressures between the OMS
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and RCS.
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The OMS crossfeed fuel and oxidizer line pressures are monitored on
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telemetry and are transmitted to the flight deck CRT.
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There are 64 ac -motor-operated valve actuators in the OMS/RCS
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nitrogen tetroxide and monomethyl hydrazine propellant systems. Each
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valve actuator was modified to incorporate a 0.25-inch-diameter
|
|
stainless steel sniff line from the actuator to the mold line of the
|
|
orbiter. The sniff line permits the monitoring of nitrogen tetroxide
|
|
or monomethyl hydrazine in the electrical portion of each valve
|
|
actuator during ground operations.
|
|
|
|
There are sniff lines in the 12 ac -motor-operated valve actuators in
|
|
the forward RCS and in the 44 actua tors in the aft left and aft right
|
|
RCS. The remaining 0.25-inch-diameter sniff lines are in the eight
|
|
OMS tank isolation and crossfeed ac-motor-operated valve actuators in
|
|
the left and right orbital maneuvering systems. The 44 aft left and
|
|
right RCS sniff lines and the eight OMS left and right sniff lines are
|
|
routed to the respective left and right OMS/RCS pod Y web access
|
|
servicing panels.
|
|
|
|
During ground operations, an interscan can be connected to the sniff
|
|
ports to check for the presence of nitrogen tetroxide or monomethyl
|
|
hydrazine in the electrical portion of the ac-motor-operated valve
|
|
actuators.
|
|
|
|
An electrical microswitch in each of the ac-motor-operated valve
|
|
actuators signals the respective valves' position (open or closed) to
|
|
the onboard flight crew displays and controls as well as telemetry.
|
|
An extensive improvement program was implemented to reduce the
|
|
probability of floating particulates in the electrical microswitch
|
|
portion of each ac-motor-operated valve actuator. Particulates could
|
|
affect the operation of the microswitch in each valve and, thus, the
|
|
position indication of the valves to the onboard displays and controls
|
|
and telemetry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"6_2_3_13_5_5.TXT" (7539 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
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|
ENGINE BIPROPELLANT VALVE ASSEMBLY.
|
|
|
|
Each OMS engine receives pressure-fed propellants at its bipropellant
|
|
valve assembly. The bipropellant ball valve assembly is controlled by
|
|
its gaseous nitrogen system. The nitrogen system consists of a
|
|
storage tank, engine pressure isolation valve, regulator, relief
|
|
valve, check valve, accumulator, engine purge valves, bipropellant
|
|
solenoid control valves and actuators that control the bipropellant
|
|
ball valves.
|
|
|
|
A gaseous nitrogen spherical storage tank is mounted next to the
|
|
combustion chamber to supply pressure to its engine pressure isolation
|
|
valve. The tank contains enough nitrogen to operate the ball valves
|
|
and purge the engine 10 times. Nominal tank capacity is 60 cubic
|
|
inches. The maximum tank operating pressure is 3,000 psi, with a
|
|
proof pressure of 6,000 psig.
|
|
|
|
Each tank's pressure is monitored by two pressure sensors. One sensor
|
|
transmits the tank pressure to the N 2 , He, kit He switch on panel
|
|
F7. When the switch is positioned to N 2 , tank pressure is displayed
|
|
on the OMS press N 2 tank left, right meters on panel F7. The other
|
|
sensor transmits pressure to telemetry.
|
|
|
|
A dual-coil, solenoid-operated engine pressure isolation valve is
|
|
located in each gaseous nitrogen system. The valve is energized open
|
|
and spring-loaded closed. The engine pressure isolation valve permits
|
|
gaseous nitrogen flow from the tank to the regulator, accumulator, the
|
|
bipropellant ball valve control valves and purge valves 1 and 2 when
|
|
energized open and isolates the nitrogen tank from the gaseous
|
|
nitrogen supply system when closed. The engine pressure isolation
|
|
valves in each system are controlled by the OMS eng left, right
|
|
switches on panel C3. When the OMS eng left switch is placed in the
|
|
arm press position, the left OMS engine pod's pressure isolation valve
|
|
is energized open. When the OMS eng right switch is placed in the arm
|
|
press position, the right OMS engine pod's pressure isolation valve is
|
|
energized open. The gaseous nitrogen engine pressure isolation valve,
|
|
when energized open, allows gaseous nitrogen supply pressure to be
|
|
directed into a regulator, through a check valve, an in-line
|
|
accumulator and to a pair of engine bipropellant control valves. The
|
|
engine bipropellant control valves are controlled by the OMS thrust
|
|
on/off commands from the GPCs.
|
|
|
|
A single-stage regulator is installed in each gaseous nitrogen
|
|
pneumatic control system between the gaseous nitrogen engine pressure
|
|
isolation valve and the engine bipropellant control valves. The
|
|
regulator reduces the gaseous nitrogen service pressure to a desired
|
|
working pressure of 315 to 360 psig.
|
|
|
|
A pressure relief valve downstream of the gaseous nitrogen regulator
|
|
limits the pressure to the engine bipropellant control valves and
|
|
actuators if a gaseous nitrogen regulator malfunctions. The relief
|
|
valve relieves between 450 and 500 psig and resets at 400 psig
|
|
minimum.
|
|
|
|
A pressure sensor downstream of the regulator monitors the regulated
|
|
pressure and transmits it to the CRT display and to telemetry.
|
|
|
|
The check valve located downstream of the gaseous nitrogen regulator
|
|
will close if gaseous nitrogen pressure is lost on the upstream side
|
|
of the check valve and will isolate the remaining gaseous nitrogen
|
|
pressure on the downstream side of the check valve.
|
|
|
|
The 19-cubic- inch gaseous nitrogen accumulator downstream of the
|
|
check valve and upstream of the bipropellant control valves provides
|
|
enough pressure to operate the engine bipropellant control valves one
|
|
time with the engine pressure isolation valve closed or in the event
|
|
of loss of pressure on the upstream side of the check valve.
|
|
|
|
Two solenoid-operated, three-way, two-position bipropellant control
|
|
valves on each OMS engine control the bipropellant control valve
|
|
actuators and bipropellant ball valves. Control valve 1 controls the
|
|
No. 1 actuator and the fuel and oxidizer ball valves. Control valve
|
|
2 controls the No. 2 actuator and two ball valves, one fuel and
|
|
oxidizer ball valve in series to the No. 1 system. Each control
|
|
valve contains two solenoid coils, either of which, when energized,
|
|
opens the control valve.
|
|
|
|
The right OMS engine gaseous nitrogen solenoid control valves 1 and 2
|
|
are energized open by computer commands if the right OMS eng switch on
|
|
panel C3 is in the arm or arm/press position and the right OMS eng vlv
|
|
switch on panel O16 is on; the valves are de-energized normally when
|
|
thrust off is commanded or if the right OMS eng switch is positioned
|
|
to off . The left OMS engine gaseous nitrogen solenoid control valves
|
|
1 and 2 are controlled in the same manner, but through the left OMS
|
|
eng switch on panel C3 and the left OMS eng vlv switch on panel O14.
|
|
|
|
When the gaseous nitrogen solenoid control valves are energized open,
|
|
pressure is directed into the two actuators in each engine. The
|
|
nitrogen acts against the piston in each actuator, overcoming the
|
|
spring force on the opposite side of the actuators. Each actuator has
|
|
a rack-and-pinion gear; and the linear motion of the actuator
|
|
connecting arm is converted into rotary motion, which drives two ball
|
|
valves, one fuel and one oxidizer, to the open position. Each pair of
|
|
ball valves opens simultaneously. Fuel and oxidizer are then directed
|
|
to the combustion chamber of the engine, where the propellants atomize
|
|
and ignite upon contact. The hypergolic propellants produce a hot
|
|
gas, thus thrust.
|
|
|
|
The chamber pressure of each engine is monitored by a pressure sensor
|
|
and is transmitted to the OMS press left and right Pc (chamber
|
|
pressure) meter on panel F7.
|
|
|
|
When the computer commands thrust off or an engine's OMS eng switch on
|
|
panel C3 or eng vlv switch on panel O14/O16 is positioned off, the
|
|
solenoid control valves are de-energized, removing gaseous nitrogen
|
|
pressure from the actuators; and the gaseous nitrogen pressure in the
|
|
actuators is vented overboard through the solenoid control valve. The
|
|
spring in the actuator forces the actuator's piston to move in the
|
|
opposite direction, and the actuator drives the fuel and oxidizer ball
|
|
valves closed simultaneously. The series-redundant arrangement of
|
|
ball valves ensures engine thrusting is terminated.
|
|
|
|
Each actuator incorporates a linear position transducer, which
|
|
supplies ball valve position to a CRT.
|
|
|
|
Check valves are installed in the vent port outlet of each gaseous
|
|
nitrogen solenoid control valve on the spring pressure side of each
|
|
actuator to protect the seal of these components from atmospheric
|
|
contamination.
|
|
|
|
Each engine has two gaseous nitrogen purge valves in series. These
|
|
valves are solenoid-operated open and spring-loaded closed. They are
|
|
normally energized open after each thrusting period by the GPCs unless
|
|
inhibited by a crew entry on the maneuver CRT display. The two purge
|
|
valves of an engine are energized open 0.36 second after OMS engine
|
|
thrust off has been commanded and permit gaseous nitrogen to flow
|
|
through the valves and check valve into the fuel line downstream of
|
|
the ball valves and out through the combustion chamber and engine
|
|
injector to space for two seconds. This purges the residual fuel from
|
|
the combustion chamber and injector of the engine, permitting safe
|
|
engine restart. The purge valves are then de-energized and
|
|
spring-loaded closed. When the purge is completed, the gaseous
|
|
nitrogen tank pressure isolation valve is closed by placing the
|
|
respective OMS eng switch (panel C3) to off. The check valve
|
|
downstream of the purge valves prevents fuel from flowing to the
|
|
engine purge valves during engine thrusting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"6_2_3_13_5_6.TXT" (1082 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
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|
ENGINE THRUST CHAMBER ASSEMBLY.
|
|
|
|
When the fuel reaches the thrust chamber, it is directed through 102
|
|
coolant channels in the combustion chamber wall, providing
|
|
regenerative cooling to the combustion chamber walls, and then to the
|
|
injector of the engine. The oxidizer is routed directly to the
|
|
injector. The platelet injector assembly consists of a stack of
|
|
plates, each with an etched pattern that provides proper distribution
|
|
and propellant injection velocity vector. The stack is
|
|
diffusion-bonded and welded to the body of the injector. The fuel and
|
|
oxidizer orifices are positioned so that the propellants will impinge
|
|
and atomize, causing the fuel and oxidizer to ignite because of
|
|
hypergolic reaction.
|
|
|
|
The contoured nozzle extension is bolted to the aft flange of the
|
|
combustion chamber. The nozzle extension is made of a columbium alloy
|
|
and is radiantly cooled.
|
|
|
|
The nominal flow rate of oxidizer and fuel to each engine is 11.93
|
|
pounds per second and 7.23 pounds per second, respectively, producing
|
|
6,000 pounds of thrust at a vacuum specific impulse of 313 seconds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"6_2_3_13_5_7.TXT" (1298 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
|
|
|
|
OMS THRUSTING SEQUENCE.
|
|
|
|
The OMS thrusting sequence commands the OMS engines on or off and
|
|
commands the engine purge function. The flight crew can select, via
|
|
item entry on the maneuver display, a one- or two-engine thrusting
|
|
maneuver and can inhibit the OMS engine purge.
|
|
|
|
The sequence determines which engines are selected and then provides
|
|
the necessary computer commands to open the appropriate helium vapor
|
|
isolation valves and the engine gaseous nitrogen solenoid control
|
|
valves and sets an engine-on indicator. The sequence will monitor the
|
|
OMS engine fail flags and, if one or both engines have failed, issue
|
|
the appropriate OMS cutoff commands as soon as the crew has confirmed
|
|
the failure by placing the OMS eng switch in the off position. This
|
|
will then terminate the appropriate engine's control valve commands.
|
|
|
|
In a normal OMS thrusting period, when the OMS cutoff flag is true,
|
|
the sequence terminates commands to the helium pressurization, helium
|
|
vapor isolation valves and two gaseous nitrogen engine control valves.
|
|
If the engine purge sequence is not inhibited, the sequence will check
|
|
for the left and right engine arm press signals and after 0.36 second
|
|
open the engine gaseous nitrogen purge valves for two seconds for the
|
|
engines that have the arm press signals present.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"6_2_3_13_5_8.TXT" (4929 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
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|
|
|
ENGINE THRUST VECTOR CONTROL SYSTEM.
|
|
|
|
The engine TVC system consists of a gimbal ring assembly, two gimbal
|
|
actuator assemblies and two gimbal actuator controllers. The engine
|
|
gimbal ring assembly and gimbal actuator assemblies provide OMS TVC by
|
|
gimbaling the engines in pitch and yaw. Each engine has a pitch
|
|
actuator and a yaw actuator. Each actuator is extended or retracted
|
|
by one of a pair of dual-redundant electric motors and is actuated by
|
|
general-purpose computer control signals.
|
|
|
|
The gimbal ring assembly contains two mounting pads to attach the
|
|
engine to the gimbal ring and two pads to attach the gimbal ring to
|
|
the orbiter. The ring transmits engine thrust to the pod and orbiter.
|
|
|
|
The pitch and yaw gimbal actuator assembly for each OMS engine
|
|
provides the force to gimbal the engines. Each actuator contains a
|
|
primary and secondary motor and drive gears. The primary and
|
|
secondary drive systems are isolated and are not operated
|
|
concurrently. Each actuator consists of two redundant brushless dc
|
|
motors and gear trains, a single jackscrew and nut-tube assembly and
|
|
redundant linear position feedback transducers. A GPC position
|
|
command signal from the primary electronic controller energizes the
|
|
primary dc motor, which is coupled with a reduction gear and a no-back
|
|
device. The output from the primary power train drives the jackscrew
|
|
of the drive assembly, causing the nut-tube to translate (with the
|
|
secondary power train at idle), which causes angular engine movement.
|
|
If the primary power train is inoperative, a GPC position command from
|
|
the secondary electronic controller energizes the secondary dc motor,
|
|
providing linear travel by applying torque to the nut-tube through the
|
|
spline that extends along the nut-tube for the stroke length of the
|
|
unit. Rotation of the nut-tube about the stationary jackscrew causes
|
|
the nut-tube to move along the screw. A no-back device in each drive
|
|
system prevents backdriving of the standby system.
|
|
|
|
The electrical interface, power and electronic control elements for
|
|
active and standby control channels are assembled in separate
|
|
enclosures designated the active actuator controller and standby
|
|
actuator controller. These are mounted on the OMS/RCS pod structure.
|
|
The active and standby actuator controllers are electrically and
|
|
mechanically interchangeable.
|
|
|
|
The gimbal assembly provides control angles of plus or minus 6 degrees
|
|
in pitch and plus or minus 7 degrees in yaw with clearance provided
|
|
for an additional 1 degree for snubbing and tolerances. The engine
|
|
null position is with the engine nozzles up 15 degrees 49 seconds (as
|
|
projected in the orbiter XZ plane) and outboard 6 degrees 30 seconds
|
|
(measured in the 15-degree 49-second plane).
|
|
|
|
The thrust vector control command subsystem operating program
|
|
processes and outputs pitch and yaw OMS engine actuator commands and
|
|
the actuator power selection discretes. The OMS TVC command SOP is
|
|
active during operational sequences, orbit insertion (OMS-1 and
|
|
OMS-2), orbit coast, deorbit, deorbit coast and return-to-launch-site
|
|
abort.
|
|
|
|
The flight crew can select either the primary or the secondary motors
|
|
of the pitch and yaw actuators by item entry on the maneuver display
|
|
or can select actuators off. The actuator command outputs are
|
|
selected by the TVC command SOP depending on the flag that is present,
|
|
i.e., major modes, deorbit maneuver, orbit coast, and RTLS abort,
|
|
center-of-gravity trim and gimbal check. The deorbit maneuver coast
|
|
flag causes the TVC command SOP to output I-loaded values to command
|
|
the engines to the entry stowed position. The presence of the RTLS
|
|
abort and center-of-gravity trim flags causes the engines to be
|
|
commanded to a predefined position with the thrust vector through the
|
|
center of gravity. The major mode RTLS flag by itself will cause the
|
|
engines to be commanded to a stowed position for return-to-launch-site
|
|
entry. The gimbal check flag causes the engines to be commanded to
|
|
plus 7 degrees yaw and 6 degrees pitch, then to minus 7 degrees yaw
|
|
and 6 degrees pitch, and back to zero degrees yaw and pitch. In the
|
|
absence of these flags, the TVC command SOP will output the digital
|
|
autopilot gimbal actuator commands to the engine actuators. The
|
|
backup flight control system allows only manual TVC during a thrusting
|
|
period, but it is otherwise similar.
|
|
|
|
The OMS TVC feedback SOP monitors the primary and secondary actuator
|
|
selection discretes from the maneuver display and performs
|
|
compensation on the selected pitch and yaw actuator feedback data.
|
|
This data is output to the OMS actuator fault detection and
|
|
identification and to the maneuver display. The OMS TVC feedback SOP
|
|
is active during orbit insertion (OMS-1 and OMS-2), orbit coast,
|
|
deorbit maneuver and deorbit maneuver coast. The present OMS gimbal
|
|
positions can be monitored on the maneuver CRT display when this SOP
|
|
is active and the primary or secondary actuator motors are selected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"6_2_3_13_5_9.TXT" (1561 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
|
|
|
|
THERMAL CONTROL.
|
|
|
|
OMS thermal control is achieved by insulation on the interior surface
|
|
of the pods that enclose the OMS hardware components and the use of
|
|
strip heaters. Wrap around heaters and insulation condition the
|
|
crossfeed lines. The heaters prevent propellant from freezing in the
|
|
tanks and lines. The heater system is divided into two areas: the
|
|
OMS/RCS pods and the aft fuselage crossfeed and bleed lines. Each
|
|
heater system has two redundant heater systems, A and B, and is
|
|
controlled by the RCS/OMS heaters switches on panel A14.
|
|
|
|
Each OMS/RCS pod is divided into eight heater areas. Each of the
|
|
heater areas in the pods contains an A and B element, and each element
|
|
has a thermostat that controls the temperature from 55 to 75 F. These
|
|
heater elements are controlled by the left pod and right pod switches
|
|
on panel A14. Sensors located throughout the pods supply temperature
|
|
information to the propellant thermal CRT display and telemetry.
|
|
|
|
The crossfeed line thermal control in the aft fuselage is divided into
|
|
11 heater areas. Each area is heated in parallel by heater systems A
|
|
and B, and each area has a control thermostat to maintain temperature
|
|
at 55 F minimum to 75 F maximum. Each circuit also has an
|
|
overtemperature thermostat to protect against a failed-on heater
|
|
switch. These heater elements are controlled by the respective crsfd
|
|
lines switch on panel A14. Temperature sensors near the control
|
|
thermostats on the crossfeed and bleed lines supply temperature
|
|
information on the propellant thermal CRT display and telemetry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"6_2_3_13_5_10.TXT" (2112 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
|
|
|
|
OMS-RCS INTERCONNECT.
|
|
|
|
An interconnect between the OMS crossfeed line and the aft RCS
|
|
manifolds provides the capability to operate the aft RCS using 1,000
|
|
pounds per pod of OMS propellant for orbital maneuvers. The aft RCS
|
|
may use OMS propellant from either OMS pod in orbit.
|
|
|
|
The orbital interconnect sequence is available during orbit operations
|
|
and on-orbit checkout.
|
|
|
|
The flight crew must first configure the following switches (using a
|
|
feed from the left OMS as an example): (1) posi tion the aft left RCS
|
|
tank isolation 1/2, 3/4/5A and 3/4/5B and aft right RCS tank isolation
|
|
1/2, 3/4/5A and 3/4/5B switches on panel O7 to close; (2) check that
|
|
the talkback indicator above these switches indicates cl, and position
|
|
the aft left RCS crossfeed 1/2, 3/4/5 and aft right RCS crossfeed 1/2,
|
|
3/4/5 switches to open; (3) check that the indicators show op and open
|
|
the left OMS tank isolation A and B valves (panel O8) and verify the
|
|
talkback indicators show op ; (4) open the left OMS crossfeed A and B
|
|
valves and verify the indicators show op ; (5) close the right OMS
|
|
crossfeed A and B valves and verify the indicators show cl; and (6)
|
|
position the left OMS He press/vapor isol valve A switch in the GPC
|
|
position. The left OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnect sequence can then be
|
|
initiated by item entry on the RCS SPEC display.
|
|
|
|
The left OMS helium pressure vapor isolation valve A will be commanded
|
|
open when the left OMS tank (ullage) pressure decays to 236 psig, and
|
|
the open commands will be terminated 30 seconds later. If the left
|
|
OMS tank (ullage) pressure remains below 236 psia, the sequence will
|
|
set an OMS/RCS valve miscompare flag and will set a Class 3 alarm and
|
|
a CRT fault message. The sequence also will enable the OMS-to-RCS
|
|
gauging sequence at the same time.
|
|
|
|
The flight crew can terminate the sequence and inhibit the OMS-to-RCS
|
|
gauging sequence by use of the OMS press ena-off item entry on the RCS
|
|
SPEC display. The valves can then be reconfigured to their normal
|
|
position on panels O7 and O8. The OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnect
|
|
sequence is not available in the backup flight control system.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"6_2_3_13_5_11.TXT" (966 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
|
|
|
|
OMS-TO-RCS GAUGING SEQUENCE.
|
|
|
|
The OMS-to-aft-RCS propellant quantities are calculated by burn time
|
|
integration. Once each cycle, the accumulated aft RCS thruster cycles
|
|
are used to compute the OMS propellant used since the initiation of
|
|
gauging. The number of RCS thruster cycles is provided by the RCS
|
|
command subsystem operating program to account for minimum-impulse
|
|
firing of the RCS thrusters. The gauging sequence is initiated by
|
|
item entry of the OMS right or OMS left interconnect on the RCS SPEC
|
|
CRT display and is terminated by the return to normal item entry.
|
|
|
|
The gauging sequence maintains a cumulative total of left and right
|
|
OMS propellant used during OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnects and displays
|
|
the cumulative totals as percentage of left and right OMS propellant
|
|
on the RCS SPEC display. The flight crew will be alerted by a Class 3
|
|
alarm and a fault message when the total quantity used from either OMS
|
|
pod exceeds 1,000 pounds or 8.37 percent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"6_2_3_13_5_12.TXT" (6937 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
|
|
|
|
ABORT CONTROL SEQUENCES.
|
|
|
|
The abort control sequence is the software that manages, among other
|
|
items, the OMS and aft RCS configuration and thrusting periods during
|
|
ascent aborts to improve performance or to consume OMS and aft RCS
|
|
propellants for orbiter center-of-gravity control.
|
|
|
|
Premission-determined parameters are provided for the OMS and aft RCS
|
|
thrusting periods during aborts since the propellant loading and
|
|
orbiter center of gravity vary with each mission.
|
|
|
|
The premission-determined parameters for the abort-to-orbit thrusting
|
|
period are modified during flight, based on the vehicle velocity at
|
|
abort initiation. The premission-determined parameters for abort once
|
|
around are grouped with different values for early or late AOA. The
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return-to-launch-site parameters are contained in a single table.
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The abort control sequence is available in OPS 1 and 6 and is
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initiated at SRB separation if selected before then or at the time of
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selection if after SRB separation.
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ATO and AOA Aborts. The OMS and aft RCS begin thrusting as soon as an
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ATO or AOA is initiated with one main engine out.
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For some aborts, an OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnect is not desired. A
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parallel aft RCS plus X thrusting period using aft RCS propellant and
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the four aft RCS plus X thrusters will be performed during the OMS-1
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thrusting period to achieve the desired orbit. If a plus X aft RCS
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thrusting period is required before main engine cutoff, the abort
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control sequence will command the four aft plus X RCS jets on if
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vehicle acceleration is greater than 0.8 g and will monitor the RCS
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cutoff time to terminate the thrusting period. If an RCS propellant
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dump (burn) is required before MECO and vehicle acceleration is
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greater than 1.8 g, the abort control sequence will command an
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eight-aft-RCS-jet null thrust and monitor the RCS cutoff time to
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terminate the thrusting period.
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In other abort cases, an OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnect is desired. This
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thrusting is performed with the OMS and four aft RCS plus X thrusters
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to consume OMS propellant for orbiter center-of-gravity control. More
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aft RCS jets can be commanded if needed to increase OMS propellant
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usage. For example, for an OMS propellant dump (burn), 14 aft RCS
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null jets can be commanded to thrust to improve orbiter
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center-of-gravity location.
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If the amount of OMS propellant used before MECO leaves less than 28
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percent of OMS propellants, a 15-second aft RCS ullage thrust is
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performed after MECO to provide a positive OMS propellant feed to
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start the OMS-1 thrusting period.
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The OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnect sequence provides for an automatic
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interconnect of the OMS propellant to the aft RCS when required and
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reconfigures the propellant feed from the OMS and aft RCS tanks to
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their normal state after the thrusting periods have ended. The
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interconnect sequence is initiated by the abort control sequence.
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In order to establish a known configuration of the valves, the
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interconnect sequence terminates the GPC commands to the following
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valves if they have not been terminated before honoring a request from
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the abort control sequence: left and right OMS crossfeed A and B
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valves, aft RCS crossfeed valves and aft RCS tank isolation valves.
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A request from the abort control sequence for an OMS-to-aft-RCS
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interconnect will sequentially configure the OMS/RCS valves as
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follows: close the left and right aft RCS propellant tank isolation
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valves, open the left and right OMS crossfeed A and B valves, and open
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the left and right aft RCS crossfeed valves. The OMS-to-aft-RCS
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interconnect complete flag is then set to true.
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When the abort control sequence requests a return to normal
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configuration, all affected OMS/RCS propellant valve commands are
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removed to establish a known condition; and the interconnect sequence
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will then sequentially configure the valves as follows: close aft RCS
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crossfeed valves, close left and right OMS crossfeed valves and open
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aft RCS propellant tank isolation valves. The OMS-to-aft-RCS
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reconfiguration complete flag is then set to false, and the sequence
|
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is terminated.
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Return-to-Launch-Site Abort. An RTLS abort requires the dumping of
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OMS propellant by burning the OMS propellant through both OMS engines
|
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and through the 24 aft RCS thrusters to improve abort performance and
|
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to achieve an acceptable entry orbiter vehicle weight and
|
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center-of-gravity location. The thrusting period is
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premission-determined and depends on the OMS propellant load.
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The OMS engines start the thrusting sequence; and after the
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OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnect is complete, the aft RCS thrusters are
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commanded on. The OMS engines and RCS thrusters then continue their
|
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burn for a predetermined period. The interconnect sequence is the
|
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same for ATO and AOA aborts. The OMS and aft RCS will begin thrusting
|
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at SRB staging if the abort is initiated during the first stage of
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flight or immediately upon abort initiation during second stage.
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Contingency Abort. A contingency abort is selected automatically at
|
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the loss of a second main engine or manually by the flight crew using
|
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an item entry on the RTLS TRAJ or RTLS TRANS CRT displays. For the
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contingency aborts, the OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnect is performed in a
|
|
modified manner to allow continuous flow of propellants to the aft RCS
|
|
jets for vehicle control and to allow contingency rapid dump (burning)
|
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of OMS and RCS propellants. The abort control sequence tracks the
|
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total time the OMS and aft RCS are on to determine the amount of
|
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propellants used.
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|
|
|
The request for an interconnect will cause the interconnect sequence
|
|
to configure the valves sequentially as follows: open the aft RCS
|
|
crossfeed valves, open the left OMS crossfeed valves A, open the right
|
|
OMS crossfeed valves B, close the left and right aft RCS tank
|
|
isolation valves, open the left OMS crossfeed valves B and open the
|
|
right OMS crossfeed valves A. The OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnect
|
|
complete flag will then be set to true.
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|
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|
If the rapid dump is selected before MECO, the OMS-to-aft-RCS
|
|
interconnect occurs, and both OMS engines and the 24 aft RCS jets are
|
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commanded to thrust until the desired amount of propellant has been
|
|
consumed. The rapid dump will be interrupted during external tank
|
|
separation if the thrusting period is not completed before MECO;
|
|
otherwise, the thrusting period terminates when thrusting time equals
|
|
zero or if the normal acceleration exceeds a threshold value.
|
|
|
|
Upon completion of the thrusting period, the OMS-to-aft-RCS
|
|
configuration flag will be set to false, and the sequence will be
|
|
terminated. A return-to-normal-configuration request by the abort
|
|
control sequence will cause the interconnect sequence to configure the
|
|
valves sequentially as follows: open aft RCS propellant tank isolation
|
|
valves, close the aft RCS crossfeed valves, and close the left and
|
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right OMS crossfeed A and B valves. The OMS-to-aft-RCS interconnect
|
|
complete flag will be set to false, and the sequence will be
|
|
terminated.
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"6_2_3_13_5_13.TXT" (2559 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
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OMS ENGINE FAULT DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION.
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|
|
|
The OMS engine FDI function detects and identifies off-nominal
|
|
performance of the OMS engine, such as off-failures during OMS
|
|
thrusting periods, on-failures after or before a thrusting period and
|
|
high or low engine chamber pressures.
|
|
|
|
Redundancy management software performs OMS engine FDI. It is assumed
|
|
that the flight crew arms only the OMS engine to be used; the OMS
|
|
engine not armed cannot be used for thrusting. FDI will be
|
|
initialized at SRB ignition and terminated after the OMS-1 thrusting
|
|
period or, in the case of an RTLS abort, at the transition from RTLS
|
|
entry to the RTLS landing sequence program. The FDI also will be
|
|
initiated before each OMS burn and will be terminated after the OMS
|
|
thrusting period is complete.
|
|
|
|
The OMS engine FDI uses both a velocity comparison and a chamber
|
|
pressure comparison method to determine a failed-on or failed-off
|
|
engine. The velocity comparison is used only after MECO since the OMS
|
|
thrust is small compared to main propulsion thrust before MECO.
|
|
|
|
The measured velocity increment is compared to a predetermined
|
|
one-engine and two-engine acceleration threshold value by the
|
|
redundancy management software to determine the number of engines
|
|
actually firing. This information, along with the assumption that an
|
|
armed engine is to be used, allows the software to determine if the
|
|
engine has low thrust or has shut down prematurely.
|
|
|
|
The chamber pressure comparison test compares a predetermined
|
|
threshold chamber pressure level to the measured chamber pressure to
|
|
determine a failed engine (on, off or low thrust).
|
|
|
|
The engine-on command and the chamber pressure are used before MECO to
|
|
determine a failed engine. The velocity indication and the chamber
|
|
pressure indication are used after MECO to determine a failed engine.
|
|
If the engine fails the chamber pressure test but passes the velocity
|
|
test after MECO, the engine will be considered failed. Such a failure
|
|
would illuminate the red right OMS or left OMS caution and warning
|
|
light on panel F7 and the master alarm and produce a fault message.
|
|
In addition, if an engine fails the chamber pressure and velocity
|
|
tests, a down arrow is displayed on the maneuver CRT next to the
|
|
failed engine.
|
|
|
|
When the flight crew disarms a failed engine by turning the arm/press
|
|
switch on panel C3 to off , a signal is sent to the OMS thrusting
|
|
sequence to shut down the engine and to signal guidance to
|
|
reconfigure. Guidance reconfigures and downmodes from two OMS
|
|
engines, to one OMS engine, to four plus X RCS jets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"6_2_3_13_5_14.TXT" (3632 bytes) was created on 12-12-88
|
|
|
|
OMS GIMBAL ACTUATOR FDI.
|
|
|
|
The OMS gimbal actuator FDI detects and identifies off-nominal
|
|
performance of the pitch and yaw gimbal actuators of the OMS engines.
|
|
|
|
The OMS gimbal actuator FDI is divided into two processes. The first
|
|
determines if the actuators should move from their present position.
|
|
If the actuators must move, the second part determines how much they
|
|
should move and whether the desired movement has occurred.
|
|
|
|
The first part checks the actuators' gimbal deflection error (which is
|
|
the difference between the commanded new position and the actuators'
|
|
last known position) and determines whether the actuators should
|
|
extend or retract or if they are being driven against a stop. If the
|
|
actuators are in the desired position or being driven against a stop,
|
|
the first part of the process will be repeated. If the first part
|
|
determines that the actuator should move, the second part of the
|
|
actuator FDI process is performed.
|
|
|
|
The second part of the actuator FDI process checks the present
|
|
position of each actuator against its last known position to determine
|
|
whether the actuators have moved more than a threshold amount. If the
|
|
actuators have not moved more than this amount, an actuator failure is
|
|
incremented by one. Each time an actuator fails this test, the
|
|
failure is again incremented by one. When the actuator failure
|
|
counter reaches an I-loaded value of four, the actuator is declared
|
|
failed and a fault message is output. The actuator failure counter is
|
|
reset to zero any time the actuator passes the threshold test.
|
|
|
|
The first and second parts of the actuator FDI process continue to
|
|
perform in this manner. The actuator FDI process can detect full-off
|
|
gimbal failures and full-on failures indirectly. The full-on failure
|
|
determines that the gimbal has extended or retracted too far and
|
|
commands reverse motion. If no motion occurs, the actuator will be
|
|
declared failed. The flight crew's response to a failed actuator is
|
|
to select the secondary actuator electronics by item entry on the
|
|
maneuver CRT display.
|
|
|
|
The contractors are McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co., St. Louis,
|
|
Mo. (OMS/RCS pod assembly and integration); Aerojet Tech Systems Co.,
|
|
Sacramento, Calif. (OMS engine); Aerojet Manufacturing Co.,
|
|
Fullerton, Calif. (OMS propellant tanks); Aircraft Contours, Los
|
|
Angeles, Calif. (OMS pod edge member); Brunswick-Wintec, El Segundo,
|
|
Calif. (OMS propellant tank acquisition screen assembly);
|
|
Consolidated Controls, El Segundo, Calif. (high- and low-pressure
|
|
solenoid valves and OMS regulators); Fairchild Stratos, Manhattan
|
|
Beach, Calif. (hypergolic servicing couplings); Metal Bellows Co.,
|
|
Chatsworth, Calif. (alignment bellows); Simmonds Precision Products
|
|
Inc., Vergennes, Vt. (OMS propellant gauging system); SSP Products,
|
|
Burbank, Calif. (gimbal bellows assembly); Tayco Engineering, Long
|
|
Beach, Calif. (electrical heaters); AiResearch Manufacturing Co.,
|
|
Torrance, Calif. (gimbal actuators and controllers); Futurecraft
|
|
Corp., City of Industry, Calif. (OMS engine valve components); L.A.
|
|
Gauge, Sun Valley, Calif. (ball valves); PSM Division of Fansteel,
|
|
Los Angeles, Calif. (OMS nozzle extension); Rexnord Inc., Downers
|
|
Grove, Ill. (OMS engine bearings); Sterer Engineering and
|
|
Manufacturing, Pasadena, Calif. (OMS engine pressure regulator/relief
|
|
valve assembly); Parker-Hannifin, Irvine, Calif. (OMS propellant tank
|
|
isolation valves, relief valves, manifold interconnect valves);
|
|
Rockwell International, Rocketdyne Division, Canoga Park, Calif. (OMS
|
|
check valves); Brunswick, Lincoln, Neb. (OMS helium tanks);
|
|
Sundstrand, Rockford, Ill. (heater thermostats).
|
|
|