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Space ShuttlePresentation

Space Shuttle Program Dual Docked Operations

20231 min read176 words
Joel W. Sills, Jr. and Erica E. Bruno
Langley Research Center

  • Dual Docked Operations (DDO) is the docking or undocking of a Russian Vehicle (RV) during Space Shuttle Orbiter/International Space Station (ISS) mated operations.
  • This paper and presentation summarizes the concept definition, studies, and analysis results generated by the Space Shuttle Program (SSP), ISS Program (ISSP), and Mission Operations Directorate for implementing DDO during mated Orbiter/ISS missions. [1]
  • Due to the ever-increasing visiting vehicle traffic to and from the ISS, it became apparent to both the ISSP and the SSP that there would arise occasions where conflicts between a visiting vehicle docking and/or undocking could overlap with a planned Space Shuttle launch and/or during mated Orbiter/ISS operations.
  • This potential conflict provided the genesis for evaluating risk mitigations to gain maximum flexibility for managing potential visiting vehicle traffic to and from the ISS and to maximize launch and landing opportunities for all visiting vehicles.
  • Reviews were conducted to assess the viability and readiness of the SSP to protect for DDO on any given mission and it was found to be t echnically feasible

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