ON-ORBIT CONSTRAINTS TEST - PERFORMING PRE-FLIGHT TESTSWITH FLIGHT HARDWARE, ASTRONAUTS AND GROUND SUPPORTEQUIPMENT TO ASSURE ON-ORBIT SUCCESS

摘要

On-Orbit Constraints Test (OOCT’s) refers to mating flight hardware together on the groundbefore they will be mated on-orbit. The concept seems simple but it can be difficult to performoperations like this on the ground when the flight hardware is being designed to be mated onorbitin a zero-g and/or vacuum environment of space. Also some of the items are manufacturedyears apart so how are mating tasks performed on these components if one piece is on-orbitbefore its mating piece is planned to be built. Both the Internal Vehicular Activity (IVA) andExtra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) OOCT’s performed at Kennedy Space Center will be presentedin this paper. Details include how OOCT’s should mimic on-orbit operational scenarios, a seriesof photographs will be shown that were taken during OOCT’s performed on International SpaceStation (ISS) flight elements, lessons learned as a result of the OOCT’s will be presented and thepaper will conclude with possible applications to Moon and Mars Surface operations planned forthe Constellation Program.