Definition Study of Potential Operational Modes for Large Spacelab Facility Payloads

摘要

A study of possible design trade-offs for the large infrared telescope for skylab (LIRTS) was made with respect to such proposed mission configurations as LIRTS extended duration mission, power module supported mission, and autonomous free flying mode. The free flying mode was examined in detail regarding the minimum support structure, a deployable secondary mirror, and the requirement for larger liquid helium cryostats. Some rough order of magnitude of cost assessments were made in relation to modification of the focal plane instrument package and the manufacture of larger size cryostats taking the current ESTEC dewar cost for reference.