The space-based orbital transfer vehicle will require a large cryogenic fuel storage facility at the Space Station. An alternative to fuel storage onboard the Space Station, is on a tethered orbital refueling facility (TORF) which is separated from the Space Station by a sufficient distance to induce a gravity gradient to settle the propellants. Facility operations are a major concern associated with a tethered LO2/LH2 storage depot. A study was carried out to analyze these operations so as to identify the preferred TORF deployment direction (up or down) and whether the TORF should be permanently or intermittently deployed. The analyses considered safety, contamination, rendezvous, servicing, transportation rate, communication, and viewing. An upwardly, intermittently deployed facility is the preferred configuration for a tethered cryogenic fuel storage.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Space Station tethered refueling facility operations


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1986-06-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Space Station tethered refueling facility operations

    KIEFEL, E. / RUDOLPH, L. / FESTER, D. | AIAA | 1986


    A Space Station tethered orbital refueling facility

    FESTER, D. / RUDOLPH, L. / KIEFEL, E. | AIAA | 1985


    A Space Station tethered orbital refueling facility

    Fester, D. A. / Rudolph, L. K. / Kiefel, E. R. | NTRS | 1985


    The dynamics of a space station tethered refueling facility

    ABBOTT, P. / RUDOLPH, L. / FESTER, D. | AIAA | 1986


    Dynamical Considerations for Tethered Orbital Refueling Facility

    Abbott, Peter W. / Rudolph, L. Kevin / Fester, Dale A. | NTRS | 1987