A simulator study was made of presentations and control requirements for a manned astrovehicle employed in the interception of artificial satellites during the terminal phase of an orbital rendezvous of the satellite. The study was considered in terms of a manned interceptor having a home berth at a manned space station which is in circular orbit 500 miles above the earth. Interceptions were restricted to coplanar conditions and ranges of one-half mile. The results are believed to be generally applicable to conditions wherein the target is in the terminal area. Presentations which do not provide for attitude indications of the intercepting vehicle are not satisfactory. A direct-visual-observation presentation employing a screen, a projected star background, and a projected image of the target provided a feeling of "realism" in tracking and would be a satisfactory pilot-training aid. Use of longitudinal-translation and attitude controls alone is inadequate. Use of translation control alone, parallel and normal to the axis of the intercepting vehicle, is effective; the addition of attitude control enhanced the effectiveness, provided the control was used discriminately. Direct-visual-observation interceptions can be performed effectively without the aid of range and rate-of-closure-of-range meters at speeds up to approximately 50 feet per second; however, higher speeds of interception require the use of these instruments.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Simulator Investigation of Controls and Display Required for Terminal Phase of Coplanar Orbital Rendezvous


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1960-10-01


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Simulator investigation of controls and display required for terminal phase of coplanar orbital rendezvous

    Wolowicz, C.H. / Drake, H.M. / Videan, E.N. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1960


    Simulator investigation of controls and display required for terminal phase of coplanar orbital rendevous

    Wolowicz, Chester H. / Drake, Hubert M. / Videan, Edward N. | TIBKAT | 1960


    Orbital rendezvous simulator

    Levin, E. / Ward, J. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1959