Human and Robotic Repair of a Solar Array Wing during ISS Assembly Mission 10A

Paper number

IAC-08.B3.6.5

Author

Mr. Viano Oghenekevwe, MDA Space Missions, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Richard Rembala, MDA, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Michael Hiltz, MDA Space Missions, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Scott Redmond, MDA Space Missions, Canada

Year

2008

Abstract

With the installation of a new module and the relocation of 3 other payloads, including multiple hand-offs from the Station Arm (SSRMS) to the Shuttle Arm (SRMS), ISS Assembly Mission 10A/STS-120 was expected to be one of the most complicated space station assembly missions ever attempted.  The mission called for the SSRMS to install a new station module called Harmony, relocate the PMA-2 to the forward facing port of Harmony , remove the large Truss Segment P6 from its temporary position, hand it off to the SRMS and finally receive it back at a different worksite for final installation at its permanent location. The assembly operations took on an even more complex nature when halfway through the mission a solar array wing (SAW) on the relocated Port-6 truss segment ripped while being extended The repair of the torn SAW became the single most important mission objective for the remainder of STS-120, with future ISS operation threatened by the corresponding loss of power generation capabilities if the SAW could not be repaired.  Precise coordination between the Space Shuttle and ISS robotics teams led to a robotic repair operation concept which combined the capabilities of the SRMS and SSRMS robotic systems in ways far beyond their original design capacity, facilitating a very successful emergency EVA spacewalk to repair the torn SAW. At the heart of the successful EVA was the capability for an astronaut to operate off of a portable foot restraint on the Orbital Boom Sensor System (OBSS) which was in turn held by the SSRMS with camera viewing support from the SRMS to safely complete the operation.
Benefits of consistent standards for ISS robotic interfaces have been previously identified, but the advantages of having such two such versatile and compatible robotic systems have never been quite so spectacular.  This paper describes the role of robotics in the emergency SAW repair and highlights how versatility within space robotics systems can allow operations far beyond the intended design scenarios.

Abstract document

IAC-08.B3.6.5.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.B3.6.5.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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