Guy Norris/PALMDALE
ROCKWELL IS OFFERING to upgrade Space Shuttles with technology developed for theX-33 re-useable launch vehicle. Rockwell is competing for the X-33 contract against teams led by Lockheed Martin and McDonnell Douglas (MDC), and expects a NASA decision as early as 25 June.
Thermal-protection system elements, including tiles, which could be included in the upgrade, have been flight tested on Shuttle missions and a NASA MDC F-15. The tiles are lighter and offer improved durability in bad weather. An electro-mechanical actuator system would allow the Shuttle "-to get away from hydraulics", says Bob Minor, Rockwell Space Systems president. Weight-saving composites and aluminium-lithium could also be used.
Rockwell is completing modification and upgrade work on the Space Shuttle Discovery, which has gained an increase in payload of almost 770kg. The airlock has been extended into the payload bay, to enable it to dock with the Alpha International Space Station. The Discovery's first Station payload will be launched in November 1998. More cyrogenic and hydrogen tanks have been added, to boost endurance for 17-day missions.
The Discovery's next mission will be the STS82 in 1997, to service the Hubble Space Telescope. In August, the Shuttle Endeavour is due in Palmdale for the same upgrade, to be followed in 1997 by the Atlantis. This will include replacement of cathode-ray-tube displays with Honeywell flat-panel liquid-crystal displays. The Columbia will be retained in its current configuration for non-Space Station missions. Upgrade is due in 1999.
Source: Flight International
