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SPACE STATION FREEDOM: Langley Research Center

Traditional Center Roles and Responsibilities

The Langley Research Center was established in 1917 during
World War I in the city of Hampton, Virginia, in the
southeastern part of the state.  Originally a part of the
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the Center was
called the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory after
Samuel P. Langley, a contemporary of the Wright brothers.
The Center has grown to cover 787 acres and is considered
one of the world's premier research facilities.  Since those
earliest days the Center has received five Collier Trophies,
an annual trophy given for the greatest accomplishment in
aeronautics and astronautics.

Langley's first wind tunnel began operation in 1921 and
subsequently modernized versions helped pioneer the way to
supersonic flight.  Hundreds of aircraft, including vehicles
like the X-15 have been tested in wind tunnels at Langley.
In 1958, Langley became part of the newly formed National
Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Today, the primary work at Langley is basic research in the
fields of aeronautics and space technology, including
aerodynamics, materials, structures, flight systems,
information systems, acoustics, aeroelasticity, and
atmospheric sciences.  Approximately 60 percent of Langley's
work is in aeronautical research to improve aircraft of the
future.  This research includes investigation of the full
flight range, from low-speed general aviation and transport
aircraft through high-speed hypersonic vehicles.

The National Aero-Space Plane is challenging researchers to
expand the limits of several technologies.  The plane is
intended to be a fully reusable air and space vehicle that
will take off horizontally from a conventional run-way,
accelerate to Mach 25 (25 times the speed of sound), and
achieve low-Earth orbit.

Much of the aeronautical research at Langley concentrates on
subsonic aircraft.  Researchers are developing basic
technology to improve their safety and efficiency.  Studies
of ways to improve engine performance, the fabrication of
new composite materials, vortex flow, laminar flow, wind
shear, and the application of supercomputers are being
conducted.  Air travel passengers in the next century will
likely benefit from the current research programs being
conducted at Langley.

Approximately 40 percent of the work at Langley supports our
national space program.  Langley was the home of the Mercury
and Gemini manned spacecraft programs before the formation
of the Johnson Space Center.

Five successful lunar orbiter missions to photograph
candidate Apollo landing sites were managed by Langley, as
were two unprecedented planetary landing Mars missions by
the Viking spacecraft.  Today, researchers conduct studies
in atmospheric and Earth sciences, identify and develop
technology for advanced Space Transportation Systems,
conduct research in laser energy conversion techniques for
space applications, and provide the focal point for
conceptual design activities for both large space systems
technology and space station activities.

Langley researchers did extensive work on the Space Shuttle
structure, aerodynamics, and thermal protection system.
Several Space Shuttle payloads have been developed at
Langley, including the Long-Duration Exposure Facility,
filled with 57 experiments and deployed in orbit for several
years.

ACCESS, Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space
Structure, was a Langley project to demonstrate that large
structures can be assembled, tested, repaired and
manipulated in Earth orbit.  Conceptual designs and
evolutionary definition studies for the space station are
under way at Langley.  Related studies investigate robotics
and large space systems that may be built in Earth orbit
within the next decade.

Langley has 2,800  employees and 1,950 contracts.   The
Center continues to pursue excellence in its quest for
knowledge to keep the U.S. a leader in aeronautics and space
technology.

LANGLEY  RESEARCH  CENTER

Space Station Freedom Unique Activities

Space Station Evolution

Langley is responsible for space station evolution to meet
future needs such as increased research and development
activities, support of a return to the Moon, or a manned
expedition to Mars.  This responsibility includes conducting
mission, systems, and operations  analyses; systems level
planning of options/configurations; coordinating and
integrating study results by others (including international
partners and U.S. industry); chairing the evolution working
group; and supporting advanced development program planning.

--Space structures

--Space environmental effects

--Power systems and thermal management

--Fluid management and propulsion systems

--Automation and robotics

--Sensor and information systems

--In-space systems

--Humans-in-space

Langley is responsible for representing the research and
engineering community interested in using the space station
for in-space technology development experimentation.  This
responsibility includes:  conducting technology user
accommodation analyses; representing NASA's Office of
Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST) on various space
station users panels and working groups;  serving as the
focal point for OAST's In-Space Technology Experiments
Program; identification and analysis of technology needs of
the evolutionary space station for OAST; and managing the
space station structural characterization experiment.

LANGLEY  RESEARCH  CENTER

Space Station Evolution

Mature Space Station - R&D Focus

To support initiatives such as the Humans to Mars and Lunar
Base projects, the space station serves first as a facility
for life science research and technology development and
eventually as a transportation node for vehicle assembly and
servicing.  Another viable evolutionary path involves
continued growth of the space station as a multipurpose
research and development (R&D) facility for science,
technology, and commercial endeavors.  For these options,
mission and systems analyses have been conducted by Langley
to determine primary resource requirements such as power,
crew, and volume.  For example, studies of multidiscipline,
R&D growth at the space station involved analysis of a
number of considerations, each of which emphasized a
particular discipline on the space station
(e.g.,microgravity research).  Resource levels constrained
by lift capabilities were determined utilizing
transportation models with expendable and heavy lift launch
vehicles as well as the Space Transportation System.  These
data, along with those from the transportation node analyses
performed at Langley, comprise the foundation for
evolutionary requirements derivation.

LANGLEY  RESEARCH  CENTER
Technology User Representation

To insure that the space station will accommodate various
user activities, Langley is responsible for representing the
research and engineering community (industry, universities,
and government) interested in in-space technology
development experimentation.  This experimentation includes:
basic or applied research to improve understanding of
phenomena and buildup of engineering data bases; technology
development involving test/evaluation of prototype
components and subsystems; and demonstrations involving
proof of maturity and performance verification in integrated
system context.  Langley is responsible for conducting
various use accommodation analyses such as determining
support equipment outfItting needs.  Langley represents OAST
on various space station user panels and working groups
including:  user accommodation panel; attached payload/
platform accommodation working group; pressurized element
payloads working group; payload manifest working group;
design reference mission working group; user information
systems working groups; utilization and operations review
board; and utilization and operations information planning
group.

Langley serves as the focal points for OAST's In-Space
Technology Experiments Program  for the definition and
development of industry, university, and NASA in-space
experiments.

The program includes experiments in space structures, space
environmental effects, fluid management and propulsion
systems, power systems and thermal management, automation
and robotics, sensor and information systems,
humans-in-space, and in-space systems.  These experiments
will initially fly on the STS or ELVs but will transition to
the space station as it becomes available.  One of these
experiments, the Space Station Structural Characterization
Experiment, is being managed by Langley.  This experiment
will instrument the space station and provide valuable
engineering data to validate computer modeling codes and lay
the basis for future large space systems including space
station evolution.

LANGLEY  RESEARCH  CENTER
Supporting Activities
IDEAS2
Integrated Multidisciplinary Engineering Analysis Capability

Langley expertise and involvement in systems analysis over
the years has resulted in the development of a number of
spacecraft computer-aided engineering (CAE) analytical tools
to support advanced space system design, conceptualization
engineering analysis, and performance prediction.
Analytical tool products generated from this area of
research have been applied to the Space Station Freedom
System Engineering and Integration (SE&I) program to address
the overall assessment and understanding of the interactive
performance of various engineering and technology
disciplines which make up such a complex spacecraft system
configuration definition.  The Interactive Design and
Evaluation of Advanced Spacecraft (IDEAS2) CAE system was
developed to assess the design considerations to meet the
mission goals and requirements by performing analytical
simulations of spacecraft performance in the dynamic orbital
environment of space.  The IDEAS2 computer software modules
include structural synthesizers; orbital mechanics
simulators; aerodynamic, gravity gradient and solar-pressure
orbital environmental synthesizers; solid geometry and
finite element modelers; on-orbit static, dynamic and
structural analyzers; thermal analyzers; structural element
design; subsystem design and data-base; performance, cost
and reliability analysis algorithms.  These
multidisciplinary analytical tools are interfaced such that
data from one module can be accessed by another module in an
interactive process which provides the capability to
evaluate spacecraft systems design concepts whose
performance predictions include disciplinary interaction.

SE&I  Key Analysis Support Tasks

?#Critical Evaluation Task Force
?#Phased Program Task Force
?#Mixed Fleet Study
?#Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle Study
?#ESA Hermes Interface/Accommodation
?#Space Station Transportation Study
?#Station Keeping Platform Utilization
#for Space Station Assembly
?#Industrial Space Facility Utilization
#Study
?#Early Man-Tended Assembly
#Sequence Studies
?#Enhanced-STS Space Station
#Assembly Sequence Study
?#Space Station Microgravity
#Environment Analysis

Langley conducted a number of key analysis tasks using the
IDEAS2 computer program capability in support of SE&I.
These tasks have included support of the Critical Evaluation
Task Force which reaffirmed the soundness of the baseline
space station configuration subsequent to the Challenger
accident and support of various transportation studies
related to space station assembly sequence options.

One of these analysis tasks  identified and assessed
potential space station docking port locations to
accommodate the European Space Agency's Hermes spaceplane.
The Hermes vehicle will weigh approximately 21 metric tons
with a length of 15.5 m and a wing span of approximately
10.5 m.  The docking port is located in the rear with
cold-gas thrusters used for the rendezvous phase.

Ten potential docking port locations (shown above) were
selected and evaluated with respect to several criteria,
such as the clearance between the station's elements and
Hermes, the complexity of approach rendezvous and proximity
operations, the impact of Hermes on the flight
characteristics of the space station, and the station's
remote manipulator system access for final berthing
operation via the grapple.

Two docking locations (front of the starboard forward node
and front of the port forward node, i.e., locations 1 and 2,
respectively) appeared to be the best all-around choice
since there were no clearance problems.  The approach path
was unobstructed along the +X axis (i.e., along the
station's velocity vector).  Furthermore, no negative impact
was found on the station's attitude and control.  However,
Hermes cannot use these locations while the Space Shuttle
orbiter is docked (location 2 is the primary orbiter docking
port), and the Hermes docking port must work with the Space
Transportation System docking adapter.

SPACE STATION FREEDOM: Langley Research Center

Supporting Activities

Langley expertise and involvement in systems analysis over
the years has resulted in the development of a number of
spacecraft computer-aided engineering (CAE) analytical tools
to support advanced space system design, conceptualization
engineering analysis, and performance prediction.
Analytical tool products generated from this area of
research have been applied to the Space Station Freedom
system Engineering an Integration (SE&I) program to address
the overall assessment and understanding of the interactive
performance of various engineering and technology
disciplines which make up such a complex spacecraft system
configuration definition.  The Interactive Design and
Evaluation of Advanced Spacecraft (IDEAS) CAE system was
developed to asses the design considerations to meet the
mission goals and requirements by performing analytical
simulations of spacecraft performance in the dynamic orbital
environmental synthesizers; solid geometry and finite
element modelers; on-orbit static, dynamic and structural
analyzers; structural element design; sub-system design and
database;  performance, cost and reliability analysis
algorithms.  These multidisciplinary analytical tools  are
interfaced such that data from one module can be accessed by
another module in an interactive process which provides the
capability to evaluate spacecraft systems design concepts
whose performance predictions include disciplinary
interaction.

Space Station Freedom Organization

The Space Station Freedom Office is the focal point for
Langley Research Center's involvement in the Agency-wide
Space Station Freedom Program and is responsible for the
implementation and coordination of Langley's direct support
of their program.  This office is NASA's lead office for the
identification, definition, and evaluation of the
evolutionary space station capabilities and for the
identification of technology and advanced development
required for long-term evolutionary development.  The office
represents the engineering community as technology users of
the space station.  It also advocates flight experiments on
future space Shuttle flights which contribute to space
station technology use as well as flight experiments from
technology programs which can contribute to both the initial
operational capability and the evolutionary space station.
The office also uses highly interactive computer-aided
design tools to provide Langely's support to the NASA-wide
in-house space station systems engineering and integration
activity.

This organization currently includes approximately 30 civil
servants.  There are an additional 50 people in other
Langley organizations working on supporting research,
studies and analysis.