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1993-04-06
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"6_2_3_15.TXT" (6412 bytes) was created on 12-30-88
DISPLAYS AND CONTROLS
The crew compartment of the orbiter contains the most complicated
displays and controls ever developed for an aerodynamic vehicle. The
displays and controls exist in a variety of configurations, with
toggle, push button, thumbwheel and rotary switches. Meters are
circular and rectangular dials and rectangular tapes. Switches and
circuit breakers are positioned in groups corresponding to their
functions.
All controls are protected against inadvertent activation. Toggle
switches are protected by wicket guards, and lever lock switches are
used wherever inadvertent action would be detrimental to flight
operations or could damage equipment. Cover guards are used on
switches where inadvertent actuation would be irreversible.
The displays and controls in the orbiter crew compartment enable the
flight crew members to supervise, control and monitor the space
shuttle mission and vehicle. They include controllers, cathode ray
tube displays and keyboards, coding and conversion electronics for
instruments and controllers, lighting, timing devices, and a caution
and warning system.
The displays and controls are designed so that a crew of two can
perform normal operations in all mission phases (except payload
operations). They are designed to enable a safe return to Earth from
either the commander's or pilot's seat; flight-critical displays and
controls are accessible from the forward flight deck station from
launch to orbital operations and from deorbit to landing rollout.
All displays and controls have dimmable floodlighting in addition to
integral meter lighting.
There are more than 2,020 displays and controls in the forward and
aft flight decks and middeck of the orbiter. This represents more
than 100 times the number of controls and displays found in the
average automobile.
Orbiter displays and controls consist of panel displays, mechanical
controls and electrically operated controls. Generally, the displays
and controls are grouped by function and arranged in operational
sequence from left to right or top to bottom with the most critical
and most frequently used devices located to maximize the crew's
performance and efficiency.
The displays and controls are divided between the forward flight
station and aft flight station. The forward station contains all the
equipment necessary for the operation of the orbiter. The aft flight
station contains displays and controls necessary for rendezvous and
docking and for controlling the remote manipulator system and
payloads.
The forward flight control area panels are labeled L for the left, or
commander's position; R for the right, or pilot's position; F for the
front section; O for the overhead position, and C for the lower
center section.
The left panels contain circuit breakers, controls and
instrumentation for the environmental control and life support
system, communications equipment, heating controls, and the trim and
body flap controls. The commander's speed brake and thrust
controller is on the left panel. The right panels contain more
circuit breakers; controls for the fuel cells, hydraulic system,
auxiliary power units and engines; and the pilot's communication
controls. Electrical power distribution controls are also located on
the right-hand panels. The pilot's speed brake and thrust controller
is to his left on the center console.
The overhead panel contains lighting controls, the computer voting
panel and fuel cell purge controls. The center console contains the
flight control system channel selector, air data equipment, and
communication and navigation controls. It also contains fuel cell
circuit breakers and the pilot's trim and body flap controls.
The center forward panel contains the three cathode ray tube display
sets, the caution and warning system, aerosurface position
indicators, backup flight control displays, and the fire protection
system displays and controls. There are primary flight displays for
both the commander and the pilot as well as auxiliary power unit and
hydraulic displays and controls for the landing gear. The
glareshield contains the head-up display.
The commander and the pilot have a rotational hand controller with
integral switching to activate the backup flight control system. The
commander also has a translational hand controller.
The aft flight station contains left, right and center panels. The
panels contain the power reactant storage and distribution cryo tank
heater control, auxiliary power unit and hydraulic heater controls,
reaction control system and orbital maneuvering system heater
controls, Ku-band and remote manipulator system pyro jettison
controls, communication and utility power plug-ins, translational and
rotational hand controllers, an attitude director indicator, Ku-band
and S-band communications controls, recorder controls, payload
controls, remote manipulator system controls, closed-circuit
television controls, a cathode ray tube and keyboard system.
The contractors involved are: Abbott Transistor, Los Angeles, Calif.
(transformers); Aerospace Avionics Inc., Bohemia, N.Y. (propellant
quantity indicator and annunciators); Aiken Industries, Mechanical
Product Division, Jackson, Mich. (thermal circuit breakers); Applied
Resources, Fairfield, N.J. (rotary switch); Bendix Corp., Teterboro,
N.J. (surface position, alpha Mach, altitude/vertical velocity
indicators); Bendix Corp., Davenport, Iowa (accelerometer indicator);
SLI System, West Caldwell, N.J. (mission and event timer); Armtec
Industries Inc., Manchester, N.H. (digital select thumbwheels,
toggle switches); Eldec Corp., Lynwood, Wash. (tape meter);
Honeywell Inc., Clearwater, Fla. (flight control system); IBM Corp.,
Federal Systems Division, Electronics Systems Center, Owego, N.Y.
(cathode ray tube display unit, computer keyboard), ILC Technology,
Sunnyvale, Calif. (cabin interior and exterior lighting); J.L.
Products, Gardena, Calif. (push button switch); Lear Siegler, Grand
Rapids, Mich. (attitude director indicator); Martin Marietta,
Denver, Colo. (caution and warning status display, limit module);
Weston Instruments, Newark, N.Y. (event indicator, electrical
indicator meter); Collins-Rockwell, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (display
driver unit, horizontal situation indicator); Aeropanel, Parisippany,
N.J. (integrally illuminated panels); Betatronix, Hauppauge, N.Y.
(potentiometers).