Spaceworthiness Explained
Spaceworthiness,[1] [2] or aerospaceworthiness,[3] is a property, or ability of a spacecraft to perform to its design objectives and navigate successfully through both the space environment and the atmosphere as a part of a journey to or from space. The concept may less commonly be extended to other devices, such as spacesuits, which are designed to spend some amount of time exposed to space.
As in airworthiness, the spaceworthiness of a spacecraft depends on at least three basic components:[4] [5]
Spaceworthiness is typically maintained through a maintenance program and / or a system of analysis, diagnosis and management of health and reliability of the spacecraft.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Related concepts
Spaceworthiness of launch vehicles and spacecraft is an extension of the concepts of roadworthiness for cars, railworthiness for trains, seaworthiness for boats and ships, and airworthiness for aircraft.
See also
Notes and References
- http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9896&page=4 Scientific Assessment of Options for the Disposal of the Galileo Spacecraft (search with CTRL+F for "Galileo's general spaceworthiness").
- https://web.archive.org/web/20120313115758/http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200510/000020051005A0344894.php Tatsuya, Maruyama (Kawasaki Heavy Ind., Ltd., Gifu-pref., Jpn). "Reconsideration on space tour vehicle "KANKOH-MARU" from the standpoint of safety standard".
- http://aviationweek.com/aviation-week-space-technology/2010-02-22 Scott, H.A. "Spaceworthiness Exists" (search with CTRL+F for "spaceworthiness").
- http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/some_aspects_of_space_navigation_law.shtml Funatsu, Yoshi. "Some Aspects of Space Navigation Law" (in: sub-item 3, "Safety of space vehicles", of item 2, "Outline of Commercial Space Law").
- http://salsa.stlib.state.nm.us/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1281J9498U6D1.4259&profile=nms&uri=link=3100007~!1562984~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=basic_search&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!marquis&term=16th+Space+Simulation+Conference&index=ALTITLE 16th Space Simulation Conference (microform): confirming spaceworthiness into the next millennium / Joseph L. Stecher III, editor. By Space Simulation Conference (16th : 1990 : Albuquerque, N.M.). Subjects: - Space simulators - Congresses; - Space environment - Congresses; Space vehicles -- Testing -- Congresses.
- http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/dfl/activities.asp David Florida Laboratory Activities: "The David Florida Laboratory (DFL) supplies government and industry with the specialized rooms, equipment, and support personnel necessary to assemble and check the spaceworthiness of entire spacecraft, their subsystems, and major components".
- http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080929-shuttle-hubble-update.html NASA Delays Shuttle Mission to Hubble Telescope (search with CTRL+F for "tests required to prove its spaceworthiness").
- http://iopscience.iop.org/0957-0233/12/7/339 Wolfgang Ecke et al. Fibre optic sensor network for spacecraft health monitoring.
- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/0470092866 W.J. Staszewski, C. Boller, G.R. Tomlinson (Editors). Health Monitoring of Aerosapace Structures: Smart Sensor Technologies and Signal Processing.
- http://www.aviationtoday.com/am/categories/bga/76.html HUMS: Health And Usage Monitoring Systems.
- [Avionics#Aircraft management systems|"Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) are integrated with aircraft management computers to allow maintainers early warnings of parts that will need replacement".]
- http://gltrs.grc.nasa.gov/Citations.aspx?id=3077 Cronkhite, J.; Dickson, B.; Martin, W.; Collingwood, G. "Operational Evaluation of a Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS)" (Diagnostics; Vibration measurement; Helicopters; Health and usage monitoring).
