Study of the Performance of Propulsion Units with Nitrogen-Jet Thrusters for Astronaut Extravehicular Activities’ (EVAs)
The future plans of the space agencies all across the globe, mainly focus on the advance of the Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) that are orientated in the repair and maintenance of the space vehicles. This thesis presents a brief history of the space suits (EMU, Orlan-M) utilized in space applicati...
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| Tipo de recurso: | tesis de maestría |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2021 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/360770 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/360770 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Outer space--Exploration Astronautics Propulsion systems Astronauts Extravehicular Activity Simplified Aid for Extravehicular Activity Rescue SAFER nitrogen-jet thrusters spacewalking Espai exterior--Exploració Astronàutica Sistemes de propulsió Astronautes Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Aeronàutica i espai::Astronàutica |
| Sumario: | The future plans of the space agencies all across the globe, mainly focus on the advance of the Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) that are orientated in the repair and maintenance of the space vehicles. This thesis presents a brief history of the space suits (EMU, Orlan-M) utilized in space applications and the propulsion units (Hand-Held Maneuvering Unit, Manned Maneuvering Unit and the Simplified Aid for Extravehicular Activity Rescue-SAFER which is currently being used for performing self-rescue maneuvers, in the case the EVA crew member becomes untethered from the orbiter) that have been used during the space activities. After introducing the space environment and the critical conditions that surround the astronaut during these activities, the fundamentals of the Cold Gas Propulsion Systems on which the function of the SAFER propulsion unit is based, are presented. The aim of this thesis is to perform a performance analysis of the SAFER propulsion unit, with the extraction of the basic space propulsion concepts, i.e. thrust, specific impulse, etc. and the verification of the produced results with the technical characteristics of the unit. The orbital dynamics applying on the astronaut during an EVA are also being studied in this thesis, starting from the scenario where the crew member becomes untethered and floats freely in the vacuum of space and at the same time, examining the case where the SAFER propulsion unit is being activated for the performance of the self-rescue maneuver, and the return of the astronaut to the orbiter. |
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