Accession Number:

ADA235901

Title:

Determination of Flight Hardware Configuration of Energy-Absorbing Attenuator for Proposed Space Station Crew and Equipment Translation Aid Cart

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept

Corporate Author:

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMIN LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER HAMPTON VA

Report Date:

1991-04-01

Pagination or Media Count:

58.0

Abstract:

A device incorporating a crushable honeycomb column as the energy- absorbing mechanism was designed as an emergency stopping device for the crew and equipment translation aid CETA cart. The CETA cart is designed to transport astronauts along a monorail on the space station. Impact tests were performed to determine which honeycomb design provided a stopping force of 100 lb and energy dissipation of at least 1650 in-lb for 16.5 in. of stroke. A typical honeycomb column consisted of four 5.875-in-long segments of 75-psi honeycomb, separated by 1.5-in-diameter washers. The impact load was provided by a mass which dropped from a sufficient height to provide one half the equivalent energy of one astronaut plus equipment 500 lb total moving at 6 ftsec. Specimen configurations having aluminum, polyethylene, and Teflon washers were tested. Based on the results of impact tests, a honeycomb energy-absorbing column with standard core, foil wrapping, and Teflon washers was chosen for the CETA flight experiment.

Subject Categories:

  • Astronautics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE