A Case Study in NASA-DoD - The Black Vault

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points are provided by three load pins. The drogue point is the attachment
element to the remote manipulator system of the orbiter, used for
initial contact in the retrieval operation. The transition adapter
also supports operational or mission-unique elements such as solar
arrays (and associated mechanisms), booms, and antennas.
Structurally, the transition adapter is a ring with an I-beam cross
section. It contains automated machined fittings, formed extrusion, and
sheet metal components. Flanges and webs are formed from annealed material
then heat treated to the T-6 (temper) condition. Standard mechanical
fasteners are used for component joining. Final machining of
mating surface and drilling of subsystem attach holes take place after
structural assembly.
Spacecraft and Structural Weights
Table F-l shows the weights budgeted for MMS subsystems in their
baseline configurations. The MMS total weight including payload will
be defined by GSFC for each mission on the basis of spacecraft and
launch vehicle configuration.
Table F-1
BASELINE MMS STRUCTURE WEIGHT SUMMARY
Baseline Configuration
Weight (lb)
Structural and
Subsystem Total Thermal Components
Module support structure 168 150
Transition adapter 115 115
C&DH module 199 103
Power module 358 107
Attitude control and
stabilization module 371 117
Thermal control 3 3
Electrical integration 98 0
Total 1312 595 a
The thermal weight breakdown is as follows:
louvers - 39 lb, blankets - 6 lb, other - 3 lb.
Total thermal weight = 48 lb. The net structural
weight is then 595-48 - 547 lb.