Volume 10, Number 3 • May/June 2002 • Aerospace Technology Development

Technology Opens Door to the Space Frontier

Engineers at the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) are currently testing the newest in umbilical technology to support NASA’s ambitious new Space Launch Initiative (SLI), also known as the second generation of reusable launch vehicles. The SLI program ultimately will carry space exploration from the endeavors of the space shuttle missions into another age of pioneering wherein people and businesses more routinely live, work and travel in space.

“Umbilicals are the lifeline of any Space Launch Vehicle,” said Warren Wiley, KSC’s SLI program manager. “Fluids including propellants, pressurization gasses and cooling systems, along with power, communications and instrumentation readings, all flow through the umbilical. As a result, these large devices are manpower intensive to mate, test and maintain.”

Traditional umbilical systems release at vehicle liftoff (T-0) and can require extensive connection time, thereby reducing potential flight rate. The Smart Umbilical Mating System, three years in development by NASA and Rohwedder Systems of Oviedo, FL, will serve as a modern next-generation umbilical system.

“The concept is to replace a T-0 umbilical with an automated system that has a mate, demate and remate capability,” said Tom Lippitt, a lead engineer at KSC. “The ability to quickly and reliably mate and demate umbilical connectors under automated control combined with remote connection verification capabilities would reduce the time and labor hours required to prepare for launch.”

According to Lippitt, the Smart Umbilical Mating System will also serve as a test bed for the development of future launch vehicle technologies. Ice suppression, advance control and leak detection, and quick disconnects are all related to umbilicals and will benefit from further testing and improvements. Through the use of the Smart Umbilical Mating System, these new technologies can be tested in cryogenic conditions.

“In addition to ground-based applications, planetary systems and rovers will require umbilical mating for propellant loading as well as electrical and data connection,” said Lippitt. “The technology developed as part of this project may be applied to develop simple, reliable self-sufficient mating systems. Some of this work will be required to make certain missions and systems feasible, such as the Mars methane-fueled rovers.”

Kennedy Space Center is responsible for managing the Ground Operations Project–NASA’s effort to reduce the risk associated with developing a second-

generation reusable launch vehicle (RLV). They will accomplish this by defining, developing and testing technologies needed to access space safely and economically.

“The project will address SLI goals of reducing operating costs by reducing the maintenance and manpower needed to do the connections, and will increase safety by automatically performing hazardous tasks and reducing potential failure modes,” said Wiley.

The Space Launch Initiative is a NASA-wide research and development program managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center. Its mission is to open space for commercial, scientific and personal pursuits, and to enable exploration of our universe by rendering space transportation much safer, less expensive and more reliable than current commercial launch vehicles. Q

For more information, please contact Thomas Lippitt at Kennedy Space Center, NASA YA-D1, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899, 321/867-1391, thomas.lippitt-1@ksc.nasa.gov or John Spears or Jeff Donahue at Rohwedder, Inc., 582 South Econ Circle, Oviedo, FL 32765, 407/359-7363, info@rohwedder.com. Please mention you read about this technology in Innovation.

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