Refueling Satellites in Space: The OSCRS Program

Barney F. Gorin

doi:10.4271/861797

1986-10-01

Refueling Satellites in Space: The OSCRS Program 861797

The Orbital Spacecraft Consumables Resupply System (OSCRS) will evolve into an integral part of the space infrastructure in the Space Station era. This system will provide consumables replenishment, on-orbit, in a variety of modes including operation in the Space Transportation System (STS) Orbiter payload bay, as an adjunct to both the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) and the Orbit Transfer Vehicle (OTV), and at the Space Station. The consumables to be resupplied for on-orbit operations will include propellant(s), water, gasses, cryogens and biological materials. The first fluids to be resupplied will be propellants primarily because propellants will be required sooner and in greater quantities than other fluids.

Cost-effectiveness will make the OSCRS economically attractive to the user. Finding the optimum balance between efforts to minimize cost and maximize value involves anticipating both the cost impact of technical choices and their value to the user. Maximizing the usefulness of an OSCRS to a broad range of users over the next two decades requires a design flexible enough to accommodate a wide variety of reservicing scenarios.

The work described in this paper was performed for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center under contract NAS9-17586 as well as on Fairchild Internal Research and Development funds.

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Refueling Satellites in Space: The OSCRS Program 861797

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