SSV-2003-2 Activity Period: Sept. 8 - Oct. 2, 2003

Since 1980, the Vertical Motion Simulator at NASA Ames Research Center has supported the Space Shuttle program, providing high fidelity, piloted simulations of Space Shuttle landings and rollouts every nine months and serving as a critical training facility for the astronaut corps. Indeed, the corps has extremely high confidence in the technical fidelity of the VMS simulations and requires all astronaut pilots to train here. Astronauts experience both typical and off-nominal conditions during simulation, including poor visibility, inclement weather, Auxiliary Power Unit failures, Head Up Display (HUD) misalignment, nose-wheel steering failure, tire failures, and brake failures. It is far better for astronauts to train for off-nominal conditions in the safety of a high-fidelity simulator than to encounter such conditions for the first time in a real flight scenario. In addition to astronaut training, the VMS offers a cost-effective research platform to test enhancements to the Orbiter vehicle. Past research has included modifications to the flight-control system, flight rules, and the basic simulation model. For example, flight handling qualities can be tested and evaluated in the VMS after improvements have been made to systems but before the improvements are actually implemented on the Shuttle. This allows any anomalies to be detected and addressed before they become an expensive, real-life problem. Engineering studies are also conducted in the VMS and have contributed greatly to program safety. These projects and studies are enhanced by the use of the Virtual Laboratory (VLAB). VLAB’s collaborative engineering environment enables researchers at Johnson Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center to interact with VMS experiments in real time by linking the facilities through a high-speed communications network and specialized software. During Orbiter simulations, remote researchers use VLAB to view live data from the VMS, communicate with the pilot and onsite researchers and engineers, and interact with simulations as they occur. This remote participation capability saves the Shuttle program two very valuable commodities: time and money. Following the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia in February 2003, future Shuttle launches have been postponed until at least 2004. The VMS can play a critical role in the fleet’s Return to Flight by providing enhanced training for the corps, not only in the realm of landing and rollout, but also with “abort on ascent” scenarios. In addition to the three End of Mission landing sites (Kennedy Space Center, Dryden Air Force Base, and White Sands Missile Range) the VMS currently has 21 Shuttle abort landing sites in its database, covering most abort options for standard Shuttle missions. The primary focus of the current Shuttle simulation is astronaut training, including landings at many of the abovementioned abort sites. Additionally, an emulated Backup Flight System provided by Boeing will be demonstrated, and the Microwave Landing System will be verified to ensure its correct implementation and functioning at the VMS. Top of Page