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Space Forum / Shuttle / October 2006Debris Calibration
Have they ever tried purposely dumping stuff off the shuttle, foam, RCC, block of frozen urine, whatever, so that they can calibrate the radar (or whatever they use to monitor the shuttle) so that when "something" falls off it can be better identified? post2google@yahoo.com wrote in news:1160768316.727648.124920 @b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com: > Have they ever tried purposely dumping stuff off the shuttle, foam, > RCC, block [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > be better > identified? Not specifically shuttle debris, but yes. Look up "ODERACS".  SignatureJRF Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail, check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and think one step ahead of IBM. As an adjunct to this, one of the problems with floating 'stuff' is that because there is nothing to gauge distance with, the sizes cannot be estimated by visual means from the spacecraft . I wondered if some form of laser ranging device , say hand held might be an answer, but I suspect the variability of the window distortion might screw it up. Brian SignatureBrian Gaff - briang1@blueyonder.co.uk Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff' in the display name may be lost. > post2google@yahoo.com wrote in news:1160768316.727648.124920 > @b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Not specifically shuttle debris, but yes. Look up "ODERACS". All that is required is a second camera and computer, stereo vision. If you know the distance between the cameras and the angles with respect to a reference, both distance and size can be computed. SignatureCraig Fink Courtesy E-Mail Welcome @ WeBeGood@GMail.Com -- > As an adjunct to this, one of the problems with floating 'stuff' is that > because there is nothing to gauge distance with, the sizes cannot be > estimated by visual means from the spacecraft . I wondered if some form of > laser ranging device , say hand held might be an answer, but I suspect the > variability of the window distortion might screw it up. Yes, but they would have to have a camera on it at the time. I got the impression from some of the talkback that they could see stuff that was not being imaged, or that turning a camera onto was difficult. Brian SignatureBrian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email. graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them Email: briang1@blueyonder.co.uk ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ > All that is required is a second camera and computer, stereo vision. If > you know the distance between the cameras and the angles with respect to a [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> the >> variability of the window distortion might screw it up. > As an adjunct to this, one of the problems with floating 'stuff' is > that because there is nothing to gauge distance with, the sizes cannot > be estimated by visual means from the spacecraft . I wondered if some > form of laser ranging device , say hand held might be an answer, but I > suspect the variability of the window distortion might screw it up. Each shuttle flight already carries at least one, and usually two, handheld lasers. You are correct; the shuttle's windows are so thick that it is difficult to get a good return signal unless the laser is held flat against the window. This limits the lasers to shooting targets that are directly out the window, such as ISS during rendezvous. SignatureJRF Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail, check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and think one step ahead of IBM. stuff like this is why they should build those small free flying mini flyers, with a camera and grappling hook they could go check out stuff of interest, with small graping hook retrieve pieces More likely, someone would bump it into something vital instead and create a bigger problem! Brian SignatureBrian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email. graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them Email: briang1@blueyonder.co.uk ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ > stuff like this is why they should build those small free flying mini > flyers, with a camera and grappling hook they could go check out stuff > of interest, with small graping hook retrieve pieces Yes two "calibration" experiments were performed during the sts-107 mission where ionosperic disturbances were created in orbit, and observed by ground stations. The intense scientific work the sts-107 crew accomplished before their deaths must not be forgotten so please read the sts-107 press kit, and you will find the experiments SIMPLEX, and RAMBO. tom STS-107 press kit page 8 par 4 "Additional secondary payloads are the Shuttle Ionospheric Modification with Pulsed Local Exhaust Experiment (SIMPLEX) and Ram Burn Observation (RAMBO)." STS-107 press kit page 64. "Shuttle Ionospheric Modification with Pulsed Localized Exhaust (SIMPLEX) SIMPLEX is a Department of Defense experiment that observes shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System engine burns. The orbiter OMS thruster firings are used to create ionospheric disturbances for observation by the SIMPLEX radars. There is no flight hardware associated with this payload. The SIMPLEX radars are located at: 1) Arecibo, Puerto Rico, 2) Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, 3) Millstone Hill, Mass., 4) Jicamarca, Peru, and 5) the Very Large Array near Socorro, N.M. The purpose of SIMPLEX is to determine the source of Very High Frequency (VHF) radar echoes caused by the Orbiter's OMS engines. On STS-107 a burn will be performed over the VLA." STS-107 press kit pag 96 "Ram Burn Observations (RAMBO) Ram Burn Observations (RAMBO) is a Department of Defense experiment that observes shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System engine burns for the purpose of improving plume models. On STS-107 the appropriate sensors will observe selected rendezvous and orbit adjust burns." > Have they ever tried purposely dumping stuff off the shuttle, foam, > RCC, block [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > be better > identified? |
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