Self Erecting Manned Space Laboratory

The Langley Research Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is currently involved in several research programs on manned orbital space stations. This research effort is focused on seeking out and solving the problems which lie in the way of the eventual development of such a vehicle for use as a space laboratory. In conducting this research activity, it has been necessary to consider many vehicle configuration designs and operational concepts in some detail. The Langley Research Center space station study program has been in progress for several years, and it was consisted of both in-house activities and contracted efforts with industry. In the early Langley Research Center studies, only zero-gravity configurations were considered; however, the requirement for artificial gravity simulation for experimental purposes was soon added. Human factors considerations indicated that large diameter vehicles with slow rotational velocities generally permit the most comfortable living conditions for the crew. The configurations which were studied were required to be compatible with the planned launch vehicles such as Saturn, and manned spacecraft such as Mercury.