In-Flight Manual Electronics Repair for Deep-Space MissionsSevere limitations on mass and volume available for spares on long-duration spaceflight missions will require electronics repair to be conducted at the component level, rather than at the sub-assembly level (referred to as Orbital Replacement Unit, or 'ORU'), as is currently the case aboard the International Space Station. Performing reliable component-level repairs in a reduced gravity environment by crew members will require careful planning, and some specialty tools and systems. Additionally, spacecraft systems must be designed to enable such repairs. This paper is an overview of a NASA project which examines all of these aspects of component level electronic repair. Results of case studies that detail how NASA, the U.S. Navy, and a commercial company currently approach electronics repair are presented, along with results of a trade study examining commercial technologies and solutions which may be used in future applications. Initial design recommendations resulting from these studies are also presented.
Document ID
20070017903
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Pettegrew, Richard (National Center for Space Exploration Research on Fluids and Combustion Cleveland, OH, United States)
Easton, John (National Center for Space Exploration Research on Fluids and Combustion Cleveland, OH, United States)
Struk, Peter (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Anderson, Eric (ZIN Technologies, Inc. Brook Park, OH, United States)