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RAM - A concept for reducing space payload costs.The post-Apollo era in manned space flight will be dominated in the short term by development of the space shuttle as an economical transportation system for payloads to low earth orbit. Research and Applications Modules (RAM) are a related group of shuttle-launched carriers for such payloads which can be used many times over, thus effecting great savings over currently conventional methods of implementing a program of this type. In order to maximize the potential savings, development and unit costs of the RAM vehicles must be minimized. All of the mission and operating modes can be covered in an economical fashion by the use of only three basic RAM elements - a pressurized module, an unpressurized pallet, and a pressurizable free-flying unit utilized in several combinations. These have been developed as a least cost approach through the consideration of such cost/weight related drivers as available crew size, separability of costly subsystems for multiple use, easy accessibility for maintenance/refurbishment for reuse, and a maximum commonality of hardware with existing and projected space projects.
Document ID
19720059816
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Powell, D. J.
(General Dynamics Corp. Convair Aerospace Div., San Diego, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 6, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1972
Subject Category
Space Vehicles
Report/Patent Number
SAWE PAPER 942
Meeting Information
Meeting: Society of Aeronautical Weight Engineers, Annual Conference
Location: Atlanta, GA
Start Date: May 22, 1972
End Date: May 25, 1972
Sponsors: Society of Aeronautical Weight Engineers
Accession Number
72A43482
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-27539
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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