Drucella Andersen

Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

June 9, 1992
(Phone: 202/453-8613)

H. Keith Henry
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
(Phone: 804/864-6120)

Jim Sahli
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
(Phone: 205-544-0034)

RELEASE: 92-84

NASA UNDERWATER TESTS TO SIMULATE SPACE ANTENNA

ASSEMBLY

NASA engineers are preparing to do the first assembly of a

large-scale, parabolic (double-curve) antenna in a huge water
tank whose buoyancy lets researchers simulate working in the
microgravity environment of space.

Some future space antennas will be too big to fit inside a

space vehicle, so they will have to be assembled in Earth orbit
from smaller panels attached to a supporting framework.

This month's tests in the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator at

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., will
help establish assembly times for such antennas, evaluate work
procedures and task coordination and check the compatibility of
the hardware itself.

The 50-foot dish to be used in the underwater study mimics

the primary reflector of a new type of Earth-observation
instrument. The dish surface is divided into 37 six-sided
segments that will be mounted on a 315-piece support structure.
 The pieces fit together to make a honeycomb-like surface
pattern. On an orbiting satellite, the segments would form a
precise reflector that could pick up electromagnetic energy
radiated from Earth and distribute it to various sensors. The
larger the dish surface, the more accurate the measurements
become. NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton,Va., leads the
effort.
- more -
-2-

The underwater tests will include construction of the

reflector support structure, attachment of seven reflector
panels each about 7 feet in diameter and the removal and
reconnection of a panel to simulate repair activities.

Space-suited engineers from Langley will play the role of

astronauts working in Earth orbit. They will erect the truss
structure from individual stick-like members by manually
joining them with Langley-designed and developed quick-connect
joints similar to hardware tested on the recent STS-49 Space
Shuttle mission.

During the simulation, one "astronaut" will remove the truss

members and joints from canisters, while the other assembles
the pieces into the truss. After part of the truss has been
built, the test subjects will reorient their foot restraints
and attach a series of reflector segments.

The mockup will be assembled on a fixture anchored to the

bottom of the water tank. The fixture will support and move
the truss during its construction and position the engineers as
they move the footpads.

Researchers estimate that it will take about 3 hours to

build the reflector mockup. The experience gained during this
test will lead to refinements in precision reflector hardware
being developed at Langley Research Center. NASA also is
working on ways to create large space antennas using deployable
structures, as well as by robotic and robot-assisted assembly.

Scientists will use precision reflectors to study the

structure and origin of the universe and to improve
understanding of environmental and climatic changes occurring
on Earth.
- end -

EDITORS NOTE: A 3/4" video clip (4:30 running time) is

available to media representatives by calling 202/453-8594.
Still photos to illustrate the release also are available,
202/453-8375.

COLOR: B&W:
92-HC-349 92-H-395 through -398
92-HC-350