6.1 -2) This would be an alternative to deploying a subsatellite, as discussed in Section 6.2. The principal advantage is that the RMS can be very precisely positioned, meaning a fine pointing system on the demonstrator is unnecessary and, therefore, greatly simplifies the experiment The primary disadvantage is that the distance over which the experiment is conducted is very small (10-20 m). Also, in the case of the microwave experiment, a suitably large rectenna is required, together with the fixtures to stow this rectenna in the Orbiter pay load bay. The cost of training the crew to grapple the rectenna and manipulate it above the experiment is likely to be significant. Another possibility is to use the airlock in the Spacelab. The experiment would be limited to low power levels (i.e. on the order of 100 Watts) because of the pay load size and astronaut safety concerns. This power would be received by a small rectenna (microwave) or by solar cells (laser) secured to the RMS, assuming the RMS is flown on the E-l mission. (Figure 6.1-3) Such receivers could be attached to the RMS during ground integration. (This has been the case on a number of Shuttle missions where the RMS has been used to expose material samples to die space environment.) The disadvantages of the experiment are obvious, with the small size and crew safety issues being of greatest concern. One advantage is that the transmission apparatus can be brought back into the Spacelab and modified in flight, allowing a “bread-board” class experiment to be flown. This would reduce the experimental risk considerably, although it would probably add to crew training costs. 6.2 Space Shuttle Launch of Small Payloads 6.2.1 Use of GAS CAP for a Shuttle-Based Experiment (Option 1) The first mission option is essentially identical to that of Eureca. It involves the use of two GAS CAPs. One contains the stowed subsatellite and the
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