reboost. The most unsuccessful mission would be precisely what is planned for current shuttle to station missions - unaided arrival and departures (16). V. Space Station Mission Enhancements There are several tether and ET based applications that are possible in the design and operation of a space station. These are all combinations of previously mentioned applications that will enhance the operation of the space station. A. Liquid Storage The microgravity applications of bodies on tethers can be utilized to store liquids so they will be available for use. The problem with weightlessness is that normal liquid flows will not take place. It will likely be very important to store the cryogenics, scavenged OMS fuels, water, or any other liquid a certain distance above or below the station for use. This takes advantage of the combined effects of the gravity gradient and centrifugal forces to settle the liquids on one end of the storage facility where they can be normally pumped (13, 56). B. Tank Storage Tank storage on orbit can also be enhanced by the use of tethers to minimize the cross sectional area ’into the wind’ (56). The intention is to hang a mass below the ET or the ET farm on the end of the longest possible tether. This serves several needs by putting the ETs in the best possible attitude relative to the ’wind' on orbit. It also puts them at the best possible altitude relative to the ‘wind’ by placing the ETs at the highest portion of the orbit above the atmosphere. It places a massive object in space for possible use by visiting orbiters. The orbiter can rendezvous and dock with the end of a tether carried on the tank farm and run the same momentum exchange as was discussed earlier for a space station. It can deposit the ET it carries at the ’tank farm’ and winch itself to the lowest possible altitude for release into a reentry trajectory.
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