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NASA Future In-Space Operations: An ISS Space Ambulance

By Marc Boucher
NASA Watch
October 27, 2016
Filed under ,
NASA Future In-Space Operations: An ISS Space Ambulance

NASA FISO Presentation: An ISS Space Ambulance Based on X-37B Technology
Now available is the October 19, 2016 NASA Future In-Space Operations (FISO) telecon material. The speakers was Steve Robinson (UC Santa Cruz) who discussed “An ISS Space Ambulance Based on X-37B Technology.”
Note: The audio file and presentation are online and available to download.
Marc’s note: An interesting concept. Is there a future commercial application for this concept should other space stations come online (Bigelow etc.)?

SpaceRef co-founder, entrepreneur, writer, podcaster, nature lover and deep thinker.

17 responses to “NASA Future In-Space Operations: An ISS Space Ambulance”

  1. Daniel Woodard says:
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    It’s not clear why the pilot is required. The X-37 has a track record of 100% successful autonomous landings.

    X-37C was proposed for crew transport but not pushed very aggressively, one suspects Boeing did not want to compete with its own CST-100 concept. The biggest problem was that there was no easy way to add a canopy and windshield so the crew could hand-fly the vehicle, and it was so narrow there would only be room for one front seat.

    Also, what are the storable nontoxic propellants? Presumably hydrogen peroxiode/RP-1, but why not bite the bullet and go for a zero-loss LOX tank?

    • Jeff2Space says:
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      Agreed on autonomous landings. Shuttle pilots trained on shuttle flight simulators on laptops while in orbit in order to keep their skills current. When pilot proficiency is that critical, yet might be used very few times, if any, I’d say take the pilot “out of the loop” at least as far as “stick and rudder” landings are concerned.

      • Yale S says:
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        They added the pilot as a scoping worst-case exercise. They were designing with the possibility that NASA would require a backup manual piloted option.

  2. Richard Brezinski says:
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    Great idea, and while the ambulance purpose is fine, no reason that the vehicle could not be used for nominal crew launch and return, Given both the X-37B and its launch vehicle’s successful track record. Surely they could fit 4 crew in normal seated positions with a small ECLS that would support the crew for a day or 2. While nominal mode would be for full autonomy, a crew should always have the option of manual control in case it is needed. Given the small size, standardized and not-too high tech components, and reusability, NASA ought to build a small fleet and have them in service within a year or 2.

  3. Donald Barker says:
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    A nice thought, but a little late for a program closer to its end than its beginning. Should have never canceled NASA’s X38 in 2002… that’s 15 years ago folks!!!! Think where we might be if our, oh so insightful government would not have spent all that money and canceled the program…. add to that the Super Collider, the Linear Aerospike and on and on and on… simply shameful.

    • Richard Brezinski says:
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      I’m not sure X-37b is closer to its end than its beginning. Unlike NASA programs, USAF programs usually last for decades and capabilities are upgraded periodically. X-37b has the advantage of having had several successful flights, The hard and expensive development work is done, and they have been flying for a several years. ISS needs the capability yesterday as a backup to Soyuz, and even moreso now since Soyuz expires soon and replacements may not be ready in time.at the rate they are being delayed (nervermind the current situation with the Russians that could curtail US Russian cooperation. Dreamchaser might also be able to offer similar services in time, but it is still years away from a space flight, Are they still working a manned version?

      • Yale S says:
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        The Dreamchaser is scheduled for cargo flights in the CRS-2 timeframe which opens in 2019. The Europeans have studied a crewed version.

        • Richard Brezinski says:
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          Well if today it is scheduled for first unmanned flights in 2019, factor in a delay or two (so maybe 2021 is more realistic), and then a couple years before its ready for crew, maybe 2023?? I am all for Dreamchaser, but X-37b is ready with relatively minor changes, today.

          • Yale S says:
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            The changes I see in the presentation are pretty dramatic for the X-37, including changing the propulsion system, adding docking ports, gutting and reconfiguring much of the interior, enabling piloted flight, life support, etc.
            And as the presenters point out, the Dream Chaser is the next craft they are going to evaluate.

          • Jeff2Space says:
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            You really only need one docking port, so I read that as docking port options. This is clearly a very high level study, not an in depth engineering analysis.

          • Donald Barker says:
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            Also, in-flight crew escape, pad abort, ECLSS, approach and docking, and on and on…

          • Jeff2Space says:
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            If it’s truly just an escape vehicle (i.e. ambulance), it can be launched and docked to ISS unmanned.

      • Donald Barker says:
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        I was saying that ISS is closer to its end than its beginning.. headed to 2024 with high doubts of making 2028, if history is any guide.

  4. Yale S says:
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    Why not a Dream Chaser? One of the selling points for the crewed version was that it could be used as a low-G ambulance. The cargo version is going to be flying to ISS on a regular basis in a couple of years. It would seem to be reasonably straightforward to produce an ambulance insert for it. It can be carried on an Atlas V, an FH, and an Ariane V. The Europeans are studying a crew variant that could contribute to the life support needs.

    https://nyoobserver.files.w

    • Jeff2Space says:
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      Might be an option, but many years into the future for a manned version since no version of DreamChaser has flown to LEO and back. Meanwhile, the X-37B has already had several successful extended duration flights to LEO. So the attractiveness of X-37B is that it is essentially “off the shelf”, except for the pressurized interior and docking port.

      • Yale S says:
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        and its replacement propulsion system.
        Also the Dream Chaser is designed with software and sensors to approach and berth with the ISS. The X-37 would have to adapt (unflown, untested) CST-100 software/hardware.
        As the presenters pointed out, the Dream Chaser is more roomy and has a rear port. They are running this design exercise on the DC next.

      • Yale S says:
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        SpaceX and Boeing are flying people on only the second orbital mission of their taxis.
        So, after the first DC flight in say 2 years, both the DC and X-37 will be essentially in the same place. Both will need the addition of the ambulance insert, but the DC will already be ISS compatible and have navigation and berthing built in, plus there has been much preliminary work on crew-rating baked in.