[PSUBS-MAILIST] RECOVERY TEAM TO TEST BOOSTER RETRIEVAL BY SUBMARINE DURINGSTS-101 MISSION

[David Buchner <buchner@wcta.net>]

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From: "Buckingham-1, Bruce" <Bruce.Buckingham-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov>
To: "'1  KSC-PRESS-RELEASE@news.ksc.nasa.gov'" <ksc-press-release@news.ksc.nasa.gov>
Subject: RECOVERY TEAM TO TEST BOOSTER RETRIEVAL BY SUBMARINE DURING STS-101 MISSION
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 17:33:26 -0400
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NASA News 
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
AC 321-867-2468
____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________
NASA/KSC Contact: 					For Release: April
22, 2000
Bruce Buckingham				
	
USA Contact:
Jack King

KSC Release No. 44 - 00

RECOVERY TEAM TO TEST BOOSTER RETRIEVAL BY SUBMARINE DURING STS-101 MISSION

		A demonstration to evaluate the use of a one-man submarine
during Space Shuttle solid rocket booster retrieval operations will be
conducted at sea by United Space Alliance post flight operations during the
upcoming STS-101 mission.

		The demonstration is part of a continuing program by NASA
and United Space Alliance (USA) to augment safety in all phases of Space
Shuttle operations.

		 USA, prime contractor to NASA for the Space Shuttle
program, is responsible for retrieving the two expended solid rocket
boosters (SRB) after they separate from the Space Shuttle about two minutes
into powered flight. The boosters splash down in an impact area about 140
miles east of Jacksonville, FL, and are towed back to Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station for refurbishment by two specially rigged recovery ships,
Liberty Star and Freedom Star.

		For STS-101, a chartered one-man submarine, designated
DeepWorker 2000, will be deployed from Liberty Star once the right hand
booster splashes down. The submarine will be evaluated on its ability to
duplicate the job USA divers presently do at the recovery site. Using a
manipulator arm, the submarine pilot will demonstrate capabilities to cut
tangled parachute riser lines, if necessary, and attach a Diver Operator
Plug (DOP) used to extract water and provide flotation for the SRB. A team
of USA divers currently performs these operations at depths of as much as
120 feet, sometimes under hazardous conditions.

		The test also will include evaluation of a new Enhanced
Diver Operator Plug  (EDOP) that features a motor powered locking mechanism
that replaces the present manual system to enhance diver safety and reduce
work load at depth. It also has been streamlined for easier handling
underwater.

		Under the test plan, the submersible will attach the EDOP to
the SRB nozzle on launch day with two divers in the water documenting the
event. A third diver is present as a safety observer. Since the EDOP is not
yet certified, it will be removed and taken onboard Library Star after the
test.

		On the morning after launch, the submarine pilot will
install the conventional DOP to the SRB nozzle with five divers available to
provide documentation and complete the installation as necessary. The SRB
will then be towed back to Port Canaveral.

		The newly designed DeepWorker 2000, built by Nuytco Research
Ltd., North Vancouver, British Columbia, is 8.25 feet long, 5.75 feet high
and weighs 3,800 pounds. It can explore to depths of 2,000 feet and is
equipped with a package of eight high-powered thrusters, double the number
used during preliminary testing at Port Canaveral last August.

		Space Shuttle program management will evaluate the results
of the demonstration. 

-- end --


NOTE TO EDITORS: Video and photos of the sub's test activities are available
in the KSC News Room. Still photos are also available at Publishers Photo
Corner on KSC's website at www.ksc.nasa.gov.

--- end forwarded text



-- 
David
Osage MN USA
buchner@wcta.net - http://customer.wcta.net/buchner