3
$\begingroup$

This answer points out that the Space Shuttle's cabin atmosphere was designed to be equivalent to sea level air, in terms of both total pressure and oxygen partial pressure. However, could any of the Shuttle simulators emulate a different pressure or composition for the cabin atmosphere?

I'm specifically interested in Shuttle simulators (especially the ones described and pictured in this answer), not spacesuits (which have a different atmosphere that is explained in another question), nor general training facilities which have no resemblance to the Shuttle.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Shuttle, training. Who could answer this question? ;^) $\endgroup$
    – DrSheldon
    Commented May 22, 2020 at 21:07

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5
$\begingroup$

Sure...both nominal and off-nominal

Nominal - for shuttle-based EVAs the cabin was depressurized to 10.2 psi for the prebreathe. Both the Single System Trainers (SST) and the Shuttle Mission Simulators (SMS) supported this procedure. Here's the class description for the SST class from the Crew Training Catalog

enter image description here

This shows the procedure in the timeline for STS-88

enter image description here

From my console notes for when they did it for reals

enter image description here

Off-nominal - we could leak the cabin or airlock in either the SSTs or SMS.

Here's the SST class description

enter image description here

And here's a page from an SMS script where they did a Return to Launch Site abort for a cabin leak.

enter image description here

Addressing the "composition" part, we could also leak O2 or N2 into the cabin in the SMS, fail the CO2 removal systems, or cause a cabin fire to dirty up the cabin atmosphere.

Note: All cabin atmosphere changes mentioned here took place only in the math models, not in the real-world simulator crew station. The toxic constituents readings resulting from the simulated fire were not even in the math models, they were given to the crew as 'green cards'.

Reference: personal notes

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
5
  • $\begingroup$ I'm curious on the details of that last part. $\endgroup$
    – ikrase
    Commented May 24, 2020 at 2:48
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I’m pretty sure I know which, but can you make explicit whether the actual air composition inside the simulator cabin was changed versus the simulation operating as if it was? ;) $\endgroup$
    – Russell Borogove
    Commented May 24, 2020 at 3:35
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ And, good grief, that cabin leak RTLS sim seems designed to get a SimSup punched! $\endgroup$
    – Russell Borogove
    Commented May 24, 2020 at 3:36
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ The first minute was free of malfunctions :) $\endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    Commented May 24, 2020 at 3:42
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @RussellBorogove edited per request. $\endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    Commented May 24, 2020 at 4:01

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.