Questions tagged [mechanisms]
Mechanisms are mechanical systems used on spacecraft and/or ground support equipment for spacecraft. The mechanisms may be manually (for example, ISS personnel airlock hatches), electrically (for example, ISS Common Berthing Mechanism latches), hydraulically (for example, shuttle Orbiter landing gear uplock hooks), or pneumatically actuated (for example, shuttle Orbiter 17" feedline disconnect valve latches).
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Using belt drive in LEO spacecraft?
I am designing a concept for a LEO spacecraft and need to transmit mechanical power (0.5Nm @200rpm rotation) over a distance (1-2ft). Chains or belts would be a natural choice for terrestrial ...
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How do satellite motors keep themselves cool and lubricated?
I'm a high-schooler and today we were taught about the car engines and we were told that in order to maintain proper lubrication in order to reduce the heating effect of friction in the pistons using ...
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How does a fusible wire deployment mechanism work?
Situation
Me and my student team are considering to use fusible wires in our CanSat to control the parachute and payload deployment.
In detail, a mechanism using a fusible wire should release a loaded ...
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Docking in space
I read about the mechanism of "docking" of Command Modules & Lunar Modules of the Apollo missions (the probe & drouge). It seems it was far too complex & had too many parts. I ...
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How does the JWST sunshade cover release work?
In animations of the James Webb Space Telescope unfolding, you see material rolling itself up to uncover the folded-up sunshade. How is that rolling-up process driven? The animations don't show any ...
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Fancy locomotion for rovers
For its upcoming ExoMars mission, ESA's rover "Rosalind Franklin" can use its wheels like legs in an insect-like gait, to walk out of deep sand that it can't drive out of.
A brief video ...
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How did Sputnik 1's antennas couple to its body, electrically and mechanically?
Looking at https://www.britannica.com/technology/satellite-communication/Development-of-satellite-communication I found the image of a model of Sputnik 1 below.
It shows details of its four rod ...
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what kind of valves are used in payload fairing for venting?
I wanted to know that there have been a handful of literature that mentions vent openings in the rocket payload fairings. However, none specify the kind of valves used in those fairings? does anyone ...
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Joint between actuators and structure in thrust vector control systems
I've been wondering how exactly it is that actuators are joined to the structure of a thrust vector control system. The reason I'm confused may be illustrated by the following image of a Vernier ...
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How were the ramps for the Zhurong rover stowed on the lander for flight?
This picture shows a lander-eye-view of the ramps.
This rendering shows a side view.
How did the ramp deployment mechanism work, and what did the ramps look like while stowed?
There's rendered video ...
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What do hold-down clamps... clamp exactly?
Dummy question.
A launch vehicle is restrained during ignition by hold-down clamps.
But exactly what part of the rocket do the clamps grab onto? The engine nozzles seem too fragile... but maybe some ...
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Bronze material compatibility for mechanism exposed to LEO
I'm looking at using a worm gear for a latching mechanism on a spacecraft that's destined for a LEO trajectory. The mechanism is on the outside of the spacecraft, but the worm gear itself would be in ...
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Is there an equivalent of the Dragon 'claw' and Apollo umbilical fairing between the Soyuz crew and service modules?
The Apollo service module provided power etc. to the command module through umbilical connections covered by a fairing. When the two modules were separated, a 'guillotine' cut through the cables and ...
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Was the payload bay of the Space Shuttle depressurized before launch?
We know that the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Orbiter carried satellites, pieces of equipment for repairing satellites and components of the International Space Station.
Was the payload bay of ...
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Have any launch systems other than Saturn V used a controlled release?
I was quite surprised to read in this question one very interesting detail about the system used for Saturn V launch release. Saturn V employed a system of pins and dies such that when the hold-down ...
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Exactly what was Surveyor 3 doing with a spring-loaded boxing glove-like device?
The thorough moon.NASA.gov/exploration page Moon Missions shows the image below.
I learned almost all of what I know about Physics and Engineering from the Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner cartoons, ...
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How were the pins for Saturn V controlled release tested?
I came across the following section of the Saturn V Flight Manual (pdf):
The intriguing part is that they used 12 pins to actually bolt down the Saturn V to the launch pad and the combined engine ...
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Help understanding this Apollo 11 docking probe image, what are we looking at, and from where?
The New York Times mix media "article" Apollo 11
As They Shot It shows original photographic images taken by the astronauts and related quotes by them.
In one section the text says:
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Connection between SM an CM
If the bottom part of the command module (CM) of the Saturn-V was the thermal shield, how was the CM connected with the utilities of the Service Module (SM)?
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How was APAS-89 chosen for Buran and Kristall?
SSVP, a probe-and-drogue docking system, is the main docking system used by the Soviet/Russian space program. Ever since the first Salyut 1
mission, only three Soyuz spacecraft, Soyuz 16, Soyuz 19, ...
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How are umbilical connectors held in place until their intended detachment?
When a rocket is on its launch pad, umbilicals allow the flow of liquids, gases, electric power, and signals to the spacecraft. The umbilical is detached from the spacecraft at or before launch, to ...
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Saturn V and STS holding to launch pad mechanism
In this question on quora, the first answer mentions that for Space Shuttle launches they changed the holding mechanism to explosive bolts from the clamps used to hold the Saturn V.
The video links ...
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Transfer of astronauts from CSM to LM
Did the astronauts "remove" the docking probe, the drogue of the LM, and related mechanisms from the CSM to enter the LM of Apollo 11?
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How does the hopping mechanism of the Minerva II rovers work?
The Minerva II rovers deployed to Ryugu by Hayabusa 2 have gotten a lot of news coverage for their hopping method of locomotion. Is there public information on exactly how this works? I seem to recall ...
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What holds the Space Shuttle orbiter itself stable on the launch pad?
From a structural point of view, what is holding up the orbiter on the launch pad prior to a launch? Are the tail service masts more than just a collection of conduits and plumbing?
Or, are the solid ...
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How do the booms on ISS (and other spacecraft) extend and retract?
In an answer to my previous question, OrganicMarble posted a video:
The booms like through the center of ISS solar panels are quite common in space use - supporting ...
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Can ISS fold its solar panels?
The solar panel modules of ISS use an extending central truss structure to stretch two "ribbons" of solar panels.
Can that structure be re-folded in space, if need arose (for whatever reason), or is ...
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ISS Structural Integrity
The ISS occasionally fires thrusters to correct orbit and uses reaction control wheels to adjust attitude. It also experiences various external forces - tidal, aerodynamic, etc.
From the outside, it ...
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How are remove before flight pin mechanisms realized in satellites?
According to the cubesat design specification electrical requirements (3.3.7 in revision 13) a Cubesat shall include an RBF pin:
3.3.7 The CubeSat shall include an RBF pin.
3.3.7.1 The RBF pin shall ...
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What types of decoupling mechanisms to separate spacecraft are used in spaceflight?
For a project I have to find select a decoupling mechanism for a spacecraft. I have searched google but I can't find any documentation on decoupling mechanisms. I need to know what types of decoupling ...
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What do remotely-controlled bolts look like?
I've been reading about various components that are attached to the ISS and occasionally see references to "remotely controlled bolts". That makes sense, but I've barely been able to find more than a ...
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What are joint systems used for mounting manipulators to spacecrafts?
What are the joint systems used for mounting mobile manipulators to spacecraft?
Looking answers for questions like: How SSRMS (Canadarm2) is mounted to space station? What joint system does it use ...
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Why was the APAS docking system developed?
The APAS docking system was first used on the Apollo Soyuz Test Project mission. Both parties (US and USSR) already had developed and used docking mechanisms by then. Is there any truth to the claim (...
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