Session
Technical Session III: New Approaches to Space Launch
Abstract
A whole-spacecraft isolation system for the GFO/Taurus mission was designed, fabricated, tested, and subsequently flown on February 10, 1998. This isolation system was designed to reduce dynamic responses on the GFO spacecraft caused by the resonant burn dynamic load introduced by the Castor 120 solid rocket motor. Longitudinal (flight direction) response of the GFO spacecraft center of gravity, due to the resonant burn load, was reduced by a factor of seven. The isolation system design was very nonintrusive to existing hardware, lightweight, and effective. Flight data indicates that the isolation system performed as designed. The GFO spacecraft had a successful launch, and is currently operational on-orbit. Similar isolation systems are planned for other flights in 1998 and 1999. This whole-spacecraft isolation technology was highly successful for the GFO/Taurus mission.
GFO/Taurus Whole-Spacecraft Vibration Isolation System
A whole-spacecraft isolation system for the GFO/Taurus mission was designed, fabricated, tested, and subsequently flown on February 10, 1998. This isolation system was designed to reduce dynamic responses on the GFO spacecraft caused by the resonant burn dynamic load introduced by the Castor 120 solid rocket motor. Longitudinal (flight direction) response of the GFO spacecraft center of gravity, due to the resonant burn load, was reduced by a factor of seven. The isolation system design was very nonintrusive to existing hardware, lightweight, and effective. Flight data indicates that the isolation system performed as designed. The GFO spacecraft had a successful launch, and is currently operational on-orbit. Similar isolation systems are planned for other flights in 1998 and 1999. This whole-spacecraft isolation technology was highly successful for the GFO/Taurus mission.
