Mission 6 - Subassembly and Buildup Figure 14-10(a) is a schematic of Mission 6. This mission combines the operations of Missions 3, 4, and 5, in a repetitive fashion, up to the number of subarrays needed for the Orbital Test Facility. The number of flights required in Mission 6 is directly proportional to the number of subarrays required by the Orbital Test Facility. Figure 14-10(b) illustrates a four-subarray antenna, 36 x 36 m. Mission 6A completes a 2 by 2 subarray antenna and provides the base from which the remaining 60 antenna subarrays and structure are added in Mission 6B. Mission 7 - Rotary Joint Assembly The objective of Mission 7 is to demonstrate assembly of the large diameter rotary joint. This includes assembly of the structure, installation of slip rings, drive mechanisms, wiring and flex cables. Tests of structural accuracy, integrity and a checkout of electrical systems are required. Figure 14-ll(a) is a sketch of the potential Rotary Joint Assembly sortie. Equipments include: a fabrication module for structure, optional deployable elements, slip rings and brushes, drive mechanisms and cables. Teleoperators and EVA support tools would be required. Shuttle support equipments include the RMS, Pallet, Airlock and Spacelab. An additional stationkeeping/docking module is required to maintain the assembled rotary joint for eventual mating to the antenna in Mission 8. Figure 14-11(b) is a test matrix of Mission 7 Shuttle flights. The first flight will test elements of the joint constructed as a deployable structure. The remaining flights use one rotary joint assembly to test the various approaches to construction. Mission 8 - Antenna to Rotary Joint Interface The objective of Mission 8 is to demonstrate methods for mating and integrating large subassemblies. The antenna array assembled in Mission 6 is mated to the rotary joint assembled in Mission 7. The interface structure is fabricated and assemblied in Mission 8.
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