recently the primary shuttle effort has been directed towards its development. With test flights successfully accomplished and a second shuttle orbiter coming on-line, the primary program thrust will be directed toward reducing turnaround time and work, and their attendant costs. The Shuttle missions will also enhance knowledge of operations pertinent to SPS construction. Figure 10 shows the Canadian-developed “crane” or remote manipulator system. It is in use and will continue to be used extensively for a variety of operational activities. A manned maneuvering unit is under development for extravehicular activities, and payloads are being developed for recovery from space, and refurbishment in space. All of these equipments and activities will advance knowledge of operations pertinent to the SPS concept. NASA is also increasingly turning its attention to the study of systems allowing for permanent manned presence in space. The Skylab and Salyut space stations established the general usefulness of such stations. NASA now is studying exactly what
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