Space Qualified Hardware

The Get Away Special (GAS) Program was initiated by NASA in the mid-seventies to provide a diverse user community with extremely low cost access to space. Since 1982, 157 GAS payloads have flown aboard the STS. In 1998 alone, 16 GAS payloads flew on 5 different STS missions.

The GAS carrier consists of a canister (5 ft3) which can accommodate customer equipment in a volume 19.75 inches in diameter and 28.25 inches high. The customer equipment can weigh up to 200 lbs. and attaches to the canister top plate. A smaller (2.5 ft3) canister is also available for 60 and 100 lb. payloads. Electrical connection is via customer supplied cables to the GAS electrical interface on the canister bottom plate. Bumpers on the customer equipment provide lateral support. Provisions are made for insertion of purge gas into the canister and for venting a customer battery box.

Each canister is equipped with an electrical system which has a 25 Amp power relay and two, 2 Amp signal relays for controlling customer equipment. All canisters connect to a common signal line in the Orbiter which connects to a crew controller in the cabin. The crew can individually address relays in up to 25 canisters to turn the relays on or off, or to determine the state of a relay. All relays can also be simultaneously reset by a master reset command. An optional baro-switch can also be used to turn the power relay on and off on ascent.

As a non-standard service, special top plates may be used with apertures for customer equipment, with the understanding that safety considerations are increased. A motorized canister lid, known as a Motorized Door Assembly, may also be used with the GAS canister to allow exposure of the customer hardware to the space environment through top plate apertures of up to 15 inches in diameter while providing protection for ascent and descent. Pressure relief valves vent the canister atmosphere during ascent to less than 2 PSID prior to door opening by crew command.

 

Typical ISEM-G Module Characteristics:

Experiment bays tailored to user requirements:

• Shuttle compatible for GAS program
• Structure - 6061 anodized
• Adjustable lateral support snubber design
• Fasteners - Aerospace CRES stainless steel
• Adjustable experiment bay height
• User experiment bays accommodate:
  • Payload weight ~54.5 to 63.6 kg.
  • Payload volume ~94.5 liters
• Module can be purchased or leased

 

Bottom Bay no. 3 contains Baseline avionics:

• Power supply
• Recorder
• Instrumentation
• Programmer/sequencer

 

ITA continues to adapt its equipment and develop new hardware based upon customer requirements and needs.

For further information about ITA or to receive a brochure, please send us EMAIL