Spacecraft News JET BACK-PACK FOR SPACEMEN

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30178, 9 July 1963, Page 16

Spacecraft News JET BACK-PACK FOR SPACEMEN

When manned orbiting space stations are established it will be necessary at times for astronauts to “go outside” in their spacesuits in order to perform various tasks, make minor repairs, and so on. To enable the astronauts to manoeuvre themselves under weightless conditions they will need small personal propulsion units. The Ling-Temco-Vought company is at present conducting tests of an Astronaut's Manoeuvring Unit in the form of a com-

p&ct back-pack. After studying a variety of workable propellants for the unit, Vought Company engineers have concluded that a heated gas system offers the greatest advantages. This operates on the simple principle of heating a ga- to make it expand, then releasing it under precise control through appropriate valves and nozzles in the desired direction. The system is inherently safe because of its relatively low temperature, flameless exhaust and has complete freedom from the hazard of spontaneous ignition.

Using a full-size, experimental model of the pack U.S.A.F. and Vought test men have been able to stabilise themselves, travel in any direction with complete control and manoeuvre efficiently in weightless flight aboard a specially • equipped KC-135 jet transport (military version of the Boeing 707) which flew ballistic trajectories to achieve zero gravity for 10 to 30 seconds at a time. They were also able to recover from purposely-induced rotation and tumbling motions—difficulties which would face an astronaut in space even when performing the simplest of tasks.