Subsystem Impact on Space Station System Design

This article shows that space station evolutionary system designs are strongly influenced by subsystem technology. To understand this impact, the article describes an evolutionary space operations system and element interactions with mission user payloads. This description addresses what and who are involved, what are the accommodations, and when, where, and how space station facility users are accommodated. Other topics discussed include space-based orbit transfer vehicles (OTV’s), station electrical power levels, subsystem tradeoff issues and their technology development challenges, cost interactions with benefits, and payload accommodations (user-subsystem interfaces). A highlight of the discussion is the view presented of requirements for subsystem supporting technology developments.