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1985•21st Joint Propulsion ConferenceRequires access

An improved APU for the Space Shuttle Orbiter

R. McKenna, D. W. Hagemann, G. R. Loken, J. Jonakin, J. R. Baughman

Open publisher page 3 citations

Abstract

The Space Shuttle Orbiter Auxiliary Power Unit has operated successfully on all four orbiter vehicles and all missions. The current Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) operational life is limited to 12 missions, and the APU turnaround time between flights is longer than originally anticipated. The objective of the Improved APU program is to increase life to 50 missions, reduce installed vehicle weight by 134 lb., and reduce turnaround time. This paper describes the design changes incorporated into the improved APU and the associated development testing.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

The Space Shuttle Orbiter Auxiliary Power Unit has operated successfully on all four orbiter vehicles and all missions. The current Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) operational life is limited to 12 missions, and the APU turnaround time between flights is longer than originally anticipated. The objective of the Improved APU program is to increase life to 50 missions, reduce installed vehicle weight by 134 lb., and reduce turnaround time. This paper describes the design changes incorporated into the improved APU and the associated development testing.

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OpenAlex reports 3 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

The Space Shuttle Orbiter Auxiliary Power Unit has operated successfully on all four orbiter vehicles and all missions. The current Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) operational life is limited to 12 missions, and the APU turnaround time between flights is longer than originally anticipated. The objective of the Improved APU program is to increase life to 50 missions, reduce installed vehicle weight by 134 lb., and reduce turnaround time. This paper describes the design changes incorporated into the improved APU and the associated development testing.

Key concepts: Orbiter, Space Shuttle, Aerospace engineering, Space (punctuation), Environmental science, Computer science, Aeronautics, Physics

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