This server system is being developed to provide information about
the NASA Space Shuttle small payloads programs. It is maintained
by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Shuttle Small Payloads
Project in Greenbelt Maryland.
3/27/95
This server system is being developed to provide information about
the NASA Space Shuttle small payloads programs. It is maintained
by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Shuttle Small Payloads
Project in Greenbelt Maryland.
The system (sspp.gsfc.nasa.gov) provides information for prospective users and others interested in the Shuttle Small Payloads (SSP) Programs which include Get Away Special (GAS), Complex Autonomous Payloads (CAP), Hitchhiker-JR, and Hitchhiker.
The information will include program overview, user documents, general Shuttle pictures in GIF format, SSP pictures and illustrations, SSP newsletters, educational activities, information on SSP conferences and symposia, etc.
The NASA Space Shuttle has a capacity for approximately 40,000 lbs. (18,200 Kg.) of payloads carried in the unpressurized payload bay. The payload bay is 60 feet (18.3 m) in length and 15 feet (4.6 m) in diameter, and is designed to carry up to four large payloads mounted by means of sliding "trunion" bearings which engage special fittings on the sides and bottom of the payload bay. This arrangement is appropriate for payloads weighing between about 4,000 lb. (1800 Kg.) and 40,000 lbs (18,200 Kg.). NASA has made provisions for accommodating smaller payloads in the 50 lb. (23 Kg.) to 4000 lb. (2270 Kg.) range by means of "carriers" which provide mechanical and electrical interfaces suitable for small payloads.
The Get Away Special (GAS) and Hitchhiker carrier systems are managed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Shuttle Small Payloads Project for the NASA Office of Space Flight.
The Shuttle also has provision for small payloads to be carried in the "Middeck" area of the pressurized crew cabin. These payloads can weigh up to 60 lb. (27 Kg.). The middeck payload accommodations are managed by the NASA Johnson Space Center.
The Shuttle Small Payloads Project (SSPP) is located at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland (near Washington, D.C.). SSPP provides the carriers for small payloads in the Shuttle's unpressurized payload bay.
To contact the NASA Shuttle Small Payloads Project:
To send E-mail comments to the Project, click here.
The GAS carrier system accommodates payloads in canisters which
are mounted in the Shuttle payload bay on the sidewall or on a
cross-bay truss structure. The canisters may be sealed with an
air or nitrogen atmosphere or equipped with a motorized pressure
door. GAS payloads (up to 200 lb. (90 Kg.) and 5 cu. ft. (.14
cu m)) provide their own battery power and are operated by the
Shuttle Astronauts.
U.S. educational organizations may fly a GAS payload for $10,000. Cost for other U.S. and forign payloads is $27,000.
The Hitchhiker carrier can carry equipment mounted in canisters
but also has mounting plates of various sizes for user equipment.
The carrier provides electrical power (28vdc), command signals,
and "downlink" data interfaces. Hitchhiker customers
operate their payloads from a control center at GSFC using their
own ground support equipment (usually a PC) to send commands and
display data.
Check out the Shuttle and Small Payloads Images page for .gif and .jpg images.
For more information on Hitchhiker/GAS see the Shuttle Small Payload Capabilities brochure.
Look here to see the manifest list of scheduled shuttle small payloads and launch dates .
There is an SSPP anonymous FTP server at sspp.gsfc.nasa.gov which has more Project documents on-line.
There is also an SSPP Gopher server at sspp.gsfc.nasa.gov.
The Space Experiment Module (SEM) is a new system under development to provide for flight of small educational microgravity experiments.
The Hitchhiker/Advanced Carrier Equipment (ACE) ground system ACCESS has a server with system design data.
Check the Shuttle Small Payloads UPDATE newsletter for the latest information on Project activities.
If you would like to add yourself to our mailing list fill out the mailing list form .
Select these pages to find out more about specific missions and payloads:
International EUV Hitchhiker (IEH-1) payload on STS-69
Shuttle Laser Altimeter-01 (SLA-01) payload on STS-72
Shuttle Small Payloads Info/
Ted Goldsmith tcg@sspp.gsfc.nasa.gov