SCOUT: EVA Capabilities of the Space Construction and Orbital Utility Transport

David L. Akin, Mary L. Bowden
2004 SAE Technical Paper Series   unpublished
The University of Maryland has performed a detailed design for the space equivalent of an atmospheric diving suit. The Space Construction and Orbital Utility Transport (SCOUT) is a small single-person spacecraft, with all necessary utilities for extended sorties away from the host station. Through a pair of AX-5 style space suit arms integrated into the cabin wall, as well as a trio of dexterous manipulators, the SCOUT operator can directly interact with the work site environment, performing
more » ... cecraft servicing, structural assembly, or other tasks traditionally done by an astronaut in a space suit. Originally designed as an augmentation to the NASA Gateway station architecture for the Earth-Moon L1 system, studies indicate that a SCOUT-type EVA system would represent a substantial benefit to International Space Station operations as well. Due to the integrated robotics system, ISS extravehicular operations, which nomially require two EVA crew and one IVA robotics operator, can be done with a single SCOUT pod unaided. The authors, who were the instructors for the ENAE 484 course, would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to the students who did the bulk of the engineering design work documented here over the course of the Spring 2003 semester: Cagatay Aymergen,
doi:10.4271/2004-01-2295 fatcat:mqzbut7ssnbz5d4zlp6ujhlmaq