The Wait-less EVA Solution: Single-Person Spacecraft

Abstract

Astronaut Don Pettit writes, “Nothing happens fast during the preparations for a space walk...it takes several days over about a week to prepare for a space walk.” He is not the only one, astronaut Scott Kelly says, “For an astronaut, going outside is a dangerous undertaking that requires days of preparation.” In fact, NASA reports it takes an average of over 58 crew hours to prepare for a single Extravehicular Activity (EVA), then it takes another 15 hours for post EVA servicing. This non-productive time is particularly bothersome because it is unavoidable for space suits and according to NASA rates, costs approximately $1.3M in crew time per EVA. Not included is the additional time for airlock pump down, collecting tools, translating hand-over-hand to the worksite, setting up foot restraints, then translating back, and repressurizing the airlock. The good news is there is a non-suit solution called the SinglePerson Spacecraft (SPS) specifically designed for wait-less EVA. With SPS, astronauts can be outside in less than10 minutes, fly directly to the work site, use force-multiplying manipulators for repair, then fly back to the host spacecraft spending only minutes for post flight servicing. The SPS is under construction and poised to transform the future of EVA. It has broad application supporting International Space Station, and the Hubble Space Telescope with extensibility to the lunar Gateway, space tourism, and Mars transit vehicles.