International Space Station/Shuttle "Flip" Maneuver for Thermal Protection System Repair Consultation Report

Summary Remarks Based upon cursory review, the team recognizes that the majority of the analysis work has already been performed by the ORM WG to prepare for the eventuality where the ORM is needed to provide accessibility for Orbiter repairs. It is equally clear that several critical items of analytic open work, the execution of which reduces ORM uncertainty, will need to be completed prior to safely invoking the ORM operationally. In addition to the known list of open analysis work, recommendations have been formulated, and captured in this report, for specific additional analyses and model/simulation validations steps to be performed before the first use of the ORM is undertaken. Equally clear to the team is that the definition and implementation of critically needed operational on-orbit safeguards/checks for the ORM are lagging the analysis. These operational safeguards/checks would support the necessary real time on-orbit analysis, performance monitoring, and dynamic behavior during both the maneuver of the Orbiter and during the repair process. The team has therefore formulated a set of operationally