Charles E. Whitsett
Charles E. Whitsett | |
---|---|
astronaut maneuvering unit (MMU) | |
Spouse | Evelyn |
Children | Edith, Steven, and Benjamin |
Awards | Collier Trophy 1984 NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal 1986 |
Charles Edward "Ed" Whitsett Jr. (1936-1993) was a
Life
Charles Edward "Ed" Whitsett Jr. was born on October 18, 1936, in Mobile, Alabama. In 1957 he graduated from Auburn University.[4]
Weightless maneuvering
In 1961, three years before a US astronaut walked in space, USAF Officer Whitsett imagined how astronauts could "fly" in space without tethers while working at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.[5] In 1962, he studied the human body's response to weightlessness. He developed the mathematical model for human mass distribution, center of mass, moments of inertia, and body movement. Whitsett used a
In 1971 he designed a nitrogen gas powered device called the M509.[5] Maj. Charles E. Whitsett, USAF worked in the STS Group, Space Shuttle Program Office, NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC).[9] In 1973, Major Whitsett headed the M509 experimental program while assigned to the Manned Spacecraft Center and the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO). His control of development objectives, costs, and his ability to consolidate research between USAF and NASA was noted by administrators. Whitsett highlighted the backpack program: "An experimental MMU tested onboard the NASA Skylab Program orbital workshop established key piloting characteristics and capability base for future MMU systems" and yielded the operational MMU used on the Shuttle missions.[3] Dr. Charles E. Whitsett, Jr. and Astronaut McCandless were the principal investigators for
Upon his USAF retirement in 1977, he was hired by NASA.[5] Whitsett spent over 100 hours flying the MMU's prime contractor simulator at Martin Marietta in Denver.[12]
Collier Trophy
In February 1984, on
Space station
In 1990, Whitsett used Shuttle mission STS-37 crew members to test the Crew and Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) experiment in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. These experiments helped to design movement systems outside of the space station.[15] He envisioned multiple uses for the MMU on the ISS including assembly, transportation, inspection, contingency, and rescue.[3]
References
- ^ "Collier Trophy". NAA.aero. NAA. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ "Collier 1980-1989 Recipients - NAA: National Aeronautic Association". National Aeronautic Association.
- ^ a b c d e Millbrooke, Anne. ""More Favored than the Birds": The Manned Maneuvering Unit in Space". History.NASA.gov. NASA. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ a b "WHITSETT PRESENTS SKYLAB PAPER" (PDF). nasa.gov. Nasa. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 25, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Recer, Paul (February 5, 1984). "He Had Space Belt Idea Years Ago". Democrat and Chronicle--Page 8A. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ Clauser, C. E.; Mc Conville, J. T.; Young, J. W. (August 1969). "Weight Volume and Center of Mass" (PDF). ntrs.nasa.gov. nasa. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ Whitsett, Jr., USAF Capt. Charles Edward. "SOME DYNAMIC RESPONSE CHARACTERISTICS OF WEIGHTLESS MAN" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Dtic.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ O'Toole, Thomas (February 7, 1984). "Astronaut to Make Solo Trip Today". Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas)-Page 2A. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ Malone, T. B.; Micocci, A. J. (October 1974). "STUDY OF ROLES OF REMOTE MANIPULATOR SYSTEMS AND EVA FOR SHUTTLE MISSION SUPPORT" (PDF). ntrs.nasa.gov. Nasa. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "ASTRONAUT MCCANDLESS RETIRES FROM NASA, NAVY". nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "Astronaut Maneuvering Equipment". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Nasa.gov. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ Recer, Paul (February 6, 1984). "Free Flight". Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Kentucky)--Page 12A. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "NASA History 12NOV2014". facebook.com. NASA. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ "NACA/NASA Research and Development Projects Receiving the Robert J. Collier Trophy". History.nasa.gov. Nasa.gov. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "NASA'S FIRST SPACEWALK IN OVER FIVE YEARS IS SET FOR NOVEMBER" (PDF). nasa.gov. nasa. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
External links
- Bruce McCandless spacewalk NASA channel on YouTube