Instructional Thread on Shuttle Payload Attachment

[Byeman]

The photo shows the sill of the orbiter's payload bay. For reference, the hinge line for payload bay doors is under the gray material draped over them. The doors are under the platform that workers are standing on,
Circled in blue is the attach fitting for a non deployable payload. In red is the attach fitting for a deployable payload. The second photos for reference.

 

[Byeman]

These are the three primary payloads of STS-39. They are in an integration fixture that somewhat mimics the shuttle payload bay. You can see the payload trunnions in hooks. These payload also have keel trunnions. They only react to side to side and rotation loads (wing to wing and some nose to tail but only ) and not the mass of the payload

 

[Byeman]

Here is the STS-39 payload complement in the orbiter payload bay with the attach points (trunnions) circled. One visible keel trunnion is next to the arrow (meant to have the arrow point at it)

 

[Byeman]

Here is the Magellan spacecraft deployment on STS-30. The second photo shows ASE (airborne support equipment) that remained with the orbiter. The third photo shows a PAM-D payload deployed from a cradle with an opened sunshield. Other is another similar payload behind it in another cradle with its sunshield closed. Both cradles returned to earth.

 

[publiusr]

Were there any discussions on different orbiters having perhaps different interfaces? Columbia being a bit heavier is the only difference of which I'm aware. Everything else standard?

 

[Byeman]

Were there any discussions on different orbiters having perhaps different interfaces? Columbia being a bit heavier is the only difference of which I'm aware. Everything else standard?

payload interfaces were the same. it was suppose to be generic.