Space construction results: The EASE/ACCESS flight experiment☆

Abstract This paper describes NASA ground and flight test activities in the development of in-space construction techniques for the assembly of Space-Station-sized structures. In November 1985, the first experiments on space construction using EVA astronauts were flown aboard the Space Shuttle, with spectacular and highly visible results. The EASE and ACCESS flight experiments are described and the ground and water tank test program and operations in-flight including instrumentation are presented, together with illustrations of assembly and disassembly of both the EASE and ACCESS experiments. The flight test results are presented and learning and productivity curves are discussed, with differences between free EVA vs EVA using foot restraints compared. Two weeks after the flights, the Space Station structural assembly technique was selected to be EVA astronaut assembly of the truss, based on the flight experiment results.