Universal White Room Modular Interface for Launch Vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current white rooms are designed to fit only one launch vehicle configuration, requiring extensive modifications to interface with different launch vehicles, which is time-consuming and disrupts launch activities.
Innovation Solution
A universal white room with interchangeable modular rooms that attach via a common interface, allowing the access arm to interface with variously shaped launch vehicles and upper stages, featuring flexible portals and seals to accommodate different configurations and movements to avoid obstructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a white room is designed to fit one specific launch vehicle configuration, then it provides precise interface and access for that configuration, but it requires extensive modifications to interface with different launch vehicles, which is time-consuming and disrupts launch activities
Solution Approach 1:
The white room is divided into a fixed portion and interchangeable modular portions. Each module is designed to interface with specific launch vehicle configurations. By segmenting the white room into replaceable modules, the system can quickly swap between different configurations without modifying the entire structure, thus reducing modification time while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed portion of the white room contains universal components and interfaces that can accommodate multiple launch vehicle types. The modular portions are designed with standardized connection interfaces that allow them to be interchangeably attached to the fixed portion, enabling the same base structure to serve multiple functions across different vehicle configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extensive modifications are made to the white room to interface with different launch vehicles, then adaptability improves, but launch activities are disrupted and launch cadence is affected
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple modular portions are pre-configured for different launch vehicle types and stored ready for installation. When a different vehicle configuration is scheduled, the appropriate module is already prepared and can be quickly installed without on-site modifications, thus maintaining launch cadence while achieving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The white room system transitions from a static, fixed-design structure to a dynamic, reconfigurable system. The modular portions can be added, removed, or swapped based on the scheduled launch vehicle configuration, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to changing requirements without disrupting the overall launch schedule.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed white room design is used, then manufacturing and installation are simplified, but it cannot accommodate launch vehicles with varying shapes, orientations, and access points
Solution Approach 1:
The white room is segmented into a simple fixed portion that is easy to manufacture and install, and multiple specialized modular portions that handle the complexity of different vehicle configurations. This segmentation allows the base structure to remain simple while the modules provide the necessary adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed portion of the white room serves as an intermediary between the access arm and the various modular portions. It provides a stable, easily manufactured base structure with standardized interfaces that connect to different modules, each designed to interface with specific vehicle types, thus mediating between simplicity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A universal white room disposed at the distal end of an access arm of a launch pad service tower utilizes multiple interchangeable modular rooms of varying shapes, sizes and configurations to interface with access points on multiple differently configured launch vehicles and/or payload(s). The interchangeable modular rooms attach to a common portal in the white room allowing a single white room to be used. The modular rooms may be stationary relative to the white room or movable relative to the white room.