Determining Thermal Capabilities for External Transfer Operations on the International Space Station

Abstract: External transfers on the International Space Station (ISS) have a degree of difficulty caused by the severity of the radiative thermal environment and the complexity of the operational choreography to perform the installation and activation of the hardware. These transfers can be performed robotically, by astronauts during an Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA – spacewalk), or combination of robotic/crew operations. Robotic transfers may include capability to intermittently power the hardware; wh…