PRIMARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE
One of Lance's jobs is to design the primary structure
so that it effectively supports the experiment in a usable configuration
while still satisfying all NASA technical specifications. One of these
specs is that the COLLIDE structure must be capable of withstanding 10
G forces in three axes simultaneously. It must also be constructed from
a material which does not corrode in a sea-air environment (conditions
that exist where the shuttle is launched).
Below is the most current CAD drawing for the COLLIDE
primary structure along with the actual assembled hardware.
The above design was chosen mainly for ease of machining.
The material that was used for the primary structure is 6061 T651 Aluminum due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, good corrosion resistance, and good machinability. The primary structure was completed and assembled in July of 1997.
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