The following topics summarize my general engineering/dynamics experience:

I also have extensive and unique experience in the field of tether dynamics and related software development as outlined below.

My experience with tether dynamics began in 1961. At this time I was employed by the LTV corporation and was responsible for the original development of digital routines capable of simulating the dynamics of space stations composed of objects connected by multiple elastic tethers. This was a study to determine the feasibility of constructing artificial gravity space stations by tethering modules together then inducing a spin rate in the resulting assembly to create artificial gravity. I wrote the equations of motion, the computer programs to solve them, and then conducted studies. I presented the results of these studies to "advanced space programs" personnel at WADC Wright Field, and at the NACA Langley Research Center.

I played a key role in the successful design and operation of the NASA Gemini tethered space flight missions. These missions (in mid 1960) remained the only actual tethered orbital space operations until the early 90's. I performed the original feasibility analyses of the experiments by analyzing the general dynamic properties and safety of the proposed system. This original work also included the establishment of the possibility of the gravity gradient stabilization of two bodies connected by an elastic tether. After completing the analytical studies of the Gemini experiments, I was made responsible for designing and implementing a real-time, man-in-the-loop simulation to develop flight procedures for spinning-up and maneuvering the tethered vehicles. This simulation featured a full 6 degrees of freedom for each vehicle, with a complete Gemini crew station controls simulation and a visual presentation of the earth and Agena target vehicle. After developing the procedures for spinning up the vehicles as well as initiating gravity gradient capture, I was responsible for training the flight crews in operational tether procedures. As scientific investigator on the Gemini tether experiments, I was required to be present in NASA Mission Control during the flights, then after the flights to debrief the astronaut crews concerning the tether experiments, and report the results. This effort culminated with my presenting the work in a paper at the Gemini Summary Conference at the conclusion of the Gemini flight program.

I served as a tether expert in the NASA Houston Mission Control Center during the only two Shuttle tethered flight experiments (STS-46 in '92 and STS-75 in '96). Thus, I have the unique distinction of having been present in NASA's Mission control for every US manned tether mission that has ever been flown.

I am the creator of a uniquely-general software system which has become known as GTOSS (Generalized Tethered Object Simulation System). This has been developed for NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center to extend their Shuttle engineering flight certification simulator to include a high fidelity tethered object environment. In the execution of this task, I have adopted an approach resulting in a highly generalized and flexible tethered dynamics simulation system. This system simulates the orbital and interactional dynamics of an arbitrary number of objects (mixed 3 or 6 degree of freedom), connected through arbitrary attachment points by an arbitrary number of tethers. The tethers can be massless or possess distributed mass via a "point synthesis" (bead type) model, and can experience distributed aerodynamic and electrodynamic forces, as well as Sun/thermal effects. The tethers can be connected to objects in arbitrarily complex fashion. Through a rigorously defined interface specification, this software system is also designed to be easily integrated into any existing dynamical simulation, thus providing that simulation with a host of tethered objects in its own environment. Complex models of the earth's gravity, magnetic field, atmosphere, and ionospheric properties (for plasma contact simulation) are incorporated. This system is currently being used by both government and private sector engineering organizations. Engineering results display include a complete interactive graphics and plotting capability, and general 3-Dimensional movie animation of simulation results.

Being the dynamicist, software designer, and programmer of GTOSS, I am uniquely qualified to provide expert cost-effective consulting in the feature enhancement, applicational use, and "porting" of this software tool.

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