NASA/CR-2002-211839, NASA CONTRACTOR REPORT: SEE DESIGN GUIDE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRICAL DEADFACING (JUL 2002)

NASA/CR-2002-211839, NASA CONTRACTOR REPORT: SEE DESIGN GUIDE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRICAL DEADFACING (JUL 2002)., The purpose of this design guide is to present information for understanding and mitigating the potential hazards associated with de-mating and mating powered electrical connectors on space flight vehicles. The process of staging is a necessary function in the launching of space vehicles and in the deployment of satellites, and now in manned assembly of systems in space. During this electrical interconnection process, various environments may be encountered that warrant the restriction of the voltage and current present across the pins of an electrical connector prior to separation, mating, or in a static open non-mated configuration. This process is called deadfacing. These potentially hazardous environments encompass the obvious explosive fuel vapors and human shock hazard, to multiple Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) phenomena related to the rapid rate of change in current as well as exposure to Radio Frequency (RF) fields. It is the intent of this design guide to treat each deadface environment separately, and to develop application oriented requirements for the electrical designer to apply as dictated by need. A goal of this design guide is to consolidate safety and EMI considerations for electrically powered staging disconnects and other operations both in flight and pre-flight.