Abstract :
The avionics system of Hermes is called spacionics. Spacionics is defined as a set of onboard items which treat, exchange, or store information in electrical form, and provide and distribute electrical power. The main drivers for spacionics design are mass and safety. The spacionics organization depends on the priorities assigned to different criteria. These priorities can lead to either a centralized or a decentralized data processing architecture. It has been necessary to centralize the widest part of the data processing, which is split into two pools of computers, one dedicated to guidance, navigation and control and one dedicated to mission and vehicle management. The first one, made of 4 computers and 4 data busses, is able to perform its functions autonomously and automatically even after 2 failures. The second one, including only 2 strings, requires the implementation of safety protection activated, if necessary, either by the crew or by the control
Keywords :
aerospace computer control; aerospace instrumentation; computer architecture; computerised instrumentation; space vehicles; Hermes Spaceplane; avionics system; centralized avionics; data processing architecture; decentralized avionics; electrical power distribution; information exchange; information storage; information treatment; mass; safety protection; spacionics; Actuators; Aerospace electronics; Centralized control; Data processing; Navigation; Power supplies; Safety; Sensor systems; Space vehicles; Weight control;
