This page no longer updated from 31 October 2001. Latest version can be found at www.astronautix.com
astronautix.com Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle
OMV - TRW - 1988
OMV - TRW - 1988
Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle - TRW. TRW won the $205-million OMV phase B contract in June 1986. Shown here is the "short range vehicle" that would be left behind in orbit between missions.

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 43,356 bytes. 467 x 399 pixels.

Nation: USA. Agency: NASA.

OMV MissionsOMV Missions - Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle Missions. In this 1984 illustration, the Hubble Space Telescope is being serviced at the Space Station while the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle is hovering in the background.

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 55,687 bytes. 640 x 384 pixels.

The Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle (OMV) was an important component in NASA's future Space Station plans in the 1980s. As a separately funded part of the 1984 Space Station plan, the OMV was intended as a short range robotic 'space tug' that could move payloads about in the vicinity of the Shuttle and Space Station.

OMV - BoeingOMV - Boeing - Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle - Boeing. Boeing's Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle proposal from 1984.

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 52,847 bytes. 552 x 479 pixels.

NASA awarded three $1-million study contracts to Vought, Martin Marietta and TRW in July 1984. The total estimated cost was then $400 million.

OMV - Boeing - 1984OMV - Boeing - 1984 - Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle - Boeing. This Boeing painting from 1984 depicts a satellite being towed by an OMV to the Space Station, where it is retrieved by a robotic arm.

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 44,964 bytes. 563 x 480 pixels.

TRW won the $205-million OMV phase B contract in June 1986. The TRW Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle would use a separate propellant / propulsion module that would be returned to Earth for refuelling by the Shuttle. The TRW Orbital Transfer Vehicle could also be equipped with enlarged propellant tanks for demanding missions. The OMV was then combined with the Flight Telerobotic Service into the Robotic Satellite Servicer concept.

OMV MissionsOMV Missions - Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle Missions. This TRW illustration from 1986 shows an OMV moving a large free-flying space platform away from the Space Station (left).

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 67,718 bytes. 632 x 463 pixels.

Article by Marcus Lindroos
Specification

OMV 1986OMV 1986

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 33,488 bytes. 570 x 340 pixels.

OMV - TRW - 1980sOMV - TRW - 1980s - Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle - TRW

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 43,230 bytes. 568 x 464 pixels.

OMV MissionsOMV Missions - Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle Missions. The OMV (right) is approaching the Hubble Space Telescope, which will be moved to the Space Station for repair. TRW illustration from 1986.

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 23,693 bytes. 478 x 324 pixels.

OMV MissionsOMV Missions - Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle Missions. The Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) depicted here is towing a communications satellite (right) to the Space Shuttle, where it will be refurbished.

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 42,588 bytes. 431 x 437 pixels.

OMV - TRWOMV - TRW - Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle - TRW. The TRW Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle would use a separate propellant / propulsion module that would be returned to Earth for refueling by the Shuttle. Two such modules are depicted here.

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 63,791 bytes. 640 x 480 pixels.

OMV - TRW - 1986OMV - TRW - 1986 - Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle - TRW,1986. The TRW Orbital Transfer Vehicle could also be equipped with enlarged propellant tanks for demanding missions.

Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 39,088 bytes. 398 x 454 pixels.

Back to Index
Last update 12 March 2001.
Contact Mark Wade with any corrections or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
© Mark Wade, 2001 .