Integrated spacecraft cradle and shuttle structure

摘要

A spacecraft is mounted in a cradle secured in the space shuttle by means of a suspension system including four cradle attachment members secured to the upper longeron bridge of the shuttle, in which provision is made for movably mounting one attachment member on the cradle to provide a component of movement substantially normal to the adjacent longeron bridge to accommodate misalignment between the longeron bridges and the attachment members without the need for removing the spacecraft and cradle from the shuttle.