Real-time fault detection of the Space Shuttle Main Engine

Abstract

The authors present a real-time failure-detection algorithm that will soon be implemented on the Space Shuttle Main Engine, (SSME) on an online basis. It is referred to as the real-time failure control (RTFC) algorithm, and it entails signal-based limit and trend checking based on information from complex model-based estimates. Thus, the SSME digital transient model and the power balance model are used to provide the algorithm with precomputed initial values, expected values, and standard deviations that serve as baselines for nominal operation.<>