Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue - Application

Application

SAFER is designed to be used as a self-rescue device for a separated EVA crewmember in situations when no vehicles can provide rescue capability. SAFER is worn by every ISS crewmember using an Extravehicular Mobility Unit. SAFER was sponsored by the Space Shuttle Program. Ralph Anderson served as Project Manager for the Flight Test SAFER, Matt Leonard served as the Project Manager for the production versions and Cliff Hess was the Project Engineer. The device was developed by the Robotics Division (with its contractor staff) of NASA at the Johnson Space Center. The SAFER was the design solution to the Shuttle Program's requirement to provide a means of self rescue should an EVA crewmember become untethered during an EVA.

SAFER was first flown on STS-64 September 9, 1994, where an untethered flight test was performed first by astronaut Mark Lee and then Carl Meade. Both astronauts flew the SAFER up and around the Shuttle's Robotic Arm along with a demonstration test of the SAFER's automatic attitude hold feature. This feature arrests uncontrolled rotation of a detached crewmember expected in an accidental separation. SAFER has a mass of approximately 83 lb (38 kg) and can provide a total change in velocity (delta-v) of at least 10 ft/s (3 m/s). It was also tested during flight STS-92 when astronauts Wisoff and Lopez-Alegria performed test maneuvers, flying up to 50 feet while remaining tethered to the spacecraft.