The EVA pod
iPod quote: “I’ve been looking at the iPod- the Apple iPod. One of the interesting things about the iPod, one of the things that people love most about it is not the technology; it’s the box it comes in.”, said Donald Norman, American educator
What is an EVA pod?
The EVA Pod is a fictional spacecraft used for extra-vehicular activity seen in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Jupiter spacecraft Discovery One carries three of these small, one-man maintenance vehicles. They are designated DC-3, in honor of the famous Douglas DC-3 transport plane, but manufactured by Grumman Aerospace Corporation.
EVA Pod specifications:
Number Produced: 45
* 14 for Space Station Five
* 11 for Space Station Four
* 7 for Space Station Three
* 5 Replacement vehicles
* 4 test vehicles
* 3 for Discovery One
* 1 Replica
* 1 for Discovery Prototype
Mass: 1,387 kg.
Overall Diameter: 1.98 m.
Capacity: One Person Standard; Three Person Emergency
Propulsion systems:
- Ten Mk 12 thrusters (690 N)
- Eight Mk 17 thrusters (196 N)
- Eight Mk 8 micro-thrusters (49 N)
- Five Mk 14 (390 N) thrusters
- One Mk 37 (4.9 kN)
The Grumman DC-5 features the most complex maneuvering systems of any one-person spacecraft built to date. Mounted on either side of the main structure is a group of 13 maneuvering thrusters and their associated radiating panels, thrust deflectors, and fuel & oxidizer tanks. These assemblies, affectionately nicknamed “earmuffs”, contain five Mk 12s installed in the central “bulge”, along with a ring of four Mk 17s and four Mk 8s. The Mk 37 is housed in the Pod’s Dorsal section. It can be used for large translations, or for takeoff and landing from asteroids and other small planetary bodies.
Life Support: 12 Hrs. (One Person) 24 Hrs. (in the book)
Radar: Grumman EPS-2D; Long Range; Active Pulse
Other Equipment:
- Explosive Bolt Door Separation
- Short-range Object Approach System and Transponder
- Complete HAL 9000 Data link System
- Automatic Thruster Control
- Auto Hover
- Eight-Channel communication system
- Advanced Manipulator Control System
- Two-hour Oxygen Reserve System
Notes: The Grumman DC-5 carries can carry little in the way of food and water stocks, due to its short duration support capacity. A single air conditioning vent is provided.