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Hermes space shuttle interior, cockpit and instrument panel resources

The ESA Hermes space shuttle project ran from 1975 to 1992, after an original proposal from the French CNES (National Space Studies Center). The spacecraft was intended to serve two proposed European space stations:  the Man Tended Free-Flyer / Columbus Space Station and the Polar Platform.

Before cancellation, some mock-ups and trainers were built.  Because the project was developed in the 1980's there aren't many reference photos on the web. 

I'm taking the liberty of posting the all the images I could find on the web of the Hermes interior, cockpit and instrument panels. This way they are grouped all together in a single place for the convenience, so that the general layout can be understood and the different mock-ups / simulator versions can be sorted out. 




Hermes shuttle flight simulator


Hermes shuttle simulator



Hermes shuttle misc mock-ups



Hermes shuttle mock-up version "a"

Hermes shuttle mock-up version "b"

Hermes shuttle mock-up version "c"

Hermes shuttle mock-up version "c"

These versions have a similar general layout. There are duplicate control joysticks for both astronauts. In version "b" there's a third stick near the engine controls on the middle console.  The center console features a "flight management panel" at the center and  6 CRT displays that work as a glass cockpit. For each astronaut there's also a "multi-funcion keyboard". The HUD display is not visible on the mock-ups, although it would be present in the flight vehicle.



Hermes shuttle full scale 1987 CNES mock-up



Hermes shuttle full scale 1987 CNES mock-up cockpit
Hermes shuttle full scale 1987 CNES mock-up cockpit

Hermes shuttle full scale 1987 CNES mock-up cockpit
Hermes shuttle full scale 1987 CNES mock-up interior

The CNES mock-up features detailed panels. The arrangement is the same as before. There are now two joysticks for each astronaut.


From the available photos shown above, the center panels read (as far as can be read), from top to bottom, left to right:

FLIGHT MANAG UNIT
FLIGHT CUD DEP | NAVIG DEP | MES WARNING DEP | NAVIG DEP | FLIGHT CUD DEP
FLIGHT CONTR SYST PANEL | MULTIPLEX KEY BOARD | CUD MT | SYST CONFIG DEP | CUD MT | MULTIPLEX KEY BOARD | TELE?????? | 
LAUNCH | CONTROL PAN | COOMP CP | FOR USE | WARNING PAN?
?? | CAB CP OXYGEN |
?? | LANDING GEAR | PITOT SENSOR | TELECOM | AUDIO PAN | ???
?? | TRIM | LIGHT TUBE |DATA LINK | LIFE SUP PAN | ??? MEMORY


The right side panels read:

POWER SYST PAN | HIDRAULIC PANEL | FUEL CEL? | ??
MU | ??
INERTIAL SYSTEM


These indications have some changes on the cabin photos featuring the astronauts, but the general arrangement is consistent.





Sources: http://www.sciencephoto.com/ , http://www.capcomespace.net/ , http://www.pyperpote.tonsite.biz/listinmae/ and ESA


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