International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

SpaceNut · 2014-01-28 20:49:58

Russia and U.S. to sign treaty prolonging ISS operations until 2024 - Energia corporation president

Russian ISS segment can be used as port for future orbital station
Russia’s ISS segment will be finally created and filled with research equipment by 2018-2020

Once the modules are placed into orbit I would expect that another extension would be granted if the scienctific efforts are truely put forth to help get us back to exploring space beyond LEO.

SpaceNut · 2014-02-05 22:23:40

While the cargo to the station has been steady by the Russian Progress and in fact one has just launch to rendevous with the station once more with a payload of items that are much needed. Russian cargo craft docks to International Space Station

The Progress M-22M logistics ship is loaded with 1,446 pounds of propellant to be pumped into the Russian Zvezda service module, plus 110 pounds of oxygen and 926 pounds of water to bolster the space station's reserves.
According to the Russian Federal Space Agency, the Progress was also packed with 789 pounds of food, 286 pounds of medical supplies, 205 pounds of items for the Russian crew, 141 pounds of payload for crew hygiene, and 55 pounds of video and photographic equipment packed inside the spacecraft's pressurized compartment.

But they are not the only one that Nasa and the station is using to keep the space platform and crew in good shape. SpaceX's next cargo mission to space station is Mar 16

The company has a $1.6 billion contract with NASA for a series of future supply missions, while its going to be the third trip, ferrying supplies and equipment to the orbiting lab.

Of course Orbital has a contract with NASA worth $1.9 billion for eight cargo resupply missions to the global space lab as well.

SpaceNut · 2014-03-06 21:20:06

Just posting a few images from inside the ISS modules.

Next Russian launch to the station.

101469254-476712829.530x298.jpg

NASA astronaut Steven Swanson (L) joins hands with Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov (C) and Oleg Artemyev (R), in front of a mock-up of a Soyuz spacecraft before final preflight exam at the Gagarin Cosmonauts' Training Center outside Moscow, March 5, 2014.

SpaceNut · 2014-05-13 21:45:17

SpaceNut wrote:

Russia and U.S. to sign treaty prolonging ISS operations until 2024 - Energia corporation president
Russian ISS segment can be used as port for future orbital station
Russia’s ISS segment will be finally created and filled with research equipment by 2018-2020
Once the modules are placed into orbit I would expect that another extension would be granted if the scienctific efforts are truely put forth to help get us back to exploring space beyond LEO.

Seems like it was only yesterday that this was posted but now the odds of seeing the use go beyond is getting slimmer. Russia to only use ISS until 2020: official "After 2020 we would like to use those resources on other promising space projects."

If that was not bad enough Final ATV assembled for Arianespace Ariane 5 launch of the fifth and final European ATV to the ISS. Designated Georges Lemaitre after the Belgian physicist and father of the Big Bang theory. In addition to the fuel and air it will carry to the crewed space station, ATV Georges Lemaitre will deliver more than 2,600 kg. of dry cargo.

Tom Kalbfus · 2014-05-14 07:19:12

When was the last promising project the Russians ever undertook? Russia does rocket launches, has it ever launched a space telescope or sent a mission to the outer planets? NASA has made a tremendous contribution to our knowledge of the Solar System and space. Maybe Russia needs an opponent more than it does a ally. Competition can produce results while cooperation can produce complacency. The pictures are interesting, seems like astronauts can get along where their nations can't, kind of sad in a way.

Last edited by Tom Kalbfus (2014-05-14 07:21:01)

clark · 2014-05-16 23:37:45

Millions of years of screaming monkeys results in a few floating far above the tree tops. Well worth the evolutionary costs. Well worth the political compromises.

Astronauts are us. they are not political affiliations.

Tom Kalbfus · 2014-05-17 04:21:33

Again, like we had a choice. Putin decided to start this Cold War now for whatever reason, and it will last until Putin is out of office or he decides to stop it. Why else is that dingbat ordering his planes to strafe our ships?

JoshNH4H · 2014-05-17 08:07:46

Ahem.

clark · 2014-05-17 08:34:22

Millions of years, still more screaming monkeys. Want a banana Tom?

Tom Kalbfus · 2014-05-18 18:57:51

Are you going to say anything coherent? Other than poems.

SpaceNut · 2014-05-18 20:06:49

The ISS, for example, has about 40% efficiency in its oxygen recycling, and even so its ambient CO2 levels are perpetually high. (Nasa is working on how to convert that CO2 directly into oxygen.)

Nasa spends $28m every year in radiation research alone, including pharmaceutical and nutriceutical countermeasures and magnetic shielding.

Excelsior · 2014-05-18 20:27:05

They did just install a garden...

SpaceNut · 2014-05-18 21:05:34

I would not call this much of a garden... Astronauts to get green thumbs with NASA sending veggie garden to the ISS

The chamber is collapsible for transportation and storage, but expands to 11.5 in wide by 14.5 in deep (29.2 cm x 36.8 cm), which makes it the largest plant-growth chamber yet to be sent into space. To keep it simple, it uses the temperature and atmosphere in the module where its stored instead of an independent environmental control.

Past experiments...
http://www.electronicproducts.com/Power … s_too.aspx

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stati … 0-074.html

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/living … ngrow.html

SpaceNut · 2014-05-19 17:51:21

NASA: Russia alone can't end space station work (Update)

"There is no single partner that can terminate the international space station," Bolden told reporters in Berlin, where he was attending the city's annual air show.
Head of US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, Charles Bolden, speaks during a press conference in Berlin, Monday, May 19, 2014. The head of NASA has dismissed concerns that friction with Russia might spell the end of the.
"There is no one partner that is indispensable on the International Space Station," he said Japan, Europe and Canada are also members, all currently depend on Russian Soyuz capsules to take astronauts to the space station since NASA retired its shuttle fleet.

SpaceNut · 2014-05-19 18:22:47

The leverage that Russia thinks it has is through the seat purchase and shift of personel on the station for Russia but that is short lived once we have a man rated ship to take crew to the station.

Just how much of the station is Russian supplied...

SpaceNut · 2014-05-26 16:32:06

Just like clock work.. Expedition 40 all set to go

Traditions
Many traditions have developed over the years in the run-up to a Soyuz ascent. The crew sleep in the ‘cosmonaut hotel’ and sign their room doors before leaving for the last time for the pad.
On the day itself a bus will take Alexander, Russian commander Maxim Suraev and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman to the launch site. A pit stop to relieve themselves en route is obligatory because that’s what Yuri Gagarin did on his way to becoming the first human in space.
And as a final precaution, a last blessing is given by an orthodox priest – better safe than sorry.

Another tradition
Expedition_40_tree_planting_node_full_image_2.jpgp

Expedition 40/41 crew (from left) NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Roscosmos commander Maxim Suraev and ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst during the traditional tree-planting ceremony in the run-up to their launch to the International Space Station on 28 May 2014.

From the photo op you would not know that there are any problems.....

SpaceNut · 2014-06-02 19:32:20

just posting to keep data on topic in the correct thread as well...

Yes one use of the space Taxi's as I would call them is to the ISS but why is there no other useages? As to the components modules that are Russian owned from what I understand there are only 5.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russi … 3_999.html by Staff Writers
Korolyov, Russia (RIA Novosti) Apr 23, 2013

Russian-built modules: the Zvezda service module, the Zarya cargo block, the Pirs docking module, the Poisk ("Search") research module and Rassvet ("Dawn") research module.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Russi … egment.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orbital_Segment

Developed by Russia and the former Soviet Union, construction of Zarya was funded by the United States and NASA, and Zarya remains a US-owned module

http://jalopnik.com/how-the-us-can-run- … 1576359569

Let's assume that the Russian announcement means the very worst for the station, that the ISS will not be allowed to have any further use of Russian-owned modules and hardware. With that in mind, let's look at exactly what parts of the station the Russian segment comprises.

So, of these five modules, what is critical to the ISS? The two airlocks and the storage/docking module are completely expendable. While more airlocks and docking modules are absolutely a good thing, the ISS has the Quest airlock on the US side, and there's three PMA (Pressurized Mating Adapters) on the US side to allow for spacecraft docking. One is in use connecting the US side to the Russian side, and the other two are available for visiting spacecraft, like the SpaceX Dragon, and hopefully a crewed version of the Dragon in the near future.
So, if the US is okay as far as docking adapters and airlocks go, what about the other modules? Currently, Zarya isn't really being used for much other than as a hallway and storage. Early on, Zarya provided electrical power and propulsion, but those functions have been largely supplanted by other modules now

That said what is the only real problem is the propulsion unit....

Zvezda will be a bit trickier, as it provides the main propulsion for the station, as well as the only two private crew berths, a bathroom, and a kitchen/eating/social area. The module design is basically the same as the Mir core module, and this in many ways has always been the heart of the ISS for crew gathering and the like.

Is there a solution by Nasa for this...

An expendable-rocket launch-able version of the old backup Propulsion Module could work, and with NASA already having done the development and having a good six years of notice, there should be no reason why one can't be built and made ready for when the Russians leave in 2020

Excelsior · 2014-06-02 19:46:57

But by the time you spend the money to preserve an old station, you could be well on your way to replacing it with a far more capable station.

RobertDyck · 2014-06-03 07:40:40

Excelsior wrote:

But by the time you spend the money to preserve an old station, you could be well on your way to replacing it with a far more capable station.

There isn't going to be a new station. If you abandon this one, you get nothing.

Excelsior · 2014-06-03 13:10:39

With or without the Russians, Transhab technology makes stations so affordable that we would be stupid not to keep putting up stations for various purposes.

RobertDyck · 2014-06-03 15:54:49

Any new station has to be approved by Congress critters. What did you say about "stupid"?

SpaceNut · 2014-06-03 19:06:01

Actually lowing the cost to keep the one in working order while expanding the options of going to others would be what I would be looking for as in order to drive down launch costs is to make rockets more cheaply by producing more.

Excelsior wrote:

One wonders if and when the Dragon2 will replace the Dragon, and what other utilization's are possible for the Dragon2 hardware. Those SuperDracos could probably reboost the station if need be, if we are still willing to do a splashdown once in a while. Or they could probably do a specialized trunk with embedded SuperDraco's. If those thrusters are reusable, refueling them on orbit could be very useful later on.

The answer to the SuperDraco's thruster fuel type was contained in this http://www.gizmag.com/superdraco-test/32292/

The propellant is a pair of non-cryogenic liquids; monomethyl hydrazine for the fuel and nitrogen tetroxide for the oxidizer, which is the same as for the Draco engine. These are hypergolic. That is, they ignite on contact with one another, which helps the SuperDraco to restart multiple times. It’s also built to be deep throttled, and can go from ignition to full throttle in 100 ms. But what sets the SuperDraco apart is that is has 200 times the power of the Draco engine, which works out to 16,400 lb of thrust. Eight engines firing for five seconds are enough to carry the capsule safely away from the booster with 120,000 lb of axial thrust.

So what gets sent to the station for fuel for boosting it...

http://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/ar … atv-4.html

http://www.universetoday.com/54442/russ … ur-launch/

clark · 2014-06-08 14:55:35

The statement is correct; there will be no replacement for the ISS if it is abandoned. Transhab can provide limited functionality; the modules on the ISS are far more sophisticated in areas that Bigelow hasn't developed in.

JoshNH4H · 2014-06-08 15:00:21

It should be possible to dismantle the ISS and reassemble it into a smaller station at a fraction of its original cost. I bet it would even be possible to spin it, and thus have that technology available to us.

SpaceNut · 2014-06-08 17:28:02

Aside from the panels not being spin freindly designed there is the other issues that when the Russian modules are removed would mean that we would need replacements for.

The first module, Zarya, otherwise known as the Functional Cargo Block or FGB, was the first component of the ISS to be launched, and provided the early station configuration with electrical power, storage, propulsion, and navigation guidance, until a short time after the Russian service module Zvezda docked and was transferred control. Zvezda contains the ESA built DMS-R Data Management System.

This would be one that would need to have a duplicate function provided as a replacement once the Russian is removed.

The module: Zarya provides ports for Soyuz spacecraft, Progress spacecraft and the European ATV to dock to the station. Ships boosting the station's orbit dock to the aft port (the rear port according to the station's normal orientation and direction of travel).

This is a secondary propulsion hook up... it maybe possible to do with out.

The United States funded Zarya through the U.S. prime contracts in the 1990s as the first module for ISS. Built from December 1994 to January 1998 in Russia at the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center (KhSC) in Moscow, its control system was developed by the Khartron Corp. (Kharkiv, Ukraine). The module was included as part of NASA's plan for the International Space Station (ISS) instead of Lockheed's "Bus-1" option because it was significantly cheaper (US$220 million vs. $450 million). As part of the contract Khrunichev constructed much of an identical module (referred to as "FGB-2") for contingency purposes. FGB-2 has been proposed for a variety of projects; it is now slated to be used to construct the Russian Multipurpose Laboratory Module Nauka.

Since the US owns the spare module it could be adapted to making a replacement.

The second module, Zvezda, is the station's Service Module - it provides a living environment for the crew, contains the ISS's main engine system, and provides a docking port for Soyuz, Progress and Automated Transfer Vehicle spacecraft. Zvezda can support up to six crew including separate sleeping quarters for two cosmonauts at a time. It also has a NASA-provided Treadmill with Vibration Isolation System and a bicycle for exercise, a toilet and other hygiene facilities and a galley with a refrigerator and freezer.

If insufficient room for it is part of the remaining then it would need a replacement.

The third module, Pirs, functions as the ROS's airlock, storing EVA spacesuits and providing the equipment necessary for cosmonauts to exit the space station. It also serves as a docking compartment for Soyuz and Progress spacecraft.
The fourth module, Poisk, is similar to Pirs. Redundancy in airlocks allows one airlock to be repaired internally and externally whilst crew use the other airlock to exit and re-enter the station.
The fifth module, Rassvet, is primarily used for cargo storage and as a docking port for visiting spacecraft.

If the remaining portion of the ISS has these in sufficient quantity it would mean no need to replace this.

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#226 2014-01-28 20:49:58

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#227 2014-02-05 22:23:40

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#228 2014-03-06 21:20:06

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#229 2014-05-13 21:45:17

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#230 2014-05-14 07:19:12

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#231 2014-05-16 23:37:45

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#232 2014-05-17 04:21:33

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#233 2014-05-17 08:07:46

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#234 2014-05-17 08:34:22

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#235 2014-05-18 18:57:51

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#236 2014-05-18 20:06:49

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#237 2014-05-18 20:27:05

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#238 2014-05-18 21:05:34

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#239 2014-05-19 17:51:21

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#240 2014-05-19 18:22:47

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#241 2014-05-26 16:32:06

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#242 2014-06-02 19:32:20

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#243 2014-06-02 19:46:57

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#244 2014-06-03 07:40:40

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#245 2014-06-03 13:10:39

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#246 2014-06-03 15:54:49

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#247 2014-06-03 19:06:01

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#248 2014-06-08 14:55:35

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#249 2014-06-08 15:00:21

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

#250 2014-06-08 17:28:02

Re: International Space Station (ISS / Alpha)

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