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#251 2005-09-02 09:47:32

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,428

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

International Space Station (ISS) as a safe haven if  a Space Shuttle is seriously damaged. not...

Space station rescue plan flawed after STS 115

I'm sure this brings a cringe to everyone since the Discovery flights trial foam run went.

We know that possibly that the shuttle sequence of st-121 may be bumped infavor of st-115. Though doing this might be the right thing as mentioned for the foam continuation testing it does change the ISS manifest of construction.

STS 115 will add a solar panel truss segment to ISS and the station will become inherently unstable until the delivery of another truss expected three to four flights later.

This means a damaged orbiter could not be docked to the ISS for any prolonged period during that time.

Ouch what a can of pooh we have..

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#252 2005-09-02 12:51:05

GCNRevenger
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From: Earth
Registered: 2003-10-14
Posts: 6,056

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Haha! Wheee!


[i]"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those that do not have it." - George Bernard Shaw[/i]

[i]The glass is at 50% of capacity[/i]

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#253 2005-09-07 10:19:15

SpaceNut
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

I think I have posted this chart before but at the time it was only a 28 shuttle mission assembly to complete.

NASA Exploration Systems Architecture Study: 28 Flight (Rev. G) ISS Assembly Sequence vs. 16 Flight Assembly Sequence

The reduction comes from reduced ESA and japanese inclusion of modules. This list of pieces include the Cupola, Cam or Centrifuge Accommodation Module, node 3, Jem Pressurized section and the SPM or science power module as well as the Docking Extension Module. Plus lots of other solar panels and pieces.

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#254 2005-09-07 14:14:48

GCNRevenger
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Posts: 6,056

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Now wait a second... if the ISS isn't ever going to get the last truss section, then how will the station ever be stable enough to rotate on its gyros? Can the Russian thrusters make up for it? Is the stability problem really, well, a problem? Maybe they are counting on ATV bringing up fresh fuel for the Russian thrusters.


[i]"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those that do not have it." - George Bernard Shaw[/i]

[i]The glass is at 50% of capacity[/i]

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#255 2005-09-07 20:31:23

SpaceNut
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

As Nasa wonders how to get facilities going againg that are vital to the shuttle program. The russian have continued on uninterupted. Space station set for oxygen generator replacement


An uncrewed Progress spaceship full of supplies is preparing to launch to the International Space Station to keep the crew stocked with oxygen, food, water, fuel and equipment.

The Russian vessel will launch atop a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1308 GMT on Thursday and will dock with the station on Saturday.

One of the most anticipated items aboard the Progress is a replacement unit for the Russian Elektron, which makes oxygen for the station crew.

Once installed hopefully will work error free for the duration of the remaining stations years...

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#256 2005-09-08 00:03:33

RobertDyck
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Oh, I hope the cuts don't happen. Node 3 and the US Hab module house US life support. Without them the ISS will rely solely on Russian life support, and that's sized for 3 crew. If long duration life support for Moon & Mars isn't tested on ISS, it defeats a major purpose of the space station, the VSE support portion. If accommodation is restricted to 3 crew it prevents any serious science, which defeats practically all the rest. The cancelled solar panel and its support truss are required to power that life support equipment. Then there's the balance issue that GCNRevenger pointed out. If you want all those medical researchers to prepare for artificial gravity for the trip to Mars instead of playing with toys in their lab on Earth, then the Centrifuge Accommodation Module is required.

If you're worried about international partners shouldering the burden, then I have to point out cancelling the Science Power Platform reduces power resulting in cancellation of 4 Russian launched modules. Don't you want the Russians to pay for launching modules?

This is very bad news.

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#257 2005-09-08 12:39:18

SpaceNut
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Russian continue were the the US can not.

Space station cargo craft launched by Soyuz rocket

This trip will set the stage for the next crew rotation it is filled with 5,200 pounds of food, water, equipment and fuel. The Progress is bringing 242 pounds of pressurized oxygen and additional solid-fuel oxygen generator cartridges for the station's atmosphere.

The last progress has undocked with its load of trash for its burial at sea to make room for it to dock with the station in a few days.

Packed into this latest vessel's cargo module are 146 Russian items, 83 for NASA and some 1,764 pounds of propellant for transfer into the Russian segment for the maneuvering thrusters.

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#258 2005-09-08 15:52:51

publiusr
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Registered: 2005-02-24
Posts: 682

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

R-7 ....The HLLV of Her Age

There were two symbols of the Cold War.

Only two.

B-52--the old dog--was surpassed by Semyorka.

She was born of the Gulag--with hands of iron, her steel tempered in blood and tears. The Red Giants erected their spire of Dis as Ayn Rands fantasies fell to the realities of the brilliant one from Kolyma.

The Soviets who made her would laugh at a hurricane--having endured the death of millions in the Great Patriotic War--and R-7 could fly in near hurricane winds.

She is unstoppable.

Guernica in a bottle made by Djinn.

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#259 2005-09-14 10:10:59

SpaceNut
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

New ISS crew to continue experiments on HIV/AIDS vaccine and a few others.

This is also to be the third space tourist on this flight, Olsen is not afraid. He believes in Soyuz.

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#260 2005-09-16 11:01:06

SpaceNut
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Short article so will post all:

[url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,16609139-13762,00.html]Aussie bees to help Mars space mission
AUSTRALIAN bees could help take human life to Mars.[/url]

Melbourne Zoo Invertebrate Department head keeper Patrick Honan told the National Space Science Conference in Melbourne last night he wants to send stingless native bees to the International Space Station.
Mr Honan said the three-year project could be integral to NASA's push to Mars.

"We want to find out whether bees can pollinate plants in space," he said.

"If people travel to Mars it's between a one- and two-year journey, so they are going to need to grow their own food.

"The plants they need to grow would need to be pollinated - and that is where the bees come in."

Mr Honan said tomatoes and other plants had been grown in space, but did not produce tomatoes as they were not pollinated.
Australian scientists were negotiating with the European Space Agency to put the bees into space, he said.

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#261 2005-09-16 11:13:42

GCNRevenger
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

This is another example of research that should not be done

Building and relying on an "ecosystem" in a bottle is a horrible idea, because for all its complexity you only increase the number of things that could go wrong. Plants should be treated as machines as much as is possible, but they are fragile, and stacking fragile on fragile on fragile is just not a good idea. Another high-minded but low payoff science experiment.

For Mars, stick with what we know.


[i]"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those that do not have it." - George Bernard Shaw[/i]

[i]The glass is at 50% of capacity[/i]

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#262 2005-09-19 15:24:18

Commodore
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From: Upstate NY, USA
Registered: 2004-07-25
Posts: 1,021

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

On a 6 month mission the crew is going to be bored enough enough as it is. We don't need to outsource work to bees.

A simple robotic arm could probably do the trick anywayif we really wanted to. We don't need another set of critters to look after.


"Yes, I was going to give this astronaut selection my best shot, I was determined when the NASA proctologist looked up my ass, he would see pipes so dazzling he would ask the nurse to get his sunglasses."
---Shuttle Astronaut Mike Mullane

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#263 2005-09-19 15:36:53

GCNRevenger
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From: Earth
Registered: 2003-10-14
Posts: 6,056

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

And if the bees DIE, then what? Starve?


[i]"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those that do not have it." - George Bernard Shaw[/i]

[i]The glass is at 50% of capacity[/i]

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#264 2005-09-19 19:50:04

Commodore
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From: Upstate NY, USA
Registered: 2004-07-25
Posts: 1,021

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Well, they could eat the bees.  lol


"Yes, I was going to give this astronaut selection my best shot, I was determined when the NASA proctologist looked up my ass, he would see pipes so dazzling he would ask the nurse to get his sunglasses."
---Shuttle Astronaut Mike Mullane

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#265 2005-09-20 04:55:35

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,428

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Building and relying on an "ecosystem" in a bottle is a horrible idea, because for all its complexity you only increase the number of things that could go wrong.

Then you must look at the Earth for it is that same eco in the bottle.

Our problem is we do not understand it well enough to make a working model.
Research is the only way to ever achieve or to gather enough data to allow us to understand it fully.

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#266 2005-09-21 19:29:43

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

[url=http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050921/215758.html?.v=1]Orbital Delivers Five Cargo Transport Containers to NASA for International Space Station
Adaptable Systems Can Carry Up to 2,000 Pounds of Critical ISS Hardware on Space Shuttle Missions [/url]

I wonder how much these cost?

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#267 2005-09-21 19:46:13

GCNRevenger
Member
From: Earth
Registered: 2003-10-14
Posts: 6,056

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Building and relying on an "ecosystem" in a bottle is a horrible idea, because for all its complexity you only increase the number of things that could go wrong.

Then you must look at the Earth for it is that same eco in the bottle.

Our problem is we do not understand it well enough to make a working model.
Research is the only way to ever achieve or to gather enough data to allow us to understand it fully.

Who cares? Do that kind of research later, when NASA isn't on a verge of being bled dry.


[i]"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those that do not have it." - George Bernard Shaw[/i]

[i]The glass is at 50% of capacity[/i]

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#268 2005-09-22 04:20:41

Palomar
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From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Hurricane Rita forces NASA

*...to pass ISS control to Russia. 

Johnson Space Center has closed (not surprising).  However:

A small, emergency rideout crew will remain on site but the center, near Houston, was not to reopen until the storm threat has passed

--Cindy


We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)

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#269 2005-09-22 05:30:41

SpaceNut
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Passing control of the ISS in our time of need shows maturity but is it so wise to leave people in harms way, to protect government property. I can only hope that they fair as well as those that protected the shuttle ET's.

On the use of space for commercial gain:
Outer-space ad will hype Japanese noodles Commercial to be filmed aboard international space station

The makers of Japan’s favorite instant ramen noodles will soon be airing a commercial that’s truly out of this world.
Starting next month, Nissin Food Products Co. will film a promotional spot on the international space station for Cup Noodle, featuring a sales pitch by a hungry Russian cosmonaut.

Wow real food in space... lol

So what will the space partners for the ISS all gain from this commercials airing in monitary value?

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#270 2005-09-22 19:39:09

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,428

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Hurricane Rita forces NASA

*...to pass ISS control to Russia. 

Johnson Space Center has closed (not surprising).  However:

A small, emergency rideout crew will remain on site but the center, near Houston, was not to reopen until the storm threat has passed

--Cindy

Update to your article posted quote:
NASA pulls 'ride out' crew from space center


With Hurricane Rita strengthening, NASA today pulled its 82-member "ride out" crew out of the Johnson Space Center until the storm passes.

The Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where space shuttle fuel tanks are fabricated, was closed today. A 40-member "ride out" team remains at the site, which was surrounded by water after Katrina.

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#271 2005-09-26 09:28:33

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,428

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Previously mentioned needs for automatic docking capabilities that was part of the DART project has been mentioned in a few threads and since we need unmanned cargo vehicles for the ISS. I will comment here after a little back ground.

The Dart project that was last done by the military in some ways failed but a cause was attributed to the noise of GPS signals used to help with last mile course closure to target vehicle. Which it seemed to crash into..

With that said the new
GPS modernization begins with Delta rocket launch is important for that style of navigation.

Lots of info with regards to the next generation of this valued tool in this article...

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#272 2005-09-30 11:00:44

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

This in from Flight International Final countdown: A maximum of 19 Shuttle flights left

Was not it down to 15 flights to complete the ISS os is this the result of the legislation that was just passed.

It appears to be another self study????

Eighteen will be International Space Station (ISS) assembly and logistic flights and the nineteenth will be the Hubble space telescope repair flight.

That is the outcome of the completed 60-day Space Shuttle, Space Station Configuration Options study.

Its results are now being briefed to the relevant arms of the US government and will soon be given to NASA’s international partners.

So we are stuck with this many if the foam problem is solved:

The planned 18 ISS flights will see the European Columbus and Japanese Kibo modules launched to the station. However there is a question mark over the future of the remaining Russian ISS modules, one of which was to be launched by shuttle.

Of course one is mandated by congress for HUbble.

But how often do they want the shuttle to fly:

The final 19 flights would be three in 2006 and four in each of the subsequent years.

Seems sort of agressive when only three shuttles remain.

Better put the refurbers on overtime to achieve this new goal of missions per year.

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#273 2005-10-01 20:39:46

SpaceNut
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Worthwhile experiment or just pretend busy work to keep funding?
Study Planned on Inhaling Dust in Space

Swedish researchers plan to measure how astronauts on the     International Space Station are affected by inhaling increased levels of dust in a gravity-free environment, in a project that may help asthma patients back on earth.
When the orbiting station's next crew, Expedition 12, takes off from Kazakhstan for its scheduled flight Saturday, they will bring a Swedish-made instrument to measure the effect increased dust levels have on the astronauts' lung capacities

Gee I would have thought this was more for when we go to the moon or for mars reactions to the dust but instead it is for an Earth bound ailment.

The instrument, named NIOX MINO, works in a similar way to a breathalyzer test used to measure blood alcohol levels. The user exhales into a mouth piece on the instrument, which then determines whether there is an inflammation of the air passages, by measuring the amount of nitric oxide in the exhaled air.

People who suffer from asthma have elevated levels of nitric oxide, a fundamental chemical found in human cells and blood, because of airway inflammations

So we are now going to compare the results of testing here on Earth to those in 0 g to prove out what form of medications are the best to use.

Since January, asthma patients in the     European Union have been able to use the instrument to determine what amount of anti-inflammatory medicine they should take. The results from the space experiments may lead to discoveries that can help produce even better medicines

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#274 2005-10-06 11:42:01

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
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Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

While the station has still yet to prove its worth for the costruction and loss of life costs it has the ability if used to be more.

A Space Station View On Giant Lightning

sprite_3_eng_H.jpg

Do giant flashes of lightning striking upwards from thunder clouds merely pose an extraordinarily spectacular view? Or do they actually alter the chemical composition of the atmosphere, playing a role in ozone depletion and the climate on Earth?

Could this also be needed for a safe space elevator construction?

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#275 2005-10-11 07:22:31

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,428

Re: ISS Woes & To-Mars

Well the space tourist business continues on for the rich. Japanese businessman picked as next would-be "space tourist" could become the fourth non-professional to travel to outer space next fall.

An eight-day vacation at the International Space Station will cost the man $20 million.

While the last visitor is about to depart from his stay of seven days.
U.S.-Russian Crew Depart Space Station

Coming down is fast...

The Soyuz will cover the approximately 250 miles from the station to Earth in about 3 1/2 hours.

Edit
Russian space agency to focus more on commercial flights

We have potential space tourists from many countries lining up, including our own countrymen. The problem lies in the number of spacecraft that can fly them to space,"


Head of Energia rocket and space corporation Nikolai Sevastyanov told the news conference that the future of human space flights largely depends on commercial flights.

Sevastyanov said that after new generation spacecraft appear, including the reusable Kliper, the requirements to the physical state of cosmonauts will be less stringent. "Then space tourists will be counted by the hundreds," he said.

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