For a book I'm writing, I want to get the dialogue right for conversations between Houston and the ISS. I've been listening to transmissions, but I still have some questions:1. Sometimes there are beeps between transmissions, other times not. Does that mean anything?2. Are there strict protocols, or is there some latitude in conventions?3. It seems that a conversation started by Houston usually starts like this: "Station. Houston on two for Terry. Blah blah." After that, it's just normal conversation as between two people. Right?4. Is "roger" ever used? Instead I usually hear "copy" or "affirm" or "affirmative."5. Are first names always used?6. How would this work: Houston is talking with Bob and then Steve has an urgent message. Would it work like this:"Station. Houston on two to Bob. Affirmative. You are go to remove the USB cable.""Copy. Will Do.""Houston, this is Steve. I'm showing an ammonia alarm in Destiny sensor four. Do you see that?"Thanks,Al
Here's a question -- suppose you have one crewperson in, say, Node 1 (call him Bob) and another on the far side of Destiny (call her Jill). Bob in the node is asking a question about a stowage issue on the space-to-ground one (I'll call it StG1) loop, and Jill in the lab has a question about a reading on a rack where she is. She's far enough away from Bob that she's not aware he is talking with the ground right then.Does Jill in the lab see (or hear) that Bob in the node is using StG1 and have the option to use StG2, for example? Or does she just barge in, with no idea she should begin with a "break break" interruption notice?I guess I am thinking that the comm loops would act like the old-fashioned home phone, and you wouldn't know someone else is using the line until you pick up the phone. Is that right, or does each comm station on the ISS blare out both ends of whatever conversation is occurring on the loop to which it's set?
Let's say there were only two astronauts on the ISS. Would they be able to suit one another up in prep for an EVA? I'm guessing that if one astronaut were in the EVA suit, he/she wouldn't have the dexterity needed to finish suiting up the other.If the answer is no, what modifications to a suit might make it possible?Thanks,Al
Silly question, but why wasn't PMM relocated to Node 3 Port? Wouldn't that have allowed Node 3 aft to be used for VV, too?
Accidental firing of Soyuz engines? Has this ever happened before?http://rt.com/news/266146-soyuz-iss-thrusters-misfire/