I thought the FGB solar arrays were just retracted enough to make clearance for the radiators and not completely and that they still produced power.
Are the current FGB solar arrays removable (they are folded up right now)? If so, could new smaller, shorter arrays be installed so that the FGB could produce some small amount of power? The panels installed on Mir, for example, were transported inside a cargo ship, and extended during the installation process; perhaps similar panels could be installed on FGB.
Weren't they only transported by the Shuttle during the installation of the Mir docking module?
Quote from: Danderman on 05/17/2012 06:40 amAre the current FGB solar arrays removable (they are folded up right now)? If so, could new smaller, shorter arrays be installed so that the FGB could produce some small amount of power? The panels installed on Mir, for example, were transported inside a cargo ship, and extended during the installation process; perhaps similar panels could be installed on FGB.No attach points or power connections for such panels
I am assuming/wishing that the existing FGB solar panel attachments support removal of the panels, as did earlier TKS-based modules.
Quote from: arkaska on 05/17/2012 10:05 amI thought the FGB solar arrays were just retracted enough to make clearance for the radiators and not completely and that they still produced power.I don't think they are active - I remember reading in an ISS on-orbit status report a while back about some "no-longer needed" internal power generation/distribution equipment being removed from the FGB.
Quote from: Danderman on 05/17/2012 04:56 pmI am assuming/wishing that the existing FGB solar panel attachments support removal of the panels, as did earlier TKS-based modules.Where is that documented? If the capability existed, it was never employed. Only the DOS's used that capability.Also, it isn't the Russia's module to put such arrays on. Boeing nor NASA would have spec'ed such a requirement.
Quote from: Jim on 05/17/2012 05:03 pmQuote from: Danderman on 05/17/2012 04:56 pmI am assuming/wishing that the existing FGB solar panel attachments support removal of the panels, as did earlier TKS-based modules.Where is that documented? If the capability existed, it was never employed. Only the DOS's used that capability.Also, it isn't the Russia's module to put such arrays on. Boeing nor NASA would have spec'ed such a requirement.Since the earlier TKS modules did have the capability of moving around solar arrays, I suspect that NASA and Rockwell would have had to specify that this capability be deleted.
Was Rockwell ever involved with the FGB? I would have thought that if Boeing "inherited" the FGB from anyone, it would have been MDAC.
could new smaller, shorter arrays be installed so that the FGB could produce some small amount of power?
Quote from: Danderman on 05/17/2012 06:40 amcould new smaller, shorter arrays be installed so that the FGB could produce some small amount of power?Khrunichev had a project to replace the aft segments of the panels by smaller ones. See figure 6 in my page :http://www.kosmonavtika.com/vaisseaux/mks/elements/zaria/tech/12/12.htmlAlso, I confirm that systems used for power production were removed after the retraction of the panels, and that consequently it is strictly impossible to produce power with FGB's panels.
Quote from: Nicolas PILLET on 05/17/2012 10:57 pmAlso, I confirm that systems used for power production were removed after the retraction of the panels, and that consequently it is strictly impossible to produce power with FGB's panels.Sorry, I missed this earlier. But your source is incorrect - the FGB panels produce up to about 500W of power. The Russians use this power and reduce what the pull from the USOS based on how much they are getting.
Also, I confirm that systems used for power production were removed after the retraction of the panels, and that consequently it is strictly impossible to produce power with FGB's panels.
the FGB panels produce up to about 500W of power. The Russians use this power and reduce what the pull from the USOS based on how much they are getting.
During today's ISS Update hour on NTV, I noticed they were in the 'prior shuttle' FCR, rather than what I believe is the 'normal ISS' FCR (I don't remember the proper labels for the different FCRs).
Do we know why? Is the station FCR being upgraded or something?