There have been many discussions on Piers and what to do with it when the new Russian module arrives. All of these assumed we could not keep it on the station. Why is that?
Is there no port we could dock it to? Put it on the end of MRM 1 or 2? Is there a zenit port on Zarya that is functional? Would it attach to the end of a PMA?
There have been many discussions on Piers and what to do with it when the new Russian module arrives. All of these assumed we could not keep it on the station. Why is that? Is there no port we could dock it to? Put it on the end of MRM 1 or 2? Is there a zenit port on Zarya that is functional? Would it attach to the end of a PMA?
There have been many discussions on Piers and what to do with it when the new Russian module arrives. All of these assumed we could not keep it on the station. Why is that? Is there no port we could dock it to?1) Put it on the end of MRM 1 or 2?2) Is there a zenit port on Zarya that is functional?3) Would it attach to the end of a PMA?
If it has to be undocked at any stage , why not keep it flying in 'close-formation',rendezvous-like mode with ISS ? MAybe be used as a 'storage' module - being visited occassionally by EVA astros?
Let me clear: it is not practical to move Piers to another port, but its possible.
Quote from: Danderman on 03/01/2010 02:22 pmLet me clear: it is not practical to move Piers to another port, but its possible....and given enough time and money we could turn a school bus into a space shuttle too. The point is: neither are going to happen because they are not practical.
Quote from: Chandonn on 03/01/2010 03:19 pmQuote from: Danderman on 03/01/2010 02:22 pmLet me clear: it is not practical to move Piers to another port, but its possible....and given enough time and money we could turn a school bus into a space shuttle too. The point is: neither are going to happen because they are not practical.Moving Pirs to another port is not as difficult as turning a school bus into a shuttle, but its not easy, either. I believe that the hardware to convert the Pirs docking port was paid for by NASA already, and may be sitting somewhere in Moscow these days.
I do seem to recall reading somewhere (probably here), that there was at least a preliminary pre-plan to temporarily replace the Probe on Zarya Aft with an APAS ring so that a US made propulsion module could be attached. The reason being so that US construction could start while awaiting completion of Zvezda, if it were severely delayed (more than it already was). I think.
Quote from: The-Hammer on 03/05/2010 01:31 amI do seem to recall reading somewhere (probably here), that there was at least a preliminary pre-plan to temporarily replace the Probe on Zarya Aft with an APAS ring so that a US made propulsion module could be attached. The reason being so that US construction could start while awaiting completion of Zvezda, if it were severely delayed (more than it already was). I think.Zarya’s Aft port already has an APAS ring.....and a Probe. It uses the Hybrid docking system (which is a sort-of combination of Probe & Drogue + APAS).Zarya's Aft port uses the exact same docking mechanism as Pirs (which is visible in this photo):www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/pirs/hires/iss003e5620.jpg
"Ring" relates to the APAS mating structure. "Docking Collar" represents the interface plane between two spacecraft.
There have been many discussions on Piers and what to do with it when the new Russian module arrives. All of these assumed we could not keep it on the station. Why is that? Is there no port we could dock it to? Put it on the end of MRM 1 or 2? Is there a zenit port on Zarya that is functional? Would it attach to the end of a PMA?One other thought - what about the solar panels on Zarya? I know on Mir they added extra solar panels from time to time. Any way to move those panels to another location? I know this would need some sort of mounting point - but could one be built and bolted somewhere? Attach them 90 degrees offset from their current position on Zarya and build jumper wires to plug them in?I just hate to see anything on orbit now go to waste or be lost if there is any other options.
Quote from: Don Gordon on 02/28/2010 05:13 pmThere have been many discussions on Piers and what to do with it when the new Russian module arrives. All of these assumed we could not keep it on the station. Why is that? Is there no port we could dock it to? Put it on the end of MRM 1 or 2? Is there a zenit port on Zarya that is functional? Would it attach to the end of a PMA?One other thought - what about the solar panels on Zarya? I know on Mir they added extra solar panels from time to time. Any way to move those panels to another location? I know this would need some sort of mounting point - but could one be built and bolted somewhere? Attach them 90 degrees offset from their current position on Zarya and build jumper wires to plug them in?I just hate to see anything on orbit now go to waste or be lost if there is any other options.I've thought that they should leave Piers right where it is, Zvezda nadir, and move Poisk to Zarya nadir.
Then, they could launch the backup Zvezda for attachment to Piers (directly beneath and parallel to the original Zvezda).