ShuttleDiscovery - 13/3/2008 12:03 PMNo! Cupola is launched attached to the forward end of Node 3 (no clearance issues) and the relocated to the side afterwards...
stockman - 13/3/2008 11:57 AMI could be wrong but I thought that node 3 and cupula were going up on the same flight but that the cupula would be on a pallet (not attached to Node3 for the flight. Once Node 3 gets attached then cupula could be attached to the appropriate port Speaking of cupula.. here is a current picture of her sitting in the ISS processing facility.
anik - 13/3/2008 7:33 AMhttp://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bulletin133/bul133_pip.pdfThe quote from page 69:"Node 3 has been advanced in the Assembly Sequence and is currently scheduled to launch October 2009 (with the Cupola attached) following delivery of Node-3 to NASA in February 2009"
catfry - 13/3/2008 12:20 PMIt makes perfect sense now, thanks.I have always been a bit fascinated by the Cupola. Isn't it a bit of a frivolity? Are there any operational uses at all?
DwightM - 13/3/2008 7:37 PMSo this means that STS-130 is now 20A and that 19A and ULF 4 will shift to the right, correct?
stockman - 13/3/2008 6:45 PM1) Earth observation made easier - that is one of the primary goals of ISS so big windows make that job easier2) maintenance visibility - Gives a clear human eye view to certain types of maintenance instead of just relying on Camera views from inside.3) Human mental health - I would be willing to bet that the most used part of the station (next to the toilet) is the LAB window because it is larger than the Russian Portholes and provides a nice clear view of the Earth below. When you are stuck in a tin can for 6 months or more at a time it is good for the mind to be able to look outside and see the universe. The cupola will give the equivalent of 5 or 6 large LAB windows. I can imagine half the crew in that module during off duty time.
stockman - 12/3/2008 6:45 PMQuotecatfry - 13/3/2008 12:20 PMIt makes perfect sense now, thanks.I have always been a bit fascinated by the Cupola. Isn't it a bit of a frivolity? Are there any operational uses at all?I certainly don't think its frivolous. Can you live without it? probably but there are some uses here.1) Earth observation made easier - that is one of the primary goals of ISS so big windows make that job easier
2) maintenance visibility - Gives a clear human eye view to certain types of maintenance instead of just relying on Camera views from inside.
3) Human mental health - I would be willing to bet that the most used part of the station (next to the toilet) is the LAB window because it is larger than the Russian Portholes and provides a nice clear view of the Earth below. When you are stuck in a tin can for 6 months or more at a time it is good for the mind to be able to look outside and see the universe. The cupola will give the equivalent of 5 or 6 large LAB windows. I can imagine half the crew in that module during off duty time.
perian - 13/3/2008 12:34 PMQuotestockman - 13/3/2008 6:45 PM1) Earth observation made easier - that is one of the primary goals of ISS so big windows make that job easier2) maintenance visibility - Gives a clear human eye view to certain types of maintenance instead of just relying on Camera views from inside.3) Human mental health - I would be willing to bet that the most used part of the station (next to the toilet) is the LAB window because it is larger than the Russian Portholes and provides a nice clear view of the Earth below. When you are stuck in a tin can for 6 months or more at a time it is good for the mind to be able to look outside and see the universe. The cupola will give the equivalent of 5 or 6 large LAB windows. I can imagine half the crew in that module during off duty time. 4) control of the space station remote manipulator system (robotic workstations will be in Cupola)
Chandonn - 13/3/2008 12:14 PMIn some earlier versions of the launch sequence, the cupola was to be launched on a pallet and later attached to the port CBM of Unity. That may be the source of the confusion. It is simpler to attach it to the forward active CBM of Node 3 when it's all launched up together, and then relocate it.
erioladastra - 13/3/2008 4:11 PMTo answer some other questions... It will now go on the port side of Node 1 and the Cupola will be nadir.