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Spaceflight Entertainment and Hobbies / Re: Hazegrayart Master Thread
« Last post by catdlr on Today at 07:02 pm »
Space Station Freedom



Quote
Oct 24, 2024
Space Station Freedom was a NASA-led multi-national project proposed in the 1980s to construct a permanently crewed space station in low Earth orbit. Despite initial approval by President Ronald Reagan and a public announcement in the 1984 State of the Union Address, the ambitious project faced significant budget cuts and delays. Ultimately, a scaled-down version of Freedom evolved into the US Orbital Segment (USOS) of the International Space Station (ISS).



"Power Tower" space station concept (1984)
In April 1984, the newly established Space Station Program Office at Johnson Space Center produced a first reference configuration; this design would serve as a baseline for further planning. The chosen design was the "Power Tower", a long central keel with most mass located at either end. This arrangement would provide enough gravity gradient stability to keep the station aligned with the keel pointed towards the Earth, reducing the need for thruster firings. Most designs featured a cluster of modules at the lower end and a set of articulated solar arrays at the upper end. It also contained a servicing bay. In April 1985, the program selected a set of contractors to carry out definition studies and preliminary design; various trade-offs were made in this process, balancing higher development costs against reduced long-term operating costs

"Dual Keel" space station concept (1985)
The newly conceived "Dual Keel" Station emerged as a sophisticated blend of Lockheed and McDonnell Douglas designs, boasting a structure that was significantly stiffer—resulting in enhanced stability. This innovative architecture promised not only increased space for external instruments but also a superior microgravity environment, a marked improvement over its predecessor, the gravity gradient-stabilized "Power Tower."

In response to the pressing concerns of scientists, the crew size was elevated to eight astronauts. The rationale? A mere six-member team would likely be overwhelmed by the demands of assembly and maintenance, leaving scant time for crucial research activities.

NASA set its sights on a launch date for the station's first element in January 1993; however, the initial operational capability was pushed back to January 1994. This delay stemmed primarily from a significant budget cut in Fiscal 1986, which slashed funding from $280 million down to a mere $200 million. The implications were profound, reshaping timelines and expectations for this ambitious project..

Revised Baseline Configuration (1987)
At the same time, late 1986, NASA carried out a study into new configuration options to reduce development costs; options studied ranged from the use of a Skylab-type station to a phased development of the Dual-Keel configuration. This approach involved splitting assembly into two phases; Phase 1 would provide the central modules, and the transverse boom, but with no keels. The solar arrays would be augmented to ensure 75 kW of power would be provided, and the polar platform and servicing facility were again deferred. The study concluded that the project was viable, reducing development costs while minimizing negative impacts, and it was designated the Revised Baseline Configuration. This would have a development cost of US$15.3 billion (in FY1989 dollars) and FEL in the first quarter of 1994. This replanning was endorsed by the National Research Council in September 1987, which also recommended that the long-term national goals should be studied before committing to any particular Phase 2 design.

This work is based on "Spacestation 7 - Procedural" (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/spacestation-7-procedural-5e8cb801870f4cbc89246ba4f9c8e6b2 )
) by re1monsen (https://sketchfab.com/re1monsen )

During 1986 and 1987, various other studies were carried out on the future of the U.S. space program; the results of these often impacted the Space Station, and their recommendations were folded into the revised baseline as necessary. One of the results of these was to baseline the Station program as requiring five shuttle flights a year for operations and logistics, rotating four crew at a time with the aim of extending individual stay times to 180 days.
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Seems to me that SLS is exactly the kind of hugely expensive white elephant program that would be in Trumps sights to cancel. It would create a huge rumpus, but Trump seems to revel in rumpuses.

Trump could have done that in the four years he was previously President, but didn't. He even had the excuse of his NASA Administrator wanting to not use the SLS, but Trump backed down when Congress didn't take his side.

We'll see what could be the "trigger event" that causes Congress to agree to reassess the SLS program. Maybe it is the involvement of Elon Musk, but maybe not...
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Seems to me that SLS is exactly the kind of hugely expensive white elephant program that would be in Trumps sights to cancel. It would create a huge rumpus, but Trump seems to revel in rumpuses.
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There has been no further mention of launch since August 21.

Is the launch delayed into 2025?  It could be one of several Russian launches so delayed.
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Lots of us posted years ago that Starship is perfectly fine for Moon base missions. Lunar Starship and Starship tankers and you're good to go. SLS, Gateway and all that nonsense is just a distraction.
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  -Assuming Musk does save the government money in "efficiency" elsewhere, Trump's character suggests he may want to direct funds to SpaceX as a "Quid Pro Quo".


Not possible

True that would not be possible as it is too obviously illegal. But assuming Musk does save the Government money, what else might Musk ask for behind closed doors? I would have thought Trump might be receptive to all sorts of requests or suggestions especially if they helped create some really good political grandstanding opportunities.

Perhaps to provide some more wriggle room around planetary protection issues, perhaps a little targeted watering down all wrapped up under the banner of removing red tape?

Maybe fiddling around with the FAA in some ways that cuts a lot of all that "unwanted" bureaucracy (and happens to make Musk's life easier)?

Or Adjusting the Moon then Mars program. Perhaps both might be afforded simultaneously rather than sequentially? Especially with the savings made and the lower cost of modern rocketry... ;o)

SLS also looks like morphing from cash cow to sitting duck, perhaps a little less funding and extended time lines? :-O

I wonder who Trump will speak too first when he's thinking about space policy? No doubt he won't spend too much time on it, but a quick chat with Elon Musk might give him ideas.

A lot of these policy changes are likely, Musk doesn't even need to ask for them.

In terms of planetary protection, if it is a private mission, NASA doesn't have any say in it and as far as I know no other agency or department has any specific rules on it. The best way to ensure that NASA has a say on planterary protection is to have NASA be part of the first Mars missions with SpaceX. That is why I think that a public-private partnership for Mars exploration is a good idea regardless of which party is in power.
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Where am I wrong?
I think the strongest argument against it is that, for about the same money, you could just build a base on the lunar surface. That if Orion hadn't been designed so poorly, no one would have ever considered Gateway.

I think the best argument in favor of it is that even after refueling in LEO, most missions will need to refuel near the moon, and Gateway is high enough up for passive zero-boiloff to work. Of course that still begs the question. Does a fuel depot actually need to be manned?
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They should rename the HLS SS variant to "Orion", and maybe the whole system from StarShip to "Star-like Ship", and voila.
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Belated cross-posts

Launch 2024 no change:
https://www.roscosmos.ru/39057/
Google translate:
Quote
Today and tomorrow, the Roscosmos State Corporation is holding an annual all-Russian meeting on remote sensing of the Earth (ERS). On behalf of the Director General of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, work has been launched to create small spacecraft (SSCs) for remote sensing within the framework of the federal project "Sphere", including "Pixel- VR” with a spatial resolution of 0.5 m. Lavochkin (part of Roskosmos). The first Pixel-VR satellite is planned to be produced by 2025. In addition, the first Kondor-FKA remote sensing radar spacecraft is being prepared for launch in 2023, which will be able to conduct all-weather and round-the-clock monitoring of the Earth, including the Arctic region. The second satellite is planned to be launched into orbit in 2024, and two more by 2029-2030. Design documentation for the Kondor-FKA-M spacecraft with improved characteristics is being developed. Its launch is planned after 2030. The production of the first remote sensing radar satellite Obzor-R, which is expected to be launched into orbit in 2023, is nearing completion. By 2030, it is planned to create another "Obzor-R". This year, it is planned to launch the remote sensing satellite "Resurs-P" No. 4, next year - "Resurs-P" No. 5. Further development of highly detailed imaging satellites is associated with the development of the satellite " Resurs-PM" with improved characteristics. The launch of the first device into orbit is expected in 2025. In 2024, it is planned to launch two small satellites Aist-2T for stereoscopic observation of the Earth. .In 2025, it is planned to launch into orbit the geostationary hydrometeorological satellite Elektro-L No. 5. Elektro-L will be replaced by the Elektro-M satellite with improved resolution and an increased number of spectral channels. The launch of the first Elektro-M satellite is expected after 2030. In 2023, it is planned to launch the highly elliptical hydrometeorological satellite Arktika-M No. 2, and by 2030 - four more such devices. The Arktika-M satellite will be replaced by the Arktika-MP satellite with improved characteristics, which will be unified with the Elektro-M in terms of the composition of the target equipment. No. 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6). In the future, they will begin to be replaced by Meteor-MP satellites, which, in terms of the composition of the target equipment, will be unified with the promising oceanographic spacecraft Okean. The latter will be equipped with a surveillance radar to assess the ice cover. The preliminary design of the Russian-Belarusian spacecraft for highly detailed Earth survey with a spatial resolution of 0.35 m has already been completed. In 2023, it is planned to begin its production, the launch is expected in 2028. In the future, on its basis, it is planned to create a joint constellation of highly detailed surveys. Four Ionosphere-M satellites are expected to be launched into orbit to monitor space weather. It is planned to create a spacecraft "Zond-M" for observing the Sun.



Still 2024, but will change:
As of October 2023:
https://raaks.ru/wp-content/uploads/RAAKS_2023_GK_Roskosmos.pdf
Google translate:
Quote
Indicative list of launches for 2024
INSURANCE BROKER RK-INSURANCE
1. SC “GLONASS-K” No. 18
2. SC "GLONASS-K" No. 19
3. SC “Glonass-K2” No. 14L
4. SC “Obzor-R” No. 1
5. TGK "Progress MS-26"
6. TGK "Progress MS-27"
7. TGK "Progress MS-28"
8. TGK "Progress MS-29"
9. TPK “Soyuz MS-25”
10. TPK “Soyuz MS-26”
11. SC "Condor-FKA" No. 2, SC "Marafon" No. 1
12. SC "Resurs-PM" No. 1
13. SC “Ionosphere-M” No. 3, No. 4, SC “Marafon” No. 2
14. SC "Resurs-P" No. 5
15. SC “Bion-M” No. 2

"Resurs-PM" No. 1 and "Resurs-P" No. 5 moved on 2025.



Launch 2025:
https://www.roscosmos.ru/40165/
Google translate:
Quote
In 2023, the first remote sensing radar spacecraft “Kondor-FKA” was launched, which will be able to conduct all-weather and round-the-clock monitoring of the Earth, including the Arctic region.

The second satellite is scheduled to be launched into orbit in 2024, and two more in 2029-2030. The production of the Obzor-R remote sensing radar satellite is being completed. In 2024, it is planned to launch the remote sensing spacecraft "Resurs-P" No. 4, in the next year [2025] - "Resurs-P" No. 5. Further development of ultra-high-detail imaging satellites is associated with the development of the Resurs-PM satellite with improved characteristics. The first spacecraft is expected to be launched into orbit in 2025.



Launch Q4 2025:
https://prokosmos.ru/2024/08/21/gendirektor-rkts-progress-eksperimenti-na-bione-m-pomogut-v-poletakh-lyudei-na-lunu-i-mars
Google translate:
Quote
Dmitry Baranov, CEO of Progress Rocket Space Center:
...
— Earlier, the head of the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBMP RAS) reported plans to launch the Bion-M No. 2 satellite in September. Then came the information about postponing the launch until next year. What is the state of the device? Are all the systems ready?

— In accordance with the schedule for the production of the Bion-M No. 2 spacecraft, approved by the Director General of Roscosmos, Progress must be supplied with 21 types of support equipment and 19 types of scientific equipment to equip the satellite. By now, the support equipment has been supplied in full, and 18 out of 19 scientific equipment items have been delivered.
The Progress Rocket Space Center has manufactured the units and onboard cable network on its own, as well as 24 out of 26 types of devices intended to equip the satellite. The production of two types of devices from the power supply system and the landing system automation is nearing completion. The next stage of electrical and radiotechnical tests has been completed, and work is underway to assemble and test the descent vehicle.
...
— How did Resurs-P No. 4 perform? What stage of readiness is the fifth spacecraft at?

— Resurs-P No. 4, launched on March 31 of this year and put into operation on June 14, is currently operating without any issues. Resurs-P No. 5 is currently undergoing tests on Progress. Its launch is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.

— What stage is the creation of the next-generation spacecraft, Resurs-PM, at?

— In accordance with the state contract concluded with Roscosmos, Progress Rocket Space Center, together with the cooperation, is carrying out work to create a space system with Resurs-PM satellites No. 1 and No. 2. Currently, the co-executor enterprises are completing the assembly of the electronic component base for the onboard equipment being created. The equipment and components for both spacecraft are being manufactured. Progress has already received a number of systems for both the first and second satellites.

— In addition to optical satellites, you are working on creating the Obzor-R radar apparatus. When will it be launched into orbit? How many satellites in this series are planned to be created?

— Progress is completing work on creating the Obzor-R space complex with the Obzor-R No. 1 satellite, which is planned to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2024. The technical design stage of the Obzor-R No. 2 spacecraft is currently underway, the state contract for the creation of which was signed in 2023.
...
— Has the creation of the Aist-2T apparatus been completed? When will they be launched into orbit?

— Work on creating the small Aist-2T spacecraft is now in its final stages. Both satellites have been assembled, without telescopes yet. "Aist-2T" No. 1 has passed the stage of electrical tests of the supporting equipment, tests of "Aist-2T" No. 2 have begun. The launch of the satellites is planned for December.
...
— When is it possible for the promising Soyuz-5 rocket to enter the international market? What is the first launch planned for?

The first launch of "Soyuz-5" is currently planned with a payload mockup. At the same time, various proposals are being worked out regarding the launch of commercial satellites on "Soyuz-5".
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