Author Topic: General ISS Q&A thread  (Read 879768 times)

Offline floron

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 184
  • goodbye Austin, hello Seattle
    • my occasional blog
  • Liked: 85
  • Likes Given: 41
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #840 on: 12/04/2008 12:12 am »
why are the lower solar panels at a slightly different angle to the upper panels? Wouldn't this lower the amount of sunlight they collect by a little bit?

Offline Comga

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6466
  • Liked: 4572
  • Likes Given: 5136
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #841 on: 12/04/2008 05:11 am »
why are the lower solar panels at a slightly different angle to the upper panels? Wouldn't this lower the amount of sunlight they collect by a little bit?
Notice that the solar panel is dark and the radiator is sunlit.  This is not an operational orientation.  It may have been transitioning or parked during rendezvous or maintenance. 
What kind of wastrels would dump a perfectly good booster in the ocean after just one use?

Offline floron

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 184
  • goodbye Austin, hello Seattle
    • my occasional blog
  • Liked: 85
  • Likes Given: 41
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #842 on: 12/04/2008 06:17 am »
why are the lower solar panels at a slightly different angle to the upper panels? Wouldn't this lower the amount of sunlight they collect by a little bit?
Notice that the solar panel is dark and the radiator is sunlit.  This is not an operational orientation.  It may have been transitioning or parked during rendezvous or maintenance. 

as far as i can remember the portside (working) arrays have always been angled like that too...and even when the P6 was the only array on the station...

perhaps it's a way of deliberately limiting how much power the array generates? if there's a surplus of power being generated? hmm.

Offline The-Hammer

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 409
  • Liked: 2
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #843 on: 12/04/2008 03:38 pm »
perhaps it's a way of deliberately limiting how much power the array generates? if there's a surplus of power being generated? hmm.

The Sequential Shunt Unit handles limiting the total power generated.

EDIT: Power limitation is achieved by "shunting" individual strings. (Shorting them back to themselves). Each SAW is composed of 82 "strings", with 41 in each blanket.
« Last Edit: 12/04/2008 03:40 pm by The-Hammer »
Grant Imahara: Oxygen deficiency alarm? Is that something I should be worried about?
NASA worker: Only if it goes off.

Offline Jorge

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6404
  • Liked: 529
  • Likes Given: 67
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #844 on: 12/04/2008 03:56 pm »
why are the lower solar panels at a slightly different angle to the upper panels? Wouldn't this lower the amount of sunlight they collect by a little bit?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=3207.msg202801#msg202801
JRF

Offline floron

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 184
  • goodbye Austin, hello Seattle
    • my occasional blog
  • Liked: 85
  • Likes Given: 41
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #845 on: 12/04/2008 08:20 pm »
why are the lower solar panels at a slightly different angle to the upper panels? Wouldn't this lower the amount of sunlight they collect by a little bit?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=3207.msg202801#msg202801

wow, this space stuff is complicated.   :o

thanks for the explanation!

Offline Ronsmytheiii

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23394
  • Liked: 1879
  • Likes Given: 1023
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #846 on: 12/06/2008 06:12 pm »
However no problem, NASA have just published a hi-res model of the ISS (29th October 2008).

That is an outdated model, Node 3 is in the wrong position and there still is a Research module rather than the MRM-1

Offline Colds7ream

  • Tomorrow's Flight Surgeon
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 185
  • Scientia Dabit Alas
  • RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
    • SalopianJames - en Wikipedia
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #847 on: 12/07/2008 06:06 pm »
Just a quick question, folks - is there any particular place where all the ISS's vital statistics are kept (fully up-to-date)? Specifically, I'm looking for:

Mass
Length (from Zvezda to PMA-2)
Width (along truss)
Height
Living volume
Perigee
Apogee

Thanks in advance!  :)

Offline I14R10

  • Mars Terraformer
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 357
  • Croatia
  • Liked: 45
  • Likes Given: 225

Offline Colds7ream

  • Tomorrow's Flight Surgeon
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 185
  • Scientia Dabit Alas
  • RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
    • SalopianJames - en Wikipedia
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #849 on: 12/08/2008 05:18 pm »
Uh, thanks for an interesting link, but no page within that site lists any overall dimensions, so it isn't really very helpful...

Offline usn_skwerl

  • Space Junkie
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 218
  • Ad Astra
  • South Bend, IN
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #850 on: 12/09/2008 10:00 am »
If we do not destroy ourselves, we will one day venture to the stars.

Offline Colds7ream

  • Tomorrow's Flight Surgeon
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 185
  • Scientia Dabit Alas
  • RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
    • SalopianJames - en Wikipedia
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #851 on: 12/09/2008 03:19 pm »
Funnily enough, its that I'm trying to update! :D

Offline Almurray1958

Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #852 on: 12/09/2008 03:42 pm »
Colds7ream...

from here
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

click the "interactive Space Station reference guide"

which should go here
http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/ISSRG/ 

choose [How it works]     choose [ scale] icon
- Al Murray

Offline Colds7ream

  • Tomorrow's Flight Surgeon
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 185
  • Scientia Dabit Alas
  • RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
    • SalopianJames - en Wikipedia
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #853 on: 12/09/2008 05:29 pm »
Thanking you! :)

Offline Michael Z Freeman

  • Regular
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 231
  • UK
  • Liked: 11
  • Likes Given: 7
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #854 on: 12/10/2008 03:58 pm »
I've reached an impasse with this model. I am unable to properly update it because I do not have a copy of Solidworks to import / export the eDrawing.

So I have started working with the hi-res nasa model. It just needs the Destiny model from my VRML/X3D ISS.

That is an outdated model, Node 3 is in the wrong position and there still is a Research module rather than the MRM-1

Hello and thanks.

According to Wikipedia and NASA node 3 is yet to be launched. Did you mean another node ?

What do you mean by "Research module" ?
« Last Edit: 12/13/2008 05:45 pm by DJ Barney »
I love NSF!

Offline ChrisC

  • Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2216
  • Liked: 1561
  • Likes Given: 1749
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #855 on: 12/13/2008 04:23 am »
This seems as good a place as any to post this vague question ...

I heard a week ago somewhere, possibly here, about a book that was published about NASA telemetry system, likely including the TDRS satellites.  Does anyone know what that book is?  As I recall, it was more about earth orbit comms, not deep space comms as provided by DSN, but I certainly could be wrong.
« Last Edit: 12/13/2008 04:24 am by ChrisC »
PSA #1: EST does NOT mean "Eastern Time".  Use "Eastern" or "ET" instead, all year round, and avoid this common error.  Google "EST vs EDT".
PSA #2: It's and its: know the difference and quietly impress grammar pedants.  Google "angry flower its" .  *** See profile for two more NSF forum tips. ***

Offline Hungry4info3

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 525
  • Liked: 163
  • Likes Given: 81
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #856 on: 12/13/2008 06:26 pm »
Indeed, Node3 hasn't been launched, I don't see Node3 on the ISS model several posts up either.

Correct me if I am wrong, but was the External Stowage Platform that used to be attached to the port side of the truss relocated to the centre of the truss? Perhaps attached to the device that can translate down the length of the truss which the robotic arm attaches to? (I don't know its name?  :( )

Offline Michael Z Freeman

  • Regular
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 231
  • UK
  • Liked: 11
  • Likes Given: 7
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #857 on: 12/13/2008 07:01 pm »
Now the full res images of the fly around have been published this task has suddenly become a lot easier .. and accurate.
I love NSF!

Offline eeergo

Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #858 on: 12/13/2008 07:45 pm »
Indeed, Node3 hasn't been launched, I don't see Node3 on the ISS model several posts up either.

Correct me if I am wrong, but was the External Stowage Platform that used to be attached to the port side of the truss relocated to the centre of the truss? Perhaps attached to the device that can translate down the length of the truss which the robotic arm attaches to? (I don't know its name?  :( )

From Dec 3rd's Status Report (posted by anik here http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=13186.msg340983#msg340983):
""ESP-3 Relocation Lookahead: Return of the External Stowage Platform 3 from its current (temporary) location on the MBS (Mobile Base System) to the zenith side of the P3 truss with the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) is planned for 12/5 (Friday)"

The 'device that translates along the truss' is the MBS, and the ESP was attached to the Payload and Orbital-Replacement-Unit Accommodation (POA) ;)
-DaviD-

Offline robertross

  • Canadian Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17939
  • Westphal, Nova Scotia
  • Liked: 659
  • Likes Given: 7692
Re: General ISS Q&A thread
« Reply #859 on: 12/13/2008 11:18 pm »
I've reached an impasse with this model. I am unable to properly update it because I do not have a copy of Solidworks to import / export the eDrawing.


I have Autodesk Inventor at work. I can't make any promises, but I'll see if I can import the eDrawing file and convert it into something useable. My manager has KeyCreator, which has more options...it might work for him if mine doesn't...

Don't ask why we have 2 different software packages  :(

 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1