Quote from: DMeader on 02/23/2009 05:42 pmI am currently reading two books on Soyuz and the Salyut/Mir programs, and something does not make sense to me. All of the dockings described there between Soyuz as well as the TKS-based Mir addon modules refer to retracting the docking probe to achieve hard dock. No mention is made in the books of the engines being needed. is this incorrect?Except for Kvant-1 and the docking module, Mir Modules had their own engines to approach and dock to the station (Kvant-1 had a tug ala Progress)
I am currently reading two books on Soyuz and the Salyut/Mir programs, and something does not make sense to me. All of the dockings described there between Soyuz as well as the TKS-based Mir addon modules refer to retracting the docking probe to achieve hard dock. No mention is made in the books of the engines being needed. is this incorrect?
Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 02/23/2009 06:52 pmQuote from: DMeader on 02/23/2009 05:42 pmI am currently reading two books on Soyuz and the Salyut/Mir programs, and something does not make sense to me. All of the dockings described there between Soyuz as well as the TKS-based Mir addon modules refer to retracting the docking probe to achieve hard dock. No mention is made in the books of the engines being needed. is this incorrect?Except for Kvant-1 and the docking module, Mir Modules had their own engines to approach and dock to the station (Kvant-1 had a tug ala Progress)I'm aware of that, but that is not my question. I know the addon modules were based on the TKS resupply module that Chelomei designed for use with his Almaz military space station. As such they had their own engine systems, and had the conventional Soyuz probe-and-drogue docking system. What I am trying to determine is whether or not those engines were required for hard docking. Based on everything that I have read, they were not. After soft dock with the Konus drogue on the Mir baseblock, hard dock was achieved by retracting the docking probe, not by firing the engines. Also, after the difficulty with hard dock when Kvant was installed on the Mir baseblock, the spacewalking cosmonauts removed the errant trashbag that was fouling the port, and then the probe was commanded to retract for hard dock. No mention in that situation is made of an engine firing. The docking port on the Kristall module was of the APAS type as was the port on the docking module. As such, it did require impulse from the client spacecraft for hard dock. If this is all wrong, please correct me with references, but this is how I understand it to work.
...However, doesn't the docking system require a large momentum to engage ala APAS?
Question regarding the S6 truss:Will this truss have the Visual Target dots as the P6 truss?
Discovery will deliver the Mini-Research Module 1 to the Russian segment. As I understand, it will use the hybrid docking system of the Soyuz/Progress vein and will be lifted out of the shuttle bay and installed on Zarya by the SSRMS. However, doesn't the docking system require a large momentum to engage ala APAS?
Question regarding the Node 3 module:Now that the Node 3 final location has changed from the nadir to the port side of Unity, how will the Node 3 Umbilical tray be placed for this new configuration?
On another thread it was stated that the ISS would be lost if unmanned for a longer period of time without proper preparations, so I wonder, what exactly could happen to it that can be prevented by preparation but not by ground commandment?
Quote from: axmor61 on 03/11/2009 12:48 amQuestion regarding the Node 3 module:Now that the Node 3 final location has changed from the nadir to the port side of Unity, how will the Node 3 Umbilical tray be placed for this new configuration?When did this happen? Somehow I missed that! So, is this representation no longer correct? (Most recent assembly manifest graphic I could find - scroll down to the bottom)http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts117/fdf/manifest.htmlI take it Node 3 will be directly across from the Quest airlock now.
Quote from: vt_hokie on 03/14/2009 08:36 pmQuote from: axmor61 on 03/11/2009 12:48 amQuestion regarding the Node 3 module:Now that the Node 3 final location has changed from the nadir to the port side of Unity, how will the Node 3 Umbilical tray be placed for this new configuration?When did this happen? Somehow I missed that! So, is this representation no longer correct? (Most recent assembly manifest graphic I could find - scroll down to the bottom)http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts117/fdf/manifest.htmlI take it Node 3 will be directly across from the Quest airlock now.Actually Node 3 attachment was changed some time ago from nadir to port side, and reported on another thread. But just recently this appeared on Anik's schedule of ISS events:end of June (TBD) - PMA-3 relocation from nadir to left port of Unity module with SSRMS helpSo not sure if this indicates a change in plans or if the PMA-3 will be relocated back again before Node 3 arrives.
I have the question regarding to the yestarday reorientation of the ISS from +XVV to -XVV. Was it made by usin of CMG (Control Moment Gyroscope)? Or by thrusters (Progress, RCS of shuttle)?I think that first option is correct. Never heard any word about this manevour and how it is done..Thanks for answer!
SSRMS moving away for mobile base relocation
Can someone please describe the way the mast/mast motor deploy the arrays? I can't visualize the way the folded mast is pushed out and made ridged. What's going on inside that canister? Thanks