Node Module - Russian segment

[Danderman]

How so? Anik's post suggests that MLM Nadir will be a passive system capable of accepting Active Probe & Active Hybrid systems.

His post also suggests that Node Zenith will have some kind of Active Hybrid system.

That makes a linkup possible.

Either its a garbled story, or someone in Russia is invoking magic to allow standard and hybrid systems to dock together. They are not physically compatible.     

[anik]

So, how does the MLM nadir passive combined docking unit connect to the Node module's zenith active hybrid transformed docking unit?

This question should be asked to RSC Energia. I read this info in their internal documents.

[Danderman]

Anuk has the Node Module using a Progress M bus to reach ISS:

TBD – Progress M-UM (No. 303) – Soyuz-2-1B – Baikonur

I wonder if the Argon 16 computer will really be used for this mission, or will this really be a Progress MM bus?

[anik]

I wonder if the Argon 16 computer will really be used for this mission, or will this really be a Progress MM bus?

There will be TsVM-101.

[Jason Davies]

Some superb presentations on this module on the L2 Russian section now. Very impressive new section.

[Space Pete]

Some superb presentations on this module on the L2 Russian section now. Very impressive new section.

I concur! We have some fantastic L2 Russian content now, a lot of it related to ISS. And, there's loads more to come!

[Danderman]

I wonder if the Argon 16 computer will really be used for this mission, or will this really be a Progress MM bus?

There will be TsVM-101.

In other words, its not a Progress-M bus, but a Progress MM. 

[PeterAlt]

I'm still unclear about...

1. Will the MLM nadir host Progress/Soyuz?
2. Will the Node Module host Progress/Soyuz?
3. If yes to #2, of the 5 available ports on the Node Module, how many wot them will be able to host Progress/Soyus?

And unrelated:

4. Are the two science and power modules still planned?

[Space Pete]

I'm still unclear about...

1. Will the MLM nadir host Progress/Soyuz?
2. Will the Node Module host Progress/Soyuz?
3. If yes to #2, of the 5 available ports on the Node Module, how many wot them will be able to host Progress/Soyus?

And unrelated:

4. Are the two science and power modules still planned?

1. Yes, MLM Nadir will, as it will be a "Transformed Hybrid" port, capable of accepting both standard & Hybrid probes.

2. Yes, the Nadir port will, for the same reason as above.

3. One (Node Nadir). The other five ports will be Hybrid only.

4. Yes, they are.

[Lars_J]

How would a "Transformed Hybrid" port work? Do the standard and hybrid ports not have different diameters?

[PeterAlt]

Thank you for the answers!

I forgot to ask:

Considering how the Russians do not like to throw away any component that still functions, are there any possible configuration options that could allow them to keep Pirs indefinitely? (instead of disposing it before MLM or Node Module arrives.) I think I remember seeing a Russian graphics a year or so ago that showed Pirs docked to the Nadir port of the Node Module, but I can't remember where I saw this illustration and my recent efforts to find it again have failed.

[Space Pete]

How would a "Transformed Hybrid" port work? Do the standard and hybrid ports not have different diameters?

As far as I can tell, they would simply put an APAS docking collar around the outer edge of the standard Probe & Drogue docking collar.

Obviously, this would mean that the hatchway wouldn't be as wide as the standard Hybrid system hatchway.

Attached is a graphic produced by me.

[Danderman]

Thank you for the answers!

I forgot to ask:

Considering how the Russians do not like to throw away any component that still functions, are there any possible configuration options that could allow them to keep Pirs indefinitely? (instead of disposing it before MLM or Node Module arrives.) I think I remember seeing a Russian graphics a year or so ago that showed Pirs docked to the Nadir port of the Node Module, but I can't remember where I saw this illustration and my recent efforts to find it again have failed.

Funny you should ask that question:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=18939.msg676462#msg676462

[Space Pete]

RSC-Energia Approves Draft Design New ISS Module.

Draft design of a new docking compartment for the International Space Station has been approved by Rocket Space Corporation Energia’s Scientific Board.
The module for the ISS Russian segment is intended to provide attachment of the two scientific power modules, as well as additional docking ports for Soyuzes and Progresses. The module is to be attached to Multi-Purpose Module; both are expected to arrive at the ISS in 2012.
The docking compartment weights 4 t, with internal volume of 14 cub m.
RSC-E Board chaired by First Deputy General Designer Victor Legostayev also approved draft design of  module vehicle Progress M-UM to be used to deliver the docking compartment to the station, Progress M-UM upper composite, and Soyuz modification to respect Progress M-UM mission.

Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=11191&lang=en

[cd-slam]

The module is to be attached to Multi-Purpose Module; both are expected to arrive at the ISS in 2012.

Wow, really? The Russian launch schedule shows the Node module launch in 2013.

[Space Pete]

A meeting of the Corporation's Scientific and Technical Council was held at S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia to review conceptual designs of:

• Node Module (NM) of the Russian Segment (RS) of the International
  Space Station (ISS),
• cargo transportation spacecraft/module Progress M-NM to deliver NM
  to ISS,
• payload unit containing spacecraft/module Progress M-NM,
• adaptation of Soyuz launch vehicle for spacecraft/module Progress
   M-NM.

Presiding at the meeting was a first deputy general designer of RSC Energia, Chairman of the Scientific and Technical Council, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences V.P. Legostaev.

Taking part in the Scientific and Technical Council were the Corporation President and General Designer V.A. Lopota and First Vice President of the Corporation and first deputy general designer N.I. Zelenshchikov.

Having heard reports and statements from RSC Energia project managers and heads of scientific and technical centers, representatives of the RSC Energia Experimental Machine-building Plant, Central Research Institute for Machine-building (TsNIIMash) and other participants in the conceptual design efforts, and having reviewed and discussed these results, the Scinetific and Technical Council has decided to approve presented materials.

For reference:

NM is being developed by RSC Energia in order to support the docking to ISS RS of two scientific and power modules during the final stage of the segment assembly and to provide on this segment additional docking ports to receive Soyuz TMA and Progress M spacecraft.

The module can be docked with the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) developed by RSC Energia in cooperation with leading companies in the industry. NM and MLM are to be incorporated into ISS in 2012.

NM mass is 4 tons, the pressurized cabin volume is 14 cubic meters.

www.energia.ru/en/news/news-2011/news_01-13.html

[PeterAlt]

So, there will be additional Soyuz/Progress ports. The release says "two additional". I wonder if this means two additional in addition to the nadir port that it "gives back" (after "taking" MPL's nadir) making 3 docking ports available in total?

[Space Pete]

Here's a summary of MLM & NM docking ports:

MLM Zenith: Active Hybrid.
MLM Nadir: Passive Transformed Hybrid (able to support Active Hybrid & Active Standard Probe spacecraft).

NM Zenith: Active Hybrid.
NM Radial Ports (4): Passive Hybrid.
NM Nadir: Passive Transformed Hybrid.

This means that the NM will only be able to support one Soyuz/Progress.

[PeterAlt]

So why does the PR specifically say "two additional Soyuz/Progress"? Either they are wrong, there's an error in translation, the design had been upgraded and your info is based on an older design, or additional ports may be upgraded to support additional Soyuz/Progress.

[Danderman]

So why does the PR specifically say "two additional Soyuz/Progress"? Either they are wrong, there's an error in translation, the design had been upgraded and your info is based on an older design, or additional ports may be upgraded to support additional Soyuz/Progress.

The original Russian is kind of ambiguous on the additional ports, I wouldn't read much into it.