Author Topic: Orbital's Antares/Cygnus ORB-1 (CRS-1) Pre-Launch Update and Discussion Thread  (Read 101887 times)

Offline Skyrocket

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As of January 10, 2014, there have been 144 launch attempts for ISS (74 crewed), with one outright cargo launch failure, over 15+ years by seven different launch vehicles, from five different launch ranges in four different countries, if my addition is right!  Since the first ISS launch, the station has accounted for 13.45% of all orbital launch attempts, world-wide.

 - Ed Kyle

I think your count is right - at least i got also 144 launch attempts:

http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/iss.htm


Offline Danderman

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I wonder if the Russians don't have the right ops with self docking Progresses and ATV and four equal docking ports. They seem to hold the crew for much less time and give them great flexibility and redundancy. Besides, the payload difference doesn't seems to be that much. I wonder how much use of the 1.5m square vs .8m round passage really matters that much.

You will probably always want to berth cargo ships and dock crewed ships.

The 1.5 meter CBM hatch is really significant for moving cargo into the station (compared with the probe and cone's 800 mm hatch, but I don't know if crewed ships will use CBM type hatches in the future.

BTW, the Russians do have the capability of using an 1.1 meter hatch for cargo transfer, but they have elected not to.

Online Jarnis

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1)has iss traffic ever been this busy?
I think that the busiest prior year was 2009 with 14 launches to ISS.  There were also 14 attempts in 2011, but one (a Progress) failed to reach orbit.  There were eight unmanned flights in both 2012 and 2013.  Crewed flights numbered eight in both 2001 and 2009.  The crewed flight numbers are unlikely to be matched for awhile, if ever.

As of January 10, 2014, there have been 144 launch attempts for ISS (74 crewed), with one outright cargo launch failure, over 15+ years by seven different launch vehicles, from five different launch ranges in four different countries, if my addition is right!  Since the first ISS launch, the station has accounted for 13.45% of all orbital launch attempts, world-wide.

 - Ed Kyle

And that's a relatively modest outpost, very near, with six guys on board full time.

Gives perspective as to what kind of cargo mass you need to even start thinking of getting a viable colony started on Moon or Mars.

Offline Ben the Space Brit

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I'm not sure where to put this, if there is a mission ORB-CRS-1 general discussion thread, please move this post there.

Wow, they got it open within hours. Amazing work by InfraNut2 with the coverage, really appreciated!

Yes, think the guys are primed for a quick turnaround.

Just out of interest, I know that SpX-CRS-3 is scheduled for late February and there is a Russian vehicle expected soon. What is the expected turn-around time for this Cygnus visit?
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Offline manboy

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I wonder if the Russians don't have the right ops with self docking Progresses and ATV and four equal docking ports. They seem to hold the crew for much less time and give them great flexibility and redundancy. Besides, the payload difference doesn't seems to be that much. I wonder how much use of the 1.5m square vs .8m round passage really matters that much.

You will probably always want to berth cargo ships and dock crewed ships.

The 1.5 meter CBM hatch is really significant for moving cargo into the station (compared with the probe and cone's 800 mm hatch, but I don't know if crewed ships will use CBM type hatches in the future.

BTW, the Russians do have the capability of using an 1.1 meter hatch for cargo transfer, but they have elected not to.
Wasn't it because APAS is heavier and the Russians didn't want to take the payload hit?
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Online Galactic Penguin SST

I'm not sure where to put this, if there is a mission ORB-CRS-1 general discussion thread, please move this post there.

Wow, they got it open within hours. Amazing work by InfraNut2 with the coverage, really appreciated!

Yes, think the guys are primed for a quick turnaround.

Just out of interest, I know that SpX-CRS-3 is scheduled for late February and there is a Russian vehicle expected soon. What is the expected turn-around time for this Cygnus visit?

Quote
The Cygnus cargo vehicle consists of two modules. The service module provides attitude control, propulsion, navigation, electrical power and contains the solar arrays. The pressurized cargo module, which comprises the majority of the vehicle, provides the space for delivering cargo and logistics. However, there is no capacity for the recovery of cargo as the vehicle is intended for a destructive reentry over the Pacific Ocean Feb. 19. It will be unberthed and released from the station Feb. 18.

http://www.nasa.gov/content/cygnus-arrives-at-station-on-orbital-1-mission/
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

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