ISS has been designed to support 6 crewmembers.
Not 7?
Quote from: Space Pete on 03/12/2011 06:37 pmISS has been designed to support 6 crewmembers.Not 7?
At the moment as I understand it we are largely limited by the crew carrying capacity of the Soyuz.
I think the US crew could be increased to four from 2015 onward, since most of the commercial crew vehicles under development would carry seven.
Quote from: DarkenedOne on 03/12/2011 06:24 pmAt the moment as I understand it we are largely limited by the crew carrying capacity of the Soyuz. In addition to the problems mentioned by others, it doesn't matter how many you can produce if you can't park them. Each crew member needs to have a ride home available for their entire stay (CRV). There are only 4 compatible docking ports, and they need to support Progress and ATV. Parking 3 Soyuz for long durations would be impractical. I suppose in theory the Russians could start building APAS Soyuz again and park them on a PMA...The ISS already went to "indirect" handovers (having the station drop to 3 during rotation instead of going up to 9), in part to help deal with traffic issues.The math also doesn't work out very well with 3 Soyuz, because ISS might support 7 but 9 for any extended period would be pushing it. So you'd end up wasting seats.To support 7 for long periods, you'd need US side CRV or a Russian vehicle with more than 3 seats.Quote from: Jason1701 on 03/12/2011 06:35 pm I think the US crew could be increased to four from 2015 onward, since most of the commercial crew vehicles under development would carry seven.Only if they have CRV capability, which isn't a given.
Russians have committed to producing a fifth Soyuz per year starting in 2013. Space Adventures will once again be sending up tourists.
Also we should consider whether permanent crew return capability is necessary. After all future missions to places like the Moon and Mars might not have this capability.
In a world where Dragon can support 4+ crew members as a transfer vehicle and as a lifeboat, so that ISS crew would increase to 7 or more, all of the above issues could be trivially resolved. We, however, don't presently live in that world.Dragon could easily bring up additional life support resources, consumables, sleeping facilities, there really isn't a show-stopper for ISS crew expansion, if there is a functional and reliable Dragon.
Well I understand about the limitations of the Soyuz, but future planned vehicles including the Dragon, the Dreamchaster, and the Boeing CST-100 all are designed for 7 people.
At least initially, I don't think any of these are planned to be able to stay at the station for a long time. "Orion CRV" is.[
Quote from: DarkenedOne on 03/13/2011 12:25 amWell I understand about the limitations of the Soyuz, but future planned vehicles including the Dragon, the Dreamchaster, and the Boeing CST-100 all are designed for 7 people. At least initially, I don't think any of these are planned to be able to stay at the station for a long time. "Orion CRV" is.
Quote from: apace on 03/12/2011 06:43 pmNot 7? I believe that plan died with the cancellation of the CRV. After the CRV was canceled, Soyuz would be used as the emergency vehicle, thus it was reduced to 6.
Quote from: Dapholine on 03/12/2011 07:02 pmQuote from: apace on 03/12/2011 06:43 pmNot 7? I believe that plan died with the cancellation of the CRV. After the CRV was canceled, Soyuz would be used as the emergency vehicle, thus it was reduced to 6.Nope still the plan. Not sure of the timescale but that is our next major milestone.