Now I see, what would be needed would be something like the Orbital Manoeuvering Vehicle imagined for Freedom 25 years ago. The OMV would be based at the ISS and use Kurs (if that save any money).
In the end it is cheaper to buy a second-hand Soyuz or Progress with an on-board Kurs !
Back to the -astute - CSI scheme. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/199/1How does the Soyuz / logistic module docks with the Block D or Breeze ?
A "used" Progress in this context means that the function of delivering cargo to ISS has been completed, and the Progress has separated from ISS. At this point, it may be available for use for other customers.
Quote from: Danderman on 07/27/2011 03:04 pmA "used" Progress in this context means that the function of delivering cargo to ISS has been completed, and the Progress has separated from ISS. At this point, it may be available for use for other customers.Think the Russians are still removing the Kurs boxes from Progress and stowing them on ISS for later return, even though the shuttle is no longer available to return them.
Got to learn about Kurs - any documentation on it is welcome.
Quote from: Archibald on 07/23/2011 12:13 pmNow I see, what would be needed would be something like the Orbital Manoeuvering Vehicle imagined for Freedom 25 years ago. The OMV would be based at the ISS and use Kurs (if that save any money). Getting your hands on Kurs for the OMV would cost you more money than you can ever imagine.Why not use Progress as a tug?
Is it true there has never been a rendezvous conducted with a cryogenic stage? By any space program? Ever?
BTW, does anyone know how much propellant would be left in the upper stage of a Delta IV Heavy upper stage if it flew with basically no payload (other than a docking adapter like LIDS or something) to LEO?
Getting your hands on Kurs for the OMV would cost you more money than you can ever imagine.
As the (horrible, I know) title says. We suppose an international company. That company buy bulks of cryogenic third stages from countries willing to sell themThe company evidently also buy a rocket ride to loft these stages into low earth orbit. Evidently no payload is carried; no GEO satellite. Meanwhile, lunar heavy payloads (15- 20 tons) are launched and dock to the ISS. The company provide the cryogenic stages with Soyuzautomated rendezvous and docking gear (Kurs + probe-and-drogue). Then a booster loft the cryogenic third stage near the ISS no fly zone, the payload disengage from the space station, dock to the stage, fire, head to L1 / L2 / LLO. By using the ISS for a lunar program, we don't have to wait 2028 and the end of its useful life to return beyond LEO...
TRL for cryo storage is too low without extensive development work.ISS is built for specific and low load paths. A bunch of RL-10s would tear it apart.