Quote from: Rocket Science on 01/28/2020 07:14 amIsn't the plan still to splash ISS in a few years? In 2028, currently. It may be extended to 2030. Axiom's modules are designed to be separated at ISS end of life and operate as an independent commercial space station.
Isn't the plan still to splash ISS in a few years?
``(a) Policy of the United States.--It shall be the policy of the United States, in consultation with its international partners in the ISS program, to support full and complete utilization of the ISS through at least 2024.
ISS Transition Plan.-- ``(1) <<NOTE: Coordination.>> In general.--The Administrator, in coordination with the ISS management entity (as defined in section 2 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017), ISS partners, the scientific user community, and the commercial space sector, shall develop a plan to transition in a step-wise approach from the current regime that relies heavily on NASA sponsorship to a regime where NASA could be one of many customers of a low-Earth orbit non-governmental human space flight enterprise.
Quote from: whitelancer64 on 01/28/2020 03:27 pmQuote from: Rocket Science on 01/28/2020 07:14 amIsn't the plan still to splash ISS in a few years? In 2028, currently. It may be extended to 2030. Axiom's modules are designed to be separated at ISS end of life and operate as an independent commercial space station.I believe officially the ISS end date could still be 2024 but it is expected to be extended by some number of years.
Bigelow Aerospace sets sights on free-flying station after passing on ISS commercial moduleby Jeff Foust — January 29, 2020WASHINGTON — The founder of Bigelow Aerospace says his company decided not to pursue a NASA competition for a commercial International Space Station module because of funding concerns, but remains interested in a separate effort for supporting a free-flying facility in low Earth orbit.
In my opinion it would be most practical if the new module would replace both a PMA and IDA. For this to work, the Axiom module should have a passive CBM (Common Berthing Mechanism) on one side, and an IDSS (International Docking System Standard) port on the other side. The advantage of this, is that the module becomes a full part, with the same accessibility as the other modules of the US part, of the ISS.But how can the PMA+IDA be disposed off? Possibly this can be done with a Dragon2 cargo resupply return. During the latest ISS tour the ISS looks overfilled with stowage. On the US side at least three ports have to be made free from stowage. Namely:- Node 2 Forward for PMA2/IDA2 accessibility for Crew resupply vehicle or Dragon2 cargo.- Node 2 Zenith for PMA3/IDA3 accessibility for Crew resupply vehicle or Dragon2 cargo.- Node 3 Port for Nanoracks Bishop Airlock (SpX-21)Two further ports need to be free when resupply vehicles visit: - Node 2 Nadir, std berthing location for Dragon and HTV-(X)- Node 1 Nadir, std berthing location for Cygnus. Another possibility with the axiom module having two ports is that it can convert Node1 Nadir from an CBM into an IDSS compliant docking port while also providing additional stowage space. Time will tell if most US cargo vehicles will convert to using IDSS or remain using CBM.edit. I looked closer at the images from Axiom. It looks like the modules will have two CBM ports. to provide a IDSS port they look like using Common Docking Adapter (CDA). [wiki]Axiom Image is the second attached, not embedded, image file:These modules look larger than Columbus. I wonder if the US Airlock might need replacement as well?edit zubenelgenubi
Quote from: Rik ISS-fan on 01/27/2020 10:51 pmIn my opinion it would be most practical if the new module would replace both a PMA and IDA. For this to work, the Axiom module should have a passive CBM (Common Berthing Mechanism) on one side, and an IDSS (International Docking System Standard) port on the other side. The advantage of this, is that the module becomes a full part, with the same accessibility as the other modules of the US part, of the ISS.But how can the PMA+IDA be disposed off? Possibly this can be done with a Dragon2 cargo resupply return. During the latest ISS tour the ISS looks overfilled with stowage. On the US side at least three ports have to be made free from stowage. Namely:- Node 2 Forward for PMA2/IDA2 accessibility for Crew resupply vehicle or Dragon2 cargo.- Node 2 Zenith for PMA3/IDA3 accessibility for Crew resupply vehicle or Dragon2 cargo.- Node 3 Port for Nanoracks Bishop Airlock (SpX-21)Two further ports need to be free when resupply vehicles visit: - Node 2 Nadir, std berthing location for Dragon and HTV-(X)- Node 1 Nadir, std berthing location for Cygnus. Another possibility with the axiom module having two ports is that it can convert Node1 Nadir from an CBM into an IDSS compliant docking port while also providing additional stowage space. Time will tell if most US cargo vehicles will convert to using IDSS or remain using CBM.edit. I looked closer at the images from Axiom. It looks like the modules will have two CBM ports. to provide a IDSS port they look like using Common Docking Adapter (CDA). [wiki]Axiom Image is the second attached, not embedded, image file:These modules look larger than Columbus. I wonder if the US Airlock might need replacement as well?edit zubenelgenubiNode 3 zenith port is free; why doesn't NASA use it?
Quote from: topopesto on 01/30/2020 08:49 pmQuote from: Rik ISS-fan on 01/27/2020 10:51 pmIn my opinion it would be most practical if the new module would replace both a PMA and IDA. For this to work, the Axiom module should have a passive CBM (Common Berthing Mechanism) on one side, and an IDSS (International Docking System Standard) port on the other side. The advantage of this, is that the module becomes a full part, with the same accessibility as the other modules of the US part, of the ISS.But how can the PMA+IDA be disposed off? Possibly this can be done with a Dragon2 cargo resupply return. During the latest ISS tour the ISS looks overfilled with stowage. On the US side at least three ports have to be made free from stowage. Namely:- Node 2 Forward for PMA2/IDA2 accessibility for Crew resupply vehicle or Dragon2 cargo.- Node 2 Zenith for PMA3/IDA3 accessibility for Crew resupply vehicle or Dragon2 cargo.- Node 3 Port for Nanoracks Bishop Airlock (SpX-21)Two further ports need to be free when resupply vehicles visit: - Node 2 Nadir, std berthing location for Dragon and HTV-(X)- Node 1 Nadir, std berthing location for Cygnus. Another possibility with the axiom module having two ports is that it can convert Node1 Nadir from an CBM into an IDSS compliant docking port while also providing additional stowage space. Time will tell if most US cargo vehicles will convert to using IDSS or remain using CBM.edit. I looked closer at the images from Axiom. It looks like the modules will have two CBM ports. to provide a IDSS port they look like using Common Docking Adapter (CDA). [wiki]Axiom Image is the second attached, not embedded, image file:These modules look larger than Columbus. I wonder if the US Airlock might need replacement as well?edit zubenelgenubiNode 3 zenith port is free; why doesn't NASA use it?I think the main truss is in the wayEdit: the main truss isn't right over tranquility, but I think there's a clearance issue with the radiators
Node 3 zenith port is free; why doesn't NASA use it?
Quote Bigelow Aerospace sets sights on free-flying station after passing on ISS commercial moduleby Jeff Foust — January 29, 2020WASHINGTON — The founder of Bigelow Aerospace says his company decided not to pursue a NASA competition for a commercial International Space Station module because of funding concerns, but remains interested in a separate effort for supporting a free-flying facility in low Earth orbit.https://spacenews.com/bigelow-aerospace-sets-sights-on-free-flying-station-after-passing-on-iss-commercial-module/
Quote from: topopesto on 01/30/2020 08:49 pmNode 3 zenith port is free; why doesn't NASA use it?There's not a whole lot of pictures out there showing it, but Node 3 Zenith is *not* a functional CBM...Instead, there is a beam spanning the berthing ring, to which a PVGF is affixed....
I have a gut feeling that Bigelow will miss out on any of these projects to the Sierra Nevada Corp inflatable modules.
Quote from: SWGlassPit on 01/31/2020 03:01 pmQuote from: topopesto on 01/30/2020 08:49 pmNode 3 zenith port is free; why doesn't NASA use it?There's not a whole lot of pictures out there showing it, but Node 3 Zenith is *not* a functional CBM...Instead, there is a beam spanning the berthing ring, to which a PVGF is affixed....So they do "use" it, just not as a berthing point. ... Well unless they never put the arm there.
Quote from: jak Kennedy on 01/31/2020 03:58 pmI have a gut feeling that Bigelow will miss out on any of these projects to the Sierra Nevada Corp inflatable modules.Quick question: I though Bigelow had a patent for inflatable modules - if so, why is SNC allowed to use them? Or am I mistaken?*My understanding is that NASA developed TransHab, patented it, didn't have the funding to use it, and gave the patent to Bigelow in the hopes that the idea could be put to use.
Quote from: topopesto on 01/30/2020 08:49 pmNode 3 zenith port is free; why doesn't NASA use it? The alignment guides are missing, I'm not sure, but I think the bolts may not be there either.
Node 3 (Tranquility) was designed to be mounted at Node 1 nadir. The side where instead of an CBM, an PDGF is located was supposed to be the rear side. That port wouldn't be usable because it's blocked by MRM-1 (rassvet). Later it was decided to move Node3, so two CBM ports (N1 & N2 nadir) are available for US cargo resupply. Now indeed the PDGF is used to stow SPDM. Afaik the PDGF provides power to SPDM survivability.
Window to the universe.
Axiom Space’s Mary Lynne Dittmar says at a Beyond Earth symposium this morning that the first Axiom module launch is now scheduled for late 2025. (It had been late 2024.) Will be followed in 6-8 months by a second module, a clone of the first.