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#180
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 30 Nov, 2011 14:30
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#181
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 30 Nov, 2011 14:39
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#182
by
Robotbeat
on 30 Nov, 2011 15:21
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Good idea on the Ultraflex... made in America (I think... well, assembled at least) and very lightweight for the power it produces.
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#183
by
Space Pete
on 30 Nov, 2011 15:35
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The PCM also appears to have been stretched by roughly 1/3 of its previous length.
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#184
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 30 Nov, 2011 15:52
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The PCM also appears to have been stretched by roughly 1/3 of its previous length.
Yes that would be the PCM+ configuration, with an extra band added to add more pressurized volume/cargo lift. This configuration depends on the introduction of the Castor XL upper stage for performance increase. The first flight of Castor 30 XL will be on Taurus II flight 5, or OSC CRS flight 3.
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#185
by
Space Pete
on 30 Nov, 2011 16:41
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Cygnus Enhanced Spacecraft to Use Ultraflex™ Solar ArraysNovember 2011
Orbital has selected lightweight ATK Ultraflex solar arrays to power its enhanced Cygnus cargo logistics module beginning with the fourth mission under Orbital's Cargo Resupply Services agreement with NASA to provide cargo logistics services to the International Space Station. The enhanced Cygnus variant incorporates a larger pressurized cargo module that can carry up to 2700 kg of crew supplies, spares and scientific experiments to the ISS. Measuring more than 11 feet in diameter, the Ultraflex arrays will provide the same power as the arrays to be used in the first three Cygnus missions but with significantly reduced mass.
http://www.orbital.com/CargoResupplyServices
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#186
by
mmeijeri
on 30 Nov, 2011 16:43
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Hmm, what happened to the Dutch Space deal? Edit: looks as if the first three will be the Dutch Space panels, after which they will switch to the lighter ATK panels.
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#187
by
Jason1701
on 30 Nov, 2011 16:46
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What's PDRF/FRGF?
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#188
by
Space Pete
on 30 Nov, 2011 16:56
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What's PDRF/FRGF?
PDGF is Power Data Grapple Fixture, a powered grapple point for the SSRMS, located on the Aft of the Cygnus SM. It will be used to capture the free-flying Cygnus.
FRGF is Flight Releasable Grapple Fixture, an unpowered grapple point for the SSRMS, located on the side of the Cygnus SM. I think it will be used during relocations of Cygnus from Node 2 Nadir to Node 2 Zenith, as using the PDGF for relocations creates SSRMS clearance issues.
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#189
by
Robotbeat
on 30 Nov, 2011 16:58
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Really glad about the Ultraflex panels... such good technology, I'm glad it's getting more business. They have state-of-the-art specific power (up to ~150W/kg at the solar array level, several times what ISS's solar arrays have), and the more people who use them, the more it will encourage development in that direction.
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#190
by
AnalogMan
on 30 Nov, 2011 16:59
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What's PDRF/FRGF?
PDGF - Power and Data Grapple Fixture
FRGF - Flight Releasable Grapple Fixture
These can be grabbed by the ISS robotic arm to allow the spacecraft to be positioned for berthing.
You can get the forum software to enable pop-up definitions of all acronyms that are in the existing acronym list (but not all acronyms are in it!).
In the menu bar select the following sequence:
Profile - Look and Layout (Modify Profile section) - check the "highlight items from Acronyms List" box
After that all acronyms in the list will be underlined with a dotted line - then just hover over with mouse to see the definition. You can also view the entire list by selecting it from the menu bar.
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#191
by
simonbp
on 30 Nov, 2011 18:27
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Hmm, what happened to the Dutch Space deal? Edit: looks as if the first three will be the Dutch Space panels, after which they will switch to the lighter ATK panels.
Interesting. So the first three flights (COTS, CRS1, and CRS2) will be "Cygnus PCM" with Castor 30, short PCM, and Dutch solar panels. Then, the following flights will be a "Cygnus PCM+" with Castor 30XL, longer PCM, and ATK Ultraflex panels.
Am I getting that right?
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#192
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 30 Nov, 2011 21:47
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From the announcement is sounds like the ultraflex will only be incorporated on CRS 4, so CRS 3 will probably have the Dutch arrays but with a PCM+ .
beginning with the fourth mission under Orbital's Cargo Resupply Services agreement
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#193
by
spectre9
on 01 Dec, 2011 02:04
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Looks awesome with the rounded panels.
Thanks for the updates and pictures guys
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#194
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 01 Dec, 2011 12:27
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#195
by
Robotbeat
on 01 Dec, 2011 14:55
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Thanks, Ronsmytheiii... Nice to look at that again.
BTW, what is "Wake Shield 04"?
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#196
by
baldusi
on 01 Dec, 2011 18:10
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BOL means Begining Of Life for the solar panels?
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#197
by
AnalogMan
on 01 Dec, 2011 18:13
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BOL means Begining Of Life for the solar panels?
Yep. BOL and EOL (End of Life) performance parameters are usually quoted for solar cells/arrays.
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#198
by
Jim
on 01 Dec, 2011 19:58
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Thanks, Ronsmytheiii... Nice to look at that again.
BTW, what is "Wake Shield 04"?
A Shuttle payload
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#199
by
Skyrocket
on 01 Dec, 2011 20:30
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Thanks, Ronsmytheiii... Nice to look at that again.
BTW, what is "Wake Shield 04"?
A Shuttle payload
More specific: a version of the
Wake Shield 1-3 spacecraft. WSF-04 would have solar arrays for a longer mission endurance, but was never flown.
