Node Module - Russian segment

[360-180]

[manboy]

You can see the adapter on the back.

[360-180]

You can see the adapter on the back.

And the adapter has a weird pipe-bracket

[woods170]

My interpretation of what-is-what on 360-180's image.

[360-180]

My interpretation of what-is-what

O.K. But RKK Energia uses the coordinate system of the module and in documents all the forward, aft and lateral units called АСП-ГБ (Агрегат стыковки пассивный-гибридный боковой) ie lateral. These units have small difference from the hybrid module Zvezda.

[Raul]

Some 2 short tubes are visible on the adaptor. It's not at MLM adaptor. Likely illustration of some kind of grapple fixture for end-effector of ERA manipulator arm?

[woods170]

Some 2 short tubes are visible on the adaptor. It's not at MLM adaptor. Likely illustration of some kind of grapple fixture for end-effector of ERA manipulator arm?

I don't think so. I know what an ERA grapple fixture looks like; flat round plates with notches. Those tubes don't even look remotely similar. They must be something else.

[russianhalo117]

Some 2 short tubes are visible on the adaptor. It's not at MLM adaptor. Likely illustration of some kind of grapple fixture for end-effector of ERA manipulator arm?

I don't think so. I know what an ERA grapple fixture looks like; flat round plates with notches. Those tubes don't even look remotely similar. They must be something else.

Looks similar to the next generation Lappa arm connectors Energia proposed a few years ago.

[Raul]

Some 2 short tubes are visible on the adaptor. It's not at MLM adaptor. Likely illustration of some kind of grapple fixture for end-effector of ERA manipulator arm?

I don't think so. I know what an ERA grapple fixture looks like; flat round plates with notches. Those tubes don't even look remotely similar. They must be something else.

Yes, that flat round plates will be base-points. But I hope ERA will also use something like for example integrated service tool or dexterous gripper which can have more possibilities.

[360-180]

Looks similar to the next generation Lappa arm connectors Energia proposed a few years ago.

In this figure Ljappa connector shows in the center of woods170's left circle

[russianhalo117]

Some 2 short tubes are visible on the adaptor. It's not at MLM adaptor. Likely illustration of some kind of grapple fixture for end-effector of ERA manipulator arm?

I don't think so. I know what an ERA grapple fixture looks like; flat round plates with notches. Those tubes don't even look remotely similar. They must be something else.

Yes, that flat round plates will be base-points. But I hope ERA will also use something like for example integrated service tool or dexterous gripper which can have more possibilities.

To my knowledge at present there is currently no publicly available plan for integrated service tool or dexterous gripper at this time. However there are soft plans for developing an adapter to allow ERA to handle payloads from Canada Arm 2 as any moderately large external RS payloads delivered via USOS VV's would have to be handed off or additional CA2 PDGF brackets would have to be installed on RS side to deliver such possible payloads in the future. So at this time it is unlikely ERA will have these features.

[russianhalo117]

Looks similar to the next generation Lappa arm connectors Energia proposed a few years ago.

In this figure Ljappa connector shows in the center of woods170's left circle

I already know that. Was sort of trying to answer Raul question, but misunderstood since there are planned to Lappa interfaces so all four ports can be reached by incoming module's Lappa arms.

[360-180]

[russianhalo117]

one is mounted on the adaptor ring and other is on UM itself, which is identical to MLM's SSPA-GM docking interface and adaptor. Using a schematic i came across these look like they are to be installed while MLM is still at RSC Energia. They also look like temporary connectors, but without them installed and shown in actual photo during or around integration then we will not know. They look as if they are mounted onto a type of removable brackets.

[woods170]

Some 2 short tubes are visible on the adaptor. It's not at MLM adaptor. Likely illustration of some kind of grapple fixture for end-effector of ERA manipulator arm?

I don't think so. I know what an ERA grapple fixture looks like; flat round plates with notches. Those tubes don't even look remotely similar. They must be something else.

Yes, that flat round plates will be base-points. But I hope ERA will also use something like for example integrated service tool or dexterous gripper which can have more possibilities.

Nope. They don't exist for ERA and they are not in development either.

[Raul]

Nope. They don't exist for ERA and they are not in development either.

Ok, I meant just something like that. Despite of any extensions of operational capabilities for ERA is not yet in develompent, it can be some extension designed just for that adaptor.

However as we know, this adaptor will have to be uninstalled due to NEM-1 docking. After NEM-1 will be relocated via Ljappa arm, it will be necessary install it back to allow further docking of Soyuz/Progress spacecrafts to UM nadir. So UM nadir port has to be reversible transformable because of that. Contrary to similar adapter at MLM, which can be sent to atmosphere together with last Progress spacecraft, then it doesn't need anything in sense of grapple fixture.
Adaptor relocation can be maybe realized together with Progress redocking to lateral port, or at worst by Strela crane during EVA. But much effective and simple solution could be via some grapple fixture and ERA, maybe similar as we can see also at future NDS-APAS docking adapter, but with thinner rod because this adaptor is quite narrow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NDS_APAS_docking_adapter.png
And such grapple fixture as installed quite long thin tool could be a problem in launch. So it can be tilting, or simply removable.  It can be possible to install during EVA even before NEM-1 docking to just such small tube as extension to mounting base. More than one of these mounting bases can be as option for better accessibility.

But it’s my speculation, of course. It’s not out of question that these tubes on adaptor can be anything other or there will be any other mounting base for some grapple fixture.

[anik]

As per RSC Energia's info, Progress M-UM launch is planned on June 24, 2014.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

As per RSC Energia's info, Progress M-UM launch is planned on June 24, 2014.

That means that the module must be in advanced construction right now - are there any recent images of it?

[russianhalo117]

As per RSC Energia's info, Progress M-UM launch is planned on June 24, 2014.

That means that the module must be in advanced construction right now - are there any recent images of it?

Not since beginning of constructions.

[360-180]

That means that the module must be in advanced construction right now - are there any recent images of it?

http://www.militarynews.ru/excl.asp?ex=165

Президент РКК "Энергия" Виталий Лопота:

- Как идет производство Узлового модуля для МКС? Когда можно ожидать его запуска?

- В настоящее время изготовлены макет Узлового модуля для статических испытаний, корпуса динамического макета и штатного изделия Узлового модуля. Статический макет прошел испытания в РКК "Энергия" и ЦНИИмаш. Проводится сборка и оснащение динамического макета и штатного изделия.

Запуск Узлового модуля в составе транспортного грузового корабля-модуля "Прогресс М-УМ" запланирован на середину 2014 г. с космодрома Байконур.

G-translation


- How is the production node module for the ISS? When will it start?

[President of RSC "Energia" Vitaly Lopota:]- Currently manufactured layout node module for static testing {static test mockup}, dynamic layout {dinamic test article} and housing product regular node module {flight hardware shell}. Static layout was tested in RSC "Energia" and TsNIImash. Held an assembly and fitting dynamic layout and a standard product.

Starting the node module in the cargo vehicle module "Progress M-UM" is scheduled for mid-2014 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.