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#40
by
Jorge
on 17 Oct, 2011 05:12
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Small amount of new info
"Testing of different window configurations in the Reconfigurable Orbital Cockpit (ROC) facility followed by a CAD design of the recommended design."
True. Went by the ROC last Wednesday and saw it.
Do you have any idea when they're going to start doing field tests with it like they were doing with the old mock-up?
What do you mean by "field"?
The ROC mockup is foam-core. It's not going anywhere outside the simulator. But that's all you need for window evaluations.
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#41
by
manboy
on 17 Oct, 2011 08:32
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Small amount of new info
"Testing of different window configurations in the Reconfigurable Orbital Cockpit (ROC) facility followed by a CAD design of the recommended design."
True. Went by the ROC last Wednesday and saw it.
Do you have any idea when they're going to start doing field tests with it like they were doing with the old mock-up?
What do you mean by "field"?
The ROC mockup is foam-core. It's not going anywhere outside the simulator. But that's all you need for window evaluations.
Looks like I incorrectly assumed that it was made of something harder.
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#42
by
Bubbinski
on 18 Oct, 2011 02:00
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I hadn't seen this thread until today. This SEV looks like it could be used as the basis for an in-space exploration ship or in-space satellite repair craft.
Quick thought: Launch SEV and a repair platform/rocket stage aboard SLS. Fly a fuel depot aboard a commercial rocket (or a bigger one aboard SLS), then a commercial crew vehicle (or Orion) with astronauts aboard to rendezvous with the fuel depot/SEV/repair platform-rocket stage. Fly the SEV/repair platform to Hubble and service it. Fly back to the fuel depot and Orion/commercial crew vehicle, then astronauts land back home.
And since the fuel depot/SEV would be left behind in a 28 degree orbit it would be usable for future missions to, say, the Lagrange points or the Moon, or other places.
Edited to add: couldn't SEV also be the basis of a lunar lander? And would it be practical to build the SEV lunar lander, launch it to a fuel depot in low earth orbit, then launch Orion and the earth departure stage to it?
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#43
by
Robotbeat
on 18 Oct, 2011 02:29
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I hadn't seen this thread until today. This SEV looks like it could be used as the basis for an in-space exploration ship or in-space satellite repair craft.
Quick thought: Launch SEV and a repair platform/rocket stage aboard SLS. Fly a fuel depot aboard a commercial rocket (or a bigger one aboard SLS), then a commercial crew vehicle (or Orion) with astronauts aboard to rendezvous with the fuel depot/SEV/repair platform-rocket stage. Fly the SEV/repair platform to Hubble and service it. Fly back to the fuel depot and Orion/commercial crew vehicle, then astronauts land back home.
And since the fuel depot/SEV would be left behind in a 28 degree orbit it would be usable for future missions to, say, the Lagrange points or the Moon, or other places.
The SEV is pretty tiny. You wouldn't need SLS for that mission.
The SEV would be much too small for the basis of a deep space hab, though you're right that those working on it have envisioned using it for satellite repair (etc). (Though I'm not sure the economics make sense for that particular use.)
Work on stuff like SEV, though, is EXACTLY what NASA HSF should be doing. Shame they're only at the level of funding that allows powerpoints and mockups. It's also supposed to form the basis of a pressurized lunar rover. The earliest use, though, would probably be a test at ISS.
I wonder if it could function as a tug? (or if that'd really be necessary?) A small craft like that seems to be beneficial in some circumstances... Like, it'd act as a suitlock module at a space station, it perhaps could also be depressurized (later repressurized) like the LEM or Apollo command module and act as a sort of backup airlock. Could maybe allow EVA support (though it'd probably need to be equipped with cold gas thrusters for safety of the EVA participants) or ability to conduct repairs of far-flung parts of a space station (or exploration stack). Its dual docking ports could allow it to act as a tug, towing elements far away from the ISS (or exploration stack or successor station) keep-out sphere close enough to be grappled by an arm (or perhaps just dock itself with its other docking port to the station, allowing transfer of pressurized cargo or consumables like fuel, water, etc, through optional NDS connectors that haven't been finalized yet...).
Just a bunch of crazy ideas. But interesting, anyway.
Anyone have any idea what sort of delta-v SEV would be capable of in free-flight, or is it too powerpoint for that to really make any sense to answer at this point?
Also, it seems like making SEV refuelable makes the most sense for its different missions... If SEV is going back and forth from a deep space hab to an asteroid, then it'd be more mass-efficient to store most of the fuel at the deep space stack than on the SEV.
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#44
by
Bubbinski
on 18 Oct, 2011 04:09
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Now that I look at it a little bit more, yeah, it is tiny for an in-space exploration ship. Maybe it could be the control module though?
Quick thought: Have a SEV command/control/observation module docked to a Tranquility based hab module with docking ports, and an earth departure stage refuelable in space. Oh, and dock other SEV's for asteroid exploration, satellite repair, or lunar landings as needed (or a 1-man "hopper"). Use Orion to get crews home. And the SEV could be tested out on ISS first.
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#45
by
Jorge
on 18 Oct, 2011 05:13
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Small amount of new info
"Testing of different window configurations in the Reconfigurable Orbital Cockpit (ROC) facility followed by a CAD design of the recommended design."
True. Went by the ROC last Wednesday and saw it.
Do you have any idea when they're going to start doing field tests with it like they were doing with the old mock-up?
What do you mean by "field"?
The ROC mockup is foam-core. It's not going anywhere outside the simulator. But that's all you need for window evaluations.
Looks like I incorrectly assumed that it was made of something harder.
The ROC mockup was used to generate a CAD model that will be used to build a more sturdy mockup for other types of testing.
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#46
by
manboy
on 18 Oct, 2011 10:59
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Also, it seems like making SEV refuelable makes the most sense for its different missions... If SEV is going back and forth from a deep space hab to an asteroid, then it'd be more mass-efficient to store most of the fuel at the deep space stack than on the SEV.
I'm pretty sure the SEV is intended to be left in orbit around asteroid. While the hab module and the MPCV return to Earth.
Small amount of new info
"Testing of different window configurations in the Reconfigurable Orbital Cockpit (ROC) facility followed by a CAD design of the recommended design."
True. Went by the ROC last Wednesday and saw it.
Do you have any idea when they're going to start doing field tests with it like they were doing with the old mock-up?
What do you mean by "field"?
The ROC mockup is foam-core. It's not going anywhere outside the simulator. But that's all you need for window evaluations.
Looks like I incorrectly assumed that it was made of something harder.
The ROC mockup was used to generate a CAD model that will be used to build a more sturdy mockup for other types of testing.
Well I look forward to it.
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#47
by
RanulfC
on 18 Oct, 2011 19:12
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The SEV is pretty tiny.
But getting right down to it it has such HUGE potential.
- Space-Tug control module
- Lunar/Planetary lander command module
- Extended EVA/Operations pod command module
The SEV is looking-like/ending-up being a great start on a generic-modular spacecraft
Work on stuff like SEV, though, is EXACTLY what NASA HSF should be doing. Shame they're only at the level of funding that allows powerpoints and mockups. It's also supposed to form the basis of a pressurized lunar rover. The earliest use, though, would probably be a test at ISS.
I wonder if it could function as a tug? (or if that'd really be necessary?) A small craft like that seems to be beneficial in some circumstances...
If you look at the "aft" end of the cabin mock-up and CAD there is as a "bump" that could well be a "door" to the "rest" of the vehicle
Anyone have any idea what sort of delta-v SEV would be capable of in free-flight, or is it too powerpoint for that to really make any sense to answer at this point?
Probably to "early" overall but if you think of it as being modular enough to "attach" to other sections the answer becomes something like, "How much do you need?"
Randy
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#48
by
Cherokee43v6
on 21 Oct, 2011 17:30
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#49
by
Space Pete
on 06 Dec, 2011 15:07
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Conducting sound tests on the MMSEV sled to prepare for next week's test. (Attachment 1.)
Astronaut Mike Gernhardt & geologist Brent Garry will live in the MMSEV for 3 days & 2 nights.
Suit ports on the aft of the MMSEV. The sled is moving it across the air bearing floor. (Attachment 2.)
https://www.facebook.com/NASA.DRATS
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#50
by
BrightLight
on 06 Dec, 2011 15:40
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Conducting sound tests on the MMSEV sled to prepare for next week's test. (Attachment 1.)
Astronaut Mike Gernhardt & geologist Brent Garry will live in the MMSEV for 3 days & 2 nights.
Suit ports on the aft of the MMSEV. The sled is moving it across the air bearing floor. (Attachment 2.)
https://www.facebook.com/NASA.DRATS
Way cool! - great post. Can we get a look at the inside? Is it made from plywood?
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#51
by
clongton
on 07 Dec, 2011 01:19
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Astronaut Mike Gernhardt & geologist Brent Garry will live in the MMSEV for 3 days & 2 nights.
They're going to be really cramped. That thing is designed for zero-g habitation.
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#52
by
manboy
on 07 Dec, 2011 03:16
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Astronaut Mike Gernhardt & geologist Brent Garry will live in the MMSEV for 3 days & 2 nights.
They're going to be really cramped. That thing is designed for zero-g habitation.
And lunar gravity.
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#53
by
manboy
on 15 Dec, 2011 13:32
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#54
by
manboy
on 15 Dec, 2011 16:21
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#55
by
Ben the Space Brit
on 15 Dec, 2011 17:59
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Oddly enough (and it ages me pretty well), whenever I look at that thing, I can hear this oddly toneless voice announcing: "I'm sorry Dave but I can't do that."
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#56
by
clongton
on 15 Dec, 2011 23:04
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Oddly enough (and it ages me pretty well), whenever I look at that thing, I can hear this oddly toneless voice announcing: "I'm sorry Dave but I can't do that."
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#57
by
strangequark
on 16 Dec, 2011 02:27
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Oddly enough (and it ages me pretty well), whenever I look at that thing, I can hear this oddly toneless voice announcing: "I'm sorry Dave but I can't do that."
Nonsense! Being reminded of such a timeless piece of dramatic art ages you no more than being reminded of Hamlet. Though admittedly, I recall somewhat fewer spaceships in that work.
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#58
by
Namechange User
on 16 Dec, 2011 02:40
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Personally, I just wish we would build the damn thing and get on with it instead of remarking how it reminds us of 40+ year old movies.
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#59
by
Robotbeat
on 29 Jan, 2012 06:08
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Any news on this? How much would it cost to actually build this thing? What are the dimensions and volume, etc?
It sounds to me like it might be kind of expensive for an ISS flight, at least as much as Cygnus at a VERY VERY minimum, since it needs to meet all the visiting vehicle requirements, plus it needs to operate as a totally separate crewed vehicle complete with suitlocks and windows and arms. Sounds like roughly a billion dollar project to get to just the ISS stage (though I hope they can do it for much less, I don't see how they can given the requirements).
