Author Topic: ISS partners prepare to welcome SpaceX and Orbital in a busy 2012 (Read 3093 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 10/07/2011 03:56 am »

Ok, here's where we stand on things, including long-range. Note this is all up in the air with the Soyuz situation.
:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/10/iss-partners-welcome-spacex-orbital-busy-2012/

Have posted in specific threads in SpaceX and Orbital sections, with this standalone in the Commercial section, as this is historic stuff, even if the dates change.

Phillip Clark · « **Reply #1 on:** 10/07/2011 07:45 am »

Thank you for the fascinating article, Chris, although my hackles were raised at the mention of the 44P and 45P Progress missions, rather than using the Russian names for these cargo freighters!!

I could be showing my ignorance here, in which case apologies. In the article you refer to the Dragon "berthing" with ISS: I normally equate this term with the profile used by the Japanese HTV, with the freighter doing a close rendezvous with ISS and then being captured and guided to a docking by an ISS remote manipulator. Is this how Dragon will be attached to ISS? I thought that it would be capable of a rendezvous and docking, like Russia and ESA do with their Progress and ATVs respectively.

If Dragon is going to need the use of the remote manipulator then this will leave only Russia, ESA and - probably before the first Dragon visit - China capable of a full automatic docking between two independently-launched spacecraft. As I understand, Cygnus will also need the use of a remote manipulator to be guided in for the final docking.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #2 on:** 10/07/2011 07:48 am »

Quote from: Phillip Clark on 10/07/2011 07:45 am

Thank you for the fascinating article, Chris, although my hackles were raised at the mention of the 44P and 45P Progress missions, rather than using the Russian names for these cargo freighters!!

I could be showing my ignorance here, in which case apologies. In the article you refer to the Dragon "berthing" with ISS: I normally equate this term with the profile used by the Japanese HTV, with the freighter doing a close rendezvous with ISS and then being captured and guided to a docking by an ISS remote manipulator. Is this how Dragon will be attached to ISS? I thought that it would be capable of a rendezvous and docking, like Russia and ESA do with their Progress and ATVs respectively.

If Dragon is going to need the use of the remote manipulator then this will leave only Russia, ESA and - probably before the first Dragon visit - China capable of a full automatic docking between two independently-launched spacecraft. As I understand, Cygnus will also need the use of a remote manipulator to be guided in for the final docking.

That's correct, because the cargo Dragon and Cygnus need to make use of CBMs to carry standard racks to (and from) the station. The future crew version of Dragon will, on the other hand, use an automatic docking system.

Phillip Clark · « **Reply #3 on:** 10/07/2011 12:25 pm »

Thank you for the clarification, "Mr Penguin" .......

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #4 on:** 10/07/2011 03:13 pm »

Quote from: Phillip Clark on 10/07/2011 07:45 am

Thank you for the fascinating article, Chris, although my hackles were raised at the mention of the 44P and 45P Progress missions, rather than using the Russian names for these cargo freighters!!

Thank you Philip! Yes, I do normally use the Russian designations, or at least include both forms of designations (by adding the second in brackets). I was probably overly-influenced by the FPWG manifest when writing the article - given it had clearer docked day information - but when I find a moment I'll edit in the Russian names, as it is only right and proper.

Thanks for bringing that up!

Space Pete · « **Reply #5 on:** 10/07/2011 03:23 pm »

Quote from: Phillip Clark on 10/07/2011 07:45 am

I could be showing my ignorance here, in which case apologies. In the article you refer to the Dragon "berthing" with ISS: I normally equate this term with the profile used by the Japanese HTV, with the freighter doing a close rendezvous with ISS and then being captured and guided to a docking by an ISS remote manipulator. Is this how Dragon will be attached to ISS? I thought that it would be capable of a rendezvous and docking, like Russia and ESA do with their Progress and ATVs respectively.

If Dragon is going to need the use of the remote manipulator then this will leave only Russia, ESA and - probably before the first Dragon visit - China capable of a full automatic docking between two independently-launched spacecraft. As I understand, Cygnus will also need the use of a remote manipulator to be guided in for the final docking.

The cargo version of Dragon will berth with the ISS using the CBM (Common Berthing Mechanism) interface. This means that Dragon will be grappled by the station's arm, moved to the correct position below the CBM port, and then the CBM latches will extend and pull Dragon into a hard mate. The CBM interface will allow for the transfer of large cargo items through the 50" hatch.

The crewed version of Dragon will dock using the NDS (NASA Docking System) interface in much the same way the Shuttle used to dock - using a small relative velocity to impact the docking port and impart a force that forms the mate. This allows for quick crew departure in the event of an emergency (CBM hatches take longer to close than NDS hatches, and rapid departure is prevented when the arm must be used to un-berth and release Dragon).

simpl simon · « **Reply #6 on:** 10/07/2011 03:57 pm »

Quote from: Phillip Clark on 10/07/2011 07:45 am

If Dragon is going to need the use of the remote manipulator then this will leave only Russia, ESA and - probably before the first Dragon visit - China capable of a full automatic docking between two independently-launched spacecraft. As I understand, Cygnus will also need the use of a remote manipulator to be guided in for the final docking.

I thought the Orbital Express mission in 2007 demonstrated autonomous rendezvous and docking (and servicing) quite well.

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #7 on:** 10/08/2011 04:07 am »

Quote from: Phillip Clark on 10/07/2011 07:45 am

If Dragon is going to need the use of the remote manipulator then this will leave only Russia, ESA and - probably before the first Dragon visit - China capable of a full automatic docking between two independently-launched spacecraft. As I understand, Cygnus will also need the use of a remote manipulator to be guided in for the final docking.

USA never needed it before, why spend money on a capability when shuttle was always manned? Also, TriDAR, Dragon Eye, and STORRM are all autonomous systems which have been tested on shuttle dockings and have done well, without actually controlling anything.