Bigelow BEAM as Dragonrider Orbital module

[jongoff]

I was thinking that the number of missions that required an arm was fairly small. Obviously, the ARM is exterior to the capsule, so there is no re-use like we had with the SSRMS. I just don't see more than 1 of these per year.

You're making several assumptions there.

Of course, for a small company, that's decent revenue if you pay for development on the first one, and then can just build more copies.

Yeah, the business model that makes the most sense will depend somewhat on the answer to several assumptions. Not sure yet if we're looking more at selling discrete arms, leasing them for reusable applications, or selling systems that incorporate the arms into them as enabling technologies, or d) several of the above.

~Jon

[jongoff]

And Altius would be doing more than just TROGDOR.

Indeed. But this is probably veering far enough off-topic that we should probably move further conversation over to the Altius thread.

~Jon

[go4mars]

Jon;   Have there been further discussions this year about installing the Triaxis Rotatable/Opposable Grip Device & Orbital Receiver - Articulated Rollable Manipulator? 

If so, that might imply progress toward a module for the Burninator (dragon). 

Also, does anyone know if this idea emerged as part of the solution for Tito's Aspirational mission?   

[jongoff]

Jon;   Have there been further discussions this year about installing the Triaxis Rotatable/Opposable Grip Device & Orbital Receiver - Articulated Rollable Manipulator? 

If so, that might imply progress toward a module for the Burninator (dragon). 

Also, does anyone know if this idea emerged as part of the solution for Tito's Aspirational mission?

To be honest, we never got any traction with SpaceX. It's just too far past where they're focused right now. We are building a 3DOF Motorized STEM Arm (2-axis motorized gimbal + a motorized STEM) testbed right now, and that will help a lot with developing arms like TROGDOR down the road.

~Jon

[Danderman]

There is also the stuff taken up by the Dragons and the Soyuz that has been used and is not wanted back on Earth.

It is still not additive.  Dragon also returns with trash.  Also, Soyuz brings very little up.

Let me "enhance" Jim's statement here.

Soyuz does bring up several hundred kg of cargo per mission, it its orbital module. However, what I understand is that trash is loaded into the Soyuz orbital module at departure, and perhaps this is the bulky but light stuff like packing that otherwise would fill up the Progress orbital module.  Since upmass is denser than downmass, the station does have a problem with balancing out the accumulation of trash, and loading the Soyuz orbital module with trash may be one way to deal with the problem.

Jim's position is that there hasn't been a waste disposal problem lately, which is true, partly due to ATV flights, which can remove a lot of trash. This good fortune may not hold forever. 

However, in all cases, flying multiple BEAMs to fill with trash is not a good solution, since BEAM has no independent means of re-entry.

[Patchouli]

There is also the stuff taken up by the Dragons and the Soyuz that has been used and is not wanted back on Earth.

It is still not additive.  Dragon also returns with trash.  Also, Soyuz brings very little up.

Let me "enhance" Jim's statement here.

Soyuz does bring up several hundred kg of cargo per mission, it its orbital module. However, what I understand is that trash is loaded into the Soyuz orbital module at departure, and perhaps this is the bulky but light stuff like packing that otherwise would fill up the Progress orbital module.  Since upmass is denser than downmass, the station does have a problem with balancing out the accumulation of trash, and loading the Soyuz orbital module with trash may be one way to deal with the problem.

Jim's position is that there hasn't been a waste disposal problem lately, which is true, partly due to ATV flights, which can remove a lot of trash. This good fortune may not hold forever. 

However, in all cases, flying multiple BEAMs to fill with trash is not a good solution, since BEAM has no independent means of re-entry.

But how are the waste canisters from the toilet disposed of or do all those fit inside Progress?

[Danderman]

But how are the waste canisters from the toilet disposed of or do all those fit inside Progress?

Same as any other trash.