Author Topic: General ISS Q&A thread (Read 832983 times)

anik · « **Reply #2180 on:** 01/17/2016 02:21 pm »

Quote from: dawei on 01/17/2016 09:33 am

Are new EMU's being produced?

No, the last PLSS 3018 was produced in 2000-2001 (if I remember correctly).

mtakala24 · « **Reply #2181 on:** 01/19/2016 10:38 am »

This might be a dumb question, but one never knows...

Are these same series of EMUs used in MBL, or are there special versions with different serial numbers?

anik · « **Reply #2182 on:** 01/19/2016 11:17 am »

Quote from: mtakala24 on 01/19/2016 10:38 am

Are these same series of EMUs used in MBL, or are there special versions with different serial numbers?

Different.

sghill · « **Reply #2183 on:** 01/26/2016 03:04 pm »

Does anyone have any idea what modules these are in the background of this image?

Cygnus is in the front of the image on the right being prepped for it's March launch (BTW, I saw it heading south on I-95 the other day towards KSC in its road carrier. That was neat.).

The other unlaunched modules have been there for years, and you could see them when the Kennedy video feed used to show this room.

Sam Ho · « **Reply #2184 on:** 01/26/2016 03:39 pm »

Quote from: sghill on 01/26/2016 03:04 pm

Does anyone have any idea what modules these are in the background of this image?

Cygnus is in the front of the image on the right being prepped for it's March launch (BTW, I saw it heading south on I-95 the other day towards KSC in its road carrier. That was neat.).

The other unlaunched modules have been there for years, and you could see them when the Kennedy video feed used to show this room.

I believe the other modules in the SSPF are Rafaello (as shown on the banner to the left of Cygnus), Donatello, and the Node STA.

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #2185 on:** 01/27/2016 03:14 am »

Quote from: Sam Ho on 01/26/2016 03:39 pm

Quote from: sghill on 01/26/2016 03:04 pm
Does anyone have any idea what modules these are in the background of this image?

Cygnus is in the front of the image on the right being prepped for it's March launch (BTW, I saw it heading south on I-95 the other day towards KSC in its road carrier. That was neat.).

The other unlaunched modules have been there for years, and you could see them when the Kennedy video feed used to show this room.

I believe the other modules in the SSPF are Rafaello (as shown on the banner to the left of Cygnus), Donatello, and the Node STA.

ELC -5 a bunch of shuttle hardware and Spacehab ULC's and such in various areas of SSPF

Space Pete · « **Reply #2186 on:** 01/27/2016 10:17 am »

This is my list of SSPF hardware, although some of this may have been removed now (and other items added):

. MPLM FM-2 "Raffaello"
-Last flew on STS-135

. MPLM FM-3 "Donatello"
-Never flew in space

. Node 1 STA (Structural Test Article)
-Was evaluated for use as ISS Node 4, or a deep-space platform

. ELC-5 (ExPrESS Logistics Carrier)
-External stowage platform for ISS, never flew

. x2 SLP (Space Lab Pallet)
-Used to hold unpressurised cargo in the Shuttle payload bay

. x2 LMC (Lightweight MPESS Carrier)
-Used to hold unpressurised cargo in the Shuttle payload bay

. x2 external airlocks + connecting tunnels
-Shuttle airlocks, considered for use in future deep space platform based on Node 1 STA

. x3 ODS (Orbiter Docking System)
-Shuttle APAS docking systems, considered for use in other vehicles, however will be incompatible with future ISS IDA SIMAC docking system

. Numerous RSR (Resupply Stowage Rack) and RSP (Resupply Stowage Platform)
-Stowage racks used for MPLM flights to ISS, still usable for future vehicles

Space Pete · « **Reply #2187 on:** 01/27/2016 01:13 pm »

Quote from: manboy on 11/25/2015 05:35 am

Quote from: Space Pete on 04/14/2012 05:33 pm
So, here's a corrected version of your table:

Name Power Data Video
PDGF Yes Yes Yes
EFGF Yes Yes Yes
PVGF Yes No Yes
FRGF No No No
Are you sure that's correct? Slide 21 of this document is claiming PVGF allows data transfer. Plus doesn't it use the same electrical connections as the PDGF?

Sorry, I've only just noticed that I never replied to this.

My understanding is that PVGF data connections are only sufficient for offering payload insight, but are not sufficient to provide commanding to the SSRMS, hence why PVGFs cannot be used as SSRMS base points.

The pinning on the connectors hidden behind the hinged doors is the same I believe on both the PVGF and PDGF, however that doesn't necessarily mean that the fixtures both have the same data capabilities.

There is a PVGF on Node 3 Zenith that can serve as a storage location for the SPDM, but I don't think the SPDM could be commanded from that location.

I always assumed that having "video" in the name implied a lack of data (since data includes video), but after reading that slide I'm not so sure now. Any ROBO experts on here?

arachnitect · « **Reply #2188 on:** 02/04/2016 01:50 pm »

Has a FRAM ever failed? Have the contingency mounting pins ever been used?

Rik ISS-fan · « **Reply #2189 on:** 02/26/2016 09:18 am »

I watched Tim Peake's video made during the progress re-boost last week. And I noticed that the Galley equipment is stil in EX(press rack)-6. Was there some trouble with the Galley rack delivered during HTV-5 {at Node 1 Port}?
Or does the relocation work still have to take place, and was it postponed because of new equipment being delayed by the three launch failures?

Squid.erau · « **Reply #2190 on:** 04/06/2016 10:42 pm »

Quote from: Rik ISS-fan on 02/26/2016 09:18 am

I watched Tim Peake's video made during the progress re-boost last week. And I noticed that the Galley equipment is stil in EX(press rack)-6. Was there some trouble with the Galley rack delivered during HTV-5 {at Node 1 Port}?
Or does the relocation work still have to take place, and was it postponed because of new equipment being delayed by the three launch failures?

Yep, the galley rack is still installed in LAB1O4. It, along with some other ISS reconfig tasks have been deferred due to the delays caused by the loss of IDA 1 and associated hardware last year.

ChrisC · « **Reply #2191 on:** 04/10/2016 01:41 pm »

From this morning's SpaceX CRS-8 rendezvous thread (thanks ugordon):

Quote from: mlow on 04/10/2016 11:22 am

Space station now in free-drift was called on radio.

ugordon then quotes from someone on Twitter who bills himself as a "NASA flight controller for the International Space Station. BS in Aerospace Eng from ERAU. Specialist in guidance system operations."

https://twitter.com/spaceguy87/status/719123354511286273

Quote from: Ben Honey

To clarify one more time: ISS never goes free drift at all. Only Dragon does.

And a couple more replies:

ISS Updates ‏@ISS101
@spaceguy87 NASA TV keeps reporting free drift on every VV arrival...

Ben Honey ‏@spaceguy87
@ISS101 I think I'll go talk to them next week.

So, to clarify the above, an ISS flight controller is saying that the ISS never goes into free drift. THAT is a surprise to me. Anyone want to explain?

ugordan · « **Reply #2192 on:** 04/10/2016 01:45 pm »

Attitude hold is I believe what ISS does during capture ops.

AJA · « **Reply #2193 on:** 04/10/2016 04:58 pm »

Quote from: ChrisC on 04/10/2016 01:41 pm

So, to clarify the above, an ISS flight controller is saying that the ISS never goes into free drift. THAT is a surprise to me. Anyone want to explain?

Turns out that @spaceguy87 had tweeted about the ADCO procedure before the "erroneous" call out, in the run up to the docking. Follow the conversation chain from this tweet on: https://twitter.com/spaceguy87/status/719120795448946688 (and, because Twitter branched the conversation, this one too: https://twitter.com/spaceguy87/status/719161988366995456?replies_view=true&cursor=AFCU0hT6-gk)

TL;DR - ISS is hardly ever in free-drift (unless you count the times when a VV performs a boost (or even an attitude adjustment?) using its thrusters (He mentions Soyuz/Progress and Shuttle, but you'd think ATV and HTV(?) too). What they do prior to a docking/capture is attitude hold via CMGs. What the pick, however is also determined by the configuration in the moments right up until the docking. If they're on thruster control (and there's not enough time to spin up the CMGs, and calibrate that platform, I assume) then they transition to free drift. If they're on CMGs, then they enter in a thruster-inhibited attitude hold (No desaturation firings).

They prefer CMG attitude hold (with thrusters inhibited) because it cuts out impulse loads on interfacing structures (before a hard mate), since CMG corrections, are presumably slower rate corrections.

curtquarquesso · « **Reply #2194 on:** 04/10/2016 09:09 pm »

Based on this shot from the Cupola, where Dragon is berthed to Node 2 Nadir, and this shot of Cygnus at Node 1 Nadir, will it likely be possible for the station crew to get a good photo from the Cupola of both visiting vehicles berthed to station? Will both vehicles be able to be in a photo together without using a super-wide angle lens?

Space Pete · « **Reply #2195 on:** 04/11/2016 01:14 am »

I suspect the only way we'll get a Cupola photo of Dragon & Cygnus together is via the wide-angle lens. Alternatively, they could take multiple photos while panning the camera around and then stitch them together via software. Either way, I really hope the crew take such a photo - and that the PAO then releases it.

InfraNut2 · « **Reply #2196 on:** 04/12/2016 01:38 pm »

Quote from: Space Pete on 04/11/2016 01:14 am

I suspect the only way we'll get a Cupola photo of Dragon & Cygnus together is via the wide-angle lens. Alternatively, they could take multiple photos while panning the camera around and then stitch them together via software. Either way, I really hope the crew take such a photo - and that the PAO then releases it.

It seems to be (barely) possible... Tim Peake tweeted this photo of dragon and cygnus about 5h ago.

Vultur · « **Reply #2197 on:** 05/03/2016 09:59 pm »

I've seen different numbers like 9.2, 9.4, or 9.5 km/s for delta-v to a generic LEO. But what is the delta-v needed to get to the ISS from KSC?

And is it much different to get there from Baikonur or the ESA launch site in French Guiana?

manboy · « **Reply #2198 on:** 05/14/2016 09:25 am »

Quote from: Space Pete on 01/27/2016 01:13 pm

Quote from: manboy on 11/25/2015 05:35 am
Quote from: Space Pete on 04/14/2012 05:33 pm
So, here's a corrected version of your table:

Name Power Data Video
PDGF Yes Yes Yes
EFGF Yes Yes Yes
PVGF Yes No Yes
FRGF No No No
Are you sure that's correct? Slide 21 of this document is claiming PVGF allows data transfer. Plus doesn't it use the same electrical connections as the PDGF?

Sorry, I've only just noticed that I never replied to this.

My understanding is that PVGF data connections are only sufficient for offering payload insight, but are not sufficient to provide commanding to the SSRMS, hence why PVGFs cannot be used as SSRMS base points.

The pinning on the connectors hidden behind the hinged doors is the same I believe on both the PVGF and PDGF, however that doesn't necessarily mean that the fixtures both have the same data capabilities.

There is a PVGF on Node 3 Zenith that can serve as a storage location for the SPDM, but I don't think the SPDM could be commanded from that location.

I always assumed that having "video" in the name implied a lack of data (since data includes video), but after reading that slide I'm not so sure now. Any ROBO experts on here?

I think I might contact the author and see if I can get them to clear it up.

scarlettneira · « **Reply #2199 on:** 05/31/2016 01:32 am »

Hello my name is scarlett neira and I'm studying aviation engineering, actually Im taking a course in thermodynamics in which I have to do a research on the climate control inside the ISS, besides evaluating its costs and find a way to optimize it. I'd appreciate any kinf of help wether with information or a contact, thank you.