-
Was the Enhanced ISS Boom Assembly ever used on the ISS? by IanThePineapple on 05 Nov, 2018 01:00
-
I was reading about Canadarm and found out that STS-134 left behind a slightly-modified Orbiter Boom Sensor System on the ISS. Has this been used since? I know of the earlier use of a plain OBSS to repair a solar array.
-
#1 by Alpha Control on 05 Nov, 2018 03:04
-
Good question, Ian. I'd forgotten about the OBSS until I saw your query tonight. I recall now how that was indeed left behind on one of the last shuttle flights, for possible future use.
I vividly remember its use on the dramatic repair to one of the solar arrays, which ripped during the extension of the array. Can't recall the specifics at the moment, but I do remember the unplanned EVA to do the repair, and being amazed at how far from the airlock the astronaut was for this event. Was it Scott Parazynski? Apologies if my details are incorrect. I think it was in the 2006 - 2008 timeframe. One of the most riveting EVAs this century in my opinion.
I'm curious as you, Ian, to find out the current status of this boom. -
#2 by penguin44 on 05 Nov, 2018 04:56
-
From what I found on Wikipedia The OBSS sensors were disconnected during the EVA, and are not designed to withstand thermal conditions outside the ISS without power to keep them warm. However, the modification of the grapple fixture could enable such equipment to be mounted onto the OBSS in the future.
From what I have seen online, its been just sitting there. -
#3 by brickmack on 05 Nov, 2018 16:28
-
The recent Soyuz imagery of ISS shows its location nicely too, along the top of S1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/roscosmos/45566091032/sizes/o/
-
#4 by eric z on 05 Nov, 2018 18:59
-
Maybe tourists could pay extra to ride that thing out there- yeehaw!
-
#5 by IanThePineapple on 05 Nov, 2018 20:45
-
The recent Soyuz imagery of ISS shows its location nicely too, along the top of S1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/roscosmos/45566091032/sizes/o/
I've seen that, what I was asking is if it has been used since it was left up there. -
#6 by penguin44 on 06 Nov, 2018 05:43
-
The recent Soyuz imagery of ISS shows its location nicely too, along the top of S1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/roscosmos/45566091032/sizes/o/
I've seen that, what I was asking is if it has been used since it was left up there.
Nope, as stated its just been sitting there. -
#7 by woods170 on 06 Nov, 2018 11:39
-
The recent Soyuz imagery of ISS shows its location nicely too, along the top of S1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/roscosmos/45566091032/sizes/o/
I've seen that, what I was asking is if it has been used since it was left up there.
Nope, as stated its just been sitting there.
Correct. It hasn't been used ever since STS-134 left it there. -
#8 by speedevil on 06 Nov, 2018 12:39
-
Is the only thing that it can simply be used for the cameras and LASERs?
(In other words is it a paperweight assuming that they are dysfunctional) -
#9 by Sam Ho on 06 Nov, 2018 14:52
-
Good question, Ian. I'd forgotten about the OBSS until I saw your query tonight. I recall now how that was indeed left behind on one of the last shuttle flights, for possible future use.
I vividly remember its use on the dramatic repair to one of the solar arrays, which ripped during the extension of the array. Can't recall the specifics at the moment, but I do remember the unplanned EVA to do the repair, and being amazed at how far from the airlock the astronaut was for this event. Was it Scott Parazynski? Apologies if my details are incorrect. I think it was in the 2006 - 2008 timeframe. One of the most riveting EVAs this century in my opinion.
I'm curious as you, Ian, to find out the current status of this boom.
We had live coverage of that repair during STS-120:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/10/nasa-change-eva-4-for-array-repair-via-ambitious-plan/
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/11/nasa-hard-at-work-on-complex-array-repair-plan/
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/11/timelines-and-power-epic-eva-4-to-begin-major-iss-challenge/
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/11/eva-4-success-with-array-repair-atlantis-rolls-ahead-of-sts-122/
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/11/discovery-undocks-completes-late-inspections-via-operational-obss/
Live thread here:Flight Day 12:
Is the only thing that it can simply be used for the cameras and LASERs?
The sensor package has been unpowered and unheated for seven years, since STS-134, and is most likely dead. The IBA would be used to extend the reach of the SSRMS if another problem happened out at the end of a solar array or the like.
(In other words is it a paperweight assuming that they are dysfunctional)
We had coverage of the Enhanced IBA as well:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/05/the-final-space-shuttle-spacewalk-sts-134-eva-4/
