Final configuration of the ISS

[nacnud]

NASA has released an image and a flight manefest that show the final configuration of the ISS. It seems that if all goes to plan the only thing that won't make it is the CAM.<br /><br />The Russsian Science Power Platform also won't make it but it isn't needed as the proposed Russian modules come with thier own solar cells, it all looks good so far <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[lbiderman]

It looks like it´s a good schedule. Full crew in 2009, all the science after that!! Surely they will focus on human spaceflight-related science stuff, or at least that was the idea after Bush presented the VSE. We will probably see (finally) science breakthroughs thanks to the station work!!

 

[willpittenger]

What is CAM? I do not remember that acronym. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[steve82]

CAM is the Centrifuge Accomodation Module. It was to be part of the Japanese contribution.

 

[ehs40]

this is amazing that the iss will only lose 1 thing. and dose anyone know when the station will be able to hold 4 and 5 crew members i know 3 will make it after sts-121

 

[nacnud]

It is going to be able to support 6 from flight 17A which is currently slated for 2009.

 

[vt_hokie]

I'm pleasantly surprised! Let's hope for success in this final string of missions!

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">I'm pleasantly surprised! Let's hope for success in this final string of missions!</font>/i><br /><br />The schedule also has nearly a year of slack in it too! This looks very achievable.<br /><br />An interesting possibility: if everything goes really well, will NASA wrap up the shuttle flights in 2009?</i>

 

[willpittenger]

Was CAM for exercise? Was it totally separate from the Japanese module or would it go into that module? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[josh_simonson]

CAM may not be big enough for a treadmill, ect, I think the main idea is to expose the cosmonauts to gravity-like force in there for a few hours/day (perhaps sleep in there) and see if that helps reduce bone loss, ect.

 

[no_way]

The funny thing about this .. if you have a module, say like for instance some remote manipulators and robotic arms, which get delayed for years in the end. At the time of the launch, if i'd be the developer of it, i'd probably have a dozen methods in mind how to improve it with the technology that has come available in the meantime.<br /><br />i mean for instance, all the computing stuff eventually on the ISS will be horribly outdated by the time its finally going to be put into good use. i wonder how the designers feel about this.

 

[henryhallam]

I don't think the centrifuge is large enough for anyone much bigger than a lab rat.

 

[thinice]

CAM centrifuge is actually a Cetrifuge Rotor with up to 8 habitats with dimensions of 48x62x61 cm (19x24.4x24") each. Here are the pictures.

 

[henryhallam]

Maybe a cat then. I'm sure it would provide plenty of useful data though. The advantage of having a centrifuge in microgravity is that you can create a (nearly) uniform adjustable "gravity field", which should help to answer questions such as whether lunar or Martian gravity will be enough to prevent bone loss.

 

[steve82]

CAM had lots of problems. Some of them were technical including all the disturbance torques it was going to impose on the ever-changing and remodeling ISS configurations. But I also think the whole project with it's JAXA-Ames-ISS program interfaces was even more difficult to manage than the usual station International Partner shenanigans.

 

[willpittenger]

Good point. Remember the centrifuge from <i>2001: A Space Odyssey</i>? In the sequel, it seizes and causes the Discovery (not to be confused with the shuttle with the same name) to break up. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[willpittenger]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>all the computing stuff eventually on the ISS will be horribly outdated by the time its finally going to be put into good use. i wonder how the designers feel about this.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />That is true of all computers meant for space regardless of project or timeliness of launches. Spacecraft can't use ordinary computers. Radiation causes errors. You have to compensate by hardening the chips. I do not know how the chips are hardened, but that is what they do. (Weight is also an issue.)<br /><br />Back in the late 90's, shuttles started getting new computers. By then, we had desktop computers with Pentium II's installed. What did the shuttle get? 386's.<br /><br />Here the delays are not helping, but space computers are always obsolete before they even leave the drawing board. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[thinice]

<i>"Maybe a cat then."</i><br />I think cats are the last animals you want to confine in a box for experiments. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[fingle]

<i>Re: That is true of all computers meant for space regardless of project or timeliness of launches. Spacecraft can't use ordinary computers. Radiation causes errors. You have to compensate by hardening the chips. I do not know how the chips are hardened, but that is what they do. (Weight is also an issue.) </i><br /><br />Radiation hardening starts during the initial manufacture, with the use of thinner layers, lower processing temperatures, and thicker interconnections just to name a few. Post manufacturing steps include proper grounding and the use of a faraday cage.<br /><br />more info can be found at Sandia Labs to develop custom, radiation-hardened Pentium® processor for space and defense needs.<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mlorrey]

Just don't put bags on its paws, unless you are prepared to be entertained.

 

[erioladastra]

True. The MDMs running station are 386s though there is a long term plan to upgrade them to hardened Pentiums. However, the laptops are relatively up todate Pentiums.