ISS maintenance kit .... or something like it.

[holmec]

With the recent ISS EVA to repair the solar array, the subject of having tools and materials to make tools for unexpected situations came up.<br /><br />Shuttle_guy claims ISS has a kit. I would like to know what it includes.<br /><br />So this is about tools and materials. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

So in the EVA they make a 'hockey stick', a solar array tension holder, and I don't know what else. They had to coat these and other tools in a non conductive tape.<br /><br />now that got me thinking that a kit would help that had some material and tools to make tools. But Shuttle_guy says there is one.<br /><br />If you take that thought up a notch, you might be thinking of a Star Trek replicator type of devise. The only technology I know of would be a CAD/CAM system. <br /><br />Such a system would allow engineers to come up with a design on the ground and send the design electronically to like ISS or say a Mars mission.<br /><br />So how feasable is a CAD/CAM system to make tools on the fly? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Also with new materials being used in construction and I'm sure other areas in the past 20 years, what should a kit have included? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[mi2again]

I packed some of the first ones. It went up on either STS-96, 101 & 103, memory fails me. "Packed" not meaning components but kits that were provided and were packed into transfer bags<br /><br />Same goes for the medical kits.<br /><br />You name it and it had it. Both types of kits <br /><br /><br />The tape was Kapton, which there was a lot of

 

[holmec]

Very nice.<br /><br />If and when in the future we have commercial space stations, what would we want to put in these kits? <br /><br />Like what do you use to patch one of Bigelow's inflatable modules if it developed a puncture? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[bobw]

My copy of the Familiarization Manual lists a bunch of tools. The list below doesn't include those stored outside the airlock. They probably have more stuff (no listing for the teflon used to make the hockey stick, or the tape <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ), but the plan at the time (9 year old .PDF) seemed pretty robust. As mi2again mentioned they also have a medical kit.<br /><br /><b>MWA</b> Maintenance Work Area: A folding work table 2'X 3' that clips into slots in the bulkhead and has places to clamp or bungee down items being worked on.<br /><br /><b>MWA Containment System</b> Glove box type thing that covers MWA to contain small parts/drill shavings, etc. Can attatch a vacuum system w/filtered air intake.<br /><br /><b>Hand Tools</b><br />Ratchets-powered/unpowered, torque adapters, universal joints, extensions.<br />Sockets-regular/deep, Hex head. <br />Screw drivers-flat, Phillips, jeweler's. <br />Wrenches-open/box end, L-shaped, Hex head. <br />Pliers-various types.<br />Metal working tools-hacksaw, bone saw, chisels, punches, files.<br />Hammer-dead blow ball peen hammer.<br /><br />Each International Partner is supposed to have a set of tools for their respective modules.<br /><br />Each payload is expected to provide any special tools needed to maintain the payload.<br /><br />Electrical repair kit. Scopemeter, signal generator, pin kit, etc.<br />Fiber optic repair kit.<br />Fluid line repair kit.<br />Hose and cable kit.<br />Tap and die set.<br />Sewing kit.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[holmec]

Sounds like an extensive standard set of kits. Thanks.<br /><br />What about having sheets of materials? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[bobw]

Sorry, I have no info. about materials. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mi2again]

"If and when in the future we have commercial space stations, what would we want to put in these kits?"<br /><br />The same as the ISS kits: everything!

 

[holmec]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>The same as the ISS kits: everything!<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Well, empirically, "everything" is too heavy. So even ISS is limited. <br /><br />And by limited, its limited to people's imagination. As in if they did not think of it, its probably not there. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Well, I would call that a kit. But thanks for the clarification.<br /><br />BTW what materials? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

While that is true, we have to allow for the unknown situation.<br /><br />Like if a module should rub with a satellite or some other module or space craft. Then you might have a Titanic situation on your hands. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

I can see in the future that these evolving 3D printers might come handy, Specially in bases on Mars and the Moon.<br />I think at the moment these machine only make parts in plastic, that would then need to be cast if required in metal.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[holmec]

That they do. But there are also other CAM systems that take a block of aluminum and mill it into a shape. The problem is that there is a lot of aluminum scraps. Now to take those scraps and recycle them into an aluminum block would almost complete a system. <br /><br />But I bet in practice, the weight of such systems would make it expensive (to transport). The challenge would be to come up with these systems that are lighter weight and fully automatic. <br /><br />Now if your going to use such systems on say the Lunar surface, then how far fetched is it to make large parts for a lunar base? I guess you add an auto welder to weld parts together. Which makes it into almost full scale manufacturing.<br /><br />Ok, I'm getting a little crazy here. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> I better stop before I'm talking about reclamation of material. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

"Ok, I'm getting a little crazy here. "<br /><br />Lol, a little crazy is ok with me <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />I can remember watching some SF movie years ago (can't remember what or when) and they had a machine that built things layer by layer, I said at the time that's BS.<br /><br />Once again science fiction comes true.<br />Sorry about OT <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[mi2again]

"Well, imperically, everything is too heavy. So even ISS is limited. "<br /><br />Not so, think of any hand tool (other than wood working) and the ISS has it onboard<br />

 

[holmec]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Not so, think of any hand tool (other than wood working) and the ISS has it onboard <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Hand tool? Well its limited already. And anyway there is only a few types of tools and depending on the material your working with:<br /><br />cutter (saw, knife, chisel)<br />hammer<br />welder<br />borer (ie drill)<br />applicator (ie brush, putty knife)<br />measuring tools (ie ruler, measuring tape, square, protractor)<br /><br />To name a few types of tools. It seems the ISS has most all of these types covered to an extent as bobw pointed out (as well as some powered tools).<br /><br />But the real universal tool is a tool you can manufacture on the fly, like the "hockey stick". <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>