Longer stays at the ISS for the Shuttle

[nacnud]

Longer stays at the ISS for the Shuttle<br /><br /><font color="yellow">U.S. space shuttle crews will soon be able to stay at the international space station longer with the installation of a new power-transfer system that allows docked shuttles to use solar power from the space station instead of solely relying on electricity produced by the orbiters' fuel cells.<br /><br />The Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS) will make it possible to use the space station's solar arrays to supplement the orbiter's electrical power. The additional power will decrease the need for power output from a shuttle's fuel cells, which require liquid hydrogen and oxygen to operate. With this new capability, shuttles can stay docked at the station for nine to 12 days instead of the six- to seven-day period available with the current power transfer system.More<br /><br /><font color="white">This is good news, I wonder what extra will able to be accomplished with the extra 5 days or so?<br /></font></font>

 

[drwayne]

The article implies that they can do the same stuff, just be lessed rushed doing it - the same stuff, slower. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />I wonder if we will get to the point in working in space where we could do an in-space refueling of something like the shuttle fuel cells - and feel comfortable doing it...I know its a not now kind of thing, I am just thimking of future infrastructure.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[nacnud]

Thanks guys – note to self: read the article fully before posting. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I was hopeing that the extra time might free up a crew member so that one of the Orbiters crew could spend their time doing experiments, similar to the short stay ESA astronauts on the current Soyuz crew exchange flights. The microgravity won’t be great with all the construction work but any increase in science time would be beneficial.<br />

 

[henryhallam]

Interesting... I didn't realise the Shuttle fuel cells ran on LH2 and LOX.. so the problem of storing cryogenic propellants for periods of a couple weeks or so is not an insurmountable one?<br /><br />Could be valuable for LOI and descent, even if you have to use storable propellants for ascent and TEI. <br /><br />There must be some loss rate but I wonder how high it is.

 

[redgryphon]

Am I right in thinking the 6 man crew requires the installation of Node 3? (And crew return of course.) Node 3 status information is hard to come by. It's not on the NASA manifest. But this pdf from Marshall suggests launch in 2008. There's no date on the pdf however.<br /><br />I agree the SSPTS is a great new capability. Its such a shame the EDO pallet was lost. The two systems combined would have enabled even longer stays at the station, allowing lots of science and maintenance to take place.

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">Am I right in thinking the 6 man crew requires the installation of Node 3? (And crew return of course.)</font>/i><br /><br />Hopefully with ITAR (apparently) being relaxed, the crew return capability will be resolved with an additional soyuz. I am really looking forward to the 60-day studies to see what the new management team has planned.</i>

 

[nacnud]

Node 3 carries the life support needed for a six man crew, it move there once the hab was deleted. An extra Soyuz solves the escape needs of a six man crew but not the life support. A few more crew quaters wouldn't go amiss either.

 

[frodo1008]

I have often thought that perhaps NASA would be able to puchase one of Bigelow's inflatable habitats, when he finishes at least getting a full blown one up into space. I would think that Bigelow would give NASA a break on price as: <br /><br />(1) The whole thing was originally started by NASA in the first place, and Bigelow got a good deal on the work that NASA had already done, and <br /><br />(2) The publicity (as Bigelow is a pure privete concern publicity like advertizing, is very, very useful) of actually having the six people on board ISS use a completed habitat of Bigelow's completed design would certainly be good publicity for Bigelow!!

 

[ehs40]

its cool that they can stay longer but nasa needs to get that station together quickor with this new power transfer they could send up afew pieces on some unmanned flights and with the extra time provided by the power transfer system get more pieces installed in one mission..just a thought