Orion & ISS

[PJay_A]

Looking at the ISS launch manifest, I see the plan is to keep two Soyuz vehicles attached to ISS when the ISS switches to 6-person crew capacity later this year. My question: Whenever Orion begins manned operations, what role will the Soyuz play? Since Orion is designed for 6-person crews, one Orion will suffice as an ISS lifeboat, so two Soyuz (or even one Soyuz) continuously attached to ISS would be unnecessary, unless the Russians plan on including accomodations for additional cosmonaughts in one of their planned (Russian-side) future modules?

 

[trailrider]

<p>I suspect it will depend on who is doing what at the ISS.&nbsp; Ultimately, all things being equal, there will be four (4) docking ports on the ISS.&nbsp; This will allow docking of three (3) vehicles plus one spare port for resupply vehicles.&nbsp; Why 3 vehicles?&nbsp; While we are using Soyuz spacecraft, you will need one port for the oldest Soyuz, the second for the next one.&nbsp; This will mean you will have two or enough for six pax (passengers) in case of an emergency.&nbsp; As the crews change shifts, the next three astronauts/cosmonauts will come up in a third Soyuz.&nbsp; The three crewpersons being replaced will leave in the oldest Soyuz.&nbsp; The fourth port will allow a Progress, Dragon, etc., to dock, plus provide a spare port in case there is a problem with one of the others. (See p. 29 Aviation "Leak" 12 January 2009, "Russian Rider" article.)</p><p>When the LEO version of Orion becomes operational, you could conveivably increase the number of the station crew beyond six, power and supplies being sufficient to do so.</p><p>Ad LEO! Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra!</p>

 

[rubicondsrv]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I suspect it will depend on who is doing what at the ISS.&nbsp; Ultimately, all things being equal, there will be four (4) docking ports on the ISS.&nbsp; This will allow docking of three (3) vehicles plus one spare port for resupply vehicles.&nbsp; Why 3 vehicles?&nbsp; While we are using Soyuz spacecraft, you will need one port for the oldest Soyuz, the second for the next one.&nbsp; This will mean you will have two or enough for six pax (passengers) in case of an emergency.&nbsp; As the crews change shifts, the next three astronauts/cosmonauts will come up in a third Soyuz.&nbsp; The three crewpersons being replaced will leave in the oldest Soyuz.&nbsp; The fourth port will allow a Progress, Dragon, etc., to dock, plus provide a spare port in case there is a problem with one of the others. (See p. 29 Aviation "Leak" 12 January 2009, "Russian Rider" article.)When the LEO version of Orion becomes operational, you could conveivably increase the number of the station crew beyond six, power and supplies being sufficient to do so.Ad LEO! Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra! <br />Posted by trailrider</DIV><br /><br />IIRC dragon docks at an CBM port not APAS or cone/drouge <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[samkent]

Are some of the docking ports located at opposite ends od the ISS?

 

[tadpoletriker]

<p>Seems to me that there are a lot of&nbsp; ports of differing types.</p><p>Two PMS's</p><p>About 5 or 6 CBM's</p><p>IIRC about 4 Russian ports.</p><p>Seems like there could be up to about a dozen transoprts of various types docked at one time, although that seems impractical.</p><p>Try three Russian and two US crew transports, and one Russian or EU cargo transports, and four or five Japanese and US&nbsp; cargo transports.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>JohnB</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

 

[shuttle_guy]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Are some of the docking ports located at opposite ends od the ISS? <br />Posted by samkent</DIV></p><p>Yes. Along the long axis the US Shuttle port on a PMA the other end has a Russian docking port.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>