Shifting ISS payloads from STS

[radarredux]

One of the first announcements (that I am aware of) of a specific payload for the ISS being shifted from STS to another launch vehicle:<br /><br />European space station robotic arm to launch on Proton<br />http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0510/30esaarm/<br /><br />"On 27 October ESA's Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Mr Daniel Sacotte signed a contract for the launch preparations and first operations of the European Robotic Arm (ERA) on the International Space Station (ISS). The contract, worth 20 million Euro, was signed with Dutch Space, the Industrial Prime Contractor leading an industrial consortium of European companies.<br />...<br />Originally ERA was scheduled for launch on a Space Shuttle, together with the Russian Science and Power Platform, which was intended to become its home base for operations on the station. ... Since the MLM is designed for launch on a Russian Proton rocket, ERA will no longer be carried into space on a US Space Shuttle, but aboard Proton. This requires some technical, operational and contractual re-arrangements between the parties involved."

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Also interesting to note that there is actually a launch date, november 2007. It sounds promising. But it probably also the kiss of death to the Russian Science and Power Platform. Was this platform incooperated on the Shuttle flight schedule?<br /><br />Am I correct to assume that the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) is the new name of the FGB-2 that has been stored 80% complete for some time now?<br /><br />

 

[najab]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>But it probably also the kiss of death to the Russian Science and Power Platform.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>The SPP could have been included in the launch manifest if the Russians had ever finished it. IIRC, the last time I asked shuttle_guy he said it wasn't at the Cape and there was no firm commitment from the Russians to a delivery date.<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Am I correct to assume that the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) is the new name of the FGB-2 that has been stored 80% complete for some time now?<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>I believe you are correct.

 

[syndroma]

No, it's <b>70</b>% complete for years. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Although I heard completion of it was aggressively funded for some time because of the fact that it has to be launched before Node3 or never. It seems this problem is gone now.

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Ah thanks<br /><br />Well, its sounds like good news to me. I was a big fan of getting the FGB-2 up there anyway. Seems like waste to leave in on earth. Especially when funds are streched anyway. I doubt that the other Russian module was getting anywhere. And its off course good news for the Dutch company, something us Dutch can be proud of, that its hardware is finally getting somewhere.<br /><br />I'd say, swap more stuff, Go Proton

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Although I heard completion of it was aggressively funded for some time because of the fact that it has to be launched before Node3 or never. It seems this problem is gone now.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Would it be accurate to say that the SPP got eaten by the budget monster? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[jatslo]

Shifting 2000 pounds payloads to space requires 2001 pounds of artificial gravity.

 

[syndroma]

> <i>Would it be accurate to say that the SPP got eaten by the budget monster?</i><br /><br />AFAIK, funds for the SPP was included in the federal space program. At least, Roskosmos was VERY upset recently when NASA notified it about SPP cut. IIRC, design documentation for the SPP has been completed - now it draws as a total waste of money. No actual hardware built yet.<br /><br />Now Roskosmos demands some kind of substitution using the balance of contributions process.

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow"> (The SPP) wasn't at the Cape and there was no firm commitment from the Russians to a delivery date.</font>/i><br /><br />I vaguely recall reading recently that ESA and Japan's transfer vehicles (ATV and HTV) have experienced delays recently and they were looking for additional funding. Does anyone remember reading anything like this?</i>

 

[bpcooper]

The SPP construction never even began.<br /><br />It was the first component to ever be put in the "that is never going to launch "category. And now, all future Russian modules are unlikely to ever launch.<br /><br />It says this arm will be launched attached to a Russian module...we'll see about that! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[shoogerbrugge]

I still expect the FGB-2 to reach orbit. Now with this agreement signed there is an additional reason to launch it. It can reach the ISS independent from the STS, which doesn't seem unwise either.<br /><br />for some background on the FGB-2 and a couple of pictures, you can check this this site <br /><br />

 

[syndroma]

A year-old development plan of the Russian segment:

 

[j05h]

From what I understand, one of the main factors in FGB2 not being on-orbit already is that various groups have been fighting over it. SpaceHab (working w/ Energia?) have claimed it for the "Enterprise" media/hab module. Krunichev and Boeing want it for similar purpose, but under their control. The Russian military might still want it for MirII. Apparently, it is a very valuable piece of hardware. <br /><br />I'd like to see Krunichev (who builds the FGB/baseblock units) to work with Bigelow to make sure we, the future customers, have access to both habitable volume and a tryed-and-true control system. A "commercial FGB" is the only hardware that will be missing in the next 10 years for making private spaceflight a thriving industry. <br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>