STS-115 Status - Part II

[erioladastra]

<br />The ISS program *is* metric...just as the official language is English! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Worst sentence I ever heard - "that is about 1 meter, 3 inches long".<br /><br />

 

[erioladastra]

Yes, you are correct sorry.

 

[bobw]

I thought the bolts on the covers are captive, too, but one of them malfunctioned and the bolt unscrewed from the washer allowing the spring to drive it into a new orbit.<br /><br />Everybody has been talking about "the big loop" for the last couple days. What is that? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mah_fl]

There are several radio channels, some private. The big loop includes everybody.

 

[bobw]

Thanks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

Yes. The news reports and playbacks will describe an hour of grunting, sweating and worrying as "One of the bolts was hard to remove."<br /><br />That must be one tough bolt. I never had a bolt with a 7/16" head that I couldn't snap if I am not careful. <br /><br />Edit:<br />That is the part of spacewalks which makes me think it is going to be a while before robots replace people. There is usually something similar on every mission. Something that just takes finesse. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"Everybody has been talking about "the big loop" for the last couple days. What is that? "<br /><br />They are captive but it is not clear if they are malfunctioning or the tether is causing them to come undone (in both cases it was in the same spot as the tether).<br /><br />There are 2 loops bettwen the shuttle and ground called A/G (air-to-ground) 1 and 2. There are 2 ISS loops called S/G 1 and 2 (space-to-ground). There are also various 'local calls' - for example on the station you might have the airlock or the russian segment comm panels tied into S/G 1, S/G 2 or neither. The big loop ties A/G 1 to S/G 1 so that anyone talking on either of those will go the other side. During the EVA, you also tie in the EMU UHF as well. This is all called the big loop. For some reason, audio is not going from the Shuttle to the station so they are using the UHF all the time (i.e., not just during the EVA) to work around.

 

[bobw]

Where does that happen? Does the ground re-transmit AG receptions to the SG frequency, do they put some jumper cables in up at the ISS or is it a software thing? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

The Flame Trench says that despite successfully rotating 5 and then 180 degrees in earlier tests, the SARJ is broken now <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> NASA TV says one of the drive lock units is not engaging properly. A backup plan didn't solve the problem.<br /><br />http://www.floridatoday.com/floridatoday/blogs/spaceteam/ <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

The arrays will not be able to track the sun if it doesn't rotate. I guess both drive units do not need to work at the same time, one is a backup. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[gawin]

Maybe it has a Bolt jammed in it....... sorry had to say it *hangs head in shame and goes back to lurking*

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

No need to hang your head in shame, Mission Control were worried that the bolt may have got in the workings. <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>

 

[bobw]

The SARJ is finally turning. I can't wait to see those solar panels extend. The Hubble ones are nice but these are KILLER! It is moving a lot faster than I expected too. The gyros must be working overtime. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Well with double the solar panel area, ISS must be a lot more visible now. <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>

 

[bobw]

Probably will generate more UFO reports for sure. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"Where does that happen? Does the ground re-transmit AG receptions to the SG frequency, do they put some jumper cables in up at the ISS or is it a software thing? "<br /><br />There is a hardline connection that is made as soon as the Shuttle docks. The lines pass through a Docked Audio Unit Interface (DAUI) to the ISS audio system.

 

[flynn]

My <b>guess</b> having just been on a programming course is that there is a Profibus system running around the station as this is the most flexible way to network because you can plug in just about anywhere. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

"Probably will generate more UFO reports for sure."<br /><br />Yep, it's a spaceship alright, one of ours. lol <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"My guess having just been on a programming course is that there is a Profibus system running around the station as this is the most flexible way to network because you can plug in just about anywhere. "<br /><br />Negative. It is a direct TDMA line through the DAUI to the stations Audio Bus Coupler which routes to all the other audio boxes.

 

[flynn]

Does anyone know what sort of effeciency the station is getting off the first set of solar panels (1st giant set not those attached to the Russian modules) compared the effeciencies they were getting out when first attached. Has there been any degredation? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[flynn]

And another thing, does anyone know..<br /><br />Because the first set of panels are not in their final position and are to be refolded to move them is the design any different to the others? Are those that are fixed straight into their perminent postions going to be able to refold? I seem to recall seeing hubbles original solar panels taken off and "thrown" away. If the ISS panels were ever to be replaced surely there is no need to keep them and I can't think of any reason to refold them to maintain them. <br /><br />Edit = Oops, makes no sense. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

Not sure I follow all of your question but... the arrays are all the same design. They will be full ydeployed today but the SARJ will remain locked until the P6 array retract on 12A.1. The panels on HST (only 1 of 2) was jettisoned only because the bisteams were too warped to roll back up. While those contingencies are being planned for on ISS, we hope we don't go there!

 

[flynn]

Sorry, I've edited to say what I meant. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[flynn]

<font color="yellow">All of the arrays are of the same design. They all can be stowed and extended as needed. </font><br /><br />Thankyou, that is essentially what I want to know. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"The new P6 array is in it's final position. "<br /><br />I think you have a typo there. P6 is on the top of Z1 and is not in its final. P4 that was just deployed is. On 10A, P6 will be reloacted to the outboard side of P4 (after a spacer added on 12A.1).