STS-120/10A Mission thread (post launch)

[bpcooper]

PMA-2 to Harmony Nov. 6, and then the two as a whole will be moved back to Destiny a day later. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[bpcooper]

The cupola is currently slated to be launched attached to Node 3 on STS-132:<br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[starfhury]

Is the coppola designed to launch on anything but the shuttle? Maybe it can be launch on a Soyuz or Spacex if their plans pans out, they can launch it for NASA. Or even the Ariane can launch it as well on an ATV.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

I wouldn't trust it to Spacex. Unless its intention is for it to end up on the ocean floor after a<br />launch failure. We can buy more reliable rockets here in post offices every November!!!!<br /><br />Cupola is to be launched by Shuttle only. It has been designed for such regarding <br />centre of gravity, etc.<br /><br />The Russians or ESA could do so maybe, but I do think that a mission has already <br />been planned & budgeted for & no doubt the crerw are already in training.<br /><br />Ansrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[starfhury]

According to SG, that might not be the case. If the shuttle has any delays then there might not be a mission to fly it on. So finding an alternative makes sense. Regarding Spacex, I think you are being very hard on them. They built and flew two rockets. The outcome might not have been perfect, but they have more being built. It's just a matter of time before they complete their first successful mission. In fact the next mission they launch probably will meet all the plan object and reach orbit. It's more than can be said of any other company out there right now. This is all part of the learning process and what I have not heard from them is that they are giving up or having financial difficulties. That would be more telling than losing even a third rocket. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

I agree, Andrew is being pretty hard on SpaceX.<br /><br />IIRC, the early days of the US space program were "not entirely successful" (i.e. BOOM ).<br /><br />They've only had 2 attempts, and the second was pretty good.<br /><br />BY the time the Cupola launch comes along, they may well be a viable option.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[jimfromnsf]

Cupola can be only launched by the shuttle, either on a module or on a pallet. There are no other carriers. Spacex is a laugh first of all but also impractical. The cupola is wider than a CBM

 

[erioladastra]

"I assume the shields are in front as ISS zips around earth. True? "<br /><br />Normally the ISS flies with the lab-node2-pma2 line flying into the velocity vector (only exception is when shuttle is docked). So yes, the faces of ISS facing into the vel. vector have more shielding. These shields were added to allow for more protection to the SM which did not have the extra shielding in that direction. Note that you can get hit from essentially any direction - this is just your greatest risk.

 

[erioladastra]

"Is the SARJ always operating, or do they turn it off and park the arrays when they have suffient power to the station? "<br /><br />Always rotating unless we need to park it for dockings, undockings or thruster firings.

 

[frodo1008]

NASA would not be so stupid as to retire all the shuttles until all the pieces of the ISS are in orbit and in place!<br /><br />All the plans for a follow on to the shuttle are for continuing supply to the ISS, not for actual assembly.<br /><br />However, if in the future more expansion modules are needed for the ISS by such as the Europeans, I am certain that they could either use the Ariane V or some of the larger Russian vehicles to take almost anything needed up to the ISS.<br /><br />As for NASA I am certain that the Delta IV Heavy has both the size of shroud and weight carrying capacity to take almost anything up to the ISS also. While this rocket launch would be cheaper than the shuttle, it is not cheap, but it has already flown and is a known reliable factor.<br /><br />Now, IF spacex can get its reliability and manufacturing efforts together to actually built and launch several rockets of the Delta IV Heavy size at a far cheaper price (which would have to include development costs just as the EELV designs had to) then it would obviously be to NASA's advantage to use those systems.<br /><br />Having been in aerospace manufacturing most of my working life up until the year 2000, I really don't understand why people seem to automatically assume that because a rocket launch company can launch a V2 sized rocket (even successfully) that it is going to be just as easy to launch a rocket up to some 10X as large! When you get to such rocket sizes the handling equipment alone becomes not only very large, but also correspondingly expensive! ULA is already well aware of this through their considerable experience.<br /><br />However, I do wish spacex all the success in the world, especially as their manufacturing my even help the economy of Southern California get back into the groove again. <br /> <br /><br />

 

[bobblebob]

"Always rotating nless we need to park it for dockings, undockings or thruster firings"<br /><br />Cheers. During EVA 2, they have allowed an hour for the SARJ inspection. Someone asked during the conference what they have dropped from the EVA schedule to accomodate the SARJ inspection. The guy said he didnt know. Does anyone know what they have dropped from the schedule?

 

[jimfromnsf]

""As for NASA I am certain that the Delta IV Heavy has both the size of shroud and weight carrying capacity to take almost anything up to the ISS also." :"<br /><br />That is true

 

[Testing]

Who is going to pay for re-qualification of the hardware for launch on a different vehicle? If it is not essential for ISS to complete it's mission it will not launch. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[baktothemoon]

>>""As for NASA I am certain that the Delta IV Heavy has both the size of shroud and weight carrying capacity to take almost anything up to the ISS also." :" <br /><br /> />That is true <br /><br />So? Does nasa even have a way to assemble space station modules without the shuttle? If not then the question of whether or not it can fit on a Delta IV Heavy is irreleveant.

 

[frodo1008]

I would not wish to argue with one as good and knowledgeable as you are....<br /><br />However, the current president will not be the president after the end of 2008. So what he wishes NASA to do in 2010 is not relevant. I do also believe that there are some two extra contingency missions that can be flown also. However, NASA is NOT going to leave some billions of taxpayers dollars worth of equipment for the ISS at the cape. At the very least if NASA wishes to continue in business that is!<br /><br />And whatever capsule NASA eventually choses to use to get people up to the ISS, it is going to have to be capable of being launched on either the single stick (which seems to be having some sort of problems at this time), or commercial launchers now in existence (the Delta IV Heavy is my guess, as the Atlas V is powered by Russian engines and I don't think that congress would ever approve our depending on them that much even though in the emergency of the shuttle accidents, they did approve of our buying flights on the Soyuz), or something new and cheaper such as the Falcon 9 Heavy, if spacex can indeed get it ready by 2010.<br /><br />As for further materials launches, if the Russians can come up with an automated system for bringing heavy material launches into the ISS (as they are already doing) then it can not be too much of a stretch of the imagination that the country that has pioneered the electronic and technical age (the US) certainly can do the same. Once such a module is close enough to the ISS, then either astronauts in a space walk, or perhaps the arm on the ISS itself can be used to bring it into final position.<br /><br />I have no doubt that NASA has the necessary abilities to do this without too many problems. Other than the usual one of getting congress to pay for it! And if spacex can actually launch the Falcon 9 Heavy for anywhere near what they say they can, then it would be a slam dunk that they will be NASA's launch vehicle of choice. <br /><br />Of

 

[thereiwas]

Regardless of what the president wants, congress may not want to pay for more shuttle flights. They may not want NASA's "next program" either.

 

[alokmohan]

Two US astronauts from the shuttle Discovery have completed a space walk in which a new room was added to the International Space Station (ISS). <br />Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock took six hours to steer the 14-ton module from Discovery's cargo bay on a robotic arm and put it (bbc news)<br />

 

[bobblebob]

Seems the SARJ inspections have found something. Metal shavings have been seen in the solar array rotary joint and appears to be widespread Any idea how/why they got there?

 

[3488]

Either metal shavings were not picked up prior to launch post manufacture or <br />something is rubbing???<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[ashish27]

well currently video failure on NASA Tv

 

[frodo1008]

I must apologize. I went back over the debate here. And quit frankly I don't see what this is all about anyway!<br /><br />The cupola is indeed scheduled to go up on STS-132, which looks like it will be going sometime in 2009. So this debate is for all intents and purposes totally moot!<br /><br />Not only are all the pieces of the ISS fully scheduled to be launched on current shuttle missions, but there are even two extra contingency missions that could be scheduled. <br /><br />After 2010, or at the latest possibly early 2011 the ISS should easily be fully completed with some six people accommodated with all the laboratories in use.<br /><br />IF there was to be an additional expansion of the facility it would probably be accomplished by partners other than the USA and NASA. So in actuality it is indeed their problem anyway!<br /><br />The only thing that NASA intends to do is to run people and supplies back and forth to the ISS. And I think that is supposedly what the COTS type of program is for. So if somebody can come up with modules to run both people and materials to and from the ISS in a relatively inexpensive manner, then NASA will be just paying for such a service. This should bring NASA's ISS cost down to less than $1.5 billion, and possibly down to even less than $1 billion per year. <br /><br />You are correct in that NASA is going to need all the funding it can get to just get back to the moon by 2020!

 

[bobblebob]

STS132 is scheduled for April 2010 according to the flight manifest

 

[MeteorWayne]

Mission Status Briefing in 45 minutes on NASA TV. 2:15 EDT, 1615 UT AND British time <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Thats correct MeteorWayne, we are now on GMT which of course is UT.<br /><br />NASA TV would not work for me, but I did try. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

DON'T USE THE CHINA ONE!!!!! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>