The International Space Station turns 10

doublehelix · Nov 25, 2008

Apologies if this has already been posted, but I found these images to be so awesome and amazing!  Thought you all would enjoy.http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/11/the_international_space_statio.html"This month marks the 10th anniversary of the first launched module of the International Space Station (ISS). The module Zarya was lifted into orbit on November 20th, 1998 by a Russian Proton rocket lifting off from Baikonur, Kazhakstan. In the decade since, 44 manned flights and 34 unmanned flights have carried further modules, solar arrays, support equipment, supplies and a total of 167 human beings from 15 countries to the ISS, and it still has a ways to go until it is done. Originally planned to be complete in 2003, the target date for completion is now 2011. Aside from time spent on construction, ISS crew members work on a good deal of research involving biology and physics in conditions of microgravity. If humans are ever to leave the Earth for extended periods, the ISS is designed to be the place where we will discover the best materials, procedures and safety measures to make it a reality." (32 photos total) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> doublehelix, Community Manager Imaginova </div>

kyle_baron · Nov 25, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Apologies if this has already been posted, but I found these images to be so awesome and amazing!  Thought you all would enjoy.http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/11/the_international_space_statio.html"This month marks the 10th anniversary of the first launched module of the International Space Station (ISS). The module Zarya was lifted into orbit on November 20th, 1998 by a Russian Proton rocket lifting off from Baikonur, Kazhakstan. In the decade since, 44 manned flights and 34 unmanned flights have carried further modules, solar arrays, support equipment, supplies and a total of 167 human beings from 15 countries to the ISS, and it still has a ways to go until it is done. Originally planned to be complete in 2003, the target date for completion is now 2011. Aside from time spent on construction, ISS crew members work on a good deal of research involving biology and physics in conditions of microgravity. If humans are ever to leave the Earth for extended periods, the ISS is designed to be the place where we will discover the best materials, procedures and safety measures to make it a reality." (32 photos total) Posted by doublehelix</DIV>Should be re-titled "The White Elephant turns 10".  <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-surprised.gif" border="0" alt="Surprised" title="Surprised" /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

trailrider · Nov 25, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Should be re-titled "The White Elephant turns 10".  Posted by kyle_baron</DIV>Absolutely...WRONG!  True, we may not have gotten all the science research originally envisioned done yet, this program has possibly been a greater challenge than the construction of the Hoover dam, and maybe even the pyramids!  Watch the EVA astronauts do their "high-iron" construction jobs for more than two minutes!  Watch the techniques and skills that have been developed over the past 10 years.  If humanity is to operate in space, these skills and techniques must be developed!  There will be no second chances on the trip to and from Mars!  Whatever will need to be done on those type trips, will have been learned in assembling the ISS!  The ONLY way the ISS will become a "white elephant" is if humanity abandons it.  Note: I am NOT saying NASA needs to run the station; perhaps selling or leasing it to a commercial consortium will prove the way to go after the station is completed! But to finish it and then either command a terminal re-entry or allowing it to rot in space WOULD be a waste!Ad LEO! Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra!

StrandedonEarthsince1970 · Nov 25, 2008

Those are some awe-inspiring pictures, many of which I had never seen before. I especially liked the reboost pic. I never knew how they stored water aboard the ISS either. Thanks! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Now where on Earth did I park my UFO? </div>

JonClarke · Nov 26, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Should be re-titled "The White Elephant turns 10".  Posted by kyle_baron</DIV> ABSOLUTELY NOT.  THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY IMAGES OF A FANTASTIC SPACE STATION AND A WONDEFUL ACHIEVEMENT.  It is a testament to the effort of 10s of thousands of people in more than a dozen countries.  I am looking foreard to another 10 years of service by this marveous facility.Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> 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 Arthur Clarke </div>

JonClarke · Nov 26, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Absolutely...WRONG!  True, we may not have gotten all the science research originally envisioned done yet, this program has possibly been a greater challenge than the construction of the Hoover dam, and maybe even the pyramids!  Watch the EVA astronauts do their "high-iron" construction jobs for more than two minutes!  Watch the techniques and skills that have been developed over the past 10 years.  If humanity is to operate in space, these skills and techniques must be developed!  There will be no second chances on the trip to and from Mars!  Whatever will need to be done on those type trips, will have been learned in assembling the ISS!  The ONLY way the ISS will become a "white elephant" is if humanity abandons it.  Note: I am NOT saying NASA needs to run the station; perhaps selling or leasing it to a commercial consortium will prove the way to go after the station is completed! But to finish it and then either command a terminal re-entry or allowing it to rot in space WOULD be a waste!Ad LEO! Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra! Posted by trailrider</DIV>Well said.  the only reason why it has not done the research envisaged is because it isn't finished yet.  In less than two years it will be.One quibble, NASA does not run the ISS, an international partnership runs it.  It does not belong to NASA alone, but to more than a dozen nations and, like the Apollo program, by extension all of humanity.Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> 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 Arthur Clarke </div>

earth_bound_misfit · Nov 26, 2008

Thanks DH, great pics indeed! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ----------------------------------------------------------------- Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?Go here to see how: SDC Eye saver </div>

oscar1 · Nov 26, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Posted by doublehelix</DIV>Beautiful pics! Thank you.

arkady · Nov 26, 2008

Wow. Glad I clicked that link. Beautiful footage indeed!  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "The choice is the Universe, or nothing ... " - H.G Wells </div>

oscar1 · Nov 26, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Posted by doublehelix</DIV>I sent the link to a number of friends, and got many wows in response. It occurred to me that NASA and partners may not be marketing the ISS well enough. Perhaps NASA should engage Mr Spielberg to make a film in which the ISS is the decor; someting like 'Conspiracy at the ISS' or something like that.

MeteorWayne · Nov 26, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I sent the link to a number of friends, and got many wows in response. It occurred to me that NASA and partners may not be marketing the ISS well enough. Perhaps NASA should engage Mr Spielberg to make a film in which the ISS is the decor; someting like 'Conspiracy at the ISS' or something like that. Posted by oscar1</DIV> Or Tom Hanks

<div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

mouseonmars · Nov 26, 2008

Congrats to everyone who has worked on and in the ISS ! Groundcrew, astronauts, Scientists, the cast list must be enormous <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-cool.gif" border="0" alt="Cool" title="Cool" />. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I am your God. I am all knowing." Baal, Stargate SG-1 </div>

kyle_baron · Nov 27, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>ABSOLUTELY NOT.  THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY IMAGES OF A FANTASTIC SPACE STATION AND A WONDEFUL ACHIEVEMENT.  It is a testament to the effort of 10s of thousands of people in more than a dozen countries.  I am looking foreard to another 10 years of service by this marveous facility.Jon Posted by jonclarke</DIV>I don't want to "rain on anyones parade", but the older modules of the ISS will most likely start failing with in the next 5 yrs.  Remember, that MIR was a pile of junk, at the end of it's 15 yr life span.  Pumps, motors, and elec. devices that run 24-7, don't last forever ya know! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

JonClarke · Nov 27, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I don't want to "rain on anyones parade", but the older modules of the ISS will most likely start failing with in the next 5 yrs.  Remember, that MIR was a pile of junk, at the end of it's 15 yr life span.  Pumps, motors, and elec. devices that run 24-7, don't last forever ya know! Posted by kyle_baron</DIV>Mir was not a pile of junk and was refurbished to operate for another 5 years at least.  Mir's deorbiting was a political decision, not a technical one.Furthermore the ISS older modules, were designed with Mir experience and for a longer operating life.  Mir was only supposed to last 5 years but opeated for 15.  The older ISS  modules were designed for at least 18 years oprating life.  Twenty years should not be a problem.Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> 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 Arthur Clarke </div>

frodo1008 · Nov 27, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Mir was not a pile of junk and was refurbished to operate for another 5 years at least.  Mir's deorbiting was a political decision, not a technical one.Furthermore the ISS older modules, were designed with Mir experience and for a longer operating life.  Mir was only supposed to last 5 years but opeated for 15.  The older ISS  modules were designed for at least 18 years oprating life.  Twenty years should not be a problem.Jon Posted by jonclarke</DIV>Even with a limited crew of only three there has been a great deal of progress made in living and working in space.  When the full compliment of six to seven are on board, there sill be far more time for scientific achievement and experimentation.But the greatest worth of this station will come in learning to truly manufacture materials into useful objects in space!  This IS the true key to mankind's future in space, and just maybe will be the key to mankind's future, period! Then just how valuable will the "White Elephant" of the ISS have been?Far, far more valuable that just the mere cost of building and maintaining it will have been!!

oscar1 · Nov 28, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I don't want to "rain on anyones parade", but the older modules of the ISS will most likely start failing with in the next 5 yrs.  Remember, that MIR was a pile of junk, at the end of it's 15 yr life span.  Pumps, motors, and elec. devices that run 24-7, don't last forever ya know! Posted by kyle_baron</DIV>Have you ever heard of the phraze 'Grandfather's shovel' (my father replaced the handle, and I replaced the blade)? ESA's ATV can deliver new (fresh) modules, not only rejuvenating the station, but also modernising it.

3488 · Nov 28, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Have you ever heard of the phraze 'Grandfather's shovel' (my father replaced the handle, and I replaced the blade)? ESA's ATV can deliver new (fresh) modules, not only rejuvenating the station, but also modernising it. Posted by oscar1</DIV>A bit like the old janitor's broom, 60 years old, but has had 10 heads & 6 handles since then. Is it still the same broom??????Thank you very much DH for that amazing link. I quite like the reboost shot too.Another link here, the official NASA ISS image gallery. A nice one here of the waning crescent moon from Expedition 16. Saturday 3rd November 2007. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/14/11/2ec0ad1d-62cb-4bf3-8b13-b5f035ea2f84.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Andrew Brown.  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

oscar1 · Nov 28, 2008

"A bit like the old janitor's broom, 60 years old, but has had 10 heads & 6 handles since then. Is it still the same broom??????"No, it wouldn't be. However, neither did anyone have to reintroduce it, nor pay the full cost for it.

trailrider · Nov 28, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I don't want to "rain on anyones parade", but the older modules of the ISS will most likely start failing with in the next 5 yrs.  Remember, that MIR was a pile of junk, at the end of it's 15 yr life span.  Pumps, motors, and elec. devices that run 24-7, don't last forever ya know! Posted by kyle_baron</DIV> Are you aware that there are DC-3 "Gooney Birds" still flying? Some are as old as I am (66)! There are B-52's flying that are at least 40 years old, and being flown by the grandchildren of the original crews!  The Iowa-class BB's (battleships) were used from 1945-1991 or so, being brought out of mothballs and upgraded several times during their lifetimes.Barring some catastrophic event, such as being hit by a meteor or a collision with an approaching spacecraft, there is no reason that maintenance cannot keep the oldest ISS modules going for many, many years!  All it takes is good maintenance troops and upgrades to equipment!  Stop being so @#$%!! negative!Ad LEO! Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra!

kyle_baron · Nov 28, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Are you aware that there are DC-3 "Gooney Birds" still flying? Some are as old as I am (66)! There are B-52's flying that are at least 40 years old, and being flown by the grandchildren of the original crews!  The Iowa-class BB's (battleships) were used from 1945-1991 or so, being brought out of mothballs and upgraded several times during their lifetimes.Barring some catastrophic event, such as being hit by a meteor or a collision with an approaching spacecraft, there is no reason that maintenance cannot keep the oldest ISS modules going for many, many years!  All it takes is good maintenance troops and upgrades to equipment!  Stop being so @#$%!! negative!Ad LEO! Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra! Posted by trailrider</DIV>ROFLMAO!  You guys are talking about shovels, brooms, and "Gooney Birds".  None of which operate 24-7!  Also, not all the parts are modular, hoses will leak......You're also assuming that all the parts are easily accessible, and replaceable.  Maybe, maybe not.  <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-tongue-out.gif" border="0" alt="Tongue out" title="Tongue out" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

frodo1008 · Nov 28, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>ROFLMAO!  You guys are talking about shovels, brooms, and "Gooney Birds".  None of which operate 24-7!  Also, not all the parts are modular, hoses will leak......You're also assuming that all the parts are easily accessible, and replaceable.  Maybe, maybe not.  Posted by kyle_baron</DIV>How much do you actually know about the ISS itself?  How much maintainability was and is built in to the station?Any large and important project such as this has to have such maintainability at least looked at, and I would be perfectly willing to state that the ISS could very well be usable for at least another 15 years.  And that time does not even start until at least 2010, as the station will not even be fully completed until then.With the full compliment of six or seven, and with visitors sometimes getting that up to at least twelve for a limited time, the station should have an enormous amount of scientific space studies to be done.  And just as importantly (and maybe even more importantly for the long run) it will have a whole lot of studies in how to manufacture and build the infrastructure of the future of humanity in space.The vital information achieved from these activities will be worth far more than the mere total cost of the ISS, especially over the long haul.Just one for instance: at Rocketdyne we had to use a process called electron beam welding for the very precise welds needed on high performance rocket engines to precisely weld components together.  This is a fairly expensive process on the Earth, as there needs to be a very good vacuum in a fairly large volume to make this process even work at all (electron welding beams, and any kind of atmosphere do not work too well together).  The energy used for these large vacuum pumps is vast.  But in space a very good vacuum can be obtained by just opening up an airlock!  So research into such welding ghoul be a relatively an easy thing to be done on the ISS, and will be very essential in the precise assembly of large metal objects in the realms of space.Such beams can even be used as a very good machining process in the same manner.These processes can be experimented with in small quantities on board a continuing space station in orbit.  Yep,  just the kind of thing that will eventually bring a very large return for the work on the ISS!So all of your negativity is not going to mean anything in the long run of the future of humanity in space, so why even be negative at all? I can give fact after fact showing the incredible usefulness of this project if you would wish it, and so can a whole lot of others on this forum!There is always some room for legitimate criticism, but as we in the space support community have far too little general support as it is, being overly critical of space projects is somewhat counter productive to what we are trying to get humanity to eventually achieve in space at all!

oscar1 · Nov 28, 2008

"You're also assuming that all the parts are easily accessible, and replaceable.  Maybe, maybe not. "If not all parts are [easily] accessible, we should first start by firing the idiot that was in charge of design. And what could it be that can't be replaced?

kyle_baron · Nov 28, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>How much do you actually know about the ISS itself?  How much maintainability was and is built in to the station?     Posted by frodo1008</DIV>Both are excellent questions.  I don't know, and I would doubt anyone else knows for sure.  I'm going by past history.  Skylab, Mir, and now ISS.  What does ISS have that some how makes it special, that MIR or Skylab did not have?Also, individual modules are owned by different countries.  Because the oldest modules are Russian made, but owned by the U.S. there aren't any guarantees that they will be replaced when the U.S. heads to the moon the 2nd time around.  IIRC, the U.S. wanted to abandon the ISS around 2016.  Then what happens? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

erioladastra · Nov 28, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Have you ever heard of the phraze 'Grandfather's shovel' (my father replaced the handle, and I replaced the blade)? ESA's ATV can deliver new (fresh) modules, not only rejuvenating the station, but also modernising it. Posted by oscar1</DIV> I think you are confused.  ATV, HTV and Progress can bring no spare parts, but they cannot bring new modules.  Even if they could, you can't just swap out a module nor add on a new one.  The ones up there are heavily integrated and dependant upon each other.  There is no reason to believe that there will be any serious module problems in the next 7 years.  Note that the SARJ issue is not a lifetime issue but a design/construction issue.  However, showing that we can fix it demonstrates that we can do some amazing things to keep things going.  I am confident ISS will still be in very good shape in 2020 - if we want it to be around then.As to Mir being junk at its end...I don't mean to offend but it was not a whole lot better at its start.  SAme with the Russian degment on the ISS.  The Russians from day one have spent a huge amount of thier time just keeping it running.

JonClarke · Nov 28, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>As to Mir being junk at its end...I don't mean to offend but it was not a whole lot better at its start.  SAme with the Russian degment on the ISS.  The Russians from day one have spent a huge amount of thier time just keeping it running. Posted by erioladastra</DIV>If something that achieved so much for such a pweriod of time was "junk" then we clearly need more of it.Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> 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 Arthur Clarke </div>

The International Space Station turns 10

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