Veteran needed on each spacewalk

[willpittenger]

I think each spacewalk made should have at least one veteran. Since Discovery went up with 5 rookies, will that happen on each of the scheduled spacewalks? I know that only one veteran spacewalker was onboard at launch. I don't like requiring an astronaut to not get a break by skipping a spacewalk, but... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[bpfeifer]

I believe you are overly concerned. With the numberof hours of training that Shuttle astronauts go through before making spacewalks, both in the pool and VR, it is not necessary to have a veteran on each space walk. Not to mention that they can draw on a large body of corporate knowledge on spacewalks. Not all previous construction spcawalks have included veterans.<br /><br />It may make sense to send out a vet on the most challenging of spacewalks, but remember that these guys are terrific at both following directions, and improvising when those directions fail. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Brian J. Pfeifer http://sabletower.wordpress.com<br /> The Dogsoldier Codex http://www.lulu.com/sabletower<br /> </div>

 

[webtaz99]

While I realize it's not quite the same as having someone there in person, NASA has decades of experience available on the comlink. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

Even seasoned astronauts still make mistakes but having someone with space walking experience nearby does help (it also helps in training and in prep). For stage EVAs with rookies we TRY to have them perform one of the docked mission EVAs so they have some experience going into the stage EVA. Hence why Suni is doing 2 EVAs this flight.

 

[JonClarke]

What's the difference between a "docked mission" and "stage' EVA?<br /><br />Jon <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]

"What's the difference between a "docked mission" and "stage' EVA?"<br /><br />Docked you have the orbiter there, usually use orbiter O2 and have more people to prepare for the EVA and robotics (if relevant). Both go out of the ISS airlock.

 

[willpittenger]

They can use the orbiter O2 without a transfer of tanks? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"They can use the orbiter O2 without a transfer of tanks?"<br /><br />Yes, a hose is connected to the ISS O2 system and they can either take O2 from it that way or from the tanks.