International Space Station (Updates)

[Blue-Vision]

USCSS Nostromo...

 

USCSS Nostromo.jpg

 

USCSS_Nostromo.jpg

 

Let's just hope Xenomorphs aren't real. 

 

Cheers!

[Arachno 1D]

Thats a really intersting post on the Space suits and shows just how much works goes into what seems at first glance to be a simple item which of course there never is in Space and the choices needed to be made between the requirements for rigid sections with movable pivots and more flexible sections like the gloved area.

James May drove a proposed vehicle lander the other year with rear access suits mounted on it at NASA which seemed intersting as a concept.My concern with them though I may well be wrong,is that making a hatch in the rear surely limits the amount of back pack you can have for the electronics and air scrubbers somewhat.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00fdfcc

[Draggendrop Veteran]

As technology progresses, physical size decreases and methodology improves, such as different methods of "scrubbing".....

[DocM]

DocM....21,000 posts

Here's one from MIT...shrink wrap space suit for mobility...

MIT Biosiut.jpg

http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2013/05/24/will-we-ever-have-star-trek-style-spacesuits-for-our-astronauts/

>

The gal who developed that BioSuit is Dr. Dava Newman. She's the new Deputy Administrator of NASA, and also a HAM radio operator (KB1HIK).

[Draggendrop Veteran]

NASA scooped a good one.......

[Draggendrop Veteran]

This post will start coverage on the station support equipment...robotic arms.

 

Although one unit gets a lot of press, and will be covered last, I'll start with the others.....The ISS actually has a number of "arms" and cranes.

 

1)Canadarm2

2)Dextre

3)Strela...4 Russian cranes

4)Japanese Kibo module has a Arm..JEMRMS

5)ESA's ERA, which is complete and waiting for Russian Nauka module launch early 2016

 

ERA   European Robotic Arm

The arm has an 11 meter length, is articulating, and will be attached to the new Russian Nauka module due for delivery in early 2016. The arm was completed quite some time ago but delays with the Russian module have delayed it's shipment as it must be attached to the module, The Nauka module had an extreme delay due to propulsion problems where a new engine design was required. A ground simulator was created for training purposes as well.

 

Specs...

 

 

Dimensions   Length: 11 300 mm Reach: 9 700 mm Tip position accuracy: 5 mm Maximum tip speed: 100 mm/s Mass budget   Launch mass: 630 kg Handling capability: 8 000 kg Communications infrastructure     Power, data and video signals cabling and special fixtures on End Effector and Base point. Electrical power   Average operation power: 475 W (120 V dc) Peak operation power: 800 W (120 V dc) Main construction materials   Limb: Carbon fibre tube and aluminum interfaces Wrist, Elbow and End Effector: Composed of many different materials Thermal Protection: Beta Cloth Blankets Main contractor     Dutch Space (Leiden, The Netherlands), leading a consortium of many subcontractors

 

 

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/International_Space_Station/European_Robotic_Arm

http://www.eurosim.nl/applications/mpte.shtml

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russias_New_ISS_Module_to_Be_Ready_in_Early_2016_999.html

[Draggendrop Veteran]

This post will cover the JEMRMS, The Kibo module is the "Japanese Experiment Module", and the arm is a "Remote Manipulator System"

It was launched to the ISS on June 2008, onboard STS-124. It actually consists of a main arm and a small "fine" arm. This unit it real handy for deploying cubesats.

 

Specs

 

 

Item Specification Main Arm (MA) Small Fine Arm (SFA) Structure type Main Arm with attached Small Fine Arm. Both arms have 6 joints. Degrees of freedom 6 6 Length 10m 2.2m Mass (weight) 780kg 190kg Handling Capacity Max. 7,000kg
(Payload size: 1.85m x 1.0m x 0.8m / weight: less than 500kg) Max. 80kg with Compliance Control Mode
Max. 300kg without Compliance Control Mode
(ORU size: 0.62 x 0.42 x 0.41m / weight: 80kg max) Positioning accuracy Translation 50(+/-)mm Translation 10(+/-)mm Rotation 1(+/-)deg. Rotation 1(+/-)deg. Translation / rotation speed 60mm/s (P/L: 600 to 3,000kg) 50mm/s (P/L: less than 80kg) 30mm/s (P/L: less than 3,000kg) 25mm/s (P/L: 80 to 300kg) 20mm/s (P/L: 3,000 to 7,000kg) - Maximum tip force More than 30N More than 30N Lifetime More than 10 years

 http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/kibo/about/kibo/rms/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibo_(ISS_module)#Remote_Manipulator_System

 

 

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

This post will cover the Russian Strela cranes. Two are on the Russian Modules and two are on the International side of the ISS.

 

The cranes are telescopic in nature with a manual crank system. When collapsed, they are approximately 6 feet (182 cm) long and when extended full range, they are approximately 46 feet (14 m) long. They are very lightweight assemblies at 46 kg and easily moved. In comparison, the Canadarm2 weighs 1,800 kg.

All were brought up by "cargo carriers", 2 Progress and 2 shuttles. Will still have to find lifting spec's , tough to find but then, these are utility cranes that can operate with no power.The Russian module did have 2 cranes on the side of one module, but in 2012, one side crane was moved to the "roof" of the upper module in anticipation of a newer module (Nauka). 

 

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strela_(crane)

 

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/46413985/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/cosmonauts-move-crane-spacewalk-outside-space-station/

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/home/spacenews/files/082012_eva.html

 

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition30/spacewalk.html

[Draggendrop Veteran]

This post will cover the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) as it is now. This is a massive and complex system. The system comprises these major compoents..

 

1) Railway on the top of the ISS that travels the full length of the integrated truss structure, 108 meters.

2) Mobile Transporter Cart, which runs on the rails, can attain a speed of  2.5 cm per second.

3) Mobile Base Plate which attaches to the transporter and is the mount for the arm when the arm uses it.

4) Canadarm2 is 17.6m (58 ft) and can move approximately 250,000 lbs in orbit. It moved the space shuttle around.

5) Dextre (Canada Hand), operates with or without the Canadarm2, It is similar to a body with no head or legs. The arms are 3.35 m (11ft) each, and has its  own tools as well, used for more precise adventures.

6) SARAH Self Adaptive Robotic Auxilary Hand (3 finger manipulator that can attach to dexter for using tools or precision work).

7) Inspection Boom, approximately 50 feet long, extension which was previously used to inspect shuttle for damage prior to undocking, used as an extension for general purpose now.

8) Power Data Grapple Fixtures (PDGF), these are units located around various parts of the ISS for use by Canadarm2 or Dextre...These are what allowed the arm to work prior to the "worlds slowest and fastest railway" being built. 

9) Cupola control center for ISS control.

10) Ground station support...the system can operate remotely some several locations.

 

So as you can see, this is a massive system and is generally the work horse of the station. The picture below shows the rail system on the truss sections and the transport equipment and arm attached.

 

Mobile base system being installed

 

Dextre (one with no head...optional)

 

Inspection boom, can be used end to end with arm as well

 

End Effector...does the work and carries tooling

 

Canadarm1 handoff of truss to Canadarm2 during construction...

 

Specs...

 

 

Canadarm2 and Mobile Base System Specifications 

Technical Detail Remote
Manipulator System Base
System Arm Length 17.6 meters (57.7 feet) 5.7 meters x 4.5 meters x 2.9 meters
(18.7 feet x 14.76 feet x 9.5 feet) Mass (approx.) 1,800 kilograms
(3,968 pounds) 1,450 kilograms
(3,196.7 pounds) Mass Handling/Transportation Capacity 116,000 kilograms
(255,736 pounds) 20,900 kilograms
(46,076.61 pounds) Degrees of Freedom 7 Fixed Peak Power (operational) 2,000 W 825 W Avg. Power (keep alive) 435 W 365 W Applied Tip Load Range 0-1,000 N N/A Stopping Distance (under max. load) 0.6 meters
(1.96 feet) N/A

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/mss.html

 

This system became the first robot in space to repair itself last year...

 

The Canadian-built robot arm aboard the International Space Station is tackling a new challenge: to fix itself.

Canadarm2 and its manipulator hand, Dextre, will replace a faulty video camera on one of the arm's elbow joints.

It will be the first time a robot will repair itself in space, says the Canadian Space Agency.

A ground controller will conduct the operation remotely from the CSA's headquarters in Longueuil, south of Montreal.

The repair is needed because one of the arm's video cameras is unable to transmit clear pictures.

"It's still useable, it's just slightly hazzy," mission control supervisor Mathieu Caron said in an interview.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/science/canadarm-becomes-first-robot-to-repair-itself/article18824770/

 

 

How does one control it....check this out.....pretty neat...

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Servicing_System

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextre

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/mss.html

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/science/canadarm-becomes-first-robot-to-repair-itself/article18824770/

 

Hope you enjoyed the video's....Cheers

[Blue-Vision]

This thread continues to win. Thanks for all of the research and digging to make it such a good one, everyone. I enjoy the reading quite a lot.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Canada backs ISS through 2024 and gets 2 crew spots as well......

 

 

 

The Canadian government announced Tuesday its intention to support the International Space Station through 2024, joining the United States and Russia as the major partners officially backing an extension of the global research project.

http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/06/03/canada-backs-iss-extension-to-2024-gains-two-flight-slots/

 

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

That would be the LDSD, Low Density Supersonic Decelerator. The second flight test is 3rd June 2015, NET 1:30 EDT, bad weather today, and there is a one week window....

 

Nasa LDSDa.jpg

 

http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/low-density-supersonic-decelerator-prepared-for-second-flight-test-0

 

http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a14819/nasa-will-test-its-mars-flying-saucer-tomorrow/

 

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/ldsd/you-get-to-watch-it-live-nasas-flying-saucer-test

 

 

The parachutes are the size of 3 football fields.......The full size one is for tomorrow, see above......Cheers

 

New date and time for test.......

 

 

NASA

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Very recent photo from the Japanese Experimental Module...

http://spaceref.com/onorbit/view-from-the-jem-window.html

 

 

 

Milan Students Send Messages Into Space

 

 

Samantha Cristoforetti: Written by Milan school children in their 1st language: #DareToFly! No matter where you're from & where life took you.

http://spaceref.com/education/milan-students-send-messages-into-space.html

 

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Here is an animated short video to show major module placement...

 

Shuttle Discovery does a fly by of the ISS in 2009

 

Shuttle Atlantis does a fly around ISS...bit long...But...excellent close zoom of assemblies.....

 

One more Shuttle...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu_NfWVYb78

RIP.....27 February 2015

[Draggendrop Veteran]

The LDSD test  postponed from today until tomorrow, June 5, 1:30 ET......rough sea's for landing....

 

http://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-space-tv.html

 

2 page pdf with LDSD overview...

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/737628main_Final_LDSD_Fact_Sheet_3-26-13.pdf

 

Infographic.....

http://www.space.com/29533-nasa-flying-saucer-ldsd-2nd-test-flight-photos.html

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

LDSD postponed again...

 

 

The space agency's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) test vehicle is scheduled to launch from the Hawaiian island of Kauai no earlier than 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT; 0730 local Hawaiian time) on Saturday, borne aloft by a giant balloon. You can watch the test live on Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV, beginning at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT). The launch was originally slated for Tuesday, but NASA has delayed the flight repeatedly due to strong winds and rough ocean conditions. 

http://www.space.com/29542-flying-saucer-test-flight-watch-live.html

[Arachno 1D]

Given the specialist equipment requirements needed to safely get a crewman outside the ISS I suprised no automiton type robot in human configuration is not being developed where the user could don 3D interctive helmet and control remotely.

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Quite possible, but the EVA suits are proven, design paid for and...all the fun being out there. The ones on EVA missions also have support from inside ISS members and the computer system, and if more data required, we have the ground stations who are always involved as well. Plus we have a multi million dollar robotics platform that does a pretty good job. Now that being said..there are other challenging environments where robotics have their niche....

 

Pack mules...

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/129885-google-s-bigdog-ls3-robot-pack-mule-gets-military-testing-carrying-180kg-for-20-miles

 

Bomb squad...

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Robot_Teams_Handle_Hazardous_Jobs_999.html

 

Deep sea work...

http://mashable.com/2012/01/18/deep-sea-diving-robot/

 

Exoskeleton...

http://www.cnet.com/news/panasonic-working-on-actual-alien-power-loader/

 

And check this out...DARPA's next gen robot competition...

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/robots/g2050/these-are-darpas-next-gen-robotic-challenge-contestants/?thumbnails

 

AS well as Fukushima robotic camera units that keep getting fried....

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/robots/g795/3-robots-that-braved-fukushima-7223185/?slide=1

 

 

Some of these puppies cost almost...........................

 

 

Cheers.....

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Weekly update for ISS.....5 June 2015...

 

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-iss-space-to-ground-weekly-report---5-june-2015.html

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Crew departure info......

 

 

 

NASA Television to Air Return of Three Space Station Crew Members

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After more than six months of performing scientific research and technology demonstrations in space, three International Space Station crew members are scheduled to depart the orbiting laboratory Thursday, June 11. NASA Television will provide coverage of their station departure and return to Earth.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/prnewswire-space-news.html?doc=201506051414PR_NEWS_USPR_____DC27345&showRelease=1&dir=0&categories=AEROSPACE-AND-SPACE-EXPLORATION&andorquestion=OR&&passDir=0,1,2,3,4,5,6,15,17,34

[Arachno 1D]

If memory serves the US army were trying out an exoskeleton a few months ago.

[DocM]

They've been trying out several, powered and unpowered. The tech is also being transferred for medical use so some with lower body paralysis can walk. Another pending Really Big Deal.

[Arachno 1D]

 

The US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) revealed late last year that it had formed the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) project to create a wearable environment for soldiers that combines technology and armour to enhance fighting efficiency. Now three different prototypes are ready for trials, which will take place in June.

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/127197-talos-military-exoskeleton-given-go-ahead-for-trials-master-chief-anybody

 

Currently, the military is exploring creating an Iron Man-like specialized suit through the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) program. The suit would provide soldiers with enhanced mobility and protection, and it would most likely run on top of an exoskeleton base.   

Today's exoskeletons vary in utility, but they can allow soldiers to carry 17 times more weight than normal and march with significantly less strain on the body. With an XOS 2 suit, for example, a solider can carry 400 pounds but feel the weight of only 23.5.

http://www.businessinsider.com/military-exoskeletons-2014-8?op=1&IR=T

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Nice links arachnoid, I like the NASA one , this exo can apply resistance for muscle toning in space...

 

 

 

NASA announced that it was creating an exoskeleton as part of a partnership with the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. The X1 Mina Exoskeleton will have dual functionality. In space and low-gravity environments, the joints of the suit will be stiffer, providing the astronauts with exercise to combat muscle atrophy. 

NASA also envisions that the X1 can be used by paraplegics and others with disabilities to provide support while walking. In this case, the X1's joints can be loosened, providing support to the wearer without being physically taxing.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/military-exoskeletons-2014-8?op=1#ixzz3cEg8OFhq

http://www.businessinsider.com/military-exoskeletons-2014-8?op=1&IR=T

 

Just like Doc said...assistance for paraplegics...hope they keep working on this....

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Launch of next Progress M-28M has been confirmed for 3 July 2015, 04:42 UTC

 

http://tass.ru/kosmos/2020295         Will need to translate Russian

 

 

Just listed in launch manifest....

 

http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

 

SpaceX CRS-7 is scheduled for 26 June 2015, 11.09 EDT....will update with Live coverage time when closer to the date..