International Space Station (Updates)

[Draggendrop Veteran]

With so many cube sat missions planned, I thought I would do a non technical post on these little critters.........

 

To launch anything into space is expensive and a way to reduce cost has always been paramount. Modern electronics continually reduces in size, expands in capabilities and becomes cheaper with mass production. If we reduce size, we get more units per given volume. If we reduce weight, we can use a cheaper launcher to get the device into orbit. If we can reduce size and weight, along with mass produced parts, we can block buy "transport" and begin to bring the capabilities to researchers and experimental enthusiasts with some semblance of affordability......hence cube sat's (small affordable satellites of a standard). 

 

 

Beginning in 1999, California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and Stanford University developed the CubeSat specifications to promote and develop the skills necessary for the design, manufacturing, and testing of small satellites intended for low Earth orbit (LEO) that perform a number of scientific research and explore new space technologies. Although the bulk of development and launches comes from academia, several companies build CubeSats such as large-satellite-maker Boeing, and several small companies. CubeSat projects have also been the subject of Kickstarter campaigns.[3] The CubeSat format is also popular with amateur radio satellite builders.

 

The standard unit "U" is 10 x 10 x 10 cm, volume of 1 litre and approximately 1 kg mass (4" x 4" x 4", under 3 lbs). Size can be varied only longitudinally and are usually 1U, 1.5U, 2U, 3U or 6U. There are other classes of small satellites but the cube sat is now the defacto standard.

 

 

 

Different classifications are used to categorize such miniature satellites based on mass.[13] 1U CubeSats belong to the genre of picosatellites.

Minisatellite (100

[Draggendrop Veteran]

This article caught my attention......Rocket Lab Selects New Zealand Launch Site.....

 

 

 

WASHINGTON

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Related post....not meant to be "doom news"...just 2 visualizations of the amount of "space debris" and satellites up there......NOT TO SCALE but placements on actually tracked data........The reason space faring nations have to get their act together sooner than later.......

 

Starting with Sputnik, on 4th October, 1957, in LEO (Low Earth Orbit)

 

 

 

It's either carelessness or a diabolical plan...

[DocM]

There are already debris mitigation protocols for new launches, an example being SpaceX using pneumatic pushers instead of explosive bolts (which leave a mess) where ever possible. The S2 also de-orbits itself for most missions.

With affordable ion propulsion and other de-orbiting mechanisms for small sats, even very small ones, will be able to do controlled re-entries rather than stay up for ages. Some of the ion thrusters are the size of a postage stamp - or smaller.

Another method is for a satellite to deploy a long streamer after a period of time, or on command. This increases drag in the upper atmosphere, causing re-entry.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Happy 4th of July...........

 

 

Just a reminder for NASA TV early in the morning....Progress 60 docking....

 

 

Russia's unmanned Progress 60 freighter is scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station at 3:13 a.m. EDT (0713 GMT) Sunday (July 5). Watch the docking live in the window below beginning at 2:30 a.m. EDT (0630 GMT), courtesy of NASA TV:

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

 

 

 

ISS  Research and Development Conference....7th to 9th July 2015...Boston, MA, US

 

 

The conference features expert researchers, business incubators, implementation partners, leaders from NASA and CASIS, as well as highlighted speakers, including pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

http://spaceref.com/calendar/calendar.html?pid=8717

 

 

 

First US crew to spend 4th July in space, STS-4 in 1982

http://www.americaspace.com/

 

Second US crew to spend 4th July in space, STS-50 in 1992

http://www.americaspace.com/

 

Cheers........

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Progress 60 Arrives at ISS

 

NASA TV carried live coverage of the mission as well as coverage from the Korolev center outside Moscow. Progress 60 arrived at 3:11am EDT, 2 minutes early with a flawless flight. Coverage began 8 km from the ISS with Progress at 12 m/s and reduced to .1 m/s at 200m from the ISS. A station keeping roll was done by Progress to align the solar array just prior to docking. Docking was automated and Gennady Padalka was at the manual controls if needed. Unloading will be done on Monday morning.

 

 

 

 

 

As such, the Progress arrived at the Pirs docking compartment in the early hours of Sunday, bringing with it more than three tons of food, fuel and supplies.

In total, the Progress delivered 1,940 lbs propellant, 106 lbs oxygen, 926 lbs water and 3,133 lbs parts, supplies and experiment hardware.

The vehicle was greeted by Commander Gennady Padalka, Mikhail Kornienko and NASA astronaut Scott Kelly. It is also understood this rendezvous will be recorded for an IMAX film.

The ISS will also gain a supply boost from the next Japanese HTV vehicle. HTV-5 is due for launch on August 16, when it is scheduled to depart from the Tanegashima Space Center.

Its four-day trip to the station will conclude when it

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Progress 60 docking at ISS

 

Approach...

 

Docking bay location

 

Docking video...Note..On data screen, bottom left is distance to station, in km, and velocity in m/s

 

 

 

Russian Progress cargo ship glided to a smooth docking with the International Space Station early Sunday, bringing more than 3 tons of supplies and equipment to the lab complex.

The unpiloted spacecraft

[Draggendrop Veteran]

In the above post, is mention of the NASA FISO presentation by Bigelow Aerospace....basically a talk about past, present and future operations by the company. I have not found a video so far, but the above link has an mp3 audio track and a pdf with pictures to follow a presentation.

 

This photo caught my attention. I went to the NASA archives and have a copy for posting.....

 

 

24 foot inflatable space station concept in 1961.........and half a century later.........

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Next Cargo Vessel will be Japans (JAXA) HTV5...tentative date is 16 August 2015...

Press release

 

 

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the National Research and Development Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) decided to launch the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 5 (H-IIB F5) with the H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI5" (HTV5, a cargo transporter to the International Space Station) onboard in the following schedule.
Scheduled date of launch:August 16 (Sunday), 2015 (Japan Standard Time, JST)Launch time:around 10:01 p.m. (JST)*1Launch windows:Aug. 17 (Mon.) through Sept. 30 (Wed.), 2015 (JST)*2Launch Site:Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center
(*1) Time will be determined by the updated orbit of the International Space Station (ISS).
(*2) The launch day and time during the launch windows shall be decided by the international coordination for ISS operations.

http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2015/06/20150609_h2bf5.html

 

 

 

HTV Overview

The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), developed and built in Japan, is an unmanned cargo transfer spacecraft that delivers supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).

The HTV is launched from the Tanegashima Space Center aboard an H-IIB launch vehicle with up to 6,000kg of supplies. When the HTV approaches close to the ISS, the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), known as "Canadarm2," grapples the HTV and berth it to the ISS. After the supplies, such as food, clothes and a variety of experiment equipment, are unloaded, the HTV will then be loaded with waste materials, including used experiment equipment or used clothes. The HTV will then undock and separate from the ISS and reenter the atmosphere. While the HTV is berthed to the ISS, the ISS crew will be able to enter and remove the supplies from the HTV Pressurized Logistics Carrier.

 

 

HTV specifications
Item Specification
Length 9.8m (including thrusters)
Diameter Approx. 4.4m
Total Mass Approx. 10,500kg
Cargo capacity (supplies and equipment) Approx. 6,000kg
  -Pressurized cargo: 4,500kg
  -Unpressurized cargo: 1,500kg
Cargo capacity (waste) Approx. 6,000kg
Target orbit to ISS Altitude: 350km to 460km
Inclination: 51.6 degrees
Maximum duration of a mission Solo flight: Approx. 100 hours
Stand-by (on orbit): More than a week
Berthed with the ISS: Maximum 30 days

http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/overview/

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Before I do a blurb on cube sat launching, we'll have to cover the Japanese (JAXA) "Kibo" module.....

 

 

 

 

he Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), known as "Kibo" (pronounced key-bow) which means hope in Japanese, is Japan's first human-rated space facility and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA's) first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS) program.

Kibo was designed and developed with a view to conducting scientific research activities on orbit. In Kibo, a maximum of four astronauts can perform experimental activities.

Currently, wide variety of scientific, medical, and educational experiments are conducted on Kibo. As a part of the ISS, Kibo provides extensive opportunities for space environment utilization.

Resources necessary for Kibo's on-orbit operation, such as air, power, data, and cooling fluid, are provided from the US segment of the ISS.

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

 

The "Kibo" module is the largest pressurized module on the ISS. It also contains a pressurized upper cylindrical attachment for storage of supplies and experiments and can be accessed from the main module. The main module can hold 23 racks of which 10 are standardized racks for experimentation. 

 

Attached to the end is the "porch", called the EF (Exposed Facility), of which also contains experimental modules, grapple points for storage, communications equipment,  and a small slide track assembly which is used in conjunction with the outer and inner sealed hatches.

Main module specs

 

 

Shape Cylindrical
Diameter Outer 4.4m
Inner 4.2m
Length 11.2m
Mass 14.8t
Number of Rack Places Total racks: 23 *
System Racks: 11
ISPR: 12 (10 for payload racks, 1 for freezer rack, and 1 for storage rack)
Power
(provided from US segment) Max. 24kW 120V?Direct current?
Environment Temperature: 18.3?26.7?
Humidity: 25?70%
Lifetime More than 10 years

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

 

The robotic arm was previously covered....The JEMRMS...Japanese Experimental Module Remote Manipulator System...

 

EF...porch

 

The Exposed Facility (EF) provides a multipurpose platform where science experiments can be deployed and operated in the exposed environment. The payloads attached to the EF can be exchanged or retrieved by Kibo's robotic arm, the JEM Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS).

Logistic modules for the porch

 

The Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section (ELM-ES) will be attached to the end of the Exposed Facility (EF) to provide payload storage space. The ELM-ES can carry up to three payloads at launch. In addition, the ELM-ES provides a logistics function where the ELM-ES can be detached from the EF and returned to the ground aboard the space shuttle.

Robotic arm

Upper storage

Inner comm rack and outer comm system

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

 

Launcher next....

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Quick review of sat sizes...

 

 

Different classifications are used to categorize such miniature satellites based on mass.[13] 1U CubeSats belong to the genre of picosatellites.

Minisatellite (100

[Draggendrop Veteran]

While digging up some information, I came across a "jem".......Back on page 5, we were discussing space suits. Coverage was done starting with the EMU and Orlan suits used on the ISS, progressing to modern prototypes. I really wanted to cover the shuttles early suits as well but topics progressed.

 

NASA has an outstanding photograph archive...and they also have selected books for download, endorsed by NASA and a lot are free. I came across this one...

 

 

Dressing for Altitude, U.S. Aviation Pressure Suits, NASA

 

Anybody who has watched many movies or television shows has seen them-the ubiquitous silver suits worn by pilots as they explore the unknown. They are called pressure suits, and one can trace their lineage to Wiley Post or, perhaps, a bit earlier.

 

Although space suits, which differ from pressure suits in subtle, but important ways, have been well covered in literature, pressure suits have gone unheralded except as introductions to the space suit histories. This e-book is an attempt to correct that, and covers pressure suits from the beginning through the end of the Space Shuttle Program.

http://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/dress_for_altitude_detail.html

 

At this link, you can download the pdf (17.8 Mb), mobi (24.2 Mb) or epub (36.2 Mb)....free...

 

The pdf is 537 pages crammed full of data, stories, B+W and color photo's from the very beginning of flight up to the shuttle and experimental aircraft. This book is a must read for aviation buffs.....some of the early suit's will make you laugh...and others are just stunning.

 

Other aviation books are also at the link....enjoy.......Cheers

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

The JAXA module "Kibo" was just covered for small sat launching. I thought I would cover the module next door, ESA's Columbus module. For this post I would like to also include the "transport" of this module.....

 

 

Columbus is a science laboratory that is part of the International Space Station (ISS) and is the largest single contribution to the ISS made by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Like the Harmony and Tranquility modules, the Columbus laboratory was constructed in Turin, Italy by Rome based Thales Alenia Space with respect to structures and thermal control. The functional architecture (including software) of the lab was designed by EADS in Bremen, Germany where it was also integrated before being flown to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida in an Airbus Beluga. It was launched aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis on February 7, 2008 on flight STS-122. It is designed for ten years of operation. The module is controlled by the Columbus Control Centre, located at the German Space Operations Centre, part of the German Aerospace Center in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich, Germany.

The European Space Agency has spent

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Now for some proper NASA Mission Posters......

For more goodies....

http://www.spaceflight101.com/iss-expedition-posters.html

[Arachno 1D]

Just to add a tad of leviity I just saw this posted on The Register

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

 

Just to add a tad of leviity I just saw this posted on The Register

Excellent "find"....I downloaded a copy for myself and am checking out their other video's......these guys are good.......

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Station Life for July 2015

 

 

Every month on StationLIFE, we focus on a scientific area where the International Space Station is conducting groundbreaking research. This month, astronaut Tracy Dyson talks the station's role as a one-of-a-kind microgravity laboratory.

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/video-stationlife-space-laboratory---july-2015.html

 

This video is approximately 25 minutes, but is worth watching. Experiments are covered, general station life and....video of inside the ISS during reboost and how the crew feels the acceleration....good video....

 

 

General news for Tuesday....

 

 

The three-member orbiting Expedition 44 crew was busy Tuesday with a variety of research. On the ground a new set of station crew members is getting ready to depart to their launch site in Kazakhstan at the end of the week.

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly worked on science and life support maintenance throughout the day. Kelly completed a test and questionnaire for the Fine Motor Skills study that observes how astronauts interact with touch-based technologies and repair sensitive equipment. He also worked on a science freezer and replaced a recycle tank.

Commander Gennady Padalka sampled surfaces in the orbital laboratory checking for hardware sterility. One-Year crew member Mikhail Kornienko worked inside a pair of docked Progress resupply ships including the new P60 space freighter which arrived Sunday morning.

Back on Earth, three new Expedition 44 crew members are preparing for a news conference and traditional ceremonies before departing to the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Friday. The trio will conduct final preflight training in Kazakhstan before launching July 22 on six-hour ride to the International Space Station.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2015/07/07/orbital-crew-works-science-as-new-trio-readies-for-mission/

 

New book released by NASA today...

 

 

A new book from NASA is showing how research aboard the International Space Station helps improve lives on Earth while advancing NASA's ambitious human exploration goals.

NASA will release

[Draggendrop Veteran]

NASA ISS in Orbit Status for 6 July 2015

 

Progress docking

Habitability studies 

Robonaut R2 repairs

Kinetics experiments

Onboard training

Massive list of activities...see link for more data

 

 

 

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Robonaut operations
Progress video download
Battery 1A2 capacity test
Three-Day Look Ahead:

Tuesday, 07/07: ECLSS recycle tank R&R, Fine Motor Skills, Express Rack Bulb Replacement
Wednesday, 07/08: VEG-01, Plant Gravity Sensing 2 sample prep, Capillary Beverage
Thursday, 07/09: NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer install on MPEP, training for Emergency Response
QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:

Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[???] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - Off
[???] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Shutdown
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Standby
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-6-july-2015.html

 

Robonaut R2

Thought I would do a quick blurb on this one, since it was mentioned in the status report and you may ave noticed it in a few of the "posters" that I uploaded a few posts back.

 

There have been several prototypes of this dexterous humanoid robot. This has been a collaboration between NASA, GM and Oceaneering. Many organizations are now involved in this as well as scholastic inputs. Robonaut R2, is the first US built unit on the ISS, and was delivered by STS-133 in February 2011. It is designed for interior experimental use and was confined to a pedestal mount (no legs) until SpaceX delivered it's legs in 2014. The legs are not normal legs. The legs have 7 joints with claws and a camera/IR sensors in the claw "palm". This was done to make it more flexible for climbing surface structures. The arms are "normal" with fast actuator motors and synthetic ligaments in the fingers...The arms are quite agile and the robot can use the tools that an astronaut would use. The Robonaut R2, is a work in progress, and is mirrored on the ground with several other prototypes. For now, this robot is being put through trials and upgrades, and will eventually be put to work with mundane tasks such as air filter replacement and cleaning/packaging duties.

In 2017, a new unit designed to operate outside the station will be sent up. "Dextre" and Canadarm2 will have a buddy to "hang" around with.....

Robonaut R2 can also be used via VR simulation as well...

 

Robonaut R2 in a fixture on ISS

 

Robo gets "legs"

 

Robo had too much sugar in his coffee

 

Robo's cousin 4 wheeling...

 

Here are 2 video's....

First robotic movement on the ISS...

 

January 2015 "discussion" about Robonaut R2 developments....

 

General links for above data....

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-6-july-2015.html

http://www.space.com/27161-space-station-robonaut-legs.html

http://robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/nasa-s-international-space-station-humanoid-robonaut-finally-gets-its-legs-1.2615714

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

[Blue-Vision]

Ahhh ... nice break from Game Development. Thanks DD and Co for giving me some room to stretch my brain.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Photographer takes shot of ISS against Moon backdrop....stunning...

 

 

It

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Just prior, we covered the JAXA "Kibo" module and ESA's Columbus module. Since we are on this "end', I thought it might be an idea to throw some data and photo's down on the module in the middle of these two, called "node2" or Harmony module. First I will show the picture you saw last time for reference. The module that joins the two is Harmony, and for some reason has no label....

Harmony joins the two side modules and joins to Destiny...the front coupling was for the shuttle..photo a little dated...

 

 

 

Node 2 was developed for NASA under an ESA contract with European industry, with Alcatel-Alenia Space as the prime contractor. Responsibility for Node 2 development was assigned to the Italian space agency, ASI. The structural design is based on that of the Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules and the European Columbus laboratory.

NASA held a competition amongst schoolchildren in the United States to find a name for the Node 2 module. On 15 March 2007 the new name Harmony was announced.

Node 2, or Harmony, was launched in October 2007 on Space Shuttle flight STS-120 (ISS Assembly Flight 10A).

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/International_Space_Station/Node_2_Connecting_Module

 

 

The module acts as an internal connecting port and passageway to international science labs and cargo spacecraft. Harmony is a utility hub, providing air, electrical power, water, and other systems essential to support life on the station. It distributes resources from the station

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Just to put things in context, here is what we started with.....

 

On Dec. 6, 1998 the Space Shuttle Endeavour delivered the Unity Node and mated it with the Russian Zarya Control Module. On Dec. 13, 1998, the shuttle undocked and returned to Earth leaving a fledgling International Space Station (ISS) in low Earth orbit.

 

 

 

 

Today we have.......

 

Tomorrow????????

 

Cheers

[Draggendrop Veteran]

This is a story that I think needs to be covered, in a round about way...please have patience with me.....

 

We have had 3 accidents in a span of a year, and all related to ISS transport. As many have stated, space is tough...I believe most of us have seen an accident that has left a lasting impression. Accidents have causes and remedies are sought to prevent further similar situations.

 

To tell this story, I must cover the early years briefly where pioneering work took place. Half a century has taught us a safer way to accomplish space activities. In the early days the "industry" used pure oxygen atmospheres, many flammable products, made even worse with pure oxygen, were used routinely. Items were taken into space which could have caused damage if left floating in a cabin. Fire must be avoided at all costs. NASA was aware of these issues and at the time, was trying to reduce this threat while handling a multitude of new issues in the quest for space travel.

 

A strange issue appeared and stumped a lot of people. Reports of experimentation had to be documented while in space to refine flight procedures. The problem was the apparatus to write with...a wooden pencil. writing got smeared, tips broke off, debris could get stuck in equipment and the pencils were flammable. Mechanical pencils were even tried, but still, tips would break off in the capsules.

 

This is where the "urban legend" of the expensive space pen started. Some numbers that I have seen thrown around were for $10 million and I saw one quote for $19 million, all unsubstantiated. NASA initially looked into designing a pen for space but quickly gave up as costs were going to sky rocket because the specifications they wanted were the problem..

1) operate in a vacuum

2) operate with no gravity

3) operate with temperature range of -120 C to 150 C

In the early 60's NASA approached Paul Fisher of Fisher Pen Company and explained the situation. Fisher stated at the time that it couldn't be done and NASA left the project on hold indefinitely. 

 

These NASA requirements presented a challenge to Paul Fisher and it was one he was going to solve....several years later and approximately $1 million of his own money and he did the "improbable" at the time. He made the pen work and cover most of the temperature range. Paul Fisher, in December 1967, beat his "demon", with his own money and countless hours, and sold the first bunch of pens to NASA for $2.95 a pen.

 

This quote is from Fisher Pen Company...

 

When the astronauts began to fly, like the Russians, they used pencils. But the lead sometimes broke and became a hazard by floating in the capsule's atmosphere where there was no gravity.  It could float into an eye or nose, or cause a short in the thousands of exposed electrical connections in the spacecraft.   Since the fire on Apollo 1, which three Astronauts died, NASA required a writing instrument that would not burn in a 100% oxygen atmosphere.   In the early sixties, NASA approached Paul C. Fisher, who was President for Fisher Pen Co. and has been in the ball point pen industry since 1948, the year in which he conceived the idea for and produced his famous Bullet pen.  In addition, he was familiar with the problems of the early ballpoint pens leaking and drying out.  NASA approached him to develop a pen that would not have any of these problems.  Fisher did not think that this could be done and told them so.  Soon afterward, he had a dream which led him to start working on a pressurized pen with a sealed cartridge.  After several years and many experiments, he successfully developed the first pressurized pen.  Paul C. Fisher estimates that he spent over one million dollars of his own money.  By July 1965, when NASA approached him again, he was ready.   Fisher sent the first samples to Dr. Robert Gilruth, Director of the Houston Space Center at the time.  The sample Space Pens were thoroughly tested by NASA, and passed all tests. In December 1967 he sold the first Fisher Space Pens to NASA for $2.95 each.  NASA began using the Fisher AG-7

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Bits and Pieces.....

 

ISS R&D Conference, Boston...Last day...

 

 

The final day of the 2015 International Space Station (ISS) Research and Development conference closed the event with multiple talks looking at exploration beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO) and novel ways the space station is affecting life on Earth.

Panel sessions began with a talk about the commercial capabilities and technologies that will be needed

[DocM]

IMO, SpaceX'll have to tie Garrett Reisman to a freight train to keep him off Crew Dragon.