kkeenan 14 #1 November 8, 2007 Some folks on DZ.com are interested in the ISS, so here is a nice animation of the building sequence. Now that STS-120 has added the Node 2 module, and attached and repaired the third of four large solar panels, the international labs from Europe and Japan can be added. The construction pace is increasing and it is becoming as truly International station. http://www.tietronix.com/anim/MoviePlayer.asp?myMovie=movies/assembly640x360.swf In the coming days, the ISS crew will move the shuttle docking adapter onto Node 2 and then move node 2 to the front of the U. S. Lab module. On Dec 6, the shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to take the European Lab, Columbus up and dock it to Node 2. We live in exciting times. Kevin K._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanHarrop 43 #2 November 8, 2007 Right now its exciting but when the shuttle retires and before the new vehicle (capsule thing) is running, what are they going to do? I heard on CCN's coverage of the landing yesterday that there could be a 3 year time frame where the US will not have a means to get people/stuff up there. Will NASA be looking for a ride from the Russians?"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #3 November 8, 2007 Looks awesome! I hope we can get to see one of ISS from INSIDE! How about a tour? "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #4 November 8, 2007 QuoteRight now its exciting but when the shuttle retires and before the new vehicle (capsule thing) is running, what are they going to do? I heard on CCN's coverage of the landing yesterday that there could be a 3 year time frame where the US will not have a means to get people/stuff up there. Will NASA be looking for a ride from the Russians? If need be, I would think so. We had to depend on the Russians for a short time after the Columbia disaster."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #5 November 8, 2007 QuoteWill NASA be looking for a ride from the Russians? Billy's right. The Soyuz will be the only way for people to go up and down. For cargo, the Russians send an unmanned Progress vehicle there about every six weeks with about 5k lbs. of payload. Next year, the European Space Agency will test the Automated Transfer Vahicle (ATV), which is a larger unmanned cargo ship. The Japanese are also working on a similar vehicle. The only thing the shuttle is really required for is transporting the big ISS pieces that were designed to only fly in the shuttle. Hopefully, those will all be on-orbit by the time the shuttle stops flying in 2010. On a side note, there will be a different administration in office in 2010, so who knows how solid that deadline will be - assuming no accidents, of course. Kevin_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #6 November 8, 2007 Quote 5k lbs. WTF Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrFreefall383 0 #7 November 8, 2007 That's an awesome animation. It is exciting, but the problem is we currently do not have a replacement for the Orbiter, and it is already past its recommended service life. If we have another tragedy like Columbia or Challenger with Atlantis or Discovery, we'll be more than a little screwed. We can't just say, "Oh, well the Russians will save us, or the Chinese, or the Japanese, etc." We must rely on our own technology, but we're too busy blowing shit up."If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #8 November 8, 2007 Quote Quote 5k lbs. WTF Sorry. That's shorthand for 5,000 pounds. Actually the total payload is 2,550 kg., which is 5,610 pounds. kk_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #9 November 8, 2007 I knew what it meant. I just liked the ubiquitousness of the metric 5k as it was applied to the "we don't need no damn French metric shit 'round here" lbs. It's just like liberalism; it creeps up on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #10 November 8, 2007 >That's shorthand for 5,000 pounds. 5 kilopounds? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #11 November 8, 2007 Quote but we're too busy blowing shit up. I'm not sure I follow your statement. Which shit are you referring to that we're blowing up ? Kevin_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #12 November 8, 2007 QuoteQuote but we're too busy blowing shit up. I'm not sure I follow your statement. Which shit are you referring to that we're blowing up ? Kevin He's a bit misguided, perhaps... As only one shuttle blew up - Challenger, over 21 years ago."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #13 November 8, 2007 I think he's referring to the priorities of the US gov as a whole and not within NASA Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrFreefall383 0 #14 November 8, 2007 QuoteI think he's referring to the priorities of the US gov as a whole and not within NASA At least one person gets it."If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
