ISS News and Discussion

[Grendal]

Russia to decide whether to quit the International Space Station

The International Space Station has its name for a reason. The orbiting laboratory has hosted astronauts from all over the globe during its many years in operation. As new hardware has been installed on the spacecraft, its capabilities have grown, and a great deal of science is carried out...

www.yahoo.com

 

[Cosmacelf]

I read that as that now that Russia isn’t being paid to ferry astronauts to/from the ISS, they’ve decided it is too expensive for them. China would be a good replacement but relations haven’t been great. EU?

I‘ve always thought the ISS was a very expensive endeavor mostly because ferrying humans is still expensive. Maybe Starship will change the economics?

 

[Grendal]

More details:

Russia plans its own space station in 2025 - BBC News

The International Space Station is nearing the end of its life and Russia is working on a new module.

www.bbc.com

 

[bxr140]

Rogozin bein' Rogozin!

The next few years are going to be interesting for Russian space. Russia as a country has really been heating up over the years (Military action, etc) and its been apparent that they're willing to let their space program tread water...I mean I guess that's kinda been the case since the beginning...I digress. Anyway, there's certainly some clever ideas in the pipeline, but there's really no money to bring them to fruition. Its hard to imagine there being a lot of appetite to put up a research station that's a smaller, crappier version of the one that's already up there...

Somewhat related, I wonder what the agreement is on one's on orbit modules if they formally leave the agreement? Certainly there won't be some partial disassembly of the thing, but like...what happens if a Russian module starts to fall into a state of disrepair? How much information do The Americans have on the module and can they fix it without any Russian support? Or will they need to duct tape/chewing gum a reverse engineered fix?

 

[adiggs]

Rogozin bein' Rogozin!

The next few years are going to be interesting for Russian space. Russia as a country has really been heating up over the years (Military action, etc) and its been apparent that they're willing to let their space program tread water...I mean I guess that's kinda been the case since the beginning...I digress. Anyway, there's certainly some clever ideas in the pipeline, but there's really no money to bring them to fruition. Its hard to imagine there being a lot of appetite to put up a research station that's a smaller, crappier version of the one that's already up there...

Somewhat related, I wonder what the agreement is on one's on orbit modules if they formally leave the agreement? Certainly there won't be some partial disassembly of the thing, but like...what happens if a Russian module starts to fall into a state of disrepair? How much information do The Americans have on the module and can they fix it without any Russian support? Or will they need to duct tape/chewing gum a reverse engineered fix?

And where do we buy space hardened duct tape / chewing gum anyway? I want some of that stuff

 

[qdeathstar]

”but the station must be national... if you want to do well, do it yourself."

Rogozin said the Russian station, unlike the ISS, would most likely not be permanently crewed because its orbit path would expose it to higher radiation.

 

[bxr140]

And where do we buy space hardened duct tape / chewing gum anyway? I want some of that stuff

CB359.

Before that it was 9309 or for high temp applications, 9394. Don’t forget the micro beads to maintain bondline thickness!

All-manner of tapes for all different things. Kapton, fiberglass, aluminum, etc...

(ISS probably(?) has actual duct tape—most of the “space grade” stuff is really for vacuum environments where TML and CVCM are really important)

 

[adiggs]

CB359.

Before that it was 9309 or for high temp applications, 9394. Don’t forget the micro beads to maintain bondline thickness!

All-manner of tapes for all different things. Kapton, fiberglass, aluminum, etc...

(ISS probably(?) has actual duct tape—most of the “space grade” stuff is really for vacuum environments where TML and CVCM are really important)

I don't know if I want Funny or Love, or even Informative. Too bad I can't do them all

It's a real thing - that's awesome (I'm putting these into the bubble gum category).

 

[bxr140]

Iffn you like to lose yourself in product specs, the riveting Sheldahl Redbook has all manner of spacey tapes.

And the good people at Click Bond have all your "I didn't know I needed that gizmo" mounting and assembly gizmos. Pretty much all of their products are someone from some industry coming to them with a "I need A Thing do to This Thing" request and then Click Bond goes and makes That Thing.

 

[Grendal]

The new module is having problems.

Russia launches Nauka module to International Space Station

Russia launched a long-delayed module for its segment of the International Space Station July 21, but that module reportedly suffered technical problems.

spacenews.com

 

[Grendal]

Whoops.

International Space Station briefly loses control after new Russian module misfires

An unusual and potentially dangerous situation unfolded Thursday at the International Space Station, as the newly-docked Russian Nauka module inadvertently fired its thrusters causing a "tug of war" with the space station and briefly pushing it out of position, according to NASA flight controllers.

www.cnn.com

 

[Cosmacelf]

I have a feeling the door to the Nauka will often be shut…

 

[petit_bateau]

More at El Reg

Russia says software malfunction caused Nauka module to unexpectedly fire thrusters, tilt space station

You call this a glitch?

www.theregister.com

 

[Grendal]

Space station situation with Russian module misfire more serious than stated: report

The space station spun far more than the reported 45 degrees, according to NASA flight director Zebulon Scoville.

www.space.com

 

[Cosmacelf]

Space station situation with Russian module misfire more serious than stated: report

The space station spun far more than the reported 45 degrees, according to NASA flight director Zebulon Scoville.

www.space.com

Yeah that’s what Scott Manley concluded. His video about this gives good information.

 

[Grendal]

This is not a repost. It happened again.

Surprise Russian Thruster Firing Prompts Space Station Emergency

While the astronauts were said to not be in any danger, it was the second such incident since July.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Grendal]

A lot more SpaceX launches for NASA coming in the next eight years.

White House commits to ISS extension

The Biden administration said Dec. 31 it formally supports extending operations of the International Space Station through the end of the decade.

spacenews.com

 

[Grendal]

NASA outlines cost savings from ISS transition

NASA expects that retiring the ISS in favor of leasing capacity on commercial space stations will ultimately save the agency up to $1.8 billion per year.

spacenews.com

 

[ecarfan]

Given the latest geopolitical developments (the Russian invasion of Ukraine driven by Putin’s personal pride and his fantasy version of history) I’m thinking that Russia is going to withdraw from the ISS even earlier than anticipated (months, next year, who knows) as the country’s relations with the US and Europe are now in a tailspin. As we know, Russia stated last year that some of it’s ISS modules are beyond their design life.

I have read that a critical component of Russia‘s ISS participation is using the Progress resupply vehicle’s thrusters to periodically raise the orbit of the ISS. As far as I know there is currently no other way to perform that essential function.

So I’m wondering if SpaceX can come to the rescue and develop a new version of Cargo Dragon (”Thrust Dragon”? ;-) with sufficient thruster capability to perform that critical function?

 

[Doug_G]

The Cygnus cargo craft now has the ability to raise ISS orbit. So apparently NASA has been planning for this.