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Trouble on the International Space Station

lewiz writes "The BBC News website has an article that explains the International Space Station has run into troubles due to one of four gyroscopes breaking down. They say while this is a serious problem it will not have any massive effect but it will have to be replaced quickly as the gyroscopes stabilise and control the flight."

106 comments

  1. redundancy by guest12 · · Score: 1

    supposed to be redundant failsafe?

    fp

    1. Re:redundancy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      -1, Redundant

    2. Re:redundancy by Budgreen · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I would hope they would be able to get by on at least 2 :) not a place you want a critical system to go down when a replacement is about half a year away!

      They seem to be having quite a few "critical" problems (control computers going offline and onto backup) That in the news are reported as being so bad but no real big deal.. I would like to see what the designers of ISS modules and the astronauts/cosmonauts have to say off the record about these problems.

      --
      The greatest right given is the right to be wrong...
    3. Re:redundancy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good point. It mentions that the gyroscope weighed 800 lbs. Any estimates on 800 lbs. -> space? I'm sure not all systems have redundancy; Although you would imagine that flight controls would!

    4. Re:redundancy by jackb_guppy · · Score: 2

      I bet that if a few super models - I think two could fit into a seat, now that is redundancy!

      We could get that replacement to them in the next shuttle.

      Then again Swedish Ski Team?

    5. Re:redundancy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      "Critical" is the wrong word for any of the problems they've had so far. "Critical" implies immediate danger, and none of these problems has caused that.
      (People would be considering evacuating the station if a critical problem arose.)

      The computer problems were very time consuming and annoying, but certainly not critical. The gyro problem will make us launch a new gyro, and spend a spacewalk installing it. But, there are three more left while only three are necessary to keep orientation. The station can do just fine with none, it just consumes more propellant.

      NASA is correct to not get overly stressed about this problem.

    6. Re:redundancy by SkankhodBeeblebrox · · Score: 2, Informative

      From this article on Yahoo! News: Link

      "The loss of one gyro will not impact operations. In fact, the station can function with two. Even if three failed, the station can use thrusters for stability, but that means using up precious propellant that has to be flown up from Earth. The gyroscopes work on solar power.

      "To lose a CMG is a big deal; this is a major component, but from a risk perspective right now we're in good shape," flight director Paul Hill told reporters. "The next CMG we lose, there is going to be a gut check."


      I'd say they're not super-concerned at this point, but if one failed, another could fail quite easily...

    7. Re:redundancy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You think that they would launch a special shuttle mission for something that is not critical? The shuttle was only supposed to last for about ten or fifteen years. It is not like you can just go up when you want to. This means that other missions will have to be postponed. Of course the Russians have so much spare bandwidth that they can take people on joyrides. Maybe NASA can learn something from the Russians. But no there is that fucking ego thing.

    8. Re:redundancy by The+Dobber · · Score: 1

      Wheres the obligatory comment about open source?

    9. Re:redundancy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      They wouldn't have to launch a special mission. A gyroscope like this only weighs about a half ton. (The shuttle's payload capacity to the station is about 20 tons.) So, they'll just move some lower priority stuff from a future flight to make room for it.

      Plus, if something requiring the total lifting capacity of the shuttle broke, they would most likely schedule a flight to replace it. Pieces that big (solar panels, full modules, etc.) are very expensive and important components of the station. Even if the loss of that piece didn't endanger anyone, they'd probably want to get that piece into service again.

      The challenge probably wouldn't be scheduling the shuttle flight... it would be building the replacement part. Components that big and complex can take a couple of years to construct.

      By the way, I suspect that you are completely ignorant of how the American and Russian space programs operate. Take, for example, this quote:
      Maybe NASA can learn something from the Russians. But no there is that fucking ego thing.

      The US cooperated with Russia for a couple of years on the Mir station. One of the main reasons we did that was to learn from them! There was no "ego thing" holding NASA back. NASA knew damned well that Russia had a lot of experience with long-term stations, and wanted to learn what they could from them. (There were of course some bad moments in the relationship, but the two space programs did very well on that project together.)

      The two programs are clealy still closely cooperating on the International Space Station.

      -The Anonymous who posted this post's grandparent.
  2. Spin? by AgTiger · · Score: 5, Funny

    NASA tries to spin the lack of spin. There's just something wrong about this...

  3. hello by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

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Either you are a homo, you become &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9619&#9619&#9619 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9619&#9619 &#9619&#9608&#9608&#9617&#9618&#9619&#9608 a homo, or you never vis it Richard Stallman &#9617&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9619&#9619&#9619&#9619 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9619&#9619&#9619&#9619&#9619 &#9617&#9619&#9608&#9608 alone in his office and hope to God you neve&#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9619&#9619&#9619&#9619 &#9619&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9619&#9619&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617&#9618&#9617&#9618 r&#9617 m&#9617&#9617&#9617eet him on the s treet at night.Myth: &#9619&#9618&#9618&#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9619&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 O p&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9608&#9608&#9608en Source is tol erant of political &#9617&#9608&#9619&#9618&#9618&#9608&#9608 &#9608&#9619&#9619&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9618 d &#9618 iffer&#9617&#9617 &#9619ences.Fact: Open Source is an a&#9617&#9619&#9618&#9618&#9619 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9608&#9619&#9619&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9618 na&#9617&#9618&#9617 rcho&#9617&#9618 &#9617-communist philo sophy bent&#9618&#9619&#9618 &#9619&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617&#9619&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9619&#9619 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9618 on the&#9618&#9617 destruction of c apitalis &#9619&#9619&#9617&#9617&#9617 m&#9617&#9619&#9619&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9617&#9608&#9608&#9619&#9619 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9618 . 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    1. Re:hello by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      outstanding.

  4. In other news... by 68030 · · Score: 1

    ... The future continues to fail to live up to
    the hype.

    So the ISS is still having problems. Big suprise
    there. Such a wonderful idea, a shame they've
    had so many set backs and problems.

    Where's my damn flying car already.

    1. Re:In other news... by silent_poop · · Score: 1

      Doc Brown & Marty stole it to make a new time machine.

      --

      --
      silence is poetry.
    2. Re:In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, but problems are the easiest way of finding potential problems. It will be very essential to spot possible issues for missions like the one to Mars that'll last for years.

      The most important thing is the why of the failure.

    3. Re:In other news... by operagost · · Score: 1
      God forbid you ever have a part fail on your car.

      "Automobiles are such a wonderful idea, a shame they've had so many setbacks and problems."

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
  5. Reported in the other story by shird · · Score: 4, Informative

    The In Space, No One Knows You Read Vogue story, just two posts ago, had the supermodel report which seemed to already cover this.:

    They also reported a loud, growling noise inside the space station. It turned out to be a broken gyroscope that was commanded to spin down and then shut down. One of the bearings apparently seized up.

    NASA said the other gyroscopes were working fine and that the failure would not affect the station's navigation and control. But the bad unit will need to be replaced, and the soonest that can happen is early next year.

    --
    I.O.U One Sig.
  6. where are the models? by reschly · · Score: 1
    --


    I believe that the existence of women is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy
  7. More Trouble by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    props to all trolls and crapflooders! adolf hitroll anal cocks anonymous cowrad anonymous pancake bank of americ a atm big ass spork bigdogscock carp flounderson clit cmdertaco cmdr shithe ad cyborg monkey diaper tales donkeyhote drunked coward egg troll elcagado fecal troll matter forged forsh fucky the troll genghis troll handybundler hettb iagreewiththispost j0nkatz klerck l0rdkariya limpdawg mao zedong metr olli&#9608&#9608&#9608 c&#9608 a &#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 m&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 i&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 ght&#9608&#9608&#9608 y&#9608&#9608&#9608 -t&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 roll mmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmm&#9608 m&#9608&#9608 &#9608 m &#9608 &#9608 ne&#9608 &#9608 a&#9608&#9608 &#9608 l &#9608 n b&#9608 o&#9608 b&#9608&#9608 o&#9608 n b&#9608 y &#9608 pr0n king profane mot&#9608 herf&#9608 uc&#9608 &#9608 ke&#9608 &#9608 r &#9608 &#9608 ra&#9608 lph&#9608 j&#9608 ewhat&#9608 er &#9608 na&#9608 der recipetroll re tur&#9608&#9608&#9608 no&#9608 ft&#9608 &#9608 he&#9608 &#9608 sp&#9608 &#9608 or&#9608 k r&#9608 i&#9608&#9608&#9608 ngb&#9608 are&#9608 r &#9608 robotroll rock 'n' tro&#9608&#9608&#9608 l&#9608 l &#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9608 s&#9608&#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 cri&#9608 pt&#9608&#9608&#9608 k &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9608 id&#9608 die l33t serial tr oller&#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9608 se&#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608 xu&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 a&#9608&#9608&#9608 l ass&#9608 pus&#9608&#9608&#9608 s&#9608 y s&#9608 ub&#9608 ject line troll ta sty&#9608&#9608 b&#9608 &#9608 ee&#9608 &#9608 &#9608&#9608 f&#9608 j er&#9608 &#9608&#9608 ky t&#9608 h&#9608&#9608 e&#9608 a&#9608 nim&#9608 e &#9608 troll the lyrics g uy &#9608&#9608 t&#9608 &#9608 he&#9608 &#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9608 mess&#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608 eng&#9608 e&#9608&#9608 r&#9608 t&#9608 he &#9608 tu&#9608 rd report the wipo tro&#9608&#9608&#9608 ll&#9608&#9608&#9608 t&#9608 h&#9608&#9608 &#9608 ings&#9608 t&#9608&#9608 o &#9608&#9608&#9608 d&#9608&#9608&#9608 o &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 &#9608&#9608 today trollaxor tro llercoaster trolltime whistler's mother yourmissionfortoday yr0 and all the AC's and people I forgot to include. and now a word from our sponser:It ha s come to my attention that the entire Linux community is a hotbed of so ca lled 'alternative sexuality,' which includes anything from hedonistic orgie s to homosexuality to pedophilia.What better way of demonstrating this than by looking at the hidden messages contained within the names of some of Li nux's mos&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 t&#9608&#9608 o&#9608&#9608 utspok&#9608 &#9608 en&#9608&#9608&#9608 a &#9608&#9608&#9608 dv&#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608 ocates: * Linus Torv alds [mic&#9608 ro&#9608 s&#9608 &#9608&#9608 oft.co&#9608 m&#9608&#9608 &#9608 ] &#9608 &#9608 i&#9608&#9608 s&#9608 &#9608&#9608 an anagram of slit anus or VD 'L,&#9608 ' &#9608 c&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 learly&#9608 r ef&#9608 er&#9608 &#9608 ring &#9608 &#9608&#9608 to himself by the first initial. &#9608 &#9608 *&#9608&#9608&#9608 R ichar&#9608 d M.&#9608 S &#9608 &#9608 tallm&#9608 &#9608 an [geocities.com], spoke spervert &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 for&#9608 t he Gay&#9608 sex'&#9608 s &#9608 &#9608 Not U&#9608&#9608&#9608 nusual 'movement' is an a nagram of&#9608 m &#9608 an&#9608 s cram t&#9608 hril&#9608 l &#9608 &#9608 ad. &#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 * A lan Cox [microsoft. com] is b&#9608 ar&#9608 el&#9608 y an ana&#9608 g&#9608&#9608 &#9608 ra&#9608 &#9608 m&#9608&#9608 o&#9608 &#9608&#9608 f anal cox which is just so filth&#9608 y &#9608 an&#9608 d unchri&#9608 s&#9608&#9608 &#9608 ti&#9608 &#9608 a&#9608&#9608 n&#9608 &#9608&#9608&#9608 it unnerves me.I'm sure that Eri&#9608&#9608&#9608&#9608 c S&#9608 . Raymond &#9608&#9608 , &#9608&#9608&#9608 co&#9608&#9608&#9608 mp&#9608 o&#9608&#9608 ser of the satanic homo sexual [goatse.cx] propaganda diatribe The Cathedral and the Bizarre, is pr obably an anagram of something queer, but we don't need to look that far as we know he's always&#9617 s&#9617&#9617 hoving a gun up some poor little boy's rectum. Up date: Eric S. Raymo&#9617 n&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 d is actually an anagram for se condary rim and cord &#9617&#9618&#9619&#9619&#9619&#9618 &#9619&#9619&#9619&#9619&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617 in my arse. It just goes to sh ow you that he is i&#9617 &#9618&#9619&#9619&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9619&#9619&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9617 &#9617 ndeed queer.Update the Second: It is also documented &#9617&#9619&#9619&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 t hat Evil Sicko Gaymond is respo nsible for a nauseat &#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9618 &#9617 ing piece of code called Fetchmai l [microsoft.com], &#9617&#9619&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617 which is obviously sinister sodom ite slang for 'Felc&#9617&#9619 &#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617 h Male' -- a disgusting practise. For those not i&#9617 &#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 n&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9618 &#9617 the know, 'felching' is the act performed by two&#9617 &#9617&#9619&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617 p&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9619 &#9617 &#9617 erverts wherein one sucks their own post-coital e&#9617&#9619&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617 j&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9618&#9618 &#9617 aculate out of the other's rect um. In fact, it a&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9619&#9617&#9617 ppears that the dirty Linux fag gots set out to u&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617 n&#9617&#9617&#9619&#9617&#9617 de&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9619&#9617 rmine the good Republican instit ution of e-mail, &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 t u&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9619&#9617&#9617 rni&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9618 ng it into 'e-male.'As far as Ri chard 'Master'&#9617 &#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 Stal&#9617&#9617 &#9619&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 lman goes, that filthy fudge-pac ker was actuall &#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 y q&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9619&#9619 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9619&#9618 uoted [salon.com] on leftist com mie propaganda &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9618&#9618&#9619&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9618&#9619&#9619&#9619&#9617&#9617 site Salon.com as saying the fo llowing: 'I've be&#9617&#9618&#9619&#9619&#9618 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9619&#9619&#9618&#9617 &#9618&#9619&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9619&#9619 &#9619&#9618&#9617&#9617 en resistant to the pressure to conform in any c&#9617&#9618&#9619&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9619&#9619&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 ircumstance,' he says. 'It's ab out being able t&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9619&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9618 o question conventional wisdom,' h e asserts. 'I be&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 l&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 ieve in love, but not monogamy,' he says plainly.A &#9617&#9619&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617&#9617 nd this isn't a made up troll b ullshit either! &#9617 &#9617&#9619&#9618&#9617 &#9617 H&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9618 e actually stated this tripe, whic h makes it obvio&#9617 &#9617&#9619&#9617&#9617 us &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 that he is trying to politely say that he's a flami&#9617 &#9618&#9617&#9617 ng &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 homo [comp-u-geek.net] slut [rotte n.com]!Speaking a&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 b&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 o&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617 ut 'flaming,' who better to point out as a filthy c&#9617&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9618&#9618&#9617 hutney ferret than Slashdot's ver y own self-confe&#9617 &#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 ssed pederast Jon Katz. Although an obvious deviant &#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617 a nagram cannot be found from his name, he has al&#9617 &#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 ready confessed, nay boasted of t he homosexual [g&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 oatse.cx] perversion of corrupting the innocence o&#9617 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 f&#9617&#9617&#9617 y &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 oung children [slashdot.org]. To q uote from the ar&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9617&#9617&#9617 tic&#9617&#9617&#9617 le&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9618 l inked:'I've got a rare kidney di sease,' I told h&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617 e&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617 r.&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9617 ' I have to go to the bathroom a lot. You can come&#9617&#9619 &#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 w&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9617 ith me if you want, but it takes a while. Is that&#9617&#9617&#9619 &#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617 okay with you? Do you want a no te from my docto&#9617 &#9619&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9618 &#9617 r?'Is this why you were touchin g your penis [ro&#9617&#9617&#9619&#9618 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 t&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618 ten.com] in the cinema, Jon? And letting the othe&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9618 r boys touch it too?We should als o point out that&#9617&#9617&#9619 &#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9618 Jon Katz refers to himself as 'Sl ashdot's resident &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617 Gasbag.' Is there any more doub t? For those fort&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617 unate few who aren't aware of t he list of homos&#9617 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 e&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9618 &#9617 xual [goatse.cx] terminology fo und inside the L&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9617 inux 'Sauce Code,' a 'Gasbag' is a pervert who g&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 ains sexual gratification from h aving a thin stra&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 w inserted into his urethra (or to use the comm&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9618&#9617 on parlance, 'piss-pipe'), then his homosexual [&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9618&#9617 goatse.cx]lover blows firmly dow n the straw to in&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 &#9617 flate his scrotum. This is, of course, when he's&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618 n ot busy violating the dignity a nd copyright of &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 posters to Slashdot by gathering together their po&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 stings and publishing them en mas se to further hi&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 s twisted and manipulative journa listic agenda.Si&#9617 &#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 ck, disgusting antichristian pe rverts, the lot o&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617 f them.In addition, many of the Linux distributi&#9617 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617 ons (a 'distribution' is the mo st common way to&#9617 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618 &#9618&#9617&#9617 spread the faggots' wares) are r un by faggot gro&#9617 &#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617 &#9617 ups. The Slackware [redhat.com] distro is named &#9617&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 after the 'Slack-wear' fags wea r to allow easy a&#9617&#9618&#9618&#9618&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617&#9618 &#9617&#9617&#9617 ccess to the anus for sexual pu rposes&#9617 &#9617 . &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9617&#9618 &#9618&#9617&#9617&#9617 &#9617&#9617 &#9617 Furthermore, Slackware is

    Created with UAG v0.92 (c)on by 2002
  8. Delivered by Russians? by LinuxHam · · Score: 2

    I wonder if they'll have the Russians fly up the replacement if their rockets can handle something so big and heavy. They didn't seem to indicate that they even have spares ready, but I would assume they do.

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    Intelligent Life on Earth
    1. Re:Delivered by Russians? by littlerubberfeet · · Score: 1

      Dude, a navigational gyros are small. They are not the size of the docking module. Even Subs use them. THey are about the size of an iMac if I remember correctly.

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    2. Re:Delivered by Russians? by pb_rea · · Score: 1

      How heavy could the gyoscope really be? Physical package yes, but a large mass?

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      I need a sig?
    3. Re:Delivered by Russians? by polymath69 · · Score: 2
      Small? Compared to the size of a planet, maybe. These are stabilizing gyros, not navigational. Didn't read the article?

      The loss of function of the desk-sized 363 kilogramme (800 pound) gyro emerged after astronauts reported a loud, growling noise inside the International Space Station.

      On the other hand, that loud growling was probably the astronaut's libidos at the prospect of escorting supermodels.

      --

      --
      I don't want to rule the world... I just want to be in charge of mayonnaise.
    4. Re:Delivered by Russians? by littlerubberfeet · · Score: 1

      Ahhh, thank you for clearing that up. The shutle can still handle it though. Hell, the oldest one (columbia) took up the Hubble.

      I was assuming Navigational gyros which are spin at a very precise speed. Any change in speed along any of the axes is measured to determine the spatial shift of the object. subs are accurate to some ungodly precise number, something like ± a foot for every 500 miles traveled

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    5. Re:Delivered by Russians? by Buran · · Score: 2

      Incorrect. Hubble was launched by Discovery on STS-31.

      However, all such missions (including the last HST maintenance flight) are now handled by Columbia, since she is too heavy to fly to the ISS with any kind of useful payload -- heavier materials were used for her construction -- so the rest of the fleet is tasked for ISS flights while Columbia remains on research duty -- the kind of flight the whole fleet used to fly.

    6. Re:Delivered by Russians? by Buran · · Score: 4, Informative

      No. Gyros have to be carried on board the Shuttle. They are not intended to be launched on board an unmanned rocket and must be manually lifted from the shuttle's payload bay using the Canadarm (RMS) and installed on the station by spacewalking astronauts with the help of a shuttle crew.

      From http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/sts111/02060 8cmg/ :

      NASA has a spare CMG available, but it cannot be launched until early next year. That's because a CMG package - the gyro and necessary sub-assemblies - weighs some 1,100 pounds at launch and must be mounted on a special carrier beam in the shuttle's cargo bay. The next two shuttle flights, in August and October, will carry up huge sections of the station's solar array truss and don't have room for a CMG. As a result, the station may have to get by with three CMGs until early next year.

      However, what the Slashdot story failed to note is that redundancy: only two control moment gyros are required for full control. One failed, leaving the station with three. No need to panic yet -- and even if the last one fails, the Russian modules attached to the station (which seem to be forgotten now, since all the activity is on the US side) are capable of using conventional rocket thrusters to control the station.

    7. Re:Delivered by Russians? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ahhh, read the article next time instead of assuming that they were navigational gyros. Why did you feel the need to capitalize "navigational"? And the Hubble was not launched by a shuttle. Man the thing is TWICE THE SIZE of the shuttle! It was a SaturnV rocket that took it up. You people always talk like you know what you are talking about but you don't have a clue. Try reading a book sometime. It is obvious that you don't read the articles before you post so the likelyhood of that is nil.

    8. Re:Delivered by Russians? by littlerubberfeet · · Score: 1

      Hmm, mayhaps I mis-remembered, Was it Chandra that was Launched by Columbia?

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    9. Re:Delivered by Russians? by littlerubberfeet · · Score: 1

      Now I know why I filter ACs. The Hubble was taken up by discovery. see the above couple of posts

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    10. Re:Delivered by Russians? by Buran · · Score: 2

      Yep.

    11. Re:Delivered by Russians? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Man you are dumb. First you capitalize the word "navigational" in a thread about stabalizing gyroscopes then you say "now I know why I filter ACs" in reply to an AC! Do you even know how blatantly retarded you look? Go die or something.

    12. Re:Delivered by Russians? by littlerubberfeet · · Score: 1

      Thanks

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    13. Re:Delivered by Russians? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes you did mis-remember. You also misspelled "lynched" and capitalized it for some unknown reason. Chandra's nude decomposing body was found in a Washington area park by a girlscout. The governor of Washington DC has admitted to an ongoing sexual affair with her from the time she was eight and has long been suspected of involvment in her murder.

    14. Re:Delivered by Russians? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uhhh.... Why did you thank yourself just now?

    15. Re:Delivered by Russians? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like arguing with ACs though. It amuses me.

      Get a name so we can fight this out you coward.

    16. Re:Delivered by Russians? by AJWM · · Score: 2

      Yeah, gyroscopes probably isn't even the right term, these things are momentum wheels used to soak up undesired angular momentum of the station (or occasionally to restore angular momentum in a desired direction.)

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      -- Alastair
    17. Re:Delivered by Russians? by IOdine · · Score: 2, Informative

      They look like they are about the size of an iMac, but I could be wrong. Here, take a look for yourself (they are the third image down the page).

      http://www.shuttlepresskit.com/ISS_OVR/assembly2 _o verview.htm

    18. Re:Delivered by Russians? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I always though Hubble was brought into orbit with an A4 (aka V2).

    19. Re:Delivered by Russians? by polymath69 · · Score: 2

      The image does not appear to have anything in it to convey a sense of scale, so you could be right and they might be Imac-sized. Still, the article said "desk-sized", so that's what I'll trust.

      --

      --
      I don't want to rule the world... I just want to be in charge of mayonnaise.
    20. Re:Delivered by Russians? by tommck · · Score: 2
      "No. Gyros have to be carried on board the Shuttle. They are not intended to be launched on board an unmanned rocket and must be manually lifted from the shuttle's payload bay using the Canadarm (RMS) and installed on the station by spacewalking astronauts with the help of a shuttle crew."


      Oh... you mean the GNU/Canadarm?

      T

      --
      ---- It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again. It does this whenever it's told.
    21. Re:Delivered by Russians? by Buran · · Score: 2

      *laugh*

      Yeah. :)

      RMS in this case stands for "Remote Manipulator System".

  9. So that's what preview is for... by reschly · · Score: 1
    --


    I believe that the existence of women is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy
  10. Re:CLiT -- redundancy by handybundler · · Score: -1

    This post: way too on topic for a first [post. Might I recommend placing CLIT some where in your next effort. This will make it much more enjoyable for the rest of us. Thanks.

    --


    a/s/l here. Sorry, adding domain tags to your s
  11. Mir by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 1

    So it looks like Mir wasn't so bad after all. How long before the solar panels get knocked ou ;-)

    --
    Jumpstart the tartan drive.
    1. Re:Mir by littlerubberfeet · · Score: 1

      How long until inept-NASA-engineers-who-can't-drive pilot a capsule into the main truss?

      --
      Sig (appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars)
    2. Re:Mir by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Amen to that. If this were MIR, we'd be deluged with snarky posts mocking the station.

      Let's just see how many things will go wrong with ISS in the next 15 years, which was built with the hindsight of 15 years or MIR experience.

    3. Re:Mir by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But Mir still is the problem...

      A lot of the systems and sub-systems on ISS are the same as what was on Mir, including the Oxygen generators that caused the fire onboard Mir.

      Very scary boys and girls...

  12. From history... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    We know that it took them 5 tries to build the Babylon space station, so really, still being on the first one here is pretty good. As long as the first few aren't sabotaged, and the fourth one isn't taken back in time, we're all good.

    Of course, maybe it would help if we had some of that fancy Vorlon technology, but I suppose Canadians are kinda mysterious and frozen like them, so that's close enough.

    1. Re:From history... by mindstrm · · Score: 2

      If I had mod points today, I'd mod that up.

      Man.. when are they going to release B5 on dvd? I want the whole damn series. I'll pay enormous sums of money for it.

    2. Re:From history... by Codifex+Maximus · · Score: 2

      When the Vorlons come back.

      --
      Codifex Maximus ~ In search of... a shorter sig.
    3. Re:From history... by Ziviyr · · Score: 1

      Actually that construction station in A Call to Arms was pretty cool looking. I wish we'd do something like that.

      --

      Someone set us up the bomb, so shine we are!
  13. Quickly now... by Serial+Troller · · Score: -1

    Quickly now, my penis needs much sucking! Suck onto my penis!

    --

    STOP ME BEFORE I POST AGAIN!

    1. Re:Quickly now... by handybundler · · Score: -1

      It seems that there has been some equipment purchsed to further monitor and evaluate the Space Station's structural integrity. There is an interesting comment here about the space station and it's potential ailments.

      --


      a/s/l here. Sorry, adding domain tags to your s
  14. Jesus Christ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    This story has already been covered today retards.. or dont the people incharge read the articles ?

  15. Breaking news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Breaking News -- Terrorists have attacked the United States.

    Once again, middle-eastern terrorists from Osama bin Ladens' Al Qaeda terrorist network have attacked The United States of America. The attack of September 11, 2001 pales in comparison to this highly coordinated, massive attack.

    The White House, the Capitol Building, and the United Nations building are smoldering in ruins after being attacked by truck bombs and hijacked commercial airliners. Thousands of government officials are presumed dead while rescue efforts are being hindered by intense heat and smoke.

    There are reports of further attacks in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, and Miami.

    * Unconfirmed: Rumors are surfacing that the heart of Los Angeles was attacked using multiple 10-ton ammonium nitrate truck bombs detonated in multiple locations.

    * Confirmed: Large portion of downtown Chicago sprayed with anthrax via multiple cropduster aircraft. Sadly, the terrorists operating the cropdusters were able to disseminate almost their entire arsenals of anthrax before being shot down by US military F-16's. In this first ever wide-spread biological attack, millions of innocent men, women and children were exterminated like insects.

    * Confirmed: Nuclear explosion in New York City. A rental truck carrying an unidentified type of nuclear weapon was detonated in New York City early this morning. Details are sketchy, but US Government officials are saying the blast was somewhere in the magnitude of 15 megatons.

    President Bush and Vice President Cheney are believed dead in the White House destruction.

    Nuclear strikes have been launched by the United States military against Phillipines, Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Somolia. All of these countries have been hit by at least five Titan II ICBM's and one 100-kiloton thermonuclear warhead; millions are believed to be dead.

    Martial law has been declared across the entire US in an attempt to try and control the wide-scale looting in major US cities. High ranking military commanders have assumed control of the military retaliation, as the President and Vice President are presumed dead.

    Government officials who weren't killed in the attacks are now attempting to keep control the chaotic country from the bunkers under the White House. The US Government is broadcasting nationwide television and radio announcements to inform the public of the status of the country.

    I suggest you all stop what you are doing and spend some time with your families, because quite frankly, World War 3 is upon us.

    More details to come.

  16. What happen? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    someone set up us the failed gyroscopes

    we get signal

    you are on your way to destruction

    you have no chance to survive make your time

    1. Re:What happen? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All your stale jokes are belong to Slashdot.

  17. NO! by Subcarrier · · Score: 5, Funny

    At this point they would be a class one security hazard.

    If you're going to allow supermodels into a space station full of extremely horny astronouts, you'd better have five fully functioning gyroscopes.

    --
    "I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them." -- George H. W. Bush
    1. Re:NO! by ckkatwork · · Score: 1

      > "Let's get the models up there to fix it..."

      Actually if you recall, that Super Bowl episode of "3rd Rock From The Sun" some years ago, where the supermodels from Venus secretly invaded, Cindy Crawford's cover on Earth was as a plumber. She had a big wrench. They used it in the end to smash the evil invasion center control panel, so wouldn't it work on the gyroscope too?

  18. More Information.. by Planetes · · Score: 3, Informative

    As usual, spaceflightnow.com and space.com have better articles with more detail. These sites usually have space/shuttle/station information up very quickly so I tend to rely on them more.

    --
    Planetes
    "One World, One Web, One Program" - Microsoft Promo Ad
    "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer" - Adolf Hitl
    1. Re:More Information.. by Buran · · Score: 2

      But they don't let you view the Quicktimes anymore. I used to use them for catching launch replays and other things I couldn't catch due to time, forgetting, or being at work. Now they're locked behind a password, and I refuse to be nickel and dimed.

      Anyone know why spaceref.tv quit posting movies in a timely manner? Or, if they still post them, where they went?

    2. Re:More Information.. by Planetes · · Score: 1

      True, and Space.com used to broadcast Nasa TV in both windows and realplayer formats but they dropped that too which annoyed me as a Linux user.

      --
      Planetes
      "One World, One Web, One Program" - Microsoft Promo Ad
      "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer" - Adolf Hitl
    3. Re:More Information.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hy go to space.com? NASA themselves broadcast NASA TV in both windows and Realplayer formats.

      Go straight to the source! :)

      (Of course, sometimes there's so much demand they're overwhelmed.)

  19. was watchin some of this on nasa TV by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    while watching nasa TV the crew on the station where wondering wot was a wierd grinding noise was and the ppl on the ground was saying it was a faulty gyro (the one talked about on the bbc site) spinning down I think they can live on @ least 2 of these things

  20. Already posted by paranoidia · · Score: 1

    This was actually already posted today in the supermodels in space bit. Please guys, at least try to read the articles.

  21. Hmm.. by Heem · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I love this part

    What to bring:
    # Plenty of cash - exhibitors might not accept credit cards on site

    So a bunch of skinny, weak computer geeks running around with plenty of cash in their pockets... Anyone want to go pickpocketing? ;-)

    --
    Don't Tread on Me
  22. haiku? by small_dick · · Score: 2

    failing gyroscope
    nasa transmits dance lessons
    breakdancing spacemen spin

    --


    Treatment, not tyranny. End the drug war and free our American POWs.
    See my user info for links.
    1. Re:haiku? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe they should install some Gyrotwisters.

  23. Let me guess.. by Mr2cents · · Score: 1, Funny

    It failed 1-2 moths after the warranty has ended?

    --
    "It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful." - Anton LaVey
  24. Implications by brad3378 · · Score: 1

    &lt evil grin &gt
    This could mean the end of Lance Bass and the Back Street Boys.
    MUh ha ha ha ha!!

    --

    1. Re:Implications by whopis · · Score: 1

      Maybe they will just force him to stay up there doing some sort of endless spin dance move to keep the station stable....

  25. For christ's sake people, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... read the friggen article.

    Of course they are redundant. Two are necessary to control the orientation of the station w/o using propellent. Plus, the station can operate just fine with none, by using thruster firings to adjust its orientation.

  26. Backups? by brunes69 · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Surely mission-critical systems such as the stabalizing gyroscopes should each have at least one failsafe? If not I can't see this being very good planning.

    1. Re:Backups? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Think about how much it costed to build that thing. Now you want to double the price with backups? Those gyroscopes ain't cheap or small. You don't want a bunch of extra unused crap laying around. The trick is to design it right the first time.

    2. Re:Backups? by alienmole · · Score: 2
      Yes, it has two backups, according to this space.com article. It has four gyroscopes but only needs two to maintain attitude.

      But it wouldn't be very interesting to report this story factually, since it literally has no effect on the station's operation, except requiring that another gyroscope be installed before not the next one, but the one after that fails.

    3. Re:Backups? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you not read?

      It *DOES* have a backup. They need two out of the four to safely operate the station. Nasa just has a desire to maintain its redundancy.

  27. Why didn't they just... by Codifex+Maximus · · Score: 2

    design a space station using the doughnut shape? That way, they could kill two birds with one stone; spin the station to create artificial gravity and achieve gyroscopic stability. (That way, you don't really need discreet gyros)

    It's a nice staion but should be used to build a better station. Put manufacturing capabilities on it and let's move forward.

    --
    Codifex Maximus ~ In search of... a shorter sig.
    1. Re:Why didn't they just... by Tablizer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      (* design a space station using [spinning] doughnut shape[.] That way, they could kill two birds with one stone; spin the station to create artificial gravity and achieve gyroscopic stability. *)

      I thot the purpose of a space station is to do anti-gravity research. If you spin it to make gravity, then you only have an expensive Earth emulator.

      I suppose you could have part of it spinning, and part of it not spinning, but that creates mechanical risks at the joint, and we are right back to the gyro-like problems again.

    2. Re:Why didn't they just... by Ziviyr · · Score: 2

      They could make a rotating doughnut shaped station with a non-rotating doughnut-hole for experimenting and docking.

      This could be very cool stuff!

      --

      Someone set us up the bomb, so shine we are!
    3. Re:Why didn't they just... by bbc22405 · · Score: 1

      "design a space station using the doughnut shape? That way, they could kill two birds with one stone; spin the station to create artificial gravity and achieve gyroscopic stability"

      Ah, but then when the Russian oxygen generator catches fire, the artificial gravity will keep the toxic fumes from smothering the flames.

    4. Re:Why didn't they just... by Tablizer · · Score: 2

      (* They could make a rotating doughnut shaped station with a non-rotating doughnut-hole for experimenting and docking.*)

      But then you have the problem of going from the spinning section to the non-spinning section. If it is done with motors, then you have the problems already mentioned. If they are separate units, then you have to do time-consuming and risky thru-space transfers of people and materials.

    5. Re:Why didn't they just... by chiph · · Score: 1

      I think the word you were looking for is "discrete", not "discreet".

      Discrete: Consisting of unconnected distinct parts.
      As in: "Amazon shipped my books in discrete boxes."

      Discreet: Marked by, exercising, or showing prudence and wise self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect.
      As in: "Discreet Escort Services."

      Chip H.

    6. Re:Why didn't they just... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You could have ladders and/or elevators to go from the spinning rim to the hole in the center. It's not that there's a spinning and non-spinning part; there's a gradient from center to rim.

  28. The thing is too expensive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    The ISS is overly complex. To put it into terms that you people can understand, it is bloat. The Mir was a technological wonder in it's simplicity, stability, functionality and low cost. Oh sure there were a few bugs but they were dealt with immediately and the entire mission was a success. It's like comparing Microsoft with Linux. Of course this would be a good opportunity to bring up the debate between Communism and Capitalism due to the similarities but I won't do that.

  29. Lack of planning? by Shriek · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I understand hardware will fail which is fine if wasn't due to negligence; what isn't fine though is the apparent lack of preparedness in handling the resolution of this situation.
    First, why did such a critical device fail so soon on the space station? I only ask that because it just seems like the more expensive a device is for the space shuttle or the space station the more easily it will fail. Does the level of criticality coincide with the level of fragility?
    Second, doesn't it bother anyone else that it may take up to a year to replace the one failed gyroscope? NASA has to make room on a future space shuttle mission in order to fly the replacement gyroscope up, fine I say, but I don't think that's the whole story as to why I will take so long to replace. NASA shouldn't be using the excuse that it would delay experiments or completion of the space station. The safety of the ISS crew is more important than getting some experiements completed.
    I think the issue should be why is NASA classifying this problem as low priority? Maybe NASA has done its risk analysis on the problem which would be fine except that there seems to be no oversight of the decision process.

    1. Re:Lack of planning? by NateTech · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If there's one thing NASA knows how to do, it's to plan things. This post and the tons of others like it shows what sheep people will be when reading a /. article. It also shows a complete lack of understanding of their process, procedures, and the fact that numerous others have posted: There's multiple redundant gyro systems on board. This whole article is FUD.
      Various books for reference to NASA's typical procedures exist. I enjoyed "Failure is Not An Option" by Gene Kranz (Flight Director), and "This New Ocean".
      It's Monday, I'm grumpy and I'm not putting links in -- find 'em yourself and learn something.

      --
      +++OK ATH
  30. No Prob - Just Send a New One FedEx Next Day by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight...

  31. Jokes. by SHEENmaster · · Score: 1

    I should have been a country-western singer. After all, I'm older than most western countries. -- George Burns I am pressed for time, so I only refreshed my Fortune Website 10 or so times in the humorist category.

    --
    You can't judge a book by the way it wears its hair.
  32. Is it really a big deal ? by GTM · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When I was an intern in a company building satellites and rockets, local gurus told me that gyroscopes, with all their complex pieces moving fast, are the most failure-prone part of most satellites, and that's the reason why they usually have 4 gyros while only 3 are needed for normal operation, and 2 are enough for "degraded mode".
    Now one gyroscope of the ISS is out: granted, it's a bit early, but it is also a bit early to worry about the ISS's future. Remember Hubble: at the beginning, it sounded like the mission would be a complete failure... In the end, Hubble could be repaired, and it is now considered a complete success. Don't be too hasty when bashing space missions: this IS rocket science after all.

    1. Re:Is it really a big deal ? by chiph · · Score: 1

      What's the failure curve like for a gyroscope?

      Is it like the "bathtub curve" for hard drives, where you get some infant mortality, but then the system is good for months and months, until it reaches end-of-life and the number of failures approach 100%?

      Chip H.

  33. D'Oh!? by SHEENmaster · · Score: 1

    I forgot a br tag. Slashdot should allow pre tags, and MSIE should work with pre tags!

    --
    You can't judge a book by the way it wears its hair.
    1. Re:D'Oh!? by *xpenguin* · · Score: 1

      I forgot a br tag. Slashdot should allow pre tags, and MSIE should work with pre tags!

      If it allowed pre tags, then page-widening trolls would take over. Duh!

  34. Re:In other news...Flying Car In Development !!!!! by geekster_2000 · · Score: 0



    Space Propulsion Engine for Flying Saucer - New Physics

    Rumor in Silicon Valley -

    Inventor of 3D volume holographic optical storage
    shopping his concept for Space Propulsion Engine
    using Propellantless Mass to US and other countries.

    for further look at biography background goto

    "http://colossalstorage.net/colossal.htm"

    He says he has researched all propulsion concepts at NASA, Lockheed,
    Europe, Asia, and Russian Space Agencies and knows their technology
    but he laughs when he thinks how well his technology will do next to
    the present technology, there is no earthly comparison !

    He is working in top secret and he says no physicist or scientist
    he has ever studied or researched had this approach and knows his
    concept will work to give near light speed travel thru Galaxy with
    500K/Miles per Hour to start or 138 miles/sec. Nasa fastest time
    are 25,000 mile/hr or 3.9 miles/sec

    He says it is a mankind first concept !!

  35. It's not for "gyroscopic stability" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Regardless of how the station is shaped, the easiest way to maneuver it is electrically.

    That's right, I said electrically. The power can then come from a nuclear reactor or solar panels instead of having to ship tonnes of fuel into earth orbit.

    If you need to move from side to side, or reach a higher or lower orbit, you simply speed up or brake the appropriate gyros and reaction wheels. Force vectors are transferred and the station moves.

    If you don't understand, try this: Go to the local playground, and sit on a swing. Pick your feet up off the ground (DON'T touch the ground!) and start swinging. Lookee thar ma, you are transferring energy from your muscles into the swing - simply by moving your center of gravity around!

    How come this is a big deal, anyway, when we've nearly lost the Hubble four times due to multiple gyro failures and nobody cared? The Hubble's more important than the ISS at this point (might change if the ISS fulfills its' promise).

    --Charlie

    1. Re:It's not for "gyroscopic stability" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can only rotate the space station using a gyroscope. It's not possible to reach a higher orbit. The only way to move in the external frame of reference is to throw stuff out in the opposite direction, as in, use some fuel in your thrusters.

  36. Read about the Mir by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    If you have any interest in knowing what *really* goes on up there, read about how the Mir was run and managed. You really have no idea until you've read one of these books.

    Gyro or power failures can be very serious because they are essential for keeping the solar panels pointed in the correct direction for power generation and for keeping the station from tumbling.

    Every once in a while power would be lost and Mir and all of the gyros would completely spin down.

    Off The Planet

    Dragonfly: Nasa and the Crisis Aboard Mir

  37. excuse me by on+by · · Score: -1

    please leave the copyright notice intact if you wish to c&p my work or you will be in violation of the General Trolling License - thank you!

  38. Fluid Dynamic Bearings? by voidref · · Score: 1

    They also reported a loud, growling noise inside the space station. It turned out to be a broken gyroscope that was commanded to spin down and then shut down. One of the bearings apparently seized up.

    I wonder if they use FDBs like they do in modern HDDs, it seems to me that they wouldn't freeze up that easily.

    1. Re:Fluid Dynamic Bearings? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, but those gyros must survive in a vacuum.

      Regular HDDs do not have that capability.

      So many of the things we take for granted when engineering *on* Earth don't work in space.

  39. Cyc by The+Pi-Guy · · Score: 1

    Arrite, which idiot uploaded Cyc onto their systems?? :-P

    "I'm sorry Dave, but I can't let you do that."

    --pi

  40. ISS's current location by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    The International Space Station's current latitude, longitude, and altitude is available from NASA:

    http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/temp/StationLoc.html

  41. To misquote by Salsaman · · Score: 2
    Your idea of a doughnut shaped space station intrigues me Homer...

  42. I don't understand. . . by Goronguer · · Score: 1

    Why can't the astronauts just wind a string around the pole in the middle of the gyroscope and pull on it really fast? That always did the trick when my gyroscope stopped working when I was a kid.

  43. Why don't you just get a job at NASA? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    I'm sure NASA would love to hire you with such a revolutionary idea.

  44. Re:From history... (OT) by Cy+Guy · · Score: 1
    Man.. when are they going to release B5 on dvd?

    The pilot is available on DVD. The disc also comes with retrospective ep 'The Beginning' in widescreen format (the pilot is in Full Screen only).