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Additional Lab To Be Added To the ISS
Matt_dk writes "Apparently the International Space Station is going to get bigger. NASA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) are preparing to sign an agreement to add another laboratory to the ISS by using a modified multipurpose logistics module (Raffaello) during the final Space Shuttle mission. It will be attached in September 2010 during Endeavour's STS-133 mission. The idea had originally been rejected, but earlier this year ISS program manager Michael Suffredini said using an MPLM for an additional module was being reconsidered."
As the Russian modules have the motors that would be used for controlled de-orbit, this poses a potential issue if Russia takes that capability to a new, on-going station. Other options include using a European Automated Transfer Vehicle. One option stated for an ongoing station is for Russia to build a ball-shaped, six-port module to which existing modules could be attached.
Decommissioned doesn't necessarily mean EOL.
On the Oregon Cost born and raised, On the beach is where I spent most of my days
I don't get why we're not planning to dock the shuttles to the ISS and leave them up there, too, with their useful engines, robotic arms, and so forth. The space museums would be sad, but someone would undoubtably think up some cool things that could be accomplished with them up there.
Yes. Long-term storage of human beings in space.
Two ships go up, one ship comes down. It shouldn't be hard to leave at least a little bit of equipment up there.
On the topic of leaving them up their with their robotic arms, I would like to see some sort of small, orbital building yard - for now it doesn't have to do much, but even some sort of recycling processor to deal with random bits of junk that float past would be interesting, and pave the way for a whole new set of interesting technology.
Me failed English...
FreeBSD over Linux. If my comments seem odd, this may explain...
I'm not a queer or nothin, but even I wonder what a shpritzen of jizm would look like in zero G!
I'm hoping that eventually we can use an Aries V translunar (or transmartian) stage converted into a lab as a Skylab sized addition to the station. Skylab dwarfed any of the modern individual shuttle launched modules. An Aries V stage, if comparable to a Saturn V stage as they should be would be big enough to play a televised 0-G "Spaceball" game in.
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Leaving my topic of the humans-a-returning (or not):
Nice thought, but space debris is so rare an event you have to wait for years for it to even come close. And, if it does, it will do so possibly with several thousand mph. Winky-winky with your little robotic arm ...
I'd bet money on private corporations "buying-out" ISS or "renting" time/space for things like manufacturing insanely pure insulin crystals (e.g.) in microgravity, or something along those lines. I've no doubt ISS will be useful for many more years to come.
Agreed; although it might be better to specialize a bit more and use the lower stage shuttle tank derived structure as a base. The Earth Departure Stage is comparable to the S-IVB that we got Skylab out of, but is slightly smaller in terms of usable space as far as I know. There's not really a lot saved in using the smaller EDI stage as a base if the thing is going to be launched already converted to a station. On the other hand, if we go for a wet workshop (stage is loaded with fuel, burned, then converted to a station once on orbit) Ares V could get us Skylab like station in lunar and martian orbits. Actually, that all hits on my biggest wish about the Shuttle and ISS; the vehicle had (and still does have actually) every ability to drag the main tank with it to orbit. This could have been used to get a station larger in volume than the ISS, and do it in only one launch. I'll admit that a wet workshop, especially one that big, is hard, but so was the amount of EVA work needed on a modular ISS. Anyway, whats done is done, and theres no time for a tank derived program now, or a need for it with Ares V coming...
It is amazing that we are not going to add all of the MLM, but the reason is that Raffaello was done differently then the others; It has electrical and HVAC hookups. But this is better than nothing, since it is already going up.
Personally, I would really like to see us add a Sundancer AND a BA-330. If we put these up in the next 2 years, they will get a nice shake out (similar to how the 2 are running around). If NASA is really concerned about lifetime, then the easy answer is to use these for storage for a time and keep the hatch closed. Though, I would not be surprised if the crew do not push to have space there. Apparently, the regular ISS is VERY noisy. The BA* should be very quiet.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.