George William Herbert ) writes:
Andre Lieven wrote:
Brian Thorn ) writes:
What is it about ISS that precludes its operation without Shuttle?

Delivery and removal of tonnage loads of hardware and consumables,
along with significant orbital re-boosts.

Soyuz/Progress cannot do all that.

Soyuz/Progress, ATV, and HTV can, however.

As neither ATV or HTV as yet exist, I will not count on them,
for about the same reason that I won't count on VentureStar or
Hermes.

I go to www.esa.int, click on "human spaceflight", click on
"ATV", click on "Multimedia", and then can see a bunch of
photos of the first ATV hardware in largely assembled condition.

ATV exists. It's not complete yet, and a year from flying roughly,
but it exists.

Thats fine. I'm sure the builders of Soyuz 1 & 2 felt that their
ships were fine and dandy, too...

Until it flies, and flies successfully, I don't count it. Period.

PR flyers are a dime a dozen. Flown systems are the real thing.

Just like an astronaut isn't a full astro until they... fly.

Andre

--
" I'm a man... But, I can change... If I have to... I guess. "
The Man Prayer, Red Green.