Brian Thorn wrote:
On 19 Feb 2006 17:30:06 -0800, "Ed Kyle" wrote:

Brian Thorn wrote:
On 19 Feb 2006 09:08:35 -0800, "Ed Kyle" wrote:

Russia has launched and returned from orbit an 18 seat
capacity (some unoccupied on six manned flights during
2003-2005, as well as launching 11 separate Progress
supply missions. The U.S. managed only one semi-successful
mission during the same period carrying six astronauts.

Seven.

Ooops. Seven. Still less than Russia's 2003-2005 total.

And Shuttle delivered more cargo to ISS on STS-114 than all of
the Progress flights in 2005.

Are you sure about that? I've read that STS-114 only
delivered a bit more than 2 tonnes of actual net cargo to
ISS (although it had more than 11 tonnes of stuff in its
payload bay).

Well, the STS-114 Press Kit is irritatingly vague, focusing instead on
all the post-Columbia safey mods. But it does say Rafaello weighed
18,166 lbs. at launch. Considering that an empty MPLM weighs 9,000
lbs., it looks like about 9,000 lbs. of cargo in the MPLM to me. Plus
all the water Discovery offloaded to ISS and the replacement CMG in
the payload bay.

"The MPLM weight at launch, with the cargo it contains, will be 18,166
pounds."

Also, the Press Kit says total payload for STS-114 was 29,725 lbs. not
11 tons.

Right. 13.48 tonnes in payload bay up. 11.39 tonnes in payload
bay down. I should have said "more than 11 tonnes of additional
stuff".

"Space Shuttle Discovery will carry a variety of payloads. The flight
will carry 29,725 pounds of equipment and supplies in its cargo bay to
the International Space Station. When Discovery lands, it will return
with 25,121 pounds of equipment in its cargo bay."

That is a 2.09 metric ton (tonne) up/down differential, but
no mention of how much mass was brought down from ISS.
Irritating, yes, that NASA didn't bother to mention how much
mass was taken to and returned from ISS. I would be
surprised if they hauled 2 tonnes of garbage down.

- Ed Kyle