John Doe wrote in :

Jim Oberg wrote:
such as solar panels, air locks and oxygen generators. It's called
the "hatch," and it just doesn't get any respect - despite the fact
that its 4-foot-plus width gives the international space station
capabilities that are unprecedented in 30 years of orbital
operations, going back to NASA's Skylab and Russia's earliest
outposts.

That hatch (CBM) is about to get very useless when the shuttle is
retired and the whole concept of MPLM becomes moot, unless the
Japanese actually develop and produce their HTV.

HTV isn't the only alternative. Out of the six finalists for NASA's
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, four have
released at least some details on how their spacecraft will attach to ISS -
and all four (Rocketplane Kistler K-1, SpaceX Dragon, Spacehab Apex, and
t/Space CxV) have chosen the CBM.

NASA should start its planning for the day when MPLM transfers are no
longer possible and plan all hardware to fit through the smaller soyuz
(or PMA) hatches.

Or they should simply follow through with the COTS program until at least
one of the contestants actually produces a working vehicle.


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JRF

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