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Fast track Soyuz is docked



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 29th 13, 06:38 AM posted to sci.space.station
snidely
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Default Fast track Soyuz is docked

quote
A NASA astronaut and his two Russian crewmates made the fastest-ever
trip to the International Space Station on Thursday, arriving less than
six hours after launch.
"Contact and capture," Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov, commander of
the Soyuz space capsule, reported at 10:28 p.m. ET.
/quote

As Alan Boyle reports at
http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/28/17505443-us-russian-crew-hooks-up-with-space-station-after-fastest-ride-ever
they cut the flight time from 2 days and 30 orbits to just 4 orbits.

The procedure (and navigation upgrades, it seems) was tested in the 3
previous Progress launches.

/dps

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  #2  
Old March 29th 13, 09:23 AM posted to sci.space.station
Brian Gaff
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Default Fast track Soyuz is docked

I'd imagine it will depend on individuals, even whether they ahve flown
before. I heard a recent interview with a visiting Astronaut here in the UK
in which he said that the first time was far worse for the nausea problems.
Your brain obviously remembers. I suppose it could be that they are now
perhaps finding ways to induce the actual effect better on the ground than
the old method of the multi axis chair.
Brian

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"JF Mezei" wrote in message
eb.com...
What is the possible frequency of the "fast launch" ?

For instance, would there be one opportunity for such a fast launch per
week ? One every couple of weeks ? One per month ?

One of the limitations is sleep. For the current launch, they opened the
hatches to the station 21 hours after they woke up that morning.

So transit can't really last more than 6 hours unless they can get the
crews to wake up closer to lauch.

Although we won't see it, I bet they will look at statistics of people
getting space sick with short vs normal transit.

With short transit, you have 6 hours in the phone booth, and then can
move around. Moving around is bound to affect inner ear as you feel some
acceleration and would also likely have better sense of orienttation in
a stable station with walls etc.

Or perhaps it won't make a difference.



  #3  
Old March 29th 13, 01:38 PM posted to sci.space.station
Greg \(Strider\) Moore
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Default Fast track Soyuz is docked

"JF Mezei" wrote in message
eb.com...

What is the possible frequency of the "fast launch" ?


No more than the frequency of the previous method.

It really comes down to how many Soyuz/year the Russians can build and I
believe that's 4?


For instance, would there be one opportunity for such a fast launch per
week ? One every couple of weeks ? One per month ?

One of the limitations is sleep. For the current launch, they opened the
hatches to the station 21 hours after they woke up that morning.


That limitation has nothing to do with the frequency.

So transit can't really last more than 6 hours unless they can get the
crews to wake up closer to lauch.

Although we won't see it, I bet they will look at statistics of people
getting space sick with short vs normal transit.


Probably. But personally I'd rather be sick on ISS than in the Soyuz.

While it can impact performance some, the docking is pretty much automated.


With short transit, you have 6 hours in the phone booth, and then can
move around. Moving around is bound to affect inner ear as you feel some
acceleration and would also likely have better sense of orienttation in
a stable station with walls etc.


Keep in mind the Soyuz is roomier than Apollo and has the orbital module
they can use once in orbit.


Or perhaps it won't make a difference.



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  #4  
Old March 29th 13, 08:39 PM posted to sci.space.station
Greg \(Strider\) Moore
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Default Fast track Soyuz is docked

On 13-03-29 08:38, Greg (Strider) Moore wrote:

What is the possible frequency of the "fast launch" ?

No more than the frequency of the previous method.


Are you saying that they can dock within the same day from launch no
matter what the distance is between Soyuz and ISS at the time Soyuz
enters orbit ?


Partly. I'm also saying the Russians don't BUILD that many Soyuz. So it
doesn't matter much if this increases frequency.
And since ISS is a lab, they want as few launches (well dockings) with as
much time between them as possible.

So increased frequency doesn't give them much.

Now, does this give them more opportunities to launch, perhaps. I don't
know the particulars of the Soyuz cross-range, but that would impact
opportunities.


I was under the impression they needed to choose launch days where the
station ends up being not too far ahead of the Soyuz once it reaches
orbit. This way, they can make up the distance (3500km for yesterday's
launch) within a small number of orbits.


That's one of many constraints. Lighting angles are another constraint.

One of the limitations is sleep. For the current launch, they opened the
hatches to the station 21 hours after they woke up that morning.


That limitation has nothing to do with the frequency.


Actually it does. If at time Soyuz enters orbit, ISS is 25,000 km ahead,
it means many extra hours are needed for Soyuz to catch up.


So they nap.

And if the crew are already strained (sleep deprived) for a 6 hour
launch-dock, can they really add many more hours of orbit without
allowing the crew to sleep ?


Sure, they just postpone a day.


So, on days where the launch window uts the Soyuz in orbit way too far
from ISS to catch up, single day may not be feasable. (unless, of
course, they get the crew to wake up much closer to launch).


Basically I think I see where you're going and it's partly accurate. i.e.
you probably want a same day docking or a 2 day docking. You don't want
something like a situation where they have to be awake for 35 hours.




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Greg D. Moore http://greenmountainsoftware.wordpress.com/
CEO QuiCR: Quick, Crowdsourced Responses. http://www.quicr.net

 




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