Notice how they never mention the COSTS for this stuff?

Unlike with Hubble repairs, Mars missions, etc? Because it is a SCAM.

Endeavour docks with space station

* Story Highlights
* Crews greet each other after shuttle Endeavour docks with space
station
* Before docking, the shuttle did a 360-degree backflip so photos
could be taken
* Being delivered: an extra bathroom, kitchenette and exercise
machine
* Also arriving: Two new sleeping compartments, a recycling system
for water

(CNN) -- The international space station's three crew members Sunday
welcomed aboard space shuttle Endeavour's seven astronauts, who
arrived to help install more living areas and upgrade amenities.

"We understand that this house is in need of an extreme makeover, and
that you're the crew to do it," station commander Mike Fincke told
Endeavour's astronauts after they entered the station. "We're really
glad to see you. ... Welcome to space."

The shuttle, which also brought mission specialist Sandra Magnus to
replace station flight engineer Greg Chamitoff, had docked with the
station just after 5 p.m. ET about 212 miles above northern India.

Two hours after the docking, the crews opened their vehicles' hatches
and exchanged hugs and handshakes as Endeavour's astronauts entered
the station.

"We're looking forward to working on your house and making it looking
a little bit better when you're done," shuttle commander Chris
Ferguson said. The greetings were shown live on NASA TV.

Chamitoff, who has been on the space station for nearly six months,
greeted his ride home enthusiastically shortly after the docking.
VideoWatch the docking »

"You look beautiful," Chamitoff said by radio. "I am smiling from ear
to ear." PhotoSee photos of shuttle launch, docking »

Before the shuttle docked, it did a nine-minute backflip so station
astronauts could take high-resolution pictures of the shuttle's
thermal-protection system, NASA said. The photos were transferred to
Earth, and NASA will look at the photos for damage on Endeavour, which
launched Friday.

It was a gash on the wing of space shuttle Columbia that caused its
destruction and the deaths of seven astronauts during re-entry
February 1, 2003.

NASA will first determine whether the images show any damage to part
of Endeavour's starboard wing. That determination needs to be made
before the installation of a new station module, scheduled for Monday,
because the module would be in the way should closer inspection of the
wing be needed, NASA officials said.

Should astronauts need to inspect the wing, the module installation
would be pushed to Tuesday, NASA officials said.

NASA also said Sunday that debris seen about 26 seconds into Friday's
launch did not hit Endeavour, and that the debris wasn't one of the
shuttle's thermal blankets as mission managers initially feared.

"We've determined that all of our thermal protection system blankets
are intact in that area, so we're continuing to look at what that
debris source might have been. The candidate is probably ice," mission
management team chairman LeRoy Cain said.

While at the station, the astronauts will increase the station's
living space with room for six instead of the current three. They'll
install more places to sleep, another bathroom, a better water system,
more exercise equipment and a bigger refrigerator.

The population on board the space station is to grow to six next
spring.

Also on tap are four space walks focusing on the station's two Solar
Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow the solar panels to track the sun.

The shuttle is also bringing Thanksgiving dinner, with irradiated
turkey, candied yams, stuffing and dessert, because it won't be
returning to Earth until November 29.

Besides Magnus and Ferguson, members of the shuttle crew are pilot
Eric Boe and astronauts Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Steve Bowen, Don
Petit and Shane Kimbrough.

On Nov 18, 2:46*pm, Rich wrote:
Unlike with Hubble repairs, Mars missions, etc? *Because it is a SCAM.

Not unlike the war in Iraq then. Except that ISS is small change
compared to that disaster.

Endeavour docks with space station

* * * Story Highlights
* * * Crews greet each other after shuttle Endeavour docks with space
station
* * * Before docking, the shuttle did a 360-degree backflip so photos
could be taken
* * * Being delivered: an extra bathroom, kitchenette and exercise
machine
* * * Also arriving: Two new sleeping compartments, a recycling system
for water

(CNN) -- The international space station's three crew members Sunday
welcomed aboard space shuttle Endeavour's seven astronauts, who
arrived to help install more living areas and upgrade amenities.

"We understand that this house is in need of an extreme makeover, and
that you're the crew to do it," station commander Mike Fincke told
Endeavour's astronauts after they entered the station. "We're really
glad to see you. ... Welcome to space."

MIR was going nicely mouldy long before it was retired. Towards the
end it niffed a bit although apparently you get desensitised after a
short while. And in those days they were still doing relatively good
science in orbit.

Before the shuttle docked, it did a nine-minute backflip so station
astronauts could take high-resolution pictures of the shuttle's
thermal-protection system, NASA said. The photos were transferred to
Earth, and NASA will look at the photos for damage on Endeavour, which
launched Friday.

This is probably a good precaution. Space Shuttles do not have a great
safety record. That is why going to service the Space Telescope is a
relatively high risk mission as there is no safe haven for the Shuttle
on that mission.

It was a gash on the wing of space shuttle Columbia that caused its
destruction and the deaths of seven astronauts during re-entry
February 1, 2003.

NASA will first determine whether the images show any damage to part
of Endeavour's starboard wing. That determination needs to be made
before the installation of a new station module, scheduled for Monday,
because the module would be in the way should closer inspection of the
wing be needed, NASA officials said.

That doesn't sound very sensible. The ISS's only purpose in life is
somewhere for the Space Shuttle to visit in relative safety. Eroding
that safety margin by adding new units seems unwise.

Should astronauts need to inspect the wing, the module installation
would be pushed to Tuesday, NASA officials said.

NASA also said Sunday that debris seen about 26 seconds into Friday's
launch did not hit Endeavour, and that the debris wasn't one of the
shuttle's thermal blankets as mission managers initially feared.

"We've determined that all of our thermal protection system blankets
are intact in that area, so we're continuing to look at what that
debris source might have been. The candidate is probably ice," mission
management team chairman LeRoy Cain said.

The population on board the space station is to grow to six next
spring.

Strange way of putting it. Are they planning on parthenogenesis or
spontaneous creation?

Also on tap are four space walks focusing on the station's two Solar
Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow the solar panels to track the sun.

The shuttle is also bringing Thanksgiving dinner, with irradiated
turkey, candied yams, stuffing and dessert, because it won't be
returning to Earth until November 29.

Oh great so we will have the first orbital case of severe
indigestion.
Do they get vastly overpriced and barely drinkable Beaujolais noveau
to go with it too?

Besides Magnus and Ferguson, members of the shuttle crew are pilot
Eric Boe and astronauts Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Steve Bowen, Don
Petit and Shane Kimbrough.

Good luck to them. The big problem here is that they are not doing
anything remotely interesting from either a scientific perspective or
a human interest one. The cost of space certified kit is very high.

Regards,
Martin Brown

On Nov 18, 2:59 pm, Martin Brown
wrote:
On Nov 18, 2:46 pm, Rich wrote:

Unlike with Hubble repairs, Mars missions, etc? Because it is a SCAM.

Not unlike the war in Iraq then. Except that ISS is small change
compared to that disaster.

$180B and counting for the station, less by far than the war, but
equally as useless, maybe more so.

Rich:
...Endeavour docks with space station....

In fact they _always_ mention the costs of the space program, apart
from classified military projects. As a money-saving move, you did not
receive a paper copy by mail, but a little searching will show you the
NASA budget, requests for additional funds, known cost overruns, and
pretty much the whole shebang.

If you want to know the costs and other details of the classified
missions you will have to subscribe to Aviation Week.

Davoud

--
Give me a name and I¹ll tell you if the person¹s a terrorist or a Real
American. Timothy James McVeigh? Real American! C'mon, that was too easy. Next!

usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

On Nov 18, 4:01 pm, Rich wrote:
On Nov 18, 2:59 pm, Martin Brown
wrote:

On Nov 18, 2:46 pm, Rich wrote:

Unlike with Hubble repairs, Mars missions, etc? Because it is a SCAM.

Not unlike the war in Iraq then. Except that ISS is small change
compared to that disaster.

$180B and counting for the station, less by far than the war, but
equally as useless, maybe more so.

I guess you cannot read, the Iraq war has cost over $600 BILLION so
far and all we have to show for it is dead bodies. As far as ISS/
Shuttle is concerned it at least put a few lazy canadians to work