Space Station Structure... STS 121

I'm just curious how much is being taken to the ISS with the launch of STS
121 that will give the station more structure.
I've browsed all the NASA site about STS 121 and only came up with crew
information. So far, all I can tell is that this
mission is to be just another MPLM transfer and little else will be added to
the station. I guess I'm anxious to see the
station recieve more components and modules to give the crews more space up
there. If I were up there I'd feel cramped
inside for 6 months. Are there any websites that give a virtual tour of the
station? I'd enjoy seeing where the crew members
call home, their living courters. Most of all I have many questions I'd like
to ask regarding the station, such as, what happens
if the crew becomes agitated, or on each others nerves? I know they have to
train together for months on end before they get
the chance to fly aboard the ISS, but what if they have a serious
disagreement? It's not like they can just say "you stay there,
and I'm going over here"...

Does anybody have any info on the future launches of space station modules
such as Columbus? or Kibo? If so, I'd enjoy
hearing from you. Most all of the sites about Kibo, or Columus modules show
one thing, the outside of the modules. For some
reason the inside of the modules aren't photographed much, and in the rare
instance that they are, it's just a bare shot without
any human reference showing how much roaming room is inside.

thoughts????

"S H" wrote in
news:Ms3bg.77434$gE.65967@dukeread06:

I'm just curious how much is being taken to the ISS with the launch of
STS 121 that will give the station more structure.

Nothing.

I've browsed all the NASA site about STS 121 and only came up with
crew information. So far, all I can tell is that this
mission is to be just another MPLM transfer and little else will be
added to the station.

That is correct.

I guess I'm anxious to see the
station recieve more components and modules to give the crews more
space up there.

Station assembly will resume with the following flight, STS-115. It will
carry the P3/P4 truss segment. It will be followed by STS-116 (P5 truss),
STS-117 (S3/S4 truss), and STS-118 (S5 truss). No more pressurized
modules will be added until the truss is almost complete - the truss
carries the solar arrays and radiators necessary to provide power and
thermal control for the additional modules. The next pressurized module,
Node 2, will be launched with STS-120.

Does anybody have any info on the future launches of space station
modules such as Columbus? or Kibo?

Columbus launches on STS-122, Kibo on 124.

The entire shuttle manifest is as follows:

STS-121/ISS-ULF1.1 MPLM
STS-115/ISS-12A P3/P4
STS-116/ISS-12A.1 Spacehab, P5
STS-117/ISS-13A S3/S4
STS-118/ISS-13A.1 Spacehab, S5
STS-120/ISS-10A Node 2
STS-122/ISS-1E Columbus
STS-123/ISS-1J/A JEM logistics module
STS-124/ISS-1J JEM Kibo module
STS-125/HST SM-04 Hubble Space Telescope servicing
STS-119/ISS-15A S6
STS-126/ISS-ULF2 MPLM
STS-127/ISS-2J/A JEM exposed facility
STS-128/ISS-17A MPLM
STS-129/ISS-ULF3 Unpressurized logistics
STS-130/ISS-19A MPLM
STS-131/ISS-ULF4 Unpressurized logistics
STS-132/ISS-20A Node 3, cupola
STS-133/ISS-ULF5 Unpressurized logistics

If so, I'd enjoy
hearing from you. Most all of the sites about Kibo, or Columus modules
show one thing, the outside of the modules. For some
reason the inside of the modules aren't photographed much, and in the
rare instance that they are, it's just a bare shot without
any human reference showing how much roaming room is inside.

That's to be expected, since the modules won't be fully outfitted until
attached to the station. Once outfitted, Columbus and Kibo will have
interior dimensions similar to the US Destiny lab.


--
JRF

Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.

LooseChanj wrote in
:

On or about Thu, 18 May 2006 20:27:36 -0500, Jorge R. Frank
made the sensational claim that:
STS-125/HST SM-04 Hubble Space Telescope servicing

*blink* When did that happen?

Don't get too excited; it's a placeholder for now. In particular, the STS-
121 OBSS structural dynamics DTO has to have good results. That determines
if the OBSS can be used as a standalone TPS repair platform, to meet the
requirements of CAIB R6.4-1.

--
JRF

Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.

What about the P6 truss segments? Or are these included in with the P5?

On or about Fri, 19 May 2006 19:38:38 -0500, Jorge R. Frank made the sensational claim that:
Don't get too excited; it's a placeholder for now. In particular, the STS-
121 OBSS structural dynamics DTO has to have good results. That determines
if the OBSS can be used as a standalone TPS repair platform, to meet the
requirements of CAIB R6.4-1.

I realize it's a good ways out, but how strong an indication is this? Is NASA
confident those tests will turn out well?
--
This is a siggy | To E-mail, do note | Just because something
It's properly formatted | who you mean to reply-to | is possible, doesn't
No person, none, care | and it will reach me | mean it can happen

On or about Sat, 20 May 2006 03:03:45 -0500, S H made the sensational claim that:
What about the P6 truss segments? Or are these included in with the P5?

I do believe they are already there.
--
This is a siggy | To E-mail, do note | Just because something
It's properly formatted | who you mean to reply-to | is possible, doesn't
No person, none, care | and it will reach me | mean it can happen

LooseChanj wrote:
On or about Sat, 20 May 2006 03:03:45 -0500, S H made the sensational claim that:

What about the P6 truss segments? Or are these included in with the P5?


I do believe they are already there.

Correct. P6 was launched on STS-97 back in 2000, and installed
temporarily on the Z1 truss to provide power for the US segment while
the rest of the truss is built up. It will eventually be moved out to
the end of P5.

--Chris

LooseChanj wrote in
news
On or about Fri, 19 May 2006 19:38:38 -0500, Jorge R. Frank
made the sensational claim that:
Don't get too excited; it's a placeholder for now. In particular, the
STS- 121 OBSS structural dynamics DTO has to have good results. That
determines if the OBSS can be used as a standalone TPS repair
platform, to meet the requirements of CAIB R6.4-1.

I realize it's a good ways out, but how strong an indication is this?

It's not a strong indication one way or the other. If the flight is going
to occur before HST's batteries die, planning must start early. Plus, Sen.
Mikulski earmarked part of NASA's budget for HST servicing so NASA pretty
much has to spend the money on that anyway.

Is NASA confident those tests will turn out well?

The vibe I get from Griffin is that he is inclined to approve the mission
even if the tests don't go well, and accept the small additional risk of
not being able to repair TPS damage if it occurs. The sentiment in the
Astronaut Office seems to be in that direction as well; there will be no
shortage of volunteers to fly this mission.

--
JRF

Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.

"Chris Bennetts" wrote in message
...
Correct. P6 was launched on STS-97 back in 2000, and installed temporarily
on the Z1 truss to provide power for the US segment while the rest of the
truss is built up. It will eventually be moved out to the end of P5.

I'd like to see videos of the process of moving P6 to the end of P5. I'm
sure the entire process is rather involved.

Jeff
--
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a
little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor
safety"
- B. Franklin, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (1919)

Jim Kingdon wrote in
news
I'd like to see videos of the process of moving P6 to the end of P5.
I'm sure the entire process is rather involved.

In fact it's two days long, due to the lengthy EVAs and power reconfig
required. IIRC, this is the sequence:

Day 1
Mobile transporter (MT) translates to P1 worksite
EVA starts
Station RMS grapples P6
EVA crew disconnects P6 from Z1
Station RMS hands P6 off to shuttle RMS for overnight park
EVA ends

Day 2
Port alpha joint locked
MT translates to P3
EVA starts
Shuttle RMS hands P6 back to station RMS
Station RMS moves P6 to pre-install at end of P5
EVA crew connects P6 to P5
Station RMS releases P6
MT translates away from P3
EVA ends
Port alpha joint unlocked

If memory serves, the most uncertain part is whether the arrays will
retract correctly and redeploy once in the new location. There was
some question mark about whether the retraction/deployment mechanisms
- which ordinarily are just used once after deployment - would be up
to the task after so many years in space.

The P6 arrays and radiators will have been retracted months before the P6
is relocated. The P6 port array is retracted on STS-116 (to allow the port
alpha joint to rotate) and the P6 starboard array is retracted on STS-117
(ditto for the starboard alpha joint). So if there are problems with the
retraction, there will be time to work it out before a jettison decision
must be made.


--
JRF

Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.