|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Asymetric station configs and shuttle
The ISS was lucky in that the shuttles were grounded while the station
was more or less in a symetrical configuration. However, from now on, station assembly will involve more asymetric configurations with the truss extenting each direction. If a shuttle were to have damage requiring the other shuttle to come to the rescue, would the rescue shuttle bring up the module that would make the station symetrical ? (or bring back the module that made the station asymetric) What is the closest delay between a shuttle landing and the next one launching ? Would NASA plan to have port and standboard peices launched "simultaneously" (eg: both shuttles on pad being outfitted, with the second shuttle launching the day after the first one has landed) This would ensure that not only would there be a rescue shuttle ready, but also that the module to make station symetrical again would be launched as part of the rescue mission. Considering that should one shuttle fail, it would, in practice, be the end of the shuttle, it seems to be that ensuring the station is left in a symetrical config would be important. Shjould the shuttle be permanently grounded leaving the station asymetrical, would the SSRMS be used to disconnect the truss module and ditch it (or somehow attach it lengthwise on the spine of the station) to make the station symetrical again ? Or would an asymetric station not be such a big issue for long term orbit keeping (once ATV flies, I assume there will be plenty of fuel to compensate for asymetric station ?) |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|