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Space Station Computers Partially Restored
Posted by
Zonk
on Fri Jun 15, 2007 04:15 PM
from the i'd-like-to-see-geek-squad-get-up-there dept.
from the i'd-like-to-see-geek-squad-get-up-there dept.
Raver32 writes with the news that a partial restoration
of computer control was established on the International Space Station (ISS) Thursday. Systems controlling critical elements like navigation and life-support failed on Wednesday. "Flight controllers were able to re-establish some communication with the computers overnight, with Russian engineers working Thursday to restore the rest of the system, NASA space station flight director Holly Ridings said. The U.S. space agency and Russian officials are still trying to determine the cause of a failure affecting multiple computers in the Russian network ... Since an earlier failure on Monday, thrusters on the space shuttle Atlantis have been fired periodically to help maintain the station's position. The Russian and U.S. space agencies said they could extend Atlantis's mission by one or two days to fix the problem. In the worst-case scenario, NASA said the ISS crew members -- two Russians and an American -- may be evacuated from the station."
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Space Station Partners Bicker Over Closure Date 222 comments
jcdick1 writes "The current partners in the ISS are in discussion regarding the closure date of the space station, even though it still has not been fully assembled. 'The United States insists it will pull out of the station at the end of 2015 while Russia wants its life prolonged, said European Space Agency (ESA) chief Jean-Jacques Dordain at an astronautics congress in Hyderabad, southern India. NASA administrator Michael Griffin has told space station partners that the US agency has no plans for "utilization and exploitation" of the science research lab for more than five years after it is completed, Dordain said.'"
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OLD OLD news (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2007-0
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
So, they either (a) fix the computers that control the gyros on the space station OR (b) everyone still up there boards either the Soyuz or Atlantis and everyone bails leaving the station to its fiery demise after it tumbles out of control OR (c) the Russians send a progress craft up there with more fuel (does the space shuttle support in flight refueling?) and consumable
I blame W.G.A. (Score:5, Funny)
There are times... (Score:3, Interesting)
Of course, if we launched enough smaller ships to where we had multiple birds in the air at any given time, space for evacuation wouldn't be a problem. Just catch the next transport.
Which reminds me, did NASA ever get around to installing the emergency escape craft? I know it was supposed to be a stripped-down capsule, but I don't remember if they just decided to keep something docked at all times instead.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:There are times... (Score:5, Informative)
Eventually NASA realized that wouldn't work, so they went through a series of different designs. Initially, they were going to dust-off the Apollo Capsule design and use that. Then they got creative.
The design, as specced when they started launching, was to put a lifting body capsule specifically designed for the purpose. Until it was ready, they'd just use Soyuz capsules.
Then the special purpose vehicle became a general purpose vehicle, so that they didn't have to worry about the shuttle nearly as much.
Then the Columbia blew up and the general purpose vehicle became our last best hope for a space program, but as a dusted-off Apollo Capsule instead of a fancy lifting body.
Now, they just dock a single Soyuz capsule. Eventually they will have a pair of Soyuz capsules docked. Which is fine, it's just that the Russians have a habit of abusing their position whenever they are the only way up and down from the ISS.
Also, note that if the goal is to get somebody *down* from orbit, it isn't too hard. A heat-shield, a space-suit, a nitrogen-gas thruster, and a parachute. Maybe a cheezy visual alignment aid to get the thruster in the right point and a map to make sure you land on land. A few hundered pounds of hardware, per person. The problem has always been feature-creep more than anything else.
Parent
Re:There are times... (Score:4, Informative)
they're actually working on that. there was an interesting article in popsci in the latest issue. they're planning to have the first actual jump-from-orbit test by 2009.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
The latter can soft land with wheels or skids. The former relies on parachutes.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
ISS showing it's age (Score:2)
Think of it this way, if you where in the hospital on life support would you want the latest tech or something that powers a cell phone now adays?
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Processor speed is irrelevant to whether or not a device is reliable, but having an older device suggests that the bugs
are more likely to be fixed or at least known by the staff. CPUs don't really wear out anyway.
No (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Damn the Hollywood! Aiding the enemy!! (Score:2)
Over-voltage causes computer failure at ISS Russia (Score:5, Informative)
"The power units of six computers of the Russian segment had a breakdown because of the over-voltage. The American partners unfolded new solar batteries on June 11," the source said.
The German-made computers withstood the 2.5-time over-voltage last September, when the first segments of solar batteries were unfolded. The June 11 over-voltage hit the computers hard, he said.
While experts are trying to reanimate the computers, new power units will be delivered to the ISS onboard a Progress freighter, Energia General Director Nikolai Sevastyanov told a Friday press conference. He said the new power units would be better protected.
The Progress will be launched two weeks earlier than planned because of the ISS situation. Initially, the launch was scheduled for August 6. The U.S. segment of the ISS will provide for the station's orientation in the meantime, and engines of the docked Progress will be used if necessary.
The ISS crew evacuation is not on the agenda, although a relevant plan has been drafted. Some of the computers of the Russian segment are still operational.
Source: http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1
Re:Over-voltage causes computer failure at ISS Rus (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
They didn't all die because there's very few disasters on the ISS that would produce near-instantaneous calamity. This particular one means no thrusters, which isn't usually a problem ( gyros work for minor correctio
This is old news - Status update (Score:3, Informative)
I figured it had to be the new panels. (Score:3, Funny)
Why not an American computer? (Score:3, Funny)
Closer to solved? (Score:4, Informative)
Twit moderators (Score:2, Offtopic)
Get a clue before moderating.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I should probably keep that in mind for now. I was looking at your post and trying to figure out exactly which Lexington you were talking about. The last USS Lexington I'm aware of was an old Essex-class WWII carrier that was decommissioned in 1991. (Named in honor of the first operational carrier in the US Fleet; valiantly lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea.) Given the age of the carrier, I
Funny (Score:5, Funny)
Parent