New Russian Module Adds Extra Airlock To ISS

bytor4232 writes: "I ran across this AP story on Yahoo about the new Russian module added to the ISS. Apparently this module will not only provide extra docking ports, but it will also serve as a backup to the U.S. air lock."

How many shuttles at one time are going to be dock

[groebke]

I am unsure if this is a the way to spend money on the ISS. Exactly how many shuttles or resupply ships are going to be docked at one time? can any supply that answer.

The cost in currency and time could have been better spent on other functions: experiments, testing manufacturing facilities or the next generation in space telescopes.

When are we as a planet going to stop messing around in near earth space and finally venture further into space: the moon; the asteriod belt; Mars; etc. I know that a station in orbit is needed, but can we go further for a change.

Re:How many shuttles at one time are going to be d

[__aaaaxm1522]

Believe it or not, the Russian spacesuits are incompatible with the US airlock systems and vice versa - the US suits aren't compatible with the Russian airlocks. In other words, each suit must be prepped in it's respective lock. Hence the need for two distinct airlocks. Doesn't make much sense, does it?

Re:How many shuttles at one time are going to be d

[cmowire]

Actually, that's not entirely true.

The US airlock can host both Russian and US spacesuits. The Russian airlock can only support Russian spacesuits.

The problem is that both spacesuits have different diagnostic gear, different mounting racks, different requirements, etc. So it adds greatly to the complexity to support both spacesuits. And neither country wants to give up their own spacesuits, so you hafta support both.

Spacesuit support

[zardor]

Sorta true, the US airlock, Quest, is planned to support both types, but I believe that it currently only has the plumbing for the US suits. The russian valves/regulators will be installed at a later stage.

Re:How many shuttles at one time are going to be d

[.sig]

I believe the question was 'When will we be leaving someone there?' We have had manned stations in orbit for awhile now, so why can't we send someone to the moon for a few months? I'm still waiting for that moon base that I dreamed of as a kid...

Docking Ports

[zardor]

They need the extra soyuz docking port for several reasons. The main one is that there were only two ports on the Russian end that support the Soyuz/Progress docking system (The other ports are of a different design to allow heaver modules to dock permenantly - Pirs has one of these at it's top end)
There is generally a progress supply ship docked at the 'rear' or the station, and a Soyuz escape craft on the Nadir (earth facing) port. When they swap the Sozuz's every 6 months or so, they have to undock the progress, dock the new soyuz at the rear port, undock the old soyuz, (and then possibly move the new soyuz to the Nadir port and redock the progress). Having a spare Nadir port means they can leave the progress where it is, and just use the Nadir ports to handle the Soyuzs.

This will reduce the amount of dockings/undockings, and also reduce the amount of 'traffic' around the station. Remember the Progress Crash on Mir? That happened during a Progress re-docking.

Also, the new module will give a few meters extra clearance when a Soyuz needs to dock. This will also improve safety, radio communications and reduce the effect of rocket gas from the docking spacecraft hitting the station's solar panels.

Cost?

[zardor]

This is a russian module, paid for (hopefully/eventually!) by the russian space agency - so it dosn't effect the science budget, since the russians can't afford to do much space science anyhow.
The module was packed with cargo, so it's cost can be partially offset against that of a dedicated Progress supply mission. (Although Pirs dosn't carry a hugh amount of cargo other that itself, or any fuel for the station. It does have a Spacesuit and a crane for the outside of the station on board)
Two or three spacewalks are planned from the new module in October, to do some wiring and also to do a paid spacewalk (scientific/Advertising?) for the Japanese I think, so that might cover some more of the cost.
Incedently, that might mean that the first 'independent' EVA from the station will be in russian suits from the Russian Airlock.
(All other EVAs have taken place with the shuttle present, even the test EVA from the Quest airlock)

There was one independent spacewalk already, where they set up the docking port for Pirs to dock, but they didn't actually leave the station for that, even though they were in vacumn. Technically that is called an IVA, for Intra-Vehicular-Activity, as opposed to Extra-Vehicular-Activity