Astronauts Hook Up Harmony in Lengthy Spacewalk

Tech.Luver writes "Astronauts spent seven hours in space to finish preparing the International Space Station for its next addition — Europe's first permanent space laboratory, the Columbus laboratory — which is sitting in the cargo bay of space shuttle Atlantis at Cape Canaveral, Florida launch pad — set to lift off on December 6."

facebook tracking is getting ridiculous

[rritterson]

Apparently, the facebook tracking system is getting ridiculous. It's even following me to slashdot, and predicting that I dislike facebook tracking and sending me to an AP article about it.

(If this was evidence editors don't RTFA before posting...) Or am I the only one to get an odd story when I click on the link?

Re:

[fyedernoggersnodden]

Lol, hear hear. Yeah, I also got the weird link. Hope they fix it soon. SigmaX

Re:

[skoaldipper]

Maybe this laboratory will be studying Beacon while in orbit? Or to launch a new more powerful one?

Re:facebook tracking is getting ridiculous

[WPIDalamar]

Yeah, must be working. I got an article about male enhancement...

Re:facebook tracking is getting ridiculous

[Lord Aurora]

Legit article is here [techluver.com].

Another first

[youthoftoday]

"Astronauts hook up"

The first space kiss?

Re:Another first

[Megane]

Maybe the headline was supposed to be "Astronauts Hook Up Via eHarmony in Lengthy Spacewalk"?

(also noting the headline grammar was bad too)

Re:

[djupedal]

"(also noting the headline grammar was bad too)"

It appears the author was being lazy and decided to clip content from a caption, one that perhaps read as "IIS Astronauts Barney and Fred Hook Up the XYZ Panels connecting the coke machine Via eHarmony in Lengthy Spacewalk on Tuesday"

So lazy, in fact, that all available editing energies were spent during clipping, leaving nothing to correct the bad grammar that resulted.

Link to possible intended story

[Gigiya]

Possible intended link. [mercurynews.com]

That link is hosed...

[Ellis D. Tripp]

How about one that actually works?

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/071124-expedition16-third-spacewalk.html [space.com]

Good

[John.P.Jones]

Good, now they won't need to have all those extra remote control's floating around the ISS, Harmonies are great.

Re:

[mooreti1]

Am I to assume that you meant ISS instead of IST? I don't mean to nitpick but I don't understand what you're referring to. And my thought, for the record, is that NASA is as "steely eyed" as ever.

Re:

[Fourier404]

I don't get it, what exactly is NASA doing wrong?

Re:

[Fourier404]

Um, sustaining human life in space and robotic probes on mars? I'd say that's pretty significant.

Really?

[WindBourne]

Well, lets look at this. Bigelow has 2 space stations up there. So, I guess that you are correct. Oh, wait. They obtained the technology from NASA for next to nothing (for the amount that they had, it should have cost bigelow 100's of millions). In addition, with 7 years of work, they have 2 stations that are the size of large coffins up there. So, while I expect big things out of them, they are like NASA, having a LONG way to go.

Then we have Spacex. They have launched 2x and are still not in orbit. The amazing thing is that ALL of their tech is a NASA derivative. That is, they did not do the research (though they are doing a bit of their own development). Currently, the payments for these 2 launches come from where? NASA. So, NASA is funding them. In fact, if you have been following the pace of COTS lately, you would realize that Spacex is putting pressure on NASA to give them a contract to service the ISS very quickly. In addition, NASA is likely to select SpaceDev for the second go of COTS2. They have also hinted that they want guarenteed sales to the ISS after they have launched. Considering that they are going to start by using deltas to launch their vehicle, they will have a good shot at 2010 flights.

So, what is the point? It is NASA that is helping to create the private business, not the other way around. If ISS had not been there, then spacex/bigelow would likely not be happening. Oh, BTW, you are aware that they feds have the ability to buy the first BA-330 from bigelow, yes? I am guessing that griffin will push for the first sundancer to be hooked up to the station. After all, it is a cheap way to expand the system, test a private space station, and perhaps ultimately get the funding to put the CAM on to the ISS as well. I am also guessing that Scaled as well as armadillo will get future funding from NASA (far beyond the xprize). What this should point out is that NASA is not hindering getting private enterprise into Space, They are their best partner for it.

Right now, I do not feel that NASA is doing everything correct, but they are finally moving forward again. Even now, I think that constellation the way it is being done, will be a mistake, but it will still get us a true heavy launcher (a delta V is not a heavy launcher; Saturn V, Energia were). In the end, the ASSORTMENT of launchers and finally launch technology (land based vs. airplane launch vs. rail launched vs. ladder) is what will strengthen the west's capabilities.

Re:Really?

[WindBourne]

First off, you appear to believe that you are unique. Hell, the fact that you hide behind AC shows that you are VERY non unique. As to reading sci-fi, I am guessing that /. probably has a sci-fi readership of just under 100%. Why? Because we are ALL interested in what the future CAN hold as well as what it DOES hold. Sci-Fi is about CAN hold. But if you look at history, you will see the beginnings of sci-fi through out time. In particular, IMHO, DaVinci was one of the greatest Sci-Fi's. The reason is that he envisioned so much about what potential we had and was working towards them. But how do you think that he could afford the time? Well, simply put, he was wealthy. In general, most ppl of science WERE wealthy. That is how they afford all that time. Right now, The west, and in particular, America, affords more ppl the opportunity to persue science. Shoots, The wright brothers flew in 1905. It took another 35 years before we had aircrafts in active warfare and doing VERY EXPENSIVE transportation service. And it was another 20 years before we had jet propulsion civilian aircrafts. And these WERE CHEAP to do compared to a doing a rocket. The hard part is finding the first means of flight. After that it slowly takes place. That is what is happening now. America (and USSR) pushed rocketry for 35 years, then coasted. Now, we are seeing a resurgence in it that will allow only the wealthy to fly. But I know that my children will fly on a rocket to space in their lifetime (not likely in mine). More importantly, ppl WILL be on the moon to colonize most likely within my lifetime, and possibly on mars as well. Assuming that we are not hit by another world war, we will finally be off this planet within 10 years. yes, I believe that private will make it happen before NASA. In fact, by the time that Ares V is developed, SpaceX falcon 53 (or what ever it is using the merlin 2) will be developed and will be landing numerous Bigelow stations on the poles of the moon.

Re:

[WindBourne]

That came about at the end of war and had very little impact on WWI. Even the dropping of hand bombs had little to no impact. Study your history.

Basically, aircrafts did not make a huge impact on civilization until WWII (where the air became big (and was everything in korea) ). At that time, DC3's made a HUGE impact as it lead to not only troop support (from 1937 until 1945), but was the basis of nearly all successful airlines.

Re:

[PeterBrett]

Then we have Spacex. They have launched 2x and are still not in orbit. The amazing thing is that ALL of their tech is a NASA derivative. That is, they did not do the research (though they are doing a bit of their own development). Currently, the payments for these 2 launches come from where? NASA. So, NASA is funding them. In fact, if you have been following the pace of COTS lately, you would realize that Spacex is putting pressure on NASA to give them a contract to service the ISS very quickly. In addition, NASA is likely to select SpaceDev for the second go of COTS2. They have also hinted that they want guarenteed sales to the ISS after they have launched. Considering that they are going to start by using deltas to launch their vehicle, they will have a good shot at 2010 flights.

Firstly, saying that all of SpaceX's technology is a NASA derivative is somewhat obvious -- because all rocket launcher technology is derived, directly or indirectly, from either from NASA's research or the Russian space agency's.

Secondly, NASA hasn't paid a dime towards the two Falcon 1 launches that have been carried out so far -- they were funded by DARPA, because the Air Force wants cheap access to space too (one of the other goals is very fast order-to-launch capability). NASA is helping to fund the

Re:

[WindBourne]

Secondly, NASA hasn't paid a dime towards the two Falcon 1 launches that have been carried out so far -- they were funded by DARPA, because the Air Force wants cheap access to space too (one of the other goals is very fast order-to-launch capability). That is false. First, Musk has openly said that he has used COTS money to help pay for the development on this. But ignoring that, why did Kisteler cost COTS 25Million for producing nothing? The simply fact is that COTS IS paying these ppl to develop these sy

Re:

[khallow]

Well, lets look at this. Bigelow has 2 space stations up there. So, I guess that you are correct. Oh, wait. They obtained the technology from NASA for next to nothing (for the amount that they had, it should have cost bigelow 100's of millions). In addition, with 7 years of work, they have 2 stations that are the size of large coffins up there. So, while I expect big things out of them, they are like NASA, having a LONG way to go.

Here's my take. Bigelow will get a six man space station up there at some point in the next 10-20 years. And it won't cost anywhere near $50 billion to do so.

So, what is the point? It is NASA that is helping to create the private business, not the other way around. If ISS had not been there, then spacex/bigelow would likely not be happening. Oh, BTW, you are aware that they feds have the ability to buy the first BA-330 from bigelow, yes? I am guessing that griffin will push for the first sundancer to be hooked up to the station. After all, it is a cheap way to expand the system, test a private space station, and perhaps ultimately get the funding to put the CAM on to the ISS as well. I am also guessing that Scaled as well as armadillo will get future funding from NASA (far beyond the xprize). What this should point out is that NASA is not hindering getting private enterprise into Space, They are their best partner for it.

This friendlier stance from NASA is fairly recent. Keep in mind that from around the late 70's up to the 90's, NASA was more intent on protecting the markets of established US launchers. Some more examples are the destruction of what I've heard was called the "bantamweight" rockets (six or so startups quit when NASA introduced its own competitor)

Hmmmm.

[WindBourne]

Funny. First you do realize that you and I have posted a lot on the space threads and I am generally defending the private space ventures. But in this case ....

Here's my take. Bigelow will get a six man space station up there at some point in the next 10-20 years. And it won't cost anywhere near $50 billion to do so.
First, I trust that you are not saying that the ba-330 is a six man station the way that bigelow claims. Keep in mind that the skylap was 368 m3. IOW, it was bigger than the ba-330. Did it s

Re:

[khallow]

You are apparently right about NASA and SpaceX. Googling around, I see that what I thought was $100 mllion in spending from the US Air Force actually was a cap on a promise for spending with most of the cap uncommited at the time (several years ago). Most of the US AF launches didn't happen so SpaceX hasn't yet gotten the promised money.

I suppose I really was bristling at the implication that NASA can burn through tremendous sums over decades, failing to deliver on a scale that only government programs ca

Re:

[WindBourne]

Don't sweat it. I know that you and I differ on various parts of NASA (esp. ISS as I do support it; just wish that it had not been so expensive, but that was the price of keeping rsa going as well as building up other western space programs).

BTW

[WindBourne]

Most of the US AF launches didn't happen so SpaceX hasn't yet gotten the promised money.

Keep in mind what I said above. A number of DOD launches disappeared from Spacex site. But Musk has said several times that spacex has NOT lost a single launch. The money will be coming to spacex. Spacex never wanted a free handout (unlike others such as kistler). They simply want the ability to land launches. I expect that Spacex, combined with Spacedev (who I think will win the COTs 2 award) will handle America's ear

Re:

[WindBourne]

Much of that research IS private companies (L-mart and Boeing being just 2 examples). In fact, very little of the r/d is carried out by "NASA" itself. If you like, you can apply for a number of grants from them. I have considered it for an automated farming system idea that I have had. As to half-baked research/shoddy mission control/execution, please give examples. Please show where more than 10% of the money is wasted (which would be far less than what an efficient small business wastes). Likewise, what s

Re:

[Chris Tucker]

They are doing what they have been tasked to do by Congress, with the monies provided to them by Congress.

They may not be doing it the way YOU want. Tough. Sucks to be you.

Why not run for Congress, win a seat, and work your way up to be the chair of the comittee that funds NASA.

Then they will have to do things YOUR way.

Forgive me if I don't hold my breath waiting for THAT to happen anytime soon.

Re:

[jayp00001]

As a civilian agency they better not be following congressional orders. You can find the text of the act that created NASA here http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ogc/about/space_act1.html#POLICY [nasa.gov]. They're purposed as a civilian agency with congessional oversight. They get money from congress- not orders.

Re:

[Chris Tucker]

Yeah. Sure.

If NASA decided to do something of which Congress disapproved, how much longer would the NASA budget be funded?

Bush says, "YEEHAW! We's goin' to MARS!", NASA says, "Yassah, master George!" Bush tells Congress, "Yew boys don't spend too much on thishere Mars thing, hear?" and Congress says, "Yassah, master George!".

Or, more to the point. DOD told NASA EXACTLY what the dimensions of the cargo bay were going to be, and what the lift capacity of the Shuttle would be.

So much for being a civilian aganc

Re:

[jayp00001]

NASA's budget is a pittence. What would congress do cut it some more? Note that the DOD requirements are a part of the charter.

Re:

[Chris Tucker]

So much for their so-called "civilian" status and independence.

Re:

[jayp00001]

Yes, there are provisions for DOD requirements to take precedence. This does not make them somehow less independent as DOD requests are fully integrated into the charter. Also note that the DOD spec you mention was simply on how small the bay could be- not how large. There was also nothing stopping NASA from building a smaller one first had they so desired.

Re:

[Chris Tucker]

"There was also nothing stopping NASA from building a smaller one first had they so desired."

"Hello, Congress, NASA here. Hey, look. We're gonna go ahead and build a smaller Shuttle than what DOD wants and use the money appropriated for the bigger Shuttle to do that. That's cool with you guys, right? You're cool with that, right?"

Yeah, I can see that happening.

Re:

[noidentity]

That's what they get for choosing evolution. Should have chosen intelligent design, which can't devolve!

Re:

[Cassius Corodes]

Isn't it the other way around? The ID crowd says only devolution can occur? Perhaps slashdot can be used as evidence for their cause?

Correct Link

[Xgamer4]

Here's what I believe to be the correct link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/24/AR2007112400458_2.html?hpid=moreheadlines [washingtonpost.com]

Its under Related Stories

[Anonymous Coward]

It looks like a mis-post got promoted to the front page, and the corrected post is under related stories. Here is the link:
http://techluver.com/2007/11/25/astronauts-hooks-up-module-in-lengthy-spacewalk/ [techluver.com]

Looks like even the original story is missing that apostrophe :Astronaut's hooks up module in space.

Ok ok, bad joke. :p

Re:

[djupedal]

Ok, so C.Taco comes in as anonymous, and tips a correction, pretending to be a 'Good Samaritan', then he quickly mods it up, so everyone can see it - not sure if this was what the board had in mind when they told Taco to 'improve transparency'.

Why not just go and make the correction instead? Or is it true that the backend is so convoluted-ly broken that you can't, and we're just seeing another example of that particular Achilles heel?

...weak boys, very, very weak.

Re:

[PopeRatzo]

um, you're whining.

Just so you know.

If you're gonna whine, it might be better to use email and send it directly to the person(s) who can do something about it. That way, you don't come across as such as douche.

Can you hear me now?

[djupedal]

Editorializing (sarcastically, to be precise), but to someone w/their pointy little head up their scab riddled ass, everything sounds like whining, I suppose.

"it might be better to use email and send it directly to the person(s) who can do something about it."

And you, my dear Pope, are 'list-momming' - acting out a police fantasy, in public no less (-10 points). Ouch. Coupled with a not-so obscure attempt to kiss up to management (+10) makes you a ...(wait for it)... Z E R O!. Let me be the first to t

Re:

[PopeRatzo]

so don't be at all surprised to see your karma drop before the weekend is over.

I wasn't trying to admin anything. Just pointing out that you were acting like a douche. Like so:

Editorializing (sarcastically, to be precise), but to someone w/their pointy little head up their scab riddled ass, everything sounds like whining, I suppose.

"it might be better to use email and send it directly to the person(s) who can do something about it."

And you, my dear Pope, are 'list-momming' - acting out a police fantasy,

space lab? more like a low orbit aluminium can

[Anonymous Coward]

if this is our best, lord help us

we should be building moonbase by now

Re:space lab? more like a low orbit aluminium can

[meringuoid]

if this is our best, lord help us. we should be building moonbase by now

What's wrong with a low orbit aluminium can? That's exactly what a space station should be. A moonbase would just be an aluminium can on the moon. Certainly we should have them by now, but at least we're back on the right track after the unfortunate spaceplane fad of the last 30-odd years.

The problem with building a moon base isn't the components. We know how to build those. NASA can build them, so can the Europeans and the Japanese and above all so can the Russians. Launching them is easy too. Once in orbit it wouldn't be hard to send them on to the Moon - rendezvous with a separately launched booster stage and off you go. Getting down in one piece would be an interesting challenge, though.

The big problem isn't so much in building a station as in maintaining one. ISS relies on frequent resupply rockets from Earth. That's Progress supply ships from Russia, small unmanned capsules crammed with equipment and consumables; these are soon to be replaced by European cargo ships of considerably greater capacity. There are plenty of rockets available to launch such large ships to ISS. There are no rockets available to launch them to the Moon.

This is where we're getting back on track. You'll have heard of the new Constellation project: NASA are going back to basics with capsules launched on big dumb boosters. Orion spacecraft, launched on two Ares rockets - one small rocket intended for launching manned spacecraft to LEO, one big rocket intended for launching cargo to LEO. That cargo can itself be a rocket; dock the manned ship with that rocket, and you're off to the Moon. This is a much better way of doing things. Even if the Moon project comes to nothing, you're not left with an expensive monster like the Saturn V with few no non-lunar applications - you have a perfectly good lightweight man-rated lifter, and also the mother of all cargo rockets. With something like Ares V, ISS could have been built in a lot less time with far fewer launches.

Not much news

[Takichi]

From the articles other people have posted and this one [nasa.gov], there doesn't seem to be much to report other than they did some prep work. The shavings are still a problem, the moon is pretty, and they did some cooling systems work.

KSC versus Cpae Canaveral

[ExportGuru]

Shuttles launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center Launch Complexes 39A and 39B, and not from Cape Canaveral, a geographical feature separated from KSC on Merritt Island (mostly) by the Banana River lagoon. The launch complxes on Cape Canaveral and the "Skid Strip" there are part of the Cape Canaveral Air Forse Station. Let's get it right. NASA can use the credit for what it has and does at KSC. - I used to work at KSC and still live nearby on Merritt Island.

Astronauts?

[achenaar]

OK which is it:
"Astronaut Hooks Up Harmony" or "Astronauts Hook Up Harmony"?
It can't be both.
Also, can you imagine the instruction pamphlets on those suckers?
"Insert rod C in slot F adhesive adding after pressure applied good."

Re:

[danlock4]

OK which is it:
"Astronaut Hooks Up Harmony" or "Astronauts Hook Up Harmony"?
It can't be both.

That's correct. However, TFA says (in both the article and the address) "Astronauts Hooks", so I guess it's both.

why is it named "Columbus"?

[deftones_325]

Do they expect that it will detach itself from the space station in search of a new world...appoint itself govorner of said new world, then return in shackles to be made prisoner by the spitefull europeans?

Does this mean Harmony has minions?

[Jim in Buffalo]

Sorry, the name "Harmony" means "perpetual joke vampire character on Buffy" to me.