Comments on: Houston, we are 'go' http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/29/houston-we-are-go/ Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:59:37 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Mr. Spock http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/29/houston-we-are-go/#comment-999 Mr. Spock Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:25:16 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-999 It will be a sad day indeed in 2010 when we have to say goodbye to the Space Shuttle. Hopefully we can part them out to future missions instead of wasting the usefulness of their technologies. It will be a sad day indeed in 2010 when we have to say goodbye to the Space Shuttle. Hopefully we can part them out to future missions instead of wasting the usefulness of their technologies.

]]> By: Karl http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/29/houston-we-are-go/#comment-677 Karl Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:30:37 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-677 I thought NASA had banned night launches? This will make it harder to photograph falling ice chuncks. I thought NASA had banned night launches? This will make it harder to photograph falling ice chuncks.

]]> By: Bill http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/29/houston-we-are-go/#comment-621 Bill Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:37:39 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-621 When will the ISS crew size expand to six members? Any plans to go beyond that number? Are there plans to extend crew stays in the ISS to a year or more? If we're ever to go to Mars, the round trip will likely take 2.5 years. The ISS seems like an ideal environment to study the effects of a zero gravity on the human body for that long a time. Are there any plans to add artificial gravity facilities (e.g. a room being spun about the center of the ISS) to study mitigation possibilities for zero gravity effects? What are the long term plans for the ISS for the year 2020 and beyond? I see some of the new modules being added currently have ten year life expectancies. Is it expected these modules will be retired at that time and be replaced with newer modules? When will the ISS crew size expand to six members? Any plans to go beyond that number?

Are there plans to extend crew stays in the ISS to a year or more? If we're ever to go to Mars, the round trip will likely take 2.5 years. The ISS seems like an ideal environment to study the effects of a zero gravity on the human body for that long a time.

Are there any plans to add artificial gravity facilities (e.g. a room being spun about the center of the ISS) to study mitigation possibilities for zero gravity effects?

What are the long term plans for the ISS for the year 2020 and beyond? I see some of the new modules being added currently have ten year life expectancies. Is it expected these modules will be retired at that time and be replaced with newer modules?

]]> By: Richard http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/29/houston-we-are-go/#comment-500 Richard Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:37:53 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-500 Thanks for that Kate - very interesting reading. :) I hope there will be more of these extended missions before the Shuttle retires in 2010. Thanks for that Kate – very interesting reading. :)

I hope there will be more of these extended missions before the Shuttle retires in 2010.

]]> By: ktobin http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/29/houston-we-are-go/#comment-498 ktobin Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:14:44 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-498 I believe it was STS-80 in 1996. It was a science mission, not a Hubble servicing mission. The reason that Endeavour will be able to stay so long at the ISS is that the orbiter is outfitted with new technology called the Station to Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS...pronounced "spits"). It has only flown once or twice before, and allows the shuttle to essentially plug into the station. More details on STS-80 here: http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-80/mission-sts-80.html I believe it was STS-80 in 1996. It was a science mission, not a Hubble servicing mission. The reason that Endeavour will be able to stay so long at the ISS is that the orbiter is outfitted with new technology called the Station to Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS...pronounced "spits"). It has only flown once or twice before, and allows the shuttle to essentially plug into the station.

More details on STS-80 here:
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-80/mission-sts-80.html

]]> By: Ben http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/29/houston-we-are-go/#comment-486 Ben Sun, 02 Mar 2008 02:03:48 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-486 Even though we've been entering space for some decades now it's still quite amazing how much work goes into each launch. I've been meaning to get to one. How many people does it take to operate the launch? Ben http://www.topictrove.com Even though we've been entering space for some decades now it's still quite amazing how much work goes into each launch. I've been meaning to get to one. How many people does it take to operate the launch?

Ben
http://www.topictrove.com

]]> By: Richard http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/29/houston-we-are-go/#comment-485 Richard Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:00:23 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-485 I can't wait, although I don't think I'll be getting up that early to see it blast off. It should be very impressive in the dark of night though. Kate, you said "The 16-day mission, designated STS-123, will be the longest shuttle visit to date to the International Space Station." When was the longest mission, and where was it to? Was it a Hubble repair mission? I love the picture in this post. :) Richard http://blogearth.wordpress.com/ I can't wait, although I don't think I'll be getting up that early to see it blast off. It should be very impressive in the dark of night though.

Kate, you said "The 16-day mission, designated STS-123, will be the longest shuttle visit to date to the International Space Station." When was the longest mission, and where was it to? Was it a Hubble repair mission?

I love the picture in this post. :)

Richard
http://blogearth.wordpress.com/

]]>