Space Station Freedom Program Update
Attached to this post is the Launch manifests for Space Station Freedom, based out of KSC (DOC. SSF-0002), and Skylab II, based out of VAFB (Doc. SSF-0003).
NASA Managers have been discussing what the next step of the SSF should be. With the SSF to be completed by July of this year, the question is what to do next. The shuttle will continue Logistics flights to the station but that will be once every six months. An idea came from planed shuttle payloads. At one point, NASA wanted to develope a Orbital Manuvering Vehicle (OMV) that would be based out of a station. The OMV would take payloads to higher orbits or bring payloads back. There would be servising facilities at the station including refueling capabilities. The time has come for exploration further away from LEO.
The next plan is to build a partly manned science platform in High Earth Orbit. This will utilize the CEV Orion that is currently in development. The shuttle will deliver a large fuel tank called the Station External Tank (SET) to the SSF. Then in a fallowing flight will deliver a prototype OMV and test payload. The goal of the project is to see how launching payloads from the SSF to HEO best done.
The mission plan would be
The final scheduled assembly flight is to deliver the SET to the station. Then the OMV will follow.
NASA Managers have been discussing what the next step of the SSF should be. With the SSF to be completed by July of this year, the question is what to do next. The shuttle will continue Logistics flights to the station but that will be once every six months. An idea came from planed shuttle payloads. At one point, NASA wanted to develope a Orbital Manuvering Vehicle (OMV) that would be based out of a station. The OMV would take payloads to higher orbits or bring payloads back. There would be servising facilities at the station including refueling capabilities. The time has come for exploration further away from LEO.
The next plan is to build a partly manned science platform in High Earth Orbit. This will utilize the CEV Orion that is currently in development. The shuttle will deliver a large fuel tank called the Station External Tank (SET) to the SSF. Then in a fallowing flight will deliver a prototype OMV and test payload. The goal of the project is to see how launching payloads from the SSF to HEO best done.
The mission plan would be
- SET and OMV are stationed at the SSF.
- Shuttle launched with module for HEO Platform.
- Shuttle docks with SSF and unloads module to station.
- Module is checked out by station and shuttle crews.
- After the shuttle leaves the module is mated to OMV and launched to HEO.
- After delivery of module, OMV returns to SSF for service and refuel.
The final scheduled assembly flight is to deliver the SET to the station. Then the OMV will follow.
Total Comments 1
Comments
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Really nice and it's awesome to see some heavy planning going into missions!Posted 08-31-2009 at 09:03 AM by garyw 
