Question General Spaceflight Q&A

[DaveS]

ah ok, I thought STS-2 already had mission specialists.

Nope. Originally there were going to be six OFTs using Columbia, but the last two were eliminated.

 

[Izack]

Was the Shuttle's reentry profile at all different with the Spacelab components in the bay?

 

[DaveS]

Was the Shuttle's reentry profile at all different with the Spacelab components in the bay?

Nope. Standard descent profile.

 

[garyw]

Nope. Originally there were going to be six OFTs using Columbia, but the last two were eliminated.

Wasn't there a plan at one point to have MS'es on STS-2 so they could perform a skylab reboost?

This was when the plan was to fly Shuttle in 1979.

 

[Rtyh-12]

I hope this won't be considered a necropost, but...

while I was watching a video tour of the ISS, I've seen the laptops stuck to the walls. I am wondering what operating system they use and how many there are there, and also what is their purpose? (like, can't you just have one or two big computers to control the systems?)

 

[Urwumpe]

I hope this won't be considered a necropost, but...

while I was watching a video tour of the ISS, I've seen the laptops stuck to the walls. I am wondering what operating system they use and how many there are there, and also what is their purpose? (like, can't you just have one or two big computers to control the systems?)

The last I remember was Windows (US Segment) and Solaris (Russian Segment).

 

[Wally]

The Russians were using Solaris? (Ex-)Sun Solaris?

As far as I could see, in Mission Control Rooms they are using Windows XP and at least one station with some sort of Linux (probably RHEL, but I'm not sure about that), so using XP aboard ISS makes sense.

I wonder why are Russians using Solaris...

 

[Rtyh-12]

Thanks, but by any chance, do you happen to know what they use in the other areas?

 

[garyw]

I know that Windows XP is used in the US segment but it has next to no control over the ISS. It's there for mail syncs and other types of activity. Many functions are controlled by Solaris but the actual Command & Control computers that run the core functions of the ISS are military spec (radiation hardened) system and proprietary OS. You can read a little about them here.

 

[Star Voyager]

http://www.astronautix.com/flights/sts2a.htm, also simulated here:

[ame="http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3564"]Skylab Rescue[/ame]

and here:

[ame="http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3555"]Skylab1980[/ame]

 

[Phillips]

Why didnt Columbia fly any missions to the ISS pre STS-107?

 

[T.Neo]

I think Columbia was not preferred for station flights because she was heavy and could launch less payload than the other orbiters, which was especially critical to the ISS inclination. Nevertheless, Columbia was scheduled to launch the Crew Return Vehicle, if I remember correctly.

Other than that, I think it was just primarily scheduling of the flights.

 

[DaveS]

Why didnt Columbia fly any missions to the ISS pre STS-107?

She was too heavy. Atlantis, Discovery and Endeavour had a lighter structure which allowed them to carry heavy components to the high-inclination ISS orbit.

 

[orbitingpluto]

I think it was because Columbia was the heaviest of the shuttle fleet, and for servicing the ISS the Delta-v just wasn't enough.

Edit: Ninja'd. Twice.

 

[Dambuster]

What degree of accuracy are the STS launch windows specified to? I always see it given in hours:mins:secs, but is it actually timed more precisely than that?

 

[Urwumpe]

What degree of accuracy are the STS launch windows specified to? I always see it given in hours:mins:secs, but is it actually timed more precisely than that?

Not more accurate than seconds. While you could of course do that for the pure obsession with numbers, it doesn't change a thing - the few milliseconds inaccuracy has to be tolerated anyway.

 

[Phillips]

If the STS-107 rescue was launched, how would the Rescue shuttle crew get the Columbia crew.? The airlock was replaced by the transfer tunnel to spacehab so the crew couldnt get out unless there were an airlock somewhere around the spacehab transfer tunnel

 

[garyw]

If the STS-107 rescue was launched, how would the Rescue shuttle crew get the Columbia crew.? The airlock was replaced by the transfer tunnel to spacehab so the crew couldnt get out unless there were an airlock somewhere around the spacehab transfer tunnel

There is an airlock on top of the tunnel. This was always there in case there was a need for an emergency EVA to close the Payload Bay Doors or to jettison the KU Band Antenna.

 

[Trigger Furious]

Orbit

How many orbits does it realistically take for the shuttle to intercept the ISS?

 

[DaveS]

About 30 orbits which is the equivalent to about 2 days.