Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate This Thread
Hop To
#3759126 - 03/28/13 11:36 PM Express trip to the ISS - is happening now  
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 18,549
piper Offline
Veteran
piper  Offline
Veteran

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 18,549
Raleigh,NC
This is cool. Today's launch of a Soyuz capsule taking the next crew member to the ISS will get there faster than before.

Instead of days from liftoff to ISS dock, it's now 6hrs (four orbits). Prgress!

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/03/2...n-cosmic-first/

Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)

#3759266 - 03/29/13 05:42 AM Re: Express trip to the ISS - is happening now [Re: piper]  
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,555
VF9_Longbow Offline
Hotshot
VF9_Longbow  Offline
Hotshot

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,555
Tokyo, Japan
i'm not sure this is progress, i believe it's always been a possibility. it's mostly a matter of launch timing and fuel usage. they could probably do it in a single orbit if they didn't mind wasting fuel.

#3759492 - 03/29/13 04:21 PM Re: Express trip to the ISS - is happening now [Re: piper]  
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 167
Rask Offline
Member
Rask  Offline
Member

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 167

It is progress in a way that this form of rendezvous was never done with a space station. The concept of fast rendezvous was used before during the Gemini program. The difference was that the Agena target vehicle to which the Gemini capsule was to dock, were launched within hours of each other. This makes things a bit easier as you naturally get a low initial phase angle, which is what you need to do a fast rendezvous, between the two spacecraft.

Now with a space station things get complicated, as you can't really make big orbital adjusments with the station. So the only option you have is to wait until the stations is alinged withing 30 degree of you launch site (compared to 270 degree in a 2 day rendezvous) and then have very precise guidance computers and rocket engines to hit this very tiny hole in the sky. Surprisingly if done right the fuel consumption isn't that much higher than a "normal" approach and the benefits outweight the additional difficulty.

#3759565 - 03/29/13 06:50 PM Re: Express trip to the ISS - is happening now [Re: piper]  
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 49,716
Jedi Master Offline
Entil'zha
Jedi Master  Offline
Entil'zha
Sierra Hotel

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 49,716
Space Coast, USA
As it is the shuttle always had an 8 min launch window for ISS missions, and if it missed it there was one more just over an hour later. After that, 24 hr wait.

However, I think a lot of it was also caution. Typical gov't logic, use lots of caution where it's not really needed, but be overly slack where it is.



The Jedi Master


The anteater is wearing the bagel because he's a reindeer princess. -- my 4 yr old daughter
#3759585 - 03/29/13 07:19 PM Re: Express trip to the ISS - is happening now [Re: Rask]  
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,619
CyBerkut Online content
Administrator
CyBerkut  Online Content
Administrator
Hotshot

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,619
Florida
Originally Posted By: Rask

Now with a space station things get complicated, as you can't really make big orbital adjusments with the station. So the only option you have is to wait until the stations is alinged withing 30 degree of you launch site (compared to 270 degree in a 2 day rendezvous) and then have very precise guidance computers and rocket engines to hit this very tiny hole in the sky. Surprisingly if done right the fuel consumption isn't that much higher than a "normal" approach and the benefits outweight the additional difficulty.


It looks like someone is ready for the Kerbal Space Program!

j/k ... Nice explanation, Rask!

#3759586 - 03/29/13 07:20 PM Re: Express trip to the ISS - is happening now [Re: piper]  
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,984
Master Offline
meh
Master  Offline
meh
Veteran

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,984
Mechjeb is cheating IMHO even if it does help then get to the ISS faster.

#3759649 - 03/29/13 09:20 PM Re: Express trip to the ISS - is happening now [Re: piper]  
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,560
Arthonon Online content
Veteran
Arthonon  Online Content
Veteran

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,560
California
Regardless of the reasons to or not to have done it in the past, I would think the astro/cosmonauts would be happy for it, spending less time in that cramped capsule.


Ken Cartwright

No single drop of rain feels it is responsible for the flood.

http://www.techflyer.net


Moderated by  RacerGT 

Quick Search
Recent Articles
Support SimHQ

If you shop on Amazon use this Amazon link to support SimHQ
.
Social


Recent Topics
Carnival Cruise Ship Fire....... Again
by F4UDash4. 03/26/24 05:58 PM
Baltimore Bridge Collapse
by F4UDash4. 03/26/24 05:51 PM
The Oldest WWII Veterans
by F4UDash4. 03/24/24 09:21 PM
They got fired after this.
by Wigean. 03/20/24 08:19 PM
Grown ups joke time
by NoFlyBoy. 03/18/24 10:34 PM
Anyone Heard from Nimits?
by F4UDash4. 03/18/24 10:01 PM
RIP Gemini/Apollo astronaut Tom Stafford
by semmern. 03/18/24 02:14 PM
10 years after 3/8/2014
by NoFlyBoy. 03/17/24 10:25 AM
Copyright 1997-2016, SimHQ Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.0