Re: Future of MPLMs ?

On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 00:10:33 -0400, John Doe <jdoe@xxxxxxx> wrote:

>Has there been any toughts at NASA to convert 1 or 2 MPLMs into a
>permament structure to be left at the ISS during the last few Shuttle
>flights ?

MMOD shielding would be an issue. Some sort of Zvezda-like bolt-on
MMOD shields might be sufficient, but Shuttle is going to be stretched
getting ISS elements into orbit in the remaining flights as it is,
nevermind adding more big structures to take up.

>One of the complaints of crews has been lack of storage space. Seems to
>me that an MPLM or two would be great to allow more organised storage of
>goods on the station.

At the very least, NASA should consider rotating MPLMs between
resupply flights, leaving an MPLM at the station between Shuttle
flights. That would free the Station crew to load and unload the MPLM
at their leisure, instead of trying to get it all done while at the
same time doing assembly and maintenance work while the Shuttle is
present.

Of course, we have to wait for Node 2 before this is possible.

That would open the door to leaving one or more MPLM at the Station
when Shuttle folds.

Brian
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Permanently Berthing MPLM
    ... impossible for the arm to reach under the shuttle etc etc. ... Oh, it's trivial to get the MPLM to stay in space, just don't unberth ... The *hard* part is having stay part of the ISS and meet the ...
    (sci.space.station)
  • Re: Leave MPLM at station ?
    ... Trash can be sent down on Progress. ... If they were allowed to leave the MPLM there, ... well befoe shuttle arrives, and could then offload the new stuff from the new ... ATV's cargo module is loaded from the aft end ...
    (sci.space.station)
  • Re: Creative NASA space bookkeeping re payload weight
    ... > Knowing bean counters of old, they probably know nothing of the problem you ... The beencounters are seeing this from a shuttle point of view. ... don't care whether the MPLM is 15 tons with nothing in side, ... only 1 ton with 14 tons worth's of supplies. ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: Is 2010 shuttle end written in stone?
    ... the station crews can open the large hatch and walk into the MPLM and move gear in and out of it. ... racks and large objects can be put into the MPLM which is then returned to earth in the shuttle. ... The MPLM offers a large amount of cargo capacity both to and from the station, as well as having a large hatch which allows full computer racks to pass through it. ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Leave MPLM at station ?
    ... I realise that the MPLM isn't "space rated" for long duration. ... But with the grounding of the shuttle, ... but it would still be greatly useful to the crews for stowage. ...
    (sci.space.station)