T O P I C R E V I E W |
LM-12 | How many different EVA hatch locations were there on the various space shuttle missions? The locations changed depending on the mission. I count four different orbiter locations: - aft bulkhead of the forward fuselage (like STS-51I)
- transfer tunnel between aft bulkhead and the Orbiter Docking System (ODS) (like STS-76)
- transfer tunnel between ODS and Spacehab Module (like STS-96)
- aft hatch below ODS (like STS-98)
STS-51ISTS-76 STS-96 STS-98 |
Jim Behling | The tunnel adapter with hatch was between a Spacelab or Spacehab module, before ODS existed. The aft hatch is part of the ODS. When they put the ODS permanently, they put it as close to the aft bulk head as possible. This meant that missions with occupied modules required the tunnel adapter aft of the ODS. |
LM-12 | In the STS-96 payload bay configuration, could the non-EVA crewmembers move freely between the shuttle and the ISS when the EVA was in progress? Here is an overhead view of the STS-118 payload bay, which has the EVA hatch in the same location as STS-96. This is a high-res version of the photo: https://archive.org/download/s118e09909/s118e09909.jpg |
Robert Pearlman | The single EVA on STS-96 preceded the crew entering the space station for the first time. The spacewalk ended at 6:51 a.m. EDT on May 30, 1999. The hatches between the shuttle and Unity module were opened at 9:14 p.m. EDT that night. (The EVAs during the STS-118 mission were conducted from the station's Quest airlock.) |
LM-12 | I was wondering how much of the tunnel was in a vacuum on the STS-96 EVA with the EVA hatch in that location. It looks like STS-101 and STS-106 may have used the EVA hatch in that location. |
Jim Behling | From the forward aft bulkhead to the end of the tunnel adapter. |
LM-12 | I see. Thanks for those answers. |
Robert Pearlman | As with STS-96, the spacewalks on STS-101 and STS-106 preceded the respective crews entering the space station. |
LM-12 | This is a pre-launch photo of the STS-88 Endeavour payload bay with the Unity module. I see two EVA hatches. They used the ODS hatch. On the next ISS flight of Endeavour (STS-97), the ODS was right up to the aft bulkhead of the forward fuselage. |
LM-12 | STS-104 installed the Quest airlock on the ISS. There were three EVAs. EVA-1 and EVA-2 were from the ODS aft hatch. EVA-3 was from the new Quest airlock. |
LM-12 | EVA astronauts on the fourth Hubble servicing mission (STS-109) used the aft bulkhead EVA hatch on Columbia. |
LM-12 | This STS-69 photo shows Michael Gernhardt exiting the aft bulkhead EVA hatch. That looks like a Node panel at left. The panel has "STS-69" on it for some reason. |
LM-12 | The panel is a debris shield. Part of DTO 671, apparently. From the press kit: DTO 671 consists of a number of tasks designed to evaluate and verify specific assembly and maintenance tasks for the Space Station. Each of the two EVA astronauts will spend about an hour performing a variety of tasks at a board mounted on the starboard side of the payload bay. The tasks include working with handrails, fasteners and connectors while the spacewalker is both free-floating and positioned in a fixed foot restraint. The amount of time and effort required for specific tasks also will be assessed during this time. |
LM-12 | This STS-88 photo shows Jerry Ross at the ODS hatch: View of the ISS stack (Node 1/Unity and FGB/Zarya modules) taken during the third of three extravehicular activities (EVAs) including: View looking down at the Node 1/Unity module (-XA module side). |