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Author
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Topic: EVA hatch locations on shuttle missions
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3971
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-03-2024 04:15 PM
  
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-51I STS-76  STS-96  STS-98  |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1930
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 07-03-2024 04:49 PM
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
Member Posts: 3971
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-04-2024 12:16 PM
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
Editor Posts: 52704
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-04-2024 01:08 PM
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
Member Posts: 3971
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-04-2024 01:46 PM
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
Member Posts: 1930
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 07-04-2024 06:14 PM
From the forward aft bulkhead to the end of the tunnel adapter. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3971
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-04-2024 08:49 PM
I see. Thanks for those answers. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52704
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-04-2024 08:59 PM
As with STS-96, the spacewalks on STS-101 and STS-106 preceded the respective crews entering the space station. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3971
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-05-2024 10:17 AM
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
Member Posts: 3971
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-06-2024 01:12 AM
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
Member Posts: 3971
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-07-2024 08:10 AM
EVA astronauts on the fourth Hubble servicing mission (STS-109) used the aft bulkhead EVA hatch on Columbia. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3971
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-08-2024 11:09 AM
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
Member Posts: 3971
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-09-2024 08:54 AM
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.
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