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Author
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Topic: ISS resupply: why so many different vehicles?
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ASCAN1984 Member Posts: 1049 From: County Down, Nothern Ireland Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-02-2009 09:13 AM
Why are there so many station resupply spacecraft (i.e. Progress, ATV, HTV)? With so many budget issues in all space programs why do we need so many? |
KSCartist Member Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 12-02-2009 09:34 AM
Redundancy; you never want to be in a situation where only one system can perform a task. |
moorouge Member Posts: 2454 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 12-02-2009 09:48 AM
Mmm... SPS engine on Apollo! |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-02-2009 12:06 PM
In addition to the important issue of redundancy, the vehicles also serve as a technology testbed for their individual space agencies.Both ESA and JAXA have laid out plans (to a varying degree) of adapting their ATV and HTV respectively to become their first crewed spacecraft. NASA is in the process of exploring the use of its commercial cargo spacecraft now under development for use as a commercial crew vehicle. Even Roscosmos, at the urging of Energia, have talked about adapting Progress for other missions, including cargo supply to future lunar bases (as has ESA and JAXA with their vehicles). Even with the ATV, HTV, Progress, Soyuz and shuttle now in service, upmass to the station is extremely limited. For example, Franklin Chang-Diaz's Ad Astra Rocket Company has an agreement with NASA to fly a demonstrator of its VASIMR plasma engine to the ISS, but has yet to be able to secure a spot on any of the vehicles manifested for launch. |
dogcrew5369 Member Posts: 750 From: Statesville, NC Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 12-04-2009 01:27 PM
We'll have plenty of redudancy for supplies but only one ship for crews after shuttle? Brilliant. | |
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Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a
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