Orion Launch Today
Discussion
jmorgan said:
At least Putin did not get his navy to swipe it.
Vague reference obviously....http://www.astronautix.com/articles/sovpsule.htm
headline
"Soviets Recovered an Apollo Capsule!"
Gandahar said:
Having a pure oxygen atmosphere plus dodgy wiring does sound rather an accident waiting to happen doesn't it in hindsight......
It wasn't the pure oxygen atmosphere on its own. It was the fact that they had it at about 15 psi during the test.American spacecraft continued to use pure oxygen right through to the last Apollo flight in 1975.
Eric Mc said:
I was reading up on how EVAs (spacewalks) will be performed from Orion. Orion won't have an airlock. Therefore, when performing an EVA the capsule will have to be fully depressurised to allow the hatch to be opened - just like in Apollo and Gemini.
Hmmm - If Orion has the same cabin environment as the ISS the lack of an airlock will require the entire crew to pre-breathe pure oxygen for around 2 1/2 hours prior to an EVA to avoid the bends, as the spacesuits typically are only pressurised to 5psi pure oxygen. On the Shuttle ( and on the ISS after the Quest airlock module was added ) the astronauts preparing for EVA could do this in the airlock without affecting the rest of the crew, while on earlier Apollo and Gemini flights the cabin had the same 5psi O2 pressure as the suits.Agreed. I've not read a satisfactory description yet as to how EVAs from Orion will be carried out.
Another issue is the loo. The Shuttle, Skylab and the ISS all have proper zero-g loos. Is there room for one in Orion or is it back to the days of plastic bags?
And there will be mixed sex crews on Orion.
Another issue is the loo. The Shuttle, Skylab and the ISS all have proper zero-g loos. Is there room for one in Orion or is it back to the days of plastic bags?
And there will be mixed sex crews on Orion.
MartG said:
Your last line I think answers the question - no way would NASA allow a mixed crew without the privacy of a separate loo
So they have to cart a seperate toilet along just so they can show sexual equality? That could make the entire mission unfeasbile. I think it will either have to be men only or the woman grins and bears it.Simpo Two said:
MartG said:
Your last line I think answers the question - no way would NASA allow a mixed crew without the privacy of a separate loo
So they have to cart a seperate toilet along just so they can show sexual equality? That could make the entire mission unfeasbile. I think it will either have to be men only or the woman grins and bears it.
marksx said:
MartG said:
The astros would probably put up with it, but the US voters wouldn't
They probably wont even consider it. Unless Fox news brings it up as a headline."Breaking news - No bathroom for girls on Orion spaceship.."
One thing I don't quite get about Orion:
The Mars mission will involve the astronauts living in a separate module which Orion will dock with once in orbit. The Mars lander will be yet another module. Why take orion along at all, seems like deadweight? Why not just leave it in a parking orbit around earth?
When you see the size of the proposed Mars craft and Orion stuck on the end, it makes you realise how much work is left:
Although, I fully understand how useful Orion is in near earth missions, including the awesome planned asteroid rendezvous, just that some people assume we are almost ready to go to Mars any day now.
The Mars mission will involve the astronauts living in a separate module which Orion will dock with once in orbit. The Mars lander will be yet another module. Why take orion along at all, seems like deadweight? Why not just leave it in a parking orbit around earth?
When you see the size of the proposed Mars craft and Orion stuck on the end, it makes you realise how much work is left:
Although, I fully understand how useful Orion is in near earth missions, including the awesome planned asteroid rendezvous, just that some people assume we are almost ready to go to Mars any day now.
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