APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
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APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by APOD Robot » Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:05 am

Image Discovery Visits the Space Station

Explanation: What's happening outside the space station? A space shuttle has docked. Five days ago, the space shuttle Discovery was launched to the International Space Station, carrying six crew members and the large Leonardo Multi Purpose Logistics Module. Three days ago, as pictured above, the docked shuttle was prepared to be unloaded by the space stations Dextre robot and Canadarm2. The above expansive photo captures much more, however, including Japan's Kibo Experiment Module on the lower right, Earth across the top of the frame, and a seemingly starless backdrop of space in the distance. During the next week, the shuttle and ISS crews are scheduled to permanently attach Leonardo as well as fix and upgrade parts of the ISS. After 38 previous voyages, this is expected to be the last space mission for the Space Shuttle Discovery.

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by Beyond » Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:16 am

Those "upgrades" look rather "neuferish", to me.
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by sbbuddha » Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:28 am

What's the green cylindrical object to the left of the Shuttle and above the space station?

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by Chris Peterson » Tue Mar 01, 2011 6:12 am

sbbuddha wrote:What's the green cylindrical object to the left of the Shuttle and above the space station?
A reflection off the inside of the window of something inside the ISS.
Chris

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by John G. » Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:15 am

Why does it appear that the earth's atmosphere is protruding into space on the left side of the photo? Is this some sort of atmospheric phenomena or another reflection?

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by owlice » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:03 pm

Great image, text, and oh, another nice surprise in the links!! Thanks!
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by neufer » Tue Mar 01, 2011 2:53 pm

John G. wrote:
Why does it appear that the earth's atmosphere is protruding into space on the left side of the photo?
Is this some sort of atmospheric phenomena or another reflection?
Reflection.
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by neufer » Tue Mar 01, 2011 2:59 pm

Click to play embedded YouTube video.
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by Chris Peterson » Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:02 pm

neufer wrote:
John G. wrote: Why does it appear that the earth's atmosphere is protruding into space on the left side of the photo?
Is this some sort of atmospheric phenomena or another reflection?
Reflection.
Maybe, but unlike the green streak and some other more subtle reflections that clearly come from inside the ISS, the "protruding" atmosphere must be some sort of aberration introduced by the window- smudges on the glass, perhaps.
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by neufer » Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:09 pm

Chris Peterson wrote:
neufer wrote:
John G. wrote: Why does it appear that the earth's atmosphere is protruding into space on the left side of the photo?
Is this some sort of atmospheric phenomena or another reflection?
Reflection.
Maybe, but unlike the green streak and some other more subtle reflections that clearly come from inside the ISS, the "protruding" atmosphere must be some sort of aberration introduced by the window- smudges on the glass, perhaps.
That's what I meant: forward scattering reflections due to smudges on the glass.
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by biddie67 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:12 pm

I am constantly amazed (and awed) that such an unwieldy-looking conglomeration of those many parts can actually hold together and move so gracefully and steadily through its orbits.

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by orin stepanek » Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:16 pm

Discovery's last mission! What happens to the spacecraft after it's retirement?
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by NoelC » Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:39 pm

Man oh MAN that's a lot of expensive hardware in one picture!!!

Imagine that it takes the combined resources of quite a lot of the civilization on the surface of the planet behind to finance that.

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by NoelC » Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:56 pm

Beyond wrote:Those "upgrades" look rather "neuferish", to me.
I'm no Neufer, but I saw it too...
ISS_SS.jpg
Pipes.jpg
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sal

Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by sal » Tue Mar 01, 2011 6:08 pm

I think it would be a good idea to leave the shuttle there (for emergencies). Next trip up could bring the fuel, etc. for it and bring back who's ever turn it is in the rotation.

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by BMAONE23 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:27 pm

sal wrote:I think it would be a good idea to leave the shuttle there (for emergencies). Next trip up could bring the fuel, etc. for it and bring back who's ever turn it is in the rotation.
This actually might make a lot of sence to leave a Shuttle attached (like the last shuttle trip up) as an emergency evacuation vehicle should the station undergo catastrophic depressurization.
Or as an additional trip and the shuttle could carry a small reentry vehicle in its cargo bay for the crew to return.

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by neufer » Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:55 pm

BMAONE23 wrote:
sal wrote:
I think it would be a good idea to leave the shuttle there (for emergencies). Next trip up could bring the fuel, etc. for it and bring back who's ever turn it is in the rotation.
This actually might make a lot of sence to leave a Shuttle attached (like the last shuttle trip up) as an emergency evacuation vehicle should the station undergo catastrophic depressurization. Or as an additional trip and the shuttle could carry a small reentry vehicle in its cargo bay for the crew to return.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station wrote:
Spacecraft from four different space agencies visit the ISS, serving a variety of purposes. The Automated Transfer Vehicle from the European Space Agency, the Russian Roskosmos Progress spacecraft and the HTV from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency have provided resupply services to the station. In addition, Russia supplies a Soyuz spacecraft used for crew rotation and emergency evacuation, which is replaced every six months
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by Beyond » Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:15 pm

neufer wrote:Thats what i meant: forward scattering reflections due to smudges on the glass
Green smudge-->Lime Jello??
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by Beyond » Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:22 pm

NoelC wrote:
Beyond wrote:Those "upgrades" look rather "neuferish", to me.
I'm no Neufer, but I saw it too...
Pipes.jpg
-Noel
Hmm...I don't see 'pipes' when i click on 'updates'. Maybe you'd better 'click again', Noel.
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by NoelC » Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:29 pm

Not sure what's up with that, but the file is on the APOD site and it shows just fine here. There's no problem with the URL I can see. Plus it says it's been viewed 144 times, so others are getting it.

Maybe a cache clearing operation is in order on your system?

-Noel

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by NoelC » Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:31 pm

BMAONE23 wrote:
sal wrote:I think it would be a good idea to leave the shuttle there (for emergencies). Next trip up could bring the fuel, etc. for it and bring back who's ever turn it is in the rotation.
This actually might make a lot of sence to leave a Shuttle attached
I doubt VERY seriously the machine is equipped to be "shut off" for long periods of time then fired up as needed. It's too complex a design to just assume that could be done.

-Noel

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by Beyond » Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:26 am

NoelC wrote:Not sure what's up with that, but the file is on the APOD site and it shows just fine here. There's no problem with the URL I can see. Plus it says it's been viewed 144 times, so others are getting it.

Maybe a cache clearing operation is in order on your system?

-Noel
Every time i click on upgrade, i get this....
mc-escher-waterfall-noelc.jpg
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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by JohnD » Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:45 pm

Nor to be maintained in orbit - access hatches outside, 'quick' release studs that can't done undone in freefall, etc.etc.
Nice idea, wish it had been thought of thirty years ago!
John

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by neufer » Thu Mar 03, 2011 6:33 pm

Chris Peterson wrote:
sbbuddha wrote:
What's the green cylindrical object to the left of the Shuttle and above the space station?
A reflection off the inside of the window of something inside the ISS.
It's a reflection of the green cylindrical object in the blue room:
Art Neuendorffer

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Re: APOD: Discovery Visits the Space Station (2011 Mar 01)

Post by Beyond » Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:31 pm

See that, NoelC?? I told you it looked rather 'neuferish' :!: :!:

Hey neufer, the right tower top needs adjusting.
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