Re: Is there a "heavy lift" replacement for shuttle?

neil.fraser@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
On Jun 17, 7:38 am, JD in TX <nos...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Alot of the space station's construction can only be done by using the
shuttle's "heavy lift" capabilities. Once the shuttle is retired, is
there a plan to have some type of unmanned "heavy lift" vehicle which
would allow future stations to be built/maintained?

It is called the 'Ares V'. Work is currently focused on getting the
'Ares I' (aka the Stick) up and running for manned flights. Once
that's complete, focus will switch to the unmanned V.
http://www.aerospaceguide.net/spacerocket/aresv.html

True. However, there are currently no plans to use Ares V for station assembly/maintenance. It is intended entirely for lunar/Mars missions.

What if the current station needs gyro replacement? Are the russian
vehicles capable of sending up a gyro? I thought I read at one time that
the station's gyro's could only be sent up on a shuttle.

One of the requirements for the CEV (launched on the Ares I) was that
it be able to handle a CMG:
http://ssedso.gsfc.nasa.gov/initiatives/lunar/LESWG/pubs_presentations/5thGM/CEV_LESWG_Mar07.pdf
(page 8)

A CMG only weighs 270kg; in contrast the Russian Progress can lift
2,350 kg. The European ATV is even more powerful. Either way, mass
is not a problem. The issue is that both these vehicles dock on the
Russian ports, which are very small (31 inches), a CMG (47 inches)
can't fit through the hatch. The Japanese are developing a launcher
that will dock on the PMAs, which is larger (42 inches) but still not
enough.

The Japanese HTV will not dock to the PMAs. It will be captured by the SSRMS and berthed to a CBM.
.

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