Comments on: Leaving the station

By: ACW

ACW — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 02:31:50 +0000

@ Kurt Erlenbach #3: Nespoli was not feeling too well upon landing; a Russian report said that he was suffering vestibular system disorders, so he must have been dizzy and nauseated for a while. Anyway, under the circumstances I think we can forgive him forgetting to take the data card with him. I watched the landing on NASA TV, and it was fascinating to watch the Russian space agency in action. Kondratyev and Coleman came out of the Soyuz capsule grinning and in good spirits, but Nespoli looked very unhappy and ill, and I was concerned for him at the time.

By: Sam H

Sam H — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:31:53 +0000

^@ Nigel: Good points, but I did have straws in mind – standard procedure, no?

By: Nigel Depledge

Nigel Depledge — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:26:42 +0000

@ Sam H (15) -
Actually, a Champagne bottle is quite thick, heavy and strong. It could easily damage the ISS (micrometeorites having nowhere near the mass of a bottle of Champers).

Also, in microgravity, the wine will simply stick to anything it touches. And Champagne leaves very sticky patches after it dries. I’m not sure you’d want that in the ISS.

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:55:22 +0000

@15. Sam H :

Even if we can’t take out on a spacewalk, and throw it at one of the modules à la Star Trek: Generations, they could at least have some inside.

Thinking of which, did you know the original opening scene :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAZrPMsTL1c

was somewhat different .. and seems to have been re-booted somewhat? 8)

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:55:04 +0000

@ ^ Sam H. : Seconded.

They ought to come up with a proper name for the International Space Station rather than just a statement of its nature acronymn to christen it as though. The space station Harmony, Tranquility or Makepeace perhaps?

Apparently, there are plans to brew a space beer (which is more my poison of choice) but space champers could work nicely too.

As for the “risks” involved I’d think they were very slight given the minute mass and size of the shards involved and the relatively low altitude of the ISS’s orbit. The golf ball drive off the ISS a few years ago (?) was a worse idea and got done so I can’t see why not.

By: Sam H

Sam H — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:05:05 +0000

I just remembered – some news articles stated that the station is now “finished”. I for one am skeptical of that, but for all practical purposes that is basically true (and besides, new modules could be added at practically any time), but if this is true then NASA has made a grave mistake – THEY FORGOT TO BRING THE CHAMPAGNE!!! Even if we can’t take out on a spacewalk, and throw it at one of the modules à la Star Trek: Generations, they could at least have some inside.

BTW: What would the risks of that be? Since the station is meant to withstand the impacts of micrometeoroids some glass shattering on its exterior shouldn’t be a problem. The champagne itself should immediately vaporize, but what bothers me is all the glass shards – seems like a big satellite collision hazard.

But either way: THEY MUST BRING THE CHAMPAGNE!!! (Make it non-alcoholic if you have to, just bring the stuff!!)

By: Peetle

Peetle — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:53:40 +0000

I see this is todays APOD as well. I’m intruiged that APOD give the image credit to NASA given that it was taken by a European astronaut from a Russian spacecraft (and presumably with a Japanese camera…). Is this how it’s usually done ?

By: Nigel Depledge

Nigel Depledge — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:54:36 +0000

Every photographer’s dream – a space station posing for photographs!

By: Una Postal Espacial « [Px]

Una Postal Espacial « [Px] — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 06:31:55 +0000

[...] NASA [...]

By: maicon

maicon — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:03:54 +0000

thanks Woof! what I called a ‘hole’ in fact is a radiator peeled back, and it confirms i’m living in a (virtual) cave because it’s old news: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_incidents_involving_the_International_Space_Station#2009_.E2.80.93_Potential_ammonia_leak_from_S1_radiator_due_to_damaged_panel