This Question Has to Be Asked

Centrist · Nov 8, 2011

I think that this question will sound awfully dumb, but it has been eating me up inside and I simply cannot find anyone who knows the answer either.

You have all heard of the SpaxeX Dragon spacecraft right. It is supposed to make its first flight to the ISS early next year. Initially it will be used solely as a cargo transport similar to Progress.

The spacecraft is composed of two parts, a "Trunk," for storing non-pressurized items, and the capsule itself which will be pressurized.

Now, when the Dragon berths with the station, it is easy to see that the astronauts simply open the hatch and unload the supplies.

What is bothering me is the trunk. How are do they unload items from there? The heat shield of the spacecraft seperates/prevents anyone from entering the trunk from the station.

Anyone have any ideas?

Jeff Head · Nov 8, 2011

Centrist said:
The spacecraft is composed of two parts, a "Trunk," for storing non-pressurized items, and the capsule itself which will be pressurized.

Now, when the Dragon berths with the station, it is easy to see that the astronauts simply open the hatch and unload the supplies.

What is bothering me is the trunk. How are do they unload items from there? The heat shield of the spacecraft seperates/prevents anyone from entering the trunk from the station.

Anyone have any ideas?

Here are a couple of pictures of it docking with the ISS.

Seems like removal of cargo from the back cargo bay will require the use of a manipulator arm with the spacecraft docked or undocked depending on the capability of such an arm, as shown in the second pic...or they could also do an EVA. My guess is that they have a way figured out.

Some of the pics show the crew module being used as a cargo transport too, in which case they would take it through the docking area.

But that rear cargo hold is the question.

delft · Nov 8, 2011

I don't know, but IIRC ISS has an arm that should be capable of being swung out to grab something. It seems an awful bother if someone has to don a spacesuit to get that cargo so I don't think that can be the idea.

Centrist · Nov 8, 2011

delft said:
I don't know, but IIRC ISS has an arm that should be capable of being swung out to grab something. It seems an awful bother if someone has to don a spacesuit to get that cargo so I don't think that can be the idea.

I really really don't think they would do an EVA for this sort of thing. It seems painfully inefficient.

The again, using the robotic arm seems implausible too. Even if you could swing it around and grab a batch of cargo...how would you get it into the station? You would have to load it into some kind of airlock. Does the ISS even have this capability???

cmb=1968 · Nov 9, 2011

The un pressurized section is for external components they will not be taking those things in side the station. That section of the dragon will carry stuff like tanks of amonia which is used for the cooling system and experiments mounted on the outside of the station, also replacement parts for other system mounted on the exterior.

Cargo will be removed with the robotic arm and moved to a external storage space fot future use.

TerraN_EmpirE · Nov 9, 2011

That Robotic arm is a real marvel too it can also move around the station kinda like a inch worm using slots in the ISS hull.

Jeff Head · Nov 9, 2011

cmb=1968 said:
The un pressurized section is for external components they will not be taking those things in side the station. That section of the dragon will carry stuff like tanks of amonia which is used for the cooling system and experiments mounted on the outside of the station, also replacement parts for other system mounted on the exterior.

Cargo will be removed with the robotic arm and moved to a external storage space fot future use.

Thanks. Great info.

I believe having compnaies like this get involved is a good thing and will push the envelope fairly quickly. Time will tell...as long as all the safety and accompanying building policies and procedures are adhered to.

Heck, it's a dangerous environment, and as the US and Russians have found, even when you do your best, the fuels are volatile and the environment is deadly.

But our future is out there and we need to expand into near space and then out into the Solar System. Perhaps my grandkids will see some more significant progress. I hope to live to see a small base on the moon and potentially the first manned Mars landing...but we shall see.

Quickie · Nov 9, 2011

Centrist said:
I really really don't think they would do an EVA for this sort of thing. It seems painfully inefficient.

The again, using the robotic arm seems implausible too. Even if you could swing it around and grab a batch of cargo...how would you get it into the station? You would have to load it into some kind of airlock. Does the ISS even have this capability???

Any unpressurized cargo will have to go through the same airlock used by the astronauts to get in and out of the station. Such cargo, probably experimental stuffs that need external exposure, will have to be small enough to get through the airlock and also small and light enough for the astronauts to safely handle.

delft · Nov 9, 2011

Jeff wrote:

But our future is out there and we need to expand into near space and then out into the Solar System. Perhaps my grandkids will see some more significant progress. I hope to live to see a small base on the moon and potentially the first manned Mars landing...but we shall see.

I'm looking even further ahead. The probability is that the Earth will be hit by a very large meteorite or comet in the next many thousands of years. It is also possible on an even longer time scale that a star will blow up in the neighborhood with catastrophic result for the people on Earth. You can't know when it comes so it makes sense to let some people emigrate to suitable planets belonging to other stars.We're all to old to see the first ship depart ( in five hundred years? ) but that's for me the long term purpose of spaceflight.

bladerunner · Nov 9, 2011

delft said:
Jeff wrote:

I'm looking even further ahead. The probability is that the Earth will be hit by a very large meteorite or comet in the next many thousands of years.

Click to expand...

Even now the Russians are laying the groundwork for landing a sampler thingy on a asteroid. Next time Bruce Willis?

However the Sun is nearly at the halfway point of it its life expectancy, after which the Suns elements are expected to swell up and consume earth.

It is also possible on an even longer time scale that a star will blow up in the neighborhood with catastrophic result for the people on Earth. You can't know when it comes so it makes sense to let some people emigrate to suitable planets belonging to other stars.We're all to old to see the first ship depart ( in five hundred years? ) but that's for me the long term purpose of spaceflight.

Click to expand...

If that was to happen, then those people will be thankful that some of their ancestors had enough vision to pioneer space travel.

This Question Has to Be Asked

Centrist

Junior Member

Jeff Head

General

delft

Brigadier

Centrist

Junior Member

cmb=1968

Junior Member

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King

Jeff Head

General

Quickie

Colonel

delft

Brigadier

bladerunner

Banned Idiot