Leonard David has the story of yesterday’s roll out in North Las Vegas.
In my view, there were three events in human spaceflight this week. The SRB firing, BEAM, and the announcement by Lockheed Martin of a long-needed space tug. Only the latter two have any relevance to the future.
So how is BEAM going to be deployed? I get that it is going to be packed inside a Dragon capsule but that does not look like something you can fit through a hatch. I agree that inflatable modules are an important step forward as they would make the construction of future space stations a lot cheaper.
As for the LM proposal for the tug it seems kind of complicated to me but depends on how good the integration of the different systems is done. It might make more sense as a precursor for technology to build a post-ISS space station.
I had the same question. But I don’t even get how it gets into the Dragon, to say nothing of getting it out.
Pop the trunk and pull it out with canadarm?
“I get that it is going to be packed inside a Dragon capsule but that does not look like something you can fit through a hatch.”
Actually, it will ride “in the trunk”, the unpressurized trunk that tags along behind the capsule.
“As for the LM proposal for the tug it seems kind of complicated to me but depends on how good the integration of the different systems is done.”
Not only the systems integration, but right-sizing the vehicle for what is going on as it is introduced. If the Moon Express folks get to flight, then one alternative use mentioned on their website, of a small space tug, with extra propellant-carrying toroids, will be a competitor for some jobs. Which of these will be first out of the gate? Which will stay the course? What market segments they will address successfully? These are all going to be fascinating questions.
The competition of 2 operational systems cannot be a bad thing. May they both prosper!
Do you happen to know how the trunk is accessed on-orbit?
Does the tug make sense for ISS resupply missions? How much extra payload could they get by ferrying cargo this way?
That’s its proposed initial use. It’s their bid for CRS-2.
Yes, I read about that but does this create an advantage in the near term in terms of mass to orbit, fuel use, or cost? Its cool and something we need for other reasons, just not sure how practical it is going from almost to the ISS to the ISS.
It opens up a lot more opportunities for other vehicles to launch things to ISS.
The potential for other companies to launch “dumb” payloads that the Jupiter would then transport to the ISS or other destination is the biggest open question I have. IF NASA wanted this, they should pay LM the development fee, but make it so NASA owns the ability to keep it open to all launch providers providing compatible docking mechanisms. LM could benefit by charging a reasonable orbital transit toll. I would expect that LM, left to their own interests, will make the system proprietary to their own cargo modules, & launch only on their own rockets. Goodbye competition.
The BEAM is going to be “berthed” to an ISS node (Tranquility aft, specifically), just like Dragon. It will never go inside.
The trunk is open at the back. Here’s a video showing the deployment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gFZXl45N0m8#t=129