Space Station Upgraded

[Waspie_Dwarf]

As NASA Science Returns to Earth, Space Station Upgraded for U.S.-Based Astronaut Launches in 2017

Inside the International Space Station's Harmony module an American flag awaits the next astronauts that launch from the United States. The flag was flown on the first space shuttle mission and was carried to the space station on the last. Now, with major activities planned this month and in the near future, NASA and its partners are on-track to launch astronauts from the United States again in 2017 and return the flag home.

New spacecraft being developed and tested by American companies Boeing and SpaceX will need a place to dock to the space station. Astronauts on three recent spacewalks in February and March began reconfiguring the space station to prepare for the arrival of those commercial crew vehicles.

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[clare256]

Wow, I didn't realize the Space Station has been occupied for so long. Awesome stuff. Thanks for the post Waspie.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

PMM Relocation Animation

The next step in growing a robust commercial market in low-Earth orbit and preparing the International Space Station for the future arrival of U.S. commercial crew and cargo vehicles will be undertaken on Wednesday, May 27.

The large Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) that is used as a supply depot on the orbital laboratory will be detached from the Earth-facing port of the Unity module and robotically relocated to the forward port of the Tranquility module using the space station's robotic arm, Canadarm2. This will clear the Unity port for its conversion into a spare berthing location for U.S. visiting vehicles.

For more information, visit: www.nasa.gov/station

Credit: NASA

Source: ReelNASA - YouTube Channel

[Zalmoxis]

Thanks for the link and article.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Module Relocated Prepping Station for Commercial Crew

The Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) was successfully relocated from the Unity module to the Tranquility module at 9:08 a.m. EDT Wednesday.

The PMM was robotically relocated from the Earth-facing port of the Unity module on the International Space Station to the forward port of the Tranquility module in the next step to reconfigure the complex for the future arrival of U.S. commercial crew vehicles

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[Waspie_Dwarf]

International Space Station Module Moved to New Location To Prep For U.S. Commercial Vehicle Traffic

At the International Space Station, the large Permanent Multipurpose Module was robotically relocated from the Earth-facing port of the Unity module to the forward port of the Tranquility module May 27 in the next step to reconfigure the complex for the future arrival of U.S. commercial crew vehicles. Robotic flight controllers at Mission Control, Houston used the Canadarm2 robotic arm to maneuver the 11-ton module a short distance to its new location. The operation opened the Earth-facing port of Unity as another berthing location for U.S. commercial cargo vehicles, while future U.S. commercial crew vehicles will arrive at new International Docking Adapters to be installed on hardware on the Harmony module.

Credit: NASA

Source: NASA - YouTube Channel