Thanks Chris

---

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Thanks for the link Chris.

---

Good one Chris.

I wonder why the ISS orbit is so relative low (~350km) that is requires reboosting at periods? Would it have been better to boost it to over 500km and use less boost fuel in the long run?

There must be a reason for the ISS orbiting at a point where the remaining vestiges of the atmosphere can slowly slow the ISS down.

---

It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues

I wonder why the ISS orbit is so relative low (~350km) that is requires reboosting at periods? Would it have been better to boost it to over 500km and use less boost fuel in the long run?

There must be a reason for the ISS orbiting at a point where the remaining vestiges of the atmosphere can slowly slow the ISS down.

There are very good and hard reasons for that orbit... And for the orbit inclination...

Both are a compromise so that the ISS orbit passes over KSC Florida and Baikonur Cosmodrome Kazakhstan, and so that it can be reached by a fully laden Shuttle and Soyuz.

You could have a higher orbit for the same launch fuel cost if you had a smaller orbit inclination. However, you would then not cover Baikonur and you would then lose the vital Soyuz support...


Also, there is a compromise of the cost of reboost vs the cost of getting up there in the first place. If you're going to keep the ISS up there for a long time, then it would be worth keeping it slightly higher. Otherwise, stay lower so that you can lift heavier payloads (and so need fewer launches) to it.


It is all a balance of costs and capability.

Cheers,
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

There's also a problem with space debris. I believe that few hundred km higher you reach space filled with it crossing it/living there would be extremely dangerous.

---

"Failure is not an option."
Gene Kranz, Apollo 13 Flight Director

"Be the change you want to see in the World"
Mahatma Gandhi

My web-page:
www.dywanik.eu

It seems that a plasma propulsion system is to be tested on the ISS:
Plasma Propulsion
Tullio

---

It seems that a plasma propulsion system is to be tested on the ISS:
Plasma Propulsion

An obvious idea.

However, there's the very strange comment in there that it is to use magnetic acceleration with hydrogen. The usual trick is to use the heaviest convenient element possible (not the lightest!) to gain maximum reaction force.

A second thought: They will lose the rear-facing docking port to mount the plasma drive.


Meanwhile, whatever happened to using current into tethers to drive the ISS through the Earth's magnetic field for orbit boost?

Keep searchin',
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

It seems that a plasma propulsion system is to be tested on the ISS:
Plasma Propulsion

An obvious idea.

However, there's the very strange comment in there that it is to use magnetic acceleration with hydrogen. The usual trick is to use the heaviest convenient element possible (not the lightest!) to gain maximum reaction force.

A second thought: They will lose the rear-facing docking port to mount the plasma drive.


Meanwhile, whatever happened to using current into tethers to drive the ISS through the Earth's magnetic field for orbit boost?

Keep searchin',
Martin

If I remember well, that was an idea by prof. Giuseppe Colombo of Padua University. NASA tried it but abandoned it, perhaps for safety reasons.

---

At 13:33 CET which is GMT+2 it was planned to boost the ISS up to a higher orbit and level it at an altitude of 353 km, a difference of 1.250 Km (1,250 Km.
But the russians have decided to delay the process until saturday 4th to avoid crashing azards against uncontrolled debris/trash.
The planned task, a 4 1/2 minutes running time of the propulsion rockets of the russian cargo Progress M-65 will bring the ISS to the best position in order to receive the russian vessel Soyuz TMA-13 (Союз)whose launching is expected to happen next October 12th from Baikonur launching facility in Kazachstan.
A new crew member will be joining the ISS staff for some 12 days as the tourist number 6 in History---->Richard Garriot, trip which will cost him about $30 millions.
The replaced crew members and Mr. Garriot will be back on October 24th using the Soyuz TMA-12, which at this moment is attached to the ISS as an emergency boat.

---

Good one Chris.

I wonder why the ISS orbit is so relative low (~350km) that is requires reboosting at periods? Would it have been better to boost it to over 500km and use less boost fuel in the long run?

There must be a reason for the ISS orbiting at a point where the remaining vestiges of the atmosphere can slowly slow the ISS down.

The reason for the height is it costs more for each resupply ship flight the higher it is and the less you can bring up.

The reason for the height is radiation. Go higher and the crew takes more.

Just a couple of the bigger ones.

---