Questions about Cupola

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John Doe - 21 Feb 2010 06:42 GMT

I have taken a look at the image gallery on the spaceflight web site.

When they relocated the Cupola, is it correct to state that there was a
vacuum inside because there is CBM hatch in the cupola itself ?

The original US segment holes had a very clean vestibule covered with
some plastic (or fabric) membrane to hide all the connectors below.

Right now, all of the systems in the cupola appear to be rather bare,
exposed, with cables and water tubes visible. Is this to be permanent,
or will all those eventually be covered up with some similar membrane ?

The ATU and the robotic workstation have been mentioned. What other
systems are present in the Cupola ?

Is then a return air duct through the CBM or is the only ventilation
available through the hatch ? If there is no active ventilation, will
air from node 3 be sufficient to prevent condensation on the windows ?

Are there heaters in the windows ? Heaters for the cabin air in the
cupola ?

Will the windows normally remain open for casual use ? Or will they be
closed and opened only when they are formally needed ? For instance, if
a crew member wants to listen to an ipod for some minutes suring rest
time, could he go to the cipola and open the windows without ground
control permission ?

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Brian Gaff - 21 Feb 2010 10:08 GMT

They did mention that at least in the short term, the window shutters will
only be opened when needed. I think they are mindful of debris damaging
them. There is a lot of area there. a few years ago they did not seem so
worried, but I think since they have seen the dings that seem to be
occurring on parts of the station, they are being escpecially careful. Of
course it may well be that the trailing side might be less vulnerable.

Brian

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>I have taken a look at the image gallery on the spaceflight web site.
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> time, could he go to the cipola and open the windows without ground
> control permission ?

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Brian Thorn - 21 Feb 2010 21:02 GMT

>They did mention that at least in the short term, the window shutters will
>only be opened when needed. I think they are mindful of debris damaging
>them. There is a lot of area there.

Jorge posted the "cupola rules" on NASAspaceflight.com. Evidently the
two forward-facing windows are to be opened only when needed, because
they have the lion's share of the debris impact risk. The rest can be
opened at the crew's discretion, except when a Shuttle is arriving or
departing (plume impact hazard.)

Brian

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Jordan Hazen - 21 Feb 2010 21:52 GMT

>I have taken a look at the image gallery on the spaceflight web site.
>
>When they relocated the Cupola, is it correct to state that there was a
>vacuum inside because there is [no] CBM hatch in the cupola itself ?

Yes. They had to go through a long procedure to depressurize it prior
to unberthing. I think PMA's are the same.

>The original US segment holes had a very clean vestibule covered with
>some plastic (or fabric) membrane to hide all the connectors below.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>The ATU and the robotic workstation have been mentioned.

That Robotic Workstation hasn't actually been moved yet. There was
some problem with unexpected physical interference from other hardware
that had to be dealt with first. This is probably one reason why the
vestibules have been left open.

It will be interesting to see that RWS in its final location. The
whole setup, with its deep control panel and multiple monitors spread
out, seems kidn of big for the limited space in the Cupola.

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Jordan.

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Space Forum / Space Station / February 2010

Questions about Cupola