Two-year-old and 24-year-old space station comparison - photos

**Altair** · Oct 7, 2023, 03:42 PM

Two-year-old Tiangong space station compared to the 24-year-old International Space Station.

Previously:

Changing docks on the ISS - GIF
NASA Mate/Demate device to lower space shuttle onto carrier aircraft - GIF and photo
International Docking Adapter - GIF
How astronauts sleep on the International Space Station - GIF
Space Shuttle Atlantis docked to Mir space station - photo

**nova_robotics** · Oct 9, 2023, 05:56 PM

Anyone who owns a garage understands these pictures.

**mwmkravchenko** · Oct 9, 2023, 06:18 PM

The ISS was a Russian design basically because they had the longest duration space station up to that point. It was minimalist.

A few decades down the road there should be a few things learned I'd hope!

Those inflatable modules being one of the ideas that should be tried. A little tougher than the ISS currently is.

Mark

**nova_robotics** · Oct 9, 2023, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by mwmkravchenko

Those inflatable modules being one of the ideas that should be tried. A little tougher than the ISS currently is.

The ones from Bigelow Aerospace? I remember hearing about those a lot years ago, and then nothing. Did any of these modules end up getting installed?

Edit: Yup looks like one's on the ISS (I think).

**mwmkravchenko** · Oct 9, 2023, 07:37 PM

I don't remember the company name, but I know that they are deep into testing. The have inflation and they are working through impact testing. That turns out to be better than the few millimeters of aluminum on the ISS.

Mark

**nova_robotics** · Oct 9, 2023, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by mwmkravchenko

I don't remember the company name, but I know that they are deep into testing.

It's like Deuce Bigalow Male Gigolo was getting into building aerospace components. That's the only reason I remembered the name of the company.

**mwmkravchenko** · Oct 9, 2023, 09:03 PM

Sierra Space is still in the game. They had been hoping Bezos would be able to launch them. But he is the king of getting not to much done for the billions he has spent. Maybe SpaceX? They kind of have launching stuff down to a routine thing.

Mark

**imohtep56** · Oct 14, 2023, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by nova_robotics

The ones from Bigelow Aerospace? I remember hearing about those a lot years ago, and then nothing. Did any of these modules end up getting installed?

Edit: Yup looks like one's on the ISS (I think).

Last I heard, Bigelow got caught up in the shenanigans with Skinwalker Ranch. They could inflate those things with all the hot air their marketing dept. produces...

**Frank S** · Oct 9, 2023, 06:35 PM

I wonder how many times those panels had to be removed to get at punctures caused by micro meteoroids.

**mwmkravchenko** · Oct 9, 2023, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Frank S

I wonder how many times those panels had to be removed to get at punctures caused by micro meteoroids.

I wonder if stuff like this is not talked about, or is it that it doesn't happen often. If you have a leak lik eon the Russian modules it needs to be addressed. Some crazy disgruntled people working on the newer Russian modules.

Mark