The Future Is A Giant Smelly Series Of Tubes. In Space.

February 9, 2009 5:36 PM

Behold the mundane wonders of the space age. NASA offers a four-part hi-def tour of the International Space Station. [via] Cynical-C

Choice quote: "On the deck, we call this a deck, uh, this is the Minus Eighty Lab Freezer, uh, Melfi. We use that a lot. We store a lot of our biological samples, urine and blood there. And on the ceiling . . ."

posted by awenner (11 comments total)

Somewhat related: The TP-82, standard survival kit item in every Soyuz capsule, and the resulting ISS controversy when the Russian space agency refused to remove it against NASA's wishes.
posted by Rhomboid at 6:21 PM on February 9, 2009

I'll wait for Virgin Galactic's model. You get lil' slippers and an eye mask!
posted by leotrotsky at 7:24 PM on February 9, 2009

Wow, is that thing huge.

Wow, is Soyuz small.

Wow, did I enjoy watching that.
posted by popechunk at 7:25 PM on February 9, 2009

Honest question: does zero g play havoc with your sinuses or does that guy just have a blocked nose?
posted by Silentgoldfish at 9:41 PM on February 9, 2009

This was a neat impromptu tour of the ISS. It's larger than I expected.

@Silentgoldfish - Yeah, Zero G apparently messes with the distribution of fluids.
posted by Kikkoman at 10:12 PM on February 9, 2009

Reference in Spacecraft Systems Engineering to redistribution of blood volume.
posted by Kikkoman at 10:14 PM on February 9, 2009

Not to be a buzzkill or anything, but what has the ISS produced over the course of it's life? Do we have better engineering techniques and procedures for space vessels? Has it produced any interesting science? Are we any closer to the Moon or Mars for having had ISS?
posted by heathkit at 4:51 AM on February 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

One argument goes that there might be something, some basic principle or unkown mechanism that can be discovered in microgravity but cannot on Earth.
If this is the case we obviously do not know about it but we can try to uncover it on ISS. We might not but it is better to try than not.
You are welcome to debate the likelyhood of such a ting but we cannot know until the tests have been done.
posted by Catfry at 8:15 AM on February 10, 2009

Keep in mind that the ISS isn't done. It's always been intended to be manned by more than 3 people- it takes ~2.3 people working full time all year to maintain it. With only 3, there's no real time for science. Theoretically, they'll be going to 6 crew this coming spring, which should enable some actual research to get done (of course, NASA doesn't have the money to fund the research, but...). Some science is starting to get done, with pretty promising results.

Also, yeah- being in space for a long time is akin to having a cold all the time. Their faces get all puffed up, and their noses get stuffy. The astronauts tend to like spicy foods while they're up there, since they can't taste the bland stuff. Shrimp cocktail is a perennial favorite.
posted by zap rowsdower at 8:54 AM on February 10, 2009

what has the ISS produced over the course of it's life?

Oh, we've had the manned/robot space mission debate here many times.
Much like the Space Shuttle, the ISS is a pretty inefficient project in terms of science obtained per taxpayer dollar.... but:

(1) It's a way for the U.S. to learn more about an area of space expertise where rhe Russians had a huge head start.
(2) It's better than the U.S. spending money on killing people
(3) Originally planned as a U.S.-only project, it was expanded to engage a floundering ex-USSR space program in danger of leaking technology to groups who wanted to kill people.
(4) Big co-operative projects between rival nations have an impact in diffusing tensions and opening up conduits of dialog which can help temper future hostilities.
posted by CynicalKnight at 12:08 PM on February 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

what has the ISS produced over the course of it's life?

Awesomeness?


I saw this video a few days ago, it is a great video. Hey Yuri!

Here is the terrifying follow up when the space station fucking SHAKES VIOLENTLY IN SPACE!!!!! Yikes! I would have peed my pants in zero gravity.
posted by fuq at 3:11 PM on February 10, 2009