European Space Agency Ready to Make Beer Runs to the International Space Station - io9 Comments

European Space Agency Ready to Make Beer Runs to the International Space Station

Adam_C — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:36:06 PDT

I agree with you on the naming of future ATVs, it would be cool
then again, what is not cool about space exploration these days ? :)
great times we live in !

Anecdotally,
in a recent science live talk show here, comics artist Moebius suggested to Jean-Yves Legall (CEO of ArianeEspace) "Méliès" as a possible name for a future mission.
Legall responded it would be a great idea.

Adam_C

European Space Agency Ready to Make Beer Runs to the International Space Station

Ghede — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:46:46 PDT

Software bug starts a very serious food fight.

Ghede

European Space Agency Ready to Make Beer Runs to the International Space Station

Gambeson — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:56:47 PDT

I'm so excited about the projects NASA has going on right now. We've had a permanent human presence in space for 8 years now. We're learning more about living and working in space every day we're up there. I'll miss the shuttle, but we've been running them since I was a child. The Constellation program, Ares and Orion, will allow us wonderful new opportunities.

Gambeson

European Space Agency Ready to Make Beer Runs to the International Space Station

Gyrus — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:03:13 PDT

@Metropolis: Yes. There's the cost of human retrieval, repair and upkeep which is more than simply building a new one, ready to launch. Ideally, a robot ferry would be nice but the technology for an automated liftoff, docking, departure and landing system just isn't there.

Gyrus

European Space Agency Ready to Make Beer Runs to the International Space Station

Brock — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:36:32 PDT

@Metropolis: The EU ATV replaces the Russian "Progress" rocket. The Progress is also expendable, but the ATV carries 3x as much cargo per launch, so at least it's an improvement in that respect.

The ATV is only planned to be launched 7 times because it is expected that the SpaceX Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 boosters (which return to Earth) will be able to supply the ISS within 3-5 years.

Brock

European Space Agency Ready to Make Beer Runs to the International Space Station

Metropolis — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:13:10 PDT

Is it really cheaper to just let this thing burn up than to reuse it?

Metropolis

European Space Agency Ready to Make Beer Runs to the International Space Station

deckard97 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:43:11 PDT

Well, there goes the Shuttle extension contract...

deckard97

European Space Agency Ready to Make Beer Runs to the International Space Station

Git Em SteveDave seeks Lego build buddy. How about you? — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:57:32 PDT

How does beer react in zero-g? I know there's a problem with astromen burping in space.

Git Em SteveDave seeks Lego build buddy. How about you?

European Space Agency Ready to Make Beer Runs to the International Space Station

Mathmos — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:56:29 PDT

So they've solved the problem of the beer fizzing up when they shoot it from a giant cannon.

Mathmos