When resupply capsules are sent up to the space station are they emptied and jettisoned or do they keep the capsules in place and slowly expand the volume of the ISS?

They’re emptied and filled with any waste and finished experiments before landing in the seaaaaaaa

Awwwwwww I was hoping this would be a “what tyres for…” thread… 🙁

That makes sense. Cheers.

Of the two competing “private” designs, one burns up on re-entry (like the current ESA design), the other is re-usable.

They’re emptied and filled with any waste

That answers the “Where do astronaut jobbies go?” question.

And it answers the “disposal” question too.

Why don’t they just fill a bucket up and stick an engine on it then point it towards the sun?

Because they’d gradually erode the Earth. By letting the waste burn up on re-entry, the planets mass is maintained.

Because they’d gradually erode the Earth. By letting the waste burn up on re-entry, the planets mass is maintained.

Or it’s just cheeper to fling it back at earth than transport an engine big enough up there.

Why don’t they just fill a bucket up and stick an engine on it then point it towards the sun?

Because if they miss the sun then we might end up flinging poo missiles at alien civilisations, which is not the most appropriate “first contact” scenario 😀

Google “Bethselamine”

So as more stuff leaves the earth and ends up in space.. wont the earth (being smaller) spin faster??

😕

(actually, the Earth is increasing in mass all the time as we travel through space).

Did you mean: Bethselamin

There should be an award for most gratuitous use of a DNA reference in a serious forum thread.

So as more stuff leaves the earth and ends up in space.. wont the earth (being smaller) spin faster??

Depends which direction your throw it in?

Throw it forwards and the earth would slow down and fall a little towards the sun, back and we’ll speed up slightly. But if you throw it at an angle (i.e. not straight up, but towards the horrison) then you’ll speed up or slow down the spin.

Cougar – Member
> Did you mean: Bethselamin
There should be an award for most gratuitous use of a DNA reference in a serious forum thread.

Whoops. I couldn’t remember the spelling.

wont the earth (being smaller) spin faster??

The Earth’s rotation is actually slowing down, so personally I would welcome anything which reduces this rather worrisome situation.