Uninvited guests at ISS?

[Artlav]

So, an unannounced launch puts a manned Chinese or some third world country's spacecraft on an approach course with the International Space Station.
Once communications are established and the question asked, they say something along the lines of "we are with Elbonian Space Agency, want to look at the station / test our ship / sell fresh fruits to astronauts / etc. Do you mind?"
(Adjust to realistic case).

Now, what kind of reaction would there be?
Are there any policies about uninvited guests at ISS?
Assuming that the ship is not from one of the "naughty" countries of US definition.

 

[Urwumpe]

Now, what kind of reaction would there be?
Are there any policies about uninvited guests at ISS?
Assuming that the ship is not from one of the "naughty" countries of US definition.

Well, space law is pretty clear on that one. :lol:

Article X

In order to promote international co-operation in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, in conformity with the purposes of this Treaty, the States Parties to the Treaty shall consider on a basis of equality any requests by other States Parties to the Treaty to be afforded an opportunity to observe the flight of space objects launched by those States.
The nature of such an opportunity for observation and the conditions under which it could be afforded shall be determined by agreement between the States concerned.


Article XII

All stations, installations, equipment and space vehicles on the moon and other celestial bodies shall be open to representatives of other States Parties to the Treaty on a basis of reciprocity. Such representatives shall give reasonable advance notice of a projected visit, in order that appropriate consultations may be held and that maximum precautions may be taken to assure safety and to avoid interference with normal operations in the facility to be visited.


http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty_of_1967

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

There's a shotgun in the Soyuz!

 

[Pilot7893]

You just better hope your aim is good...

 

[statickid]

it should have been something less...uh...than a shotgun. it should be a tazer

 

[fireballs619]

Article X

In order to promote international co-operation in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, in conformity with the purposes of this Treaty, the States Parties to the Treaty shall consider on a basis of equality any requests by other States Parties to the Treaty to be afforded an opportunity to observe the flight of space objects launched by those States.
The nature of such an opportunity for observation and the conditions under which it could be afforded shall be determined by agreement between the States concerned.


Article XII

All stations, installations, equipment and space vehicles on the moon and other celestial bodies shall be open to representatives of other States Parties to the Treaty on a basis of reciprocity. Such representatives shall give reasonable advance notice of a projected visit, in order that appropriate consultations may be held and that maximum precautions may be taken to assure safety and to avoid interference with normal operations in the facility to be visited.

Those articles seem to contradict each other. Article X states that the Parties signing must allow the other craft to observe their craft, so everyone gets an equal opportunity. But article XII says that reasonable notice should be given, so preparations can be made. Maybe I read that wrong, but if an unannounced visitor were to request to dock with the ISS, would they be required to accept the request?:idk:

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Article X and XII sound similar in language (if not the spirit) of the agreement between Russia and the United States regarding nuclear warhead inspections.

I think if a nationality were to request a visit to the ISS, it'd be arranged well ahead of time, unannounced would have to be an emergency of some sort. Just guessing, but I think it'd mirror the "law of the sea"...

 

[statickid]

it says "shall consider on a basis of equality any requests...[for] an opportunity to observe...and the conditions...shall be determined by agreement between the States concerned."

It's basically describing an equal opportunity application process. If I build a rocket and would like to visit the space station, I will have to contact the parties owning it (like some kind of ISS committee or something)and request an opportunity to observe it. They will then discuss with me terms of agreement for my visit as a peer. I would assume that this means they could say that I am not able to visit unless they can inspect my docking port or entire vessel for it's ability to dock with the ISS. I think this means they can reject a passerby-ship based on the fact that no agreement was made for the visit.

to put it another way, if I have a rocket, and the chinese have a rocket, and the australians have a rocket, and we are all party to the treaty, then we will all have an equal opportunity to request a visit regardless of nationality or other type of bias


article xii is saying "if someone lets you visit their station then you're obligated to let them visit yours"

 

[Ark]

If they launched with no prior warning or contact, the Navy would probably hit them with an ASAT before they ever got close to the ISS.

 

[PeterRoss]

Another question here is can they dock ISS without approval? Let's not take into account the ability of ISS to make evasive manoeuvres... or should we?:hmm: Simple rotation would do forced docking quite tricky.

Can it possibly be the first case of space piracy?

 

[T.Neo]

I dunno about that... it would be detected as not being a threat, since an ICBM has a different acceleration (and reentry) profile to a manned vehicle.

ICBMs accelerate really fast during launch, and then essentially just punch through the atmosphere on reentry. A manned vehicle has a downright leisurely flightpath in comparison, due to the acceleration concerns and also some of the potential technical limitations of the vehicle.

 

[Mantis]

it should have been something less...uh...than a shotgun. it should be a tazer

I think they put it there to deal with potentially dangerous wildlife if they land off course so a tazer wouldn't be that useful.

 

[T.Neo]

Let's not take into account the ability of ISS to make evasive manoeuvres... or should we? Simple rotation would do forced docking quite tricky.

ISS isn't built to do evasive manuvers- even if you saw an uninvited guest coming a day or so beforehand, getting up enough spin would cause other problems for the station, like messing with the orientation of the solar arrays, radiators and communications equipment, not to mention potentially wasting propellant.

EDOT:

I think they put it there to deal with potentially dangerous wildlife if they land off course so a tazer wouldn't be that useful.

Pretty much, although I've never heard of it being a shotgun before... I've always read they were handguns.

 

[statickid]

"crew would have been mauled by bears had it not been for the guns they carry on all space missions to protect themselves from bears"

 

[Ark]

I dunno about that... it would be detected as not being a threat, since an ICBM has a different acceleration (and reentry) profile to a manned vehicle.

ICBMs accelerate really fast during launch, and then essentially just punch through the atmosphere on reentry. A manned vehicle has a downright leisurely flightpath in comparison, due to the acceleration concerns and also some of the potential technical limitations of the vehicle.

They wouldn't mistake it for an ICBM, I'm more concerned about some trigger-happy idiot crying "Terrorists!" and blasting them out of the sky.

 

[Wishbone]

Nothing to be concerned about. A clandestine launch of a manned rocket is not yet possible (however it may be with a SpaceX Falcon or other similar systems), usually known months in advance. If the azimouth and planned time kinda unambiguously point at ISS, be prepared for an inquiry through the foreign affairs ministry.

EDIT: and re: those bears - the weapons in question are handguns. Not sure if they are easily accessible in orbit, though :lol:

 

[Jarvitä]

Without prior notice and arrangements, they probably wouldn't be allowed on board unless it was some kind of emergency. The ISS can easily deny docking just by rotating.

 

[Wishbone]

As folks said, rotating ain't easy, and it will keep main solar arrays shadowed fully or in part (that is not in XVV) - losing power is a pain...

 

[PeterRoss]

But could they dock and board ISS if its crew are unwilling to invite them?

 

[jinglesassy]

No the docking port on the iss has to be powered up before anything could hard dock.