futura → SAMANTHA CRISTOFORETTI: THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT
From the beginnings of the ‘space age’, Europe has The Member States are: 18 states of the EU been actively involved in spaceflight. Today it (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the far reaches of the Solar System, and cooperates in Romania, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) the human exploration of space. plus Norway and Switzerland.
Space is a key asset for Europe, providing essential Eight other EU states have Cooperation Agreements with information needed by decision-makers to respond to ESA: Estonia, Slovenia, Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, global challenges. Space provides indispensable Malta and the Slovak Republic. Croatia and Bulgaria are technologies and services, and increases our negotiating Cooperation Agreements. Canada takes part understanding of our planet and the Universe. Since in some programmes under a Cooperation Agreement. 1975, the European Space Agency (ESA) has been shaping the development of this space capability.
By pooling the resources of 20 Member States, ESA undertakes programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country, developing the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.
Cover image: ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti dressed in her Sokol suit dressed in her Sokol image: ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti Cover 2 GCTC Credit: Published by the Strategic Planning and Outreach Office of the ESA Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations.
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4 SPACE FOR THE FUTURE www.esa.int Mission overview samanthacristoforetti.esa.int avamposto42.esa.int 8 SAMANTHA CRISTOFORETTI The sky is not the limit
@esa 10 CREWMATES @AstroSamantha Sharing the mission
12 ALL THE SPACE YOU CAN USE The International Space Station youtube.com/ESA 16 RESEARCH FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANKIND European science in space facebook.com/europeanspaceagency
21 VOYAGE WITH SOYUZ flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency The longest-serving route to space
26 SPACE FOR EDUCATION Inspiring the next generation
Copyright © 2014 European Space Agency → SPACE FOR THE FUTURE
Mission overview
ESA/NASA 4 ↑ Montage of star trails and city lights seen at night from the ISS One after another, the new generation of European astronauts are completing long-duration missions to the International Space Station. ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti is the next to embark on this collective journey into the future of space exploration. Her mission to the orbital outpost is named Futura.
Samantha is set for a six-month mission to the International Space Station, serving as flight engineer for Expeditions 42 and 43. The 37-year-old Italian will be launched on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in November, returning to Earth in May 2015.
Samantha will travel in the left-hand seat of the Soyuz capsule for the journey into space, accompanied by cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and NASA astronaut Terry Virts. This co-pilot position carries a lot of responsibility – she is trained to assist the Russian commander during the trip to space and back, monitoring all the onboard systems and taking over when necessary.
As a temporary inhabitant of humanity’s outpost in space, I will share the orbital perspective and take along virtually all those who want to join the journey.
Samantha Cristoforetti
5 This is Samantha’s first flight to space, and the seventh Futura data long-duration mission for an ESA astronaut. She will be involved in Station operations and scientific Launch site Baikonur, Kazakhstan activities. Her comprehensive research programme Launch 23 November 2014 includes a wide variety of European and international 21:59 CET science experiments, covering physical science, biology, Docking 24 November 2014 human physiology, radiation research and technology 03:50 CET demonstrations. Landing 12 May 2015 Spacecraft Soyuz TMA-15M (Titan) One of her duties will be to monitor the undocking of the Launcher Soyuz FG fifth and final Automated Transfer Vehicle, ATVGeorges Mission duration Approx. 6 months Lemaître. A set of cameras and sensors will record an (Status as of October 2014) extensive amount of reentry data as the European vessel falls through Earth’s atmosphere, following a new, shallower, trajectory. This information will help with the controlled reentry of the Space Station when this time comes. GCTC
↑ Samantha during Soyuz training
Mission name and logo
The mission name and logo were chosen after a call for ideas in Italy, Samantha’s home country. Both the mission name and Hundreds of proposals were received to try to capture the essence of her mission. ‘Futura’ was logo beautifully represent a the favourite name among them, and also the most positive momentum recurrent – eight people proposed it. towards space exploration, The logo shows a stylised orbit of the International and the voyage of Space Station circling Earth – symbolising the connection between our planet and the orbital discovery. outpost. The sunrise represents the future of Samantha Cristoforetti discoveries and new horizons for humankind.
6 Samantha will support berthing and cargo operations of SpaceX’s Dragon and Orbital Sciences’ Cygnus Italian ticket to space cargo vehicles as part of NASA’s commercial resupply programme. Samantha Cristoforetti will reach orbit on a flight provided by the Italian space agency ASI in a bilateral Health and nutrition will be key educational elements of agreement with NASA, in exchange for producing the Futura mission. An optimal diet, paired with constant Station modules. Most of the European contributions exercise, helps counteract the impact spaceflight has on to the Space Station have been built in Italy. The the human body. As missions extend to several months country plays a major role in the International Space on the International Space Station, nutrition becomes Station programme. even more important for space travellers. Samantha will be the fifth Italian astronaut to work The 59th woman to fly into space will be involved in and live on the International Space Station, following several education activities based on fitness, healthy in the footsteps of Franco Malerba and Umberto nutrition, food and recycling in microgravity. Samantha Guidoni. Franco was the first Italian citizen in space will help to open up space to children on Earth. and Umberto wast the first Italian astronaut to fly to the Station in 2001.
↑ Samantha and her crewmates Anton Shkaplerov and Terry Virts at the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Ground support
Day and night, a worldwide network of control centres support the astronauts living and working on the International Space Station. In Europe, operators at the Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, Germany, are the direct link to Samantha in orbit. They are there to help her 24/7 − they know where everything in the Station is located and how everything works. Teams are constantly adjusting tasks to make sure that Samantha can fulfil her mission.
Simultaneously, researchers on ground can control and monitor experiments performed in the European Columbus laboratory from DLR their offices. Dedicated connections with eight User Support and ↑ Columbus Control Centre control room Operation Centres across Europe make this possible.
7 → SAMANTHA CRISTOFORETTI
The sky is not the limit Aeronautica Militare Aeronautica
Samantha was born in Milan, Italy, in 1977. She has been The path to the stars dreaming of going to space ever since she was a child. When ESA called for candidates from its Member States During her childhood, space posters hung in her room to reinforce the European astronaut corps, more than and she avidly read science-fiction novels. 8000 people applied. Samantha was the only woman to pass a demanding year-long selection process. Becoming an astronaut was the dream job that combined her greatest passions: flying, science and She was selected as an ESA astronaut together with five technology. Her fascination for space led her to study other members of the European astronaut class 2009. aerospace engineering and earn technical degrees Since then, she has been training to gain the knowledge from several international universities. She specialised and skills required for her mission. in solid-rocket propellants, lightweight structures and aerodynamics. Space is now an integral part of her life. Samantha considers herself a person with broad interests, including As soon as Italy opened for women to join the military, an interest in technology and nutrition. She enjoys hiking, she entered the Italian air force and fulfilled her passion scuba diving and interacting with space enthusiasts to fly. Samantha has logged over 500 flying hours on six online. types of military aircraft. She is a fighter pilot with the rank of captain. Training The basic astronaut training course at ESA’s European Samantha is a multilingual astronaut with experience Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, supplied in working in multicultural environments. As part of her Samantha with an astronaut’s toolbox of knowledge: career abroad, she learnt German, French, English and scientific, engineering and medical skills, as well as orbital Russian. She has started studying Chinese as a hobby. mechanics, Russian language and survival training.
A. Gerst 8 Tasks in space
• Conducting experiments. Samantha will make extensive use of the Station’s scientific facilities and in particular those on the European Columbus laboratory
• Monitoring the undocking of the fifth and final Automated Transfer Vehicle, ATV Georges Lemaître. She will also support berthing and cargo operations of Dragon and Cygnus commercial cargo vehicles
I’m grateful to have the best • Maintaining the International Space Station
job in the world. For all six of • Acting as crew medical officer to support the us, as part of the new class of crew and talk with the medical team on Earth if European astronauts, this is health problems occur the beginning of a new life.
Samantha Cristoforetti
After finishing basic and pre-assignment training, Samantha was selected for Expeditions 42 and 43 to the International Space Station. Her training continued at a higher pace almost without break, travelling between all international partners’ sites. An intensive schedule, sometimes requiring 60-hour work-weeks, took her to Houston, USA, Star City near Moscow, Russia, Tsukuba ↑ Samantha handling tools during a parabolic flight in 2011. near Tokyo, Japan, and Montreal, Canada. Training is Parabolic flights offer 20 seconds of weightlessness to familiarise tailored to each astronaut’s skills and needs for a mission. astronauts to working in space
Samantha went through survival courses in extreme environments, preparing herself to face all kinds of situations in prolonged isolation and under psychological stress. The courses help astronauts to be mentally prepared to handle emergencies, such as spacecraft depressurisation, fire or toxic spills.
She has been taught Space Station systems in full-size mockups, where she learnt how everything works – and how to fix systems in case of breakdowns. She also learned how to run scientific experiments, and got to know every corner of Europe’s Columbus laboratory. NASA
↑ Training to locate fire hazards on the International Space Station 9 GCTC
↑ From left to right, Terry Virts, Anton Shkaplerov and Samantha Cristoforetti
→ CREWMATES
Sharing the mission
The International Space Station has continuously been Station, and they are charged with ensuring the safety a home and workplace to crews of six astronauts since of all crew members. 2009. Rotating shifts are part of the Station’s routine. Four times a year, like clockwork, three astronauts leave Each crew arriving on a Soyuz has a Space Station as a new trio arrives. Spaceflight is all about teamwork. mission number and a designated engineering number. For Samantha’s six-month mission, she is part of Because Soyuz capsules ferry only three astronauts at a Expedition 42 for four months and Expedition 43 for time, keeping the Station permanently crewed requires two months as well as a crew member for Soyuz TMA- careful planning. Crew rotations on the Space Station 15M/41S. The call sign of the spacecraft is Astra. are called Expeditions. Having six permanent residents on the International Three-astronaut crews are changed so that each Space Station has proven to be an efficient formula. astronaut stays in space for about six months and serves Flying six full-time astronauts is tripling time spent in two adjoining expeditions. As each new expedition on research compared to former three-person crews. starts, a new commander takes over. The commander This crew rotation system allows greater flexibility for is chosen from the most experienced astronauts on the operational tasks and maintenance of Station systems.
10 Astronaut facts and figures
• Over 530 people have been into space, of which around 200 have stayed on the International Space Station.
• Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev has spent a record 803 days in space. He stayed 318 days on the Space Station on two different expeditions.
• Astronauts have performed over 180 spacewalks to build and maintain the Station.
• 6 months: the time an astronaut typically stays on the Station. NASA
Astronauts or cosmonauts?
A person that travels in space can be called an astronaut or a cosmonaut – they mean the same thing. Cosmonaut is the Russian word for astronaut, derived from the Greek words kosmos, meaning ‘universe’, and nautes, meaning ‘sailor’. While the term astronaut is used mainly in English-speaking countries, cosmonaut refers to Russian space travellers
GCTC and Chinese astronauts are called taikonauts.
Crew shifts
Commander ← Barry Wilmore Flight Engineer 1 ← Alexander Samokutyaev Expedition 43 Flight Engineer 2 ← Yelena Serova Mar - May 2015
Flight Engineer 3 ← Anton Shkaplerov → Flight Engineer 1 Flight Engineer 4 ← Samantha Cristoforetti → Flight Engineer 2 Flight Engineer 5 ← Terry Virts → Commander
Expedition 42 Gennadi Padalka → Flight Engineer 3 Nov 2014 - Mar 2015 Mikhail Korniyenko → Flight Engineer 4 Scott Kelly → Flight Engineer 5
11 → ALL THE SPACE YOU CAN USE
The International Space Station
↑ The International Space Station with Europe’s ATV Johannes Kepler and Space Shuttle Endeavour attached seen by
ESA/NASA 12 ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli from his Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft after undocking in 2011 The International Space Station is a shining example of global cooperation, uniting Europe, USA, Russia, Japan and Canada in one of the largest partnerships in the history of science. The orbital station is one of the greatest engineering works ever achieved by mankind. This human outpost in Earth orbit is a stepping stone for further space exploration.
The endeavour has brought humanity together to live and work in space uninterrupted for over a decade. The orbiting complex is the size of a football field – enough room for the crew and an array of scientific facilities. This weightless laboratory offers the possibility to efficiently perform experiments like no other low-gravity platform on Earth.
The Space Station is now complete and in full service with a full crew and a full international partnership. Intensive research and effective use of this laboratory leads to new applications and benefits for people on Earth, from space to your doorstep.
A free-falling research laboratory in space For decades, experiments in space have answered many scientific questions, inspired technological development and, sometimes, resulted in unexpected outcomes. The International Space Station was completed after nearly 13 years of construction and now the number of scientific activities concerning the effects of long-duration microgravity on humans has reached a record high.
Did you know? Gravity affects almost everything we do on Earth. In freefall around the planet, the astronauts on the Space • The International Space Station can be seen Station live in microgravity. Up there, scientists are as a bright moving star from most places on conducting pioneering investigations, testing theories, Earth with the naked eye. Opportunities for and pushing the boundaries of our knowledge. observation arise in clear skies up to three hours before sunrise or after sunset, about The high-flying international laboratory is packed with ten days per month. technologically sophisticated facilities that support a wide range of research in human physiology, biology, • The Space Station has more livable room fundamental physics, materials sciences, Earth than a conventional six-bedroom house, with observation and space science. a 360-degree bay window called Cupola, two toilets and fitness facilities The orbital outpost offers a unique view of Earth for collecting scientific data. Observations of glaciers, • The Station has been inhabited for 15 years. agricultural fields, cities and coral reefs can complement No other space station has been inhabited satellite data to create a comprehensive view of our for longer or received more visitors planet. Science in space supports competitive technology developments and fosters scientific research and • More than 130 space missions have been education. flown to build and maintain the Station 13 Columbus Europe's laboratory module
Permanent Multipurpose Module Used for storage
Automated Transfer Vehicle Supplies and services the Space Station
European parts of the International Space Station
Columbus Harmony and Tranquility The Columbus laboratory is the first permanent Node-2 Harmony is a connecting module between European research facility in space. Since 2008, this Columbus, Destiny and Kibo laboratories. It also has three multifunctional lab has been generating scientific docking ports for visiting vessels. Node-3 Tranquility, data across a range of disciplines. External platforms connects to Node-1 Unity and houses life-support and are supporting experiments and applications in space exercise equipment for six crewmembers as well as science, Earth observation and technology. accommodating Cupola and more docking ports.
14 ESA/NASA ESA/NASA Node-2 Node-3 Connecting module Connecting module
Cupola A dome-shaped module with windows for observing and guiding operations outside the Station
Cupola Automated Transfer Vehicle The Cupola observatory is the most recent made-in- The Automated Transfer Vehicle is Europe’s unmanned Europe module on the Station. The seven-window dome single-use ferry that docks and undocks autonomously, is the crew’s panoramic window to Earth, as well as delivering food, propellant and other essential supplies giving astronauts a clear view when controlling outside to the Station. ATV can reboost the Station to adjust its equipment from inside the Station. orbit. The fifth ATV,Georges Lemaître, will be the last of the programme.
ESA/NASA ESA/NASA 15 → RESEARCH FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANKIND
European science in space
Futura mission’s extensive scientific programme consists of and dexterity, as well as the behaviour of plasma in dozens of experiments orbiting 400 km above Earth. The weightlessness. results will bring benefits to people on Earth and pave the way for future space exploration missions. Samantha will take full advantage of the Station’s scientific facilities and perform valuable science for Europe in the The crew devote a lot of time to scientific activities. European Columbus laboratory. Columbus is Europe’s Samantha alone will spend around 80 hours on the Space entrance ticket to the Space Station and ESA’s largest Station running a set of European experiments selected contribution to the orbital outpost. on the basis of scientific merit, feasibility and potential applications. Her contribution is not limited to European science. During her mission, Samantha will play a role in more than 40 Science requires repetition, and many experiments are experiments from the US, Canadian and Japanese space a continuation from previous missions. Some first-time agencies. experiments for ESA will deal with Samantha’s breathing
There is a lot to learn about how life prospers in space. European scientists are looking at the adaptation mechanisms of living organisms inside and outside the International Space
BIOLOGY Station. Bacteria and plants will be tested to their limits.
• SPACE SURVIVAL Scientists will test the survival skills of terrestrial organisms in outer space with the Expose-R2 facility. This platform will
house a variety of organic samples for more ESA/NASA than a year outside the Space Station. Inside the Station, the Triplelux experiments will challenge immune cells to defend themselves from a foreign body and destroy it under the hardships of microgravity and radiation.
• PLANTS The Seedling Growth-2 experiment analyses how plants react to coloured light sources in microgravity. The research will help find USDA alternatives to sunlight when growing crops.
16 Microgravity is not easy on people, especially during long-duration space missions. While constant exercise and a proper diet help astronauts minimise the effects of weightlessness, all sorts of changes affect their bodies. Human research is vital to understand the causes and help develop countermeasures.
• HEAD Understanding how the neural processes of perception HUMAN RESEARCH adapt to weightlessness is the focus of the Brain-DTI experiment. The research could lead to new tools for clinical testing of spatial cognition.
• LUNGS Dust particles are floating in the Station’s atmosphere. The Airway Monitoring experiment will monitor Samantha’s lungs and airways to test their reaction. Patients suffering from asthma could benefit from this research.
• WRIST WATCH The Circadian Rhythms experiment will look at how spaceflight affects Samantha’s biological clock by measuring her temperature and the hormone melatonin that regulates sleep. The findings could help people working irregular hours on Earth.
• HANDS The Grip experiment will study the effects of long-duration spaceflight on Samantha’s dexterity. This research could help patients who have trouble manipulating objects.
• LEGS MRI scans of Samantha’s knees will be taken before and after her stay in orbit. The results of this Cartilage experiment are expected to help counter bone loss in astronauts and people on Earth.
• BONES Stem cells play a major role in maintaining bone mass, one of the most worrying problems for astronauts and the elderly. The Stem cell differentiation experiment will look at their response compared to bone growth in microgravity.
• SKIN Astronauts lose more skin cells and age faster during spaceflight. The aim of the Skin-B experiment is to gain insights on skin physiology in space and, in particular, the skin-ageing process.
17 On Earth, a number of gravity-driven phenomena • PLASMA often lead to unwanted effects when processing Plasma is an ionised gas. The PK-4 experiment materials. Buoyancy, convection and sedimentation investigates the creation of plasma-microparticles can hamper creating the ‘perfect’ alloy or compound. in weightlessness. Results could improve microchip To improve the quality, reliability and reproducibility production and plasma medicine applications. of products made on Earth, European scientists are experimenting in weightlessness. • FLUIDS Many emulsions found in food, cosmetics • METALS and pharmacy products must stay stable for
MATERIAL SCIENCE MATERIAL Super-alloy metals are in high demand to optimise long periods of time. Scientists working on industrial casting processes. A set of experiments the SODI-DCMIX experiment are looking at will investigate the effects of microgravity on metal particles in emulsions to learn more about how microstructures, especially on liquid metals when heat spreads in a fluid and how liquids mix. forming alloys. The Electromagnetic Levitator facility will allow the melting and solidifying of • MAGNETS metallic samples with no need for containers in The MagVector experiment measures changes in an ultra-high vacuum, as well as in extremely pure the strength of the magnetic field that interacts gases. with the Space Station. This experiment will help understand the effects of Earth’s magnetic field on electrical systems. Creative Commons—Bleuchoi Creative Commons—Chocolateoak Creative
↑ ESA research has helped to develop an aircraft-grade alloy ↑ Plasma that is twice as light as conventional nickel superalloys NASA DLR
↑ ESA's study of foams could benefit the food industry ↑ Electromagnetic levitator
18 The International Space Station also offers space for high-tech experiments to demonstrate new technology. Remote operations, energy efficiency and maritime surveillance will not only help make the planet a better place, but will also pave the way for future space exploration.
• WIRELESS SENSING TECHNOLOGY How will a wireless sensor network function in space? The WiSe-Net experiment is testing a set of sensors in the Columbus module.
• MARITIME CONTROL The Vessel ID system is the marine equivalent of air traffic control. Its satellite receiver can ESA/NASA TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS TECHNOLOGY identify more than 22 000 ships a day. ↑ Columbus module ESA/FFI
↑ Sea traffic tracked from the International Space Station in 2010
19 Away from Earth’s atmosphere, the International Space Station is exposed to the hostile environment of space. This orbital location has advantages: it makes the Station a precious platform for observing the Sun and cosmic radiation over a long period of time.
• SUN The SOLAR facility measures our star’s electromagnetic radiation with unprecedented accuracy across a wide part of its spectral range.
• RADIATION Radiation levels in space are up to 15 times higher than on Earth. The DOSIS-3D experiment monitors radiation in the European Columbus
module to prevent health problems on long- ESA/NASA
MONITORING SPACE ENVIRONMENT SPACE MONITORING duration space missions. ↑ A radiation detector on the International Space Station ESA/NASA
↑ SOLAR is helping us learn more about our sun. Scientists hope to better distinguish between solar impact and human influence on Earth’s climate
20 → VOYAGE WITH SOYUZ
The longest-serving route to space
The Soyuz has been used for human spaceflight missions longer than any other launch system. The Russian workhorse is currently the only way astronauts can travel to the International Space Station.
The Soyuz spacecraft shares the same name as its launcher – Soyuz means ‘union’ in Russian – and can manoeuvre, rendezvous and dock in orbit in an automated or manual control mode. Conceived in the 1960s as part of the Soviet space programme during the space race with the United States to land the first man on the Moon, Soyuz’s main use remains to ferry astronauts to low-Earth orbit.
NASA 21 Soyuz ascent and orbit insertion
T + 00:00 T + 01:58 T + 02:38 Liftoff First-stage Escape tower and separation fairing separation
Altitude: 0 km 42 km 85 km Speed: 0 km/h 6100 km/h 8300 km/h Range: 0 km 39 km 109 km
Launch On launch day, the vehicle is loaded Soyuz launcher with propellant and the final countdown sequence starts three Soyuz rockets have launched spacecraft and satellites into orbit for hours before liftoff. Four boosters, nearly half a century – they are the most-used launch vehicles in the each about 20 m in length, provide the world. They have logged over 1700 manned and unmanned launches, main thrust in the first two minutes far more than any other rocket. Its three-stage design goes back to the of flight and are then jettisoned. Vostok launcher, which was used for the first manned spaceflight in 1961 of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. The basic design of the Soyuz launcher excels In less than five minutes, 225 tonnes in low cost and high reliability. At the top of the 51 m-high Soyuz FG of RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen are rocket, an emergency escape system connected to the Soyuz spacecraft consumed. RP-1 is a highly refined can be used to quickly release the crew module in case of rocket failure form of kerosene, similar to jet fuel. up to about three minutes after launch. Nearly ten minutes into the flight, at an altitude of about 210 km and at speeds of about 25 000 km/h, the Soyuz enters Earth orbit.
22 T + 04:48 T + 08:48 Second-stage Third-stage separation separation and orbit insertion
↑ The crews launching on a Soyuz spacecraft go through numerous traditions. From a visit to the memorial wall at the Kremlin when their mission is approved, to the last days of quarantine, everything follows a ritual that started half a century ago with Yuri Gagarin’s first flight. Around two weeks before launch, Soyuz crews fly from Star City to Baikonur and take part in a traditional tree-planting ceremony 176 km 208 km 13 500 km/h 25 000 km/h 500 km 1640 km
Some orbital corrections are required before the spacecraft follows the same orbit as the International Space Station, as it flies at an altitude of 400 km and a speed of about 28 000 km/h. While in orbit, chasing the Space Station, the Soyuz crew perform system checks and keep in touch with controllers at the Russian Mission Control Centre. NASA—B. Ingalls
↑ About 48 hours before launch at sunrise in Kazakhstan the Final approach and docking Soyuz launcher is rolled out on a custom-made railway carriage. Samantha will get a Soyuz fast-track flight to the Space Samantha and her crewmates do not see the roll-out and Station. Her Soyuz will execute a ‘same-day rendezvous’, erection of the Soyuz rocket on the launch pad, because this is considered bad luck docking after just four orbits, in less than six hours of flight.
Rendezvous and docking are automated, but the Soyuz crew can execute these operations manually in case of anomalies. The Soyuz spacecraft completes a series of trajectory corrections and manoeuvres to align with one of four available Russian docking ports on the Space Station.
Once docked with the Station, the crew equalises air pressure between Soyuz and the orbital outpost. After removing their flight suits, they open the hatches to enter what is to be their new home for the next six months. NASA—C. Cioffi
↑ Before launch the crew watch the popular Russian movie ‘White Sun of the Desert’ and, on launch day, sip a glass of champagne as well as sign the doors of their rooms at the Cosmonaut Hotel 23 Soyuz spacecraft
Samantha Cristoforetti flies on Soyuz TMA-15M, a modernised version of Russia’s legendary manned transport. It is known informally as the ‘digital Soyuz’, referring to its new and advanced flight- control computer and the new-generation devices that make it easier for the crew to manoeuvre.
1 Service module Contains oxygen and propellant, attitude-control thrusters, electronics for communication and guidance as well as navigation control systems. Astronauts have no access to this module and all functions are controlled remotely.
2 Descent module The only module to return to Earth and designed to withstand the stresses of reentry ESA/NASA into our atmosphere.
3 Orbital module Emergency exit Used only in space and acts as living quarters. A Soyuz space capsule ferried the first crew to the It has a hygiene facility. International Space Station in November 2000. Since then, one Soyuz for each group of three astronauts has always been at the Station to serve as a safe house and lifeboat should they have to return to Earth unexpectedly. Although the Space Station is the most heavily shielded spacecraft ever, even a piece of space debris as thin as a coin could threaten the crew’s lives.
When a piece of space debris is on a trajectory towards the Space Station, astronauts can shelter in their Soyuz 1 spacecraft. If an object hits the Station, the astronauts 2 3 would be safe in their capsules ready to return to Earth.
→ The Soyuz final approach and docking to the Space Station is a critical phase of the mission. At a range of 8 km, the ‘Soyuz TV’ is activated, ready for when docking port alignment becomes crucial in the last 200 m
24 Undocking and reentry After living and working on the Space Station for nearly 170 days, Samantha will return to Earth in the Soyuz capsule with her crewmates. Closing the Soyuz hatch will signal the end of her Futura mission, and the astronauts will land on Earth less than four hours later.
Less than three hours after undocking, when Soyuz is at a distance of 19 km from the Space Station, the spacecraft’s engines fire for around four minutes. This ‘deorbit’ burn
decelerates the spacecraft and decreases its orbit. Shortly ESA/NASA afterwards, at an altitude of 140 km and less than 30 minutes before landing, the Soyuz spacecraft separates ↑ On the way back to Earth, the separation of Soyuz modules into three parts. takes place before reentry into the atmosphere, at around 140 km altitude. The orbital and service modules disintegrate and burn up The orbital and service modules burn up on reentry in the denser layers of Earth’s atmosphere. The remaining descent module naturally rotates and places its heat shield towards the direction of travel, so that it can absorb most of the heat caused by friction with the atmosphere.
Reentry begins at an altitude of about 100 km, when the speed at which the capsule travels is reduced dramatically and the crew is pushed back into their seats with a deceleration of up to 5g, feeling the equivalent of five times their body weight.
Landing and rescue The Soyuz parachutes slow down the speed of the capsule. Retro-rockets fire just before touchdown at 80 cm from the ground, and shock-absorbing seats soften NASA—C. Cioffi the landing. The descent module usually touches down at about 5 km/h. ↑ Three hours after leaving the Station, a system of parachutes is deployed in precise sequence. The reentry capsule enters a stable After touchdown, the crew deploy a communication descent at a speed of around 7 m/s antenna, so that rescue teams can pinpoint their location. Soyuz descent modules are not reusable and are discarded after reentry.
A short three-hour flight from Moscow and we are in Baikonur, a unique world of spaceships, rockets and traditions. All of a sudden the mission to space NASA—C. Cioffi gets real, and the excitement builds up. ↑ ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano minutes after landing back to Samantha Cristoforetti Earth in November 2013. He is being carried to a nearby medical tent to stand up for the first time after five months in space 25 → SPACE FOR EDUCATION
Inspiring the next generation
26 ↑ Space food tasting in Russia. Samantha tries out dishes from the Space Station menu before flight One of Samantha’s priorities during her stay on the International Space Station is to share her mission with people on Earth. An active blogger and great communicator, the astronaut wants to pass her message along to youngsters about the importance of fitness, nutrition and care for our planet.
Go fit: Mission-X Mission-X fever keeps spreading across the planet. Future space explorers will get on their marks and invade gyms to train like astronauts for the 2015 challenge. ‘Mission-X: ↑ Samantha Cristoforetti during physical training at JAXA’s Tsukuba Train like an astronaut’ is a nine-week educational Space Center, Japan. Astronauts need to maintain a good fitness programme in which thousands of schoolchildren aged level on Earth and in space 8 to 12 years old from more than 25 countries do science activities and learn how to get fit.
Samantha will kick off the worldwide challenge talking about regular exercise and nutrition, both on Earth and in space. She will take questions, give tips on having a healthy lifestyle and share her experiences in weightlessness.
Go green: Food from Spirulina Students will be able to investigate the process of photosynthesis by blowing carbon dioxide on samples of Spirulina algae, one of the first living forms on the planet. This blue-green algae is a source of high-quality protein, suitable for obtaining oxygen and often used as food supplement.
ESA is producing educational kits for secondary schools containing Spirulina. Samantha will explain to children ↑ A microscope image of Arthrospira bacteria that are known as Spirulina. This algae turns carbon dioxide into oxygen, multiplies the importance of recycling carbon dioxide to produce rapidly and can also be eaten as a delicious protein-rich astronaut food and oxygen. Students will learn how plants could meal be crucial for maintaining manned outposts in space for long-duration missions.
Go healthy: Space food The space environment poses a lot of stressors on the human body, creating imbalances and compromising the well being of astronauts. Choosing the right food is vital for their health.
Samantha is very aware of the impact eating habits have on our body, and regards food as a sort of medicine. The space traveller has been working on her food with nutritionists and an Italian chef. Together they have designed a special menu in line with her taste, such as quinoa, mackerel and bluefish. They are taking into account healthy proteins, whole grains, fruits, olive oil and even dark chocolate. All ↑ A muesli bar developed for ESA astronauts on the International quality ingredients for her to eat well and feel good. Space Station made with Spirulina and goji berries
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