blue dot → alexander gerst: a scientist in space

1 European Space Agency

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, global challenges. Space provides indispensable Lithuania, Malta and the Slovak Republic. Bulgaria is technologies and services, and increases our negotiating a Cooperation Agreement. Canada takes understanding of our planet and the Universe. Since part in some programmes under a Cooperation 1975, the European Space Agency (ESA) has been Agreement. 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: Alexander Gerst suited up for spacewalk training spacewalk up suited image: Alexander for Gerst Cover 2 NASA Credit: Published by the Strategic Planning and Outreach Office of the ESA Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations.

ESTEC, PO Box 299 2200 AG Noordwijk The Netherlands email: [email protected]

ESA and the ESA logo are trademarks of the European Space Agency. Permission to reproduce or distribute material identified as copyright of a third party must be obtained from the copyright owner concerned.

alexandergerst.esa.int

4 LEAVING THE PALE BLUE DOT www.esa.int Mission overview

8 ALEXANDER GERST A scientist heading for space

@esa 14 CREWMATES @Astro_Alex Sharing the mission

18 ALL THE SPACE YOU CAN USE The International Space Station youtube.com/ESA 22 RESEARCH FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANKIND European science in space

29 VOYAGE WITH SOYUZ blogs.esa.int/alexander-gerst The longest-serving route to space facebook.com/ESAAlexGerst 34 STATION TRAFFIC Visiting vehicles flickr.com/astro_alex 38 SPACE FOR EDUCATION Inspiring the next generation

Copyright © 2014 European Space Agency → LEAVING THE PALE BLUE DOT

Mission overview

ESA/NASA 4 ↑ International Space Station solar panels with our blue dot in the background In 2014 ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst will look back at planet Earth from afar. For almost half a year, everyone he loves, everyone he knows, will be 400 kilometres below his floating feet. His mission to the International Space Station is named Blue Dot.

Alexander is set for a six-month stay on the International Space Station, serving as flight engineer for Expeditions 40 and 41. He will be the sixth ESA astronaut to carry out a long-duration mission in space.

The 38-year-old German will be launched on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in May, returning to Earth in November. He will be accompanied by Russian cosmonaut Maxim Surayev and NASA astronaut Gregory Reid Wiseman.

Alexander is a geophysicist and volcanologist by profession. His deep interest in science will be of great help during his 166-day mission. The Blue Dot mission’s extensive scientific programme comprises dozens of experiments in physical science, biology, human physiology, radiation research and technology demonstrations. All experiments will be carried out in microgravity, and are designed to improve life on Earth and prepare for human spaceflight exploration.

Alexander will work with critical equipment for science research in Europe’s Columbus space laboratory. The Electromagnetic Levitator is just one highlight of equipment on board. The facility allows melting and solidifying metallic samples suspended in microgravity with no need for containers. Experiments in this furnace promise to improve industrial casting processes.

Human spaceflight not only gives us a unique perspective about our planet, but also who we are. We are a species of explorers.

Alexander Gerst

5 Blue Dot key data Several units of this multi-user facility will arrive at the Space Station on Europe’s Automated Transfer Launch site Baikonur, Kazakhstan Vehicle (ATV). Alexander will be involved in the docking Launch 28 May 2014 of the fifth and last in the series, named after Belgian 21:56 CEST physicist Georges Lemaître. He will also participate in Docking 29 May 2014 the transfer of its precious supplies of propellant, food, 04:14 CEST water and gas for the Station. Landing 10 November 2014 Spacecraft Soyuz TMA-13M Alexander is assigned to perform a spacewalk with his Launcher Soyuz FG NASA crewmate Reid Wiseman during his Blue Dot Mission duration 166 days mission. Extensive robotic-operations training will allow (Status as of April 2014) Alexander to support the berthing of SpaceX’s Dragon and Orbital Sciences’ Cygnus cargo vehicles as part of NASA’s commercial resupply programme.

From his unique vantage point, Alexander aims to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. Youngsters will learn with the astronaut about NASA

↑ Alexander tests a spacesuit

Mission name and logo

Alexander’s mission is called Blue Dot, after the first image of Earth taken from the outer Solar System Seen from a distance our by NASA’s Voyager spacecraft in 1990. American astronomer Carl Sagan described our faintly visible planet is just a blue dot, planet on the photograph as ‘a pale blue dot’. a fragile spaceship for

The logo highlights the fragile nature of Earth in humankind. We need to the vastness of space. From over 50 proposals, understand the Universe we the final patch features our planet as a dot being protected by humankind. The wavy background live in to protect our home. links to Alexander’s work on volcanoes, whereas Alexander Gerst the six stars signify his six-month mission, the six-person crew on the Space Station and the sixth long-duration mission for ESA.

6 environmental protection, the behaviour of soap bubbles Germans in space in microgravity and how difficult it will be for ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft to land on a comet. Alexander Gerst will be the eleventh German citizen to fly into space. Germany has more space travellers When Alexander returns to Earth, he will be the first than any other European country – most of them astronaut to fly directly to Europe after landing in physicists – closely followed by France and Italy. Kazakhstan. Until now, European astronauts spent The country plays a major role in the International their first days on Earth in Russia and the United States. Space Station utilisation programme. This new development means that all post-flight medical examinations and research activities will be conducted Alexander will become the third German to visit in Cologne, Germany. the International Space Station. Before him, Hans Schlegel flew on the Space Shuttle in 2008 Early access to Alexander will allow ESA doctors to for the delivery of Europe’s Columbus laboratory monitor his health very closely and to start his fitness module to the orbital outpost. Thomas Reiter and rehabilitation programme quickly. Scientists will holds the European record of spending a total of also benefit from continuing with their scientific 350 days in space, and serves today as ESA’s Director examinations soon after landing. of Human Spaceflight and Operations. NASA

↑ In front of the Soyuz rocket with his crewmates Maxim Surayev and Reid Wiseman

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 Alexander in orbit. They are there to help him 24/7 − they know where everything in the Station is located and how everything works. Teams are constantly adjusting tasks to make sure that Alexander can fulfil his mission. There is never a boring day in the space business.

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 → ALEXANDER GERST

A scientist heading for space

A. Gerst 8 ↑ Alexander climbing Mount Erebus during an Antarctic expedition Alexander Gerst says that he became an astronaut by trying hard to be a good scientist. More than a decade ago, while working as a geophysicist and volcanologist at an Antarctic station, he found himself talking to NASA astronaut Cady Coleman. She encouraged him to give his dream of becoming an astronaut a chance.

Spaceflight has always been a goal for Alexander, he applied to ESA’s call for candidates to reinforce the astronaut corps but was unsure of his chances. As it turned out, Alexander passed a demanding year-long selection process, chosen from over 8000 people. He and five other applicants became proud members of the ‘European astronaut class 2009’ in November of that year.

From volcanoes to space Alexander Gerst was born in Künzelsau, a small town in Southern Germany, in 1976. While at school, he volunteered as a boy scout leader, fire-fighter and lifeguard. He has always been an explorer and eager to understand the environment around him. That interest set his career on the path of science.

While studying geophysics and Earth sciences, Alexander was fascinated by volcanology. This relatively young science struck him as a field of discovery with great potential to benefit people’s daily lives.

The goal of his master’s thesis was to determine the mechanics and the energy released during the first seconds of a volcanic eruption. His research led him to visit volcanoes in remote locations, including Antarctica, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Guatemala. Alexander developed new volcano-monitoring techniques to improve eruption forecasts.

Alexander sees many of parallels between working in space and on volcanoes: both disciplines have in common hostile environments, getting close to the object of study and delivering unique data that cannot be found anywhere else.

Alexander excels analytically and operationally. Taking advantage of the experience gained in his former job, he hopes to bring space-science benefits back to Earth.

9 Training In space, no training equals no success. Alexander has ESA’s training is tailored to each astronaut’s skills and trained countless times for emergencies on the Space needs for a mission. This personalised approach takes into Station, he has practiced how to handle blood samples in account what an astronaut enjoys, including favourite microgravity and he can make sure that the Automated sports. Alexander enjoys fencing and outdoors activities Transfer Vehicle docks safely to the orbital outpost. and feedback is very important for the training teams.

The basic astronaut training course at ESA’s European After finishing basic training, Alexander was selected for Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, supplied Expeditions 40 and 41 to the International Space Station. Alexander with an astronaut’s toolbox of knowledge: His training continued at a higher pace almost without scientific, engineering and medical skills, as well as orbital break, travelling between all international partners’ mechanics, Russian language and survival training. sites. An intensive schedule, sometimes requiring 60-hour work-weeks, took him to Houston, USA, Star City near Moscow, Russia, Tsukuba near Tokyo, Japan, and Montreal, Canada.

As second flight engineer on the Soyuz spacecraft, he has no major duties during launch and landing, though specialist tutors have trained him in emergency procedures. Alexander went through survival courses in extreme environments, preparing himself 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.

Alexander’s less demanding role on the voyage to the Space Station has freed time to learn how to run scientific experiments, and getting to know every corner of Europe’s Columbus laboratory. Alexander has been taught Space Station systems in full-size mockups, where he learnt how everything works – and how to fix systems in case of breakdowns.

Robotics operations are one of Alexander’s favourite tasks. The astronaut learnt to operate Canadarm2, a 17 m-long robotic arm on the Space Station. Wearing a spacesuit, Alexander also trained in Russia and the US to perform spacewalks in 12 m-deep swimming pools containing realistic mockups of the Space Station.

Hundreds of kilometres away from the nearest hospital, astronauts need to be able to handle medical emergencies in space. As a crew medical officer, Alexander learnt basic medical procedures, from stitching wounds to filling teeth. He spent three days in the emergency department, the intensive care unit and operating theatres of a hospital in Cologne to get a realistic impression of what he might have to deal with in space.

A. Gerst 10 ↑ Studying Mount Etna, Italy GCTC GCTC

↑ Winter survival training near Star City, Russia. There is always the possibility that a Soyuz spacecraft could land in a remote, cold area. All astronauts have to learn to survive in harsh climates while waiting for rescue

↖ Ready for a centrifuge training session, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. Alexander had to withstand up to nine times the force of gravity

← Weightless aboard the Zero-G Airbus A300 during a parabolic flight

↙ Training with a partial gravity simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA

↓ Alexander has trained for emergency situations like fire, depressurisation and to toxic atmosphere ESA

NASA GCTC 11 ESA—J. Harrod

↑ Alexander during docking simulations for ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle

Tasks in space

• Performing experiments. He will make extensive use of the science facilities on the Station and in particular those on the European Columbus laboratory

• Integrating and installing a new materials science facility, the Electro Magnetic Levitator

• Monitoring ATV Georges Lemaître’s rendezvous and docking as prime operator. Alexander will perform outfitting operations in the spacecraft, including preparing it for undocking

• Performing extravehicular activities, or spacewalks. He is assigned one spacewalk on his mission

• Supporting berthing and cargo operations of Dragon and Cygnus commercial cargo vehicles

• Acting as crew medical officer to support the crew and talk with the medical team on Earth if health problems occur

• Maintaining the International Space Station NASA 12 ↑ Alexander training for spacewalks in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Lab ↑ First-aid training

Life in orbit

• First two weeks: adapting to microgravity and learning Space Station processes

• Week days: six working hours per day

• Weekends: Housekeeping, voluntary tasks and spare time

• Daily exercise programme to maintain fitness

• Daily phone calls with family and friends

• Weekly medical conferences to check health and fitness

• Sleep time: eight and a half hours per day

We must be scientists, janitors, drivers, cleaners, doctors, fire fighters, engineers and guinea pigs. The path to the stars is a bumpy road. Alexander Gerst

↑ Alexander training for spacewalks in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Lab GCTC

↑ From left to right, Alexander Gerst, Maxim Surayev and Reid Wiseman

→ CREWMATES

Sharing the mission

The International Space Station has continuously commander is chosen from the most experienced been a home and workplace to a crew of six astronauts on the Station, and ensures safety of all astronauts since 2009. Rotating shifts are part of crewmembers. the Station’s routine. Four times a year like clockwork, three astronauts leave as a new trio arrives. Spaceflight Each crew arriving on a Soyuz has a Space Station mission is all about teamwork. number and a designated engineering number. For Alexander’s six-month mission, he is part of Expedition Because Soyuz capsules ferry only three astronauts at a 40 for four months and Expedition 41 for two months as time, keeping the Station permanently crewed requires well as a crew member for Soyuz TMA-13M/39S. careful planning. Crew rotations on the Space Station are called ‘Expeditions’. Having six permanent residents on the International Space Station has proven to be an efficient formula. Flying Three-astronaut crews are changed four times a year, six full-time astronauts is tripling time spent on research so each astronaut stays in space for about six months compared to former three-person crews. The rotation and serves in two adjoining expeditions. As each new system allows astronauts to accomplish operational expedition starts, a new commander takes over. The tasks and maintain Station systems.

14 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. ESA

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 and Chinese astronauts are called taikonauts. GCTC

Crew shifts

Commander ← Steven Swanson Flight Engineer 1 ← Aleksandr Skvortsov Expedition 41 Flight Engineer 2 ← Oleg Artemyev Sept - Nov 2014

Flight Engineer 4 ← Maxim Surayev → Commander Flight Engineer 3 ← Reid Wiseman → Flight Engineer 1 Flight Engineer 5 ← Alexander Gerst → Flight Engineer 2

Expedition 40 Aleksandr Samokutyaev → Flight Engineer 3 May - Sept 2014 Yelena Serova → Flight Engineer 4 Barry Wilmore → Flight Engineer 5

15 3rd spaceflight 3rd spaceflight 359 days in space Alexander’s companions 26 days in space

3rd spaceflight 2nd spaceflight 3rd spaceflight 2nd spaceflight 26 days in space 169 days in space 359 days in space 176 days in space

2nd spaceflight 2nd spaceflight 2nd spaceflight 1st spaceflight 164 days in space 176 days in space 169 days in space

Gregory Reid 2nd spaceflight 1st spaceflight 2nd spaceflight Maxim Surayev Wiseman 10 days in space Expedition164 40/41 days in space Expedition 40/41

Maxim Surayev was born in 2ndthe spaceflightUrals. During his To Reid Wiseman, being an astronaut has always been childhood, he lived in several places10 days due in tospace his father’s in the back of his mind, a desire that grew stronger after military commitments. Surayev is an air force pilot and witnessing a Space Shuttle launch in 2001. As a naval a qualified diver. aviator and test pilot, he is used to working long hours under extreme conditions. After being accepted in the cosmonaut corps, he awaited his first flight opportunity for over 12 years. In Flying is his passion and during his career he supported the meantime, he studied law and worked at NASA’s several high-profile military operations in Iraq. He was Johnson Space Centre for a year as director of operations. deployed in the Middle East when he was invited to Maxim finally flew into space in 2009, commanding join the NASA Astronaut Group 20. Reid passed a tough a Soyuz spacecraft. As flight engineer for Expeditions selection process among 3500 applicants to qualify as 21 and 22, he completed the integration of a research an astronaut in 2011. module into the Russian Segment and performed a six-hour spacewalk. Not yet 40, Reid has already worked as an International Space Station Capsule Communicator, or Capcom, at Maxim kept a blog while in space. The 42-year-old Mission Control in Houston. cosmonaut believes that human space exploration will bring new knowledge and new sources of energy back to Earth.

Expedition 40 Steven Swanson NASA 3rd spaceflight Expedition 39/40 3rd spaceflight 26 days in space 359 days in space Steven Swanson is an engineer and NASA astronaut. He has flown two 2nd spaceflight 2nd spaceflight Shuttle flights, STS-117 176 days and in space STS-119, mainly focused on the construction of the truss segment 169 days in space and a final set of solar arrays for the Space Station. Steven has completed four spacewalks1st totalling spaceflight over 26 2nd spaceflight hours. This will be his first flight on a Soyuz spacecraft. 164 days in space Prior to becoming a NASA astronaut, he worked as a software engineer and has earned a doctorate in computer science. 2nd spaceflight 10 days in space

16 3rd spaceflight 3rd spaceflight 359 days in space 26 days in space

2nd spaceflight 2nd spaceflight Expedition 41 169 days in space 176 days in space Yelena Serova Roscosmos 1st spaceflight 2nd spaceflight Expedition 41/42 164 days in space

Yelena Serova will be the fourth 2nd spaceflight Russian female cosmonaut to travel 10 days in space into space, 17 years after Yelena Kondakova’s flight on the STS-84 Space Shuttle3rd spaceflight mission. Since then3rd spaceflightno other 26 days in space Russian woman has flown in space. 359 days in space

At 38 years old, this engineer and economist has been 2nd spaceflight 3rd spaceflight part of the Roscosmos cosmonaut corps since2nd spaceflight2011. Her 3rd spaceflight husband is also a cosmonaut176 days in and space they have one daughter. 359 days in space 169 days in space 26 days in space 1st spaceflight 2nd spaceflight 2nd spaceflight 2nd spaceflight 169 days in space 164 days in space 176Aleksandr days in space Samokutyaev Barry Wilmore Roscosmos NASA 2nd spaceflight Expedition 41/42 2nd spaceflight Expedition 41/42 1st spaceflight 10 days in space 164 days in space Aleksandr Samokutyayev flew into Barry Eugene ‘Butch’ Wilmore is space for the first2nd time spaceflight to the a NASA astronaut. He has a degree in International Space Station as flight engineer on long- electrical engineering, and has flown thousands of hours 10 days in space duration missions Expedition 27 and 28. The launch as a navy test pilot. He flew to the International Space took place in April 2011 and coincided with the 50th Station on an 11-day Space Shuttle mission in November anniversary of the first space mission by Yuri Gagarin. He 2009. During the mission, the crew delivered two Express has worked for more than six hours outside the Space Logistics Carriers and about 13 tonnes of replacement Station, performing a variety of tasks for both science and parts for the Station. Aged 51, he believes that variety is maintenance on the Russian segment. the best thing in his job as an astronaut. 3rd spaceflight 3rd spaceflight 26 days in space 359 days in space

3rd spaceflight 3rd spaceflight 2nd spaceflight 2nd spaceflight 359 days in space 26 days in space 176 days in space 169 days in space Aleksandr Skvortsov Oleg Artemyev Roscosmos 2nd spaceflight Roscosmos 2nd spaceflight 1st spaceflight 2nd spaceflight Expedition 39/40 169 days in space Expedition 39/40 176 days in space 164 days in space The 48-year-old cosmonaut has Born in Riga, now part of Latvia, in 2nd spaceflight logged more days 1stin spacespaceflight than 1970, Oleg Artemyev was selected 2nd spaceflight any of Alexander’s crew mates. He 164 days in space to join Russia’s cosmonaut corps 10 days in space completed a long-duration stay on the International in 2003. Since then, he has been busy with winter Space Station for Expeditions 23 and 24, and became and water survival training for the preparation of his 2nd spaceflight commander during the last part of his Expedition. He first spaceflight. Oleg has also taken active part in 10 days in space surprised his colleagues by eating wasabi sandwiches space analogue studies. He was a crew member in the in space. In his own words, “spicy food is my fuel, as precursor studies to the Mars500 programme – the good as a rocket’s.” Aleksandr Skvortsov is an air force cosmonaut spent 120 days in complete isolation for pilot and a qualified diver. simulated missions to the Red Planet.

17 → 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 18 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’ platform offers the possibility to efficiently perform experiments like no other laboratory 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 • In clear skies around sunset or sunrise, the Space Station live in microgravity. Up there, scientists International Space Station can be seen as are conducting pioneering investigations, testing a bright moving star from most places on theories, and pushing the boundaries of our knowledge. Earth with the naked eye The high-flying international laboratory is packed with • Astronauts on the Space Station live in an technologically sophisticated facilities that support a area larger than a five-bedroom house, with wide range of research in human physiology, biology, a 360-degree bay window called Cupola, two fundamental physics, materials sciences, Earth toilets and fitness facilities observation and space science.

• The Station has been inhabited for 14 years, The orbital outpost offers a unique view of Earth for no other space station has been inhabited collecting scientific data. Observations of glaciers, for longer or received more visitors agricultural fields, cities and coral reefs can complement satellite data to create a comprehensive view of our • More than 130 space missions have been planet. Science in space supports competitive technology flown to build and maintain the Station developments and fosters scientific research and education.

19 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 multifunctional lab has been generating scientific has three docking ports for visiting vessels. Node-3 data across a range of disciplines. External platforms Tranquility, connects to Node-1 Unity and houses life- are supporting experiments and applications in space support and exercise equipment for six crewmembers as science, Earth observation and technology. well as accommodating Cupola and more docking ports.

20 ESA/NASA ESA/NASA Permanent Multipurpose Module: Used for storage

Columbus: Europe's laboratory module

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 controling outside to the Station. ATV can reboost the Station to adjust its equipment from inside the Station. orbit. The fifth ATV,Georges Lemaître, is set for launch in summer 2014.

ESA/NASA ESA/NASA 21 → RESEARCH FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANKIND

European science in space

22 ↑ Tubes of Alexander Gerst's blood for research taken before his flight at the European Astronaut Centre European science will be in full swing during the Blue Science requires repetition, and many experiments are Dot mission. Alexander will work on roughly 30 ESA a continuation from previous missions. Alexander is experiments covering human research, physical science, picking up the baton from ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, biology and radiation, as well as demonstrating new following up some studies performed by the Italian technology. The results will bring benefits to people on during his Volare mission in 2013. Earth and pave the way for future space exploration missions. Alexander will take full advantage of the Station’s scientific facilities and perform high-level science for The crew devote a lot of time to scientific activities. Europe in the European Columbus laboratory. Columbus Alexander alone will spend around 80 hours on the Space is Europe’s entrance ticket to the Space Station and ESA’s Station running a set of European experiments selected largest contribution to the orbital outpost. on the basis of scientific merit, feasibility and potential applications. Research in space delivers new technology His contribution is not limited to European science. for healthcare and can improve industrial production on During his mission, Alexander will play a role in more than Earth. 40 experiments from the US, Canadian and Japanese space agencies.

The Space Station is the best microgravity laboratory we have. It is located in a hostile environment and it requires a lot of effort to get there, but we can obtain scientific data that we will not get anywhere else in the world.

Alexander Gerst

23 Human research Microgravity is not easy on people, especially during long-term space missions. While constant exercise and a proper diet help astronauts counteract the effects of weightlessness, all sort of changes affect their bodies. Human research is vital to understand the causes and help develop countermeasures.

Alexander will provide continuous feedback about his health and on experiments for which he is a test subject, taking blood samples, checking his temperature and monitoring his breathing.

• Stomach Humans lose body mass in space. Alexander will measure changes in energy expenditure to derive an equation for an astronaut’s needs in weightlessness. The Energy experiment will contribute to planning the right amount of food on long-duration missions to the International Space Station and beyond.

• Wrist watch We all have an inner clock – called the circadian timing system – that tells us roughly what time of day it is, and makes us sleepy at night. That cycle is disrupted in orbit, where astronauts experience 16 sunrises and sunsets every day on the Space Station.

The Circadian Rhythms experiment will look at how long-duration spaceflight affects Alexander’s biological clock by measuring his temperature and the hormone melatonin that regulates sleep. The findings will help future missions but also people working irregular hours on Earth, such as doctors and emergency workers.

• Legs Scientists think that reduced stress on bones may be responsible for the progressive cartilage loss seen in long- term space residents. MRI scans of Alexander’s knees will be taken before and after his stay in orbit to test the effect of weightlessness on his cartilage. The results of the Cartilage experiment are expected to help develop technologies to counteract such loss.

24 • Head Biology There is still a lot to learn about how life prospers in Alexander will register any headaches and space. European scientists are looking at the adaptation accompanying symptoms while in orbit. mechanisms of living organisms inside and outside The results of the Space headaches the International Space Station. Bacteria and plants experiment will help develop measures to will be pushed to their limits on our unique weightless reduce headaches. laboratory for biological experiments.

• Skin As we grow older, our skin becomes more fragile and takes longer to heal from injuries. Astronauts lose more skin cells and age much 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. The results could

contribute to help protect people’s skin ESA/NASA on Earth. ↑ Lentils growing in microgravity. Earth’s gravity plays a major role in plant evolution

• Plants Plants are very sensitive to gravity. When a seed is turned and placed horizontally its shoots bend to grow upwards and away from gravity. How plants know which way is ‘up’ and which is 'down' is still a matter of debate. The Seedling Growth 2 experiment analyses how plants react to coloured light sources in microgravity. The research will help find alternatives to sunlight when growing healthy crops. Being able to grow crops with little natural sunlight is a key issue for greenhouse producers of fruit and vegetables as well as for astronauts who could be heading to the Moon or Mars and who will need a healthy diet.

• Bacteria In deep space, the conditions are harsh, such as solar electromagnetic radiation, extreme temperatures and vacuum. European scientists will test the survival skills of terrestrial organisms in outer space with Expose-R2. A suitcase-sized platform outside the International Space Station will house a variety of organic samples. Different kinds of bacteria will be exposed for more than a year to space, with both Moon and Mars-like environments. The

USDA—E. Erbe results could add weight to the theory of panspermia: if life can survive in space, it could travel and colonise other ↑ Bacteria celestial bodies.

25 Material science On Earth, a number of gravity-driven phenomena often lead to unwanted effects when processing materials. Buoyancy, convection and sedimentation can hamper creating the ‘perfect’ alloy or compound. To improve the quality, reliability and reproducibility of products made on Earth, European scientists are performing science in space.

In weightlessness, researchers can experiment in – Chocolateoak Commons Creative carefully controlled environments on metals, plasma, fluids and even textiles. ↑ Plasma

analogues of gases and liquids to simulate phase transitions such as melting or freezing, or to study interactions and wave propagation. Microchip production or plasma medicine applications can benefit from this fundamental research in orbit.

• Fluids Fluids and gases are never at rest. Their molecules move incessantly and continuously collide with each other. Scientists are interested in measuring particle motion because this reveals information on how quickly heat spreads in a fluid and how quickly liquids mix. The SODI-DCMIX experiment will exploit the fact that

Creative Commons- Bleuchoi Commons- Creative fluids in microgravity become quiescent – dormant on a microscopic scale – to measure diffusion in liquid ↑ ESA research has helped to develop an aircraft-grade alloy that is mixtures. twice as light as conventional nickel superalloys while offering equally good properties Many emulsions found in food, cosmetics and pharmacy products need to be highly stable for long periods of • Metals time. The FASES and FASTER experiments examine Super-alloy metals are in high demand to optimise the link between emulsion stability and the physical industrial casting processes. A set of eight experiments characteristics of droplets. The goal is to obtain a model of will investigate the effects of microgravity on metal emulsion dynamics that can be transferred to industrial microstructures, especially on liquid metals when applications on Earth. forming alloys. The results will complement computer simulations to produce high-performance alloys. The ending products can range from titanium-aluminium alloy turbine blades used in jet engines to high-sensitivity X-ray detectors for medical diagnostics.

• Plasma Plasma is an ionised gas. It is considered to be the fourth state of matter, distinct from gas, liquid and solid matter. The PK-4 experiment investigates the creation of plasma-microparticles in microgravity. The weightless environment of Europe’s Columbus laboratory is ideal for plasma research – it allows astronauts to produce NASA

26 ↑ ESA's study of foams could benefit the food industry • Magnets Monitoring space environment The MagVector experiment will measure changes in Away from Earth’s atmosphere, the International Space the magnetic field strengths interacting with the Space Station is exposed to the hostile environment of space. Station to better understand the effects of the terrestrial This orbital location has advantages: it makes the Station magnetic field on electrical systems. a precious platform for observing the Sun and cosmic radiation over a long period of time. • Textile Physical workloads can lead to excessive sweating during • Sun spaceflight. The SpaceTex experiment tries to find the Solar brightness varies from time to time and most suitable fabrics for astronauts under microgravity mathematical models are shedding new light on the conditions and potential terrestrial applications. activity of our star. The SOLAR facility measures our Alexander will wear advanced functional sport textiles Sun’s electromagnetic radiation with unprecedented while exercising and evaluate its performance. accuracy across most of its spectral range. Its instruments will help to build an even more detailed picture of sunspots, flares and our star’s magnetic field. Scientists also hope to better distinguish between solar impact and human influence on Earth’s climate. The measurements will contribute to more accurate navigation data, as well as more precise satellite and space-debris orbit predictions.

↑ Alexander exercising during a parabolic flight

Electromagnetic Levitator To help further refine industrial casting processes and products, the Electromagnetic Levitator facility will operate in the Columbus laboratory. Alexander Gerst is in charge of finishing its installation and processing the first samples. The unit can be used for melting and solidifying electrically conductive metals, alloys or semiconductors in an ultra-high vacuum, as well as in extremely pure gases. NASA/SDO

↑ SOLAR will help us learn more about our star

• Radiation Radiation levels in space are up to 15 times higher than on Earth. The International Space Station offers some protection for astronauts with incoming space rays being partially halted by materials used in its structure. The DOSIS-3D experiment monitors radiation across the entire Station. Results will help prevent radiation-related health problems on long-duration space missions.

27 DLR ↑ Simulated view of the International Space Station with laser infrared imaging sensors

Technology demonstrations • Image sensors The International Space Station also offers space for New navigation technologies will observe the Station high-tech experiments to demonstrate new technology. from different angles and ranges to help design better Remote operations, energy efficiency and maritime sensors for a future rendezvous with a space station or an surveillance will not only help make the planet a better asteroid. ATV Georges Lemaître will perform a fly-around place, but will also pave the way for future space before docking to gather as much footage as possible with exploration. special cameras and a short-range 3D-imaging sensor installed on the spacecraft’s front cone. After docking, • Remote control Alexander will dismount the navigation demonstrator To help turn robotics and remote operations into a recorders, named LIRIS, that are located inside ATV and standard tool for space missions, ESA is linking the Space pack them on the next Soyuz back to Earth. He will also Station with Earth. The Meteron experiment is a testbed take care of downloading the data to ground control. for future missions to the Moon and Mars. Alexander will operate ESA’s Eurobot prototype (located in the • WIRELESS SENSING TECHNOLOGY Netherlands) while orbiting Earth by using special screens How will a wireless sensor network function in space? and a joystick. In the future, astronauts will control a robot The WiSe-Net experiment will test a set of sensors in but will ‘feel’ what the robots touch remotely. Engineers the Columbus module. The devices will also monitor are optimising the human-robot control interaction with environmental conditions such as temperature, pressure the Haptics experiment. These teleoperation techniques and humidity to assess harvesting energy from different can be used on Earth for telemedicine or for operating sources on the Space Station." robots in dangerous environments. • Maritime control Installed in the Columbus laboratory, the Vessel ID system is the marine equivalent of air traffic control systems. A satellite receiver identifies ships on the open seas within the field of view of the Space Station. On a good day, around 400 000 position reports are received from more than 22 000 ships. This experiment is part of ESA’s roadmap to develop global maritime surveillance, safeguarding the security of people and infrastructure at sea. FFI ESA/ÖWF/P. Santek ESA/ÖWF/P.

↑ The Eurobot ground prototype during a field test campaign ↑ World sea traffic tracked from space

28 → 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 presently the only means for astronauts to reach and leave the International Space Station.

Alexander Gerst will be launched into space with his crewmates Reid Wiseman and Maxim Surayev on a Soyuz FG rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz spacecraft shares the same name as its launcher – Soyuz means ‘union’ – 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 29 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 In less than five minutes, 225 tonnes excels in low cost and high reliability. At the top of the 51 m-high of RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen are Soyuz FG rocket, the Soyuz spacecraft and emergency rescue system consumed. RP-1 is a highly refined can be triggered during the first three minutes of flight to evacuate form of kerosene, similar to jet fuel. cosmonauts in case of rocket failure. 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. ESA—I. Baroncini

30 T + 04:48 T + 08:48 Second-stage Third-stage separation separation and orbit insertion ESA — S. Corvaja

↑ 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 ESA–I. Baroncini

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. ESA—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. Alexander will be the second European astronaut on a Alexander and his crewmates do not see the roll-out and Soyuz fast-track flight to the Space Station, following erection of the Soyuz rocket on the launch pad, because this is considered bad luck the path of ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano. His Soyuz will execute a ‘same-day rendezvous’, 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. Soyuz spacecraft complete 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 equalise 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 31 Soyuz spacecraft

Alexander Gerst flies on Soyuz TMA-13M, 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 and navigation control systems. Astronauts have no access to this module and all functions are controlled remotely. ESA/NASA

2 Descent module The only module to return to Earth and Emergency exit designed to withstand the stresses of reentry A Soyuz space capsule ferried the first crew to the into our atmosphere. International Space Station in November 2000. Since then, one Soyuz for each group of three astronauts has 3 Orbital module always been at the Station to serve as a safe house and Used only in space and acts as living quarters, lifeboat should they have to return to Earth unexpectedly. with hygiene and sleeping facilities. Although the Space Station is the most heavily shielded spacecraft ever, even a piece of space debris the size of a grain of sand could cause serious damage and 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 spacecraft. If an object hits the Station, the astronauts would be safe in their capsules ready to return to Earth. 1 2 3 ESA—I. Baroncini

→ 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

32 Undocking and reentry After living and working on the Space Station for nearly 170 days, Alexander will return to Earth in the Soyuz capsule with his crewmates. Closing the Soyuz hatch will signal the end of his Blue Dot 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 ESA/NASA brakes the spacecraft and decreases its orbit. Shortly afterwards, at an altitude of 140 km and less than 30 ↑ On the way back to Earth, the separation of Soyuz modules takes minutes before landing, the Soyuz spacecraft separates place before reentry into the atmosphere, at around 140 km into three parts. 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 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 5 g, feeling the equivalent of five times their body weight.

Landing and rescue As well as the Soyuz parachutes and shock-absorbing seats to soften the landing, retro-rockets fire just before ESA—B. Ingalls touchdown at 80 cm from the ground. 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 every reentry.

Seeing fellow astronauts getting on their rocket and blasting off made this spaceflight adventure very real. I realised that all my training NASA was coming to an end.

↑ Once rescued from the landing site, Alexander will be taken back Alexander Gerst to Germany from Baikonur for rehabilitation and post-flight data collection. Alexander will be the first astronaut to return immediately to European soil after his mission to the Space Station 33 → STATION TRAFFIC

Visiting vehicles

ESA/NASA 34 ↑ An approaching Automated Transfer Vehicle seen from the International Space Station Cargo ferries are vital to keep the International Space Station and its permanent crew of six working at full capacity. Since the US Space Shuttle no longer visits the International Space Station, crews rely on unmanned cargo vehicles. There is always a demand for cargo and last-minute equipment requests. Propellant, spare parts, new payloads and equipment for microgravity research are on the shipping list.

ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle has the largest cargo capacity of all visiting space ferries. The most complex spacecraft ever built in Europe will deliver nearly seven tonnes of cargo, including food, water and various gases, as well as research and maintenance equipment. Alexander Gerst will welcome the fifth and last in the series.

During the Blue Dot mission, two Russian Progress spacecraft, traditionally used as resupply vehicles for earlier space stations, will dock with the Station.

Alexander will take part in welcoming the Cygnus resupply vehicle from Orbital Sciences Corporation as well as the two Dragons, reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX. These missions are part of NASA’s commercial resupply service programme.

The traffic around the Station means a busy agenda of robotic operations for Station crew. Alexander’s duties on the orbital outpost include participating in docking and cargo operations. Capturing vehicles using robotic arms is one of the most important tasks of his mission.

35 Timeline

ATV ATV, the largest space freighter The European spacecraft starts its fifth – and last – voyage to supply the International Space Station. It is loaded with more water and dry cargo in its hold than any other ATV mission to date. Named Georges Lemaître after the Belgian astronomer and cosmologist, the spacecraft plays a vital role in Station logistics: it serves as cargo carrier, storage facility and space tug.

Similar to its predecessors, the objectives of this mission are to deliver 6.6 tonnes of cargo plus support the Station’s orbit for six months. ESA ATV Georges Lemaître carries about 2620 kg of dry cargo and, for the first time, its three water 9.8 tanks are fully loaded with over 800 litres. 2008 ATV propulsion system is used to raise the Station to a higher orbit, counteracting atmospheric drag 20 600 that slowly causes the Station to lose altitude. It can also be used to avoid collisions with space 7700 debris, and provide attitude control when other spacecraft approach the Station.

After about six months, ATV Georges Lemaître will undock from the Station filled with a few tonnes Progress of waste water and unneeded materials and Progress is the longest-serving unmanned cargo equipment. Its last journey will be a controlled and spacecraft – it has been carrying fuel and other supplies destructive reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. A set to all Russian space stations since 1978. Three to four of cameras and sensors will record an extensive Progress flights go to the Space Station each year carrying amount of data during reentry. This information over two tonnes of supplies each. It is about the same size could help when the International Space Station is and shape as a Soyuz and uses the same docking ports. decommissioned.

ATV-5 Progress 56P Launch: July Launch: July Launch vehicle: Ariane 5ES Launch vehicle: Soyuz FG Launch site: Kourou, French Guiana Launch site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan Duration of stay: 6 months Duration of stay: 6 months

2014 July

36 Space deliveries

PROGRESS Operator

Roscosmos Length in metres

7.2 First launch

1978 Maximum liftoff weight in kilograms

7300 Payload in kilograms

2400

CYGNUS

SpaceX Orbital Sciences Corp.

6.1 3.7

2010 2014

Dragon 10 200 6000

3300 2700

Dragon Cygnus In May 2012, SpaceX made history when its Dragon Cygnus is the fifth unmanned spacecraft type in spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle to the history of spaceflight to resupply the Station. be attached to the International Space Station. Of all The third Orbital Sciences Corporation mission will the unmanned vehicles currently visiting the Space deliver around two tonnes of cargo. It has a berthing Station Dragon is the only ferry that can return to mechanism similar to the other US vehicle, SpaceX’s Earth with equipment and scientific samples. Dragon.

Dragon 4 Cygnus 3 Progress 57P Launch: August Launch: October Launch: October Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Launch vehicle: Antares Launch vehicle: Soyuz FG Launch site: Florida, USA Launch site: Virginia, USA Launch site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan Duration of stay: 1 month Duration of stay: 1 month Duration of stay: 6 months

August September October

37 → SPACE FOR EDUCATION

Inspiring the next generation

Alexander Gerst believes that the International Space Station is not only the best microgravity laboratory, but it is also a unique platform for humans to look back to Earth and gain a new perspective. Europe’s ambassador in space wants to share his experience with a didactic trip in weightlessness. Alexander will perform a set of experiments in orbit with the help of the next generation of scientists, comparing results and working together to protect the planet.

European Space ImagingEuropean Space 38 ↑ Neuwerk island on the German coast seen from space Earth Guardian From the Space Station’s Cupola, astronauts have a privileged vantage point to observe the beauty of our planet. However its fragility, as well as global threats, are also more obvious when seen from space. With Earth Guardian, Alexander will encourage school children to create their own environmental protection project.

On a local and global level, youngsters will study problems in their daily life and their environment and think about sustainable strategies for the future. Alexander will stimulate their curiosity by showing them how global-scale phenomena can relate to their local experiences. DLR Aktion 42 ↑ Alexander looks at the behavior of candies during a parabolic flight Ketchup, shampoo and paperclips were some of the 42 items that secondary school students could choose from to propose an experiment for space. Alexander will use them on the International Space Station as part of the Aktion 42 competition. When I was a kid, being an The winning entries aim to examine the physical astronaut was one of my properties of soap bubbles in microgravity. How long can biggest dreams. I used to a soap bubble survive on the Space Station? How big can it grow? Which colour patterns will form in the bubble? look up at the Universe and A last experiment deals with the how soap bubbles are dreamed of what might be agitated by sound. out there.

Alexander Gerst

Flying Classroom In the Flying Classroom, Alexander will use small items to visually demonstrate several principles of physics in microgravity to students from 10 to 17 years old. A gyroscope, viscous liquid and sweets are some of the objects he will use to talk about foam, particle agglomeration and motion.

One of the highlights of this Flying Classroom will be a demonstration of the ESA Rosetta mission. ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft will attempt to put a lander on a comet in 2014. This experiment will visualise the difficulties of landing on an object when there is little gravitational pull. Alexander will try to show the landing strategy in DLR a simple way using the weightless environment of the ↑ Bubbles in microgravity Space Station.

39 CONTACT

eSA/eStec Communication Office +31 71 565 3009 [email protected]

An ESA Human Spaceflight and Operations production Copyright © 2014 European Space Agency

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