Bulletin 128 - November 2006

Home , David Southwood, Gerhard Schwehm, Gerhard Thiele, Kibo (ISS module), Quest Joint Airlock, Super Flight

COVER BUL-128 11/9/06 3:45 PM Page 1 www.esa.int

number 128 - november 2006

Member States Etats membres

Austria Allemagne Belgium Autriche Denmark Belgique Finland Danemark France Espagne Germany Finlande Greece France Ireland Grèce Italy Irlande Luxembourg Italie Netherlands Luxembourg Norway Norvège Portugal Pays-Bas SPACE FOR EUROPE Spain Portugal Sweden Royaumi-Uni Switzerland Suède United Kingdom Suisse

IXV Prepares for Reentry ESA bulletin 128 - november 2006

ESA Publications Division ESTEC, PO Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands Tel: +31 71 565-3400 Fax: +31 71 565-5433 Visit ESA Publications at http://www.esa.int INSIDE COVER-B128 11/10/06 1:40 PM Page 2

european space agency Editorial/Circulation Office ESA Publications Division ESTEC, PO Box 299, The European Space Agency was formed out of, and took over the rights and obligations of, the two earlier European space organisations – the 2200 AG Noordwijk European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) and the European Organisation for the Development and Construction of Space Vehicle Launchers The Netherlands (ELDO). The Member States are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Tel: +31 71 565-3400 Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Canada is a Cooperating State. Editors Andrew Wilson In the words of its Convention: the purpose of the Agency shall be to provide for and to promote for exclusively peaceful purposes, cooperation among Carl Walker European States in space research and technology and their space applications, with a view to their being used for scientific purposes and for operational space applications systems: Design & Layout Isabel Kenny (a) by elaborating and implementing a long-term European space policy, by recommending space objectives to the Member States, and by concerting Jules Perel the policies of the Member States with respect to other national and international organisations and institutions; Advertising (b) by elaborating and implementing activities and programmes in the space field; Lorraine Conroy (c) by coordinating the European space programme and national programmes, and by integrating the latter progressively and as completely as possible into the European space programme, in particular as regards the development of applications satellites; The ESA Bulletin is published by the European Space (d) by elaborating and implementing the industrial policy appropriate to its programme and by recommending a coherent industrial policy to the Agency. Individual articles may be reprinted provided the credit line reads ‘Reprinted from ESA Bulletin’, plus Member States. date of issue. Signed articles reprinted must bear the author’s name. Advertisements are accepted in good The Agency is directed by a Council composed of representatives of the Member States. The Director General is the chief executive of the Agency and faith; the Agency accepts no responsibility for their its legal representative. content or claims.

The ESA HEADQUARTERS are in Paris. Copyright © 2006 European Space Agency Printed in the Netherlands ISSN 0376-4265 The major establishments of ESA are: THE EUROPEAN SPACE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Netherlands. THE EUROPEAN SPACE OPERATIONS CENTRE (ESOC), Darmstadt, Germany. ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. Chairman of the Council: S. Wittig Director General: J.-J. Dordain

agence spatiale européenne

L’Agence Spatiale Européenne est issue des deux Organisations spatiales européennes qui l’ont précédée – l’Organisation européenne de recherches spatiales (CERS) et l’Organisation européenne pour la mise au point et la construction de lanceurs d’engins spatiaux (CECLES) – dont elle a repris les droits et obligations. Les Etats membres en sont: l’Allemagne, l’Autriche, la Belgique, le Danemark, l’Espagne, la Finlande, la France, la Grèce, l’Irlande, l’Italie, le Luxembourg, la Norvège, les Pays-Bas, le Portugal, le Royaumi-Uni, la Suède et la Suisse. Le Canada bénéficie d’un statut d’Etat coopérant.

Selon les termes de la Convention: l’Agence a pour mission d’assurer et de développer, à des fins exclusivement pacifiques, la coopération entre Etats européens dans les domaines de la recherche et de la technologie spatiales et de leurs applications spatiales, en vue de leur utilisation à des fins The Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) is helping to scientifiques et pour des systèmes spatiaux opérationnels d’applications: build Europe's expertise in atmospheric reentry technology

(a) en élaborant et en mettant en oeuvre une politique spatiale européenne à long terme, en recommandant aux Etats membres des objectifs en matière spatiale et en concertant les politiques des Etats membres à l’égard d’autres organisations et institutions nationales et internationales; (b) en élaborant et en mettant en oeuvre des activités et des programmes dans le domaine spatial; (c) en coordonnant le programme spatial européen et les programmes nationaux, et en intégrant ces derniers progressivement et aussi complètement que possible dans le programme spatial européen, notamment en ce qui concerne le développement de satellites d’applications; (d) en élaborant et en mettant en oeuvre la politique industrielle appropriée à son programme et en recommandant aux Etats membres une politique industrielle cohérente.

L’Agence est dirigée par un Conseil, composé de représentants des Etats membres. Le Directeur général est le fonctionnaire exécutif supérieur de l’Agence et la représente dans tous ses actes.

Le SIEGE de l’Agence est à Paris. Les principaux Etablissements de l’Agence sont: LE CENTRE EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHE ET DE TECHNOLOGIE SPATIALES (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Pays-Bas. LE CENTRE EUROPEEN D’OPERATIONS SPATIALES (ESOC), Darmstadt, Allemagne. ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. Président du Conseil: S. Wittig Directeur général: J.-J. Dordain

www.esa.int ContentsB128 11/9/06 4:00 PM Page 3

8 10 26

Agenda 2011 Unveiling the Universe MELFI Ready for Science Setting the Agenda for Europe’s Space Two Missions Revealing the Cold ESA’s Cryogenic Freezer Begins Work Agency Universe Aboard the International Space Station

42 52 62 Taking the Measure of Earth Healing the Earth IXV Progress in Radar Altimetry Supporting Environmental Conventions The Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle

bulletin 128 - november 2006 Contents

Agenda 2011 8 Healing the Earth 52 Earth Observation Supporting International Unveiling the Universe 10 Environmental Conventions Two Missions to Unlock the Secrets of the Cold Cosmos Olivier Arino, Diego Fernandez-Prieto & Espen Volden Gerald Crone et al. IXV: the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle 62 Cannibalism in Space: A Star Eats its Companion 18 Europe Among the World Players in Atmospheric Reentry A (Typical?) Integral Observation of the High-Energy Sky Giorgio Tumino & Yves Gerard Christoph Winkler et al. Delta-DOR 68 MELFI Ready for Science 26 A New Technique for ESA’s Deep Space Navigation ESA’s –80ºC Freezer Begins Work in Space Roberto Maddè et al. Maria De Parolis et al.

Preparing for Space 32 Programmes in Progress 76 EVA Training at the European Astronaut Centre Hans Bolender et al. News – In Brief 92

Taking the Measure of Earth 42 Publications 102 15 Years of Progress in Radar Altimetry Jérôme Benveniste & Yves Ménard

www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 1 Pages 8-9 Agenda 2011 20/11/06 14:47 Page 8

ESA Agenda 2011

Agenda 2011 The next step is to 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 enable new services by Agenda 2011 CMINCMIN 08 08 EU Budget Revision CMINCMIN 11 11 exploiting several systems, space and Preparation of Major decisions on: programme proposals – Level of Resources Complementary non-space, acting in Implementation of for CMIN 08 – Exploration decisions on: Major decisions on: A Document by the Director General and Directors CMIN 05 programmes – Technology – GMES Preparation of – Level of Resources concert as a ‘system of Decision on GMES – GMES segment 2 – GNSS programme proposals – Launchers systems’. The potential Preparatory activities for phase 2 of segment 1 – Launchers for CMIN 11 – Telecom and integrated applications – ISS Exploitation Implementation of Navigation is immense in many – Preparatory Prog on CMIN 08 programmes The Agency’s Agenda 2011, released in monitoring, acted as a catalyst for members and a new relationship with the integrated applications important areas, such October 2006, presents an evolving European space telecommunications and EU. The first step should be taken within European Space Policy as civil security, air

framework of action for achieving the is jointly developing new applications 2 years, to adapt accordingly the Review and Update of Convention: traffic management wide-ranging objectives of Member (Galileo and Global Monitoring for industrial policy rules and procedures, assessment of ESA Action plan for ESA – Decision making New Member States and maritime surveill- Evolution evolution – Funding mechanisms States and for adapting ESA to a Environment and Security/GMES) with decision-making, funding mechanisms Implementation of New Financial ance. This will make Propose new Council Improved coordination Review of industrial updated Convention Management System changing environment. Agenda 2007, the EU. The objective now is to develop and coordination between ESA and meetings set-up with National policy space an indispensable presented in mid-2003, led to significant beyond this, to make ESA a model for national programmes, resources and Programmes tool for European advances in less than 3 years, including underpinning the use of space in the industrial policy. It is expected that, policies. The challenge

a successful Ministerial Council at the world today and specifically in the following such adaptation, there will be Agenda 2011 New competences for New Human is to change from the integrated applications Resources Policy Adaptation of Agenda 2015 end of 2005. context of Europe’s growing needs. at least 22 Member States by 2011. A High Level Space organisation single system (often The plan of actions supporting In order to reach this objective, three longer-term goal is for ESA to evolve Advisory Committee Enhanced Corporate Reinforced “One ESA” satellite-centred) to a (HISAC) Control Agenda 2011 will be detailed and key priorities will drive ESA’s actions: towards the EU by 2014. user-centred approach formalised in the ESA Long-Term Plan ESA Internal operations Evolution of ESA Programmes and Budgets exploiting a network of 2007–2016, updated by the Council Consolidation of steps taken at the 2005 Programmes CMIN: Ministerial Council; GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System; other abbreviations as in text capabilities. annually. Agenda 2011 is defined within Ministerial Council towards discoveries Core activities to be proposed to the 2008 For example, there the framework of the European Space and competitiveness Ministerial Council include: are significant synergies Policy (ESP); indeed, it is an important The absolute priority in the coming Life and physical sciences: focus on basic gradually become operational as to be exploited between civil security input to that policy. In turn, its years is to consolidate the capabilities Space science: opening the door to new and applied research in life and space assets are integrated into the and defence. Disaster relief and crisis implementation will take into account and competitiveness of European missions by introducing flexibility; physical sciences using the ISS, coordinated data stream. The first management missions include civil and the ESP as endorsed in mid-2007. industry. Without space manufacturers astronomy missions in deep-space sounding rockets and other oppor- services will be pre-operational in military elements (transport, medical and service-providers, Europe cannot orbits; exploiting the synergies of tunities; support future exploration 2008, while full operational capacity treatment, food supply, temporary Overall Objectives and Priorities serve any of its ambitions. Significant Solar System missions with explora- initiatives. will emerge from 2012 as dedicated accommodation), requiring close The ESP will provide a European Union investments in new and advanced tion (see below), and of fundamental Launchers: consolidate Ariane-5 and GMES missions are launched. coordination and coherent information. (EU) dimension to the space path technologies have to be made urgently. physics missions with the ISS. start exploiting Soyuz and Vega; Meteorology: the Meteosat Third Common communications equipment followed for 30 years by ESA Member Earth science: focus on global change; Ariane-5 and Vega to evolve with Generation will be available in 2015, providing secure links is a clear demand. States. Conversely, this new policy will Development and promotion of integrated one mission per year; increase coopera- family modularity; prepare technolo- followed by MetOp’s successor in For such applications, ESA will take introduce a space dimension into the applications (space & non-space) and tion with international partners and gies for next-generation launchers; 2019. the role of promoter of the space political ambitions of Europe as a integration of security in the ESP technology programmes; preparation international cooperation based on Telecommunications: the Small GEO element of the overall system, which will global actor. The overall objectives of New concepts, new capabilities and a of applications programmes. mutual dependence, with guaranteed and AlphaSat geostationary platforms be the responsibility of a dedicated the next 5 years will serve these new new culture have to be developed in Exploration: begin development of access to space. will be developed to satisfy the small- operator. ESA is beginning pilot dimensions and must therefore order to respond to a multitude of needs ExoMars follow-on mission; choose and large-size satellite market projects to help the proposal for an consolidate “ESA as a global space from users who are not yet familiar with scenario to make Europe an Current applications programmes will demands, respectively, in partnership Integrated Applications Preparatory agency, instrumental for Europe in space systems. The strong coordination indispensable partner: Moon orbit continue with emphasis on: with industry and telecom operators. Programme in 2008, promoting space serving the policies of its Member States and efficient exploitation of synergies infrastructure (telecommunications, systems and demonstrating their role in and the EU, developing a competitive have to be organised between national, navigation), participation in human Galileo: once the system is deployed, the Integrated Applications a wider system. Examples include civil economy, and indispensable to the world intergovernmental and EU resources transportation (in conjunction with challenge will be to make the transition The submissions for the 2008 Ministerial protection, disaster management, flight in contributing to global policies and to and capabilities, as well as between civil the launcher programme), synergy to a full operational system, with a Council will emphasise new integrated safety, human security, health, early- the increase of knowledge”. security and defence applications. with space science missions; stimulate commercial operator and services, applications pro-grammes, based on a warning systems, maritime surveillance ESA is recognised as a globally- international cooperation taking into followed by preparations for a second- multi-disciplinary approach, paving the and education in developing countries. important agency in its core activities of Evolution of ESA account the lessons learned from the generation system. Operational way for security-related programmes. e science and exploration, human space- The Agency’s evolution must be ISS partnership. exploitation is planned to start in 2011. Operational space systems such as flight and partnership in the International accelerated in order to improve our Human spaceflight: based around the GMES: as services require data from navigation and communications are The full Agenda 2011 is planned for publication in the Space Station (ISS), and launchers. It has global effectiveness, reinforce the ISS, optimising the benefit for space and other sources, GMES is the part of our daily lives. They integrate coming months. Agenda 2007 is available as ESA already developed important operational motivations for Member States to invest Member States through efficient use typical case for the integrated applica- space and ground elements, but are BR-213 (cost 10 Euro) from ESA Publications or at http://www.esa.int/esapub/br/br213/br213.pdf capabilities in meteorology and climate in space, and prepare ESA for new of research activities and applications. tions approach. GMES services will based on mainly a single type of system.

8 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 9 Pages 8-9 Agenda 2011 20/11/06 14:47 Page 8

ESA Agenda 2011

8 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 9 Passvogel 11/9/06 4:09 PM Page 10

Herschel/Planck

Gerald Crone, Anders Elfving & Thomas Passvogel Science Projects Department, Directorate of Unveiling the Universe Science Programme, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Göran Pilbratt & Jan Tauber Astrophysics Missions Division, Research & Scientific Support Department, Directorate of Science Programme, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

n 2008, an Ariane-5 will lift off from French Guiana carrying ESA’s two pioneering IHerschel and Planck deep space observatories to explore previously unknown regions of the Universe. Their target is the ‘bright’ part of the far-infrared spectrum that has tantalised scientists for decades. Until now, the technology has not existed to make precise observations of a distant domain that touches the very beginning of time. Introduction Herschel, detecting light emitted in the Two Missions to sub-millimetre and far-infrared range of the spectrum that is blocked from reaching Earth by our atmosphere, will Unlock the Secrets reveal phenomena previously obscured from view, such as the very earliest galaxies and stars. of the Cold Cosmos The Planck telescope, observing in a different part of the far-infrared spectrum with the highest precision ever, will investigate cosmic background radiation – the remnants of the radiation that filled the Universe immediately after the Big Bang some 14 billion years ago. Two pioneering missions: Herschel Extreme sensitivity is needed to (left) and Planck (inset) measure the faint heat signatures of this

esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 11 Passvogel 11/9/06 4:09 PM Page 10

Herschel/Planck

Gerald Crone, Anders Elfving & Thomas Passvogel Science Projects Department, Directorate of Unveiling the Universe Science Programme, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Göran Pilbratt & Jan Tauber Astrophysics Missions Division, Research & Scientific Support Department, Directorate of Science Programme, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 11 Passvogel 11/9/06 4:09 PM Page 12

Science Herschel/Planck

‘cold’ part of the cosmos, so the point, just like circling a planet, with a The infrared sky background showing the frequency ranges targeted by Herschel and Planck detectors on both Herschel and Planck period of about 6 months. have to operate at very low and stable The thermally benign L2 environment temperatures. The spacecraft therefore offers stable radio links to Earth and Probe (WMAP) spacecraft, both of cool their detectors close to absolute unbroken observing time, making it a which detected temperature fluctuations zero, ranging from 20K (–253ºC) to only preferred location in the coming years in the CMB radiation, leading to strong a few tenths of a degree above the for international observatories of this support of what is known as the –273ºC of absolute zero. kind. ‘inflationary’ Big Bang model to explain The 3-axis stabilised Herschel fits the the origin and evolution of the Universe. traditional notion of an observatory by Herschel and Planck Science In spite of the importance of the pointing at specific targets on request or Herschel will look deep into the far- COBE and WMAP measurements, according to a flexible schedule agreed infrared and sub-millimetre range that however, many fundamental cosmo- by scientists. bridges the gap between what can be logical questions remain open. Planck’s Herschel achieves its low cryostat observed from ground or airborne main objective takes it beyond its temperatures by employing a ‘thermos facilities and earlier space missions, such predecessors: measuring the CMB bottle’ technique, boiling off helium at a as ESA’s Infrared Space Observatory fluctuations with far greater precision. controlled rate to keep the telescope (ISO) of 1995–1998. This will allow scientists to address receivers cool. The spin-stabilised Radiation in this part of the spectrum fundamental questions, such as the Planck, on the other hand, uses passive not only passes through interstellar gas initial conditions for evolution in the cooling complemented by a series of and dust but it is also emitted by the Universe’s structure, the origin of three active refrigerators. very same gas and dust. That means structure in the Universe, the nature and To provide the necessary cold and ‘cold’ objects, invisible to other types of amount of dark matter and the nature stable environment, the observatories telescopes, can be viewed. to radiate in visible light are often Planck, on the other hand, will of dark energy (see box). Planck will will be positioned at the second Herschel’s targets include clouds of hidden behind vast dust clouds that continuously map the whole sky at a also set constraints on theories involving Lagrange point (commonly known as gas and dust where new stars are being absorb the energy and reradiate it at wide range of frequencies, enabling the high-energy particle physics that cannot The Herschel spacecraft is 7.5 m high and 4x4 m across, with a L2), Herschel for its nominal mission born, discs that may form planets, and Herschel’s wavelengths. separation of the galactic and extra- be reached by experiments on Earth. launch mass of 3.3 t. The Payload Module consists of the lifetime of some 3.5 years and Planck the atmospheres of comets packed with There is a lot to see at these galactic foreground radiation from the The mission’s main observational telescope (a mirror mass-dummy is seen here at ESTEC) and an for up to about 2 years. L2 is a virtual complex organic molecules. wavelengths, and much of it has been primordial background. Its ultimate result will be an all-sky map of the optical bench carrying the parts of the instruments that need to point in space, some 1.5 million km Two-thirds of Herschel’s observation virtually unexplored. Previous space- goal is to produce a map of the tiny temperature fluctuations in the CMB. be cooled. A sunshield protects the telescope and cryostat from solar heating and prevents stray light from Earth entering the beyond the Earth as viewed from the time will be available to the world based infrared telescopes have had irregularities known to exist in the To achieve this, Planck will survey the telescope; it also carries solar cells to generate the spacecraft’s Sun, where their gravitational forces of scientific community, with the neither the sensitivity of Herschel’s large Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) sky at nine frequencies that bracket the power are balanced. Spacecraft can orbit this remainder reserved for the spacecraft’s mirror nor the ability of Herschel’s three field. ‘peak’ of the CMB infrared spectrum. science and instrument teams. instruments to do such a comprehensive Work in this area began with NASA’s These maps will include not only the Herschel’s far-infrared and sub- job of sensing this important part of the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) CMB itself but also all the foreground millimetre wavelengths are considerably spectrum. and Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy emissions, whether galactic or longer than the rainbow of colours extragalactic in origin. All nine maps familiar to the human eye. This is a will be combined by careful processing ‘Dark matter’ is a term coined to describe matter that does not emit or reflect enough critically important portion of the electromagnetic radiation (such as light or X-rays) to be detected directly, but whose to create a single map of the CMB spectrum to scientists because it is here presence may be inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter. Observed variations (see box). where a large part of the Universe phenomena hinting at dark matter include the rotational speeds of galaxies, the orbital radiates its energy. velocities of galaxies in clusters, and the temperature distribution of hot gas in galaxies and A Common Heritage Much of the Universe consists of gas clusters of galaxies. It has been suggested that such objects, and the Universe as a whole, The Herschel and Planck spacecraft are contain far more matter than is directly observable, indicating that the remainder is dark. Its and dust that is far too cold to radiate in composition is unknown but may include elementary particles. broadly similar in that they have clear visible light or at shorter wavelengths separations between the Service Module such as X-rays. However, even at The hypothetical ‘dark energy’ permeates all of space and has a strong negative (housing all the electronics for space- temperatures well below the most frigid pressure. According to the Theory of Relativity, the effect of such a negative pressure is craft and instrument command and spot on Earth, they do shine in the far- similar to a force acting in opposition to gravity at large scales. Invoking this effect is control) and the Payload Module, which currently the most popular method for explaining recent observations that the Universe infrared and sub-millimetre. Stars and appears to be expanding at an accelerating rate, as well as accounting for a significant carries the sensitive detectors and other cosmic objects that are hot enough portion of the energy in the Universe. cryogenic telescopes. Although the Payload Modules are Discovered in 1965, the Cosmic Microwave Background was produced in the quite different, the Service Modules Universe’s infancy and now fills it entirely. Most cosmologists consider it to be one of the feature many common aspects, with fundamental pieces of evidence for the Big Bang model of the Universe. Planck is 4.2 m high and has a maximum diameter of 4.2 m, almost identical electrical and avionic with a launch mass of 1.8 t systems.

12 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 13 Passvogel 11/9/06 4:09 PM Page 12

Science Herschel/Planck

12 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 13 Passvogel 11/9/06 4:09 PM Page 14

Science Herschel/Planck

As a result, Herschel and Planck are both designed for minimal ground intervention during normal operations, functioning independently of ground control by following an onboard timeline programme that contains all the commands necessary to carry out the regular operations of the day. During the daily periods of contact, lasting about 3 hours, science data recorded during the previous day are downloaded and the commands for the next autonomous period uploaded. Each spacecraft is also programmed to continue nominal science operations in the event of a single onboard Herschel and Planck will orbit L2, a virtual point in equipment failure, when a spare unit space some 1.5 million km from Earth diametrically would automatically switch on to take opposite the Sun. Here, they avoid Earth’s infrared The Focal Plane Units of PACS, SPIRE and HIFI are mounted above Herschel’s cryostat at the telescope’s focus radiation and benefit from stable communications and over. unbroken observing time However, failures of more complex functions (perhaps within the design with a primary mirror diameter Both direct-detection instruments, the 12 separate petals, thus becoming the computers) or combinations of failures of 3.5 m (the largest ever built for space) Photodetector Array Camera and first segmented space mirror as well as The main functional difference satisfy the specific thermal-mechanical leading to unspecified situations will not to focus light on three supercooled Spectrometer (PACS) and the Spectral the largest to date, weighing 240 kg with between the two spacecraft is in attitude requirements of the instruments. have autonomous recovery. If that instruments. and Photometric Imaging Receiver an average thickness of about 20 cm and measurement and control. Herschel uses happens, the effects are contained as far In order to have the sensitivity to (SPIRE), incorporate cameras. The a front face thickness of 2–3 mm. reaction wheels for 3-axis stabilisation, Mission control as possible and the spacecraft detect far-infrared and sub-millimetre third instrument, the Heterodyne Although the main technical while Planck carries small thrusters for ESA’s single ground station for reconfigured automatically into its safe radiation, parts of the instruments have Instrument for the Far-Infrared (HIFI), challenges were in the instruments’ accurately reorienting its spin axis. controlling both missions is in New mode until ground controllers can to be cooled almost to absolute zero. is a complementary very high-resolution focal-plane units (such as the optics, Even so, the observatories have a Norcia, Australia. The L2 orbital restore operations. The shared optical bench that carries all spectrometer. detectors and mechanisms), low-noise significant number of identical units, parameters mean that contact with each of the instruments is contained within The size of Herschel’s mirror meant readout electronics and coolers, similar such as the star trackers which use the spacecraft occurs for just a few hours The Herschel Payload the cryostat to maintain the low that it could not be built in a single piece issues had to be faced within the same hardware but different software to every night (daytime in Europe). The Herschel telescope is a Cassegrain temperature. Some 2300 litres of liquid but instead had to be constructed from spacecraft itself. accommodate for the varying require- helium (at 1.7 K) will be used during the ments of each mission. mission for primary cooling. To achieve The propulsion systems of both the very lowest temperatures, individual Service Modules also employ identical By space standards, Herschel's 3.5 m-diameter detectors are equipped with additional, The Focal Plane Unit of Herschel’s HIFI being mirror is a giant, the largest ever sent into space prepared for cryogenic vibration testing at 20K components. Planck has three propellant and a technological challenge. In comparison, the specialised cooling systems. tanks for adjusting its injection into L2 Hubble Space Telescope has a 2.4 m-diameter main The elaborate cooling system after release by Ariane-5 and to feed the mirror maximises the overall cooling power, main push into the tighter orbit around providing just the right amount at L2, while two tanks are sufficient for different temperature stages to satisfy Herschel’s injection corrections. Ariane-5 local needs. Around 180 gm of helium is will release the two into a direct transfer used per day, allowing the 3.5-year orbit that means they would naturally mission lifetime. circle L2 without further propulsion. The whole cryostat assembly is Though the same thrusters are used, protected from direct sunlight by a fixed they are laid out differently to cater for shade, which also doubles as a solar the specific directional requirements and panel to generate the 1500 W required unique attitude restrictions of the two to operate the entire satellite. The shield spacecraft. also significantly reduces any stray light The structure of each Service Module and heat from the Earth and Moon in is essentially the same, although the the orbit around L2. majority of the equipment panels differ International teams have developed in their detailed designs in order to Herschel’s three scientific instruments.

14 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 15 Passvogel 11/9/06 4:09 PM Page 14

Science Herschel/Planck

14 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 15 Passvogel 11/9/06 4:09 PM Page 16

Science Herschel/Planck

The telescope’s line-of-sight is inclined satellite in early 2007 at Astrium in at 85º to the spin axis so that the Friedrichshafen (D). These parallel instruments scan a ring of the celestial programmes are approaching their final sphere once per spacecraft revolution, integration and test period before the and the whole sky in half a year. In launch in 2008. order to view the celestial poles, the spin axis can be moved up to 10º away from Conclusion the anti-Sun direction. Engineers from numerous European The Payload Module is dominated by space companies have worked together three conical radiators that thermally on the design, construction and testing insulate the two reflectors, the detector of ESA’s Herschel and Planck observa- Planck's LFI, an array of radiometers, under calibration testing focal plane and the surrounding black tories, overcoming many challenges that baffle from the Service Module. have pushed technology to new limits. thousandths of a millimetre. Equally The black baffle is a powerful radiator Credit must also go to the hundreds of important, it has to be strong enough to for passively precooling the active three- scientists from specialist institutions withstand harsh conditions. At launch it stage cooling chain to around 60K. across Europe and the United States for Planck’s cryocooling chain will be shaken with a force several times Further cooling of the detectors is designing and developing the suite of that of Earth gravity before going performed via a cascade: 20K by a highly sensitive instruments that will Herschel’s cryostat design was Other technical issues that had to be through drastic temperature changes, continuous hydrogen sorption cooler, operate to the tightest of tolerances at inherited from ESA’s successful ISO overcome during manufacture included from about 20ºC at launch to an average 4K by a mechanical cooler and 100mK temperatures close to absolute zero. mission, but it was still a major the mass-optimised carbon-fibre face of –200ºC in space. by mixing normal helium with a rare Infrared astronomy itself is still a challenge to design capable instruments sheets, which had to be re-manufactured The mirror segments are built from helium isotope. young and exciting science, but with very low heat demands on the several times to find the best silicon carbide, a stable material with the Planck’s two scientific instruments are astronomers studying this part of the cryogenic cooling system in order to compromise between flatness, strength combined advantages of metal and the Low Frequency Instrument (LFI), spectrum have already unveiled tens of reach the mission’s desired lifetime. and mass. glass. It is light and easily polishable, an array of radio receivers using high thousands of new galaxies and made The lightweight carbon-fibre The design requirements on the resists stress and fatigue, and withstands electron mobility transistor mixers, and surprising discoveries. sunshield was difficult to build and, primary mirror were also demanding. It low and high temperatures without any the High Frequency Instrument (HFI), Yet scientists know there is still much owing to the high operating temperature has to be light enough to be placed into notable changes of mechanical and an array of highly sensitive microwave more to find and processes such as the (140–170ºC) of the solar cells, its triple- a distant orbit 1.5 million km from thermal properties. detectors known as bolometers. They growth of structure in the early Universe junction gallium arsenide cells had to be Earth but have an extremely smooth share the off-axis aplanatic telescope, and consequent birth of galaxies and further qualified beyond their standard surface, polished to make it so uniform The Planck Payload which has a primary mirror measuring other objects can best be studied with usage of 80–100ºC. that its bumps are smaller than a few The overall design of Planck’s Payload 2.0x1.5 m. Herschel (top) and Planck will be launched jointly by the most (far-) infrared telescopes situated in deep Module emerged from a design process Verifying the cryogenic performance powerful version of Ariane-5 into a direct transfer orbit to L2 space, well away from the restrictions that had to satisfy competing needs: of Planck under realistic conditions was imposed by the Earth and its shielding the sensitive radiometers from a true challenge. A dedicated test centre atmosphere. the heat of the satellite and microwave demonstrated the performance of the Planck will be able to find and map ESA’s Herschel and Planck observa- radiation from the Sun, Earth and passive radiators at about 60K by regions where the temperature varies tories will help to provide answers to Moon, while generating an all-sky map cooling the facility’s inner surfaces to from the average by a few parts in a some of the most vexing questions now by slowly spinning once every minute below 20K with liquid helium. million. These tiny differences in the being asked in modern science: how did around an axis pointing directly away Equally challenging was the veri- CMB are like the marks in a fossil, the Universe begin, how did it evolve to from the Sun. fication of the alignment and radio- revealing details about the organism what we see today, and how will it evolve Planck’s highly sensitive detectors frequency performance at the they come from – in this case, the in the future? They will be throwing new have to work at temperatures very close operational 60K. Measurement at the physical processes at the beginning of light on an old story. to absolute zero, or else their own heat Planck frequencies and in cryogenic the Universe. emissions would spoil the measurements. conditions is not possible on Earth, so Planck’s baseline mission calls for two Acknowledgement The satellite therefore has a sophisticated verification has to be done by complete scans of the sky during an The authors express their thanks to system of coolers. combining analyses and test results. initial 15 months of observations. Clive Simpson (www.simcomm-europe. Planck’s detectors will convert the com) for his contribution in writing the strengths of the microwave signals into Status article. e Planck’s off-axis aplanatic telescope combines a clear optical path units of temperature. The average Planck’s flight instruments are now with compactness. The eccentricity and tilt of the secondary temperature of the CMB is well known being integrated into the satellite at Detailed information on Herschel and Planck can be mirror and the off-axis angle allow a large focal plane detector at –270.3ºC but there are variations of Alcatel Alenia Space in Cannes (F). found at www.esa.int/science array, while minimising the polarisation introduced by the Scientific information is available at telescope. The telescope is seen here being prepared for thermal- roughly one part in 100 000 around the Herschel’s instruments will closely sci.esa.int/herschel & sci.esa.int/planck vacuum testing at ESTEC sky. follow: they will be integrated into the

16 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 17 Passvogel 11/9/06 4:09 PM Page 16

Science Herschel/Planck

16 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 17 Winkler 11/9/06 4:12 PM Page 18

Integral

Christoph Winkler Astrophysics and Fundamental Physics Missions Division, Research and Scientific Support Cannibalism in Space: Department, Directorate of Scientific Programmes, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Peter Kretschmar A Star Eats its Astronomy Science Operations Division, Research and Scientific Support Department, Directorate of Scientific Programmes, ESAC, Villafranca, Spain

Michael Schmidt Companion Mission Operations Department, Directorate of Technical and Operational Support, ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

he work of ESA’s Integral high-energy tobservatory usually follows a long-term Ttplan that is established every year by selecting only the very best of the numerous observing proposals from the scientific community. However, nature does not always follow the same plan, so Integral and the people who keep it running have to react to unforeseen and sudden ‘Targets of Opportunity’. The case here is neutron star IGR J00291+5934, an incredibly dense object with a mass similar to that of our Sun’s compressed into a rapidly spinning sphere only a few kilometres across. Not only that, but it is busy swallowing its stellar companion. Introduction The Integral mission The scientific research with ESA’s Integral (INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory), launched on 17 October 2002, focuses on celestial A (Typical?) Integral objects that radiate in the energy band between 10 000 and 10 million electron volts (eV). On average, these gamma- Observation of the rays are 10 000 to 10 million times more energetic than the photons reaching our eyes from the Sun and stars. They are High-Energy Sky generated by the most energetic and

esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 19 Winkler 11/9/06 4:12 PM Page 18

Integral

Peter Kretschmar A Star Eats its Astronomy Science Operations Division, Research and Scientific Support Department, Directorate of Scientific Programmes, ESAC, Villafranca, Spain

Michael Schmidt Companion Mission Operations Department, Directorate of Technical and Operational Support, ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 19 Winkler 11/9/06 4:12 PM Page 20

Science Integral

violent events in the Universe. Integral data are downlinked in real-time to the detects these high-energy photons using ground stations and then forwarded to two main gamma-ray instruments: the the Integral Science Data Centre in SPI spectrometer provides precise Versoix (CH), where they are processed Gamma-ray bursts are the spectral information, and the IBIS and archived before being dispatched to most powerful explosions in camera images the objects with high the proposers for scientific analysis. the Universe accuracy. They are supplemented by two Usually, therefore, the observing monitoring instruments covering the programme follows a sequence planned soft X-ray range below 10 000 eV for the entire year, until a new set of (JEM-X) and the optical wavelength proposals is solicited and selected. band (OMC). For a detailed description At this point, readers may conclude of Integral, its instruments, performance that operating Integral is a routine and ground segment, see the set of matter, with very little to be done on the articles in Bulletin 111, August 2002. ground after the observing programme The celestial objects of interest to the has been established and sent to the Integral views electron-positron annihilation at the centre of our scientists using Integral include black spacecraft. Galaxy (J. Knödleseder et al., Astron. Astrophys., vol 441, p513, holes in our Galaxy and local galaxies, However, this is far from the truth. 2005) neutron stars, X-ray binary stars, pulsars, remnants of supernova The variable high-energy sky astronomy). This means that the data explosions and gamma-ray bursts. A key characteristic of the high-energy can be easily analysed and exciting new Studying the gamma-ray emission lines sky is that a large majority of the scientific results are obtained almost from the radioactive decay of excited gamma-ray sources vary with time. every time. This is what makes these heavy atomic nuclei or from the Some previously regarded as steady observations so exciting. annihilation of electrons with their display sudden outbursts on every Most of these events are positron anti-matter equivalents is also intensity scale. Others have regular unpredictable by their very nature, so important. outbursts. Sky areas supposed to be they are commonly called ‘Targets of empty suddenly reveal new sources; Opportunities’ (ToOs). Any mission The observing programme these often turn out to be previously exploring this energy regime should be Integral is operated like a ground-based undetected persistent but weak sources prepared to react rapidly to such observatory, with the vast majority of its that suddenly burst into life for an dramatic events. The Integral observing time used by astronomers at large. arbitrary period. Some sources may programme, stored in a database, Proposals by the scientific community vary with a quite regular pattern, known already contains a number of accepted for Integral observations are solicited by from observations before Integral was ToO observation proposals that can be ESA once a year and assessed by the launched. activated if the unique event described Time Allocation Committee. Then, The reason for all this variability lies in the proposal really happens. In that scientists at the Integral Science in the nature of these sources. Many are respect, we are not totally unprepared. Why Observe Gamma-rays? Operations Centre (ISOC) in ESA’s in binary stellar systems, and material The entire ground network needs to European Space Astronomy Centre from the companion star is accreted be prepared because an alert could be Light, or electromagnetic radiation, glows in radio waves, infrared, For example, some chemical elements (ESAC, E) create a long-term observing onto the compact object. This accretion received from either the external science comes in many forms. There are radio ultraviolet and X-rays. Some objects are created during explosions in plan. This is an optimised sequence of process, which releases large amounts of community or ISDC at any time waves, microwaves, infrared light, emit only radio waves or X-rays. This which individual stars blow visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays is why it is important to study the themselves to pieces. The new observations (targets, pointings and energy, can appear to be highly variable – 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. In the and gamma rays, all of which form Universe with various kinds of space chemicals leave gamma-ray exposure durations), taking into for a range of reasons: the radiation may case of Integral, the call could come the ‘electromagnetic spectrum’. Oddly observatories. fingerprints in the fireball for account all the scheduling constraints, be temporarily blocked from view by the from the astronomers at ISDC enough, visible light – to which astronomers to find. By studying Integral is concentrating on the such as spacecraft pointing avoidance companion, nuclear explosions on the monitoring the data as they are received, human eyes are sensitive – is the these, Integral is piecing together how gamma-rays. These are produced by zones and observations that have to be surface of the compact object, pointing out that something strange is smallest band of all. To our eyes, these chemicals are created. spectacular events such as stars what we see seems like the entire performed at particular times. The reconnections of intense twisted going on in the sky right now – an exploding, matter falling into black Integral is also studying the Universe, but there is much more out Mission Operations Centre (MOC) in magnetic fields, or the continuous fast opportunity not to be missed! holes and celestial objects colliding. mysterious blasts known as gamma- there. ESA’s European Space Operations rotation of the dense object (a ‘pulsar’). Such an alert was received by the By collecting gamma-rays, ray bursts. These explode at random Different types of objects in the astronomers can see these violent in distant realms and are probably Centre (ESOC, Darmstadt, D) translates In other words, the high-energy sky Integral team on 5 December 2004, Universe emit different types of events and judge how they shape the caused by the collision of neutron this plan into a sequence of spacecraft looks like a Christmas tree, with candles when Maurizio Falanga from the radiation. Our Sun is a rather obvious Universe. stars or perhaps the explosion of commands for uplinking to Integral flickering at every time scale imaginable. Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique source of visible light. But it also large stars. from one of the ground stations, in Many of these outbursts are relatively (CEA), Saclay (F) requested that the Redu (B) or Goldstone (USA). bright and provide plenty of photons spacecraft be repointed towards a When a target has been observed, the (which are rather scarce in gamma-ray powerful new source as soon as possible.

20 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 21 Winkler 11/9/06 4:12 PM Page 20

Science Integral

20 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 21 Winkler 11/9/06 4:12 PM Page 22

Science Integral

criteria were indeed Winkler, who has the last word on the The Integral control room at ESOC. From left to right: Orlane Bergogne (Spacecraft Operations Engineer, SOE), checking the met and the location planning of scientific observations. So The discovery of IGR J00291+5934 by Integral’s instrument configuration; Michael Schmidt (Spacecraft Operations IBIS camera. The image is 3º high and 6.25º of the source did not now his Sunday afternoon was also Manager, SOM) supervising the replanning activities; Salma across; pixel size is 5 arcmin. (M. Falanga et al., violate any spacecraft interrupted. The two scientists discussed Fahmy (Mission Planner) performing the replanning; Paolo Lippi Astron. Astrophys., vol 444, p15, 2005) pointing constraints. the case and Christoph evaluated the (Analyst) checking the consistency of the database; Atef Soliman The next question was impact of accepting the ToO, both (SPACON) loading the new timeline; Federico di Marco (Attitude & Orbit Control System Operations Engineer) checking the slew the requested reaction scientifically and operationally. Finally, sequence time: this turned out the decision was clear: the requested to be rather short, observation should be done as soon as within a day, if possible. comments (“Oh, not another ToO!”), possible. This meant MOC contacted ISOC to discuss the that the planning for Reshuffling the programme proposed replanning. the current 3-day orbit By now it was nearly 16:00. Quickly, In the planning process, ISOC provides around the Earth Erik informed the lucky observer that a set of data files, including the Preferred would have to be his observation would be scheduled and Observation Sequence (POS), which changed, always a called colleagues at MOC in Darmstadt, defines the required science operations delicate task for the whose weekend routine was also to be and provides the information that MOC MOC, who have to upset as the observing programme was needs to generate the spacecraft merge the old and new about to be reshuffled. First, a suitable commands. The problems with this ToO planning seamlessly. slot within the ongoing observation was that the operations of the affected Finally, the long-term programme had to be found, keeping in revolution were already taking place. The Changing Plans planning for the current and upcoming mind both the pressure to start this ToO official lead time for the replanning was It was a quiet Sunday in December. Erik orbits was reviewed to see which as soon as possible and the requirement 8 hours, including a small margin. Kuulkers, the ISOC duty scientist was observations could be shifted to later in to give Darmstadt enough time for the The feedback from ISOC was: “We enjoying the weekend and a nice Sunday order to accommodate the imminent necessary checks and verifications on have the approval by the Project Scientist lunch at home. Suddenly, at 13:37, the ToO, if accepted. The current main their side. And there was an additional observations of the ToO would begin on were scheduled for Wednesday night as that the ToO is so important that we peace was interrupted by a familiar target was supernova remnant Cas A, a complication: a short calibration Monday afternoon, less than 24 hours part of the next orbit.) should override the planned observations beep: a text on his mobile phone. Most very long observation that had not been observation that could not be moved from the time of planning, but late and we have sent a revised POS.” of the time this means work ahead. A easy to fit into the overall available time. around freely. enough so that MOC’s main activities Getting Integral Ready “Well”, MOC told ISOC, “we hope quick check confirmed that a request to With all the facts collected, Erik called Evaluating all the constraints, Erik could be performed on Monday morning. Monday started as any other day during that a RWB [Reaction Wheel Bias to trigger a ToO observation of the Integral Project Scientist, Christoph settled for a plan in which the first Trying to create the changed planning Integral’s routine operations phase. The offload the wheels] has been introduced IGR J00291+5934 had indeed just been files, Erik encountered another difficulty: Spacecraft Controllers (SPACONs) before the first slew.” received by the Integral helpdesk a strange problem with inserting the performed the shift hand-over, the It was at this point that the Flight computers. Abandoning his plans for a necessary ‘Reaction Wheel Bias’ (more Spacecraft Operations Manager (SOM) Dynamics (FD) team got involved. The calm pre-Christmas Sunday, Erik went on this below). Cursing his luck at arrived and talked to the SPACON on Mission Planner informed the on-call off to work. running up against such an issue on a shift to get the latest news, and the rest of FD staff, and warned him that a Sunday, he tried several options but the Flight Control Team of Analysts and replanned POS (RPOS) had arrived and Checks and balances finally sent the planning files as they Spacecraft Operations Engineers (SOEs) had to be processed. Some parts of the Upon arrival at the ISOC, the first task were to MOC to give his colleagues a arrived one after the other. During the processing are automated, but there is was clear: verify that the request was chance to evaluate the new slews and status checks, the need for replanning the still a considerable amount of manual justified. In many cases, there is already pointing positions on the sky. By 18:15, ongoing orbit was identified because effort. Therefore, everyone met in the an accepted observation proposal with all the files had been sent, the observer there was fresh input from ISOC over the control room. specific criteria to activate it. Of course, had been informed about the intended weekend. Since there was no The RPOS file is imported manually, the astronomers know the criteria that schedule of his first observations, the accompanying alert for an immediate as opposed to the fully automatic they or the Time Allocation Committee scientific community at large using process and since the automatic import for the routine POS files. The FD have set. But in the excitement to get Integral had been informed about the processing of the planning file did not and the Flight Control Team checked their chance, astronomers frequently try change in the observing programme, reveal any urgency, the replanning was the file by eye, in particular to verify that to trigger an observation without and the duty scientist could leave to postponed to later on Monday morning. all the RPOS rules were met. “Uh-oh!” checking these criteria, reacting enjoy what was left of his weekend. The The activities at MOC started again There was no RWB before the first slew. prematurely. But not in this case – the current observations did not cover all of when SOM Michael Schmidt contacted “Well, the time of divergence is in about the requested time, but the rest could be Mission Planner Salma Fahmy with a 4 hours and luckily there was an RWB planned more calmly, after the results call along the corridor: “We’ve got a planned in about 2 hours. If we can get Erik Kuulkers, Operations Scientist on duty at ISOC, studies the from the first observation had been Target of Opportunity that requires some the RPOS processed by then, there should target visibility map for the ToO observation evaluated. (The remaining observations replanning”. After the usual round of be no problem.”

22 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 23 Winkler 11/9/06 4:12 PM Page 22

Science Integral

22 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 23 Winkler 11/9/06 4:12 PM Page 24

Science Integral

A quick call was made to ISOC to let consisting of neutrons. Often, they are photons from these spots, finding they system is very small: the stars are so it cannibalises its companion. Over them know and check that this approach also rapidly spinning pulsars. Discovered account for most of the emission at close that they would fit into the radius about 100 000 years, the spin will speed was acceptable; the rest of the by radio astronomers about 50 years ago, energies above 30 000 eV. The key of the Sun. The observations support up by 0.6%, from 1.67 millisec to processing got underway. All aspects of pulsars beam electromagnetic radiation observation behind this result was the the theory that the two stars are close 1.66 millisec. the POS were checked, some visually from their polar regions, like a fact that Integral measured gamma-ray enough for accretion: material is flowing such as the instrument mode parameters lighthouse sweeping its beam across the pulsed emission from IGR J00291+5934 from the companion into a disc around Conclusions and telemetry bandwidth allocation, Earth at regular intervals. The extreme up to energies of 150 000 eV exactly in the neutron star before falling to its The observations of this ToO show that and some by the FD software, such as regularity of the pulse intervals makes phase with the 1.6 millisec X-ray surface. If this process continues, the nature always has surprises and new attitude constraints. them the most precise clocks in the pulsations recorded by RXTE. This companion will be completely consumed questions to offer. Space observatories About an hour later, the RPOS had A neutron star pulsar consumes material from its close stellar Universe – much better than even proves that the observed high-energy by the much smaller star. This such as Integral, with their dedicated been processed, the Enhanced POS companion atomic clocks on Earth. emission must be connected with the conclusion can be drawn once a change operational staff, are ideally suited to (EPOS) and the corresponding timeline polar regions emitting the lighthouse- in the spin period is observed. Neutron providing the right tools to find the had been generated, and it was time to The ToO Observations of IGR J00291+5934 The fastest accreting millisecond-pulsar beam radiation. Before this, such high- stars – spinning rapidly at birth – answers. Over its first 3.5 years of make the switch to the new timeline. It This ‘new’ source was serendipitously On 3 December 2004, using Integral’s energy photons had never been seen in gradually slow down after a few operations, Integral has observed 29 was important to find a gap in the discovered by Integral within its wide data of the discovery made the day the pulsed emission from these objects. hundred thousand years. Neutron stars Targets of Opportunity for a total of timeline when there was no commanding field-of-view during a routine short before, and 2 days before the Integral in binary systems, however, can do the almost 8 million seconds. x e in order to stop the Autostack on the observation around the constellation alert was submitted, scientists observed Cannibals at work opposite, accelerated by the angular control system, abort the old timeline Cassiopeia, in the outer reaches of the the object with NASA’s Rossi X-ray Using the timing information on IGR momentum of the in-falling material and load the new one. (Of course, before Milky Way, when it suddenly flared on Timing Explorer (RXTE), a satellite J00291+5934, it was found that the from the companion. For the first time, Detailed information on Integral and its mission can applying the new timeline the 2 December 2004. It was designated as specialised in high-precision X-ray companion star is perhaps as small as 40 this speeding up was observed directly in be found at http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Integral/ paperwork had to be completed. All the IGR J00291+5934, where IGR denotes timing measurements. These revealed Jupiter masses. The two stars orbit one high-energy data. This is direct evidence and http://integral.esac.esa.int/ planning products were cross-checked an ‘Integral Gamma-Ray’ source, and that it was a pulsar, or more precisely an another in only 2.5 hours. The binary for the star spinning faster and faster, as and signed by the various people the numbers give the coordinates on the ‘X-ray millisecond pulsar’. IGR responsible.) With about 4000 commands sky. On this day, the source proved to be J00291+5934 emits around 600 pulses a in one timeline, the loading took a few bright enough to warrant a dedicated, second, one of the fastest known. This minutes. In addition, the running FD longer Integral observation for in-depth corresponds to a rotational period of software tasks had to be stopped and investigation. Normally these sources this solar-mass object of only 1.67 new ones scheduled for the new timeline. stay bright for a few days, but some millisec (37 500 rpm!). This is much So a window of at least 10 minutes was transient sources unexpectedly fade in faster than most other pulsars in binary needed. Owing to the observational less than a day without warning. So it is systems, which rotate every few seconds. pattern of a slew every 30 minutes always exciting to await the outcome of (For comparison, the Sun takes about followed by a period of stable pointing the observation and analysis of the data. 25 days.) Only a few isolated (radio) with no commanding, finding a slot was In this case, the observations were highly pulsars are known to spin even faster. not a problem. It was decided to upload successful and the results were rapidly So, IGR J00291+5934 could be the the new timeline after the next slew. published in the leading scientific ‘missing link’ between the relatively slow The Mission Planner, SPACON and journal Astronomy and Astrophysics (see accreting pulsars in binary systems and FD observed the end of the slew and also the ESA news release at the very fast isolated pulsars, having waited for the FD job to run to update http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEM finally lost their companions in their old the parameters for the next slew. “Ding- WSAA5QCE_index_2.html). age. dong!” This was the notification by the What did we learn from these control system that the update had observations? Photons from polar regions arrived. “Action!” Many neutron stars have strong The SPACON aborted the timeline, Neutron stars and pulsars magnetic fields, which were frozen in FD rescheduled the jobs, the new Pulsars are rotating neutron stars, which during the collapse of their progenitors. timeline was loaded, the updated Task are created during stellar explosions. This can create incredibly strong Parameter File was applied to the new They are the remnants of stars of 8–10 magnetic fields for a small, city-sized timeline, all associated documents were times the Sun’s mass that ended their neutron star. Charged particles in the updated – and the job was done. lives in supernova explosions. These accreting flow are channelled along Everyone resumed their routine work remnants still contain about the mass of these magnetic field lines onto the polar as Integral’s instruments observed the our Sun but concentrated in a 10–20 km regions of the neutron star (like solar new target. The data were routed within diameter! The extreme pressure forces particles in Earth’s field generating our a few seconds to the Science Data electrons to combine with protons to polar aurorae) where they finally hit the Centre, where a preliminary check of the form neutrons; the entire star is surface close to the poles, creating hot results was made. essentially one big atomic nucleus spots. Integral directly observed the

24 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 25 Winkler 11/9/06 4:12 PM Page 24

Science Integral

24 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 25 deParolis.qxd 11/9/06 4:15 PM Page 26

MELFI MELFI Maria N. De Parolis & Giorgio Crippa System Support Office, ESA Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity Ready for Science and Exploration, ESTEC, The Netherlands Jean Chegancas & Frederic Olivier EADS-Astrium, Toulouse, France

Jerome Guichard L’Air Liquide, DTA, Sassenage, France

ESA’s –80ºC Freezer Begins Work in Space fter a 4-year wait, ESA’s ‘MELFI’ freezer rack is now installed and working in the AInternational Space Station (ISS). It provides researchers with a unique cold- storage facility important, for example, for biology and human physiology investigations. Originally designed for frequent return trips, a major shift in Station requirements meant that a major effort had to be made before launch aboard Shuttle mission STS-121 in July to prepare it for permanent residence in space. The first science samples have been successfully frozen, before the first European samples were added in September.

Introduction The ‘Minus Eighty-degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS’ (MELFI) allows the fast-freezing and storage of life sciences and biological samples aboard the International Space Station. Developed by ESA on behalf of NASA and the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA) under various bilateral barter agreements, the Agency has delivered three flight units to NASA and one to JAXA. A flight-standard Engineering Model, a Training Model MELFI is loaded into its carrier module ready for launch aboard the Space Shuttle on 4 July 2006 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 27 deParolis.qxd 11/9/06 4:15 PM Page 26

Jerome Guichard L’Air Liquide, DTA, Sassenage, France

Human Spaceflight MELFI

Brief Description The samples are stored in four identical Dewar enclosures. Each Dewar can be set to cool to below three different temperatures: –80ºC, –26ºC and +4ºC. The centralised cooling system is based on a reverse Brayton cycle using very pure nitrogen as the working fluid. The basic machine was developed under FU1 (left) and FU2 at the Florida launch site ESA’s Technology Research Programme (TRP), and then modified to satisfy with simulation capabilities and a MELFI’s specific and stringent Laboratory Ground Model are installed requirements. The Brayton expander at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) and compressor wheels are mounted on in Houston and have been used the same shaft, running at up to extensively by the ground and space 96 000 rpm. At that speed, the system MELFI is carefully manoeuvred into position in Destiny crews to prepare for utilisation. In produces 90 W of cooling power at addition, ESA is providing spares and –97ºC. sustaining engineering to maintain all The cooling distribution to the baseline utilisation had to be modified. fewer Shuttle flights now and the MELFI hardware for up to 10 years of Dewars is via vacuum-insulated MELFI begins its journey to the ISS The original plan was to cycle the three retirement in 2010, a new route for operations. nitrogen lines running from the MELFI units between orbit and Earth, cooled samples needs to be found. At machine. A distribution valve on each fast cooling, the samples must be held with ground maintenance shorter than the moment, the only possibilities are ...and ready for use The prime contractor is EADS- Dewar stabilises the temperature within against the Dewar trays and have a large, 2 years between missions. The plan now the Shuttle’s small middeck freezers Astrium in Toulouse (F), with main the required range by modulating the conductive surface. Conversely, samples is to launch only two MELFIs before (such as Merlin), or thermal bags lined subcontractors: cold nitrogen flow. The valves can also requiring slow cooling need small, the Shuttle retires in 2010 – and keep with phase-change materials (PCMs). Into Orbit isolate each Dewar independently, isolating interface surfaces. them in space. Of course, the middeck freezer path will STS-121 delivered tonnes of equipment – L’Air Liquide (F), for the core cooling shutting down one or more enclosures MELFI’s cooling system provides a At NASA’s request, ESA assessed this be lost with Shuttle’s retirement. And and supplies to the ISS following system; when the storage capacity is not needed. quite remarkable performance. It can proposal. The study showed that the thermal bags can hold the required docking on 6 July, including MELFI – Linde (D), for the cold-volume chain; Within the Dewars, trays and boxes cool about 300 litres in 2 days to less MELFI’s very robust design will allow it temperature for only a few hours. FU-1. After attaching MPLM to the – Kayser-Threde (D), for the electrical accommodate basic samples shapes. than –90ºC using only 900 W and hold it to remain in space, with additional This problem of returning hardware Station using Shuttle’s robotic arm, the system and some rack components; Users can design their own accommoda- there with less than 800 W. It also meets maintenance using dedicated tools and and, in particular, experiments results transfer of racks and supplies could – ETEL (CH), for the motor and tion hardware, based on defined the Station’s stringent noise require- spares provided by European industry. from the Station is probably the most begin. MELFI’s move was particularly motor-drive electronics; interface requirements and their cooling ments (less than 40 dB). For The consequences for the Station’s work critical for using the ISS to its full interesting because it is one of the – DAMEC (DK), for the utilisation needs. MELFI is a ‘contact freezer’ to comparison, similar systems on Earth schedule have still to be discussed and potential. largest and heaviest payload racks concept and hardware. allow selection of the cooling speed. For use about double the power with noise agreed between the two agencies. ESA has studied retrievable capsules aboard the Station. Commander Pavel levels around 60 dB (100 times higher), This has also changed how the and freezers that could fit in them. This Vinogradov and Flight Engineers Jeff A single Brayton machine provides cooling for MELFI and could never handle 15 Shuttle samples are delivered to Earth. The includes both active freezers and Williams and Thomas Reiter had to launches! original scenario used MELFI as a passive, long-term storage containers. move the bulky item with great care The first MELFI flight unit (FU-1) transportation freezer, up/ downloading However, the lack of funding and through the ISS to its final position in was ready in October 2002 for a planned frozen materials and processed samples support from the stakeholders has so far the Destiny laboratory. There was flight on Shuttle in March 2003. every 3–12 months. But given the far prevented their procurement. always the risk of damage to the rack However, the Columbia disaster in itself and to the many items stored en February 2003 halted all launches for The control panel shows the two active Dewars at –98ºC; the others remain at the ambient +15ºC route. several years. FU-1 had to be Once all the connectors were locked, deintegrated from its Multi-Purpose the rack was powered up on 19 July and Logistics Module (MPLM) host and commissioning began. First, there was a maintained for the next 3 years. This general check-out of all the subsystems, work included simple routine mainten- and then the ‘MELFI On-Orbit Cooling ance, such as briefly running the system Experiment’ (MOOCE) began to test and changing the operating fluids, and a performance. more extensive effort to increase the Starting up the cooling machine was time it can spend in orbit. particularly important. It was qualified In fact, the change in the Station on the ground for up to 15 launches and logistics scenario meant that MELFI’s retrievals, but its behaviour after a real

28 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 29 deParolis.qxd 11/9/06 4:15 PM Page 28

Human Spaceflight MELFI

28 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 29 deParolis.qxd 11/9/06 4:15 PM Page 30

Human Spaceflight MELFI

Jeff Williams removes the frozen 5 ml MOOCE sample MOOCE sample frozen in the ground model MOOCE hardware installed on Dewar-2 Jeff Williams inserts the POEMS sample container into Dewar-2: the first operational user of MELFI

launch and in weightlessness was acquisition systems. Cooling-speed the samples were inserted into the Observatories for Experimental on STS-121, the European Modular the technologies and to provide the somewhat uncertain. A very careful reference tests were performed on the freezer, and to the design of the Microbial Systems’ (POEMS), a US Cultivation System (EMCS), completed Station and the science community with procedure was thus followed, ground for later comparison with packaging. experiment devoted to microbial commissioning in August and began more transportation freezers and commanded remotely by ground on-orbit runs. ESA will provide NASA and the user research, had the honour of being the operations in September with the passive containers to be used after the operators. The Station crew began configuring community with the ‘1 g-to-0 g tool” first real sample cooled in Dewar-2, TROPI plant experiment. TROPI then Shuttle’s retirement and for the Much to their relief, all went the MOOCE hardware on 20 July. A correlated with the on-orbit data. Users while a number of PCM packages were became a guest of MELFI in the Exploration programmes to come. smoothly and the various speed steps slight problem arose when the computer will be able to design different sample accommodated in Dewar-1. autumn and will profit from the return Indeed, life sciences research is of were all taken flawlessly up to the was switched on and the procedure packaging, test them in the MELFI These PCM packs (ICEPAC©) are route, together with IMMUNO and paramount importance for ensuring maximum 96 000 rpm. This was initiated, but a complete blank screen Engineering Model and predict the essential for downloading processed CARD, on STS-116 in December 2006. human health and performance on these followed by individual activation of all appeared. Since the complete data on-orbit performance. samples to Earth. They were developed MELFI FU-2 will be launched in exploration missions. the Dewar valves. The full functionality stream, including video, was available by NASA for the various temperature 2008 and installed in Japan’s Kibo MELFI may be operating in orbit for of the cold system had now been on Earth, the ground team could see First Samples levels and require a long time for module. a very long time. With a robust logistics demonstrated. In particular, Dewar-2 what was happening and could help the Given the positive results from the cooling, owing to their very high system for up/downloading samples, it reached –97ºC in about 12 hours. crew very efficiently in troubleshooting. commissioning phase, NASA decided to thermal inertia. Conclusion will help scientists to get the best This allowed the problem to be solved in activate another Dewar at the lowest The thermal bags are filled with the MELFI was a very challenging samples they need for making advances MOOCE less than half an hour; the experiment temperature to prepare for the first ICEPACs just before insertion into the development for European industry. The in life sciences for space and ground MOOCE has now measured MELFI’s was started by inserting the first sample. insertion of science samples. ‘Passive Shuttle middeck lockers before reentry. advanced technology of the Brayton applications. cooling characteristics in orbit. The There were no other mishaps and all A large number of ICEPACs have to be machine and its cold box required a main reason behind it is the need the planned runs were completed in ICEPAC inserted in a MELFI storage box used in order to stay safely within the great deal of resourcefulness. Highly Acknowledgements expressed by some scientists to cool about a week. All the data were allowed temperature range for up to dedicated engineers in the companies Thanks must be made to all the samples very quickly from ambient downloaded for evaluation and 2 days. The bags are removed and ESA spent months on designing, individuals who have contributed to the temperature in order to avoid damage correlation with the ground data and immediately upon opening of the manufacturing and verifying all the success of the MELFI. The authors wish to tissue or cell structures. analytical models. Shuttle hatch as ‘early retrieval’ elements of the cold chain and to thank the development companies The experiment hardware was defined Complete analysis requires at least payloads. Logistics were developed by developing the sophisticated control (EADS-Astrium, L’Air Liquide, Kayser- by the ESA Project staff and designed 3 months, but some preliminary conclu- NASA, with some Ground Support software to command them. The results, Threde, LINDE, ETEL, CRYSA, and manufactured at ESTEC, within sions can be drawn at the time of writing Equipment provided by ESA, to ensure however, show that it was all definitely DAMEC) and their staff, NASA Project the Thermal Control Section of the (September 2006). As expected, there the specimens are delivered to the well worth the effort. Once again, staff and ESA D/HME, D/TEC and Directorate of Technical & Quality are differences in the cooling times. The scientists in the best possible conditions. European industry has shown its D/RES staff for their invaluable Management. The hardware was on-orbit curves show a slower rate, The first European experiments to capability for being highly innovative support over many years. e qualified at ESTEC and extensively owing to the lack of natural convection, profit from MELFI were the SAMPLE, and producing world-class payloads for tested at NASA’s Kennedy Space but there are also differences between IMMUNO and CARD physiology science. More information about MELFI and its use on-orbit will Center launch site to verify its the various runs. Those differences are experiments in September 2006. In the In order to get the full benefit from be posted at http://spaceflight.esa.int/users after the MOOCE data are fully evaluated behaviour with the Station’s data- most probably due to the way in which meantime, another ESA facility launched MELFI, it is important to capitalise on

30 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 31 deParolis.qxd 11/9/06 4:15 PM Page 30

Human Spaceflight MELFI

30 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 31 Bolender.qxd 11/9/06 4:18 PM Page 32

EVA Training

Hans Bolender, Hervé Stevenin, Loredana Bessone & Antonio Torres Astronaut Training Division, European Astronaut Centre, Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration, Cologne, Germany Preparing for Space EVA Training at the European Astronaut Centre

he European Astronaut Centre has developed an Extra Vehicular Activity T(EVA) training course for ESA astronauts to bridge the gap between their scuba diving certification and the spacesuit qualification provided by NASA. ESA astronauts André Kuipers and Frank De Winne have already completed this ‘EVA Pre-Familiarisation Training Programme’ before their training at NASA. In June 2006, an international crew of experienced EVA astronauts approved the course as good preparation for suited EVA training; they recommended that portions of it be used to help maintain EVA proficiency for astronauts. Introduction During Extra Vehicular Activities (EVAs – spacewalks), astronauts venture from their protective spacecraft in autonomous spacesuits to work on, for example, the International Space Station (ISS) or the Hubble Space Telescope. EVAs are among the most challenging tasks of an astronaut’s career. They are complex and demanding, placing the astronauts in a singular, highly stressful environment, requiring a high level of

esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 33 Bolender.qxd 11/9/06 4:18 PM Page 32

EVA Training

esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 33 Bolender.qxd 11/9/06 4:19 PM Page 34

Human Spaceflight EVA Training

situational awareness and coordination while working at peak performance. Careful and intensive preparation of the astronaut is key to safe, smooth and successful EVAs. Water is the best environment for EVA training on Earth, substituting neutral buoyancy for microgravity. Preparation is therefore centred on special facilities such as the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC, Houston), the Hydrolab at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC, Moscow) and now also at the Neutral Buoyancy Facility (NBF) of ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC, Cologne). During their Basic Training, all astronauts undergo a scuba diving course as a prerequisite to EVA training. For NASA and ISS partner astronauts undergoing Shuttle Mission Specialist training, this is followed by a general EVA skills programme at JSC that also ESA Astronaut Claude Nicollier takes a photograph during a break from servicing the Hubble Space Telescope helps to identify the most suitable EVA crewmembers. “Together with NASA astronaut Mike Foale, I effective transition to the demands of The training flow of ESA’s EVA An ESA astronaut (white suit) performing the EV1 dive in EAC’s tank. He is equipped with SSDS and a mockup of the life-support backpack Unfortunately, it is becoming was privileged to perform EVA-2 during the training in the NBL. Pre-Familiarisation course at EAC increasingly difficult for ESA astronauts Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission “The preparation training provided at to undergo this NASA training. With 3A in December 1999. As an ESA astronaut EAC’s Neutral Buoyancy Facility will nicely The objectives of the course are for courses, briefings and in-water exercises, strategies. This training is in the NBF the last Shuttle launch in 2010, the assigned to JSC for 20 years by then, my fill that gap. Although without a spacesuit, it the trainees to become able to: scripted to challenge the trainees to tank led by an instructor to agreement for ESA Shuttle Mission situation was not common: EVA training and exposes the trainees to enough of the EVA think and perform as if they were demonstrate various methods of Specialist training will come to an end. discussions had almost become part of daily challenges to be excellent preparation for – explain and demonstrate the correct conducting actual EVAs. performing translations in different Moreover, the intense period of Station life as one of the major disciplines that had NBL runs. Translation techniques, tether use of a set of tools and equipment, The main elements of the programme body postures, changing attitude and assembly flights means that NASA’s to be mastered for assembly of the ISS, in protocols, working under limited visibility and including the transportation and are: adjusting body orientations around NBL is significantly overbooked for addition to a couple of anticipated Hubble properly communicating with other installation of Orbital Replaceable confining structures; operational testing and mission-related visits. crewmembers or the capcom/instructor can Units (ORUs) and the manipulation – a description of the EVA course – a briefing and hands-on training on EVA training. And work for future “In the future, European crewmembers will be exercised. It will give our astronauts a of connectors; leading up to the EMU Suit deck describing the EVA tool exploration missions will only add to the be less exposed to JSC’s EVA culture than flying start in subsequent phases of EVA – perform translation, rotation, passing Qualification in the NBL, to give an operations and interfaces to specific burden. we were. Training in the Neutral Buoyancy training, whether using the US of obstacles in a typical EVA overview of the programme and wet equipment that will be used in the So EVA skills training will not be fully Laboratory will not always be as extensive as Extravehicular Mobility Unit or the Russian translation path, while wearing EVA- general expectations during the underwater exercises; available to international astronauts. Yet it was, so preparation and preconditioning of Orlan spacesuit.” like equipment, using safety tethers or training exercises to follow; – the Surface Supplied Diving System assignment to an EVA depends on astronauts from partner nations beyond the Claude Nicollier waist tether protocol (Russian-like); – an overview of the EMU suit, (SSDS) qualification, required for evaluating astronauts’ skills early in US and Russia are going to be a must for – perform a worksite assessment, secure describing its biomechanics and voice communications between the their training, and it is important for oneself at the worksite and perform, constraints in water and space; trainee and the instructor in the assigning Station crews and tasks. psychomotor and behavioural skills equipment and tools. Cognitive skills are alone or with a partner, a defined task – a briefing on ‘moving in space’, Control Room (for details see the EAC therefore took the initiative to ahead of the NASA training. as important, and range from navigating including ORU exchange; providing recommendations on the ‘NBF Characteristics’ box); develop the ‘EVA Pre-Familiarisation around the Station despite the very – handle tether operations, as in exiting best strategies for moving in the suit – a second session underwater, the ‘EV1 Training Programme’ to bridge the gap EVA Pre-Familiarisation Training limited field of view, to applying from an airlock; without fighting it, for moving along Run’, to highlight the fundamental between scuba training and NASA’s A successful EVA requires psychomotor, tethering and operational rules. – plan a typical EVA as a ‘buddy’ team, and around the Station structure skills of a typical EVA. It is performed EVA skills training. It better prepares cognitive and behavioural skills. Behavioural skills include situation and and carry it out in cooperation with a while allowing for suit limitations and fully equipped for SSDS and wearing ESA astronauts in their initial Psychomotor skills range from the spatial awareness, decision-making and crewmember inside the craft. the Station constraints (obstacles, a low-fidelity mini-work station qualification for using the Shuttle/ISS ability to move in the suit, move along problem-solving, workload management keep-out zones); strapped to the chest to carry EVA spacesuit (the Extravehicular Mobility the Station using handrails (translation) and efficiency, teamwork and The course is spread over 1–2 weeks, – a practical session of underwater tools, a backpack representing the Unit, or EMU), and to provide cognitive, and pass obstacles, to operating communication. consisting of a series of classroom exercises to apply the movement EMU’s Primary Life Support System,

34 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 35 Bolender.qxd 11/9/06 4:19 PM Page 34

Human Spaceflight EVA Training

34 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 35 Bolender.qxd 11/9/06 4:19 PM Page 36

Human Spaceflight EVA Training

a representative helmet, a pair of Neutral Buoyancy Facility Characteristics unpressurised EMU gloves and boots suitable for foot restraints. There is a NBF Hall, Rooms and Equipment very limited set of tethers, along with • 48 m long, 24 m wide and 14.4 m high dummy tethers deliberately to increase • NBF control room, scuba equipment room, EVA equipment room, electrical the likelihood of tethers snagging and mechanical repair shop, scuba during translation. The trainee has to filling station, technical rooms for pool perform an end-to-end EVA including maintenance, water airlock egress/ ingress, ORU payload filtration/purification, control and transportation to/from a worksite, heating, showers/dressing rooms and sauna translation using waist tethers • Remote air compressor with storage (Russian protocol) and operation of tank assembly including high-pressure ISS connectors. The trainee must feedline connection to multiple filling always comply with the EVA rules: station in NBF hall items and body must be tethered at all • Overhead girder crane with 5 t capacity times, touch handrails only for translation, use only D-rings or Water Tank Mockups handrails for attaching safety tethers, • 22 m long, 17 m wide and • Modified Columbus wet and avoid keep-out zones. An ESA astronaut works with ISS connectors while standing in a portable foot restraint 10 m deep, volume mockup with ISS handrails 3 Disturbances are introduced during 3747 m , temperature range and EVA workstations 27–29°C • Russian airlock mockup the scripted run to exercise situational • Submersible platform • deployable solar panel awareness, communication skills and leading the EVA operations and have been defined and conducted to 5x3.5 m for 0–9.5 m depths, mockup decision-making; supervised by the Test Conductor. Both evaluate and (re-)certify the NBF and 250 kg loading capacity at are in the Control Room, with a Medical EVA infrastructure and equipment. 0m – the third and final ‘EV1+2 Run’ Doctor and a Safety Officer, responsible A Test Readiness Review process has • Continuous monitoring of water quality (e.g. pH value, underwater consists of a two-member for the well-being of the crew and the been developed to ensure safety and chlorine, temperature) EVA designed to emphasise teamwork safety of the operations, and an readiness of the test operations, facility, and team situational awareness, crew Audio/Video Operator to ensure the equipment and personnel. It is called on Scuba and SSDS Diving Equipment communication and workload distribution and recording of all for each diving campaign, for new or • 20 complete sets of scuba equipment (tanks, regulators, suits etc) management, in an even more realistic required signals. The Dive Supervisor modified equipment and for changes in • 3 SSDS sets composed of: – full-face mask with microphone and earphones for 2-way communications between SSDS divers and challenging scenario. The trainees directs and monitors on-deck the pre- procedures, rules or operations. and on-deck personnel; are paired and encouraged to develop and post-dive activities of the Trainees, An end-to-end test of the emergency – buoyancy jacket including inflator, with 6 litre/300 bar reserve air tank, pressure gauge and dive their own timeline and to define the Safety, Utility and Camera Divers, rescue chain was run in June 2006, computer; sharing of their EVA tools. The SSDS operator and deck support including external support from medical – 60 m umbilical hose connected to deck air supply and for communication cables. equipment is the same as for the EV1 personnel. operations, onsite security, the water • SSDS cart on-deck hosting umbilicals, air tanks, pressure-monitoring devices and video and audio monitoring Run, except that the US safety tether A study guide and DVD package with rescue team of the fire brigade, and protocol is used and the life-support the course material, videos of the EVA rescue helicopter teams. backpack cannot be used owing to runs at EAC and additional reference space limitations in the airlock. More documentation and EVA skill Training Runs for ESA Astronauts EVA Tools NBF Control Room • ISS handrails mounted on • Video: 8 channels, including tethers are also worn. The rules of demonstration videos, as well as Two ESA astronauts with no EMU airlock and Columbus switching matrix for observation engagement include all those of the computer-based training material, is experience were scheduled to start their mockups and multiple recording of EV1 Run plus additional constraints given to the trainees upon course EVA training in Houston in late 2005, as • Portable Foot Restraints underwater and deck operations for an ORU change-out requiring completion. part of their ISS crewmember training (PFRs) mounted on EVA • Additional monitor with switching specific tools from a toolbox at a During the past 2 years the Neutral programme: Frank De Winne and worksites on Columbus matrix for deck personnel in NBF mockup hall second work site. The Test Buoyancy Facility and its operations André Kuipers. Both had done scuba • EMU-like boots for use • Audio: 2 audio loops for bi- Conductor/instructor, who also plays have been constantly upgraded and training at EAC, and André had already with PFR directional communications the onboard crew role, inserts adapted for the programme. Around 20 undergone Russian Orlan suit training • EMU Primary Life Support between deck personnel and unexpected equipment failures and certified staff are available for NBF and in the Hydrolab at the Gagarin System backpack, helmet between deck personnel and unplanned activities, adjusting the EVA operations, many with cross- Cosmonaut Training Centre. and gloves (unpressurised) divers (including private loops with • Mini Work Stations SSDS divers) script’s intensity to the crewmembers’ certification for multiple operational To help them, development of the • limited sets of EVA and • Underwater loudspeakers for performance. functions. Operations documents, training programme was accelerated in dummy tethers unidirectional communication with processes, checklists and dive plans have early 2005, and tested by experienced • EVA connectors (electrical all divers These last two activities are controlled been developed to support smooth and spacewalkers Claude Nicollier and and fluid) • Wireless headsets for deck by a Test Director, responsible for safe diving operations. Safety processes Gerhard Thiele. • ORU box and EVA tool box personnel

36 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 37 Bolender.qxd 11/9/06 4:19 PM Page 36

Human Spaceflight EVA Training

36 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 37 Bolender.qxd 11/9/06 4:19 PM Page 38

Human Spaceflight EVA Training

Frank and André completed the Frank De Winne in the SSDS mask at EAC ESA-NASA-JAXA Crew Review course in three slots. The first two, in The success of the workshop raised the June and September 2005, covered “This training really helped me in preparing interest of the NASA Crew Office, who everything up to the EV1 Run so that for the first EVA runs I had to do at JSC. decided to perform an official Crew they could gain their EMU Suit During my first runs in the NBL, I was really Review, to assess the suitability of ESA’s Qualification at JSC. Feedback from amazed to see how much I had learned course for inexperienced EVA them and their NASA instructors from these first simulations. This EVA crewmembers, and the suitability of the confirmed that the ESA programme had precursor training is, for me, the first step in EV1+2 run for maintaining the significantly contributed to their acquiring European expertise in proficiency of experienced EVA crew performances during the first training operational training, beyond the normal during long periods of non-EVA run in Houston. They also provided system training that is already performed at training. valuable suggestions for improvement. EAC.” The following astronauts took part as The training concluded in March 2006 Frank De Winne trainees to evaluate the course: before Frank and André resumed their EVA training at JSC, and focused on the – Scott Parazynski, NASA (former EV1+2 Run. Both asked to perform it Chief of the NASA Astronaut Office again some time as a refresher, because EVA Branch, has logged 20 hours of it appeared to be useful for proficiency could improve the preparation of Europeans had received such training at EVA); training. European astronauts for future EVA JSC. In cooperation with the NASA – Koichi Wakata, Japan Aerospace Frank and André’s EVA Pre- training at the NBL. This led to the instructors, objectives were identified, Exploration Agency (JAXA; two The participants in the ESA-NASA-JAXA Crew Review, June 2006 Familiarisation Training was fully signature of a Framework of Cooperation requirements defined and the new spacewalks); coordinated with NASA’s chief EVA between the NASA EVA Office, NASA course developed, tested and in place at – Paolo Nespoli, ESA (working for the inspection, and the preparation and outstanding feedback, including detailed instructor. Following this success, the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), EAC in less than a year. NASA Astronaut Office EVA execution at EAC of a joint NASA-ESA recommendations to improve the NASA EVA office decided to have NASA EVA Operations and the ESA In December 2005 an ESA-NASA Branch). Test Readiness Review to ensure that quality even further. As a close-out of international and experienced EVA Neutral Buoyancy Facility (NBF) for the EVA Pre-Familiarisation Workshop took both parties had a common agreement this Crew Review, all of them delivered crewmembers perform an official review preparation of European Astronauts to place at EAC over a week to They were supported by a NASA on the safety and operational readiness reports to a NASA EVA Crew Consensus to validate the training. EVA Pre-Familiarisation. demonstrate the ESA course to NASA delegation that included representatives of the programme before the the crew Memorandum for Validation of the As a result of this agreement, NASA EVA experts, including the supporting from the EVA office, the NBL and arrived. European Astronaut Centre EVA Pre- Cooperation with NASA provided 40 hours of EVA training to NBF operations and EAC’s safety set- NASA Safety. Stephen Doering, Head This event was followed by an intense Familiarisation Training Program issued This programme was developed through ESA instructors Loredana Bessone and up. NASA feedback and recommend- of the NASA EVA Office, also attended week of training for the three by Dave Wolf, Head of the EVA Branch very fruitful cooperation, first proposed Hervé Stevenin, including a 4-hour ations were integrated and ESA and the training at EAC. The first week astronauts, who went through the in the NASA Crew Office. in 2002, between EAC and the EVA EMU Suit Qualification at NBL. It was NASA jointly developed the EV1+2 consisted of a thorough safety complete course. They provided training experts at JSC. the first time that non-astronaut Run. Conclusion As a first step, NASA-NBL and ESA- ESA Astronaut Paolo Nespoli (left) and NASA Astronaut Scott Parazynski prepare for a dive The ESA EVA Pre-Familiarisation NBF in 2004 jointly agreed on a Diving ESA instructors Loredana Bessone and Hervé Stevenin work in JSC’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory to gain their NASA Suit Qualification Training Programme has proved to Certification Protocol for ISS Crew benefit ESA astronauts who have not Members and Training Specialists to yet been through EVA training at JSC or harmonise the requirements for scuba GCTC (“EAC personnel are to be diving proficiency training and commended for their innovation and hard certification. The logical next step was work preparing this excellent course”said to extend the cooperation to the NASA Dave Wolf). It will also be of great value EVA Office to identify jointly how EAC to the new ESA astronaut candidates, who will begin Basic Training at EAC Claude Nicollier undertakes the pre-familiarisation training at EAC within the next 2–3 years. The programme not only prepares ESA astronauts for assignment to ISS EVA crews. As reported in the Crew Consensus Memorandum, “it has also considerable potential to aid current ESA astronauts in general proficiency maintenance of EVA operations and situational awareness while not assigned to training at JSC or GCTC”. The memorandum also states “other

38 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 39 Bolender.qxd 11/9/06 4:19 PM Page 38

Human Spaceflight EVA Training

38 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 39 Bolender.qxd 11/9/06 4:19 PM Page 40

Human Spaceflight

knowledge at EAC for Europe on the challenges of EVAs, which can only be beneficial for future human spaceflight exploration.

Acknowledgements Numerous individuals and organisations made this course possible through their expertise, support and dedication. Our gratitude goes to all of them, but since it is impossible to name them all, the authors thank the organisations they represent: NASA-NBL, NASA EVA Office and EVA Operations, NASA JAXA and ESA Astronaut Offices, NASA and EAC Safety. The diving team from SDT&S, DLR Technische Dienste, DLR Institut für Luft- und Thomas Reiter during his ISS spacewalk on 3 August 2006 Raumfahrtmedizin and EAC Medical Support Office, Berufsfeuerwehr Koeln and Taucherrettungsgruppe der International Partner astronauts not in space hardware underwater. The first Berufsfeuerwehr Koeln, ADAC full time training at JSC or GCTC might underwater test of Eurobot is scheduled Luftrettung ‘Christoph-Rheinland’, find this program beneficial prior to before the end of 2006. Polizeifliegerstaffel West. A special commencing suited EVA training”. This Last but not least, this programme has mention goes to the divers and EAC innovative ESA programme is an open provided ESA with valuable expertise in team members involved in the door to extend current EVA cooperation developing and performing spacewalk NBF/EVA operations. e to the other ISS partners. training. Combined with the EVA Besides crew training, the NBF experience acquired by the ESA Further information on the European Astronaut Centre and its activities can be found at infrastructure (including the EVA astronauts through their space missions, www.esa.int/eac expertise available at EAC) can also test it is helping to build operational

40 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int benveniste 11/9/06 4:25 PM Page 42

Radar Altimetry

Jérôme Benveniste Science and Applications Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes, Taking the Measure ESRIN, Frascati, Italy Yves Ménard Centre National d’Études Spatiales, Toulouse, of Earth France Fifteen Years of Progress in Radar Altimetry

adar altimetry is about to enter a new era. It is becoming an indispensable tool R for oceanography as a new generation of radar altimeters providing higher resolution and precision is poised to begin service. Remarkable progress has been made since the launch of the pioneering ERS-1 in 1991.

Introduction The ERS-1 European Remote Sensing satellite, launched in 1991, was ESA’s first Earth-observation research satellite. Its comprehensive payload included an imaging synthetic-aperture radar, a radar altimeter and other powerful instruments to measure the sea-surface temperatures and wind characteristics. ERS-2 followed in 1995 and, remarkably, is still operating. At the time, the ERS twins were the most sophisticated Earth- observation satellites ever developed and launched by Europe. They have collected a wealth of valuable data on Earth’s land surfaces, oceans and polar caps, and have been called upon to monitor natural disasters such as severe flooding or earthquakes in remote parts Wave heights measured by ERS-2 during the northern summer. Red/pink shows rougher seas during the southern winter of the world.

esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 43 benveniste 11/9/06 4:25 PM Page 42

Radar Altimetry

esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 43 benveniste 11/9/06 4:25 PM Page 44