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Astrolab / Celsius

Dieter Isakeit Head, Erasmus Centre, Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity & Exploration, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

he landing of Discovery in December 2006 marked the end of two Tsuccessful ESA missions: ’s 171-day ‘Astrolab’ and ’s 13-day ‘Celsius’. These were the first in a new series of ESA missions to the International (ISS), as Europe fulfils its duty as a fully-fledged partner, contributing to assembly and maintenance of the space outpost.

Introduction Thomas Reiter and Christer Fuglesang This issue of the ESA Bulletin undertook a wide range of work in includesincludes aa specialspecial setset ofof extras.extras. as Russian Expedition and NASA Accompanying this article is a DVD of Shuttle crewmembers, respectively. The highlights from the Astrolab mission, ESA programme of scientific, technical includingincluding aa stereoscopicstereoscopic filmfilm andand images.images. and educational experiments was highly These can be viewed on a standard television successful. Astrolab and Celsius were or computer through the provided glasses. At good opportunities to promote ESA’s thethe endend ofof thisthis articlearticle isis aa selectionselection ofof 3-D3-D human spaceflight programme to the imagesimages fromfrom AstrolabAstrolab andand Celsius.Celsius. Finally, Finally, a a 3-D3-D general public, media and political and poster shows the appearance of the industrial decision-makers. InternationalInternational SpaceSpace StationStation whenwhen itit isis Furthermore, Astrolab involved the completed in 2010. ESA mission management, integration and operations teams for the ISS, TheThe stereoscopicstereoscopic imagesimages werewere producedproduced byby Astrolab’sAstrolab’s providing them with valuable hands-on ‘Erasmus‘Erasmus RecordingRecording Binocular’Binocular’ experimentexperiment andand areare protectedprotected byby thethe ESAESA HumanHuman SpaceflightSpaceflight datadata experience before the missions of ESA’s policypolicy rules.rules. own spacecraft and Station elements,

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Human Spaceflight

particularly the Columbus module and the main tasks for the combined crews Crew Exchange the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) was transferring items between the Atlantis departed on 17 September and this year. Station, Shuttle and the Leonardo multi- made way for -TMA 9 three days purpose logistics module (MPLM, in later with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Flight Engineer and the Shuttle cargo bay). The MPLM acts Tyurin and NASA Michael Although the experiments by Reiter and as a cargo container for the ISS, ferrying Lopez-Alegria, accompanied by Iranian- Fuglesang were important, the emphasis experiments and crew supplies from and born US citizen as the of both missions was on their roles as ISS to . first female ‘spaceflight participant’. Flight Engineer and Shuttle Mission Once unloaded, Leonardo was repacked Together with Thomas Reiter, Lopez- Specialist, respectively. with 2 t of experiment results, unused Alegria and Tyurin formed the new On 6 July 2006, Discovery docked with Station items and waste material for Expedition-14 crew, with Lopez-Alegria the ISS and Reiter and his six colleagues return to Earth. Reiter was closely as Commander and Tyurin as Flight were welcomed by the Station’s crew of involved in this work. This experience is Engineer. Expedition-13’s Vinogradov Commander (Russia) very useful to ESA in preparing for and Williams left on 28 September, with and Flight Engineer Jeffrey Williams similar operations when its own resupply Ansari, in Soyuz-TMA 8 and landed (NASA). The pair had been aboard as craft, ATV Jules Verne, visits the Station safely in Kazakhstan. Expedition-13 since their arrival in the later in 2007. Russian Soyuz-TMA 8 spacecraft in While Reiter remained aboard the More Cargo Arriving March 2006. Reiter became the third Station, his Shuttle colleagues left on On 10 October, the resident trio boarded member of Expedition-13, marking the 15 July and landed safely in Florida on their Soyuz to transfer it from the Zvezda return to a permanent crew of three after 17 July. rear docking port to the forward the reduction in May 2003 as a result of position. The flight itself took less than the Columbia accident. Shuttle Mission STS-115 half an hour, but it required them to go After the docking of Discovery, one of The next Shuttle, Atlantis, arrived at the through the same lengthy procedure as if Station on 11 September 2006. Three they were leaving for good. Before Wearing a Russian Sokol pressure suit, Reiter checks the seat fit spacewalks installed the ‘P3/P4’ entering the Soyuz in their Russian Sokol in the Soyuz-TMA8 spacecraft assembly, a new 14 m-long segment of pressure suits, they had to switch the ISS Truss with a set of solar wings Station systems to standby in case some spanning more than 70 m. problem forced them to return to Earth. The new solar array doubled the The Soyuz repositioning freed up the available energy on the Station to docking port used for the unmanned 60 kW, preparing for the Columbus and -M 58 ferry on 26 October, which Japanese Kibo laboratory modules. brought more than 2 t of fresh supplies, However, the new assembly could not including fuel, water, oxygen, food, spare produce power immediately, since the parts, life-support system components electrical connections on the Truss and experiment hardware. needed to be rerouted; this was a task The new arrival was the twenty-third for upcoming Shuttle mission STS-116. Progress to visit the ISS – a new one visits every 4–5 months. Its predecessor Fuglesang moves his EVA suit into Destiny as he prepares for his first spacewalk remained docked to the Pirs port until 17 January 2007 to provide additional storage space.

Operations and Maintenance Station operations and maintenance took up a considerable proportion of Reiter’s time. In his role as Flight Engineer in the Expedition-13 and -14 crews, he carried out numerous tasks to operate and maintain system equipment in the US and Russian elements of the ISS. This included inspection, reconfiguration and repair, if necessary. He had been in training for this work since 2001.

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Astrolab / Celsius

European Mission Control Astrolab was the first time that a European control centre was used for a long-duration ISS mission. ESA set up a dedicated European Payload Operations Centre (EPOC) to coordinate space and ground experiment and payload operations, and to monitor the activities of Thomas Reiter on the ISS. EPOC was based at the in near (D). It was the hub of European activity and the ESA control centre for the duration of Astrolab and Celsius. It reacted to any changes during the missions, coordinating decisions and estab- lishing priorities when these changes interfered with the experiment programmes. Any issues arising were coordinated closely with the mission control centres of NASA in and in Moscow, and with NASA’s Operations Support Centre in Huntsville, which is responsible for the experiment activities in the Station’s US segment. ESA’s Crew Medical Support Office at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in (D) was staffed by medical doctors and biomedical engineers to provide Reiter and Fuglesang with medical advice and monitoring aboard the ISS. A team of specialists worked on the mission The ISS and STS-116 crews enjoy a meal together consoles 13 hours every day to support Reiter in orbit, starting and ending their work around His responsibilities included the including Fuglesang and Reiter, bade the daily morning and evening planning Russian docking mechanisms, guidance their farewells. Discovery touched down conference between US, European and and control systems, environmental in Florida on 22 December. Russian mission controllers and ISS . ESA Operations Manager (ESA control and life-support systems, safety astronaut ) and four ESA equipment, power control and communi- The Legacies of Astrolab and Celsius Operations Directors organised the daily cations systems, crew health equipment The two missions served to promote operations for the ESA experiment programme and logistics management, including the human spaceflight in Europe. This was and ensured that Reiter received the food supplies and waste. achieved through the distribution of necessary support from the ground team. When Fuglesang arrived aboard comprehensive information material, Six ‘Eurocom’ European astronauts led by STS-116 on 11 December 2006, it was the promotional campaigns, events and were in charge of all communications with Reiter. They worked first time that two ESA astronauts had exhibitions throughout Europe, and mainly from EPOC but could also worked aboard the Station together. special events when participants could communicate with the Station from EAC. Most of Fuglesang’s time was taken up talk to Reiter and Fuglesang in space. EPOC was responsible for coordinating the with Station assembly tasks, but his role With an average of one call per week, work of the various User Support and as a NASA Mission Specialist included Reiter was able to hold 22 video and Operations Centres (USOCs). These are securing the Shuttle’s docking with the three audio conference calls with young national centres throughout Europe respons- ISS, assisting in the retraction of one of people, the media, celebrities, scientists, ible for specific ESA experiment facilities and experiments on the ISS. In these centres, the 34 m solar wings, transferring engineers, politicians and decision- scientific investigators can monitor, or be linked supplies and equipment between the makers, and many other European to, their experiments. Experiment data are vehicles, and releasing three micro- citizens who took an interest in his distributed to these centres and information satellites from the Shuttle’s cargo bay mission. He was particularly pleased received from them, such as requests to after undocking. with the widespread enthusiasm shown reconfigure experiments and facilities. For In addition to the supplies delivered by university students and school Astrolab, six USOCs were active in receiving science results from the Station: DAMEC in inside the pressurised Spacehab module, children in these events, as this is likely to Odense (DK), CADMOS in Toulouse (F), STS-116 also carried new space debris- motivate their future studies. Human MUSC in Cologne (D), MARS in Naples (I), protection panels for the Zvezda module. curiosity is a prime motivation for space N-USOC in Trondheim (N) and BIOTESC in On 19 December, the STS-116 crew, exploration. Zurich (CH).

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Human Spaceflight

Mission Objectives and Science three-fold importance. They are helping to Astrolab had five major ESA objectives: understand the effects of spaceflight on the increase European experience in human human body and psyche, which is of spaceflight; conduct an experiment programme; fundamental scientific interest. They are gain experience for operating Columbus; important for maintaining the health of promote human spaceflight activities in Europe; astronauts aboard the ISS and on future expand international cooperation. Celsius missions to the Moon or Mars. Finally, the added the promotion of human spaceflight with results are finding their way into clinical practice, a focus on Scandinavia. such as in new ways for diagnosing, preventing or treating diseases of age or disability. Reiter Experiment programmes conducted eight experiments: is a unique environment for scientific research, giving an unusual oppor- ‘Card’ and ‘Cardiocog-2’ investigated how tunity to answer questions that would be weightlessness affects cardiovascular and impossible to tackle on Earth. Many more Fuglesang with the Altcriss cosmic-ray detector in the Pirs module respiratory systems, as well as the cognitive, processes in , chemistry, biology and physiological and stress reactions of an physiology are affected by gravity than was biology, physics and radiation dosimetry. Most astronaut in orbit; expected in the early days of spaceflight. were performed by Reiter, with some by ‘Chromosome-2’ looked into chromosome Research in weightlessness leads to high-level Russian and US crewmembers. changes and sensitivity to radiation in the discoveries or changes of commonly accepted Apart from the direct benefits of the resulting white blood cells of astronauts; scientific understandings. Even Nobel Prize- data, Astrolab’s experiments provided Europe ‘Cult’ is a continuing long-term study of cultural winning research, such as that of eye movement with operational experience in planning and aspects and leadership styles of ISS reflexes, have been found to be partly erroneous carrying out a long mission. This is helping the crewmembers; thanks to experiments made during spaceflights. work on the utilisation programme for Columbus. ‘Eye-Tracking Device’ uses cameras and Astrolab’s set of scientific experiments were Astrolab marked the first time that a European sensors to record eye and head movement to peer-reviewed and recommended by ESA’s scientific programme has been composed for a understand how our balance system works; Advisory Committee for Life and Physical long-duration ISS mission. Reiter’s arrival also ‘Immuno’ and ‘Leukin’ aim to understand the Sciences. Other experiments covered tech- marked the return to a permanent crew of three, immune system during long missions; nology, education and commercial activities. which increased the time available for research. ‘Nitric Oxide Analyser’ is a European device to The research programme came mainly from measure nitric oxide levels in astronauts’ lungs. scientific institutions across Europe, and Human physiology Elevated levels are believed to be an early included experiments in human physiology, Reiter’s human physiology experiments have and accurate sign of airway inflammation.

Reiter works with the Cardiocog-2 experiment in Zvezda

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Astrolab / Celsius

In addition, Reiter also participated in a series and radiation dosimetry, and perform some of NASA experiments on measures to prevent educational activities. Like Reiter, he partici- the formation of kidney stones. pated in Chromosome-2; he also carried the new ESA EuCPD dosimeters. Space biology Fuglesang also took part in Altea. He was Space biology studies the effects of the space filmed during the experiment session for later environment on organisms and cells. Reiter’s use in ESA’s series of educational DVDs. Altea experiments are important for future exploration continues similar studies on , which Fugle- missions. They looked into the behaviour of sang initiated as a scientist bacteria and yeast and into possible biological while training for the -95 mission. He hazards in a closed spacecraft: also participated in NASA medical experiments.

‘Ying’ studied the influence of gravity on the New European scientific gear formation of organised cell structures using The Shuttle that delivered Reiter to the Station yeast cells; in July 2006 also carried three European ‘BASE’ studied how bacteria adapt to weightless- experiment facilities: the Minus Eighty-Degree ness, cosmic radiation, electromagnetism and Laboratory Freezer (MELFI); the European ISS vibrations. Modular Cultivation System (EMCS); and the Pulmonary Function System (PFS) upgrade. Radiation dosimetry and monitoring the Jeffrey Williams and Reiter installed and electromagnetic environment successfully tested them in NASA’s Destiny Studies of cosmic rays are important for det- laboratory. ermining the effect inside and outside the ISS, Various human physiology and biology as well as for quantifying the potential impact on experiments, such as ESA’s ‘Immuno’, made the human body on long missions to the Moon immediate use of MELFI to store samples. or Mars. Reiter looked after four experiments: Reiter conducted the first sessions with EMCS. Fuglesang takes pictures through the Shuttle’s overhead windows This facility allows plant-growth experiments to ‘Altcriss’ is a continuing experiment to study the on the third day of his flight be carried out at various gravity levels. effectiveness of various shielding materials Experiments with insects, amphibian and against space radiation; invertebrates as well as studies with cell and ‘EuCPD’ is testing ESA passive dosimeters. All Education tissue cultures are planned. The first ISS astronauts carry dosimeters at all times, Reiter also performed some experiments, experiment in EMCS was NASA’s ‘TROPI’, but only US and Russian versions have been demonstrations and live events for educa- which will provide insight into how plants can used so far. With the increased presence of tional purposes. Two were selected from a be grown in space to develop sustainable life- European astronauts in future, ESA has begun contest among European university students: support systems for long-term space travel. a project to use its own devices; Reiter also upgraded the PFS for respiratory ‘Altea’ is a continuing experiment to look at the ‘Casper’ evaluated a new method of analyses and used it for the first time in the effects of cosmic rays on the brain; monitoring sleep disturbance and sleep periodic fitness evaluations that determine the ‘Lazio’ measured the electromagnetic environ- stability in weightlessness; cardio-vascular health of ISS crews. The ment of the ISS resulting from man-made ‘UTBI’ measured the background radiation astronauts measure their oxygen uptake emissions on Earth and from natural inside the ISS with a new type of radiation during exercise on a cycle ergometer. It was phenomena such as thunderstorms, earth- sensor. installed in July 2006 and used once a month quakes and volcanic eruptions. by Reiter for his health checks. The PFS, Three other educational activities were installed in NASA’s Human Research Facility, Physics designed for teachers and pupils in European arrived at the Station in July 2005 for research. ‘PK3plus’ is a fundamental-physics experi- schools: Upgraded, it is now also used for medical ment for studying complex plasmas, a state of purposes. matter that is not fully understood. ‘Oil Emulsion’ demonstrated to 11–14-year Reiter was also the first to use the European olds how an oil/water emulsion behaves in Portable Glovebox, with the ESA ‘Leukin’ Technology demonstrations weightlessness; experiment. The glovebox is a small Three Astrolab experiments focused on making ‘ARISS’ allowed children in Greece, Switzer- hermetically-sealed facility for safely handling use of the physical and operational environ- land and Germany to ask Reiter questions biological and physical experiments. ment on the ISS to test new technologies: via amateur radio equipment about his life Reiter serviced the larger Microgravity and work on the ISS; Science Glovebox (MSG), a research facility in ‘Erasmus Recording Binocular’ is a new 3-D the filming of robotic equipment and demon- Destiny, replacing its large main window and video camera to improve the existing virtual- strations on the ISS for the fourth edition of seals. All facilities on the ISS need regular reality simulation models of the ISS and to an educational DVD series that will be maintenance so they can continue to be safely share the experience of life and work in produced in all ESA Member State used in orbit. In 2002, MSG was the first space with the general public; languages for use in European schools. European rack-size facility to be delivered to ‘Special Event Meal’ is part of a plan to develop the ISS and has been successfully used for ten a European capability to produce, analyse Celsius experiments and educational different experiments. It provides a fully sealed and certify food for astronauts; activities and controlled environment, isolated from the ‘Skincare’ is aimed at characterising the different Most of Fuglesang’s time at the ISS was taken rest of the ISS, allowing the astronauts to parameters of human skin in weightlessness up with assembly tasks, but he was still able to perform a wide variety of materials, com- with non-invasive medical equipment. perform three experiments in human physiology bustion, fluids and biotechnology experiments.

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Human Spaceflight

The Origins of Astrolab and Celsius The Astrolab and Celsius missions had for 6 months and then must be their roots in agreements between exchanged. ESA, NASA and the Russian space After six very successful flights on agency Roscosmos. Soyuz crew exchange missions, this In the ISS global cooperation type of ESA-astronaut mission was to scheme, ESA represents Europe, which come to an end in 2004, when Columbus is one of the five International was due for launch. However, the tragic Partners that are united by the loss of Columbia dictated a serious Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), delay. signed in Washington, D.C., on As an alternative to missing utilisa- Reiter and Williams prepare for their spacewalk in August 2006 29 January 1998. tion opportunities on Columbus, ESA The IGA, together with others worked out an ‘Interim Utilisation The Spacewalks between the partners’ space agencies, Activity Plan’ to bridge the gap until A high point of Reiter’s mission was his confers rights and obligations on the Columbus. This included an additional (EVA) on participants, including the right to flight of an ESA astronaut on a Soyuz 3 August 2006 with Jeffrey Williams. He send astronauts to the ISS. However, crew exchange. Based on the good was the first ESA astronaut to perform a there is a prerequisite: contribution of experience with the Soyuz short spacewalk from the Station. Reiter was a Station element. Europe’s element is missions, ESA and Roscosmos looked already experienced in EVAs, having the Columbus laboratory module, at an ESA astronaut performing a long performed two during his Euromir which is scheduled for permanent mission by replacing a regular Russian mission aboard Mir in 1995–1996. attachment late in 2007. Station crewmember. Together with Williams, Reiter set up Until then, Europe depends on other The discussions concluded in 2005 hardware that included the Floating agreements with NASA and Ros- with the signature of the ‘ISS Flight Potential Measurement Unit (to moni- cosmos for an ESA astronaut to Order Contract concerning the tor electrical charging to ensure safety occupy a Station place that would Cooperation on the Implementation of during dockings and EVAs) and the normally would be taken by a US or an ISS Flight Opportunity for an MISSE-3 and -4 materials experiments. Russian crewmember. One way for Expedition Flight involving an ESA The astronauts then prepared ISS ESA to send astronauts to the ISS was Astronaut’. This became the Astrolab Truss components for future assembly opened by a 1997 Memorandum of mission with Thomas Reiter. work by installing a computer for the Understanding between ESA and The contract stipulated that Reiter external thermal control system, and NASA on ‘Early Utilisation Oppor- would perform all the ISS system tasks deploying a new EVA infrared camera to tunities of the ISS’. It provided two of the Russian cosmonaut, plus evaluate its possible use for inspecting flight opportunities for ESA astron- 156 hours of ESA experiments. The the heatshields of visiting Shuttles. The auts before the addition of Columbus, other Russian cosmonaut would EVA lasted nearly 6 hours. in exchange for the delivery to NASA contribute about 20 hours to ESA’s of scientific facilities and other experiments. Fuglesang’s EVAs equipment for the ISS. Christer The mission was initially planned for Fuglesang’s most important role during Fuglesang’s flight on Shuttle STS-116 2005, during Expeditions 11 and 12. his mission was to perform three highly was the first under this agreement. However, further Shuttle delays meant demanding EVAs. The first two, during Another route to the Station for that Reiter flew with Expeditions 13 the nights of 12/13 and 14/15 December European astronauts before Columbus and 14 in 2006. 2006, were part of the original mission is the ESA/Roscosmos Agreement on While previous flights of ESA plan for Fuglesang and NASA astro- participation in Soyuz crew-exchange astronauts under the ESA/Roscosmos naut to carry out missions. ESA pays for the training cooperation agreement used Russian several important Station assembly and flight opportunity. Initially, the Soyuz-TMA vehicles launched from tasks. The third EVA, during the night agreement involved only shorter Baikonur, Reiter flew on the Shuttle. of 18/19 December, was added only flights (typically 10 days) that deliver This was the result of a separate during the mission. fresh Soyuz craft to the Station, and NASA/Roscosmos agreement that During the first EVA, the pair returned the old vehicles. These not shares some Shuttle-Soyuz seats. connected the P4 and P5 Truss elements only return the crew to Earth at the A separate agreement was made on the Station’s left side. Joan Higgin- end of the mission, but also serve as between ESA and NASA for Reiter’s botham and , inside the lifeboats to evacuate the ISS in case of use of NASA-owned research facilities Station, used the Canadian robotic arm emergency. They are guaranteed in the US Destiny laboratory. to steer P5 into place alongside P4.

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Astrolab / Celsius

Fuglesang on his second spacewalk. The end of the Station’s Canadarm2 is at left

At this time, the astronauts set a chance of a third EVA after one of the colleagues choreographed a complex record: they were working furthest from original solar wings refused to retract EVA at short notice and built a new tool. the airlock than any crew since Station and fold up when commanded by the In 6.5 hours, they succeeded in freeing construction began. Fuglesang and crew inside. Fuglesang and Curbeam the jammed array to allow full retrac- Curbeam had to tighten the bolts had to venture outside again and help tion. The wing had been operating for securely by hand using a battery-driven the solar array manually. This was 6 years but has to be moved to complete wrench. The other major task during the challenging work because they had not Station assembly and also would have first EVA was replacing a broken trained for the job. But helped by experts interfered with the rotation of the new camera on the S1 Truss element. on the ground, Fuglesang and his wings installed in September 2006. e On their second EVA, they changed many of the electrical connectors at several sites. They had to reconnect two of the Station’s four power channels, EVA/docking module, looking towards Soyuz-TMA 8, the robotic arm and during which almost half of the power Use the stereo glasses provided in this the Station Truss. had to be switched off. Finally, issue to view the DVD, poster and the eight stereo images from the Astrolab and Fuglesang and Curbeam were carried 5. The Russian Zvezda habitation Celsius missions on the following pages: module, with the work and dining on the Canadian robotic arm to move table. two tool carts to new positions for the 1. Reiter with ESA’s stereo videocamera 6. The Russian Zarya module is used next EVA. in the US Destiny laboratory module. for storing spare parts, food and The third EVA, by Curbeam and Will- 2. The Expedition-13 crew (from left): clothes. iams, reconfigured the other two power Reiter, Vinogradov and Williams. 7. Fuglesang prepares to enter the channels and transferred three packs of 3. Reiter filming through the Destiny airlock for an EVA. debris panels from the Shuttle cargo bay window with the stereo camera. 8. Fuglesang in the Shuttle simulator in to a storage location on the ISS. 4. The view from the Russian Pirs Houston. Fuglesang then unexpectedly had the

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