Foreword.qxp 11/10/04 10:02 AM Page 1

number 18, november 2004 on www.esa.int/spaceflight station The Newsletter of the Directorate of Human Spaceflight,Microgravity & Exploration

in this issue Farewell MSM – Hello HME foreword Jörg Feustel-Büechl Farewell MSM – Hello HME 1 ESA Director of Human Spaceflight

delta Development of the Columbus ground Delta: A Dutch Milestone 4 segment is progressing satisfactorily, and Gerrit van der Wees the recent System Validation Test #2 has Delta: Flight Report 6 been completed.This demonstrated the André Kuipers good data communications between the European payloads Delta: Mission Report 8 integrated in Columbus in Bremen, through the European Aldo Petrivelli ground network to the in Delta: Science Report 10 , as well as selected Facility Responsible Rolf P.de Groot & Marc Heppener Centres. Further ’delta’ testing is foreseen early next year following the integration of the external payloads onto the atv Columbus External Platform Facility and, again, with the ‘Jules Verne‘ Takes Shape 14 ground segment.This testing will be repeated just before Patrice Amadieu shipping Columbus to the Kennedy Space Center in ATV Ahoy! 16 preparation for launch. In September, all of the ESA payloads Hans Bolender et al. were removed from Columbus following completion of integrated testing.They have now been returned to their cupola developers for upgrading. Window on the Universe 18 Philippe Deloo & Doriana Buffa Columbus Qualification Review #2 is planned for 4 November. This is a major Agency/industry milestone leading to the facilities formal conclusion of the Columbus development programme. Material Progress 22 Unfortunately, the recent hurricanes in the southern US Marco Martella et al. seriously damaged the Shuttle processing capability and, as a result, the return to flight of the Shuttle has been delayed education from March/April 2005 to May/June 2005. But we still expect ISS Education 26 Columbus to be attached to the Station by the end of 2006. Fiona Wilson Testing of the NASA/Boeing Human Research Facility rack in hme Columbus has been successfully accomplished. Data paths What is EAC? 28 that are used solely by US payloads in Columbus were Ernst Messerschmid checked and no major problems were found.

In ATV, there have been regular high-level meetings between ESA, CNES and industry in order to take stock of the critical items, and good progress has been made. Of particular note is the ATV software (Version 2.2) that has now been finalised Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity & Exploration Direction des vols habités, de la microgravité et de l‘exploration Foreword.qxp 11/10/04 10:02 AM Page 2

foreword

The ATV Flight Operations Readiness Review of 28-29 September 2004 at the ATV Control Centre in Toulouse confirmed the readiness of the operational products and facilities needed for the first vehicle, ‘Jules Verne‘.The meeting was chaired by Robert Castle (Director, NASA Mission Operations) and Susan Creasy (Manager,NASA Mission Integration and Operations).Also attending were Mark Geyer (Manager,NASA Mission Integration),Victor Blagov (RSC-Energia Chief Flight Director), Alan Thirkettle (Manager, ESA ISS Programme) and Bob Chesson (ESA Head of Operations Department).

Right: ATV ‘Jules Verne‘ in the ESTEC Test Centre.

and has already undergone around 3000 During September, the Programme Board met verification checks. However, there is still more for the very first time at the EAC in Cologne software to be delivered. Integration of the ATV and agreed the decision schedule for the hardware at ESTEC is going ahead smoothly, future exploitation and ELIPS package. ELIPS is with mating of the main elements prior to our ‘European Programme for Life and Physical environmental testing.This begins with Sciences and Applications utilising the ISS‘ and electromagnetic compatibility testing in mid- other means. A science symposium was November and then acoustic testing in early subsequently held to mark the retirement from 2005. Launch is targeted for mid-October 2005. the Agency of , ESA’s first . See the ATV article on pp14-15 for further The symposium was kicked-off by John Young, details. who commanded the first Shuttle (1981) and first Spacelab (1983) flights.This was followed An informal handover ceremony of the Cupola by the Night of the at the Cologne from Alenia to ESA took place on 6 September Arena, with 32 active and former astronauts in Turin.The Cupola was then shipped to KSC presenting themselves with brief biographies and the formal ESA to NASA handover is being of their space experiences to an audience of prepared. See the Cupola article on pp18-21 for 5000. Apart from an impressive 3-D laser show, further information. a live link with the Station allowed the Expedition-9 crew of A Preliminary Gennadi Padalka and Authorisation To Mike Finck to answer Proceed statement has questions from the been agreed between audience. ESA and Roskosmos for the Italian Soyuz flight As this is my last carrying ESA astronaut On Station, I would like in April to thank all my staff 2005.The PATP is the and colleagues, and precursor for the formal partners in Space contract. Meanwhile, Agencies, industry and Roberto‘s training and research organisations experiment preparation for a very gratifying are both well underway. experience during my 10.5 years of NASA/Lockheed Martin engineer Mary Trenolone Negotiations for the first responsibility for working with the Human European long-duration human spaceflight and Resources Facility in astronaut mission life and physical

on Station Columbus.Completed in aboard the ISS are well sciences in ESA. I have October,the test showed that in hand. certainly seen many the NASA HRF rack is compatible with the and Léopold Eyharts are major steps in human European module. in training for this flight spaceflight, beginning (V. Koehne) of about 3 months. with the EuroMir-94 2

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national Agencies under one roof. I also enjoyed in 1998 the beginning of Station operations, with the Zarya module followed in 2000 by Zvezda carrying the ESA Data Management System, which is still working flawlessly. In June 2002, the first European- developed payload, the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), was added to the US Destiny laboratory aboard the Station. Many other deliveries have since been successful. Since 1994, 636 scientific and applications-oriented experiments have been performed on 21 parabolic flight campaigns 17 sounding rocket flights, nine Spacelab/Spacehab and -95 missions that demonstrated our missions and aboard the ISS. Among 24 ability to work harmoniously with the European astronaut flights, I witnessed seven Russians. This was complemented in 1995 by missions, from Umberto Guidoni to André the acceptance of the ISS and Microgravity Kuipers. Facilities for Columbus programmes presented at the Ministerial Conference in And, now, I have another career in ESA, looking Toulouse. These programmes provided after the organisation of the General Budget stability for our efforts and has stood the test from 1 November and will be based in Paris at of time. In 1998, we saw the successful mission ESA Headquarters. of the Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator (ARD) on Ariane-503, with the capsule landing I have really enjoyed the cooperation with my exactly as planned. Also in 1998, we saw the highly professional and motivated colleagues, creation of a unified European astronaut team and I wish my successor an equally gratifying at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, period of office as Director of Human bringing together astronauts from different Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration. ■

Hello HME on track and we are pretty confident that it will be launched on schedule. Daniel Sacotte ESA Director of Human Spaceflight, Now the priorities are to maximise use of these Microgravity & Exploration superb developments and prepare for the future. Of course the present conditions are I have the privilege of leading less than ideal: retirement of the this new Directorate and is planned for around 2010 and then of the ISS bringing together Space Station, Microgravity in about 2015, together with our own and Exploration. Six months ago, I was asked by constrained budgets for 2005 and 2006. So the our Director General to lead the Agency’s Agency has to look at the future and provide exploration activities, and we convinced the opportunities for European scientists up to at Member States to participate in a new least 2030.The approach will be decided at the Preparatory Programmme for Exploration: next Ministerial Conference.This should Aurora.This Preparatory Programme is on track provide the cornerstone for future European and will provide the basis for decisions at the exploration. It is also a goal of this initiative to next Ministerial Council, expected in late 2005. bring ‘Space‘ to European citizens – particularly young people – showing in concrete terms In parallel, most of the key elements for the how we all benefit from this European Space Station have nearly reached completion investment. under the direction of my predecessor, Jörg Feustel-Büechl. Columbus is close to readiness So we have demanding times ahead of us but I for launch and it is one of my priorities to push fully expect we will create an exciting and on Station for that launch as soon as possible. ATV is well fulfilling Programme. ■ 3

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delta DDelta:elta: AA DDututchch MMilestilestoneone A Major Step for Dutch Spaceflight

Gerrit van der Wees Chairman,ESA Human Spaceflight,Research and Applications Programme Board (PB-HSR); Senior Advisor for Aerospace Policy,Ministry of Economic Affairs,The Netherlands Email:[email protected]

Introduction spaceflight more directly beneficial to life on The Dutch Soyuz Mission ‘Delta‘ of 19-30 April Earth? Can the benefits be achieved in other 2004 was a major milestone for Dutch human ways? What should the balance be between spaceflight. For a spaceflight, the public interest manned missions and robotic missions? What was almost unparalleled in Dutch should the role of human spaceflight be for The Delta mission has history:TV programmes carried daily exploration missions to other planets? had a major impact on reports and major newspapers For weeks, they were a matter of public The Netherlands ... sported front-page articles for days debate.We hope that the flight of André in a row. Not since the first Dutch Kuipers has stimulated an awareness in Dutch astronaut,, went into space in society for the possibilities open to us, and for 1985 on board the US Space Shuttle did space the choices to be made. play such an important role in Dutch public life. In this article, I would like to highlight some Historical Perspective aspects of the mission. André’s flight has a long history. In a sense, it goes back to the ESA Ministerial Conference in The Hague in 1987. At that meeting, ministers approved the Ariane-5, Hermes and Columbus programmes as three major building blocks for Europe in space, laying the foundation for European participation in the International Space Station. As part of that effort, it was foreseen that Europe would build up a . At the time, there were only three ESA astronauts, , Wubbo Ockels and Ulf Merbold, in addition to a number of national astronauts. In 1990-91, a selection process was started for the new corps, first at the national level and then at the ESA level. André Kuipers was one of the five Dutch national candidates proposed to ESA; in ESA‘s subsequent selection he ended up on the Official crew portrait (from Possibilities and Options reserve list, because – owing to the cancellation left): ,Gennadi In general, space activities and space policy are of the Hermes programme – the Agency had to Padalka and André Kuipers. only infrequently the ‘right stuff‘ for newspaper reduce the number of astronauts to be selected headlines or the TV evening news. Generally, from the original 12 down to six.

on Station only the industries, scientists and policymakers However, André got another chance, when directly involved discuss the issues. the European Astronaut Corps was established What are the issues? Let me just mention a in 1998. He was selected in the second round, few that are important from the policy together with Belgian astronaut . perspective. How can we make human Unfortunately, as time went on, few flight 4

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opportunities came along because of the arguments were put slowdown in Shuttle flights and the delay in forward, and in launching Columbus. ESA decided to propose November 2002, the at the Ministerial Council in Edinburgh in 2001 Dutch ministers of an Additional Flight Opportunities programme Economic Affairs and involving launches with Russia‘s Soyuz. of Education, Culture However, the programme did not receive the and Science decided required funding support from several of the on joint funding and larger member states, which had their own implementation of the national Soyuz launches lined up. At around flight. An agreement the same time, ESA and the member states was negotiated with were discussing a new Astronaut Policy ESA, and signed in July document, which was to set the principal 2003 by ministers Laurens-Jan Brinkhorst and Lunching with Station residents guidelines for the European Astronaut Corps. Maria van der Hoeven, and on the ESA side by Alexander Kaleri (left) and Michael I had the pleasure of serving as chairman of Jörg Feustel-Büechl, Director of Manned Foale. that committee. One of the major items of Spaceflight and Microgravity. debate was the issue of how to conduct national missions, and in particular the division Preparations and Implementation of roles of ESA and national organisations.This Although some work had been under way document was eventually approved by the ESA before the Dutch national decision of Council in June 2002. November 2002 , time was still short, in particular to prepare the experiments. Still, an impressive package of research was put together in close cooperation between ESA and the Netherlands (see the following articles). During the first half of 2003, an unparalleled number of activities had to be undertaken, involving the principle investigators, Dutch industry led by Dutch Space of Leiden (which set up the Dutch Soyuz Mission Project Office) and a team of coordinators led by Dutch Mission Manager Dr. Ruud Roos.Together with an ESA team led by Mission Manager Aldo Despite the tight schedule,André performed an impressive series of Petrivelli, they ensured that the experiments experiments. achieved their milestones and were ready for Dutch National Decision-Making the flight. Following the Edinburgh decision not to fund The launch of the unmanned Progress ferry the Additional Flight Opportunities on 29 January 2004, which delivered the large programme, plans were made to gain approval majority of the experiments to the Station, was for a Dutch national mission with André a major achievement for the team. As the Kuipers.The first steps were taken in December launch date for the Soyuz launch itself 2001, and in the following months the approached, publicity in the Netherlands arguments were put on the table and a heightened, reaching a peak in the early hours network was set up to enable such a mission. of Monday, 19 April 2004, when dozens of The prime arguments were: media organisations descended on ESTEC and – the importance of the medical-scientific and the adjoining Noordwijk Space Expo for the industrial-technological experiments; live coverage of the launch in Baikonur. – the experience to be gained by Dutch In Baikonur itself, a delegation of some 20 institutions and industry in innovative VIPs, two dozen friends and relatives of André, research and implementing such a mission; and dozens of reporters, witnessed the suiting – the interest to be generated among young ceremonies, visited the launch pad and then people for science and technology; moved to the viewing stand to see André and – the resulting national and international his Russian and US colleagues Gennadi Padalka public focus on space and its benefits. and Michael Fincke reach for the sky. ■ on Station

In close coordination with ESA, these 5

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delta DDelta:elta: CCrreeww RRepeporortt 11 days in Space

André Kuipers Member of the European Astronaut Corps, D/HME,European Astronaut Centre,Linderhohe,D-51147 Köln,Germany Email:[email protected]

Preparation collect baseline data. In fact, some tests were Most of my work in the Gagarin training centre only ground-based. in Star City centred on the Soyuz spacecraft Medical examinations became more and the Russian part of the ISS. Lessons on the frequent as the flight neared, with our crew systems were followed by flight- surgeon making sure that all the procedures Delta was packed with oriented lessons. Practical and data collections were safe and according demanding but enjoyable sessions in the Soyuz simulator to the rules. activities for André Kuipers... confronted us with all possible After the final preparations and ceremonies malfunctions and emergencies. in Star City, the prime and back-up crews Three months before the flight, my final travelled to for the last week in crewmembers were confirmed as commander quarantine. During the final days, we prepared Gennadi Padalka and NASA flight engineer documentation, selected personal items, Mike Fincke. performed physiological training, attended To be able to return the Soyuz alone, traditional activities, met our families and I trained extensively on a computerised generally relaxed. simulation and in the centrifuge. I practised taking laser distance and speed measurements Launch and Docking in case we had to make a manual approach to The launch on 19 April, with its peak 3 g the Station. Survival training, parabolic flights, acceleration, was smooth. It was just like language training and sports were all part of training, but this time without any the training schedule. A session in Houston emergencies! Everything happened as it showed me how to operate the Microgravity should.We were all impressed when the fairing Science Glovebox and to handle emergencies was discarded and we could see our blue in the US part of the Station. planet shining in the black Universe. After only Although 80% of my training was to qualify 528 s Soyuz was travelling around the world at as a flight engineer, 80% of my work during the 28 000 km/h and a height of 220 km.We fired flight was to perform experiments. Experiment the thrusters to begin raising the orbit and training was done mostly in Russia, but the start our 2-day journey to the Station at its Heat and Arges experiments (see p13) required 400 km altitude.We could then remove our an MSG simulation in Houston. suits, use the toilet and have something to eat. The public attention in The Netherlands for I began some biology and education the mission was enormous.There were PR experiments. activities almost every day, which demanded a Approaching the Station, we donned our substantial amount of my time, but was well suits again because of the potential for worth it because it generated a very positive collision.The computer used the radar to

on Station attitude towards spaceflight. approach automatically from below as we Physiology and biology measurements closely monitored the screens in case we had before the flight were to be compared with to take over. But everything went smoothly those taken during and after, so several and we docked automatically without sessions were held in Star City and Holland to problem. 6

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Station Activities Commander Michael Foale and Alexander Kaleri warmly welcomed us aboard the ISS, followed by a TV session with officials in mission control. After emergency briefings and transfer of my seatliner and suit to Soyuz TMA-3, we moved the scientific equipment from our Soyuz to several locations in the Station. Floating was a pleasure, but working in weightlessness was sometimes troublesome. Finding equipment, setting up experiments, fixing every single item and watching out that nothing floats out of a box all costs much more time than on Earth. Most experiments were a one-man operation, although Gennadi helped when needed and my NASA colleagues helped with the MSG. Every day was fully packed, partly because we had several technical The main engine ignited as planned and soon Working with Arges in the problems that required repeat runs, the blackness of space turned to orange and the Microgravity Science troubleshooting, consultation and relocating g-forces climbed to 4 g as sparks flew by. In the Glovebox. equipment. But I am delighted that in the end denser layers of the atmosphere, the sound of we managed to perform all the experiments. rushing air was very strong, until the parachutes Learning to live in weightlessness takes opened and shook us violently for 20 s.We some time. Physical adaptation, washing with eventually hit the steppe, cushioned by wet towels, procedures for using the toilet, retrorockets firing at a height of only 1.5 m. I was sleeping without feeling a bed, and orientation the first to enter TMA-3 at Baikonur as back-up are all different and do not come without to for the Cervantes mission, and effort.The meals were social events, with a now I was the last to leave it. It was a good ship. choice between tasty Russian and American We were all in good condition.We were food, cans or aluminium bags that could be carried to a medical tent, where our heated, or freeze-dried food and drinks. examinations included testing for orthostatic The crew interaction in the Station was very intolerance (p11). Meanwhile, ESA personnel good, and communication with the many secured the critical biological samples in cool ground stations, including EAC and ESTEC, boxes. went well.There were radio-amateur contacts We were flown in helicopters to the airport and phonecalls with ESA colleagues, family and and, after the official Kazakh welcome, a plane friends. Every morning brought a press returned us to Star City for 2 weeks of recovery conference. A big event was the live start and and debriefings. But the work was not over – finish of the Seeds in Space experiment with my baseline data collection went on for many schools. 40 days. Mission debriefings are still going on and the first scientific Return results will be presented in The last day was busy – all December. experiments had to be The Delta mission, my closed down and data first spaceflight, was a carriers given to Soyuz great success thanks to commander Kaleri, the many dedicated who carefully stowed people who worked hard them in the capsule. on it. And I am delighted Several experiments that it had such a positive had to be closed down effect on the general or even performed at the public, who provide the last moment because of support for space exploration Adjusting the SUIT temperature sensitivity of the and the future scientists and

experiment with Gennadi’s on Station samples. engineers who make it happen. ■ help. 7

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delta DDelta:elta: MMissionission RRepeporortt Facing The Challenge

Aldo Petrivelli Head of Payload Integration and Operations Division (HME-EP) D/HME,ESTEC,PO Box 299,2200 AG Noordwijk,The Netherlands Email:[email protected]

The Challenge At the time of the first preparation meeting in December 2002, it was evident that the Delta mission presented challenges.The many experiments were still in the early Planning and managing stages of preparation, and the overall the Delta mission was a schedule was extremely tight for a major challenge ... flight expected in October 2003.This The combined success rate of all experiments was 85%. was another sponsored mission, in this case by the Dutch government, with and the preparation of experiments and their Sponsor’s and ESA’s ambitious expectations and interfaces to the Mission Team by the National different objectives requiring harmonisation.The Organisation.This had a Dutch Mission Manager, Columbia disaster on 1 February 2003 delayed two Dutch Science Coordinators (one each for Delta by 6 months and added the Increment life and physical sciences) and the Dutch Project crew rotation to the mission objectives, Office industrial team to support the payload exchanging the new Expedition-9 for the developers directly.This Dutch organisation returning Expedition-8.Though Delta was worked closely with the ESA Mission Team. contractually conceived for a visiting taxi crew During realtime operations, both teams worked to swap the Soyuz spacecraft, that goal was in a joint control room in the Erasmus building realised as part of a much more constraining at ESTEC, together providing mission crew swap. coordination and science support. There was also the Steering Committee, Organisation consisting of ESA and the National Organisation, A major discussion at the beginning was how to control the mission's overall development. It the Mission Team would be structured.The final included high-level management and The Soyuz approaches for organisation had mission integration and representatives of the Mission Team, including docking. operations being carried out by the ESA Team, the ESA Mission Manager, Dutch Mission Manager Crew Office representative and Mission Scientist.

Delta Experiments In addition to creating the organisation to implement the mission, it was also necessary to reduce the large number of experiments initially proposed to a level that could be conducted

on Station effectively during the mission.This was not an easy task because we had to satisfy the demanding and different requirements of the various disciplines: human physiology, physical science, technology, education, commercial and 8

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Performing the SUIT experiment.

experiments, in particular, overcame the sometimes severe limitations of the local facilities. Delta was the first mission to activate experiments during the 2-day Soyuz flight to the Station; several biology experiments ran in the two Kubik incubators. Although the Kubiks performed well during this part of the mission, they later sufferred several difficulties during Station operations. A centrifuge failure in one resulted in a lengthy period of frustrating ground-based troubleshooting. And then one biology experiment was ’lost’ during storage public relations. Some experiments were after the flight. Despite these problems, the eliminated, but other activities were added later combined success rate for all of the experiments on, mainly for education and PR. André Kuipers flown was 85% (including the successful commented on his return that he found it conclusion of the Expedition-9 experiments difficult to cope with the high workload, despite after André’s departure). the fact that the experimental programme had been very carefully planned and timelined.The previous taxi flights had increased expectation of what could be achieved during these short missions. Odissea had 21 flight activities and three on the ground; Cervantes included 21 flight and two ground, plus the delivery of hardware spares. Delta aimed at 28 investigations: four were conducted by the resident Station crew before and after the Soyuz flight, three were performed by them during the Soyuz visit, and one was ground-based. André himself was directly involved as a subject in a number of physiology experiments.

Meeting the Challenge Preparing for the mission was like combining a number of different projects on a single road leading to the flight. Each project has its own The Future The Soyuz docked to the organisation and team that, most of the time, The lessons learned from the Soyuz missions nadir port of the Zarya wants to deliver its own items to Soyuz and tend to focus on what went wrong and what module. have direct and exclusive control over this can be improved, so we sometimes take for process. In practice, of course, this is not feasible. granted what went right.The Soyuz missions In reality, a project must deliver to a professional have allowed ESA to push the envelope and to team that integrates and runs the experiment optimise the science return from such brief efficiently and effectively.This is the mission flights; Delta showed us the limits of what can integration and operations team that is taking be achieved. It is already significant that ESA’s shape within ESA, developing infrastructures, integration and operations team now expects a organisation, experience and a strong team high rate of success for each mission.The Soyuz spirit, thanks to the opportunities offered by the taxi flights are a unique opportunity for ESA to Soyuz missions. acquire operational experience rapidly and to One of the key milestones along the Delta develop expertise for future operations aboard highway was the final work carried out at the the Columbus laboratory.The lessons learned Baikonur launch site. During this critical phase, from Delta, coupled with those from the other there is a heavy reliance on expert engineers to four taxi flights (Andromede, Marco Polo, complete the work perfectly.There is definitely Odissea and Cervantes), provide a solid no room for tourism here, or immediately after foundation for building future ESA manned on Station landing. Final preparation of the biology spaceflight operations. ■ 9

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delta DDelta:elta: SciencSciencee RRepeporortt Preliminary Science Results from the Delta Mission

Rolf P.de Groot 1 & Marc Heppener 2 1Programme Manager External Research,SRON National Institute for Space Research,Sorbonnelaan 2,3584 CA Utrecht,The Netherlands 2Utilisation Department,D/HME,ESTEC,PO Box 299,2200 AG Noordwijk,The Netherlands Email:[email protected]; [email protected]

Introduction that its entire genome is known through The Delta mission is now some 7 months genetic sequencing.This makes it very behind us, so it is perhaps time to have a first amenable for an in-depth study of the look at the scientific results. influence of weightlessness and the space Analysis of the results from It can take up to a year until environment, and makes it possible to Delta‘s experiments is producing the first results are extrapolate the results to other living a wealth of information ... submitted to scientific organisms, including humans. In particular, ICE- journals, but direct contact first looked into the effects of radiation, muscle with the scientists means that some atrophy and muscle development, ageing, preliminary conclusions can be presented here. genomics, gravity sensing and apoptosis In general, Delta’s science experiments (programmed cell-death). covered three main disciplines: biology, human All the samples were successfully processed physiology and physics. In addition, Delta also during flight and were returned to the hosted a large number of successful international team (France, US, Japan and technology and educational experiments (it is Canada) for analysis. Since this involves rather hoped these will be covered in the future). complicated techniques, no concrete results are yet available. Biology Five of the six biological experiments used the Flow new Kubik incubator, designed specifically to Flow studied bone demineralisation in culture and process biological cells within the weightlessness (akin to osteoporosis) in tight constraints of a Soyuz mission. Although osteocyte bone cells. In particular, it tested Kubik is compact and relatively light, it whether early onset of bone demineralisation nevertheless offers the full range of biological can be detected by specific markers such as research, with a 1 g reference centrifuge and nitrous oxide gas production. Unfortunately, late access. Flow was not properly activated and no results Unfortunately, there were several technical were obtained. Nevertheless, ground problems with Kubik’s experiments.The experiments have since demonstrated that investigation is still under way and it is too sharp peaks of NO production can indeed be early to draw conclusions. It is clear that various observed under specific circumstances.The factors contributed to the problems, including possibility of reflying Flow is therefore under restricted access to cooling air. serious study by ESA. As a result, only ICE-first and Sample were completed without problems.The others Tubul returned only samples of inferior quality and Tubul looked at the influence of gravity on cell

on Station are regarded as totally lost. shape, elongation and division and, in particular, on the spatial organisation of ICE-first microtubules, which form the backbone of ICE-first studied the nematode Ceanorhabditis plant cells.Tragically,Tubul was completed on elegans.The handy thing about this worm is the Station and good results would have been 10

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Working with a Kubik incubator.

the composition, physiology and possible adaptation of microbial communities in weightlessness. The first aim was to evaluate which microbial species could undesirably develop under the growth conditions of life support systems in manned spaceflights.The astronaut took 104 samples from 35 different specific sites in the ISS and his own body.The swabs are being screened for microbes through culturing on growth media and molecular analysis of the microbe DNA.The preliminary results show that bacteria, fungi or yeasts were cultured from 14 of the sites. DNA has been isolated in the swabs obtained but for the inadvertent post- Kappa and is being checked for potentially flight freezing of the cells.This made A major challenge in medicine is the pathogenic microbes. them unusable for the advanced increase in autoimmune diseases such Sample‘s second aim was to analysis required for this type of as allergies, inflammatory bowel investigate how microbial species adapt research. However, visual inspection disease, asthmatic disease and to weightlessness, focusing on the and counting of the harvested cells rheumatoid arthritis. Current adhesive abilities of the model show that the cells grew as expected, immunosuppressive treatments are bacterium Escherichia coli.The bacteria which implies that the microtubule only able to deal partially with these were transported to space in a special system was functional under diseases.Weightlessness is known to container, allowing them to grow under weightlessness.The experiment can induce immunosuppression, but the microgravity. Preliminary results be repeated without modification so underlying mechanism is unknown. indicate no significant change in an early reflight is being sought. The aim of Kappa was to identify this adhesion ability after growth in space, mechanism in the hope of finding although an increase was hypothesised. Actin novel avenues for inducing The experiment aimed at a more immunosuppression in patients. Physiology fundamental understanding of the Unfortunately, Kubik‘s problems In total, five experiments were carried way gravity interacts with mammalian meant that the experiment was not out in human physiology. Of all space cells. In that sense, it is a counterpart carried out. Reflight is planned on experiments, these most obviously to Tubul. Actin is the major constituent Maser-10. require astronauts. As the Delta of the cytoskeleton, which performs experiments clearly demonstrate, they roughly the same functions in Sample are highly relevant for medical mammalian cells as microtubules in Sample dealt with the detection and research on Earth.They are a prime plants. It provides structure and a identification of microorganisms example of how research in space can pathway for transporting signals from aboard the ISS. In particular, it studied benefit our lives on Earth. the cellular membrane to the nucleus, where it initiates the expression of its Heart genes in response to the stimulus Astronauts returning from space suffer provided.The theory is that gravity is from varying degrees of orthostatic important in determining the 3-D intolerance – the inability to stand structure of this cytoskeleton, so upright without dizziness or fainting. cellular responses to stimuli under Although this adaptation to weightlessness may be different. microgravity has been studied Many experiments are necessary to extensively, it is still not possible to prove this, and ‘Actin‘ looked in predict fully or prevent its occurrence. particular into the synthesis and In Heart, astronauts underwent a set decomposition of the cytoskeleton. of orthostatic challenges before and Unfortunately, it was not activated in after flight.Tolerance post-flight is flight. It will refly on the Maser-10 determined via a 10-minute standing

Fungi cultured from samples obtained in space for the on Station sounding rocket in March 2005. ‘Sample‘ experiment. test. 11

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delta

André and Mike Foale at lunch in ISS.André is wearing the Circa equipment for continuous blood pressure recording.

Of course, such studies produce stage. It is not, as generally believed, a changing g-levels. MOP aimed at meaningful results only with a problem of old age, but rather it gaining insight into the process of sufficient number of test subjects; affects people in the prime of life. vestibular adaptation to g-transitions Delta means that data have now been Consequently, it is an important by investigating several vestibular compiled on five.They clearly suffer medical problem with obvious parameters before and after a 1 h reduced tolerance after flight, shown economic impact. It has been noted centrifuge run. by increased blood pressure variability that astronauts suffer rather With Delta, ten astronauts have during the standing test.The next step frequently from lower-back pain.The now been tested both in the is to develop a model that can predict Muscle experiment asked the centrifuge and in space for their orthostatic intolerance for individuals astronaut to fill in a questionnaire on susceptibility to SIC and SAS, through specific tests.This model will occurrence, type and other aspects of respectively. A positive correlation was benefit long-term bed patients. lower-back pain. For this and other found: four astronauts were information, it was a significant susceptible to both, and six were not. Circa advantage that André is himself a This supports the hypothesis that SIC In healthy humans, blood pressure has medical doctor. and SAS share an underlying a circadian rhythm; blood pressure at The questionnaire answers support mechanism.The vestibular tests night is 10-20% lower than during the the biomechanical model developed showed that postural stability day.This 24-h variation is considered a by the scientific team.This includes decreased after the centrifuge run in sign of good health; there is increased the recorded complaints as well as the one SIC-susceptible subject and was morbidity when nightly decreases in countermeasures practised by André. unaffected in the other non- blood pressure are abolished in Of course, the results of a study with a susceptible subject. hypertensive patients. Circa single test subject should be investigates whether this circadian interpreted with reserve, and should OLP rhythm alters in weightlessness. be consolidated with follow-on This experiment provided insight into Intermittent measurement of blood studies of astronauts staying aboard the equilibrium system under pressure was obtained round-the- the ISS for several months. Future weightlessness by looking at a specific clock before, during and after flight. studies could have a large impact on property of the visual system: the André has produced the first pressure flight countermeasures and the orientation of Listing’s Plane (OLP). recordings at intervals over a 24 h treatment of patients on Earth. This plane is orthogonal to the two period in space.The investigators were main eye-movement directions of up- specifically interested in the transition MOP (Motion Perception) down and left-right.The tilt of this from wake to sleep; this was Astronauts have mentioned close plane is a measure of the correlation successfully recorded. As in the other similarities between the symptoms of between head and eye movements, physiology experiments, more test space sickness (space adaptation which in turn is determined by the subjects are needed before solid syndrome, SAS) and the symptoms equilibrium system, in particular the scientific conclusions can be drawn. experienced after a 3 g centrifuge run otholiths in the middle ear.

on Station (sickness induced by centrifugation, The Eye-Tracking Device, developed Muscle SIC).This suggests that transition from by DLR, was used for the first time in Lower-back pain is one of the most 3 g to 1 g provokes the same effects as space during Delta. Measurements common diseases on Earth, with 80% from 1 g to 0 g, implying a general were taken before, during and after of people suffering from it at some vestibular adaptation mechanism to flight, showing a clear change in 12

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André working on the Arges experiment in the Microgravity Science Glovebox.

Listing’s Plane under microgravity, residual gravity caused a very slow slowly returning to normal in the days rotation. As expected, the axial after landing.This indicates that, demixing did not occur during Delta, contrary to general opinion, the eye- so the radial demixing can indeed be movement system is influenced by studied undisturbed.The analysis of changes in gravity conditions.The the spectra is well underway. results support the concept that the In terms of economic benefits, the otolith-mediated gravity signal acts as scientific team calculates that the a central reference for sensorimotor improvement in lamp efficiency from and possibly other body systems. this study is significant. For Holland alone, this translates to a reduction in Physics energy consumption of some Both of Delta‘s physical science €30 million/year.This assumes the experiments made use of the current volume of HID-lamp sales. Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) With upgraded HID lamps, this figure as a versatile platform offering power, will rise, coming to include household communication, cooling, video and particular, two disturbing phenomena applications. containment.This and the need further study: the demixing of the experiments‘ semi-manual nature salt mixture that determines the output Heat allowed the rapid development of spectrum, and helical instabilities of the The experiment specific hardware. Both projects plasma in the electrical field. Both tested the addressed problems with a significant effects show a clear gravity- efficiency of industrial interest; hardware and dependence.The spectrum of an HID grooved heat- experiment preparation was partly lamp is different when operated in a pipes in various funded by industry.This again horizontal or vertical position, whereas regimes of heat demonstrates that the scientific the demixing itself also influences the inputs. Heat- Mike Fincke is seen via video carrying research on the ISS has moved helical instabilities. pipes are used out the Heat experiment in the beyond the realm of purely Arges consisted of 20 HID lamps rather Microgravity Science Glovebox. fundamental issues and now mounted in a carousel and observed extensively in encompasses applied and pre- with a video camera (to study the space to transport heat from competitive R&D topics. helical instabilities) and a equipment to cooling systems.The spectrometer (to observe the principle resembles that of ordinary Arges demixing effects). Each lamp had household refrigerators, and is based Arges focused on high-density different electrode design and gas/salt on evaporation, cooling and transport discharge (HID) lamps, which provide a composition. All the lamps were of a volatile liquid. However, unlike on very bright light for their size.This sequentially operated at different Earth, the liquid is transported by makes them popular for lighting roads, power levels.The design and selection capillary forces, allowing operation in stadiums, factories and the like. New of the lamp properties were first weightless. applications are being developed and a tested in a parabolic flight campaign, Unfortunately, the thermal coupling serious amount of research is under which proved extremely useful in of the Heat equipment and MSG‘s cold way to optimise their design. In determining the optimal plate was not optimal. Even a modest configurations to observe the desired input power generated unexpected effects in weightlessness. high temperatures and the equipment Arges was totally successful; all the switched off automatically.The planned measurements were made problem was pretty well analysed and the data delivered to the during Delta, but there was no time to experimenters. Even during the correct it. However, Expedition-9‘s experiment, the results were very Mike Fincke modified it and ran it surprising.Whereas the instabilities flawlessly on 5-6 September; the were expected to be shaped as a investigator declared that all runs rotating helix, they appeared to be a were completed normally and all the singly bent stationary curve. Analysis expected data were received. ESA is indicates that the rotation is caused grateful to Mike Fincke, who worked in solely by convection and that the his free time, and to the motivated Axial demixing observed in Arges: (left) on curvature comes from self-generated and supportive NASA team. Analysis of on Station the ground; (right) its absence in space. magnetic fields. For one condition, the data is now under way. ■ 13

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atv ‘‘JJulesules VVerernene’’ TTakakeses SShaphapee The First ATV Begins its Final Tests

Patrice Amadieu Deputy Head,ATV Project Division,Development Department,Les Mureaux,France Email:[email protected]

Introduction After years of hard work and completion of the Critical Design Review in June 2003, the Jules Verne first flight model of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) has been at the ESTEC Test Centre in Noordwijk ESA’s Automated Transfer since July 2004. Following Vehicle is on the home straight integration, it will undergo of its long journey to the ISS ... an extensive test campaign until June 2005. It will then be shipped to Kourou for a mid-October 2005 launch. minute design modifications and/or component alerts, was completed by the first The Jules Verne Test Campaign mating of the Cargo Carrier and the Spacecraft The main event after the arrival at ESTEC of in mid-October. Jules Verne‘s two elements (Integrated Cargo Jules Verne will then undergo a sequence of Carrier and Spacecraft) was the integration and environmental and functional tests, such as: testing of the Russian Electronic Control – electromagnetic compatibility tests in System (RECS), which was delivered at the end October 2004; of July 2004. RECS will control the Russian – System Validation Tests in conjunction with docking and refuelling systems that were the ATV Control Centre (Toulouse, F) and installed in the Cargo Carrier by Alenia in NASA‘s Tracking & Data Relay Satellite Torino (I) in July/August 2003 before the ICC (TDRS) at the end of November 2004 and in was transferred to EADS Space Transportation May 2005; in Bremen (D). – acoustic tests in January 2005; In addition, the Russian Kurs transponder – thermal-vacuum tests in March-April 2005; was integrated in – guidance & navigation closed-loop tests in early September April-May 2005. 2004.The radar-based Kurs will The goal is to have all ESTEC activities communicate with its completed during the first half of June 2005. active counterpart on the Station‘s Zvezda ATV Flight Segment Qualification module for Qualification of ATV‘s mechanical and thermal independent control systems were achieved through: monitoring of ATV‘s – the Structural Thermal Model test campaign

on Station approach from 4 km in 2001-2002; to about 100 m (see – the ICC dynamic tests in 2003; The Jules Verne spacecraft at On Station 11, December 2002, pp17-19). – static tests on the Spacecraft and ICC ESTEC ready for mating with The basic integration work, including structures, completed in 2004; the cargo carrier. retrofitting some equipment because of last- – mathematical modelling and analyses. 14

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ATV‘s job includes boosting the Station‘s decaying orbit.

Ground Segment and Operations Development of the ground segment is the responsibility of CNES in Toulouse, while preparation for ATV operations is managed by an ESA team in Toulouse.The Control Centre infrastructure is complete and all operations products are almost ready. So far, several System Validation Tests (SVTs) have checked communications between Jules Verne sitting in ESTEC and the ATV Control Centre via TDRS, Artemis and the ground network controlled by the Columbus Control Centre at DLR Oberpfaffenhoffen (D). The Integrated Cargo Carrier of Jules Verne at ESTEC.The ISS Russian Segment Upgrade red covers protect the Russian docking system. In order to be ready for Jules Verne‘s arrival at the Station, several hardware and software upgrades have been made or planned as part of the Integration Contract with Russia. New optical targets were installed by EVA in July on But the most difficult part is still to come: the rear of Zvezda to support final ATV qualification of the whole system, which approach.The Crew Control Panel for ATV was requires the Functional Simulation Facility (FSF) delivered by an unmanned Progress cargo ferry in Les Mureaux during the first half of 2005. FSF in August, along with an upgraded SIMVOL TV fully simulates the ATV and its environment monitor and a modernised GPS receiver. using numerical models and hardware in the Antennas for proximity communications with loop.The driving factor is the availability of the ATV were installed before launch. Still to be ATV Flight Application Software (FAS), fully launched and mounted on Zvezda are: New laser reflectors were proved on the Software Validation Facilities. – the Proximity Communication Equipment is added to Zvezda in August. The first FAS version with all the software currently under acceptance and elements (FAS V2.2.1) became available in compatibility testing in Moscow; August 2004. FAS V2.2.2, incorporating late – a new camera, CCD-based. Its reduced changes and bug corrections, will be delivered sensitivity to the Sun in its field of view will in January 2005 to be used for ATV‘s formal increase the range of ATV docking qualification process. Qualification will be opportunities. concluded by the System Qualification Review Board in May 2005. In addition, a new version of Zvezda‘s software (v7.03), to support ATV operations such as refuelling and reboost, through Zvezda‘s computers will be uploaded before the end of this year.

The Next Step Following completion of the above activities and acceptance of all the mission elements (flight segment, ground segment, operations products and cargo), ATV Jules Verne will finally go through the ‘Certificate of Flight Readiness‘ process before launch and docking with the on Station ATV Control Centre control room during an SVT test. International Space Station in October 2005. ■ 15

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atv AATTVV AAhohoy!y! Crew Training for the First ATV

Hans Bolender1, Jean-Francois Clervoy2 & Andreas Schoen1 1ESA Astronaut Training Division; 2ESA Astronaut D/HME,European Astronaut Centre,Cologne,Germany Email:[email protected]

Introduction – Rendezvous & Docking and Undocking & The Astronaut Training Division at the Departure (31 hours). Introduction to the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) is now crew monitoring concept, monitoring items training the first ISS crew that will work with and criteria, crew commands, familiarisation ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). ISS with the crew man-machine interface, Expedition-12 will be launched in control panels and displays. Hands-on The first ISS crew to train at October 2005 aboard training includes a wide variety of ATV or ISS EAC is learning how to Soyuz-TMA 11S for a 6-month malfunctions that affect the rendezvous & handle the maiden ATV ... stay on the ISS. In addition, docking or undocking & departure; negotiations are under way with – ATV Attached Phase Operations (15 hours). Roskosmos and NASA to launch Thomas Reiter Focuses on principal functions when ATV is (backup: Léopold Eyharts) in December 2005 attached to the ISS, including cargo and on the Shuttle for a 3-month stay on the ISS. stowage management, transferring dry During their mission, the first ATV, Jules Verne, cargo, water and gas, loading waste into ATV; will dock with the Station.The prime (Bill inflight maintenance tasks and ATV system McArthur & Valeri Tokarev) and backup (Jeff monitoring during attached operations; Williams & Alexander Lazutkin) Expedition-12 – ATV-specific Emergency Training (1 hour). crews will each receive 2 weeks of ATV training Training for ATV-specific tasks and at EAC during March-May 2005.The ATV procedures in case of emergencies such as training dates for Reiter & Eyharts have still to fire or depressurisation during docked be decided. operations.This will be repeated in an Last summer, the Astronaut Training Division integrated simulation with the Russian finalised the ATV courses and lessons, the ATV onboard system during ‘complex training’ in facilities and the certification process for its the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre ATV instructors. ATV crew training focuses on (GCTC) at Star City near Moscow. four main aspects: – ATV Core Block (5 hours). Introduction to ATV ATV Onboard Training and its mission. Overview of ATV systems, It is important for the crew to refresh their skills focusing on safety and main crew operations; aboard the Station. A simulator for ATV rendezvous and departure training is being developed for the crew to work with. In addition, they will be able to use a computer- based training program for attached phase tasks to refresh their knowledge before starting with the real operations. Shortly before ATV’s Simvol Display produced by launch, the crew will be briefed on the latest

on Station the ATV Crew Trainer of the flight timeline, the vehicle’s trajectory and the approaching ATV.The display final demonstration and test programme.This includes an overlay of data needed for crew monitoring briefing will be supported by computer-based during approach and briefing material uplinked in advance.The docking. overall onboard ATV training programme has 16

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ESA astronaut Jean-Francois Clervoy works on the ATV rendezvous & docking training with an ESA instructor in the Zvezda Mock-Up in EAC.

been agreed by the Onboard Training Working Group, a subgroup of the International Training Control Board.

ATV Training Team The ATV training team consists of EAC training engineers and an instructor team under an EADS prime contract that involves SAS and Alenia. In the past 2 years, the team has readied and constantly updated a total of 50 ATV crew training hours. Three Training Dry Runs involving Russian, American and ESA crew and training experts from all ISS Partners were performed at EAC responses. It is also used to train for The ATV crew training flow for between July 2003 and April 2004 to prepare exchanging ATV equipment in case of inflight the various international for the arrival of Expedition-12 in March 2005. maintenance. training sites for the Expedition-12 crew. Some ATV courses, requiring special Russian The ACT-L is a high-fidelity simulator of ATV HCP: Hardware Control Panel hardware, and some proficiency training hours, behaviour during rendezvous & docking and IMS: Inventory Management will be provided by our Russian counterparts undocking & departure. It simulates the video System (GCTC, RSC Energia).The first of two Training image of the approaching ATV and all the RDS: Russian Docking System Dry Runs was made in Russia at the end of May alphanumeric displays monitored by the crew PCE: Proximity 2004. During all these Dry Runs, the training either as data overlays on the video picture Communication Equipment PHFE: Pressure High Flow products, the facilities and the ATV instructors itself or on a separate ATV display on the SM Equipment were evaluated and the ISS Partners testified laptop.The whole training set-up of the RPBA: Russian Portable that they were ready for training the first crew. Russian SIMVOL display, the ATV control panel Breathing Apparatus and the SM laptop is identical to the flight RVD: Rendezvous & Docking ATV Training Facilities system.The training instructors can insert a Two main ATV training facilities at EAC are wide variety of malfunctions and disturbances being used during the first expedition crew that force crew reaction. All the commands training: the ATV/Service Module Mock-Up from the instructors and crew are recorded in a (AMU/SMMU) and the ATV Crew Trainer report file for detailed evaluation afterwards. (ACT-Lite). The AMU/SMMU is a 1:1 mechanical replica International Training Coordination of the Russian Zvezda Service Module (SM) In discussion with the NASA-chaired Expedition with the attached ATV integrated cargo carrier Training Requirements Integration Panel, the – ATV’s pressurised part. It allows the crew to ATV training content and flow is harmonised train on integrated SM and ATV operations with the training programmes of the other ISS tasks like cargo, gas and water transfer, stowage Partners, and the ATV crew training time and inventory management and emergency budget is agreed.The detailed planning for Expedition-12 training was prepared in close coordination with NASA’s International Training Integrators.This includes sequencing the training between NASA, GCTC/RSCE and EAC, taking into account prerequisite training provided by other Partners, down to the detail of crew travel planning. Developing the training programme for an entirely new space vehicle was a challenging task, mastered in close cooperation The ATV Training Team with ESA, NASA and Russian crew between the training team, the ATV and training experts during a operations team and our Russian

training dry run at EAC in on Station counterparts. ■ April 2004. 17

on Station no. 18, november 2004 erse erse meteoroids and orbital ssure pane from damage on Station no. 18, 2004 november niv niv When not in use,When are windows the Cupola Internally, all the provides the Cupola Noordwijk,The Netherlands Turin,Italy view on the Station, Earth and Universe. At 80 cm diameter, will be the the circular window in space.The flown ever largest design window is highly sophisticated, glass two incorporating maintain the cabin pressure panes to pressure load.The pressure the internal and resist top is 3.18window cm thick. Normally, only the load,inner pane takes the pressure the with pane redundant.outer pane A glass scratch protects the inner pre activities, crew by while a glass debris pane EVA pane from pressure protects the outer activities and micrometeoroid and orbital debris impacts. further from protected externaldebris by shutters, manually operated inside the Cupola. from mechanical, electrical, video and audio Station and Work interfaces the Robotic for the SSRMS Unit that controls Terminal Audio of the with the rest arm and communications Station, the ground, the Shuttle and spacewalkers. It a shirtsleeve provides astronauts, up to two for environment using the from and air circulation cooling water Node. The Cupola will face forward from Node-3.(ESA/D. from forward will face Cupola The Ducros) 2

20 million contract in award money. NASA and ESA in 1997 began discussing a barter, in which ESA would in the Cupola deliver the Shuttle for exchange € & Doriana Buffa 1

w on the U on the w w on the U on the w Although the Cupola is a small element and Although the Cupola hexagonal is a truncated Cupola The Following the Following Cupola Project Manager,Alenia Project Cupola Spazio,Strada 229, di Collegno Antica Head,Nodes/Cupola Office,D/HME,ESTEC,PO Project 299,2200 Box AG December 1998,December and matured Alenia improved verified the Boeing design and then built and Article and the flight unit. Test the Structural appears to be rather simple, its development, a presented construction and verification challenges. number of unprecedented Description Cupola radial will be installed on Node-3‘s Cupola The forward port external views for provide to the robotic operations of the Space controlling Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), and the spacewalks crew and monitoring carrier, cargo berthings of Japan‘s the H2A Vehicle. Transfer In addition, will allow it scientific observations of the Earth and celestial bodies ... the a prime location for and offer crew to relax. Its role in maintaining the on long health of astronauts psychological mission is priceless. a spherical pyramid – the closest shape to of flat constraint the technical dome given panes.Thewindow and six one circular a full hemispherical offer windows trapezoidal Introduction Boeing as part by Initially being developed of Station,the US segment of the Space the save NASA in 1993 to by was cancelled Cupola and external payloads of five launch and return 70 internal payloads.The kg of Columbus in October of the agreement signature 1998 the ISS. back into the Cupola brought Email:[email protected] 2 Philippe Deloo 1 Email:[email protected]

indo indo

cupola Another ESA contributions to Another ESA contributions

is delivered to the launch site ... is delivered W the International Space Station the International Space

The Challenges of Cupola Manufacturing,Cupola Challenges of The & Assembly Verification W

on Station 18 deloo.qxp 11/10/04 10:23 AM Page 2 Page AM 10:23 11/10/04 deloo.qxp deloo.qxp 11/10/04 10:23 AM Page 3

tolerance to defects such as scratches and imperfections is difficult.The analysis itself was the responsibility of NASA because all the glass was US-supplied, as per the barter agreement, but the final inspection of the surfaces to characterise all existing defects and ensure they do not exceed the maximum size assumed in NASA‘s analytical prediction was the responsibility of Alenia.The difficulty was that there is no sophisticated instrument to detect or measure the defects. Each square cm of the surface had to be visually inspected to map the defects, together with their type, length and depth. This was a long and tedious exercise given the 15 m2 involved. Special lighting was used to reveal to the naked eye surface defects as Highlights of Construction and Verification shallow as 0.015 mm – and to be certain that At first glance, the Cupola is much smaller and none was missed. simpler than the sophisticated Columbus, Nor was cleaning the glass a trivial task.The Node-2 and MPLM modules already built by scientific experiments impose severe optical Alenia. But the windows are unique to the requirements on the eight surfaces of each Cupola and they provided the main challenges. window assembly.This was particularly Manufacturing the dome part of the primary important for those surfaces that became structure was the first challenge. In order to inaccessible after assembly. Dust is difficult to minimise the stress in the window glass by identify and remove under normal light; wiping deformation of the primary structure under with a clean cloth was unsatisfactory because internal pressure loads, the aluminium dome dust is electrostatically attracted by the glass had to be up to 50 mm thick. Unlike the and redeposited near the wiped area. Ensuring original Boeing design, which used several the required cleanliness in all lighting aluminium forgings welded together, Alenia conditions took a range of opted for a single forging because welds are inspection techniques, including UV always troublesome, especially on such thick light, and multiple cleaning methods aluminium. Indeed, the distortion of welded involving, for example, silk brushes parts under stress is much more difficult to control and can lead to leaking windows. However, the single-piece approach is also difficult owing to the size and shape of the forging.With the help of VSG (D) and Ratier (F), Alenia produced a dome of outstanding quality. The forging for the dome structure, and after Window construction began with a highly machining. detailed inspection of the glass to ensure its structural integrity for the Cupola‘s lifetime. on Station Glass is a brittle material and assessing its 19

on Station no. 18, november 2004 deloo.qxp 11/10/04 10:23 AM Page 4

cupola

Checking glass cleanliness under UV light.

Inspecting the glass for the circular window. Ready to install the top window assembly,weighing more than 100 kg.

and air guns. All these inspections and cleaning The final challenge was verifying the techniques were combined in a precise order Cupola‘s airtightness. Leak tests of the seals within the window assembly procedure to were performed directly after the addition of achieve an optimum level of cleanliness for the each window. It was time-consuming because whole window unit. each window has 11 seals in order to meet the Once assembled, the windows were specifications for seal redundancy and on-orbit integrated on the Cupola.The weight of a maintenance. Each seal was leak-tested window (more than 100 kg for the top unit) separately and compared with its allocated and the awkward access required special tools budget.This was the moment of truth: a bad to be developed. In the event, the installation design or poor workmanship would have went very smoothly and with minimal risk to jeopardised the whole project.The Cupola‘s the hardware. stringent leak limit is 3.6 g of air per day, so on Station

Testing the pressure integrity of the whole Cupola. Cupola ready for delivery. 20

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each seal was checked using the most accurate Ownership will then be formally transferred to measurement technique available. One side of NASA. By the end of the year, Cupola will be the seal was bathed with 100% helium at returned to its transport container and stored normal pressure, while vacuum pulled on the in a KSC warehouse. It will be retrieved in mid- other side as a mass spectrometer sniffed for 2008 for final pre-launch verification and leaking helium.The excellent results provided installed on a Spacelab pallet in the Space confidence that Cupola is airtight: a test of the Shuttle cargo bay.The latest Station assembly whole module showed that the overall leakage sequence foresees launch in early 2009, is only 10% of the allowable amount. assuming a successful Shuttle return to flight in March 2005. Once in orbit, the 1805 kg Cupola The Future of Cupola will be installed on Node-3‘s forward port; Cupola arrived at the Kennedy Space Center outfitting will increase its mass to 1880 kg. (KSC) in early October and now, in November, is From there, we are confident that it will fulfil its on Station undergoing the last of its bilateral reviews. role for at least its design lifetime of 10 years. ■ 21

on Station no. 18, november 2004 Martella.qxp 11/10/04 10:26 AM Page 2

facilities MMaattererialial PPrroogrgressess ESA’s Materials Science Facilities on the ISS

Marco Martella1,Harald Lenski2,Joerg Piller3 1Head of Materials Science Laboratory Unit,Microgravity Facilities for Columbus and External Payloads Division,Utilisation Department, D/HME,ESTEC,Noordwijk,The Netherlands.Email:[email protected] 2Head of Physical Science,EADS Space Transportation.Email:[email protected] 3Project Manager,Electromagnetic Levitator,EADS Space Transportation.Email:[email protected]

Introduction The CF provides an accurately controlled ESA is running two main programmes within processing environment under vacuum or its Microgravity Facilities for Columbus argon gas, continuous measurement of Programme for materials science research microgravity levels during processing, and onboard the International Space Station (ISS): features a high-precision drive mechanism to – the Materials Science Laboratory (MSL- translate the FI along the SCA, while the latter USLab), being developed remains fixed with respect to the vacuum Two ESA facilities will allow cooperatively with NASA chamber. Besides a low-speed translation fundamental research in materials for the US First Materials ranging from 1 mm per day to 0.2 mm/s, MSL science aboard the ISS ... Science Research Rack allows fast displacement of the FI for rapid (MSRR-1) in NASA’s sample cooling (quenching). Destiny module in 2006; An FI has up to eight heaters generating a – the MSL-Electro-Magnetic Levitator (MSL- temperature profile controlled by a dedicated EML), being developed with DLR for software algorithm, thermal insulation, a water- installation in Columbus in about 2008. cooled jacket and a coil system, generating a rotating magnetic field for stirring the liquid The industrial Prime Contractor for both material, if required.Two FIs are being facilities is EADS-ST, leading two different developed by ESA: the Low Gradient Furnace industrial consortia. (LGF) and the Solidification and Quenching Furnace (SQF).The evolving requirements by MSL-USLab the materials scientists can be supported by This facility supports research into future ad hoc FIs. MSL-USLab in MSRR-1: exploded view with Furnace metallurgical solidification, semiconductor An SCA has a leak-tight tube to contain the Insert and Sample Cartridge crystal growth and measurement of sample enclosed in its own crucible, a sensor Assembly. thermophysical properties of materials. Based for process control and safety, and around exchangeable transducers/probes for specific diagnostics. Furnace Inserts (FIs), it is Experiment samples may include toxic a versatile, multi-user compounds, so a sophisticated safety concept and multi-purpose is required: the free volume within the SCA is facility. Its main element filled with krypton gas and potential leaks are is the Core Facility (CF), detected by a mass spectrometer. In addition, a vacuum-tight the design ensures three levels of containment cylindrical process during processing: SCA hermetic sealing, chamber that houses vacuum chamber hermetic sealing, and one FI at a time.The vacuum chamber-to-station ambient negative material samples are pressure differential.

on Station contained in Sample The other elements of the MSL-USLab Cartridge Assemblies provide the resources for operating the facility: (SCAs) inserted in their respective FIs one at a – the Power Supply Unit (PSU) converts, controls time for processing. and distributes electrical power from the MSRR-1 22

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to, inter alia, the FI heaters, the FI coil system, quench drive, and generates up to 100 A current pulses for monitoring of the sample growth; – the Facility Control Unit (FCU) controls the operation of the facility, performs data acquisition, communication to and from MSRR-1, and converts and distributes power to, for example, the water pump and mass spectrometer; – the Vacuum Gas System (VGS), includes the mass spectrometer and two turbo-molecular pumps, and provides filling and evacuation of the process chamber and cartridge leak detection; and Resistance Measurement Device, MSL-USLab Engineering – the Water Pump Package (WPP), provides developed by CNES under an ESA contract. Model (process chamber lid circulation of the cooling water; open,LGF held by the furnace exchange tool) in the EADS-ST – argon gas is stored in three bottles in the Low Gradient Furnace (LGF) laboratory rack during the exchangeable Gas Supply (GS) drawer; This FI is a Bridgman-Stockbarger furnace, ESA Crew Review conducted – the Rack Infrastructureto slide in and out the PSU, designed mainly for growing semiconductor by ESA Astronauts R. Ewald FCU, CF,VGS/WPP and GS; the heat exchangers, materials, which requires the generation of (left) and T. Reiter (right) and and the vacuum, fluid and electrical power lines accurately controlled, low to medium NASA’s Astronaut S. Lindsey (centre) in December 2001. to interconnect the PSU, FCU, CF,VGS/WPP and temperature gradients between two very GS through self-mating connectors and self- stable temperature plateaux. For this, an mating/self-sealing Quick Disconnects. assembly of heaters provides two hot cavities separated by an adiabatic zone.The maximum temperature at the hot cavity heater diffuser is 1673K, the maximum achievable temperature gradient 40K/cm, the thermal stability ±0.02K for temperatures above 1073K.

Solidification and Quenching Furnace (SQF) This FI is designed for metallurgical research under medium to steep temperature gradients with the option of quenching the solidification front at the end of processing.To meet these requirements, the SQF consists of a heated cavity, a water-cooled chill block and an MSL-USLab Vacuum Gas System Flight Model,in its transportation frame. adiabatic zone between, and the SCA may be equipped with a Liquid Metal Ring (LMR) to As standard diagnostics, the MSL-USLab enhance the thermal coupling with the cooling provides monitoring of the experiment sample zone. In order to freeze the growing interface, thermal profile, differential thermal analysis, the MSL quench drive mechanism can position Peltier pulse marking and shear cell operation. the furnace/LMR assembly on the solid/liquid Experiment-dedicated diagnostics can be interface within 1 s.The maximum temperature exchanged on-orbit.Two such diagnostics will at the hot cavity heater diffuser is 1673K, the be initially available: the Ultra-Sound maximum achievable temperature gradient in Diagnostics, being developed within the User the range of 150K/cm, the thermal stability Support Programme (USP), and the Seebeck ±0.1K for temperatures above 773K.

High-Temperature Solidification Furnace It is expected that a high-temperature FI will be developed to serve numerous research MSL-USLab projects, including ESA’s Intermetallic Materials Gas Supply Processing in Relation to Earth and Space drawer Flight Model (bottom Solidification (IMPRESS), which will be led by ESA and co-funded by the European

view,cover on Station plate off). Commission. 23

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facilities

MSL-USLab Status of materials as a function of temperature, which In December 2003, are increasingly required for casting simulation NASA’s Marshall Space software programmes by Industry.Thanks to Flight Center this, MSL-EML will also play a significant role in (responsible for IMPRESS. MSRR-1) and ESA The main feature of MSL-EML is that it (supported by enables containerless experiments on metals, EADS-ST) held a metal alloys and semiconductors.The advantage successful Pre-Ship is that the thermophysical properties (e.g. Meeting for the surface tension, viscosity, heat capacity, thermal Engineering Models expansion, electrical conductivity) of the molten MSL-USLab Sample Cartridge (EM) of the facility and the LGF.The two EMs phase of a material can be studied over a very Assembly within its container were then shipped to MSFC, where, further to wide temperature range. Especially for very high for ground transportation. the flawless post-ship checkouts, preparations temperatures or reactive materials, containerless for their integration and testing within the processing inherently excludes reactions with MSRR-1 Ground Unit have been started. and contamination from the crucible materials, Activities in Europe are focusing on the Flight which are always a potential problem with Model and the Training Model.Their acceptance conventional furnaces. Furthermore, all this by ESA is planned for the beginning of 2005 and allows the under-cooling effect to take place: the end of 2004, respectively. MSRR-1 launch is the molten phase can stay liquid for some time projected for mid-2006. even below the melting point. In containerless The two Science Reference Models are processing, solidification occurs accidentally or is supporting FI and SCA testing, and will triggered by touching the under-cooled sample eventually be handed over to the MSL-USLab with a needle (which acts as a nucleation site). Facility Responsible Centres (DLR/MUSC for LGF The resulting solidification speed depends and CNES/CADMOS for SQF) to prepare for and strongly on the degree of under-cooling.This conduct on-orbit utilisation. phenomenon can be systematically studied over a wider speed range than with other techniques. MSL-USLab User Support Programme (USP) During an experiment, a spherical sample of The USP will provide the science community 5-8 mm diameter is melted, superheated, with the tools and hardware items required for stimulated while in the superheated and under- defining in detail and implementing the cooled melt phase and eventually solidified. individual experiments. It therefore comprises Sample positioning and heating are performed the development of: by electromagnetic levitation: high alternating currents in a coil system generate magnetic – the Thermal Modelling Tool for the LGF,SQF fields that induce eddy currents in the sample and associated SCAs, which is required for that, in turn, heat the sample and generate experiment preparation and post-flight forces on the sample by interaction with the analysis; external magnetic fields. A quadrupole field is – the first batch of Experiment SCAs for the used for positioning and a dipole field for research programmes, which were selected efficient heating. from the 2000 Announcement of The processing temperature range is 500- Opportunity (CdTe Crystals, CETSOL1/2/3, 2000ºC, and even higher.The processing METCOMP,MICAST, RDGS, SETA2,WIS); environment is ultra-high vacuum or high-purity – the Ultrasound Diagnostics. gas atmosphere. During processing, the experiment sample is observed by high- The Materials Science Laboratory- resolution and fast-response pyrometers and by Electromagnetic Levitator (MSL-EML) video cameras (either precision or fast). This facility is the ISS successor to the TEMPUS Based on exchangeable Experiment Modules (Tiegelfreies Elektromagnetisches Prozessieren (EMs), MSL-EML is a versatile, multi-user and Unter Schwerelosigkeit) facility, which multi-purpose facility. Nearly all elements will be

on Station successfully operated on the IML-2, MSL-1 and extractable with self-mounting interfaces in the MSL-1R Spacelab missions under DLR contracts. back of each. MSL-EML’s design is based on an MSL-EML supports research into solidification extensive conceptual reuse of the MSL-USLab of under-cooled melts and measurements of design for the various support subsystems; this thermophysical properties of the molten phase will allow a significant cost reduction. 24

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The experiments are performed in the experiment insert that consists of the vacuum chamber, storage chamber for 15 samples, levitation coil system and motorised vacuum valve that connects the experiment insert to the vacuum and gas supply systems.View ports in the experiment insert allow the observation of sample processing by video and contact-less temperature measurement (pyrometry).The experiment insert can be customised with MSL-EML exploded view. additional diagnostics like special pyrometers, nucleation trigger sensor and magnetic damping fields. aspects of the The other elements provide the resources baseline design for operating the facility and executing the established during experiments: Phase B were completed within the – the vacuum module contains a turbo-molecular first quarter of 2004. pump, vacuum diagnostics and gas inlet Within this period, functions; ESA and DLR reached – the axial and radial camera/pyrometer systems a cooperation provide video observation and temperature agreement on measurement.These elements are optimised for continuation of the high-precision and high-speed measurements; development through – the coil system matchbox allows the adaptation the funding of a of new developments of the coil system to the Phase C0 that will be levitation power supply module; completed by the – the video controller receives the data from the Preliminary Design Review.The agreement also digital video cameras, transmits them with high includes joint EML precursor utilisation compression for downlink and stores them activities on parabolic flights and sounding onboard with low compression on removable rockets.The Phase C0 is planned to last from storage media; the end of 2004 to the end of 2005. MSL-EML – the facility and experiment controller controls the launch is expected for mid-2008. operation of the facility and of the experiment and operates all communication and Challenges commanding channels interfacing Columbus; The developments of the MSL-USLab and MSL- – the levitation and experiment power supply EML provided several important technical converts and distributes power to the levitation challenges. First of all, the demanding coil system and provides all required secondary requirements set by the scientists in several power to the subsystems; cases translated into specific technological – the water-cooling unit provides a secondary developments such as temperature sensors. cooling loop for thermal control of the coil Then there is the need for performing different system and all units consuming electrical power; types of material research within a single – the pre-vacuum and distribution module controls facility; this is achieved through the the connection of gas, vacuum and venting exchangeability of the FIs and diagnostics supply lines to the vacuum module. devices in the MSL-USLab and of the EM in the – the gas supply unit contains three gas bottles. MSL-EML.The volume and mass constraints Stored gases will be argon, helium and a non- were particularly critical for the MSL-USLab flammable mixture of helium and hydrogen; because of its accommodation within MSRR-1: – stowage compartments are incorporated for a it has to fit within a half standard double-rack second experiment insert, flight support and have a mass below 350 kg. Both facilities equipment, an additional axial camera/pyrometer have to run experiments automatically.With system, and the crew laptop. their expected 10-year lives, both facilities have to be modular to allow maintenance and MSL-EML Status upgrading, and to provide flexibility for on Station Post-Phase B activities to consolidate some evolving scientific research requirements. ■ 25

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education ISSISS EEducducaationtion Update on the ISS Education Fund and Products

Fiona Wilson Advisor to the ISS Education Programme, D/HME,ESTEC,PO Box 299,2200 AG Noordwijk,The Netherlands Email:[email protected]

Introduction Many other organisations – from national The past few months have been a busy time for space agencies to science centres and the ISS Education Fund, with new members government organisations – have provided joining, products supported by the Fund both significant help in-kind to the Fund, promoting under development and about to be launched, and distributing products in collaboration with and the second annual meeting of ESA. Key among these is DLR, which has The ISS Education Fund is the Fund Board. Events kicked off delivered an ISS Education Kit to each supporting a wide range of with a group of illustrious secondary school in Germany. products for schools ... individuals joining the Fund: the These organisations are not only helping to entire European Astronaut Corps, encourage interest in science, but are supported by the Head of the European themselves enjoying a variety of benefits as Astronaut Centre, each pledged their support members of the Fund, including marketing, PR to the Fund. At a ceremony held at EAC during and networking opportunities.The ISS their biannual meeting, the Astronaut Corps Education Programme products are going, on handed over their donation. Education is request and through trusted intermediary fundamental to the mandate of ESA and a organisations (often Ministries of Education or value held close to the hearts and minds of all, national organisations responsible for science including the astronauts. education promotion) into no less than a Other organisations across Europe have also quarter of all secondary schools and into every realised the benefits of supporting ESA’s aim of primary school in the 15 ESA member states, encouraging more young people to take an providing high levels of exposure and media interest in science through the medium of awareness for supporting bodies. space. From Northern Ireland came two organisations: Armagh Planetarium and Action DVD Launch Renewables.The Planetarium is world- Helped by the money coming into the Fund from renowned and acts as a focal point individuals and organisations, the ISS Education encouraging individuals, organisations and Programme is continuing the development and businesses to benefit from space and spin-off dissemination of education products. On technologies. It is very active in education and 10 September 2004, alongside the second annual has already been a key distributor of the ISS Fund Board meeting, the DVD Lesson Newton in Education Kits into secondary schools. Action Space was launched at ESTEC. Over 45 pupils and Renewables, based in Belfast, is working to teachers from three schools in Germany, Ireland raise awareness on climate changes and to and Spain joined the ESA astronauts involved in promote renewable resources generally. the filming of the DVD, ISS Board members and The German high-technology consulting key media for an exciting event.The DVD is the company Eurospace – active in aerospace, first in a series of three that aims to explain basic

on Station transportation and telecommunications – scientific concepts to pupils aged 12-18 years joined the Fund. From Spain came Oasyssoft, using demonstrations filmed in space and on creator of software solutions for the web with Earth, illustrating the differences between the their eBD tool, which is fast becoming the two environments.Ten thousand copies of this market leader in Spain. first DVD have been produced and will be 26

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ISS Experiments Student experiments are a key part of the activities aboard the ISS; two were carried out during the recent DELTA mission.The GraPhoBox experiment should discover if light influences the directional growth of plant roots and if gravity influences the directional growth of plant shoots. Both are exactly opposite to what has been investigated intensively in the past.The BugNRG (pronounced ‘Bug Energy’) experiment studied the effects of microgravity on the voltage and current of bacterial fuel Andre Kuipers closing out the GraPhoBox experiment. cells, such as glucose.

available to secondary schools throughout Europe, enough for almost a quarter of all schools in member states.

Space Team On the same day, Fund individuals and organisations approved the activity plan for the ISS Education Programme.The launch of products supported by the Fund continues, with the next product – Space Team – being made available in its initial English language version later this year. Space Team is a series of online lessons, each using the theme of space, and is a resource for teachers of pupils aged 10-12 years. As each language version is The Work Continues Teachers testing the primary school kit. launched, a national competition will be 2005 will see work continue on educational promoted to every single primary school in products, and the launches of new ones.Work that country, encouraging pupils and teachers to translate, distribute and promote the ISS alike to use the lessons on Space Team and to Education Kit for primary schools and each enter the competition to win a live radio national version of Space Team will continue. contact with the astronauts on board the The second DVD Lesson (The Human Body in Station. At the end of the Space Team project, Space) will be released, including footage in 4 year’s time, almost 24 million primary filmed during DELTA and ground experiments school pupils will have been given the in schools in Denmark, France,The Netherlands opportunity to take part.Versions will be made and Belgium. Again, 10 000 copies will be available in most ESA languages. provided to teachers in secondary schools.The 3-D Educational Tool will go into development, ISS Education Kit for Primary Schools and work will be underway on the multimedia In early 2005, the new ISS Education Kit for version of the Education Kit for secondary primary schools will be launched.This is being schools. Finally, the SUCCESS 2004 competition created as a result of advice given to ESA by is a contest for university students (up to teachers at the Teach Space 2003 workshop. Masters level) from all disciplines to propose The didactical content of the Kit was assessed experiments that could fly on the ISS. by another group of teachers at a workshop Registration opened in September 2004; organised by ESA and held at the Glasgow further details can be found on the education Science Centre in July-August 2004. Eleven website. ■ teachers from five ESA member states worked intensively to provide feedback and advice.The Keep an eye on our website www.esa.int/spaceflight/education for finished product will be made available to updates, product launch dates, national events and advance order forms. If teachers in more than 41 000 primary schools you or your organisation would like to contribute to this effort and to enjoy the range of benefits associated with the ISS Education Fund, contact (about a quarter of all schools) in all member [email protected] or take a look at our website www.esa.int/issef on Station states. 27

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eac WWhahatt isis EAEAC?C? The European Astronaut Centre

Ernst Messerschmid Head of the European Astronaut Centre, D/HME,EAC,Cologne,Germany Email:[email protected] The ESA Astronauts Corps, 2003.

Introduction by staff from DLR, CNES and ASI; there is now a The European Astronaut Centre (EAC) is an team of 65, excluding the astronauts. establishment of ESA in Cologne, Germany. Its EAC’s activities cover three main areas: main responsibility is to managing the European Astronaut Corps, EAC is responsible for training prepare and carry out training ISS astronauts, and medical support.The astronauts to operate ESA’s astronaut operations. Since its nature of EAC as a remote centre also requires contributions to the ISS ... foundation in 1990 it has general, administrative and communication developed considerable services and liaison functions with ESTEC, NASA expertise within ESA for human spaceflight and Star City in Russia. activities by participating in a number of missions.This role will be significantly extended The European Astronaut Corps for the crew operations required for ESA’s The EAC Astronauts Division (HME-AA), with contributions to the International Space Station at the helm, is responsible for (ISS), such as the Columbus module, the ESA individual astronauts. payloads and the Automated Transfer Vehicle ESA member states participating in the ISS (ATV). programme decided in 1998 to unite their The 1800 m2 training hall EAC is hosted on the premises of the German respective astronaut teams with the existing ESA hosts a variety of complex Aerospace Establishment (DLR) under an core team to form a single European Astronaut simulators,mockups and standalone training facilities Agreement between the German Government Corps.This integration process was completed in representing all ESA and ESA. Following the Integration Agreement in 2002 with 16 astronauts from Germany, France, contributions to the ISS. 2000, ESA staff at EAC have been complemented Italy, Belgium,The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Now that some astronauts have left for management, public office or industry positions, the Corps currently consists of 13 astronauts. European experience in human spaceflight now covers 38 flights involving 31 astronauts over 26 years from the different national agencies and ESA. Six of ESA’s astronauts are stationed at different establishments in Europe. Four are at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, where their qualification as Mission Specialists makes them eligible for Space Shuttle flights. Two are in ISS Increment Training. One is training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre

on Station (GCTC) near Moscow, where the training for a mission usually starts about 10-15 months before a flight. ESA astronauts have achieved Russian qualifications as cosmonaut researchers and Soyuz flight engineers and return commanders. 28

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The EAC Team.

The experience of ESA astronauts in space Each Partner trains all ISS astronauts on its operations is valuable not only for their own flight elements and payloads.Thus, ESA is involvement in mission support, when they take responsible for training on the operation and charge of communications with space crews or maintenance of the Columbus systems, the crew prepare and coordinate onboard operations, but interaction with ATV, and the operation and also when not assigned to a mission. Recent maintenance of all ESA payloads.This training assignments to other ESA projects included takes place at EAC, where a variety of tools and providing feedback for developing and facilities are available for training, practising operating hardware and procedures, and nominal operations and learning to detect, participating in strategic development such as analyse and recover from malfunctions and preparing the European Union White Paper, the replacing failed onboard equipment. Aurora programme and for Soyuz at Kourou. The Columbus Trainer Europe (COL-TRE) is a The European Astronaut Corps is an simulator supporting hands-on training for ambassador for promoting the benefits of commanding and monitoring all systems of the spaceflight.The astronauts communicate this Columbus laboratory.The Columbus Mock-Up message in countless public-relations activities (COL-MU) has all the system components with and scientific lectures, sharing their unique mechanical crew interfaces that the crew is experiences with audiences, helping to shape supposed to operate.This includes replacing public opinion towards science in general and hardware inflight. spaceflight in particular. Standalone training models of the four ESA research racks (Biolab, Fluid Science Laboratory, ESA Astronaut Training European Physiology Modules and European ESA’s Astronaut Training Division (HME-AT), Drawer Rack) are installed at EAC in special managed by Hans Bolender, focuses on ESA’s rooms to allow parallel training. participation in the ISS Programme.The training The ATV Simulator provides the ATV and flow for long-duration flights to the Station Station characteristics needed for the training consists of three phases: Basic, Advanced and on ATV approach, docking, undocking and Increment-Specific. Basic Training is provided departure, and on safety actions to command independently by each international partner for the ATV to hold or abort its approach to the its own astronauts.The other two phases are part Station and guide it back to a safe distance. In a of multilateral training, where classes of docked configuration, the ATV and Service In-flight exercise: Thomas astronauts from all ISS Partner states travel to all Module Mock-Up allow crew training for Reiter aboard Mir. five ISS training sites in USA, Russia, Canada, Japan logistics or emergency activities involving the and Europe. EAC handled its first international ATV cargo carrier (see the article on ATV training on Station astronaut class in August-September 2002. in this issue). 29

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eac

Astronauts of the 2002 Advanced Training Class performing Columbus System Training on the Data Management System in the Columbus Simulator at EAC in September 2002.

Léopold Eyharts training in Houston.

A team of 20 training instructors provides the training and mission preparation activities, and ISS crew training for ESA. More than 400 h of provides dedicated medical training to crew training is needed to prepare the first ISS astronauts selected as the Station’s onboard crews to activate, check out, operate, monitor Crew Medical Officers. and maintain the European ISS modules, The ESA Medical Office, which has already vehicles and experiment facilities in space. provided an Expedition Crew Surgeon to the In 2004 the Training Division has conducted ISS Medical Group, focuses on supporting real- about 18 weeks of training for astronaut crews, time operations from the medical control room programme managers and ESA and NASA flight at EAC.The prime responsibility for the ISS crew controllers.The first ISS crew ATV training will lies with the Mission Control Center-Houston begin in March 2005 for Expedition-12. (MCC-H).This is where the Expedition Crew Surgeon and his team work primarily to support Medical Support the missions. The concept is being used on the The ESA/EAC Medical Office (HME-AM), led by ESA-Soyuz missions, when ESA Medical Volker Damann, is responsible for astronaut Operations monitors in real-time the health medical selection and annual medical status of the ESA crew and of the ISS systems recertification, as well as for providing throughout the mission from its consoles at EAC. astronauts with general medical care, medical During mission preparation and operations, a intervention for diagnosis and treatment of team of biomedical engineers supports the crew illness and injury, and emergency medical surgeons at the different sites. services. In order to minimise undesirable health Management, Public Relations and Liaison consequences, a programme of comprehensive A factor in establishing EAC in Cologne was the health care in all mission phases is provided. It manned spaceflight expertise available within includes fitness regimes, nutritional advice and DLR.The isolation from other ESA centres, the psychosocial support to the crew. During the growing importance of the site and the high mission, this programme continues with specific visibility of its activities give EAC an important fitness and countermeasure activities, and role in relations with Germany, other member periodic health and fitness evaluations. states and other countries.The interaction with

on Station The ISS Medical Group, of which the Medical national authorities is often at high official level. Office is part, considers an ISS crew as a single In order to support ESA activities in Russia and team and assigns crew surgeons out of the the USA, EAC also maintains liaison personnel in multinational pool of certified flight surgeons. Houston and GCTC. This crew surgeon follows the crew to all The growth in EAC activities and, specifically, 30

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ISS training flow.Collateral duty refers to maintaining fitness and flying proficiency, etc.

the integration of the national astronauts and Commercialisation Division, the Network aims to their national support teams, have necessitated add value to the well-being and healthcare the implementation of corporate administration industries in the form of technologies, and communication services driven by staff knowhow, access to research facilities and from ESA’s Resources and External Relations association of image. Products integrating ESA Directorates.Together with the Management technologies and knowhow and developed with Support and Coordination Office, they offer EAC the support of the Network will be branded management and staff a full palette of services. using the new ESA Space Solutions trademark. The Space Learning Centre, to be developed New Activities by EAC in association with DLR, is an educational Following Council decisions, as reflected in the park centred on space and aeronautical European Astronaut Policy, EAC has begun new activities. It will inform the general public on activities in health care and education. It is now space activities and their benefit for humankind, the hub of the new ESA Health Care Network. provide education and training on aerospace Relying on the expertise of EAC, the ESA subjects for students and teachers, and facilities Technology Transfer Office, the ISS Utilisation for congresses.The running cost will be covered and Promotion Division, and the by the Centre‘s commercial income. A broad spectrum of visitors will enjoy state-of-the-art multimedia presentations, exhibitions, hands-on interactive learning and experiments. Although the intention is to attract people of all ages and background to visit the SLC, there will be a strong emphasis on pupils and students in order to get the ‘next generation‘ involved in sciences in general and space sciences and aeronautics in particular. A goal is for the SLC to develop strong relationships with other European space-learning on Station High public interest: the German Space Day in September 2004 attracted thousands of visitors. centres. ■ 31

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On Station ISSN 1562-8019 For a free subscription or change of address, please send an email to [email protected] The Newsletter of ESA’s Directorate of ESA Publications Division / EXR-CP Human Spaceflight, Microgravity & Exploration ESTEC, Postbus 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk,The Netherlands Fax: +31 71 565-5433 This newsletter is published by ESA Publications Division. It is free to all readers interested in ESA’s manned Editor: Andrew Wilson ([email protected]) spaceflight and microgravity activities. It can also be Contributing Writer: Graham T. Biddis seen via the website at http://esapub.esrin.esa.it/ Layout: Eva Ekstrand

Languages Project: Zero Gravity Danish Project: Zero Gravity

Dutch Mission 1: Newton in Space The DVD includes 11 Euro- English International Space pean languages and comes Station DVD Lesson in a handy DVD case that Finnish available now! contains a Teacher’s Guide French with an explanation on how To help capture the to use the DVD, a brief German interest of youngsters in introduction to the ISS, Italian science, and to support interdisciplinary classroom teachers looking for ways activities related to Euro- Norwegian to teach the basics of pean curricula, a glossary, physics, a comprehensive further web and reading Portuguese ISS DVD Lesson (the first references, and an evalua- Spanish in the series ‘Project: Zero tion form. Chapters from the Gravity’) on Newton’s three Teacher’s Guide (classroom Swedish Laws of Motion has been exercises, glossary, etc.) created by ESA with the can be copied and distribu- support and input from experts, ted to pupils. teachers and their pupils across Europe. Aimed at pupils aged 12-18 years, it Secondary school teachers: get your FREE copy has been designed for the classroom and to of the DVD by signing up at http://esamultimedia. encourage group exercises. esa.int/docs/isskit/ISS-dvd-form.html