Number 0 July 2011 Magazine

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SPACE SAFETY Space Safety Number 0 July 2011 Magazine

Going to Space on an Homemade Rocket Nespoli Captures Historic ISS Photographs

Landing Curiosity Space Safety July Magazine 2011

Index

3 Welcome to the First Issue of 10 Safety of Lithium Battery the Space Safety Magazine 4 Choosing Safety 7 NASA Launches Satellite Servicing Experiment

20 Nespoli Captures Historic ISS Photographs

12 Going to Space on an 24 In This Issue of the Space Homemade Rocket Safety Magazine 16 Double Indemnity 25 Give Your Contribution to the Space Safety Magazine 8 NASA Announces New Plans for the Orion Capsule 25 Advertising Placement

26 Press Clips 9 Human Rating the Delta IV Heavy 19 Landing Curiosity 28 Upcoming Events

July Space Safety 2011 Magazine 0 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION Space Safety Magazine FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF Editorial Board www.iaass.org SPACE SAFETY Tommaso Sgobba Postbus 127 Alex Soons 2200AC Noordwijk IAASS ISSF Philip Wallace The Netherlands International Association International Space Safety for the Advancement of Foundation Editor-in-Chief Space Safety www.issfoundation.org Andrea Gini www.iaass.org [email protected]

Creative Director Kristhian Mason

Cover pictures: An amazing picture of the ISS-Shuttle complex. - Credits: Paolo Nespoli, NASA/ESA Central Region of the Milky Way - Credit: NASA, ESA, SSC, CXC, and STScI

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Welcome to the First Issue of the Space Safety Magazine

Dear Reader, necessary course of corrective actions trial sector (e.g. nuclear power genera- is delayed. Safety risk in space mis- tion after Fukushima). An unsafe design elcome to the first issue of sions refers to the general public safety can kill. Any support to safety initiatives the Space Safety Magazine, (on ground, on air and at sea), safety of is therefore a positive contribution to Wwhich is the joint “voice” of launch range personnel, and safety of the well being, progress and expansion the IAASS (International Association for humans on-board. Space safety is also of the space industry as well. the Advancement of Space Safety) and generally defined in a wider sense as of the ISSF (International Space Safety encompassing the safeguard of valu- It is a symbolic although casual cir- Foundation). The Space Safety Maga- able facilities on ground (e.g. launch cumstance that the first number of this zine supersedes the IAASS Newsletter pads), of strategic and costly systems Space Safety Magazine coincides with that you were familiar with and enjoyed. on orbit (i.e. global utilities), payloads the retirement from service of the Space as well as the safeguard of the space Shuttle and the end of that program. We There is an important change of scope and Earth environment. truly believe that this is not the end of and target audience for the magazine. the Space Age, as someone has written The main objective of the IAASS News- The International Association for the recently, but the start of a new era in letter was to publish opinions, thoughts, Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) which it is recognized that commercial studies, analyses and experiences is the premiere association of profes- space is the key player in “near space” of the IAASS members to maintain a sionals working in space safety and while the preparation of the next gov- continuity of information exchange be- related engineering and management ernment exploration missions requires tween IAASS conferences. The IAASS fields, but because of the very special- the prerequisite achievement of tech- Newsletter was written by members for ized field of interest the IAASS is and nological advancement and break- members. The Space Safety Magazine will remain a relatively small group of through that would make them feasible, is written instead by space safety spe- professionals yet a unique think-tank affordable, safe and finally useful be- cialists (members and non members with a great potential for shaping at- cause of their technological fall-out on of IAASS) and by professional scien- titude and culture of the wider space the society. We are not at the end of an tific journalists for the wider audience programs community. Because (nu- era but at the beginning of a new one. of those that have an interest, need or merically) small, the IAASS is unable The space race ended with the Moon simply curiosity to know the current de- to financially support all its initiatives landing. The international cooperation velopments in the field of space safety and needs, in particular the support of in space (not just bi-lateral symbols of and sustainability. The magazine will sponsors and donors for the promotion goodwill) truly started with the Interna- still include information about IAASS of independent space safety research tional Space Station which the Space and ISSF upcoming events and life, but and specialized academic education. Shuttle and the International Partners the relevant websites will truly be the Providing this financial support is the made possible. The International Space main source of such information. purpose of the International Space Station is the highest moment (physi- Safety Foundation. cally, technologically and morally) of Why then a joint “voice” for the cooperation between nations to date IAASS and for the ISSF? The Asso- The question is then, why should a in human history and hopefully just the ciation and the Foundation are two corporation or government organization beginning of larger cooperation. The essential pillars of the same project. sponsor independent research and ac- race is finished, now it is the time for One brings the knowledge, indepen- ademic education? There are multiple steady and safe progress! dence and dedication of its profes- reasons, but the top one is that safety is sional members, the other the financial often a strategic business growth driver. Welcome Space Safety Magazine, support of corporations and govern- Safety advancement remains one of the welcome to you! ment organization, which recognize key prerequisite for the success and the added value of independent safe- expansion of many businesses. Some- ty research and academic education times continuous safe performance is to their strategic objectives. even critical for company, program or sector survival. The faulty design of a The space industry is expanding single product can kill its manufactur- worldwide and with it the safety risk be- er’s business (as it happened several cause of poor attention, lack of technical times in aviation). An unsafe design may progress in the field, cumulative effects, kill (sooner or later) a unique design and and weak or non-existent international operational concept (e.g. Shuttle, or the rules. Eventually the prospect for in- supersonic Concorde). A single major Tommaso Sgobba Frederick D. Gregory dustry growth will be badly hurt if the disaster can endanger an entire indus- IAASS President ISSF Board Chairman

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Choosing Safety A Guide to Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment and Decision Analysis in Complex, High-Consequence Systems

ardous facilities, the book focuses on similar. In fact, both revolve around methods for making logical decisions how to identify and quantify uncertain- about complex engineered systems ties and they use similar mathematical and products in which safety is a key methods. Therefore I wrote the book factor in design—and where failure can around how to merge these two fields cause great harm, injury, or death. In to demonstrate how one may use PRA a nutshell, it shows when, where, and to make decisions that involve safety. how probabilistic risk assessment fits SSM: Can you give a brief defini- into decision analysis. This book pro- tion of probabilistic risk assessment vides the needed guidance and formal and decision analysis? procedures to include safety in project MF: Both PRA and decision analysis decisions. treat risk: I don’t think there is a uni- versal definition. One I find useful is: risk is Risk is a representation a representation of un- “ certainty associated of uncertainty associated with the probability and consequences of with the probability and events or collections of events. Both PRA consequences of events and decision analysis allow a decision mak- or collections of events„ er to understand how Michael V. Frank - RFF Press – 2008 uncertainties influence Choosing Safety is for managers, the collection of factors that are impor- project leaders, engineers, and scien- tant to the probability and consequenc- From the tists who create, design, develop, op- es associated with an outcome. In erate or maintain high consequence, PRA, one constructs a model to obtain Back Cover complex systems and products. The the probability (or frequency) of event book is also for students and anyone sequences (sometimes called scenari- he technological age has seen else interested in a broad perspective os) that lead to an undesired outcome catastrophic and preventable about the union of decision analysis (such as mission failure, launch vehicle Tfailures from buildings and and probabilistic risk assessment. explosion, release radionuclides in a bridges to space and launch vehicles, nuclear reactor), and also the probabil- from chemical factories to nuclear ity distribution over the severity of the power plants, from ships to airplanes, Interview with undesired outcome, such as a cumula- and from trains to automobiles. Often tive distribution function over the num- the root cause can be traced to deci- The Author ber of injuries. In decision analysis, one sions that did not appropriately con- constructs a model in order to choose sider safety as a factor in design and pace Safety Magazine: Which is among alternative courses of action. engineering. The ideas, methods, and Sthe primary thesis of your book? The book shows how one uses PRA case studies of this book are at the Michael V. Frank: Probabilistic risk within a decision model that includes nexus of probabilistic risk assessment assessment (PRA) is used to help safety as a decision attribute, in order and decision analysis. This book melds make decisions involving safety of to choose among alternative courses these two technologies into a method engineered systems and systems de- of action. This thinking was the gene- of building safety into a system or signed to safeguard against natural sis of the book’s title Choosing Safety. product from the very beginning of its phenomena. Long before PRA was in- SSM: How do you merge them into development. vented (early 1970’s), the field of deci- decision making tools? Choosing Safety is the first book to sion theory/decision analysis had been MF: In brief, one starts with setting bring together probabilistic risk as- assisting corporations and govern- up a decision model. A decision model sessment and decision analysis using ment in cogent ways to think through involves defining alternatives, attri- real case studies. Through more than complicated situations to arrive at a butes, and outcomes/consequences. a dozen practical examples from the decision. If you look at the graphical Attributes are those factors that the author’s experience in nuclear power, constructs of decision analysis and decision-maker wants to consider aerospace, and other potentially haz- PRA, you notice that they are quite when trying to develop the out- 

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comes and then choosing among the dent in 1986. That accident’s proximal SSM: How do you think your thesis alternatives. Probabilistic risk assess- cause was blow-by of hot gas past two applies in the recent nuclear power ment is used to quantify with uncer- O-rings in the solid rocket booster. On plant disaster which followed the tainties the attribute safety for use in previous missions, however, evidence earthquake in Japan? the decision model. The book guides of blow-by of at least one O-ring had MF: The nuclear power industry the reader through the details and also been detected. In other words, our in the United States and Europe has provides several examples. knowledge of the risk associated with made extensive use of probabilis- SSM: How did you devel- tic risk assessment to make op your approach? decisions about safety im- MF: I introduced modern Often catastrophic provement over the last 20 PRA to NASA starting with “ years. The U.S. NRC and the the Space Shuttle PRA Proof accidents are preceded industry have been working of Concept Study (1987). Af- through a Severe Accident ter the studies completion, by smaller incidents, Management Program that NASA managers begin asking added significant capability what appeared to be a simple sometimes occurring for emergency responses for question: now that you’ve accidents beyond the design done this study, how do we multiple times, that we bases. I do not know if the use it? During the next de- same processes of continu- cade of my work with NASA call accident precursors„ ous safety improvement had engineers, scientists and been applied to the Fukushi- managers, that question per- ma units. If not, they should colated within me resulting in the book. O-ring blow-by increased with each start now to develop detailed and ac- SSM: You talk about “catastrophic accident precursor in which a blow by curate risk and decision models for se- and preventable failures”: can you occurred. The proper way to interpret vere accident management. make an example in aerospace? such failures is as evidence that a larg- However, let’s consider this perspec- MF: Often catastrophic accidents er failure could occur. If these failures tive. The plant was hit with a scenario are preceded by smaller incidents, had been taken with that interpreta- of earthquake and tsunami that has sometimes occurring multiple times, tion, then perhaps the risk mitigation been the subject of science fiction that we call accident precursors. An strategies that occurred after the ac- movies. The entire area was utterly de- example that I believe fits this category cident might have been implemented molished. The nuclear plant, however, is the Space Shuttle Challenger acci- before the accident. while damaged was still standing 

Satellite picture of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan after the earthquakes and tsunami of March 11 - Credit: DigitalGlobe

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Fragments of the Columbia, stored in the RLV Hangar at Kennedy Space Center. The Columbia disaster was preceeded by similar events, without fatal consequences. These events, called accident precursors, shall be interpreted as a signal that a larger accident may occur. Credits: NASA - Kennedy Space Center and the units that had been shut down cision analysis and reliability engineer- remained shut down and safe. The ra- ing with respect to terrestrial nuclear diation release, while significant, was power, space-nuclear missions, aero- not the horror depicted by the science space systems, nuclear waste reposi- fiction movies. As far as we can tell to- tories, and other ground facilities. He day, there have been no deaths and no has performed more than 100 risk as- deaths are anticipated from radiation sessments, and has made hundreds of release. This is compared to the enor- presentations in national and interna- mous toll of injury, death and damage tional forums. His particular expertise caused by the earthquake and tsunami is the assessment and management of itself in the surroundings. all risks associated with the design and SSM: What do you recommend to operation of engineered systems and the new generations of space engi- the decision-making that accompa- neers? nies risk management. Among his ca- MF: The current and next genera- reer accomplishments are probabilistic tions of engineers are continuously be- risk assessments of the Space Shuttle, ing asked to be more productive and International Space Station, and the more creative, with fewer people and Cassini mission. A recent significant resources. The management of risk accomplishment was the risk manage- and the ability to make the right de- Dr. Michael V. Frank ment of the design for the Geologic cision, accounting for risk, becomes Nuclear Waste Repository of the Yucca more important in an environment of Mountain Project. Dr. Frank has an edu- constrained resources. The engineers About the Author cational background in mechanical en- who master dealing with risk in the gineering, nuclear engineering, and ma- identification, quantification, and miti- r. Michael V. Frank is the author of terial science as well as reliability and gation, will be more successful. Dmore than 90 technical publica- risk analysis from UCLA and Carnegie- tions in the areas of risk analysis, de- Mellon University.

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NASA Launches Satellite Servicing Experiment

he Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) experiment, a satellite ser- Tvicing test platform developed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, will be launched on STS-135, the last ever mission of the Space Shuttle. The Robotic Refueling Mission is a risk reduction mission to test tools, technologies and techniques to repair and refuel satellites in space, whether or not they have been specifi- cally designed to be serviced. When a satellite is launched into orbit, it carries onboard the fuel necessary to run the entire mission. A satellite mission ends when the fuel is over, even if the remaining hardware is operational and capable to work further. Satellite servicing has the potential to extend a satellite’s operational life, bringing more value to the initial investment. It can also allow recovering a satellite launched in the wrong orbit or provide the fuel needed to dispose an obso- lete one, helping reducing the problem of space debris. According to NASA, robotic refueling combined with a fuel depot would also allow expanding the Artist conception of Dextre performing a robotic refueling task on RRM. - Credits: NASA extent of space exploration. Orbital refueling would in fact allow launching a The RRM experiment will be per- goal of the RRM is to demonstrate that spacecraft dry, thus allowing packing a formed outside of the International a remote-controlled robot can remove larger amount of mission related hard- Space Station, making use of the Spe- the seal and refuel a satellite in space, ware, equipment and capabilities at cial Purpose Dexterous Manipulator a task that so far has been performed launch. (Dextre) – a two-armed robot devel- only in labs on Earth. Dextre will use oped by the CSA the robotic tools to manipulate Multi- – complemented by Layer Insulation (MLI), remove caps, a set of interfaces cut wires, hook up and seal to the fuel called “representa- valve, and transfer fuel from one tank tive satellite fueling to another. The valve will be modified interfaces”, a fluid in order to allow subsequent accesses. transfer system and Additional task boards will allow Dextre four robotic tools: to perform other servicing tasks and to the Wire Cutter and evaluate machine vision algorithms. Blanket Manipula- RRM operations will be entirely re- tion Tool, the Safety mote controlled from Earth by flight Cap Removal Tool, controllers at the various flight centers the Multifunction involved in the experiment. The valida- Tool, and the Noz- tion of a complete end-to-end refuel- zle Tool. ing demonstration will paw the way A satellite fuel to a comprehensive satellite servicing tank is filled through spacecraft design. According to NASA, a valve that is then the first actual satellite servicing mis- The RRM module provides the components, activity boards, and triple-sealed and sion could be performed by May 2013 tools to practice refueling in space. The tools are retrieved and covered with a pro- on a weather satellite slated to be de- utilized byt the Dextre robot. - Credits: NASA tective blanket. The commissioned.

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NASA Announces New Plans

for the Orion Capsule

ASA Administrator Charles Bold- en revealed the next-generation Charles Bolden, NASA Nmanned vehicle for deep space “ exploration during a press conference on Administrator: The NASA May 24. The new vehicle – the Multi-Pur- pose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) – will be based Authorization Act lays out on the Orion capsule, originally developed for the Constellation Program. With a clear path forward for us a pressurized volume of 20 cubic meters, the 21 tons spacecraft, composed by a by handing off transportation to the partially reusable command module and a disposable service module, will be able International Space Station to our to transport up to four astronauts into a variety of missions beyond low Earth or- private sector partners, so we can bit. According to Bolden, NASA is ready to resume deep space exploration, as re- focus on deep space exploration„ quested by the NASA Authorization Act of 2010: “The NASA Authorization Act lays out a clear path forward for us by hand- following the conclusion of the Augus- the International Space Station, to be ing off transportation to the International tine Commission, which considered the launched unmanned, docked to the ISS Space Station to our private sector part- program behind schedule, underfunded and used for reentry only in case of emer- ners,” he said, “so we can focus on deep and over budget. The document recom- gency. “This Orion effort will be part of the space exploration.” mended leaving transportation to LEO to technological foundation for advanced The Orion capsule development began the private sector to save costs, an ini- spacecraft to be used in future deep in 2005 as part of Project Constellation, a tiative that left the Orion capsule without space missions,” said President Obama plan envisioned to bring the US back to an immediate destination. Tension with when he presented the new Space Policy the Moon by 2020. Following the Colum- the Congress – which opposed letting go at KSC. bia disaster, Orion was conceived as an of the Space Shuttle technology and the The May 24 announcement reinstates Apollo-like capsule, to be launched on a related industrial complex – drove the de- Orion as a deep space crew vehicle, one shuttle derived rocked called Ares I and velopment of the new US Space Policy, of its original goals. The carrier rocket to splash down in the ocean. which demands NASA to design a new may be the heavy-lift Space Launch Sys- President Obama’s 2011 United States Shuttle derived heavy-lift launch vehicle tem (SLS), a Shuttle derived rocket whose federal budget called for a complete can- similar to the Ares V and to repurpose design should be announced soon. The cellation of the Constellation Program, the Orion capsule as an escape pod for system will be able to perform a number of missions beyond LEO, including missions to the Moon orbit, to Lagrange point or to asteroids; yet, it remains unclear which will be the actual destination of the spacecraft. The Orion capsule has been developed under a $7.5 billion contract awarded to Lockheed Martin in 2006. NASA is currently defining how to update the existing contracts to implement the MPCV requirements into the Orion development plan. To date, the spacecraft had a cost of nearly $5 billion, and the Congress just approved $1.2 billion to complete the development. First unmanned test may be scheduled for 2013, followed by a manned flight in 2016. According to NASA spokesman Michael Braukus, the 2013 flight test is still under review to de- The Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle ground test article in preparation for environmental test- termine fund availability. Details about the ing at the Lockheed Martin Vertical Test Facility in Colorado. - Credits: Lockheed Martin launch configuration are yet to be defined.

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Human Rating

the Delta IV Heavy

ccording to NASA, the but it is of critical importance Multi Purpose Crew The Delta IV Heavy is to a crewed launcher, because AVehicle will eventually “ it may well impact dramatically be launched on top of the next the only rocket that sets the effectiveness of an abort generation heavy-lift launcher from an initiated failure. SLS. While the development itself on fire during its Other problems with payload of the SLS will be in progress, launchers as crew launchers Lockheed Martin will resort to ignition by design„ are neither so visual nor so dra- existing expendable launch ve- matic, but they are just as real hicles to test the spacecraft. Ac- in their impact on abort effec- cording to Space News, Lockheed Mar- creating a cloud, is then burned off by tiveness if the vehicles are used in un- tin contacted United Launch Alliance In spark generators built into the pad to modified “white tail” versions.» November 2010 to negotiate the pur- prevent an explosion. chase of a Delta IV Heavy vehicle for an We asked Professor Joseph Frago- As suggested by Professor Fragola, unmanned test in 2013. Use of a human la, Vice President of Valador Inc, core human rating an existing commercial rated version of the Delta IV to carry the member of the NASA Exploration Archi- vehicle can be as expensive as devel- Orion has been the subject of several tecture Study (ESAS) Team and IAASS oping a new one. The cost has in fact to studies, such as Aerospace’s “Human- Fellow, to comment this feature, in the take into account human rating not just Rated Delta IV Heavy Study” of 2009 light of a possible use of the Delta IV the single components, but the entire and Federal Aviation Administration’s Heavy as a human rated launcher: stack, including the launch pad, ground “2011 U.S. Commercial Space Trans- facilities and all the operations from portation Developments and Concepts” «The set of pictures visually indi- launch to orbit. The process could cost of 2010. The idea of human rating the cates why a commercial payload hundreds of millions of dollars, and take Delta IV is often discussed in Internet launcher, even a reliable one, cannot up to 5-7 years. For these reasons, until forums and newsgroup. But how likely be considered, without modification a final decision will be taken, a human is such a choice? (that is a so-called “white tailed” ver- rated version of the Delta IV will remain Human rating a commercial pay- sion), as a crew launcher because of a speculation. load launcher, which may sound like the conditional a straightforward process, presents in probability of los- fact more challenges than one would ing the crew given think of. A launch of the Delta IV Heavy an incident. In the provide a graphic representation of the case of the Delta kind of issues that has to be taken into IV Heavy the un- account during the human rating pro- modified version, cess of a rocket originally designed to “sets itself on fire carry unmanned payload. As soon as during its ignition the engines ignite, the Delta IV Heavy sequence”. While is engulfed in a tremendous firestorm, this may not be which often chars the three boosters. of concern to a Despite what appears to be a cata- conventional pay- strophic failure on the pad, the giant load, the ignition rocket, still smoking and flaming, lifts source, which is off and proceed to a nominal ascent as there BY DESIGN nothing happened. on every launch, The spectacular sequence is not a presents a unity surprise, even though the extent may conditional prob- vary between the various launches: the ability of ignition Delta IV Heavy is in fact the only rocket given an engine that set itself on fire during its ignition or system rup- sequence by design. Five seconds be- ture. This is of fore oxygen valves are opened for ig- no concern to the nition, a mass of hydrogen is dumped payload launcher, though the three RS-68 engines to because the pay- condition their internal temperature. load would be The spectacular ignition sequence of a Delta IV Heavy. The hydrogen, which wraps the vehicle lost in any case, Credits: Vandenberg Air Force Base

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by Andrea Gini

Safety of Lithium Battery

n 3 September 2010, a UPS clared as hazardous cargo, as they chargeable batteries, typically referred Boeing 747-400 crashed close would have been, given their flamma- to as lithium-ion batteries, are the state- Oto Dubai airport, killing Doug bility. According to the report, the crew of-the-art battery chemistry that has the Lampe and Matthew Bell, captain and ran out of emergency oxygen, and the highest energy density of rechargeable first officer on board of the plane. Right cockpit became so full of smoke that batteries, has no memory effect, has after the departure from the Dubai In- the crew was unable to see the flight in- good rate capability and has the high- ternational airport, the crew reported struments or change radio frequency. It est performance efficiency. High energy smoke in the cockpit and declared is currently unclear if the batteries were density leads to lighter batteries and an emergency. The pilots returned to the cause of the accident. longer performance times. The lithium- Dubai, where they attempted a land- We asked Dr. Judith Jeevarajan, Bat- ion battery chemistry has been used in ing, which failed because the airplane tery Group Lead for Safety and Ad- the past decade for long term satellite was too high on the approach. Shortly vanced Technology at NASA-JSC and applications of the LEO and GEO types after, radar contact was lost. The air- IAASS fellow, to comment the safety of also and has just been initiated into the plane crashed in an unpopulated area lithium battery, given their widespread electric and hybrid electric vehicles. between the Emirates Road and Al Ain use in space technology. SSM: Which are the safety con- Highway. cerns? On April 3 by the Dubai govern- Space Safety Magazine: Which are JJ: The high energy density also indi- ment’s Civil Aviation Authority released the advantages of lithium batteries? cates that there is much higher energy a report, which revealed that the cargo Judith Jeevarajan: The advantages inside a small volume. The other factor plane was transporting lithium batter- of lithium based batteries are the very is the use of a flammable electrolyte in ies. The batteries have not been de- high energy density. Lithium-based re- the lithium-ion batteries. The com- 

A UPS Boeing 747-45EM(BCF) Cargo Plane - Credits: Kevin Murphy, plane-mad.com

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bination of high energy and a flammable ways be used within the manufacturer’s bration loads but also the operational electrolyte causes the cells to burn until specification. Dedicated chargers or loads that must be used to test the bat- all the electrolyte is used up. The lith- charging protocols should be used as teries to confirm their safe operation in ium-ion batteries can experience fires overcharge is one of the major hazards the relevant environment. and thermal runaway under off-nominal associated with lithium-ion batteries. SSM: Is there any concern in reen- unsafe conditions. Lithium-ion batteries Cell manufacturing processes should try? should always be used within the man- have very high quality control and have JJ: Yes. The batteries should be ufacturer’s specification. Overcharge is stringent screening processes in place. shielded to protect them from an ex- a major hazard with the lithium-ion bat- NASA-Johnson Space Center has de- tremely high reentry temperature by tery chemistry. Another hazard associ- veloped methods to screen for internal designing them with the right thermal ated with these is external and internal shorts on all flight batteries. The batter- protection. The reentry vibration loads shorts. The former should be protected ies should be used in the appropriate should also be verified to not affect the integrity of the battery in any way. SSM: which lessons can be learned from this event? JJ: It is not clear if the batteries are a cause for the event. They probably only contributed to a bigger fire. Lithium-ion batteries do not go into flames when they are being transported in a benign condition. Other factors always con- tribute to their thermal runaway. One of the things that can happen is that the batteries were either not screened properly or were subjected to an off- nominal condition before their transportation which was not recognized by the personnel testing or handling the batteries. If that occurs, then the batteries could be self-heating and undergo internal changes that could then result in a catastrophic event at a later stage when they get to a point where the hazard cannot be controlled any more. The batteries should also be packaged in Site of th UPS plane crash, happened in Dubai on September 3, 2010. the right manner with protection of the Credits: Associated Press cell terminals and adequate physical with external safety controls and the thermal environ- safety for the latter hazard comes from ment. extremely high quality manufacturing SSM: How their processes. The last most catastrophic presence in 747 hazard is extreme temperatures. The UPS flight may high temperature environment is more have affected the hazardous since it causes breakdown accident? of the electrodes as well as decompo- JJ: The pres- sition of electrolyte leading to a thermal ence of a battery runaway and fire. At very low tempera- that has a flamma- tures (below manufacturer’s specifica- ble electrolyte that tion), the internal resistance of the cells can burn at high could be so high that lithium deposition temperatures will could occur easily leading to an internal cause a battery fire short during the charging process re- until all the electro- sulting in a fire and/or thermal runaway. lyte in the batteries Lithium-ion batteries have an electro- has been burnt up. An example of batteries used in aerospace - Credits: EaglePicher lyte that is only corrosive and does not SSM: How their pose any health hazards such as high use in space vehicles affect launch separation between cells and batteries toxicity. The salt used in the electrolyte safety? to prevent inadvertent shorting of the is an irritant and hence they are catego- JJ: If the batteries are to operate in cells and batteries. Most incidents oc- rized as an irritant and of a corrosive a launch environment, then the batter- cur due to careless processes. Hence nature. ies should be tested to the appropriate every caution and precaution should be SSM: Which precautions should be environment and launch loads with a used to confirm that the batteries are taken in handling? margin to qualify the battery design to transported in the right packaging con- JJ: Lithium-ion batteries should al- that environment. It is not only the vi- figuration.

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Going to Space on by Andrea Gini

an Homemade Rocket

We do not hold any secrets or any patents“ and we want all our ideas – sketches, photos and video – to be free for everyone to distribute in order to inspire people and to spread the story, or even copy„ Kristian von Bengtson (left) and Peter getting into space if you are broke.” “Short and exciting. We only reached Madsen, founders of the Copenhagen Sub- We contacted Kristian Bengtson a 2 km of height and 8 km downrange. orbitals, during the launch. to talk about the initiative. Copenha- The trajectory was bad, but we man- Credits: Bo Tornvig, Copenhagen Suborbitals gen Suborbitals is non profit and open aged to get something into the air, source space project founded in May and that was a special corner for us n June 3, 2011, Copenhagen 2008 by Kristian von Bengtson and Pe- to turn.” The flight achieved the objec- Suborbitals, a two people enter Madsen, two alumni of the Interna- tives: “We had a launch, where able Oterprise located in Copenha- tional Space University whose dream is to up and downlink all data and com- gen, Denmark, successfully launched to launch themselves into space on top mands to the rocket and spacecraft. We a homemade rocket over the Baltic of a homemade space rocket. The ini- separated the spacecraft, deployed the Sea. The 9 meter rocket, launched un- tiative, headquartered in Copenhagen, parachutes and recovered the space- manned, was equipped with a capsule Denmark, is financed with private dona- craft and all data.” Equally important for which has the capability to host a man tions and companies: “We spend about them was the work atmosphere: “We in a semi-standing position. This under- 100.000 dollars a year,” they explain, had a perfect and calm operation when taking represents an important mile- “but get perhaps twice the amount in doing all this. We are still learning. There stone for the Danish company, whose donated hardware.” are so much data, still being analyzed.” goal is to discover “the secrets about According to Kristian, the flight was No Rights Reserved openhagen Suborbitals is definitely Can unusual space company. The footer of the website reads: “Copeha- gen Suborbitals 2011 – Absolutely No Rights Reserved”, a sort of mission statement: “I’m glad you found it,” says Kristian, “It’s the essence of the project. We do not hold any secrets or any patents and we want all our ideas – sketches, photos and video – to be free for everyone to distribute in order to inspire people and to spread the story, or even copy.” According to Kristian, the activity of Copenhagen Suborbitals revolves around a key principle: “Less talk and more production”. The development Peter Madsen checks main oxidizer valve operation through direct observation in a final process is geared toward finding the dry-run test of the HEAT1X booster system. quickest and cheapest solution to all Credits: Sonny Windstrup, Copenhagen Suborbitals problems: “We basically have a 

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structure where Peter and I lay the is only a matter of “lower yourself” to a own parachutes, which we did. Now we plans and ideas, and then we just build more primitive level and accepting this.” have this development in house and I it together with our part time special- An example of this approach is the trust the path we are on very much.” ists,” says Kristian, “Instead of talking cork heat shield: “Cork is a cheap, light- The parachute failed during the first too much about it, performing simula- weight material which can resist a lot of launch: “They are not rated for deploy- tions, we build and test our ideas all the heat. Even more heat than the space- ment just below mach 1. So the deploy- time. If they seem like a good idea and craft will be exposed to. When you ment failure was expected under those did well during the tests, we implement reach apogee you start from V=0 and circumstances.” them in the rocket. The final launch then fall at a relatively slow speed compared becomes an all up test of all these sys- to orbit-spaceflight. Also, we have drag tems and ideas combined.” inducing devices that will control the Safety on the We asked how safety can be insured fall.” while keeping the cost down: “Low cost This unorthodox approach poses Ground creates low tech solutions,” replied both technical and non technical chal- Kristian, “Low tech solution creates lenges, like in the case of parachutes: he rocket is launched from the high safety.” He then quotes the Apollo “No one would sell us parachutes, be- TSputnik platform, a 13.7x12 me- command module as an example: “The cause this expertise is a matter of safety ters steel catamaran equipped with two module had about 2 million com- Kubota D722 diesel engines. ponents and even with a 99.99% The platform is designed to be safety margin, NASA knew that The activity of simple, cheap and stabile: “We at least 2000 components would “ like the idea of launching and fail during the flight to and from Copenhagen Suborbitals landing on water,” explains Kris- the moon.” Simplicity turns out tian, “If we are able to control to be the key design factor for revolves around a key this environment we are basi- Copenhagen Suborbitals: “In- cally able to launch our rockets stead of having a processing unit principle: “Less talk and from anywhere in the world to showing a particular pressure in any height.” The launch area is in a tank, on to a digital display, we more production”„ the Baltic Sea, east of Bornholm, will use an old fashion manom- Denmark: “We have been given eter instead. We trust solutions like this, and reliance, “says Kristian. “I could not the military launch area for a specific and it is actually much cheaper,” he guarantee any manufacturer that their date, through the Danish Admiral Fleet, says, “We do not believe that [relying products would not be seen failing or and work with the Navy National Guard on new technologies] is the only way. It even on fire. It forced us to create our in Denmark, who are taking care or 

The HEAT1X-Thyco rocket liftoff from the Sputnik launch platform. - Credits: Thomas Pedersen, Copenhagen Suborbitals

13 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

Ignition sequence. - Credits: Bo Tornvig, Copenhagen Suborbitals range safety regarding ships and closes duction. However, we recover all parts, acrylic top dome, which became a de- the air space over the Baltic Sea. All both engine and spacecraft, after a sign driver. The dome also fitted nicely these aspects are a big part of the op- launch if possible.” About safety of op- with the chosen 64 cm diameter for the eration and have been planned months erations, Kristian explains: “We always entire rocket, resulting from bending a 2 ahead with everyone involved,” he says. work with safety first. Human life before meter cheap steel plate. We knew that if The rocket uses a hybrid rocket en- the operation. The mission operation the astronaut was to be lying on his/her gine, fuelled by solid polyurethane and was planned for many months in de- back as usual, the rocket would be so liquid oxygen. “The components are not tails and rehearsed several times. We big and heavy that it would be difficult toxic - the polyurethane is during pro- have specific tasks for specific people, for us to handle the size and weight.” a strict command structure and mission rules taking all possible foreseeable The human body has a tolerance limit It’s my belief contingencies into account.” of 5g along the vertical axis, a possible “ source of problems: “We do not come that technical close to that kind of acceleration,” he Safety of the says in that regards: “It is not a prob- progress lem to half sit /half stand when being astronaut launched with only 3.5 g. When we have involving active guidance next year, the launch he Tycho Brahe spacecraft uses an acceleration will be even less.” inspiration to Tunusual configuration, where the astronaut is standing along the vertical The Tycho Brahe capsule does not mankind will only axis of the rocket, looking outside from provide a Launch Escape System (LES): a glass nose cone. Kristian jokes: “It’s a “We discussed the implementation of a create a better discount space program. So you have LES, but decided that you either trust to stand.” Then explains: “it’s vital for us the system or not, after testing it thor- tomorrow for to make the space ride a great experi- oughly.” ence where the passenger has a great About redundancy, Kristian explains: everyone„ panorama view. We came across the “All systems are life critical sys- 

14 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

It is interesting if we are able to“ change the way we look at human space flight. Right now, it’s a “holy grail” and can only be done by great nations will billion of dollars. If we can show that it can be done otherwise I think we can shake up the space arena a bit„ The HEAT1X-Tycho rocket in flight. Credits: Bo Tornvig, Copenhagen Suborbitals tems. Some system like parachutes it can be done otherwise I think we can Randy is done flying and we believe it systems have a redundant system and shake up the space arena a bit. is safe to replace him with a person, my so do all communication and electron- partner Peter Madsen will take the first ics that will deploy parachutes.” Virgin Galactic is working to offer a ride.” suborbital ride comparable to airplane The next milestone? “We need to flight, in terms of perceived safety and have a new rocket, with a new space- For a Cheaper comfort. In comparison, Copenhagen craft ready for a summer 2012 launch. Suborbital mission profile looks more Next time the rocket will have active Spaceflight like a bungee jumping ride, a sort of guidance.” extreme sport: “There are o conclude our discussion, we no rules for making home- Tasked to Kristian about the possible made space rockets. The impact of their work: “it’s my belief that weight of the paper-work, technical progress involving inspiration for making air planes, to mankind will only create a better to- is greater than the final morrow for everyone, he says. “Besides product. We are not do- inspiring people to go ahead and make ing this as a business. We your dream a reality – no matter the top- just want to go into space, ic – I think it is interesting if we are able in a rocket we build our- to change the way we look at human selves.” space flight. Right now, it’s a “holy grail” About the first manned and can only be done by great nations flight, Kristian reveals: will billion of dollars. If we can show that “When our test dummy

The Spacecraft Tycho Brahe after water splashdown. The the spacecraft Tycho Brahe is recovered after the Note the homemade parachute. launch - Credits: Bo Tornvig, Copenhagen Suborbitals Credits: Bo Tornvig, Copenhagen Suborbitals

15 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

By Wayne Hale

Double Indemnity

ommercial human space flight is in its infancy. It has been sug- Cgested that NASA could do much to encourage or enable the fledgling industry. Supporters cite the historical analogy of US government contracts for air mail delivery in the 1920s as a model for how to kick start the industry. A rosy hued and much abbreviated history of that era suggests that once the government started contract airmail service, modern aviation as we know it inevitably and quickly followed. It may be worthwhile to remind ourselves of a slightly more detailed version of history. WWI aviation “ hero Eddie Rickenbacker called the Army Air Service program “legalized murder.”„

The US Post Office Department started scheduled airmail service while the Great War was still raging in May 1918. Government aircraft and government pilots delivered air mail in aircraft that were built to detailed government specifications for the next eight years. William C. “Will Bill” Hopson, an early government airmail pilot who helped pioneer the Twelve government pilots were killed in transcontinental route in 1920 flying the Omaha to Chicago leg in an open cockpit De the first two years of this service. The Haviland DH-4 modified WWI bomber. US Post Office added regularly scheduled transcontinental airmail service in ment service was discontinued. Fatal contracts to favored companies. FDR 1920, again with government owned accidents were still common among air cancelled all commercial air mail con- aircraft and government pilots. Follow- mail pilots. To an even greater extent tracts and called on the US Army Air ing the Kelly Air Mail Act of 1925, the than today, the government to indus- Service to deliver the mail. Inexperi- first commercial contract air mail op- try “revolving door” phenomenon was enced military pilots and bad weather erations started. These were mostly present in those days. In 1934 the great resulted in twelve pilot deaths in less flown by small start-up airlines which air mail scandal erupted. There were than a month. WWI aviation hero Ed- were frequently under-capitalized us- charges that government officials had die Rickenbacker called the Army Air ing old government surplus aircraft. By colluded with industry officials (some Service program “legalized murder.” late 1926 all air mail delivery was turned of whom were former government of- Within a few months, Congress passed over to these contracts and the govern- ficials) to fraudulently award air mail new air mail legislation and a more 

16 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

Is this the model that people have in The Air mind for commer- “ cial space transpor- Force does not tation? Of course, a build its own paragraph or two doesn’t do justice airplane, why to the rich and complex history of avia- should NASA tion in the 1920s and 1930s. Go build its own read the biography of Dutch Kindel- spacecraft?„ berger, for example. Some airlines, like Pan Am, became man spacecraft. Never has. Commer- profitable carrying cial companies have built all human passengers with- spacecraft and their launch vehicles. First international airmail flight, 1919. out the subsidy of McDonnell built Mercury and Gemini, air mail. The trans- North American Aviation and Grum- closely regulated commercial air mail portation of equipment and goods for man built the Apollo CSM and LM re- service was restarted. Among the fea- purely commercial reasons apart from spectively. Chrysler built the Redstone tures of the legislation was the provision government contracts was a significant rocket and the first stage of the Saturn that banned all former airline executives business. Air races stimulated technical 1B launch vehicle, and so forth. The from further contracts. All the old air advances. And what happened in the renamed North American Rockwell line companies were reorganized. Air USA was only part of the story as air- built the Space Shuttle orbiter. When I mail contracts were much less lucrative lines sprang up crossing the globe from became NASA’s Shuttle Program Man- and the nascent airline companies had Europe to Africa or Australia or South ager, I was surprised to find that the to rely increasingly on passenger fares America. It wasn’t just the air mail con- detailed design and production draw- rather than air mail revenues to make tracts that spurred aviation in its “gold- ings for the Space Shuttle orbiter were their operations profitable. Air craft ac- en years”. the intellectual property of Rockwell cidents continued to be frequent and in Changing focus slightly, it is often International Space Division which has 1938 the Civil Aviation Administration noted that the Air Force does not build since become part of Boeing. The gov- was formed. The CAA started an era its own airplane; the Army does not ernment, while definitely involved with of tight regulations reigned over the air build its own tanks, why should NASA the design, did not do the detailed part line industry which continued for nearly build its own spacecraft? of the design and does not own the “in- forty years. NASA, of course, does not build hu- tellectual property” for the shuttle. 

Loading airmail, late 1930s, in Detroit. – Credits: Bill Whittaker

17 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

ment involvement. Oh, and don’t even ask Neither the about federal procure- “ ment regulations. Re- current model member the 1934 air mail scandal? There of intimate are a slew of laws and regulations intended and controlling to prevent something like that from happen- design authority ing again. So the real question nor a totally is how much or how little the government hands off will be involved in the design/certification/ approach is operation of commer- cially contracted hu- realistic„ man space vehicles. Neither the current model of intimate and responsibility if they crash. The original controlling design au- airmail contracts didn’t do that in 1925. thority nor a totally Seems like we have a lot to think hands off approach is about as we move commercial human realistic. space flight. Like almost all of We might even learn from history. life, there is going to be a compromise. The devil is in the de- Eddie Rickenbacker, World War I ace pilot and Medal of Hon- tails. It seems to me Originally published in September or recipient, called the Army Air Service program “legalized that we need to spend 22, 2009, on the Wayne Hale Blog; re- murder.” - Credits: National Aviation Hall of Fame a serious amount of production authorized by the author.

Many boxes and piece parts remain thought and discus- “proprietary” and not under the detailed sion on how best to do purview of the government. That seems this. Far more than a commercial at some level, doesn’t it? couple of paragraphs Thinking more about the military ser- in an essay or a report. vices, a recent speaker at NASA was Indemnification. I from the Navy ship bureau in charge have heard a lot about of building aircraft carriers. The Navy that word lately. Had doesn’t build aircraft carriers, a com- to look it up. Cur- mercial company does that; but the rently the US govern- Navy is intimately involved in the de- ment indemnifies the tailed design of every part of a new companies that build aircraft carrier. And the Air Force is in- and operate our cur- timately involved in the design of new rent space vehicles. jet fighters like the F-22 and the F-35. If they crash, the Sometimes this backfires on a compa- government, not the ny; ask about the presidential helicopter companies, is held li- program. There is a real lesson there. able. That is not the So what is being proposed for com- way the airlines work; mercial human spacecraft for govern- if an airliner crashes, ment use? A contract that merely asks the airline company a “provider” to transport our 4-ish per- or sometimes the air- son ISS crew from some place on the craft manufacturer earth’s surface to the ISS for a fee? are held responsibility No other questions asked? Somehow and are subject to civil I think that is not really what is going legal action. Some to happen. Even the airlines and aircraft of the putative com- builders have to pass FAA certification mercial human space for flight worthiness. So if the govern- flight providers want ment contracts for transportation ser- the government to in- James H. “Dutch” Kindelberger, American pioneer of aviation vice there is going to be some govern- demnify them, take the and leader of North American Aviation for a number of years.

18 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

Landing Curiosity

anding a massive rover on Mars has always been a challenging Lundertaking. The atmosphere density limits effectiveness of rockets, parachutes and aero-braking systems. Previous rovers, such as Spirit and Opportunity, employed a landing gear based on airbags. But this time, the Mars Science Laboratory, nicknamed Curiosity, is too large and massive for this option. For this reason, Curiosity will be deployed on the Martian surface using an innovative four step process, which will utilize a “Sky Crane” never used on space missions. At first, the rover will travel through Artist’s conception of the Curiosity rover MSL will use the largest heat-shield ever space folded within a protective aero- being lowered through a “Sky Crane” from used in space. - Credits: Lockheed Martin Corp shell. Atmospheric entry will be ac- the rocket-powered descent stage. complished using a 4.5m Phenolic Im- Credits: Jet Propulsion Lab pregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) heat shield, the largest heat shield ever used previous missions, will set a new stan- will change to a landing configuration, in space. The Martian atmosphere will dard for future Mars exploration mis- deploying the various instruments pre- slow down the aero-shell from 6 km/sec sions. All along entry, descent and land- viously stowed. down to Mach-2, a speed that is com- ing, the rover will be capturing images During deploy, phase four will begin: patible with parachute deployment. The to help the mission team to make early the descent stage will lower the rover spacecraft will feature an onboard com- determinations of the landing site. using a “Sky Crane”, a system which puter and other precision landing tech- In the third phase, at about 1.8 km of uses three bridles to lower the rover nologies, which will provide the abil- altitude, the rover and descent stage and an umbilical cable to carry electri- ity to steer the descent module toward will be dropped out the aero-shell and cal signals between the descent stage pre-determined landing site. will proceed to a powered descent us- and rover. While the vehicle has been At about 7 km of altitude, the second ing hydrazine rocket thrusters. Power slowed down to nearly zero velocity, phase will begin. The capsule will jetti- descent has been employed before to the rover will be lowered until it touches son the heat shield and deploy a super- land on Mars: the eight rockets used in the ground. Right after touchdown, the sonic parachute of 16 meters in diame- MSL are in fact derived from the Viking bridle will be cut, and the descent stage ter and 50 meters long. The parachute, Lander engine used in the two missions will move away to a crash-landing site. significantly bigger than those used on of 1976. In the third phase, the rover During the lowering phase, the rover mobility and suspension systems will be deployed, making the rover ready to work upon landing. Powered Descent Sky Crane Flyaway This landing technique, which has never been employed before, will open Powered Approach up the deployment of even larger equip- Backshell ment in the future, up to a manned mis- Separation sion. Mars Science Laboratory will also be the first planetary mission to use Constant Velocity Constant Rover precision landing techniques, improv- Deceleration Separation ing the landing accuracy up to a range Throttle Mobility Down Deploy of only 20 kilometers. The launch is Activate tentatively scheduled in November 25, Touchdown Flyaway Controller 2011, in which case the landing would occur on August 6, 2012.

A video of the landing procedure can be found at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ The landing profile for the Mars Science Laboratory. - Credits: Jet Propulsion Lab video/index.cfm?id=823

19 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

Nespoli Captures By Pete Harding

Historic ISS Photographs

he Russian Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft, also known by its NASA’s desire to obtain visual TUS designation of 25S, depart- “ ed from the International Space Sta- imagery of the apex of human tion (ISS) on Monday after five months on-orbit. Prior to a successful landing, spaceflight was strong„ Soyuz TMA-20 participated in a unique and historical event to photograph the ISS while the Space Shuttle Endeavour is docked to the complex, providing some amazing views. Soyuz Flyabout Background riginally known as a Soyuz fly- Oabout, the proposal to use a Soyuz spacecraft to obtain historic imagery of a Space Shuttle docked to the ISS was first revealed by NASA Spaceflight.com prior to the STS-133 mission in Febru- ary this year. The last and only time a Space Shuttle was photographed docked to a space station was during STS-71 in June 1995, when a Soyuz spacecraft undocked from the Mir space station in order to photograph the undocking of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Today, with the Space Shuttles flying their final missions and with the US segment of the ISS now fully complete, NASA’s desire to obtain visual imagery of the apex of human spaceflight was strong. Prior to the STS-133 mission, the proposal was to undock the Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft from the MRM-2 “Poisk” Zenith port during the STS-133 mission and back away to a safe dis- tance, whereupon the ISS would move to an attitude which would best show off Shuttle Discovery. The Soyuz TMA-01M crew was then to take photos of the Shuttle/Station stack, and then re-dock to the complex. However, ultimately, the fact that Soyuz TMA-01M was the first of the new 700-series “digital” Soyuzes made the operation too risky for the Russians’ A side view of the ISS with the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the ATV Johannes Kepler liking. docked at its extremities. Note the configuration of the Shuttle Remote Manipulator Sys- Following its cancellation from  tem, hidden behind the heat shield. - Credits: Paolo Nespoli, NASA/ESA

20 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

the STS-133 mission, the Soyuz flyabout then moved to STS-134, with the Photographic same proposal as before except that the older 200-series “analogue” Soyuz Imagery TMA-21 would be present at MRM- Endeavour’s 2 Zenith. However, concerns relating “ Procedure to a potential ISS de-crew situation docked mission should Soyuz TMA-21 fail to re-dock few hours prior to the Soyuz TMA- with the station caused planning efforts aligned perfectly A 20 undocking, the Shuttle Remote to switch focus to Soyuz TMA-20 at Manipulator System (SRMS) was ma- MRM-1 “Rassvet” Nadir. with the delayed neuvered the Orbiter Boom Sensor Under STS-134’s original launch System (OBSS) to a safe position be- date of April 29th, the Soyuz TMA- Soyuz TMA-20 hind Endeavour’s heat shield, in order to 20 undocking would have needed to protect the boom’s sensors from Soyuz be brought forward in order for Soyuz undocking„ thruster pluming. Endeavour’s Payload TMA-20 to undock during Space Shut- Bay cameras were also pointed away tle Endeavour’s stay at the station. Due from the Soyuz for protection, and her to the launch slip of Soyuz TMA-02M, star tracker doors were closed. The Soyuz TMA-20 crew – comprised of Soyuz commander Dimitri Kondra- Soyuz TMA-01M HTV-2 tyev of Russia, and flight engineers Cady Coleman of the US and Paolo Nespoli of Italy – suited up, conducted leak checks, and entered their Soyuz capsule per nominal procedures. Hatch closure between Soyuz TMA-20 and the ISS was on schedule, at around ATV-2 2:30 PM EDT / 6:30 PM GMT. About 40 minutes prior to the Soyuz STS-133 undocking, the ISS performed a 90 de- Discovery gree pitch-up maneuver from its stan- Progress M-09M dard Shuttle docked attitude, -XVV Soyuz TMA-20 (negative X axis in Velocity Vector), to the Soyuz undocking attitude, -ZVV (negative Z axis in Velocity Vector) under the control of Russian Segment (RS) thrusters. Once the undocking attitude was achieved, the ISS entered a period of A Schematics representation of the docking configuration of the ISS on February 26, 2011. free drift and Soyuz TMA-20 undocked Note the relative position of the Shuttle and the Soyuz TMA-20. from the ISS at 5:32 PM EDT / 9:32 PM Richard Kruse, historicspacecraft.com GMT. The undocking occurred one orbit earlier than normal, due to the need bringing the TMA-20 undocking forward the fact that Soyuz TMA-20 would be to spend additional time on the photo- was deemed unacceptable due to crew undocking from the ISS during Endeav- graphic procedures. Commander Kon- time impacts on the station and the our’s stay for a return to Earth, and so if dratyev then began to manually fly the STS-134 mission, and ultimately NASA a photography task were added to the Soyuz away from the ISS, and the Rus- and Russia decided to delay the Soyuz undocking procedure, there would be no sian thrusters resumed attitude control TMA-20 undocking in order to minimize need for a re-docking with the station. of the station. crew time impacts of the Soyuz TMA- This eliminated the need for a flyabout The STS-134 crew was scheduled 02M launch slip. maneuver altogether, since there would to be asleep during the undocking, but Soyuz flyabout planning then moved be no need to re-align with the docking due to the light workdays surrounding to STS-135 using Soyuz TMA-21 at port, and eliminated the risks associated the undocking, it is believed some man- MRM-2 Zenith; however the packed with a failed re-docking and subsequent aged to be awake for the event, and nature of the STS-135 mission timeline loss of ISS crewmembers. may have even attempt to photograph made finding room for the flyabout very Following detailed analysis into Soyuz TMA-20 from the port-side win- tricky. Following STS-134’s launch slip to MMOD, thermal conditions and thrust- dows of Endeavour. May 16th, Endeavour’s docked mission er plume impingement of the station, Once the Soyuz reached 200 meters aligned perfectly with the delayed Soyuz NASA announced during last Friday’s away from the station, which occurred TMA-20 undocking, and due to recent STS-134 Mission Status Briefing that a around 10 minutes after undocking, positive analysis into Dual Docked Oper- Soyuz documentary imagery task (no Kondratyev held position and Paolo ations (DDO), a rare and unique opportu- longer referred to as a flyabout) was Nespoli opened the hatch between the nity presented itself to flyabout planners. being added to the Soyuz TMA-20 un- Soyuz Descent Module, where the crew The opportunity was presented due to docking procedure. were seated for the undocking, and 

21 Space Safety July Magazine 2011 Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli with a camera on board the ISS. - Credits: ESA the Orbital Module. After about eight minutes of set-up, Nespoli began the imagery of the Shuttle/ISS stack using a High Definition video camcorder and a High Resolution digital camera. The Italian astronaut was heard taking the historic photos over the communication loops, as he “click, click, clicked” away at the amazing view. Five minutes later, and with the Soyuz positioned slightly above the ISS due to the need to keep the Sun out of Kon- dratyev’s eyes, the ISS began a 15 minute, 129 degree maneuver (at 0.2 degrees per second) which placed the ISS in the +YVV (plus Y axis in Velocity Vector) attitude, at a 90 degree side-on angle to the Soyuz. Nespoli was film- ing and photographing the maneuver all throughout this period, and also oc- casionally used a handheld laser range- finder to assist Kondratyev with his manual station keeping. This was the Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli with a camera on board the ISS. - Credits: ESA first time that a Soyuz has station kept with the ISS at 200m, and the first time and with the Earth’s horizon as a back- that a Soyuz has station kept while the This was the drop. ISS has changed attitude. “ Following the Soyuz separation burn, Nespoli continued to image the sta- first time the ISS returned to its nominal -XVV tion for about 10 minutes after the ma- Shuttle docked attitude under Russian neuver was complete, whereupon Kon- that a Soyuz thruster control, and Nespoli removed dratyev conducted a final separation the memory cards from the video and burn to take the Soyuz away from the has station kept still cameras. The Russian video and station. In total, Nespoli was expected still cameras remained in the Orbital to acquire roughly 30 minutes of stun- with the ISS Module to burn up in Earth’s atmo- ning images and video of the Shuttle/ sphere upon re-entry. Station complex – all in orbital daylight at 200m„ At that time, roughly 48 minutes after the undocking, Nespoli returned to the Descent Module, along with the memory cards, and closed the hatch between the Orbital Module and the De- scent Module. The Decent Module was then leak checked for a second time, and once Nespoli donned his gloves, his Sokol suit was also leak checked. Soyuz TMA-20 then began prepara- tions to return to Earth per nominal procedures. Return to Earth pproximately 4 hours and 4 min- Autes after the undocking, the Soyuz conducted its de-orbit burn at 9:36 PM EDT / 1:36 AM GMT, and re- entered Earth’s atmosphere roughly 23 minutes later. After eight minutes of re-entry, the parachutes deployed, and the crew hit the deck in Kazakhstan 15 minutes later, at 10:26 PM EDT / 2:26 AM GMT. The images will have engineering The Space Shuttle Atlantis docked to the MIR space station in June 1996. value as well as historical value, since Credits: NASA/GRIN they will reveal parts of the sta- 

22 Space Safety July Magazine 2011 Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli with a camera on board the ISS. - Credits: ESA

tion that are normally never seen, but of what human beings can achieve in their true value will be their tribute to space. NASA the thousands of men and women who At this time, it is not yet known wheth- “ have worked on the Shuttle and ISS er obtaining the images on STS-134 will managers hope programs. remove the Soyuz flyabout proposal For them, as well as spaceflight fans from the STS-135 mission. NASA man- to see the iconic the world over, the unique chance to agers will evaluate the STS-135 Soyuz see the magnificent and majestic Space flyabout proposal following the conclu- images appear Shuttle flying together with its greatest sion of the STS-134 mission. legacy will be something to be remem- in textbooks bered long after “wheels stop” is called on the final Shuttle mission in July. Originally published on May 23, for decades to NASA managers hope to see the 2011, on http://www.nasaspaceflight. iconic images appear in textbooks for com/ as “Soyuz TMA-20 captures come„ decades to come, as a historical re- historic photography prior to perfect cord of the Space Shuttle at its height landing” – Reproduced with permis- of achievement, and as an example sion of the author and the publisher.

An amazing picture of the ISS-Shuttle complex. - Credits: Paolo Nespoli, NASA/ESA

23 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

In This Issue of the

Space Safety Magazine

Dr. Judith A. Jeevarajan

Dr. Judith Jeevarajan is a Senior Procedures Technical Working Groups and a member of the Scientist at Energy Systems Division Electrochemical Society and International Association for the NASA-Johnson Space Center. She Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS). has worked on several battery projects Dr. Jeevarajan has a M.S. from the University of Notre using various battery chemistries and Dame, Indiana and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama, also represents the battery group at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Her graduate school work was fo- all the NASA safety panels, providing cused on electrochemistry and her post graduate work fo- technical design and safety guidance cused on battery technology, both of which serves her well for various projects including those with the International in strengthening her current job skills. She has made more Partners. Batteries are designed and safety certified under than 70 presentations at conferences, has given invited lec- her guidance and she was the first to certify and fly a lithi- tures for several organizations, has served as session chair um-ion commercial battery in a manned space environment. at prestigious conferences and has won many NASA awards She is a member of the IEC/ANSI and UL Standards and Test including the prestigious Space Flight Awareness award. Wayne Hale

Wayne Hale is a consultant for Space Operations Mission Directorate. Special Aerospace Services of Boul- Wayne has received special honors and awards such as: der, Colorado. He served as Space NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals in 1999, 2005, and Shuttle Program Manager and Shuttle 2007; NASA Space Flight Awareness Leadership Award 2002; Launch Integration Manager, has been NASA Exceptional Service Medal 1992; National Space Club a Space Shuttle Flight Director for 40 Goddard Memorial Astronautics Engineer of the Year 2007; Space Shuttle flights, and prior to that and National Air and Space Smithsonian Achievement Award a Propulsion Officer for 10 early Space of the Year 2007. Shuttle flights. He retired from NASA on July 31, 2010 as the Wayne Hale’s Blog: http://waynehale.wordpress.com/ Deputy Associate Administrator of Strategic Partnerships, Joseph Fragola

Joseph Fragola is vice president of remains the only published work on the subject of integrated Valador Inc. with over 35 years of ex- shuttle risk. Mr. Fragola recently served, by selection of the perience working in reliability and risk NASA Administrator, as one of the 15 core members of the technology in both the aerospace and NASA Exploration Architecture Study (ESAS) Team and re- nuclear industries. In the past he has ceived NASA’s Exceptional Public Service Medal for his work. worked for Grumman Aerospace Cor- He was recently a Principal Scientist at SAIC and continues poration, and IEEE at their Headquar- to be a visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde in ters in New York. He has participated Glasgow, Scotland. He has published almost 50 papers and in several dozen risk assessments, and was the Principal two books. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Physics Investigator of the landmark, NASA sponsored, 1995 launch from the Polytechnic Institute of New York. to landing risk assessment of the space shuttle, which still Pete Harding

Pete Harding is an electronic engineering student living in Scotland. He has published almost 50 papers and two books. the United Kingdom. He started writing articles for NASAS- He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Physics from the paceflight.com in October 2010, and specialises in in-depth Polytechnic Institute of New York. International Space Station reporting. He aims to eventually work in the human spaceflight industry.and continues to be a visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow,

24 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

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he Space Safety Magazine is dis- If there is something you feel should tributed to more than a thousand be covered, whether news or an histori- Tprofessionals in the aerospace cal event, a running project or a break- industry. We are committed to the qual- through proposal, a scoop or an anni- ity of this publication, which we want versary, send us a notification, because to establish as dependable source of this is your Magazine, and your opinion information regarding safety in manned matters. and unmanned spaceflight. We welcome contributions in form Every issue features contributions of article proposals, insight on space with scientists, engineers, writers, jour- projects you are currently involved, re- nalists and professionals in the space quests for interviews and comments of Andrea Gini: industry. Each one of them contributes any kind. [email protected] with his knowledge, his field experience You can send your proposal to Andrea and his opinions both on recent and Gini, the Magazine Editor-in-Chief, and Tommaso Sgobba: historical events. to Tommaso Sgobba, IAASS President. [email protected]

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25 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

Press Clips

manufacturer. The spacecraft, been de- our worked for more than five hours ISS Passes Close veloped under NASA’s Commercial Or- outside the space station to replace bital Transportation Services (COTS) re- science experiments, install new equip- to Space Junk search and development initiative, has ment and perform maintenance on the been assembled in Thales Alenia Space orbiting laboratory. The original plan An unidentified piece of orbiting space plant in Turin, Italy. The first PCM will called for an additional hour and a half junk came close to the ISS on June 28, be integrated with the Cygnus service of EVA operations, but the astronauts 2011, missing the station by 340 me- module and Orbital Taurus II rocket for have been ordered to get back to the ters. The debris was detected just 14 the Cygnus TM demonstration mission, ISS by NASA because of the failure of hours before the close approach, a time scheduled for December 2011. the sensor on Chamitoff’s spacesuit. window that left little time to move the The PCM initial capacity is up to space station away: the amount of time 2,000kg of cargo; an enhanced config- needed to move the space station is in uration will soon extend payload capac- fact about two days. ity to 2,700kg. After the demonstration, Russia Opens Astronauts were ordered by Mission Thales Alenia Space will provide eight Control to take shelter into the two more PCM units, three in standard con- Negligence Case Russian Soyuz capsules on Tuesday figuration and five in extended. morning, around 7:30 a.m. EDT. The Over Loss of approach happened right after 8 a.m. A few minutes later, Mission Control Glonass satellites authorized the astronauts and cosmo- U.S. Warned nauts to reenter on board the ISS. According to NASA, this was the China of Debris closest approach by space debris in the history of the ISS. Threats 147 Source: NASA Times Last Year According to Frank A. Rose, U.S. First Cygnus State Department’s deputy assistant secretary in the bureau of arms control, PCM Delivered to verification and compliance, the U.S. Glonass-K satellite prototype at CeBIT Government warned the Chinese gov- 2011. - Credits: Jürgen Treutler Orbital Sciences ernment of debris threats to Chinese spacecrafts on 147 occasions in the According to the agency RIA Novosti, The first Pressurized Cargo Mod- past year. These warnings were issued Russian prosecutors have opened a ule (PCM), a spacecraft developed to as part of the policy of building trust criminal case on charges of negligence transport cargo to the ISS, has been among spacefaring nations and pro- that led to the loss of three Glonass sat- delivered to Orbital Sciences Corp. The moting the safe use of space. ellites in December last year. The sat- news has been announced by Thales Source: Space News ellites, which were meant to complete Alenia Space, the European satellite the Glonass navigation system, were lost during launch because the Pro- ton-M carrier rocket veered off course Spacewalk and crashed in the Pacific Ocean. The criminal proceedings have been issued Interrupted for against space officials considered responsible for the loss. The failure cost Spacesuit Glitch 4.3 billion rubles, approximately $152.2 million. According to spokesman Vladi- The May 20 spacewalk, whose objec- mir Markin, the calculation error which tive was to upgrade the ISS, has been caused the loss remained undetected interrupted because of the failure of a due to organizational flaws and insuffi- Artist’s conception of the Cygnus space- spacesuit sensor that detects carbon cient controls on the part the personnel craft approaching the ISS. - Credits: Orbital dioxide. Astronauts Andrew Feustel and responsible for the launch. Sciences Corp Greg Chamitoff of the Shuttle Endeav- Source: RIA Novosti

26 Space Safety July Magazine 2011

and independent consultants. The previous review was performed in October 2010. All the major subsystem has been reviewed, and the design has been con- solidated. Boeing expects to conduct a system- level Preliminary Design Review (PDR) under the Commercial Crew Develop- ment (CCDev)-2 agreement, to perfect the design by spring 2012. During the press release, Boeing disclosed its plans to perform the first test flight in 2014, and to begin operations in 2015. Artist’s rendition of the Ares 1 rocket, canceled along with the Constellation program. The CST-100 Space capsule is de- Credits: NASA signed to transport up to seven people to LEO, or a combination of people and Memo Marks Sbirs Satellite cargo. Formal End of Reaches GEO Solar Storm Constellation According to Lockheed Martin officials, the first Space-Based Infrared Recorded on Program System (Sbirs) GEO-1, launched on May 7 from Cape Canaveral, has reached its June 21 Douglas Cooke, associate adminis- orbital destination. The satellite reached trator for NASA’s Exploration Systems its orbit by gradually increasing is peri- Mission Directorate, signed a letter that gee through a series of burns of its formally closed the Constellation deep apogee engine. On May 18, the satel- space exploration program. The Con- lite deploy began, and the spacecraft stellation project office, whose size has began its operations. The Sbir series of been significantly reduced, will transi- satellites has been designed to replace tion to the new Space Launch System the Defense Support System to provide (SLS) and Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle missile warning, along with infrared programs. NASA has not yet decided scanning. whether to use existing Constellation contract to build the SLS heavy-lift rocket, which Congress ordered to con- struct in the NASA Authorization Act of Boeing CST-100 2010. Source: Space News Space Capsule Review SDR A spectacular mass coronal ejection recorded on January 8, 2002. SpaceShipTwo Completed Credits: SOHO/ESA/NASA Testing Proceeds According to Boeing, the Delta Sys- According to Spaceweather.com, a tem Definition (SDR) review of its Crew website which monitors space weather Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo keeps Space Trasport (CTS)-100 spacecraft events, a powerful solar flare and erup- collecting flight time, test after test. has been completed. The review in- tion has been recorded on June 21 by The 14th glide test has been performed volved representatives from NASA, the the space-based Solar and Heliospher- successfully on June 23, 2011. On June Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ic Observatory (SOHO) operated by 14 and 15, two successful glide flights NASA and the European Space Agency. have been performed within 24 hours. The solar storm produced a C7-class On May 4, 2011, the spacecraft per- solar flare which triggered a coronal formed its first feathered flight, a con- mass ejection. Coronal mass ejections figuration that allows the vehicle to re- are massive eruptions of charged par- enter the atmosphere without the need ticles and solar material from the sun’s of a heat shield. All the objectives of surface. Charged particles that reach the tests have been accomplished so Earth can interact with the magnetic far. The testing program will continue field, causing auroras in Polar Regions. through the year. It has not been re- Powerful solar storms can affect satel- vealed yet when commercial operations lites, communications and power sys- will start. CST-100 capsule mockup. – Credits: Boeing tems on Earth.

27 Space Safety July MagazineUpcoming Events 2011

2011 IAASS Space Safety Academy, 2011 3rd IAASS Workshop SEPTEMBER ISS Payloads Design and OCTOBER on Public Safety 19-23 Operations Safety 13-14 of Space Missions 19-23 September 2011 13-14 October 2011 Turin (Italy) Paris (France)

2011 IAASS Space Safety Academy, 2011 5th IAASS International Space OCTOBER Launch Flight Safety Analysis OCTOBER Safety Conference “A Safer Space 11-14 Course 17-19 for a Safer World” 11-14 October 2011 17-19 October 2011 Evry-Paris (France) Versailles-Paris (France)

2011 IAASS Space Safety Academy, OCTOBER Workshop on Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels - 12-14 Best US Practices 12-14 October 2011 ESA/ESTEC - Noordwijk (The Netherlands)

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SPACE SAFETY

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