Press kit for media: Expeditions 26/27

human spaceflight

→ Paolo Nespoli‘s Mission eXPEDitions 26/27

Crew News conference Directorate of Human Spaceflight ESTEC, The Netherlands

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human spaceflight

THE MISSION The countdown for ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli has begun. He will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on a long-duration mission in December, serving as flight engineer for Expeditions 26 and 27. This will be the third six-month mission by a European astronaut on the Station.

The ISS has many more years of use ahead – at least until Next February, Nespoli will have a new Italian crewmate 2020 – and Nespoli will contribute to the scientific for 12 days. ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori, assigned to exploitation of Europe’s Columbus laboratory. From mission STS-134, will be flying to the Station on a flight December 2010 to May 2011, the European astronaut of opportunity provided by the Italian space agency, ASI. The Italian nationality will carry out an intensive programme Space Shuttle will also deliver the Alpha Magnetic of experiments, ranging from radiation monitoring to Spectrometer (AMS-02) to the ISS. measurements that could improve oil recovery in petroleum reservoirs. With more than 30 experiments during this mission, European space science is, as usual, driven by the quest to Paolo Nespoli’s duties aboard the ISS include participating improve life on our planet. The mission scientific in the docking operations to receive Europe’s second programme will cover different fields on human research, Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-2) Johannes Kepler, a fluid physics, radiation, biology and technology visiting spacecraft that will deliver essential cargo to the demonstrations. Paolo Nespoli will carry out not only Station. This travelling companion will not only be a several experiments for ESA, but also for the US, Japanese supply ferry, but will also perform regular orbital reboosts and Canadian space agencies. of the ISS and will enable debris-avoidance manoeuvres. As part of his educational programme, children have Nespoli will also take part in the arrival of the second the chance to follow an international initiative built Japanese HII Transfer Vehicle (HTV), an unmanned around health, well-being and nutrition (Mission X: spacecraft used to resupply the ISS. He will be the prime Train Like an Astronaut), as well as a very special operator for berthing the HTV to the Station after the greenhouse activity in space. From his privileged free-flying vehicle has been captured by his crewmate viewpoint in space, Nespoli will use ESA’s novel 3D Catherine Coleman. camera to show unprecedented images of the ISS.

Credit: GCTC Credit: GCTC Credit: GCTC

Paolo Nespoli Catherine Coleman Dmitri Kondratyev

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human spaceflight

KEY DATA

Mission Expeditions 26/27 to the ISS Launching site Baikonur, Kazakhstan Launch date 13 December, 20:00 GMT 14 December, 02:00 Baikonur time Docking 15 December, 21:00 GMT 16 December, 00:00 Moscow time Landing 16 May 2011 Launch / Soyuz TMA landing vehicle Prime Crew Dmitri Kondratiev, Soyuz and Expedition 27 Commander Paolo Nespoli, flight engineer Catherine Coleman, flight engineer Back up Crew Anatoly Ivanishin Satoshi Furukawa Mike Fossum

SSoyuzoyuz Insertion Insertion Timeline Timeline Tim 1:58 2:38 4:48 8:48 e min min min 7492 min m/s 208 3809 km m/s 3rd Stage Cut-off 176 nd & km 2 Stage Separation Soyuz Separation & 3rd Stage Ignition 1900 m/s

85 Escape tower … Insertion Orbital Phase km & Phase … launch shroud jettison

1560 m/s

41.5 km 1st Stage Separation

Lift 3.5 3 Altitude off g 2.5 g g 0

g Rang 0 39 109 500 1640 e km km km km km

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human spaceflight

A MAN OF ACTION Born the same year that Sputnik marked the start of in installing the Node-2 module, a major Italian-built the Space Age, Paolo Nespoli wanted to be an connecting block essential for expansion of the ISS. astronaut since he was a small child. An aerospace During his mission, named Esperia, one of the four engineer and private pilot, he was assigned to the solar arrays that provide power to the Station was Italian contingent of the multinational peacekeeping damaged and forced a series of critical spacewalks. He force in Beirut, Lebanon. After his military experience, was instrumental then by coordinating activities from the idea of being an astronaut resurfaced and two inside the Space Station, acting as ’intra-vehicular decades ago he joined ESA’s European Astronaut astronaut’. Centre in Cologne, Germany. Expedition 26/27 will be Paolo’s second flight in space. Paolo was finally selected as an astronaut in 1998. The Trained for Space Shuttle but also for Soyuz spacecraft, dream came true in 2007, when he flew to the ISS as he is now undergoing intensive training for his ESA astronaut on an ASI opportunity. Nespoli was then challenging mission. As a man of action with an a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle and took part engineer’s mind, he is getting ready to fly again.

ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli on board Discovery during the Esperia Mission. Nespoli was part of the STS-120 mission to the International Space Station to install Node 2, also known as Harmony.

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human spaceflight

A 3D EXPERIENCE Paolo Nespoli will open a new window to the Station real 3D images will change our whole viewing through stereoscopic eyes. While stereo vision floods experience and can also be used in supporting ISS the cinemas, the European astronaut will use a novel, science operations. ESA-developed 3D camera to show unprecedented views of the ISS. SIX MONTHS OF SCIENCE During his six-month stay in space, Paolo Nespoli This latest camera in space is the Erasmus Recording will carry out more than 30 experiments. As part of Binocular 2 (ERB-2), conceived by the Directorate of the European scientific programme, he will work on Human Spaceflight and developed by Cosine Research five different research fields. from Leiden, the Netherlands, and Techno System Development in Naples, Italy. Human Research Paolo Nespoli will be a test subject for various ERB-2 takes advantage of high-definition optics and human physiology experiments covering advanced electronics to provide a vastly improved 3D neuroscience, cardiovascular, metabolism and fitness video effect for mapping the Station. The almost-like- evaluation. He will undergo experiments designed to test how astronauts interpret visual information in weightlessness and how it affects their perception. Measuring different parameters, ground-based European scientists will also study space data about how weightlessness changes the cardiovascular system, bone metabolism and even brain functions such as memorisation or decision-making during a prolonged stay in weightlessness.

• ESA Science Coordinators: Credit: ESA/Cosine Research Thu Jennifer Ngo-Anh, Patrik Sundblad

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human spaceflight

Fluid Physics In physical sciences, the experiments include the passenger carriers. Paolo will help assemble a new diffusion phenomena in model fluid mixtures in mechanism to demonstrate the space-based capability order to understand the properties of oil fields, and to identify maritime vessels. possibly improve oil recovery techniques in petroleum reservoirs. • ESA Coordinator: Karsten Strauch

A second experiment aims at simulating geophysical fluid flows under microgravity. This study will give scientists clues about Earth’s magma convection, and an improved understanding of the global-scale flows in the liquid nuclei of planets.

• ESA Science Coordinator: Stefano Mazzoni

Radiation Interactions between ionising radiation in space and brain functions are among the major concerns when planning long human stays in space. The light flashes observed in space – firstly reported by Buzz Aldrin in 1969 – are an example. A multi-disciplinary research project aims to obtain a better understanding of the phenomenon.

Paolo will measure the nature and distribution of the radiation field inside the ISS, and the Sun’s irradiation will be studied with unprecedented accuracy from the European Columbus Laboratory.

• ESA Science Coordinators: René Demets, Thu Jennifer Ngo-Anh, Piero Galeone Experiments with other agencies Biology Paolo Nespoli will also carry out for the American, The European astronaut will also act as the main Japanese and Canadian space agencies (NASA, JAXA operator in complex biological experiments. These and CSA). Samples of his hair will be collected to study experiments will address specific paradigms, such as the gene expression in a human body exposed to a the immune response in plants during growth in long spaceflight, and state-of the-art technology will microgravity. In this mission, we will observe the monitor his sleep patterns to help treat insomnia on effects of centrifugal acceleration on lentil seedling Earth. roots. Flames show an odd behaviour in space: they form • ESA Science Coordinator: Jason Hatton tiny and almost invisible balls. Flame behaviour and combustion experiments are among his tasks, as well Technology Demonstrations as the study of a very resilient and lightweight material I The Vessel Identification System will test the means to being stretched to very thin fibres in microgravity. llustrations by NASA track global maritime traffic from space by picking up Paolo will also have the chance to shake hands with signals from large international ships and all types of Robonaut, NASA’s new robotic crewmate.

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human spaceflight

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GETS TO SPACE “Wow, that’s what I’d really like to do when I grow up,” thought Paolo when he watched images of the astronauts on TV. After years of preparation and physical training, he will be now the prime subject of a dedicated educational programme for children focused on the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle.

Astronauts need to stay fit on the ground and in space. ESA and several space organisations are using the example of space explorers to promote regular Credit: NASA exercise and healthy nutrition among young people worldwide. Paolo is the ambassador of Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut, an educational programme for As part of his educational activities, children aged primary school pupils that will encourage physical 12–14 years will also be invited to start the Greenhouse activity and healthier diets. in Space activity at the same time. Europe’s astronaut will grow flowering plants and follow its evolution Children will perform a number of physical exercises over two month. Students on the ground will make and classroom lessons to compete with teams from observations of their own efforts and compare the throughout the world and become as fit as Paolo. results with Paolo’s space experiment.

I llustrations by NASA

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human spaceflight

ESA Media contacts

ESTEC Communication Office Keplerlaan 1, PO Box 299 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 71 565 3009 Fax: +31 71 565 5728 www.esa.int

ESA Media Relations ESA Head Office, Paris, France. Tel: + 33 1 53 69 71 55 Fax: + 33 1 53 69 76 90 [email protected] Credits: NASA, ESA

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