Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity Direction des Vols Habité et la Microgravité on station in this issue A Year of Milestones Jörg Feustel-Büechl ESA Director of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity Columbus: the First Milestone 4 News 6 Europe’s Robotic Arm 10 Richard H. Bentall Biolab 12 Pierfilippo Manieri New Star in Orbit 14 Christian Feichtinger Stone, Survival & Yeast experiments 17 Preparing for Space 20 Mark Mouret & Didier Schmitt Input for Space 22 The Newsletter of the Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity number 2, march 2000 foreword foton-12 results microgravity columbus zvezda simulation era astronauts recent & relevant We can be certain that this is a crucial year for the International Space Station, both in respect of the programme’s global partnership and of the many events of considerable importance for our European part of the programme. Globally, we are now looking forward to the launch of Russia’s ‘Zvezda’ Service Module which was originally expected to appear last year but, owing to Proton launcher problems, was postponed. Now the Space Station Partners have agreed on a launch window of 8-14 July from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It marks an important milestone in Space Station history because it will open up opportunities for the first experiments aboard the Station and provide the first permanent manned capability. Continuous occupation will be achieved in the following missions before the end of this year with a crew of three astronauts, taking the Station into its operational phase even though there are many more missions to come before assembly is completed. These two major events will allow us to begin the New Millennium with real progress in our global partnership! Of course, ESA can be proud of its major contribution to this Zvezda module: the Data Management System (DMS-R) will control Russia’s station elements,and provide guidance and navigation for the whole orbital complex. ESA, together with a European industrial consortium headed by DASA in Bremen (D) and including Belgian, Dutch and French partners, was responsible for the design, development and delivery of DMS-R. ESA has provided it in return for Russia’s docking system for the Agency’s Automated Transfer Vehicle, so that both sides receive important elements with no exchange of funds. Zvezda also carries Europe’s Global Time System (GTS) as the Station’s first externally-mounted experiment, broadcasting accurate A Year of Milestones Jörg Feustel-Büechl ESA Director of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity
Transcript
Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and MicrogravityDirection des Vols Habité et la Microgravité
on stationin this issue
A Year of Milestones
Jörg Feustel-Büechl
ESA Director of Manned Spaceflight
and Microgravity
Columbus: the First Milestone 4
News 6
Europe’s Robotic Arm 10
Richard H. Bentall
Biolab 12
Pierfilippo Manieri
New Star in Orbit 14
Christian Feichtinger
Stone, Survival & Yeast
experiments 17
Preparing for Space 20
Mark Mouret & Didier Schmitt
Input for Space 22
The Newsletter of the Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity
number 2, march 2000
foreword
foton-12 results
microgravity
columbus
zvezda
simulation
era
astronauts
recent & relevant
We can be certain that this is a crucial
year for the International Space Station,
both in respect of the programme’s global
partnership and of the many events of
considerable importance for our European
part of the programme.
Globally, we are now looking forward to
the launch of Russia’s ‘Zvezda’ Service
Module which was originally expected to
appear last year but, owing to Proton launcher problems, was
postponed. Now the Space Station Partners have agreed on a launch
window of 8-14 July from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It marks an
important milestone in Space Station history because it will open up
opportunities for the first experiments aboard the Station and
provide the first permanent manned capability. Continuous
occupation will be achieved in the following missions before the end
of this year with a crew of three astronauts, taking the Station into its
operational phase even though there are many more missions to
come before assembly is completed.
These two major events will allow us to begin the New
Millennium with real progress in our global partnership!
Of course, ESA can be proud of its major contribution to this
Zvezda module: the Data Management System (DMS-R) will control
Russia’s station elements, and provide guidance and navigation for
the whole orbital complex. ESA, together with a European industrial
consortium headed by DASA in Bremen (D) and including Belgian,
Dutch and French partners, was responsible for the design,
development and delivery of DMS-R. ESA has provided it in return for
Russia’s docking system for the Agency’s Automated Transfer Vehicle,
so that both sides receive important elements with no exchange of
funds.
Zvezda also carries Europe’s Global Time System (GTS) as the
Station’s first externally-mounted experiment, broadcasting accurate
A Year of MilestonesJörg Feustel-BüechlESA Director of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity
FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON
MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS INPHYSICAL SCIENCES & BIOTECHNOLOGY
10-15 September 2000 Sorrento, Italy
Co-sponsored byASI, CNES, CSA, DLR, ESA, NASA and NASDA
Aims and ScopeThe Symposium intends to provide a forum for scientists from academia and industry topresent and discuss recent advances in their research on gravity-dependent phenomena inPhysical Sciences and Biotechnology. Results originating from theoretical work, numericalmodelling, ground-based and flight investigations are solicited. The major topics includeFundamental Physics, Fluid Physics, Heat and Mass Transport Phenomena, PhysicalChemistry, Fluid Thermodynamics, Thermophysical Properties of Fluids, Combustion,Solidification Physics and the Crystallisation of Inorganic Materials and BiologicalMacromolecules. Topics in Biology and Bioengineering, which are expected to benefitfrom cross-fertilisation and synergy with physicists, such as multi-phase flows and surfacephysical chemistry, including structured deposition of macromolecules, will also beaddressed.
International Scientific Committee ChairmanProf. Ilya Prigogine, Nobel Laureate in ChemistryULB Brussels, BelgiumUniversity of Texas at Austin, USA
Symposium ChairmanProf. Antonio VivianiSeconda Università di NapoliAversa, Italy
Co-ChairmanProf. Francesco GaetaMicrogravity Advanced Researchand Support Centre, Naples, Italy
ESA CoordinatorDr. Olivier MinsterESA/ESTECNoordwijk, The Netherlands
timing and data signals to multiple users
on Earth. It is a European pilot project and,
just as important, a commercial project in
a joint venture with industry.
In a European context, we have already
achieved an impressive number of
milestones even before we consider the
rest of the year. To begin with our
Columbus general-purpose laboratory, we
have recently seen the flight unit of its
primary structure delivered by Alenia
Aerospazio (I). This year will also see the
Critical Design Review for Columbus,
which then paves the way for the
completion of all the remaining
manufacturing tasks by prime contractor
DASA (D). This same primary structure is
used by Italy’s Multi-Purpose Logistics
Module (MPLM), for which ESA has
contributed the environmental control
and life support system, elements of which
will also be used by Columbus. MPLM’s
maiden flight aboard the Space Shuttle
next Spring will provide confidence for
the Columbus programme. That same
flight will also see Umberto Guidoni
becoming the first ESA astronaut aboard
the Station.
For our second major Station
infrastructure contribution, the Automated
Transfer Vehicle (ATV), we are less
advanced than Columbus because the
project began later but nevertheless there
are important events this year. The most
important is the Preliminary Design
Review which we hope will lead to a
consolidation of all the requirements to
give to our ATV industrial consortium
headed by Aerospatiale (F).
We have already achieved a very
important milestone in respect of our
European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in
Cologne. We have come to an agreement
with all the European participants – in
particular the German side, DLR – to make
arrangements for a stronger EAC team.
That team will be enriched by a number of
representatives from National Agencies,
primarily from DLR but also from CNES of
France and ASI of Italy, to build up a strong
group in Cologne. It will have to do all the
tasks that are related to the crew onboard
the Station and, in particular, the European
astronauts who will be working onboard
at a later stage. That agreement is an
important organisational milestone.
Concerning the preparations for
Station utilisation, our long-term efforts
towards the Microgravity Applications
Programme (MAP) are now showing the
first positive results. 24 projects were
recently selected and approved by our
committees for realisation in partnership
between ESA, National Agencies, research
institutes and industry, and should lead to
promising opportunities on the Space
Station.
There is another essential milestone to
come this year and that is the further
preparation of the Exploitation Programme.
The Ministers of the ESA Member States
approved the first step, the so-called Early
Activities, at their May 1999 meeting in
Brussels and we are now preparing more
decisions to be taken in 2001 at the next
Ministerial meeting that will lead to an
industrial contract starting on 1 January
2002. This process is expected to produce
an industrial group that takes over the
operations of all our elements in the Space
Station Exploitation Programme for the
entire timeframe from 2002 up to the
currently planned Station end of life is
2013 (which could be prolonged by
5 years or so). The basic decisions
regarding operations are to be made in
the March meeting of the ESA Council
and, provided these decisions are positive,
we will start the necessary procedures to
create an operations contract worth more
than EUR 2 billion before the 2001
Ministerial Meeting. So we have to aim at
having such a contract ready by about the
middle of next year.
There is yet another milestone to come
related to the Exploitation Programme: the
preparation for the commercial utilisation
of the International Space Station. And
there we are not yet as far along as for the
industrial operator, but we are
nevertheless working closely with all
interested parties to set up a scenario and,
later on, an organisation that deals
efficiently with the commercial utilisation
of Europe’s elements. Again, of course, that
is an activity involving our global partners
because there are basic rules regarding
access conditions still to be agreed upon,
but it is also an important undertaking
here in Europe to create the best
organisation and the best way for doing
business aboard the International Space
Station. ■
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ESA/
D.Du
cros
On 28 January, ESA took possession fromAlenia Spazio of the primary structure of theColumbus module – and immediately returnedit to industry. At a meeting in Alenia’s Turinfacility, representatives of ESA, the Italian spaceagency (ASI), Alenia and DASA (the Columbus
prime contractor) evaluated thestatus of the primary structureand its associateddocumentation. Following thediscussions, and an informalinspection of the actualhardware, ESA’s Columbusproject manager, Alan Thirkettle,accepted the structure from
Silvana Rabbia, ASI’s Multi Purpose LogisticsModule (MPLM) programme manager.
Why were ASI involved in this exercise? In1985, as part of the preparation for the mannedspace flight package that became Europe’sparticipation in the International Space Station,ESA and ASI signed an arrangement tocooperate on the development of mannedspace modules. Under this arrangement, ESAagreed to develop and deliver theEnvironmental Control and Life Support (ECLS)equipment for Columbus and the three MPLMs,in exchange for which ASI would develop anddeliver the primary structures for both vehicles.In this way, each agency was relieved of the
development of significant portions of majorsubsystems, thereby saving tens of millions ofEuros.
MPLM is making a unique contribution tothe overall Space Station logistics system,because it is the only module capable ofdelivering complete Payload Racks to the spacecomplex. It is part of a bilateral arrangementbetween ASI and NASA, whereby ASI hasexclusive access to certain Space Stationutilisation rights in exchange for the supply ofthe three MPLMs (Leonardo, Raffaello andDonatello) to NASA. Details of the MPLM/ECLScan be found in ESA brochure BR-143 and atthe website<http://esapub.esrin.esa.it/br/br.htm#BR143 >.
The primary structure is the first completedpart of the Columbus module Flight Model, but
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columbus
The Columbus module isthe cornerstone of Europe’s
contribution to theInternational Space Station.
The Flight Model’s firstmajor element is now
complete
CColumbus:olumbus:the Fthe First Mirst M ilestilestoneone
The completed primarystructure for Columbus.
Columbus is a general-purpose laboratory,supporting the mostsophisticated research inweightlessness for at least 10 years. (ESA/D. Ducros)
there is a lot of work to be performed before itbecomes a complete laboratory ready forlaunch and the beginning of operationalexploitation in 2004/2005. The first segment ofintegration and test activities will be carriedout at Alenia – installing the secondarystructure, the harness, ducting and plumbing,all the ECLS and thermal control equipment,and the external multi-layer insulation andMicrometeoroid/Debris Protection items. Thiscollection glorifies under the name of the ‘Pre-Integrated Columbus Assembly’ (PICA), andAlenia are responsible for PICA under a sub-contract to DASA. It is for this contractual reasonthat ESA accepted the structure from ASI andimmediately handed it over to the Alenia/PICAproject manager, Giuseppe Finocchiaro. ESAbrochure BR-144 (reproduced at<http://esapub.esrin.esa.it/br/br144/BR144.pdf >)gives more information on the Columbusproject, its ground segment and its initialpayloads.
The primary structure is constructed from analuminium alloy (2219) that was chosen for itscombination of strength, durability andextreme suitability for welding. It consists of anumber of panels that were integrallymachined while still flat, formed into shape,and welded into cylinders and conicalelements. Finally, the assembly was welded intoa single structure. At one end is an opening forthe hatch through which astronauts will accessthe module once it is in orbit, and which can beclosed tight to isolate Columbus in the unlikelyevent of an emergency. At the other end is a2.5m-diameter hole through which the largerelements of the Columbus sub-assemblies –such as integrated subsystem racks – can enterduring the manufacturing phase. After internal
assembly is completed, the hole will be closedwith a large bolted plate.
The primary structure weighs in at precisely3004 kg, some 40 kg less than specification,and represents about a quarter of the totallaunch mass of Columbus. It has a diameter ofabout 4.2 m and a length of some 6.2 m, and aminimum shell thickness of 3.8 mm.
Following completion of Alenia’s PICAactivities in about Spring 2001, the assemblywill be transported to DASA’s Bremen site inGermany, where the avionics equipment will beinstalled and the system acceptance testingcompleted. The immediate future of Columbusafter that depends on the International SpaceStation assembly sequence. However, the firstmain element of ESA’s Columbus module is nowready for the next step on the journey intoorbit. ■
One end cone includes thehatch opening and twocircular holes for mountingpressure relief valves.
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Columbus principal characteristics
Launch mass 12700 kgVolume 75m3 (50m3 with payload)Initial payload mass 2500 kg (5 ISPRs + payloads)Payload mass on orbit 10160 kg (9000 kg internal +
1160 kg external)
Number of active payload racks 10 ISPRsNumber of stowage racks 3 ISPRs
Total power available 20 kWPower for payloads up to 13.5 kW
Data rate up to 43 Mbit/s
Atmosphere 959-1013 mbar, 16-30°C,nitrogen/oxygen
Alan Thirkettle accepts the Columbus structure from Silvana Rabbia.
The first step towards thecommercialisation of the Columbusmodule’s microgravity researchfacilities was taken in January with thecompletion of a 4-month study byindustry. The prime contractorsresponsible for developing theseMicrogravity Facilities for Columbus(MFC) undertook the first phase increating a strategy to seekcommercial users for their facilities:MMS-F (F) for Biolab; Alenia (I) for theFluid Science Laboratory; DASA-RI/Dornier (D) for the MaterialsScience Laboratory; and OHB (D) forthe European Physiology Modules.
It is the first time that thecompanies developing thelaboratories have been involved indefining such a strategy. In this firstphase it was proposed that the MFCprimes would nurture thecommercialisation process through:– identifying the type of commercial
applications and the related industries that could benefit from the facilities;
– incorporating the commercial requirements in the facility designs (which are being developed mainly using scientific requirements), by setting up an Industrial Advisory Team for each;
– contributing to the awareness within companies at large of the Space Station, microgravity researchand MFC by generating documentation and using existing hardware as demonstration tools;
– defining the roles of industrial primes, Facility Responsible Centres and National Agencies in the commercialisation activities;
– initiating feasibility studies on the use of MFC facilities, e.g. on parabolic and Spacehab flights,
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Recent & RelevantCommercialisation of Microgravity Facilities
EVA simulations at NASA’s JohnsonSpace Center have successfullydemonstrated that externalequipment on ESA’s Columbusmodule can be replaced byspacewalking astronauts. ESAastronaut Pedro Duque, currentlyassigned to the MSM Module ProjectsDivision, participated in January’sweek-long test in NASA’s NeutralBuoyancy Tank using a full-scaleColumbus mock-up. Items such as themeteoroid/debris panels, pressurerelief valves and the External PayloadFacility assembly were successfully
before Columbus is launched;– preparing and initiating pathfinder
projects with selected commercial customers to demonstrate the identified strategy by generating actual commercial use of the MFC facilities, especially during ESA’s early flight opportunities on the Station.
These approaches will be elaboratedduring the second phase, beginningin mid-2000 and lasting until aboutthe end of the year. ■
A ‘Theme Park’ at ESTEC’s User Centre would promote awareness of the Space Station’s MFC facilities and theircommercial potential.
‘maintained’ by the crew, andthe siting of externalhandrails, slide wires andworkstations were evaluated.During the exercise,Columbus was attached to arepresentation of Node-2and the crew worked from asimulated Space StationRemote Manipulator System,as well as in the ‘free flying’mode. ■
Columbus EVA Tests Successful
Lowering the Columbus module mock-upinto the pool for EVA evaluations.
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Recent & RelevantThree More Join theAstronaut Corps
Following his selection in October1998, Belgian Frank De Winne joinedthe European Astronaut Corps at theEuropean Astronaut Centre (EAC) inCologne, Germany, on 1 January. Forthe moment, he is on assignment atESTEC supporting the X-38 and CrewRescue Vehicle programmes,specifically calling on his experienceas a test pilot dealing with the man-machine and crew interfaces.
De Winne’s arrival brought theEuropean Astronaut Corps to astrength of 16. The two experiencedFrench astronauts, Claudie André-Deshays, who flew on Mir in 1996, andMichel Tognini, who flew on Mir in1992 and the Shuttle in 1999, joinedthe corps on 1 November 1999.André-Deshays is working at EACsupporting the development ofMicrogravity Facilities for Columbusand D/MSM’s medical operationalactivities. Tognini, resident at NASA’sJohnson Space Center, is working inthe International Space StationRobotics Branch supporting theMobile Base System and EuropeanRobotic Arm. He provides trainingsupport for Shuttle and InternationalSpace Station robotics and the ISSExpedition Corps. ■
First ESA Science Hardwareaboard Space Station
The flight hardware for what is likelyto be ESA’s first scientific equipmentaboard the International SpaceStation was delivered in February. Thethree flight units of the Hand-GripDynamometer and Pinch-ForceDynamometer (HGD-PFD) Systemwere shipped from ESTEC to the NASAJohnson Space Center and formallyhanded over to the US agency byproject manager John Ives on 1/2February. The instrument, as part ofNASA’s Human Research Facility, willhelp to evaluate muscle atrophy inthe hand and fingers caused byweightlessness. It will also be used forisometric exercise of these musclesand additionally act as a stressor tothe cardiovascular system.
HGD-PFD’s launch as part of HRFwas envisaged for Shuttle missionSTS-102, now scheduled for April2001, but it might appear earlier forinitial use as part of the Station’s CrewHealth Care System (CHeCS) and, inparticular, for evaluation of the hand-strength of the astronauts in connectionwith EVA activities. Opportunities forscientific investigations using thissystem are provided via the annualInternational Life Sciences ResearchAnnouncements. ■
HGD-PFD will be the first ESA science hardware aboardthe Space Station. The contractor was Kayser-Italia.
The Engineering Model ofthe BioGlovebox for ESA’sBiolab biological researchfacility was delivered inMarch by BradfordEngineering (NL) to Biolabprime contractor MatraMarconi Space (F) forintegration into the facility’sstructure. Biolab will belaunched aboard Europe’sColumbus module to theInternational Space Station.The glovebox will allowastronauts to work onbiological samples withoutthe risk of contamination.See pp12-13 for moreinformation on thisimportant project.
First MAP Projects to Begin
ESA’s Microgravity ApplicationPromotion (MAP) programme,designed to promote applications-oriented research in physical and lifesciences aboard the InternationalSpace Station, will soon see its firstprojects underway. After approval ofthe selected projects and theirbudgets by the Agency’s microgravityand manned space programmeboards (PBMG, PBMS) and IndustrialPolicy Committee in December andJanuary, contract negotiations withthe first European project teamsbegan in February.
Project teams include partnersfrom academic institutes, researchorganisations and industriallaboratories. On average, the industrialpartners will pay about 25% of aproject’s total cost. Selected topicsinclude improving industrialprocesses in the metallurgical and oilindustries, optimising and testing newhealth diagnostic techniques, andgrowing artificial tissues. At the end ofthis year, 40-50 projects are expectedto be active. Since the mixed fundingcomplicates these projects and theintellectual property issues, a standardcontract has been generated thatallows such a large number ofnegotiations to be performed in ashort time. The first MAP experimentsare expected to fly aboard soundingrockets and the Space Shuttle beforethe Space Station is utilised. ■
STS-95 (1999), each time operating for10 days and bringing back a largenumber of high-quality CCD imagesshowing solidification patterns inmicrogravity.
MOMO-3’s experiments aboardSTS-101 are dedicated to investigatingthe dynamics of cellular patterns onthe surface of growing solids duringdirectional solidification. MOMO andits first two missions were describedin On Station #1 (December 1999),pp.31. ■
Cupola Deliveries On Course
The two main structural elements forthe International Space StationCupola qualification model weredelivered to the prime contractor inFebruary. The multi-windowedCupola, which ESA is providing undera barter agreement with NASA, willallow the crew in the Station’s Node-3to monitor and control externaloperations by their fellow astronautsand the Station robots, as well asproximity operations by arriving anddeparting ferry vehicles. Launch isplanned for August 2003, aboard theSpace Shuttle.
ESA and Alenia Space Divisionsigned the contract for Phase C/D inFebruary 1999. Preparation of theprimary structure for the qualificationmodel is well underway with the twomain forgings – one for the dome andone for the cylindrical portion – nowdelivered to Alenia for final machiningand welding. Manufacturing of thequalification model’s shutteropen/close mechanism and of thewindow frames is also underway, as isthe Mechanical Ground SupportEquipment. The delivery of the DataPackage supporting the CupolaDesign Consolidation was completedin March. The review’s main objectivewas the release of the authorisationfor the integration of the CupolaStructural Test Article. Accessibilityand human factors aspects of theCupola design were reviewed by ESAand NASA astronauts in October 1999at Lindholmen in Sweden using a 1 gmock-up. ■
New Flight of MOMO
The MOMO (Morphological Transitionand Model Substances) facility will bemaking its third flight when it iscarried into space aboard SpaceShuttle mission STS-101 in April aspart of ESA’s EMIR-2 microgravityprogramme. MOMO is providingfundamental knowledge on thesolidification of metals – crucial forimproving industrial casting processes– by observing the solidification of atransparent sample material. It hasalready flown on STS-84 (1997) and
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recent & relevant
Corrigendum
James Tabony, listed as the authorof ‘Gravity Triggers MicrotubulePattern Formation In Vitro’ in OnStation #1 (December 1999, pp24-27), would like to acknowledge C. Papaseit and N. Pochon as co-authors. He also acknowledgesthe financial support of CNES.
analysis. (See ESA brochure BR-143,‘Life Support for the Multi-PurposeLogistics Module’ for details; anelectronic version is posted at<http://esapub.esrin.esa.it/br/br.htm#BR143>)
Three ECLS flight units have beendelivered to ASI: two have alreadybeen integrated in the Leonardo andRaffaello modules and the last will bein Donatello before the end of theyear. The last pieces of ESA hardwarewere actually delivered in November.Leonardo will make the first MPLMflight aboard Shuttle mission STS-102in April 2001, accompanied byUmberto Guidoni as the first ESAastronaut aboard the Space Station. ■
The imminent formal transfer ofhardware ownership will completeESA’s contribution to Italy’s Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM). Aspart of a Barter Arrangement with theItalian Space Agency (ASI; see p.4),ESA has provided the EnvironmentalControl and Life Support (ECLS)Subsystem in exchange for theColumbus primary structure. MPLMwill be used by the Space Shuttle todeliver complete payload racks andother equipment to the InternationalSpace Station.
The ECLSS circulates fresh airthroughout MPLM, controls thepressure while the module is isolatedfrom the rest of the Station, looks forsmoke and allows air sampling for
The stretched forging
for the dome of the
Cupola qualification
model was recently
delivered to Alenia.
ESA’s MPLM Work Completed
Recent & Relevant
Artificial Meteorites Lost
The second artificial meteoriteexperiment co-sponsored by ESA wasthwarted in February when its carriersuffered some damage and thesamples were lost. The first ‘Stone’experiment, to study the changes
Three ESA Astronauts Complete Two Missions
The landing of Space Shuttle Endeavour on 22 February concluded the flights of three ESA astronauts on two highlysuccessful missions. Gerhard Thiele (left) began his first space mission on 11 February as part of the STS-99 Shuttle RadarTopography Mission that will lead to 30 m-resolution digital topographic and radar maps of 80% of the Earth’s surface.The round-the-clock mapping operations generated enough data to fill more than 20000 CDs.
Claude Nicollier and Jean-François Clervoy took part in the spectacular STS-103 mission of 20-28 December to servicethe Hubble Space Telescope. Nicollier became the first ESA astronaut to perform an EVA (right) when he and NASAastronaut Michael Foale replaced Hubble’s computer. Clervoy acted as the robot arm’s main operator, manoeuvring the
spacewalkers around Hubbleand the payload bay.
The next flight of an ESAastronaut is planned for April2001, when Umberto Guidonibecomes the first Agencycrewmember aboard theInternational Space Station. Thatmission will also see the debutof Italy’s Multi-Purpose LogisticsModule (MPLM), for which ESAhas provided the environmentalcontrol and life support system. ■
Claude Nicollier at right and Gerhard Thiele at
left.
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low-cost return from orbit, andD/MSM took the chance to installthree Stone-2 samples (basalt,dolomite and a sandstone) on thenose to endure the hottest part ofreentry.
Soyuz was launched at 23.20 UT on8 February from BaikonurCosmodrome, and the Fregat upperstage apparently performed well.After five orbits, it released the IRDTdemonstrator for reentry. The snowyweather and no signals from the radiobeacon meant that the capsule wasnot found until 14 February. It wasfound to be damaged, with thesamples having disappeared alongwith a large part of IRDT’s thermalprotection, probably because the heatload was greater than expected.However, in view of the high interestamong the scientific community, theAgency hopes to sponsor similarexperiments on future recoverablecapsules. ■
undergone by meteorites during theirhigh-speed passage through theEarth’s atmosphere, was successful inSeptember – see p.17 for the results –but the Stone-2 samples did notsurvive their journey on theexperimental capsule.
The low-cost opportunity arosebecause the Soyuz-Fregatlauncher was undergoingits first of two flight testsas part of the contract tolaunch the Agency’s fourCluster satellites thissummer. ESA, DASA andthe European Commissionco-sponsored theexperimental InflatableReentry and DescentTechnology (IRDT)capsule, to demonstrate
The three Stone-2 samples weremounted on a panel within the ring,but it was lost during reentry.
Recent & Relevant
IntroductionThe European Robotic Arm (ERA) is acooperative venture between ESA andRosaviakosmos (RAKA), the Russianspace agency. ERA began life as the
Hermes Robot Arm(HERA) for the Hermesmini-shuttle. WhenHermes wasdiscontinued, studies forit to fly on Russia’s proposed Mir-2 second generation spacestation were conducted betweenFokker Space (then Fokker) andRSC-Energia. These studieshighlighted the value of a roboticmanipulator for space stationoperations in reducing the timeneeded for expensive manned
activities in a hazardous environment.Following Russia joining the International
Space Station (ISS) programme in 1993, theERA cooperation continued and the arm wasformally incorporated into the station’s RussianSegment in July 1996. ERA’s development isfunded by ESA with Fokker Space of TheNetherlands as its prime contractor leading aEuropean consortium. Russia’s industrial
partner for Fokker remains RSC-Energia, who isthe prime contractor of the Russian Segment,under contract to RAKA.
ERA is expected to arrive at the Stationduring the course of 2002. It will be mountedon the Science and Power Platform (SPP) of theRussian Segment, with the composite beinglaunched aboard the US Shuttle. Once installedin orbit, ERA will help to assemble the RussianSegment. Amongst its first tasks will be theinstallation of the SPP’s solar arrays.
ERA’s Principal FeaturesAlthough smaller than Canada’s Space StationRemote Manipulator System (SSRMS), ERA is a large robot by any standards – it is about 11.3 m long and weighs some 630 kg. It isfunctionally symmetrical, with each end
sporting an ‘End-Effector’ thatworks either as a hand for therobot or as a base from whichthe arm can operate. ERA hasseven joints (in order: roll, yaw,pitch, pitch, pitch, yaw, roll), ofwhich six can operate at anyone time. This configurationallows ERA to relocate itself onto different ‘Basepoints’ on theSPP, using an End-Effector-mounted camera to locate aBasepoint accurately.
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era
RReaching Out in Seaching Out in Spacpace:e:EEururopopee’’s Rs Robobotic Aotic Arrmm
Richard H. Bentall, ERA Project Manager, Manned Spaceflight Programme Department,D/MSM, ESTEC, Postbus 299, 2200 AG,The NetherlandsEmail: [email protected]
ESA’s ‘intelligent’ EuropeanRobotic Arm will play an
important role inassembling and servicing
the International SpaceStation. The Flight Model
will be assembled this year,ready to begin space
operations in 2002. Here,ESA’s Project Manager
discusses the status of thisinnovative robot.
(ESA
/D.D
ucro
s)
The ERA Engineering/Qualification Model at FokkerSpace in the zero-g testfacility. The elbow joint issupported (right), while oneend is free to move on the airbearing and platform at left.The other end is anchoredbehind (hidden).
Each End-Effector includes a special fixtureto grapple and carry payloads of up to 8 t at amaximum tip speed of 20 cm/s with apositioning accuracy of 3 mm. Through thisfixture, the arm can supply power andexchange data and video signals. In addition, itfeatures a built-in tool (Integrated Service Tool)that can activate small mechanisms in thegrappled payload. Equipped with a footrestraint, ERA will prove useful in carryingastronauts during extravehicular activities andproviding them with a platform as they work inweightlessness.
ERA is unusual in that its main computer ismounted on the arm itself, providing theastronauts with a simpler control interface.There are two such interfaces: one carriedinside Russia’s Zvezda Service Module, and theother is outside the station for use by an EVAastronaut, another first for ERA. Zvezda’sinternal interface uses a space-rated butotherwise standard laptop computer. Pre-programmed operations are possible: theoperator can trigger tasks and allow ERA toperform them automatically.
Different ERA ModelsA number of ERA models have beenmanufactured. Two full-size versions have beendelivered to Russia: the Geometric Model is foruse in physical configuration tests at RSC-Energia, and the ‘WET’ (WeightlessEnvironmental Test) Model is for crew trainingat the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre atStar City near Moscow. The WET Model includesmanual overrides for every mechanism, whichwould allow an astronaut to take control inorbit should there be a failure and the arm hasto be placed in its ‘safe’ configuration.
In addition to ERA’s physical models, theproject is also developing simulators for Russia.These simulate the arm’s performance in
handling payloads – generating graphicsimulations – that allow engineers to developthe special robotic procedures and to followERA operations in space while they are beingperformed. These simulators, to be located atRSC-Energia and the Gagarin centre, will alsobe used for training astronauts to operate ERA.A similar simulator will be retained at ESTEC forthe ERA flight and ground software to bemaintained and sustaining engineeringsupport to be provided to Russia during ERA’soperational phase.
Crews will maintain their high level ofexpertise in orbit by means of a special‘Refresher Trainer’. This is a reduced simulationof ERA built into a laptop used in a completelystand-alone fashion. This enables theastronauts already aboard the Space Station topractise a whole ERA operation before it isdone for real.
Two main ERA developmentmodels have been built. TheEngineering/Qualification Model(EQM) has already undergone somecritical testing. Last November, it wassubjected to the vacuum andradiation of space in the LargeSpace Simulator (LSS) at ESTEC, andits thermal balance was checked.The EQM has now returned toFokker Space in Leiden, where it ismounted on a quasi zero-g facility.This facility suspends the arm in ahorizontal position where it canmove with a planar motionsupported by air bearings. The bearings floaton a small platform on the top of a trolley thatfollows the arm. In this way, the arm’s motion isas free as possible of gravity disturbances andits performance is close to what is expected inthe space environment.
The second development version is theFlight Model itself, due for assembly and testthis year. It will undergo vibration testing atESTEC to prove its structural strength and itsbuild quality for the Shuttle launch. It will bedelivered to Russia in early 2001, ready forlaunch the following year. Under a July 1996agreement, Russia will take ownership of theflight hardware once it is launched, inexchange for which ESA will participate inrobotics activities aboard the Station andAgency astronauts will be trained at theGagarin centre. The ground systems remain theproperty of ESA. ■
Close-up of the End-Effector,which can act as ERA’s "hand"or base.
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The ERA Engineering/Qualification Model in the Large SpaceSimulator at ESTEC in November 1999 for thermal balance testing.The main graphite booms are about 5 m long.
Delicate biological samplescan be handled inside theBioGlovebox.
IntroductionThe Biolab biological research facility – a majorcontributor to the scientific capabilities of ESA’sColumbus International Space Station module
– is about to begin its CriticalDesign Review (CDR). Theindustrial consortium is now wellalong in building theEngineering Model andpreparing for the CDR, plannedfor April-June 2000. A successfulreview will allow delivery of the
Flight Model in mid-2001. The Phase C/Dcontract was signed with the prime contractor,Matra Marconi Space, Toulouse, in December1997, and the Preliminary Design Review wassuccessfully completed in January 1999.
Why Biology in Space?The effect of gravity onbiological samples hasbeen one of the mostimportant areas ofresearch on numerousspace missions because ofits fundamental influenceover our lives. For thisreason, ESA has longmaintained a strongcomplement of biologyresearch facilities andequipment on European,US and Russian spacecraft.With the Space Station erabeckoning, ESA in 1988began scientific andfeasibility studies towardsdefining Biolab. As a multi-
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microgravity
BBiolabiolabESA’s New BiologicalResearch Facility
Biologists are eagerlyanticipating access to ESA’s
Biolab facility aboardColumbus. The project isabout to enter a critical
stage...
user facility, Biolab is designed to perform awide range of biological experiments, fromcells to micro-organisms, small plants and smallinvertebrates.
Biolab’s DesignBiolab is integrated into an InternationalStandard Payload Rack. In the automated CoreUnit (left side), where the experiments areactually performed, all activities are automaticafter manual loading by the crew. With such ahigh level of automation, the demand on crewtime is drastically reduced. The manual section(right side) is mainly for sample storage andspecific crew activities.
Pierfilippo ManieriBiolab Project Manager, Microgravity Facilities for Columbus Division,D/MSM, ESTEC, Postbus 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The NetherlandsEmail: [email protected]
Microscope
Handling Mechanism
BioGlovebox
Incubator
AutomaticAmbient Stowage
Automatic TemperatureControlled Stowage
Remote PowerDistribution Assembly
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The main element of the Core Unitis the large Incubator, a thermally-
controlled volume where theexperiments take place. The Incubator’s
thermal housing is being built by Ferrariusing mass-saving composite materials
derived from Formula 1 racing technology.A major effort is underway to ensure that themore than 150 metallic inserts are embeddedaccurately in the composite to interface withthe Incubator elements.
Inside the Incubator, two centrifuges caneach hold up to six Experiment Containers(ECs) and be independently spun to generateartificial gravity in the range from 10-3 g to 2.0 g. Both are very precisely balanced, to avoiddisturbing the Space Station’s microgravityenvironment. The Experiment Containers arebasically ‘empty boxes’, with standard interfacesto Biolab, to carry the biological samples.Scientists need to concentrate only on theExperiment Hardware contained by the EC,with an available volume of 60 x 60 x 100 mm3.
On top of the Incubator, adrawer supports the HandlingMechanism, the AutomaticStowage (ambient andtemperature-controlled) unitsand the two AnalysisInstruments (a microscope anda spectrophotometer).The Handling Mechanism is thekey element of Biolab’sautomation, providingautomatic operations such as
Biolab Principal AdvantagesAutomation: entire experiments without crew involvement.Diagnostics: automated, in situ analysis of samples.
1 g reference: two centrifuges allow simultaneous 0 g and 1 gexperiments under identical environmental conditions.
Flexibility: standard Experiment Container and controlled conditions allow a wide variety of experiments, with only simple Experiment Hardware to be developed by scientists.
Modularity: in-orbit corrective and preventive maintenance,with potential upgrade of facility elements.
Telescience: all automated features can be controlled from Earth,allowing scientists to interact with their running experiments.
Spectrophotometer
Laptop Computer
Standard PayloadComputer
Temperature ControlledUnit 1 & 2
Biolab’s left side houses theautomated units, while theright side is devoted tomanual elements.
The engineering model of Biolab’s centrifugeat OHB-System (D). Each centrifuge can carrysix Experiment Containers; two fit into thegaps in the foreground.
withdrawal of samples from the ECs and theirinsertion into the Analysis Instruments forimmediate, in situ analysis. This HandlingMechanism can also place samples in theAutomatic Stowage units for preservation orfurther analysis later.
Biolab’s manual section carries a Laptop forcrew control, two Temperature Controlled Units(TCUs, for sample storage) and a BioGlovebox(BGB). The TCUs are cooler/freezers (+10°C to–20°C) for storing larger items and ECs. Tominimise mass, the TCU skeleton is CarbonFibre Reinforced Plastic on which are gluedlayers of aluminised kapton as an infraredradiation barrier. Taking advantage of the lackof convection in microgravity, the air betweenthe layers also acts as thermal insulation. TheBGB is a ‘safe’ cabinet for handling toxicmaterials (such as the fixatives used toterminate biology experiments) and delicatebiological samples that must be protectedagainst contamination by the Space Stationenvironment. An ozone generator ensuressterilisation of the BGB working volume. Thisgenerator was developed specially for Biolabbut it could also become a useful spin-off onEarth, where, for example, it could be used forsterilising dental equipment. ■
Biolab’s ExperimentContainer with three samplevials. The large cylinder atright is part of theperformance verificationhardware in this test EC.
Zvezda (left) is the thirdinfrastructure element of theSpace Station.(ESA/D. Ducros)
Station Assembly ResumesThe Zvezda (‘star’) Service Module will be thefirst fully Russian contribution to theInternational Space Station and will serve asthe early cornerstone for the first humanhabitation of the complex. Zvezda’s ‘brain’ isESA’s Data Management System (DMS-R)which, ultimately, will perform overall control ofall Russian station elements, and guidance andnavigation for the whole Station.
Zvezda’s launch is planned for8-14 July on a Proton boosterfrom the Baikonur Cosmodromein Kazahkstan. It will be the thirdStation infrastructure element toreach orbit, docking with the
Zarya/Unity pair that has been flying sinceDecember 1998 at an altitude of about 400 km.At the time of Unity’s docking, Zvezda’s launchwas expected for July 1999 but fundingdifficulties on the Russian side and two Protonlaunch failures in 1999 combined to create ayear’s delay.
Zvezda is similar in layout to the coremodule of Russia’s Mir station – indeed, thedesign was originally intended for the Mir-2complex planned in the late 1980s. It willprovide the Station’s early living quarters forthe crew of three, life support system, electricalpower distribution, data processing, flightcontrol, propulsion and a communicationssystem that includes remote commandcapabilities by ground controllers. Althoughmany of these systems will be supplementedby later Station components, Zvezda willalways remain the structural and functionalcentre of the Russian Segment.
The module is 13 m long and spans 30 macross its solar arrays. Its three pressurisedsections begin with the 1.35 m-diameterspherical Transfer Compartment at the forwardend, followed by the long, cylindrical main
Work Compartment, and completed by the 2.0 m-diameter cylindrical aft Transfer Chamber.An unpressurised Assembly Compartmentwraps around the Transfer Chamber to houseexternal equipment such as propellant tanks,thrusters and communications antennas.
Zvezda’s four docking ports are dividedbetween one aft and three in the sphericalnode: forward, up and down. The probe andcone docking mechanism of the aft port (seeOn Station #1 pp.20-22 for a description) willreceive the Russian manned Soyuz andProgress ferry and ESA’s Automated TransferVehicle (ATV). Its Kurs (‘course’) automaticrendezvous and docking system has long beenused in Mir operations, and special ESA laserretroreflectors have been added on the aft endfor use by ATV for rendezvous and docking. The
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zvezda
NNeew Sw Star in Orbittar in Orbit
Christian FeichtingerMSM Programme Representative in Moscow,Sretensky Boulevard 6/1, 122, Moscow 101000, RussiaEmail: [email protected]
The Zvezda module is acornerstone of the
International Space Station– with major help from ESA
Zvezda integration at the BaikonurCosmodrome.
The aft end of Zvezda, whereATV, Soyuz and Progress will
dock.
forward docking ports all carry hybrid dockingmechanisms for attachment to Zarya (forward-facing), and the later additions of Russia’s
Science and Power Platform (up) andUniversal Docking Module (down).
Like Mir, Zvezda’s livingaccommodation provides two personalsleeping quarters, a toilet and hygieneunit, a galley with a refrigerator-freezerand a table for securing meals whileeating. The 14 windows offer directviewing of docking activities, the Earthand other Station elements. Exerciseequipment includes a treadmill and afixed bicycle. Cosmonauts wearingOrlan-M spacesuits will venture outusing the Transfer Compartment as anairlock. Zvezda also provides data,voice and TV links with mission control
centres in Moscow and Houston.Once in orbit, pre-programmed onboard
commands will activate Zvezda’s systems anddeploy the solar arrays and antennas. Themodule then acts as the passive target whileZarya/Unity perform the rendezvous anddocking via ground control and the Kursautomatic system. After docking, Zvezda’sguidance and propulsion systems take overthose functions from Zarya, which thenbecomes the Station’s propellant depot andthe passageway between Unity and Zvezda.
The ScheduleSince it was delivered to the Baikonurintegration and test facility in June 1999,Zvezda has been undergoing final integrationand intensive electrical and vacuum chambertesting. The 60-day launch preparationsequence begins in May:• solar array mounting • storage/installation of removable items, such
as spacesuits, food, medical kits• removal of red protection covers • filling of the thermal control system
(irreversible process)• final mass measurement• final electrical checks, in particular checks of
the pyro devices, antenna opening mechanisms and telemetry
• final hatch closures (L-28/30 days)• attaching the main fairing and adapter ring• transfer to fuelling station (L-10 days)• fuelling operations (3 days): fuel, oxidiser, air,
oxygen• transfer to Proton integration facility• mounting on Proton, final electrical tests
• launcher roll-out (L-5 days) and erection on launch pad
• module self-test (L-0.5 day), including DMS-R• power-on of Zvezda’s control system (L-several
hours), including DMS-R, ready for launch• final control system update via ground
umbilical (L-1 hour)
DMS-R: the European Heart of ZvezdaESA, together with a European industrialconsortium headed by DASA in Bremen (D)and including Belgian, Dutch and Frenchpartners, was responsible for the design,development and delivery of Zvezda’s DMS-Rcore data management system. Columbus andATV will use similar systems, thereby reducingtheir development costs. ESA provided DMS-Rin return for Rosaviakosmos supplying twoflight unit docking systems for the Agency’sATV, so that both sides receive importantelements with no exchange of funds.
DMS-R provides system and subsystemmonitoring and control for Zvezda, includingreal-time computing for guidance, navigationand control of the whole Station. It is based ona modular architecture with a two-failuretolerant philosophy applied to safety criticaland essential functions. DMS-R consists of twoFault Tolerant Computers (FTCs), each of threeidentical Fault Containment Regions (FCRs),with each FCR in a separate box to facilitate on-orbit exchange. The three FCRs areinterconnected and perform continuous votingon the input and output data for automaticfault detection and fault masking. One FTCassumes the role of the Central Computer (CC),while the other is the Terminal Computer (TC).
The two sets of 3-box FaultTolerant Computers of DMS-Rinstalled in Zvezda.
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The architecture of ESA’sDMS-R aboard Zvezda.CC: Central Computer.TC: Terminal Computer.FCR: Fault ContainmentRegion.FTC: Fault Tolerant Computer.CP: Control Post.SM S/S: Service Modulesubsystems.FGB: Zarya module.ERA: European Robotic Arm.ATV: Automated TransferVehicle.TC: telecommand.TLM: telemetry.GNC: Guidance, Navigation &Control.
In addition, two Control Post Computers(CPCs), connected to dedicated Laptops, canbe configured to support differentapplications in parallel. This feature will beused during operation of the EuropeanRobotic Arm (ERA), which uses a CPC/Laptopchain as the man-machine interface whencontrolled from inside Zvezda. All FTCs andCPCs are interconnected via MIL-standard1553 busses; the CPCs are connected to ERAvia a dedicated 1553 bus. Some of the bussesare linked to the US Segment via Zarya, as wellas to the ATV when the supply vessel is dockedto Zvezda.
The two FTCs installed in Zvezda haveundergone intensive integrated testing atBaikonur. Zvezda will be sent into orbitwithout the two CPCs because of the need to
keep the launch mass down and delays withthe man-machine interface software. They willbe delivered aboard the first Progress supplyvehicle to the Station at the end of July 2000for installation by cosmonauts.
GTS: Zvezda’s First ExperimentThe European Global Time System (GTS)experiment on Zvezda will be the Station’s firstexternally-mounted experiment, broadcastingaccurate timing and data signals to multipleusers on Earth. It is a European pilot projectand, just as important, it is a commercialproject in a joint venture with industry. ESA ispaying for the launch and initial 2 years ofoperations in orbit, while the experiment itselfis funded by DLR (50%), DaimlerChrysler(37.5%) and Fortis Uhren GmbH (12.5%).Management and development of GTS is bythe technology transfer company SteisbeinTransferzentrum Raumfahrt of Reutlingen.Subcontractors are the Institute for SpaceflightSystems at the University of Stuttgart and theTimeTech company.
GTS will transmit high-performance and -accuracy timing signals, as well as coded data,to assess the signal quality and data rates andto measure disturbances such as multi-pathreflection, Doppler shifts, shadowing andelevation. The Station’s orbit means that smallground receivers anywhere within 70° N/S oflatitude can pick up these signals during 5-7periods of 5-12 minutes each day.
The signals are generated by a highly stableoscillator and broadcast at 400.1 MHz UHF byfour electronically-scanned phased arrayantennas, and at 1.4 GHz L-band by a crosseddipole antenna. A wide-angle UHF receivingantenna picks up information from theground. The same accurate timing signals canbe sent via dedicated connectors to anyscientific experiment running in the Station’sRussian Segment, making GTS just as usefulonboard.
The GTS antenna unit was fitted to Zvezdain December 1998 and the transmitterhardware will be delivered by a Progress ferryin late 2000 or early 2001 for installation by thecrew to begin the 2-year demonstration. Afteraccurate time reception and locationdetermination by ground users has beenproved, the pilot service could be transformedinto a fully commercial Station service,providing world-wide automatic timecorrection of clocks with built-in radioreceivers. ■
AOCS: 2x16 130 N thrusters + gyrodynes provide attitude control; orbit control by2x3070 N thrusters 2-axis gimballed ±5° Thrusters pressure-fed from four tankstotalling 860 kg nitrogen tetroxide/unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine. Attitudecontrol accuracy 1° each axis by thrusters, 0.5° by gyrodines. Attitude determinationto 0.5° each axis by 3 star trackers (1 arcmin accuracy), 3 IR horizon sensors (1°), 4solar sensors (3 arcmin) & 2 magnetometers (3°). Rate sensing by 4 gyros up to0.5°/s. GPS/Glonass receivers for location & velocity determination (possible upgradefor attitude determination).
Power: 2x38 m2 wings of silicon solar cells generate 9.8 kW at 31.5 Vdc, regulated to28.5 Vdc. Supported in eclipse by 8 nickel-cadmium batteries of 110 Ah eachbeginning-of-life (60 Ah after 2 years).
Life support: Zvezda is primary source of ISS oxygen – Elektron unit electrolyseswater to generate up to 5.13 kg/day. 4.5 kW heat rejection capacity maintains air T of18-28°C. Redundant cooling loops (each 30 litres polymethyl siloxane) with 10external radiators totalling 46 m2.
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Foton-12 ResultsArtificial Meteorites:
‘Stone’
Stone’s samples mounted in Foton’s heatshield. (left)
Foton’s capsule shortly after landing. Remains of thesimulated martian rock are at left, but the basaltsample and its holder were lost at top. (right)
Half of the international Foton-12mission was devoted to ESApayloads. On Station 1 (December1999, pp12-13) looked at the veryearly results of this September 1999flight. This issue presents the latestresults from three of the experiments.
Foton-12’s array of ESA investigationsincluded ‘Stone’, the world’s firstartificial meteorite experiment,designed to look at the changessuffered by meteorites during therigours of high-speed passagethrough the Earth’s atmosphere.Artificial meteorites using preciselydefined material can uniquely identifythese changes by comparing themwith original, unexposed samples.They can also be loaded with bacteriato evaluate the chances of extra-terrestrial life reaching the ground.
Most of the 25 000 knownmeteorites came from the asteroidbelt. There are 18 definitely from theMoon; most are regolith samples, aswould be expected when rocks arepropelled from planetary surfaces byimpact. Then there are 14 ‘SNC’meteorites, quite distinct fromasteroidal debris. They are believed tocome from Mars, but none is a surfacesample. Because Mars once had awarm and wet climate, its surfacemust be covered by both impact-generated regolith and sedimentary
(<50 µm) and dense. It consists of dolomite (Ca-Mg carbonate) and minor amounts of quartz and feldspar. It was collected at the baseof the Lagazuoi Mountain in the bed of Rio Lagazuoi just below PassoFalzarego, Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy.
• An artificial rock simulating martian soil, composed of 80% basalt crushed into grains of <5 mm, and 20% gypsum to cement the grains.
The basalt holder failed for unknownreasons and the sample was lost. Thedolomite was burned down to 40% ofits original thickness but survived. Itsmineralogy was dramatically modified:dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, broke down toCaO (solid) + MgO (solid, periclase) +2CO2 (gas). CaO reacted partly withH2O from the air to form Ca(OH)2, themineral portlandite. The martian soilwas totally burned, as expected, butsmall fragments could be collectedfrom underneath the sample holder.
The two collected samples are stillbeing analysed. Preliminary resultssuggest that some martian sedimentsmay survive atmospheric entry butbecome so crumbly that theydisintegrate very quickly beyondrecognition on the ground.
André Brack1 & Gero Kurat2
1Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS, OrléansEmail: [email protected] Museum, Vienna
rocks deposited by running and/orstill water. The sedimentary rocksshould comprise detrital deposits aswell as chemical sediments likeevaporites. In addition, groundwatercan compact loose sediments andregolith by filling the pore spaces withevaporitic minerals. Such consolidatedsedimentary hard rocks should beamong the martian meteorites butthey are not. It is possible theysurvived their traumatic escape fromMars but not their terrestrialatmospheric entry because ofdecrepitation in the cementingmineral (very likely to be a sulphate).So Stone investigated if such rocks aredestroyed or damaged beyondrecognition by atmospheric infall.
Three terrestrial samples wereattached to Foton’s heatshield nearthe stagnation (hottest) point:• A basalt served as an inflight control
to demonstrate that the impact heat is sufficient to form a dark fusioncrust, although Foton’s reentry speed of 7.8 km/s is considerably lower than the 20-70 km/s of a meteorite. Basalts are representativeof all planetary surfaces. They are the primitive silicate liquids formed by partial melting of chondrites, the most primitive matter of the Solar System – the building blocks of the planets. The sample was an alkali olivine basalt from Pauliberg, a Tertiaryvolcano in Burgenland, Austria.
• Dolostone (dolomite) carbonate sedimentary rock, a chemical sedimentary rock containing remnants of carbonate fossil shells and some silicate debris. The rock is very fine-grained, recrystallised
simulation facility at DLR in Cologne.Initial analysis shows that almost all
of the B. subtilis spores survived if theywere shaded from solar UV, asmicrobes would be travelling inside a
meteorite. However,their genetic stabilitywas affected by thespace vacuum,indicated by themutation rateincreasing by up to afactor of 10. Ifsimultaneously exposedto solar UV, the spores’survival rate decreasedby three orders of
magnitude, irrespective of otherphysical of chemical protection.
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foton-12
Microbes Travelling Between Planets:
‘Survival’
Foton-12 Results
Can microorganisms travel throughspace aboard meteorites, spreadinglife throughout our Solar System –particularly between Mars and Earth?This fundamental question hasgrabbed headlines since the discoveryof possible microfossils in martianmeteorite ALH 84001. Biopan’sSurvival experiment investigated theproblems of protecting life during asimulated interplanetary journey, andfor the first time looked in detail athow living organisms can surviveexposure to the harsh conditions ofspace.
Different varieties of ‘life’ wereselected. Spores of the Bacillus subtilisbacterium, which are highly resistantto desiccation, temperature extremesand radiation, acted as dormantexamples. Two salt-loving
microorganisms, known for theirresistance to desiccation and UV, werecarried: Synechococcus, which lives insalt crusts on sea shores, andHaloarcula-G, isolated from a solidsodium chloride crystal obtained froma salt manufacturing facility.Haloarcula was divided into twotypes: red cells, with caroteneproviding possible internal chemicalprotection, and white cells, withoutcarotene. The microorganisms wereembedded in clay, meteorite powder,simulated martian soil or salt crystalsto represent the microenvironmentalconditions of a meteorite. They wereexposed to the space environment for12.6 days by Biopan, while groundcontrols were run in a space
The salt-loving microbes alsosurvived well, even after exposure tosolar UV. Of those that succumbed, themajor cause of cell death was DNAdamage. The number of DNA strandbreaks from cells exposed to vacuumplus UV was greater than in thoseexposed to the vacuum only. Thecarotene-free white Haloarculasurvived better than their redcounterparts with carotene,suggesting that a carotene precursor,such as phytofluene, present only inthe white cells, provides betterprotection against UV radiationdamage than carotene itself.
‘Survival’ extended the basic datathat were obtained from Biopan-1 in1994, but the question of whethermicrobes can survive a lengthyinterplanetary journey cannot beanswered on a 2-week mission. ESA’sExpose facility, launched to the SpaceStation in 2003, will build on Biopan’sfindings by providing exposures of upto 1.5 years.
Gerda Horneck1, Rocco Mancinelli2, UteEschweiler1, Petra Rettberg1, Karsten Strauch1,Günther Reitz1 & Lisa Klovstad2
1DLR, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, D-51170 Köln,Germany, Email: [email protected] Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.
The Survival samplechambers loadedaboard Biopan. Thewindows are madeof UV-transparentquartz.
A cross-section through a bacterial spore.
A lump of salt showing a colony of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus inthe green central band.
Biopan studied the impact of thissoft radiation in space by exposingtwo layers of sensitive yeast cellsduring the Foton-12 mission,including passages through theAnomaly. For the top layer, minimumshielding (10.8 mg/cm2) providedthermal control and protectionagainst solar UV. The bottom layerwas shielded behind 2 mm-thickaluminium – impermeable to softradiation – as the flight control. After
304 hours ofexposure, there wasa significantreduction of cellviability comparedto the flight andground controls. Thetotal estimated dosewas 40 Gray (1 Gy = 100 rad),or 13 cGy/h.
This is the firsttime that thebiological action ofsoft space radiationhas beendemonstrated.Further experiments,paralleled by on-
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Foton-12 ResultsBiological Damage by Soft Radiation:
‘Yeast’Biopan’s ‘Yeast’ experiment was anovel study in radiation biology.Whereas space radiobiology has sofar focused almost exclusively on thenotoriously dangerous hardcomponents of the space radiationspectrum – the heavy ions – Yeast forthe first time concentrated on thesoft component: the low-energyelectrons.
Soft radiation is found throughoutspace but Earth’s two belts of ionisingradiation, trapped by its magneticfield, provide particularly heavy
doses. At its lowest point, one beltreaches down to an altitude of 350 kmas the ‘South Atlantic Anomaly’, whereit is frequently crossed by satellites,the Space Shuttle and theInternational Space Station. Low-energy electrons are a major part ofthe population – not very penetratingbut depositing large doses at the skinof orbiting objects. Theirmeasurement is difficult becausemost detectors do not allow for thisstrong depth-dependence. At highdoses, soft radiation can damagemicroorganisms very effectively, andsatellite hardware such as solarpanels can be drastically impaired.
ground studies, are planned toexplore the biological effects ofprotons and alpha particles. ■
Jürgen Kiefer & Frank GutermuthStrahlenzentrum der Justus-Liebig-UniversitätGiessen, GermanyEmail: [email protected]
Surviving fraction of yeastcells. Red column: cells
exposed to soft spaceradiation. Green column:cells protected from softradiation by 2 mm-thick
aluminium (flightcontrols). Blue columns:
ground controls usingexperiment compartments
identical to the flight set-up. One set was held in the
home laboratory inGiessen under vacuum, the
other at ESTEC.
ESA’s Biopan experiment carrier being readied for flight on Foton-12. In orbit,Yeast (top left) was covered by a thin, UV-opaque thermal blanket.
How ‘Yeast’ was housed in Biopan. Two plates (red andgreen) carried the filters with the yeast cells on an agarlayer. They were covered by a thin Mylar foil (23 µm)held in position by the plates marked in blue. Theyellow plate contained ventilation outlets for the lowersample plate. Yeast was funded by DLR and ESA.
IntroductionIt is well known that the physical condition ofastronauts spending even a few weeks inweightlessness can deteriorate rapidly, withloss of muscle, bone, cardiovascular capacityand motor skills. Effective countermeasuresinclude regular exercise, periodic application of
lower body negative pressureand medication. The advent ofInternational Space Station crewsworking on 3-month tours ofduty means that a range ofcountermeasures must bedeveloped to ensure theastronauts’ health, safety and
performance, and prepare for the return toEarth. The Station workload will be high –particularly during the early utilisation phase –so it is important that improved treatments areavailable. This work was a major feature of therecent Station simulation project in Russia withESA participation.
The ‘Simulation of the Flight of theInternational Crew on Space Station’(SFINCSS-99) ended in March after 240 days of
evaluating researchand countermeasurefacilities planned forthe Station, andstudyingpsychological andinterpersonal changes that are likely to occur inspace with an international crew. Drawing ontheir experience of long-duration spacemissions, Russia’s Institute for Bio-MedicalProblems (IBMP) in Moscow ran theconfinement study.
The ‘Space Station’Several groups of volunteers lived in twoconnected modules at IBMP to simulate theSpace Station. The four Russians of Group 1began their 240-day confinement on 2 July1999 in the 100 m3 module. Group 2 joinedthem in the 200 m3 module on 23 July for 110days, simulating a standard tour aboard theStation. Once Group 2 left, the multinationalGroup 3 from Canada, Japan, Russia and Austriatook over on 3 December and emerged only atthe end of March. Space Shuttle and Soyuzferry flights were simulated by several Russianand multinational visiting crews for 8 days at atime. ESA’s Didier Schmitt was a member of thefinal crew of 11-19 February 2000, along withcosmonaut Valery Polyakov, who has spent aworld-record 1.5 years aboard Mir.
The modules’ humidity, pressure, gascomposition and temperature matched Mirstation standards. Group 1 followed Mir’sstandard daily schedule, working for about 8 hours. Groups 2 & 3 pursued the moreintensive schedule expected for the SpaceStation’s early utilisation phase: allcrewmembers worked more than 8 hours dailyand took more intensive physical exercise.Private conversations with ‘Earth’ wererestricted to 20 minutes per week. Outside, five4-man crews simulated a Mission Control.
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PPrreparepar ing fing for Sor Spacpacee
Mark Mouret & Didier SchmittMicrogravity and Space Station Utilisation Department, D/MSM, ESTEC,Postbus 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The NetherlandsEmail: [email protected]
Crews spending longperiods on the Space
Station must combat thedegrading effects ofmicrogravity on the
human body
The SFINCSS spacestation simulationat IBMP in Moscow.
ESA’s Exercise ExperimentESA’s main experiment during SFINCSS-99,coordinated by ESTEC with significant supportfrom the ESA Moscow Office, was the ‘Flywheel’during Group 2’s tenure. The equipment hasalready been selected to fly aboard the SpaceStation following the response by principleinvestigators Per Tesch and Hans Berg(Sweden) to ESA’s Life Sciences ResearchAnnouncement of 1998. The preliminary resultsof this first exhaustive test are promising.The approach is simple; the user pulls on a cordattached to two 3.5 kg PVC 38 cm-diameterflywheels, and then resists as the cord rewindson the spinning wheels. Five upper and lowerbody exercises – calf raise, squat, backextension, seated rowing and lateral shoulderraise – were selected. Four Group 2crewmembers performed them as a 45-minute
programme two-three times per week for thewhole 110 days. The required effort wasrecorded, as was the maximum isometric forceat three joint angles for the calf raise, squat andback extension. All of the equipment (40 kg;180 x 40 x 50 cm) and its laptop monitoringsystem were controlled by the crew.
Preliminary ResultsThe data from SFINCC-99 will take manymonths to analyse, but it certainly provides aunique study of physiological changes and theinteraction of groups from different nationalbackgrounds under controlled experimentalconditions. ESA’s Flywheel multi-exerciserproved to be an asset and the training loadwas maintained or even increased during the110 days. Equally important, it wasmechanically durable with minimummaintenance. It served with no major failure for3 months and 160 exercise sessions (each of200 repetitions) and 20 testing sessions ofmaximum voluntary isometric force in the calf,knee and back extensor muscles. Despite itseffectiveness, the psychological data suggestthat the frequency of physical exercise and thesubjective benefits and well-being nonethelessdecreased. Improvements to the exerciseequipment and protocol are thereforeexpected.
The Next StepsThe procedure for validating newcountermeasures against the negative effectsof weightlessness will soon be agreedinternationally. A flight prototype of theFlywheel will be tested during a 3-monthbedrest study at the Médecine Espace Institutde Médecine et de Physiologie Spatiale(MEDES, Toulouse, F) in early 2001 incollaboration with Russian scientists. This unitwill then be upgraded and could be workingon the Space Station by late 2001. ■
Didier Schmitt performingmotor skill tests
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ESA’s Flywheel multi-exerciserwill fly aboard the SpaceStation by the end of 2001.
The final ‘visiting’ crew with the 240-day Russiancrew. ESA’s Didier Schmitt is third from left; veterancosmonaut Valery Polyakov is at left.
Since the late summer of 1999, D/MSM hasencouraged skill-sharing between its Divisions.Three examples highlight how astronauts andastronaut-candidates from the EuropeanAstronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne (D) aresharing their expertise on detachment atESTEC.
Transferring Real Flight ExperiencePedro Duque is supporting the Columbus,Cupola and other projects underway in theModule Division. As an astronaut with a Shuttlemission under his belt (STS-95 in October
1998), the experience he brings ismore than theoretical and itmeans that the Division hasdirect access to criticalknowledge. These International
Space Station elements are being designed foroperation by astronauts and, without anintegrated astronaut on the team, Agency andindustry engineers could only guess whatcrewmembers would like to have onboard.Before, only occasional inputs were receivedfrom the astronauts, during developmentreviews. The new approach means that the
desires of experienced astronauts can beactively considered at an earlier stage –although that does not guarantee everychange is implemented.
A prime example of the value of this input isthe Cupola crew station review held lastOctober in Sweden. The multi-windowedCupola is like an airport’s control tower,monitoring and controlling external activities.Pedro evaluated the mock-up from anergonomic point of view, assessing whetherthe crew could reach the control panels,operate the controls, replace units formaintenance and remove/replace accesspanels. As a consequence, a number of changeswere made that otherwise probably would nothave emerged until later but could now bemore effectively implemented at this earlierstage in the design process.
Pedro’s experience of Laptops during hisShuttle mission will be transferred directly tothe Columbus system test phase now starting.He will take part in some of the tests to seewhether the Laptop display setup is user-friendly for operating the Columbus systems.Also for Columbus, Pedro and a dozen NASAastronauts took part in January’s water-tanktrials at the Johnson Space Center to seewhether external elements such as the micro-meteoroid protection panels and certainelectronic boxes could be replaced by EVAastronauts for maintenance. By having an ESAman involved, the Agency has direct feedbackon what is absolutely necessary and whatmight be nice-to-have.
Test Pilot Experience Benefiting MannedVehiclesFrank De Winne, an engineer, a test pilot andnow an astronaut-candidate, has worked in theX-38/Crew Return vehicle (CRV) project teamsince January, where he is making significantcontributions to project activities related tohuman engineering and man-machineinterfaces. He is initially involved in thedevelopment of pilot display techniques andcrew seats for the CRV, the next humanspacecraft. Both are novel systems andtechnologies for ESA. A representative, fully-
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Input fInput for Sor Spacpacee
In an innovative move, ESAastronauts are helping to
design space hardware.
Pedro Duque is bringingflight experience to D/MSM’s
Module Division.
instrumented crew seat for the X-38 spacecraftis being developed as an in-house project atESTEC. Based on this prototype, Europeanindustry will develop the operational CRVseats.
It is critical that CRV displays and controlsare practical and easy to reach for theastronauts, as they may have to be used in anemergency by a crew deconditioned by a longstay aboard the Space Station. Since the CRVwill fly either automatically (no crew) or withcrew intervention, it must be highlyautonomous. It would be inefficient to trainpeople to fully pilot the CRV and maintain thatlevel of expertise while they are workingaboard the Station. The crew will know enoughto control the vehicle via the displays withoutconventional ‘stick-and-rudder’ controls.
Frank has further used his experience as atest pilot in a landing analysis for a Crew andCargo Transfer Vehicle (CCTV) that could be thenext logical step evolving from the CRV.
Future ESA Medic in SpaceAndré Kuipers is a medical doctor, a pilot andan astronaut-candidate presently supportingthe Microgravity Payloads Division. As the onlyMD in the Division, he offers on-the-spot adviceon physiology issues, and represents theDivision on the medical and institutionalreview boards that discuss medical/ethicalproblems.
For the Advanced Respiratory MonitoringSystem, André is the project scientist and iscoordinating the implementation of the eightEuropean Principal Investigators’ scientificrequirements. The final preparation for the STS-107 Spacehab flight in March 2001 is nowin full swing and has already included threeparabolic flights. A miniaturised version of thegas analysers is being planned for theEuropean Physiology Modules contribution toNASA’s Human Research Facility for the Station.
In the Station’s Muscle AtrophyResearch and Exercise Systemdevelopment, André plays a key role incoordinating with other experts fromthe medical world, including NASAscience teams, as well as in transferringthe facility science team requirementsto the engineering design. He providessimilar critical advice for thePercutaneous Electrical MuscleStimulator payload. The Division is alsocontributing both these items to theNASA Human Research Facility that will
operate early in the US Laboratory.André also participates in all the Division's
parabolic aircraft flights and supports themedical-responsible lead person aboard as acertified doctor with long-standing parabolicexperience. That guarantees a certaincontinuity in the observation of participantsand in their treatment, as well as in thepsychological preparation of some before aflight.
The clear benefit of calling on astronautexpertise during the Space Station’sdevelopment suggests that the exploitationand utilisation phases should follow a similarpath. Psychologically, engineers are moremotivated by dealing directly with the peoplewho will be using their products in space. ■
Frank De Winne is working in the X-38/CRV project team
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André Kuipers working withthe Advanced RespiratoryMonitoring Systems duringESA’s parabolic flightcampaign of October 1999.
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