iss press kit

8/8/2019 ISS Press Kit

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ISS Table of Contents

ISS Overview.........................................................................................................................................3

ISS and Space Exploration ...................................................................................................................9

Early Assembly....................................................................................................................................12

Assembly on Orbit ...............................................................................................................................16

ISS Flight control.................................................................................................................................21

ISS Elements - Unity ...........................................................................................................................24

ISS Elements - Zarya ..........................................................................................................................26

Russian Missions

Zarya Mission ................................................................................................................................29

Flight Plan......................................................................................................................................31Orbital Elements Summary ............................................................................................................34

Proton Overview ............................................................................................................................35


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International Space Station

The International Space Station

The International Space Station is the largest and most complexinternational scientific project in history. And when it is complete just after

the turn of the century, the the station will represent a move ofunprecedented scale off the home planet. Led by the United States, theInternational Space Station draws upon the scientific and technologicalresources of 16 nations: Canada, Japan, Russia, 11 nations of theEuropean Space Agency and Brazil.

More than four times as large as the Russian Mir space station, thecompleted International Space Station will have a mass of about 1,040,000pounds. It will measure 356 feet across and 290 feet long, with almost anacre of solar panels to provide electrical power to six state-of-the-artlaboratories.

The station will be in an orbit with an altitude of 250 statute miles with aninclination of 51.6 degrees. This orbit allows the station to be reached bythe launch vehicles of all the international partners to provide a robustcapability for the delivery of crews and supplies. The orbit also providesexcellent Earth observations with coverage of 85 percent of the globe andover flight of 95 percent of the population. By the end of this year, about500,000 pounds of station components will be have been built at factoriesaround the world.


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U.S. Role and Contributions

The United States has the responsibility for developing and ultimatelyoperating major elements and systems aboard the station. The U.S.elements include three connecting modules, or nodes; a laboratory module;truss segments; four solar arrays; a habitation module; three matingadapters; a cupola; an unpressurized logistics carrier and a centrifugemodule. The various systems being developed by the U.S. include thermal

control; life support; guidance, navigation and control; data handling; powersystems; communications and tracking; ground operations facilities andlaunch-site processing facilities.

International Contributions

The international partners, Canada, Japan, the European Space Agency,and Russia, will contribute the following key elements to the InternationalSpace Station:

Canada is providing a 55-foot-long robotic arm to be used for assembly

and maintenance tasks on the Space Station.

The European Space Agency is building a pressurized laboratory to belaunched on the Space Shuttle and logistics transport vehicles to belaunched on the Ariane 5 launch vehicle.

Japan is building a laboratory with an attached exposed exterior platformfor experiments as well as logistics transport vehicles.

Russia is providing two research modules; an early living quarters calledthe Service Module with its own life support and habitation systems; a

science power platform of solar arrays that can supply about 20 kilowatts ofelectrical power; logistics transport vehicles; and Soyuz spacecraft for crewreturn and transfer.

In addition, Brazil and Italy are contributing some equipment to the stationthrough agreements with the United States.

ISS Phase One: The Shuttle-Mir Program

The first phase of the International Space Station, the Shuttle-Mir Program,began in 1995 and involved more than two years of continuous stays byastronauts aboard the Russian Mir Space Station and nine Shuttle-Mir

docking missions. Knowledge was gained in technology, international spaceoperations and scientific research.

Seven U.S. astronauts spent a cumulative total of 32 months aboard Mirwith 28 months of continuous occupancy since March 1996. By contrast, ittook the U.S. Space Shuttle fleet more than a dozen years and 60 flights toachieve an accumulated one year in orbit. Many of the research programsplanned for the International Space Station benefit from longer stay times inspace. The U.S. science program aboard the Mir was a pathfinder for moreambitious experiments planned for the new station.


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For less than two percent of the total cost of the International Space Stationprogram, NASA gained knowledge and experience through Shuttle-Mir thatcould not be achieved any other way. That included valuable experience ininternational crew training activities; the operation of an international spaceprogram; and the challenges of long duration spaceflight for astronauts andground controllers. Dealing with the real-time challenges experiencedduring Shuttle-Mir missions also has resulted in an unprecedentedcooperation and trust between the U.S. and Russian space programs, and

that cooperation and trust has enhanced the development of theInternational Space Station.

Research on the International Space Station

The International Space Station will establish an unprecedentedstate-of-the-art laboratory complex in orbit, more than four times the sizeand with almost 60 times the electrical power for experiments critical forresearch capability of Russia's Mir. Research in the station's sixlaboratories will lead to discoveries in medicine, materials and fundamentalscience that will benefit people all over the world. Through its research andtechnology, the station also will serve as an indispensable step inpreparation for future human space exploration.


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Examples of the types of U.S. research that will be performed aboard thestation include:

Protein crystal studies: More pure protein crystals may be grown in spacethan on Earth. Analysis of these crystals helps scientists better understandthe nature of proteins, enzymes and viruses, perhaps leading to thedevelopment of new drugs and a better understanding of the fundamentalbuilding blocks of life. Similar experiments have been conducted on theSpace Shuttle, although they are limited by the short duration of Shuttleflights. This type of research could lead to the study of possible treatmentsfor cancer, diabetes, emphysema and immune system disorders, amongother research.

Tissue culture: Living cells can be grown in a laboratory environment inspace where they are not distorted by gravity. NASA already has developeda Bioreactor device that is used on Earth to simulate, for such cultures, theeffect of reduced gravity. Still, these devices are limited by gravity. Growingcultures for long periods aboard the station will further advance thisresearch. Such cultures can be used to test new treatments for cancer

without risking harm to patients, among other uses.

Life in low gravity: The effects of long-term exposure to reduced gravity onhumans weakening muscles; changes in how the heart, arteries and veinswork; and the loss of bone density, among others will be studied aboardthe station. Studies of these effects may lead to a better understanding ofthe bodys systems and similar ailments on Earth. A thorough understandingof such effects and possible methods of counteracting them is needed toprepare for future long-term human exploration of the solar system. Inaddition, studies of the gravitational effects on plants, animals and thefunction of living cells will be conducted aboard the station. A centrifuge,

located in the Centrifuge Accommodation Module, will use centrifugal forceto generate simulated gravity ranging from almost zero to twice that of Earth.This facility will imitate Earths gravity for comparison purposes; eliminatevariables in experiments; and simulate the gravity on the Moon or Mars forexperiments that can provide information useful for future space travels.

Flames, fluids and metal in space: Fluids, flames, molten metal and othermaterials will be the subject of basic research on the station. Even flamesburn differently without gravity. Reduced gravity reduces convectioncurrents, the currents that cause warm air or fluid to rise and cool air or fluidto sink on Earth. This absence of convection alters the flame shape in orbit

and allows studies of the combustion process that are impossible on Earth,a research field called Combustion Science. The absence of convectionallows molten metals or other materials to be mixed more thoroughly in orbitthan on Earth. Scientists plan to study this field, called Materials Science, tocreate better metal alloys and more perfect materials for applications suchas computer chips. The study of all of these areas may lead todevelopments that can enhance many industries on Earth.

The nature of space: Some experiments aboard the station will take placeon the exterior of the station modules. Such exterior experiments can study


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the space environment and how long-term exposure to space, the vacuumand the debris, affects materials. This research can provide futurespacecraft designers and scientists a better understanding of the nature ofspace and enhance spacecraft design. Some experiments will study thebasic forces of nature, a field called Fundamental Physics, whereexperiments take advantage of weightlessness to study forces that are weakand difficult to study when subject to gravity on Earth. Experiments in thisfield may help explain how the universe developed. Investigations that use

lasers to cool atoms to near absolute zero may help us understand gravityitself. In addition to investigating basic questions about nature, this researchcould lead to down-to-Earth developments that may include clocks athousand times more accurate than todays atomic clocks; better weatherforecasting; and stronger materials.

Watching the Earth: Observations of the Earth from orbit help the study oflarge-scale, long-term changes in the environment. Studies in this field canincrease understanding of the forests, oceans and mountains. The effects ofvolcanoes, ancient meteorite impacts, hurricanes and typhoons can bestudied. In addition, changes to the Earth that are caused by the human

race can be observed. The effects of air pollution, such as smog over cities;of deforestation, the cutting and burning of forests; and of water pollution,such as oil spills, are visible from space and can be captured in images thatprovide a global perspective unavailable from the ground.

Commercialization: As part of the Commercialization of space research onthe station, industries will participate in research by conducting experimentsand studies aimed at developing new products and services. The resultsmay benefit those on Earth not only by providing innovative new products asa result, but also by creating new jobs to make the products.

Assembly in Orbit

By the end of this year, most of the components required for the first sevenSpace Shuttle missions to assemble the International Space Station willhave arrived at the Kennedy Space Center. The first and primary fullyRussian contribution to the station, the Service Module, is scheduled to beshipped from Moscow to the Kazakstan launch site in February 1999.

Orbital assembly of the International Space Station will begin a new era ofhands-on work in space, involving more spacewalks than ever before and anew generation of space robotics. About 850 clock hours of spacewalks,

both U.S. and Russian, will be required over five years to maintain andassemble the station. The Space Shuttle and two types of Russian launchvehicles will launch 45 assembly missions. Of these, 36 will be SpaceShuttle flights. In addition, resupply missions and changeouts of Soyuz crewreturn spacecraft will be launched regularly.

The first crew to live aboard the International Space Station, commanded byU.S. astronaut Bill Shepherd and including Russian cosomonauts YuriGidzenko as Soyuz Commander and Sergei Krikalev as Flight Engineer, willbe launched in early 2000 on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. They, along with


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the crews of the first five assembly missions, are now in training. Thetimetable and sequence of flights for assembly, beyond the first two, will befurther refined at a meeting of all the international partners in December1998. Assembly is planned to be complete by 2004.

Related Links:

Updated: 11/19/1998


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FIRST STATION MODULES LAUNCH NEW ERA OF SPACEEXPLORATION

Launched from opposite sides of the world, the first International SpaceStation components, Zarya and Unity, will begin a new era of exploration as

16 nations band together in space to improve life on Earth and extend thereach of the human race.

The International Space Station will allow humankind to harness as neverbefore one of the fundamental forces of nature gravity to performresearch that may result in new medicines, materials and industries onEarth. When completed, the station will provide more than 60 times as muchpower to scientific research as was available on the Russian Mir spacestation. The station's scientific studies, performed in six state-of-the-artlaboratories, may even lead to a new understanding of the fundamental lawsof nature while they pave the way for the future human exploration of deep

space.

Even before its launch, the International Space Station has opened newfrontiers on Earth by overcoming barriers of language, culture and technicaldifferences worldwide. Partners in the United States-led station includeCanada, 11 member nations of the European Space Agency, Japan andRussia. Italy and Brazil also are contributing. As the first truly internationalspace program, the station fulfills a promise from the Apollo Program, whichleft a plaque on the moon saying "We came in peace for all mankind."

Assembling the station will be an unprecedented task, turning Earth orbit


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into an ever-changing construction site. More than 100 elements will bejoined over the course of 45 assembly flights using the Space Shuttle andtwo types of Russian rockets. An international cast of astronauts andcosmonauts will do much of the work by hand, performing more space walksin just five years than have been conducted throughout the history of spaceflight. They will be assisted by a new generation of robotic arms, hands andperhaps even free-flying robotic "eyes".

From just the station's orbital construction, the world will learn many lessonsthat will apply to future efforts in space. As the station takes shape, a newstar eventually to become one of the brightest objects in the night sky --will become ever more visible from Earth.

The Zarya module, named with a Russian word meaning "Sunrise" tosymbolize the dawn of a new era in space, is owned by the U.S. but built byRussia. It will be launched on a three-stage Russian Proton Rocket from theBaikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakstan, on Nov. 20 to begin the station'sassembly.

Less than two weeks later, the Space Shuttle Endeavour will launch onShuttle mission STS-88 with an international crew to carry aloft theU.S.-built Unity connecting module. The Unity module was named for itsbasic function and for the station program's spirit of global cooperation andachievement. Unity, a six-sided module, will be the basic building block towhich all future U.S. modules will attach. Unity will be attached to Zarya tobegin the station's orbital assembly.

Astronaut Robert D. Cabana (Col., USMC), 49, a veteran of three spaceflights, will command Endeavour. First-time space flyer Frederick Sturckow(Major, USMC), 37, will serve as pilot. Serving as mission specialists aboard

Endeavour will be Nancy J. Currie, Ph.D. (Lt. Col., USMC), 39, a two-timespace veteran; Jerry L. Ross (Col., USAF), 49, a five-time Shuttle flyer andfour-time space walker; James H. Newman, Ph.D., 42, a two-time spaceflyer and veteran space walker; and Russian Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev,40, who has flown once on the Shuttle and twice on the Russian Mir spacestation, accumulating more than one year, three months in orbit andconducting seven space walks.

Cabana will steer Endeavour to a rendezvous with Zarya on the third day ofthe flight, and Currie will use the Shuttle's robotic arm to capture theRussian-built spacecraft and join it to Unity. Ross and Newman will then

perform three space walks on later days to finish connections between thetwo components. When Endeavour departs to return home, it will leave anew, as yet unpiloted, space station in orbit. Endeavour's mission will be animage of many flights to come, where large station components will beattached using robotic equipment before final connections are made byspace walking astronauts.


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Next year, five more flights to assemble the station will follow, bringing aRussian- built and launched living quarters, two Space Shuttles filled withinterior supplies, an early exterior framework and the first huge U.S. solararrays to provide power to the growing station. In January 2000, apermanent human presence aboard the station begins with the launch of aninternational crew of three.

The assembly in orbit is scheduled to be completed in 2004. The final,football field-sized station will have a mass of more than 1 million poundsand over an acre of solar panels. it will include a U.S. laboratory, twoRussian research modules, a European laboratory, a Japanese laboratoryand a Canadian station robotic arm.

Related Links:

Updated: 11/19/1998


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Early Assembly Flights

Early Assembly Flight Summaries

Space Tugboat: Zarya Control Module1A/R; Proton

To be launched Nov. 20, 1998, by a Russian ProtonRocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakstan,Zarya is essentially an unpiloted space "tugboat"that will provide early propulsion, steering andcommunications for the station's first months in

orbit. Later, Zarya becomes little more than a station passageway, dockingport and fuel tank. Zarya was built by Russia under contract to the U.S. and

is owned by the U.S.

Building Block: Unity Connecting Module

2A; STS-88

Shuttle Mission STS-88 is set for launch Dec. 3,1998, aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour from theKennedy Space Center, FL, the Unity module is asix-sided connector for future station components.This will be the first of about 36 planned Space

Shuttle flights to assemble the station. Endeavour's crew will rendezvous

with the already orbiting Zarya module and attach it to Unity. The shuttlecrew will then finish the connections during three days of spacewalks. Thecrew also will enter the interior of Unity and Zarya to complete assemblywork. Unity provides six attachment ports, one on each side, to which allfuture U.S. modules will join. When Endeavour detaches and returns homeon Dec. 12, Unity and Zarya will be fully linked together in orbit to form thefledgling, as yet unpiloted, International Space Station.

Cargo Flight: Space Shuttle Logistics Flight

2A.1; STS-96

Shuttle Mission STS-96 is tentatively planned for launch in May 1999 fromthe Kennedy Space Center, Fl., the Shuttle Discovery will rendezvous anddock with the new station carrying supplies to be transferred to the interior.This will be the second Space Shuttle flight to assemble the station.Discovery's crew will bring supplies for the next component to launch, theRussian Service Module, as well as additional equipment for the Unity andZarya modules. The station will remain unpiloted after Discovery undocksand returns home.

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Living Quarters: Service Module

1R; Proton

To be launched in July 1999 on a Russian ProtonRocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakstan,the Service Module is the first fully Russian stationcontribution and the core of the Russian stationsegment. Launched without people aboard, it will

dock with the orbiting Zarya and Unity by remote control. The ServiceModule provides living quarters, life support, navigation, propulsion,communications and other functions for the early station. Its guidance andpropulsion systems take over those functions from the Zarya module, whichnow becomes a passageway from Unity to the Service Module.

Second Cargo Flight: Space Shuttle Logistics Flight

2A.2; STS-101

Shuttle Mission STS-101 is slated to be launched in August 1999 from theKennedy Space Center, FL, the Space Shuttle Atlantis will dock with thestation carrying supplies to be transferred to the interior. This will be thethird Shuttle flight for station assembly. The shuttle crew will be the firstpeople to ever enter the orbiting Service Module as the astronauts transfersupplies from the docked Shuttle to the space station. The station willremain unpiloted after the shuttle undocks.

Gyroscopes: First Exterior Framework

3A; STS-92

Shuttle Mission STS-92 is scheduled to be launchedin October 1999 from the Kennedy Space Center,

FL, the Space Shuttle Discovery will carry the firstexterior framework for the station, a piece of thegirder-like station truss, and an additional, conical

station docking adapter. This will be the fourth Shuttle mission for assemblyof the station. The framework houses critical electronic equipment, includinggyroscope systems that eventually will replace thrusters to maintain thestation's stability and communications equipment. Although attached on thisflight, these systems will not be usable until later in assembly. The shuttle'srobotic arm will be used to attach the framework, called a Z-1 Truss, anddocking adapter. Afterward, astronauts will perform four days of spacewalks.Discovery will leave the station uninhabited.

Solar Power: First U.S. Solar Panels

4A; STS-97

Shuttle Mission STS-97 is planned to be launched inDecember 1999 from the Kennedy Space Center,FL, the Space Shuttle Atlantis will carry the firstgiant solar arrays and batteries for the station. This

will be the fifth Shuttle flight to assemble the station. Eventually, four such


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sets of solar panels will be on the station with a total acre of surface area.Endeavour's crew will conduct two spacewalks to complete connections ofthe solar arrays. After this mission, the station will be ready for arrival of itsfirst crew. Power from this first set of arrays sets the stage for a majorexpansion, arrival of the first laboratory.

First International Space Station Crew

2R; Soyuz

To be launched in January 2000, the first International Space Station crewwill travel to the station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from theBaikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakstan. The three-person crew is commandedby U.S. Astronaut Bill Shepherd, and includes two Russian cosmonauts,Soyuz Commander Yuri Gidzenko and Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalev. Theywill dock with the station two days after launch and begin a stay of about fivemonths. Their mission, designated Expedition 1, is a test flight and checkoutof the new station, assisting with the continuing assembly. During their stay,the crew will conduct two spacewalks, using a Service Module compartmentas an airlock, to continue outfitting. The crew will return to Earth on a

Shuttle, but the Soyuz that launched them will remain at the station for sixmonths as an emergency "lifeboat."

Research Lab: U.S. Laboratory Module

5A; STS-98

Shuttle Mission STS-98 is scheduled to be launchedin February 2000, from the Kennedy Space Center,FL, the Shuttle Endeavour will carry the first stationlaboratory, built by the U.S. and the centerpiece offuture research activity on the International Space

Station. This will be the sixth Shuttle flight to assemble the station.Discovery will use its robotic arm to maneuver the new laboratory intoposition on the station. Discovery's crew will then perform three spacewalksto finish the installation.

Third Cargo Flight: Space Shuttle Logistics Flight

5A.1; STS-102

Shuttle Mission STS-102 is to be launched in March 2000 from the KennedySpace Center, FL, the Space Shuttle Discovery will dock with the station

carrying supplies and equipment racks housed in an Italian-built logisticsmodule to be transferred to the interior. This will be the seventh Shuttle flightto assemble the station. The equipment will outfit the U.S. Laboratorymodule.


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Robot Arm: Lab Equipment and Canadian

Robotic Arm

6A; STS-100

Shuttle Mission STS-100 is to be launched in April2000 from the Kennedy Space Center, FL, theShuttle Atlantis will carry two foreign-built stationcomponents aloft: a new station robotic arm built by

Canada and the Italian Leonardo logistics module. This will be the eighthShuttle mission to assemble the station. The new station arm will beattached during the mission. The logistics carrier will be attached to thestation, unloaded and then returned to Earth on Atlantis. The logistics carrierwill bring equipment to finish the interior construction of the U.S. laboratory.The Canadian robotic arm will assist with most future assembly activities.

Station Airlock: Early Assembly Phase

Completed

7A; STS-104

Shuttle mission STS-104 will be launched from theKennedy Space Center, FL, in July 2000, the SpaceShuttle Endeavour will carry aloft the U.S.-builtInternational Space Station airlock on the ninth

Shuttle assembly mission. After it is attached, the airlock will enable thestation crew to conduct spacewalks on their own, without a Shuttle present,using either U.S. or Russian spacesuits. The addition of the airlock signalsthe completion of the early phase of station assembly in orbit, and meansthat the orbiting station has taken on a degree of self-sufficiency andcapabilities for full-fledged research in the attached laboratory module.

Final Phase

The final phase of assembly will continue until 2004. The station crew sizewill expand to seven. Other elements that will be added to completeassembly are a Japanese Laboratory, European Laboratory, CentrifugeModule and a U.S. X-38 Crew Return Vehicle.


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ISS Assembly on Orbit

International Space Station Assembly: A Construction Site in Orbit

With precise grace, an overhead crane swings a 10-ton building block intoposition. Then, workers move in, climbing on to the structure and using handand power tools to bolt the pieces together. It is a workaday scene thatcould be found on almost any city street corner, but this construction site is250 miles up in the airless reaches of space, where conditions alternatehourly between freezing and searing. The construction workers areastronauts, the cranes are a new generation of space robotics and theskyscraper taking shape is the International Space Station.

To assemble the 1-million pound International Space Station, Earth orbit willbecome a day-to-day construction site for five years beginning in 1998.Humankind will begin a move off of the planet Earth of unprecedented scale.Astronauts will perform more spacewalks in those years than have beenconducted since space flight began, more than twice as many. They will beassisted by an "inch-worming" robotic arm; a two-fingered "Canada hand."Before the station's assembly is completed, more than 100 differentcomponents launched on about 45 space flights using three different typesof rockets will have been bolted, latched, wired, plumbed and fastenedtogether.

Because of the unprecedented complexity, NASA expects to encountersurprises during the orbital construction work. But to prepare for thechallenges, engineers and astronauts have been methodically practicing


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procedures, preparing tools, testing equipment and building experienceduring more than a decade of spacewalking flight tests. A total of 34 SpaceShuttle missions are scheduled to assemble, outfit and begin research useof the station from 1998 to 2004. Approximately 960 clock hours -- 160 totalU.S. and Russian spacewalks -- will be performed during that time toassemble and maintain the station, equivalent to 1,920 crew hours of worksince all spacewalks include two crew members. Since astronaut Ed Whitestepped out of an orbiting U.S. Gemini spacecraft in 1964 to become the

first American to walk in space, NASA has conducted about 377 clock hoursof spacewalks. Of the 960 total clock hours of spacewalks for assembly andmaintenance of the station, 336 hours, 56 spacewalks, will be performedusing Russian spacewalking equipment for Russian segment work and 624hours, 104 spacewalks, will be conducted for U.S. and other partners'assembly activities using U.S. equipment.

A cooperative effort among 16 nations, the International Space Station willprovide living quarters and science labs for long-term stays by up to sevenastronauts. In building, operating, and performing research on the station,humanity will garner essential experience for future travels beyond Earth

orbit.

Preparing for Hands-On Construction in Space

Recognizing the challenge and complexity of building the InternationalSpace Station, NASA has made a concerted effort for more than a decadeto develop and flight test the spacewalk equipment needed; refinespacewalk training procedures; and build spacewalk, or extravehicularactivity (EVA), experience among astronauts, engineers and flightcontrollers. Since 1991, more than a dozen "practice" spacewalks havebeen conducted during Space Shuttle flights as part of NASA's

preparations. In addition, two servicing missions for the Hubble SpaceTelescope have helped prepare for the intricate work needed to build thestation. Many of the astronauts who gained experience during these"practice" spacewalks will bring that knowledge to bear during futurespacewalks as the station's orbital assembly begins.

The flight-testing of EVA equipment designed for use aboard theInternational Space Station began on the first spacewalk NASA conductedafter the Space Shuttle's return to flight following the Challenger accident.On Shuttle mission STS-37 in April 1991, astronauts Jerry Ross and Jay Aptperformed a spacewalk to test a Crew and Equipment Translation Aid

(CETA) cart designed for use in assisting astronauts to move about thefootball field-long truss of the completed station. Two such carts are nowplanned for launch to the station during its assembly, and Ross is in trainingto be the lead spacewalker on the first station assembly mission, Shuttlemission STS-88. Since 1991, other spacewalks have evaluated new tethers,tools, foot restraints, handling large masses, a jet pack "life jacket,"spacesuit enhancements and even the planned station lettering andtoolboxes.

To prepare for International Space Station assembly in earnest, NASAannounced the first International Space Station EVA assembly crew, Ross


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and Jim Newman on STS-88, in August 1996. In June 1997, five more crewsof station assembly spacewalkers were named to complete the first sixShuttle assembly missions, some of them more than two years ahead oftheir scheduled mission, much earlier than is traditional. The early namingof crew members has allowed the astronauts additional time to train for theircomplex and crucial missions.

Taking a Walk: Working Outside the International Space Station

During the first nine Shuttle assembly missions, there is no U.S. capabilityfor spacewalks to be conducted from the station without the Space Shuttlepresent. The Russian Service Module provides a capability forstation-based Russian spacewalks using only Russian spacesuits, but theU.S. capability will not be available until the Joint Airlock Module is attachedto the station during the ninth Space Shuttle assembly mission, STS-104.

The Joint Airlock Module, which has the capability to be used by bothRussian and U.S. spacesuit designs, consists of two sections, a "crew lock"that is used to exit the station and begin a spacewalk and an "equipment

lock" used for storing gear. The equipment lock also will be used forovernight "campouts" by the crew, during which the pressure in the JointAirlock Module is lowered to 10.2 pounds per square inch (psi), while therest of the station remains at the normal sea level atmospheric pressure of14.7 psi. The night spent at 10.2 psi in the Airlock purges nitrogen from thespacewalkers' bodies and prevents and prevents decompression sickness,commonly called "the bends," when they go to the 4.3 psi pure oxygenatmosphere of a spacesuit. Station crew members could perform aspacewalk directly from the 14.7 psi cabin atmosphere, but they would haveto go through a several hours-long prebreathe of pure oxygen first. TheAirlock "campout" shortens the pure oxygen prebreathe time to only minutes

for the crew. The protocol is similar to a procedure commonly used inadvance of Space Shuttle spacewalks in which the Shuttle's cabin pressureis lowered to 10.2 psi at least a day ahead of the EVA.

After the Joint Airlock Module is operational, the philosophy of spacewalktraining will shift due to the increasing complexity of the station and theability of the station crew to perform spacewalks. Rather than attempting totrain station crew members for every EVA task they may be called upon toperform during a mission, training will increasingly aim toward providingcrew members with a general suite of EVA skills. The station's growing sizeand complexity will make it virtually impossible for astronauts to train for

every possible contingency and maintenance EVA, as is the case in trainingfor Shuttle missions.


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Workclothes for Orbit: Spacesuit Enhancements for the International

Space Station

In addition to new spacewalking tools and philosophies for assembly of theInternational Space Station, spacewalkers will have an enhanced spacesuit.The Shuttle spacesuit, or Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) as it istechnically called, is designed for sizing and maintenance between flightsby skilled specialists on Earth, a difficult if not impossible requirement for

astronauts aboard the station. The International Space Station spacesuit willbe stored in orbit and be certified for up to 25 spacewalks before it must bereturned to Earth for refurbishment. It will be able to be adjusted in flight tofit different astronauts and be easily cleaned and refurbished betweenspacewalks onboard the station. In addition, assembly work on the stationwill be done in much colder temperatures than most Space Shuttlespacewalks. Unlike the Shuttle, the station cannot be turned to provide themost optimum sunlight to moderate temperatures during an EVA.

Enhancements to the suit to better prepare it for assembly and use aboardthe station include: easily replaceable internal parts; reusable carbon


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dioxide removal cartridges; metal sizing rings that allow in-flight suitadjustments to fit different crew members; new gloves with enhanceddexterity; a new radio with more channels to allow up to five people to talk atone time; warmth enhancements such as fingertip heaters and a coolingsystem shutoff; new helmet-mounted flood and spot lights; and a jet-pack"life jacket" called SAFER to allow an accidentally untethered astronaut tofly back to the station in an emergency.

A New Generation of Space Robotics

To build and maintain the International Space Station, spacewalkingastronauts will work in partnership with a new generation of space robotics.The Space Shuttle's mechanical arm and a new Space Station arm willoperate both as "space cranes" to precisely maneuver large modules andcomponents and also as space "cherry pickers" to maneuver astronauts towork areas.

The Shuttle's Canadian-built mechanical arm has been enhanced with anew "Space Vision System" (SVS) that will help the operator literally see

around corners. Tested on past Space Shuttle missions STS-74, STS-80and STS-85, the SVS uses video image processing and a series ofmarkings on the objects being maneuvered to develop a graphical laptopcomputer display to assist the arm operator. It allows the Shuttle arm to beoperated with great precision even when visibility is obstructed, and thesystem will be used operationally during the first assembly mission asastronaut Nancy Currie, with her view partially obstructed, attaches the firststation component, the Zarya control module, to the second component, theUnity connecting module.

Canada also is building the new station mechanical arm. Called the Space

Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), the 55-foot-long arm will belaunched in 1999, early in the station's assembly sequence. The station armwill have the new capability to move around the station's exterior like aninchworm, locking its free end on one of many special fixtures, called Powerand Data Grapple Fixtures (PDGF), placed strategically around the station,and then detaching its other end and pivoting it forward. In addition, thestation arm eventually will be able to ride on a Mobile Servicing System(MSS) platform that will move on tracks along the length of the station's350-foot truss, putting much of the station within grasp of the arm. Canadaalso is providing a new robotic "Canada Hand" for the station, called theSpecial Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM), scheduled to be launched

in 2002. The "hand" consists of two small robotic arms that can be attachedto the end of the main station arm to conduct more intricate maintenancetasks.

Two other robotic arms will be on the International Space Station. AEuropean Robotic Arm (ERA) built by the European Space Agency will beused for maintenance on the Russian segment of the station and theJapanese laboratory module will include a Japanese robotic arm that willtend exterior experiments mounted on a "back porch" of the lab.Related Links:

Updated: 11/19/1998


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ISS Flight Control

International Space Station - Flight Control

Flight control of the Zarya module and the International Space Station

following assembly with Unity will be conducted from locations in both theUnited States and in Russia, with the primary oversight for all operationsresting with NASA.

Beginning with the launch of Zarya, a new NASA International Space StationFlight Control Room will be utilized. This new Mission Control Center at theLyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, will become permanentlystaffed beginning with the launch of Unity on Dec. 3, about two weeks afterZarya's launch.

The primary command and control functions for Zarya will be at the Zarya

flight control room located in Korolev, Russia, using the Russiancommunications system. The Zarya flight control room is located in thesame control center as the Mir flight control room has been located.

NASA flight control operations will maintain oversight and approve all planswhile the Russian flight control team will direct real-time ISS operationsbased on the approved plans. The station flight control team in Houston alsowill support Russian flight controllers as they perform command and controlover the US systems. After Shuttle mission STS-98 in February 2000, whenthe U.S. Laboratory module is delivered along with the primary U.S.communications system, Station Flight Control in Houston will assume thedirection of real-time flight operations activities as well and will have primarycommand and control functions.

A small NASA flight control team, designated the Houston Support Group,also will be stationed at the Korolev control center to facilitatecommunications and information exchange between Houston and Korolev. Asmall team of Russian controllers also will be stationed at the HoustonMission Control Center performing a similar function.

When fully staffed, the NASA station flight control room in Houston willcontain about a dozen flight controllers, led by an International Space


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Station flight director. At times during early station operations, when thereare no highly dynamic activities planned, staffing in the Station FlightControl room may be reduced. Following Shuttle mission STS-97 inDecember 1999, however, the Mission Control Center will be permanentlystaffed - by a full Flight Control Team when required, and by a Duty Officerat other times. The station flight control room is located just down the hallfrom the Space Shuttle flight control room in JSC's Mission Control Center.

Flight controller positions and their call signs in the International SpaceStation flight control room, Houston, include:

Flight Director (Flight)

Primary decision-making authority for station operations. Leads flight controlteam. May not be on duty during some quiescent station operations, but willbe on call at all times to be available when determined necessary by thestation duty officer.

Assembly and Checkout Officer (ACO)

The Station Assembly and Checkout Officer is responsible for integration ofassembly and activation tasks for all ISS systems and elements andcoordinating with station and shuttle flight controllers on the execution ofthese operations.

Attitude Determination and Control Officer (ADCO)

The Station Attitude Determination and Control Officer works in partnershipwith Russian controllers to manage the stations orientation, controlled by

the onboard Motion Control Systems. This position also plans andcalculates future orientations and maneuvers for the station.

Communication and Tracking Officer (CATO)

The Station Communication and Tracking Officer (CATO) console positionis responsible for management and operations of the U.S. communicationsystems, including audio, video, telemetry and commanding systems.

Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS)

The Station Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Officer isresponsible for the assembly and operation of systems related toatmosphere control and supply, atmosphere revitalization, cabin airtemperature and humidity control, circulation, fire detection andsuppression, water collection and processing and crew hygiene equipment,among other areas.

Extravehicular Activity Officer (EVA)

The Station Extravehicular Activity Officer is responsible for all spacesuit


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and spacewalking-related tasks, equipment and plans.

Onboard, Data, Interfaces and Networks (ODIN)

The Station Command and Data Handling Systems Officer is responsible forthe U.S. Command and Data Handling System, including hardware,software, networks, and interfaces with International Partner avionicssystems.

Operations Support Officer (OSO)

The Station Operations Support Officer is the console operator that ischarged with those logistics support funtions that address on-orbitmaintenance, support data and documentation, logistics informationsystems, maintenance data collection and maintenance analysis.

Power, Heating, Articulation, Lighting Control Officer (PHALCON)

The Station Electrical Power Systems Officer manages the powergeneration, storage, and power distribution capabilities.

Robotics Operations Systems Officer (ROSO)

The Station Robotics Systems Officer is responsible for the operations ofthe Canadian Mobile Servicing System, which includes a mobile basesystem, station robotic arm, station robotic hand or special purposedexterous manipulator. The ROSO officer represents a joint CanadianSpace Agency-NASA team of specialists to plan and execute roboticoperations.

Thermal Operations and Resources (THOR)

The Station Thermal Operations and Resource Officer is responsible for theassembly and operation of multiple station subsystems which collect,distribute, and reject waste heat from critical equipment and payloads.

Trajectory Operations Officer (TOPO)

The Station Trajectory Operations Officer is responsible for the station

trajectory. The TOPO works in partnership with Russian controllers, ADCO,and the U.S. Space Command to maintain data regarding the station'sorbital position. TOPO plans all station orbital maneuvers.

Operations Planner (Ops Planner)

The Station Ops Planner leads the coordination, development andmaintenance of the station's short-term plan, including crew and groundactivities. The plan includes the production and uplink of the onboardstation plan and the coordination and maintenance of the onboard inventory


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and stowage listings.

Ground Controller

Responsible for MCC systems and coordination with the ground to spacecommunications network.

Related Links:

Updated: 11/18/1998


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ISS Element

Unity

Unity Connecting Module: Cornerstone for a Home in Orbit

The first U.S.-built component of the International Space Station, a six-sidedconnecting module and passageway, or node, named Unity, will be theprimary cargo of Space Shuttle mission STS-88, the first mission dedicatedto assembly of the station.

The Unity connecting module, technically referred to as node 1, will lay afoundation for all future U.S. International Space Station modules with six

berthing ports, one on each side, to which future modules will be attached.Built by The Boeing Company at a manufacturing facility at the MarshallSpace Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Unity is the first of three suchconnecting modules that will be built for the station. Sometimes referred toas Node 1, the Unity module measures 15 feet in diameter and 18 feet long.

Carried to orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, Unity will be matedwith the already orbiting Zarya control module, or Functional Cargo Block(Russian acronym FGB), a U.S.-funded and Russian-built component thatwill have been launched earlier aboard a Russian rocket from Kazakstan. Inaddition to connecting to the Zarya module, Unity eventually will provide

attachment points for the U.S. laboratory module; Node 3; an early exteriorframework, or truss for the station; an airlock; and a multi-windowed cupola.

Essential space station resources such as fluids, environmental control andlife support systems, electrical and data systems are routed through Unity tosupply work and living areas.

More than 50,000 mechanical items, 216 lines to carry fluids and gases, and121 internal and external electrical cables using six miles of wire wereinstalled in the Unity node. The detailed and complex hardware installationrequired more than 1,800 drawings. The node is made of aluminum.


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Two conical docking adapters will be attached to each end of Unity prior toits launch aboard Endeavour. The adapters, called pressurized matingadapters (PMAs), allow the docking systems used by the Space Shuttle andby Russian modules to attach to the node's hatches and berthingmechanisms. One of the conical adapters will attach Unity to the Zarya,while the other will serve as a docking port for the Space Shuttle. The Unitynode with the two mating adapters attached, the configuration it will be in for

launch, is about 36 feet long and weighs about 25,600 pounds.

Attached to the exterior of one of the pressurized mating adapters arecomputers, or multiplexer-demultiplexers (MDMs), which will provide earlycommand and control of the Unity node. Unity also will be outfitted with anearly communications system that will allow data, voice and low data ratevideo with Mission Control, Houston, to supplement Russiancommunications systems during the early station assembly activities.

The two remaining nodes are being built by the European Space Agency(ESA) for NASA in Italy by Alenia Aerospazio. Nodes 2 and 3 will be slightly

longer than the Unity node, measuring almost 21 feet long, and each willhold eight standard space station equipment racks in addition to six berthingports. ESA is building the two additional nodes as partial payment for thelaunch of the ESA Columbus laboratory module and other equipment on theSpace Shuttle. Unity holds four equipment racks.

Related Links: STS-88Updated: 11/17/1998


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ISS Element

Zarya

The Zarya control module, also known by thetechnical term Functional Cargo Block and the

Russian acronym FGB, will be the first componentlaunched for the International Space Station andprovide the station's initial propulsion and power.The 44,000-pound pressurized module is scheduledto be launched on a Russian Proton rocket on Nov.

20 1998 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakstan.Quick Look Facts: Zarya

Length (end-to-end) - 41.2 feetWidth (at widest point) - 13.5 feetGross launching weight - 53,020 poundsMass in orbit - 44,088 poundsLaunch vehicle - 3-stage Proton rocketLaunch site - Baikonur Cosmodrome, KazakstanLifetime in orbit - 15 yearsInclination of orbit - 51.6 degreesPreliminary orbit - 115 x 220 statute milesOrbit at Rendezvous - 240 statute miles circular

Zarya Means "Sunrise"

The Zarya, which means Sunrise when translated to English, is actually a

U.S. component of the station that was built by the Khrunichev StateResearch and Production Space Center (KhSC), in Moscow, under asubcontract to The Boeing Co. for NASA. It was shipped to the BaikonurCosmodrome, Kazakstan, launch site to begin launch preparations inJanuary 1998.

Zarya will provide orientation control, communications and electrical powerattached to Unity for several months before the launch of the thirdcomponent, a Russian-provided crew living quarters and early station coreknown as the Service Module. The Service Module will enhance or replacemany functions of the Zarya. Later in the station's assembly sequence, the

Zarya module will be used primarily for its storage capacity and external fueltanks.

Zarya's solar arrays and six nickel-cadmium batteries can provide anaverage of 3 kilowatts of electrical power. Each of the two solar arrays is 35feet long and 11 feet wide. Using the Russian Kurs system, the Zarya willperform an automated and remotely piloted rendezvous and docking withthe Service Module in orbit. Its docking ports will accommodate RussianSoyuz piloted spacecraft and unpiloted Progress resupply spacecraft. Themodule has been modified to allow it to be refueled by a Progress vehicle


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docked to its down-facing port if necessary. The module's 16 fuel tankscombined can hold more than 6 tons of propellant. The attitude controlsystem for the module includes 24 large steering jets and 12 small steering

jets. Two large engines are available for reboosting the spacecraft andmaking major orbital changes.On-Orbit Preparations

Launched by a three-stage Proton rocket, some of the module's systems willbe active and some in an idle, or standby, mode and not fully activated untilreaching orbit. After reaching the initial elliptical orbit and separating fromthe Proton's third stage, a set of preprogrammed commands willautomatically activate the module's systems and deploy the solar arrays andcommunications antennas. On ensuing days after several operational tests,the module will be commanded to fire its engines and circularize its orbit atan altitude of about 240 statute miles. Less than two weeks after Zarya islaunched, the Space Shuttle Endeavour will rendezvous with it and attachthe U.S.-built Unity connecting module.

Background

The module was named Zarya in tribute to the new beginning in space thatwill be ushered in by the its launch as the first component of theInternational Space Station. The module, funded by the United States butbuilt and launched by Russia, also is symbolic of the dawn of a new era of

joint space flight between all of the station's international partners. In orbit,the module will see 16 new sunrises every 24 hours, one on each revolutionof Earth. On the ground, its launch will be the dawn of a new era of humanspace flight, the beginning of an international venture of unprecedented scale.


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Russian Missions

Zarya

Launch 11/20/98

Vehicle: Proton

Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, KazakstanLaunch Window: 10:00

Altitude: 210 nautical miles

Inclination: 51.6 degrees

Liftoff Weight: Zarya - 44,000 lbs; Proton - 1,540,000 lbs.

Launch of the Zarya Control Module

Launched by a three-stage Proton rocket, the Zarya control module, alsoknown by the technical term Functional Cargo Block and the Russianacronym FGB, will be the first component launched for the InternationalSpace Station and provide the station's initial propulsion and power. The

44,000-pound pressurized module is scheduled to be launched on Nov. 201998 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakstan.

Zarya Means "Sunrise"

The module was named Zarya, meaning "sunrise", in tribute to the newbeginning in space that will be ushered in by the its launch as the firstcomponent of the International Space Station. The module, funded by theUnited States but built and launched by Russia, also is symbolic of the dawnof a new era of joint space flight between all of the station's internationalpartners. In orbit, the module will see 16 new sunrises every 24 hours, one

on each revolution of Earth. On the ground, its launch will be the dawn of anew era of human space flight, the beginning of an international venture ofunprecedented scale.

Less than two weeks after Zarya reaches orbit, the Space ShuttleEndeavour will rendezvous with it and attach the U.S.-built Unity connectingmodule. Zarya will provide orientation control, communications andelectrical power attached to Unity for several months before the launch ofthe third component, a Russian-provided crew living quarters and earlystation core known as the Service Module. The Service Module will enhanceor replace many functions of the Zarya. Later in the station's assembly

sequence, the Zarya module will be used primarily for its storage capacityand external fuel tanks.

Zarya's solar arrays and six nickel-cadmium batteries can provide anaverage of 3 kilowatts of electrical power. Each of the two solar arrays is 35feet long and 11 feet wide. Using the Russian Kurs system, the Zarya willperform an automated and remotely piloted rendezvous and docking withthe Service Module in orbit. Its docking ports will accommodate RussianSoyuz piloted spacecraft and unpiloted Progress resupply spacecraft. Themodule has been modified to allow it to be refueled by a Progress vehicle


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docked to its down-facing port if necessary. The module's 16 fuel tankscombined can hold more than 6 tons of propellant. The attitude controlsystem for the module includes 24 large steering jets and 12 small steering

jets. Two large engines are available for reboosting the spacecraft andmaking major orbital changes.

Launched by a three-stage Proton rocket, some of the module's systems willbe active and some in an idle, or standby, mode and not fully activated until

reaching orbit. After reaching the initial elliptical orbit and separating fromthe Proton's third stage, a set of preprogrammed commands willautomatically activate the module's systems and deploy the solar arrays andcommunications antennas. On ensuing days after several operational tests,the module will be commanded to fire its engines and circularize its orbit atan altitude of about 240 statute miles, the orbit at which Endeavour willrendezvous and capture the spacecraft using the Shuttle's robotic arm.

Background

The U.S.-funded and Russian-built Zarya is a U.S. component of the station

although it was built by the Khrunichev State Research and ProductionSpace Center (KhSC) in Moscow under a subcontract to The Boeing Co. forNASA. It was shipped to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakstan, launch siteto begin launch preparations in January 1998.

Updated: 11/23/1998


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Flight Plan

Zarya Timeline

MET GMT EST EVENT

T-8 hrs 2240 05:40 p.m. Power up Proton boosteravionics & verify condition of

main avionics systemsT-7 hrs 20 min 2320 06:20 p.m. -- Power up Zaryacommand & control systemheaters

T-7 hrs 2340 06:40 p.m. -- Power up Zarya telemetryto verify onboard systems-- Start data recorders

T-6 hrs 30 min 0010 07:10 p.m. -- Turn off telemetry system& powerdown electric buses

T-6 hrs 0040 07:40 p.m. -- Begin loading Protonoxidizer (2 hrs 40 minduration)

T-4 hrs 20 min 0220 09:20 p.m. -- Begin loading Proton

propellant (1 hr 10 minduration)

T-2 hrs 40 min 0400 11:00 p.m. -- Thermal conditioning ofProton and Zarya

T-1 hr 10 min 0530 12:30 a.m. Retract service umbilicalVentilate & purge gascavities of Proton propellanttanksActivate ground systemelectrical busSet start time for launchsequence mechanism andsynchronize it with the

universal time systemT-1 hr 5 min 0535 12:35 a.m. -- Adjust Proton booster

trajectory

T-1 hr 0540 12:40 a.m. -- Power up ground stationdata handling complex-- Power up Zarya electricalbuses and telemetry systems

T-45 min 0555 12:55 a.m. -- Zarya launch sequenceinitiated

T-40 min 0600 01:00 a.m. -- Radiotelemetry systemactivated

T-35 min 0605 01:05 a.m. -- Thermal control systemactivated

T-33 min 0607 01:07 a.m. -- Motion Control Systemactivated in pre-launch mode

T-32 min 0608 01:08 a.m. -- Final alignment ofgyroscopes for requiredliftoff azimuth

T-30 min 0610 01:10 a.m. -- Command and controlsystem activated

T-25 min 0615 01:15 a.m. -- Fine tuning ofgyro-stabilized launchplatform of the Protonstrajectory control system inthe horizon plane and line of


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the azimuth

T-20 min 0620 01:20 a.m. -- Trajectory measurementsystem activated

T-18 min 0622 01:22 a.m. -- Zarya telemetry system(Syrius) activated

T-15 min 0625 01:25 a.m. -- Onboard telemetrymonitoring system activated-- Thermal monitoring ofProton booster engines

T-12 min 0628 01:28 a.m. -- Initiate rotation ofgyro-stabilized platform ofProton trajectory controlsystem

T-10 min 0630 01:30 a.m. -- Ground systems ready

T- 9 min 0631 01:31 a.m. -- Power switched fromground to Zarya onboardbatteries

T- 8 min 0632 01:32 a.m. -- Steering jets of all boosterstages confirmed in zeroposition-- Ground commandreceives control systems

ready message-- Ground commandreceives auxiliary systemsready message

T-5 min 0635 01:35 a.m. -- Final launch operationprogram initiated

T-4 min 0636 01:36 a.m. -- Telemetry monitoringsystem switched to onboardpower supply

T-3 min 30 sec 0636 01:36 a.m. -- Zarya telemetry systemrecording activated

T-3 min 0637 01:37 a.m. -- Power up of ground stationrecorders

T-2 min 0638 01:38 a.m. -- Ground commandreceives main block readycommand

T-1 min 0639 01:39 a.m. -- Ground station recordersactivated

T-2.5 sec 0640 01:40 a.m. -- Time launch sequencemechanism issues ignitioncommand for first stageengines-- Proton control systemswitched to onboard powersupply

T-1.6 sec 0640 01:40 a.m. -- Onboard system issues

full-thrust command toengines

T Zero 0640:27 01:40:27 a.m. -- LAUNCH

+2 min 6 sec 0642 01:42 a.m. -- First stage separation(27.1 miles 43.6 km)

+3 min 3 sec 0642 01:42 a.m. -- Launch shroud jettison(125.8 miles 78.2kilometers) (removal ofProton nose fairing)-- Shroud panels deploy 2folded command and controlantennae and the telemetry


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system antenna on Zarya

+5 min 0645 01:45 a.m. -- Begin telemetry recordingof Zarya module

+5 min 34 sec 0645 01:45 a.m. -- Second stage separation(222.5 miles 138.3 km)

+5 min 50 sec 0645 01:45 a.m. -- Prepare Zarya propulsionsystem for operations (30sec)

+9 min 37 sec 0649 01:49 a.m. -- Third stage main engine

shutdown command initiated+9 min 47 sec 0650 01:50 a.m. -- Third stage separation

command (297.6 miles 185km)-- Third stage steering jet isdeactivated-- Pyro locks securing Zaryato booster are released-- Third stage solid body fueljets fire to separate boosterfrom Zarya

+9 min 49 sec 0650 01:50 a.m. -- Zarya command andcontrol system activated --

External elementsdeployment program initiated

+10 min 5 sec 0650 01:50 a.m. -- Fire pyro pins to deployKurs docking systemantennae

+10 min 9 sec 0650 01:50 a.m. -- Deactivate telemetrysystem used during ascent

+10 min 11 sec 0650 01:50 a.m. -- Start spin-up of controlsystem gyro motors

+10 min 37 sec 0650 01:50 a.m. -- Power up drives of Kursantennae deployment system

+12 min 20 sec 0652 01:52 a.m. -- Initiate trim of residualangular rates (27 sec)

+12 min 47 sec 0652 01:52 a.m. -- Power up docking system+12 min 52 sec 0653 01:53 a.m. -- Initiate docking

mechanism probe extension-- Deativate Zarya controlsystem

+13 min 20 sec 0653 01:53 a.m. -- Solar array deployment (2min)

Updated: 11/19/1998


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Summary Flight Plan

Zarya Orbital Events Summary

Launch reference date is November 20, 1998

FLIGHT DAY DATE EVENT

1 11/20/98 -- Launch, ascent, orbit insertion-- Begin multi-axis spin for

thermal control and to reduce fuel consumption2 11/21/98 -- Engine test burn (10 seconds duration, single engine)

-- Television camera test-- Perigee raising burn (single engine)-- Resulting orbit: 215 by 153 statute miles

4 11/23/98 -- Perform two burns to raise orbit-- Resulting orbit: 238 by190 statute miles

5 11/24/98 -- Orbit raising burns to achieve Endeavour rendezvousorbit-- Resulting orbit: 242 miles circular

6 11/25/98 -- Onboard computer system test-- Maneuver to test of Endeavour capture, dockingorientation-- Maneuver to assess solar array performance

8 11/27/98 -- Maneuver to test of Endeavour capture, dockingorientation-- Assess solar array, battery charging performance-- Begin multi-axis spin

14 12/03/98 -- Endeavour launches on STS-88

17 12/06/98 -- Zarya capture, berthing to Unity

24 12/13/98 -- Endeavour undock, flyaround

25 12/14/98 -- Flight Days 25-34 - Systems checkout

Updated: 11/23/1998


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Proton

The Proton Rocket: A Russian Booster for Early Station Components

The three-stage Russian Proton rocket that will be used to launch the first

International Space Station component, the U.S.-owned, Russian-builtZarya control module, is a veteran design that has successfully flown morethan 200 times.

The Proton was originally introduced in 1965 as a booster for heavy militarypayloads and for space stations. It was designed by the Salyut DesignBureau and is manufactured by the Khrunichev State Research andProduction Space Center in Moscow. The Proton is among the most reliableheavy-lift launch vehicles in operation, with a reliability rating of about 98percent. In addition to Zarya, the three-stage Proton will be used to boostthe primary Russian station contribution, an early living quarters known as

the Service Module, into orbit in July 1999.

Proton First Stage

With the Zarya module, launch fairing and adapter in place atop thebooster, the Proton measures about 180 feet tall, 24 feet in diameter at itswidest point and weighs about 1,540,000 pounds when fully fueled forlaunch. The engines use nitrogen tetroxide, an oxidizer, and unsymmetricaldimethyl hydrazine, a fuel, as propellants. The first stage includes sixengines that are fed propellants from a single, center oxidizer tanksurrounded by six outboard fuel tanks. At launch, the first stage enginescombined provide about 1.9 million pounds of thrust. The first stage, whichmeasures about 68 feet long by 24 feet in diameter, burns out and is

jettisoned two minutes, six seconds after launch, when the spacecraft is atan altitude of 27 statute miles and traveling more than 3,700 miles per hour.

Second Stage

The Proton's second stage, 56 feet long by 13.5 feet in diameter, is poweredby four engines that can create 475,000 pounds of thrust. While the secondstage is in operation, the protective fairing covering Zarya for liftoff is

jettisoned at three minutes, three seconds into the flight. The second stageburns for a total of about three minutes, 28 seconds and is jettisoned at

about five and half minutes after launch. When the second stage isjettisoned, the spacecraft is at an altitude of about 86 miles, traveling morethan 9,900 miles per hour.

Third Stage

The Proton's third and final stage, 13.5 feet long by 13 feet in diameter, ispowered by a single engine that creates 125,000 pounds of thrust. The thirdstage is jettisoned nine minutes, forty-seven seconds into the flight, whenthe spacecraft is at an altitude of 115 statute miles and traveling about16,900 miles per hour. Zarya will then be in an elliptical orbit with a high


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point of 220 statute miles and a low point of 115 statute miles. Firings ofZarya's engines during the following days will raise the orbit to a circularaltitude of about 240 statute miles for the rendezvous and capture by theSpace Shuttle Endeavour

Related Links:

Updated: 11/13/1998

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