NASA ISS Expedition 17 Press Kit

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
MISSION OVERVIEW............................................................................................................... 1
EXPEDITION 17 CREW ............................................................................................................. 5
MISSION MILESTONES ........................................................................................................... 13
EXPEDITION 17 SPACEWALKS ................................................................................................ 15
RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA ............................................................................................................. 17
S O Y U Z B O O ST E R R O CK ET C HA RA C T ER IS T I C S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
P R ELA U N CH C O U N T DO W N T IM EL I N E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
A S C E NT / I NSE R T IO N TIM EL I N E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 23
O R B ITAL I N SER T IO N TO DO C K I N G T IMEL I NE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
K E Y T IM E S FO R EX PED IT IO N 1 7/1 6 I S S E VE N T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
E X P E D IT I ON 1 6 /SO Y UZ TMA -1 1 L A N DING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
S O Y U Z E NT RY T IM EL IN E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 35
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION: EXPEDITION 17 SCIENCE OVERVIEW .............................. 39

THE PAYLOAD OPERATIONS CENTER ...................................................................................... 45
ISS-17 RUSSIAN RESEARCH OBJECTIVES .............................................................................. 49
EUROPEAN EXPERIMENT PROGRAM ....................................................................................... 57
DIGITAL NASA TELEVISION .................................................................................................... 65
EXPEDITION 17 PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS (PAO) CONTACTS ............................................. 67
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ii TABLE OF CONTENTS APRIL 2008

Mission Overview
Expedition 17: Global Science in Space
Attired in Russian Sokol launch and entry suits, cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko (right), Expedition
17 Flight Engineer; cosmonaut Sergei Volkov, Soyuz and Expedition 17 Commander; and South
Korean space flight participant So-yeon Yi take a break from training in Star City, Russia, to
pose for a portrait. Kononenko, Volkov and Yi are scheduled to launch to the ISS in a Soyuz
spacecraft in April. Photo credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.
On April 8, two Russian cosmonauts aboard the mission and the Soyuz spacecraft for launch
Soyuz TMA-12 will launch to the International and landing. Volkov is the son of former
Space Station (ISS), joining an American Russian cosmonaut Alexander Volkov. Joining
astronaut as they oversee the continuing Volkov is fellow Russian cosmonaut
expansion of the station. Oleg Kononenko (AH-leg Koh-no-NEHN-ko), an
engineer for RSC-Energia, who will turn 44 in
Making his first flight into space, cosmonaut June. He is also making his first flight. Their
Sergei Volkov (SIR-gay VOHL-koff), a stay aboard the station is expected to last six
35-year-old Russian Air Force lieutenant months.
colonel, will command the Expedition 17
APRIL 2008 MISSION OVERVIEW 1

Volkov and Kononenko will join 40-year Kononenko, just days before the Expedition 16
old National Aeronautics and Space crew members and Yi depart the station.
Administration (NASA) astronaut Garrett Malenchenko, at the controls of Soyuz, Whitson
Reisman (REES-man), who was brought to the and Yi will land in the steppes of Kazakhstan to
station aboard shuttle Endeavour on the conclude their mission. Yi’s mission will span
STS-123 mission. Shortly after Volkov and 11 days.
Kononenko arrive, Reisman will be replaced by
46-year old NASA astronaut and first-time flier After landing, the trio will be flown from
Greg Chamitoff (SHAM-eh-tawf), who will Kazakhstan to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training
launch on Discovery's STS-124 mission. Center in Star City, for initial physical
Chamitoff will return home aboard Endeavour rehabilitation.
on mission STS-126 in the fall.
The Expedition 17 crew will work with
The Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft will launch from experiments across a wide variety of fields,
the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a including human life sciences, physical
two-day flight to link up to the Pirs sciences and Earth observation, and conduct
Docking Compartment on the station. Joining technology demonstrations. Many experiments
them on the Soyuz is South Korean researcher are designed to gather information about the
and mechanical engineer So-yeon Yi effects of long-duration spaceflight on the
(Soh-Yeeon-YEE), 29, who will spend nine human body, which will help with planning
days on the station under an agreement future exploration missions to the moon and
between the South Korean government and the Mars. The science team at the Payload
Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). Operations Center (POC) at NASA's Marshall
Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Ala.,
Yi will return to Earth on the Soyuz TMA-11 will operate some experiments without crew
capsule with Expedition 16 Commander Peggy input and other experiments are designed to
Whitson, 48, and Flight Engineer and Soyuz function autonomously.
Commander Yuri Malenchenko (Muh-LEHN’-
chen-ko), 46, landing in central Kazakhstan.
Whitson and Malenchenko have been aboard
the station since October 2007.
Once they arrive, Volkov and Kononenko will

conduct more than a week of handover
activities with Whitson, Malenchenko and
Reisman, familiarizing themselves with station
systems and procedures. They also will receive
proficiency training on the Canadarm2 robotic
arm from the resident crew, engage in safety
briefings and receive payload and scientific
equipment training.
The change of command ceremony will mark South Korean spaceflight participant
the formal handoff of control of the station by So-yeon Yi gets tested for fitting of her seat
Whitson and Malenchenko to Volkov and she’ll use on her Soyuz flight to the ISS.
2 MISSION OVERVIEW APRIL 2008

Russian Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Sergei A. Volkov (right), Expedition 17 commander;
NASA astronaut Greg Chamitoff (center) and cosmonaut Oleg D. Kononenko, both flight
engineers, participate in a routine operations training session in the Space Vehicle Mockup
Facility at the Johnson Space Center (JSC).
With the addition of the European Columbus Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).
module to the station in February and the first of The ATV’s docking port is the aft end of the
the Japanese Kibo module elements in March, Russian Zvezda Service Module.
new control centers in Oberpfaffenhofen,
Germany, and Tsukuba, Japan, are being The ISS Progress 29 cargo is targeted to reach
inaugurated to integrate science activities the station in May, ISS Progress 30 is slated for
conducted by the station crew. August and Progress 31 will reach the complex
in September, about one month prior to the
Discovery's STS-124 mission will deliver the launch of the next resident crew, Expedition 18.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's
(JAXA’s) large Kibo pressurized science U.S. and Russian specialists are reviewing
module that will be attached to the port side of potential spacewalk tasks for Expedition 17.
the Harmony connecting node. Volkov, Volkov and Kononenko are scheduled to
Kononenko and Chamitoff also are expected to conduct one spacewalk in Russian Orlan suits
greet three Russian Progress resupply cargo from the Pirs Docking Compartment in July to
ships filled with food, fuel, water and supplies, install experiments on the hull of Zvezda. Other
augmenting the supplies that are being possible spacewalking work will be reviewed by
delivered on the maiden flight of the European station program officials.
APRIL 2008 MISSION OVERVIEW 3

Backdropped by the airglow of Earth's horizon and the blackness of space, the ISS is seen
from Space Shuttle Endeavour as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation. Earlier the
STS-123 and Expedition 16 crews concluded 12 days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle
and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 7:25 p.m. (CDT) on March 24, 2008.
4 MISSION OVERVIEW APRIL 2008

Expedition 17 Crew
The Expedition 17 patch is meant to celebrate indicating the direction of future activities as
current human achievements in space as well human beings build on what has already been
as symbolize the future potential for continuing accomplished. The flags, representing the
exploration. The Earth, represented at the home countries of the crew members, Russia
bottom of the patch, is the base from which all and the United States, are touching,
space exploration activities initiate. The highlighting the cooperative nature of the space
International Space Station, shown in low Earth program and symbolizing the merger of science
orbit, illustrates the current level of space and technical knowledge of these two
operations. The arrow and star point outwards, experienced spacefaring nations.
away from the Earth, toward the wider universe
Expedition 17 Patch
APRIL 2008 CREW 5

Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko (right), Expedition 17 Flight Engineer; cosmonaut Sergei Volkov,
Soyuz and Expedition 17 Commander; and South Korean spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi
are scheduled to launch to the ISS in a Soyuz spacecraft in April.
Photo credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
Short biographical sketches of the crew follow

with detailed background available at:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/
6 CREW APRIL 2008

Sergey Volkov
Russian Air Force Lt. Col. Sergey Volkov will be Space Station since 2000. He trained as the
making his first trip into space as commander of backup for Expedition 7 and 13. He also
Expedition 17. He will command the Soyuz trained for the primary crew of Expedition 11
spacecraft to the station in April. Selected for until the station missions were reorganized
training as a test cosmonaut in 1997, he has following the Columbia accident. He will return
been training for missions to the International to Earth in October.
APRIL 2008 CREW 7

Oleg Kononenko
Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko will be making his Corps of the Samara Central Design Bureau in
first trip into space. He will launch on a Soyuz 1996 and assigned to RSC Energia Cosmonaut
spacecraft in April to serve as a flight engineer Corps in 1999. He has been training for
for Expedition 17. He graduated from missions to the International Space Station
postgraduate courses specializing in since 1998. He trained as part of the backup
automation of control systems design. He was crew for the third Soyuz taxi flight to the station.
selected as a test cosmonaut to the Cosmonaut He will return to Earth in October.
8 CREW APRIL 2008

Garrett Reisman
Astronaut Garrett Reisman made his first trip 5 mission, living on the bottom of the sea in the
into space aboard STS-123 to join Aquarius habitat for two weeks. He will serve
Expedition 16 in progress. He holds a as a flight engineer and science officer during
doctorate in mechanical engineering. Selected Expedition 16 and Expedition 17 aboard station.
by NASA in 1998, Reisman has worked in the He is scheduled to return on shuttle mission
Astronaut Office robotics and advanced STS-124.
vehicles branches. He was part of the NEEMO
APRIL 2008 CREW 9

Greg Chamitoff
Astronaut Greg Chamitoff is making his for Expedition 6. He was part of the NEEMO 3
first spaceflight aboard STS-124 to join mission, living on the bottom of the sea in the
Expedition 17 in progress. He holds a Aquarius habitat for nine days. He will
doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics. serve as a flight engineer and science officer
Selected by NASA in 1998, Chamitoff has during Expedition 17 and the transition to
worked in the Astronaut Office robotics branch. Expedition 18 aboard station. He is scheduled
He also served as the lead Capcom for to return on shuttle mission STS-126.
Expedition 9 and as the crew support astronaut
10 CREW APRIL 2008

So-yeon Yi
Spaceflight Participant
During July 2000 to August 2000, astronaut candidate for the first South Korean
So-yeon Yi worked for the Korean Institute space mission. Since that time she has
of Machine-building and Materials. From worked as a research fellow in the Department
March 2001, she participated in development, of Korean Astronaut Mission Project of
manufacturing and testing of hardware the Korean Aerospace Research Institute. In
in the Center of Nana Technologies of September 2007, Yi was assigned to train as a
the Korean Science-Technical Institute. In spaceflight participant.
December 2006, she was selected as an
APRIL 2008 CREW 11

12 CREW APRIL 2008

Mission Milestones
(Dates are subject to change)
2008:
April 8 Expedition 17 launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on Soyuz
TMA-12 with South Korean spaceflight participant
April 10 Expedition 17 docks to the International Space Station’s Pirs Docking

Compartment on Soyuz TMA-12 with South Korean spaceflight participant
April 17 Change of command ceremony with departing

Expedition 16 crew
April 19 Undocking and landing of Expedition 16 crew from Zarya Module and landing in
Kazakhstan on Soyuz TMA-11 with South Korean spaceflight participant
May 6 Relocation of Soyuz TMA-12 from Pirs Docking Compartment to Zarya Module
May 14 Launch of ISS Progress 29 resupply ship from Baikonur Cosmodrome,

Kazakhstan
May 16 Docking of ISS Progress 29 to the Pirs Docking Compartment
May 31 Launch of Discovery on the STS-124/1J mission from the Kennedy Space Center
June 2 Docking of Discovery to ISS Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2); Reisman

and Chamitoff swap places as Expedition 17 crew members
June 3 Installation of Kibo Pressurized Module to port side of Harmony connecting node
June 10 Undocking of Discovery from ISS PMA-2
June 13 Landing of Discovery to complete STS-124/1J
July 10 Russian spacewalk by Volkov and Kononenko
Aug. 7 Scheduled undocking of “Jules Verne” Automated Transfer Vehicle from aft port
of the Zvezda Service Module
Aug. 12 Launch of ISS Progress 30 resupply ship from Baikonur Cosmodrome,

Kazakhstan
Aug. 14 Docking of ISS Progress 30 to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module
Sept. 9 Undocking of the ISS Progress 29 from the Pirs Docking Compartment
APRIL 2008 MISSION MILESTONES 13

Sept. 10 Launch of ISS Progress 31 resupply ship from Baikonur Cosmodrome,
Kazakhstan
Sept. 12 Docking of ISS Progress 31 to the Pirs Docking Compartment
Oct. 10 Undocking of ISS Progress 30 from the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module
Oct. 12 Launch of the Expedition 18 crew and a U.S. spaceflight participant on the Soyuz
TMA-13 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan
Oct. 14 Docking of the Expedition 18 crew and a U.S. spaceflight participant on the
Soyuz TMA-13 to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module
Oct. 23 Undocking of the Expedition 17 crew and a U.S. spaceflight participant from the
Zarya Module and landing in Kazakhstan on Soyuz TMA-12
14 MISSION MILESTONES APRIL 2008

Expedition 17 Spacewalks
Cosmonaut Oleg D. Kononenko, Expedition 17 flight engineer representing Russia's

Federal Space Agency, participates in an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU)
spacesuit fit check in the Space Station Airlock Test Article (SSATA) in the
Crew Systems Laboratory at JSC. Cosmonaut Sergei A. Volkov, commander
representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, assisted Kononenko.
Presently there are no U.S.-based spacewalks The new airlock will be delivered during the
scheduled during Expedition 17. Progress 36P, targeted for 2009.
In early July, cosmonauts Volkov and The MRM2, which is identical to the DC1, will
Kononenko will perform the station’s 20th be docked to the zenith port of the Zvezda
Russian spacewalk in Orlan spacesuits to service module’s transfer compartment.
install a docking target for a new airlock called
the Mini-Research Module 2. The MRM2 will During the spacewalk, Volkov and Kononenko
replace the Docking Compartment 1, or DC1 or will be working near the Zvezda and Docking
Pirs, as the primary Russian segment airlock. Compartment 1.
APRIL 2008 SPACEWALKS 15

The other major tasks for the spacewalkers remove a scientific payload “Biorisk” container
include installing the scientific payload for return to Earth at a later date.
“Vsplesk” and the Strela crane Foot Restraint
Adapter that will hold crew members during The Vsplesk, or Burst, experiment monitors the
spacewalks. The spacewalkers also will seismic effects of high-energy particles streams
in the near-Earth space environment.
This image illustrates the worksites that will be used during the station’s
20th Russian spacewalk to install a docking target for a new airlock.
16 SPACEWALKS APRIL 2008

Russian Soyuz TMA
The Soyuz TMA spacecraft is designed to serve module — after the deorbit maneuver — and
as the ISS's crew return vehicle, acting as a burns up upon re-entry into the atmosphere.
lifeboat in the unlikely event an emergency
would require the crew to leave the station. A Descent Module
new Soyuz capsule is normally delivered to the
station by a Soyuz crew every six months, The descent module is where the cosmonauts
replacing an older Soyuz capsule at the ISS. and astronauts sit for launch, re-entry and
landing. All the necessary controls and
The Soyuz spacecraft is launched to the space displays of the Soyuz are here. The module
station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in also contains life support supplies and batteries
Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz rocket. It consists used during descent, as well as the primary and
of an orbital module, a descent module and an backup parachutes and landing rockets. It also
instrumentation/propulsion module. contains custom-fitted seat liners for each crew
member, individually molded to fit each
Orbital Module person's body — this ensures a tight,
comfortable fit when the module lands on the
This portion of the Soyuz spacecraft is used by Earth. When crew members are brought to the
the crew while on orbit during free-flight. It has station aboard the space shuttle, their seat
a volume of 6.5 cubic meters (230 cubic feet), liners are brought with them and transferred to
with a docking mechanism, hatch and the Soyuz spacecraft as part of crew handover
rendezvous antennas located at the front end. activities.
The docking mechanism is used to dock with
the space station and the hatch allows entry The module has a periscope, which allows the
into the station. The rendezvous antennas are crew to view the docking target on the station or
used by the automated docking system — a the Earth below. The eight hydrogen peroxide
radar-based system — to maneuver towards thrusters located on the module are used to
the station for docking. There is also a window control the spacecraft's orientation, or attitude,
in the module. during the descent until parachute deployment.
It also has a guidance, navigation and control
The opposite end of the orbital module system to maneuver the vehicle during the
connects to the descent module via a descent phase of the mission.
pressurized hatch. Before returning to Earth,
the orbital module separates from the descent
APRIL 2008 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 17

This module weighs 2,900 kilograms orbital module, the intermediate section of the
(6,393 pounds), with a habitable volume of instrumentation/propulsion module separates
4 cubic meters (141 cubic feet). Approximately from the descent module after the final deorbit
50 kilograms (110 pounds) of payload can be maneuver and burns up in atmosphere upon
returned to Earth in this module and up to re-entry.
150 kilograms (331 pounds) if only two crew
members are present. The Descent Module is TMA Improvements and Testing
the only portion of the Soyuz that survives the
return to Earth. The Soyuz TMA spacecraft is a replacement for
the Soyuz TM, which was used from 1986 to
Instrumentation/Propulsion Module 2002 to take astronauts and cosmonauts to Mir
and then to the International Space Station.
This module contains three compartments:
intermediate, instrumentation and propulsion. The TMA increases safety, especially in
descent and landing. It has smaller and more
The intermediate compartment is where the efficient computers and improved displays. In
module connects to the descent module. It also addition, the Soyuz TMA accommodates
contains oxygen storage tanks and the attitude individuals as large as 1.9 meters (6 feet,
control thrusters, as well as electronics, 3 inches) tall and 95 kilograms (209 pounds),
communications and control equipment. The compared to 1.8 meters (6 feet) and
primary guidance, navigation, control and 85 kilograms (187 pounds) in the earlier TM.
computer systems of the Soyuz are in the Minimum crew member size for the TMA is
instrumentation compartment, which is a sealed 1.5 meters (4 feet, 11 inches) and 50 kilograms
container filled with circulating nitrogen gas to (110 pounds), compared to 1.6 meters (5 feet,
cool the avionics equipment. The propulsion 4 inches) and 56 kilograms (123 pounds) for the
compartment contains the primary thermal TM.
control system and the Soyuz radiator, with a
cooling area of 8 square meters (86 square Two new engines reduce landing speed and
feet). The propulsion system, batteries, solar forces felt by crew members by 15 to
arrays, radiator and structural connection to the 30 percent and a new entry control system and
Soyuz launch rocket are located in this three-axis accelerometer increase landing
compartment. accuracy. Instrumentation improvements
include a color “glass cockpit,” which is easier
The propulsion compartment contains the to use and gives the crew more information,
system that is used to perform any with hand controllers that can be secured under
maneuvers while in orbit, including rendezvous an instrument panel. All the new components
and docking with the space station and the in the Soyuz TMA can spend up to one year in
deorbit burns necessary to return to Earth. space.
The propellants are nitrogen tetroxide
and unsymmetric-dimethylhydrazine. The main New components and the entire TMA were
propulsion system and the smaller reaction rigorously tested on the ground, in hangar-drop
control system, used for attitude changes while tests, in airdrop tests and in space before the
in space, share the same propellant tanks. spacecraft was declared flight-ready. For
example, the accelerometer and associated
The two Soyuz solar arrays are attached to software, as well as modified boosters
either side of the rear section of the (incorporated to cope with the TMA's additional
instrumentation/propulsion module and are mass), were tested on flights of Progress
linked to rechargeable batteries. Like the unpiloted supply spacecraft, while the new
18 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2008

cooling system was tested on two Soyuz TM Ignition of the first stage boosters and the
flights. second stage central core occur simultaneously
on the ground. When the boosters have
Descent module structural modifications, seats completed their powered flight during ascent,
and seat shock absorbers were tested in they are separated and the core second stage
hangar drop tests. Landing system continues to function.
modifications, including associated software
upgrades, were tested in a series of airdrop First stage separation occurs when the
tests. Additionally, extensive tests of systems pre-defined velocity is reached, which is about
and components were conducted on the 118 seconds after liftoff.
ground.
Soyuz Launcher
Throughout history, more than 1,500 launches
have been made with Soyuz launchers to orbit
satellites for telecommunications, Earth
observation, weather, and scientific missions,
as well as for human flights.
The basic Soyuz vehicle is considered a three-

stage launcher in Russian terms and is
composed of:
• A lower portion consisting of four boosters

(first stage) and a central core (second
stage).
• An upper portion, consisting of the third

stage, payload adapter and payload fairing.
• Liquid oxygen and kerosene are used as

propellants in all three Soyuz stages.
First Stage Boosters

The first stage’s four boosters are assembled
around the second stage central core. The
boosters are identical and cylindrical-conic in
shape with the oxygen tank in the cone-shaped
portion and the kerosene tank in the cylindrical
portion. A Soyuz launches from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.
An NPO Energomash RD 107 engine with four
main chambers and two gimbaled vernier
thrusters is used in each booster. The vernier
thrusters provide three-axis flight control.

Second Stage initial performance assessment. All flight data
is analyzed and documented within a few hours
An NPO Energomash RD 108 engine powers after launch.
the Soyuz second stage. This engine has four
vernier thrusters, necessary for three-axis flight Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch
control after the first stage boosters have Operations
separated.
Soyuz missions use the Baikonur
An equipment bay located atop the second Cosmodrome’s proven infrastructure, and
stage operates during the entire flight of the first launches are performed by trained personnel
and second stages. with extensive operational experience.
Third Stage Baikonur Cosmodrome is in the Republic of

Kazakhstan in Central Asia between
The third stage is linked to the Soyuz second 45 degrees and 46 degrees north latitude and
stage by a latticework structure. When the 63 degrees east longitude. Two launch pads
second stage’s powered flight is complete, the are dedicated to Soyuz missions.
third stage engine is ignited. Separation occurs
by the direct ignition forces of the third stage Final Launch Preparations
engine.
The assembled launch vehicle is moved to the
A single-turbopump RD 0110 engine from KB launch pad on a railcar. Transfer to the launch
KhA powers the Soyuz third stage. zone occurs two days before launch. The
vehicle is erected and a launch rehearsal is
The third stage engine is fired for about performed that includes activation of all
240 seconds. Cutoff occurs at a calculated electrical and mechanical equipment.
velocity. After cutoff and separation, the third
stage performs an avoidance maneuver by On launch day, the vehicle is loaded with
opening an outgassing valve in the liquid propellant and the final countdown sequence is
oxygen tank. started at three hours before the liftoff time.
Launcher Telemetry Tracking & Flight Rendezvous to Docking

Safety Systems
A Soyuz spacecraft generally takes two days to
Soyuz launcher tracking and telemetry is reach the space station. The rendezvous and
provided through systems in the second and docking are both automated, though once the
third stages. These two stages have their own spacecraft is within 150 meters (492 feet) of the
radar transponders for ground tracking. station, the Russian Mission Control Center just
Individual telemetry transmitters are in each outside Moscow monitors the approach and
stage. Launcher health status is downlinked to docking. The Soyuz crew has the capability to
ground stations along the flight path. Telemetry manually intervene or execute these
and tracking data are transmitted to the mission operations.
control center, where the incoming data flow is
recorded. Partial real-time data processing and
plotting is performed for flight following and

Soyuz Booster Rocket Characteristics
First Stage Data - Blocks B, V, G, D

Engine RD-107
Propellants LOX/Kerosene
Thrust (tons) 102
Burn time (sec) 122
Specific impulse 314
Length (meters) 19.8
Diameter (meters) 2.68
Dry mass (tons) 3.45
Propellant mass (tons) 39.63
Second Stage Data, Block A
Engine RD-108
Thrust (tons) 96
Burn time (sec) 314
Length (meters) 28.75
Dry mass (tons) 6.51
Third Stage Data, Block I
Engine RD-461
Thrust (tons) 30
Burn time (sec) 240
Length (meters) 8.1
Dry mass (tons) 2.4
PAYLOAD MASS (tons) 6.8
SHROUD MASS (tons) 4.5
LAUNCH MASS (tons) 309.53
TOTAL LENGTH (meters) 49.3

Prelaunch Countdown Timeline
T- 34 Hours Booster is prepared for fuel loading

T- 6:00:00 Batteries are installed in booster
T- 5:30:00 State commission gives go to take launch vehicle
T- 5:15:00 Crew arrives at site 254
T- 5:00:00 Tanking begins
T- 4:20:00 Spacesuit donning
T- 4:00:00 Booster is loaded with liquid oxygen
T- 3:40:00 Crew meets delegations
T- 3:10:00 Reports to the State commission
T- 3:05:00 Transfer to the launch pad
T- 3:00:00 Vehicle 1st and 2nd stage oxidizer fueling complete
T- 2:35:00 Crew arrives at launch vehicle
T- 2:30:00 Crew ingress through orbital module side hatch
T- 2:00:00 Crew in re-entry vehicle
T- 1:45:00 Re-entry vehicle hardware tested; suits are ventilated
T- 1:30:00 Launch command monitoring and supply unit prepared
Orbital compartment hatch tested for sealing
T- 1:00:00 Launch vehicle control system prepared for use; gyro instruments
activated
T - :45:00 Launch pad service structure halves are lowered
T- :40:00 Re-entry vehicle hardware testing complete; leak checks
performed on suits
T- :30:00 Emergency escape system armed; launch command supply unit
activated
T- :25:00 Service towers withdrawn
T- :15:00 Suit leak tests complete; crew engages personal escape
hardware auto mode
T- :10:00 Launch gyro instruments uncaged; crew activates on-board
recorders
T- 7:00 All prelaunch operations are complete
T- 6:15 Key to launch command given at the launch site
Automatic program of final launch operations is activated
T- 6:00 All launch complex and vehicle systems ready for launch
T- 5:00 Onboard systems switched to onboard control
Ground measurement system activated by RUN 1 command
Commander's controls activated
Crew switches to suit air by closing helmets
Launch key inserted in launch bunker
T- 3:15 Combustion chambers of side and central engine pods purged
with nitrogen

Prelaunch Countdown Timeline (concluded)
T- 2:30 Booster propellant tank pressurization starts

Onboard measurement system activated by RUN 2 command
Prelaunch pressurization of all tanks with nitrogen begins
T- 2:15 Oxidizer and fuel drain and safety valves of launch vehicle are
closed
Ground filling of oxidizer and nitrogen to the launch vehicle is
terminated
T- 1:00 Vehicle on internal power
Automatic sequencer on
First umbilical tower separates from booster
T- :40 Ground power supply umbilical to third stage is disconnected
T- :20 Launch command given at the launch position
Central and side pod engines are turned on
T- :15 Second umbilical tower separates from booster
T- :10 Engine turbopumps at flight speed
T- :05 First stage engines at maximum thrust
T- :00 Fueling tower separates
Lift off
Ascent/Insertion Timeline
T- :00 Lift off

T+ 1:10 Booster velocity is 1,640 ft/sec
T+ 1:58 Stage 1 (strap-on boosters) separation
T+ 2:00 Booster velocity is 4,921 ft/sec
T+ 2:40 Escape tower and launch shroud jettison
T+ 4:58 Core booster separates at 105.65 statute miles
Third stage ignites
T+ 7:30 Velocity is 19,685 ft/sec
T+ 9:00 Third stage cut-off
Soyuz separates
Antennas and solar panels deploy
Flight control switches to Mission Control, Korolev

Orbital Insertion to Docking Timeline
FLIGHT DAY 1 OVERVIEW

Orbit 1 Post insertion: Deployment of solar panels, antennas and
docking probe
- Crew monitors all deployments
- Crew reports on pressurization of OMS/RCS and ECLSS
systems and crew health. Entry thermal sensors are manually
deactivated
- Ground provides initial orbital insertion data from tracking
Orbit 2 Systems Checkout: IR Att Sensors, Kurs, Angular Accels,
“Display” TV Downlink System, OMS engine control system,
Manual Attitude Control Test
- Crew monitors all systems tests and confirms onboard
indications
- Crew performs manual RHC stick inputs for attitude control test
- Ingress into HM, activate HM CO2 scrubber and doff Sokols
- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink
- Radar and radio transponder tracking
Manual maneuver to +Y to Sun and initiate a 2 deg/sec yaw
rotation. MCS is deactivated after rate is established.
Orbit 3 Terminate +Y solar rotation, reactivate MCS and establish
LVLH attitude reference (auto maneuver sequence)
- Crew monitors LVLH attitude reference build up
- Burn data command upload for DV1 and DV2 (attitude, TIG
Delta V’s)
- Form 14 preburn emergency deorbit pad read up
Auto maneuver to DV1 burn attitude (TIG - 8 minutes) while
LOS
- Crew monitor only, no manual action nominally required
DV1 phasing burn while LOS
Orbit 4 Auto maneuver to DV2 burn attitude (TIG - 8 minutes) while
LOS
DV2 phasing burn while LOS

FLIGHT DAY 1 OVERVIEW (CONTINUED)
Orbit 4 Crew report on burn performance upon AOS
(continued) - HM and DM pressure checks read down
- Post burn Form 23 (AOS/LOS pad), Form 14 and “Globe”
corrections voiced up
External boresight TV camera ops check (while LOS)
Meal
Orbit 5 Last pass on Russian tracking range for Flight Day 1
Report on TV camera test and crew health
Sokol suit clean up
Orbit 6-12 Crew Sleep, off of Russian tracking range
- Emergency VHF2 comm available through NASA VHF Network
Orbit 13 Post sleep activity, report on HM/DM Pressures
Form 14 revisions voiced up
Orbit 14 Configuration of RHC-2/THC-2 work station in the HM
Orbit 15 THC-2 (HM) manual control test
Orbit 16 Lunch
Orbit 17 (1) Terminate +Y solar rotation, reactivate MCS and establish
RHC-2 (HM) Test
- Burn data uplink (TIG, attitude, delta V)
Auto maneuver to burn attitude (TIG - 8 min) while LOS
Rendezvous burn while LOS

FLIGHT DAY 2 OVERVIEW (CONTINUED)
Orbit 18 (2) Post burn and manual maneuver to +Y Sun report when AOS
- HM/DM pressures read down
- Post burn Form 23, Form 14 and Form 2 (Globe correction)
voiced up
Orbit 19 (3) CO2 scrubber cartridge change out
Free time
Orbit 20 (4) Free time
Orbit 21 (5) Last pass on Russian tracking range for Flight Day 2
Free time
Orbit 22 (6) - 27 Crew sleep, off of Russian tracking range
(11) - Emergency VHF2 comm available through NASA VHF Network
Orbit 28 (12) Post sleep activity
Orbit 29 (13) Free time, report on HM/DM pressures
- Read up of predicted post burn Form 23 and Form 14
Orbit 30 (14) Free time, read up of Form 2 “Globe Correction,” lunch
- Uplink of auto rendezvous command timeline
FLIGHT DAY 3 AUTO RENDEZVOUS SEQUENCE
Orbit 31 (15) Don Sokol spacesuits, ingress DM, close DM/HM hatch
- Active and passive vehicle state vector uplinks
- Radio transponder tracking

FLIGHT DAY 3 AUTO RENDEZVOUS SEQUENCE (CONCLUDED)
Orbit 32 (16) Terminate +Y solar rotation, reactivate MCS and establish
Begin auto rendezvous sequence
- Crew monitoring of LVLH reference build and auto rendezvous
timeline execution
FLIGHT DAY 3 FINAL APPROACH AND DOCKING
Orbit 33 (1) Auto Rendezvous sequence continues, flyaround and station
keeping
- Crew monitor
- Comm relays via SM through Altair established
- Form 23 and Form 14 updates
- Fly around and station keeping initiated near end of orbit
- A/G (gnd stations and Altair), R/T TLM (gnd stations), Display
TV downlink (gnd stations and Altair)
Orbit 34 (2) Final Approach and docking
- Capture to “docking sequence complete” 20 minutes, typically
- Monitor docking interface pressure seal
- Transfer to HM, doff Sokol suits
- A/G (gnd stations and Altair), R/T TLM (gnd stations), Display
TV downlink (gnd stations and Altair)
FLIGHT DAY 3 STATION INGRESS
Orbit 35 (3) Station/Soyuz pressure equalization
- Report all pressures
- Open transfer hatch, ingress station
- A/G, R/T and playback telemetry

Typical Soyuz Ground Track

Key Times for Expedition 17/16 ISS Events
Expedition 17/SFP Launch
6:16:35 a.m. CT on April 8
11:16:35 GMT on April 8
15:16:35 p.m. Moscow time on April 8
17:16:35 p.m. Baikonur time on April 8
Expedition 17/SFP Docking to the ISS (Pirs Docking Compartment)
8:00 a.m. CT on April 10
13:00 GMT on April 10
17:00 p.m. Moscow time on April 10
Expedition 17/SFP Hatch Opening to the ISS
Expedition 16/SFP Hatch Closure to the ISS
9:00 p.m. CT on April 18
6:00 a.m. Moscow time on April 19
8:00 a.m. Kazakhstan time on April 19
Expedition 16/SFP Undocking from the ISS

Expedition 16/SFP Deorbit Burn
~2:48 a.m. CT on April 19
~7:48 GMT on April 19
~11:48 a.m. Moscow time on April 19
~13:48 p.m. Kazakhstan time on April 19
Expedition 16/SFP Landing
14:38 p.m. Kazakhstan time on April 19

Expedition 16/Soyuz TMA-11 Landing
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson (center), Expedition 16 commander; European Space Agency
(ESA) astronaut Leopold Eyharts (left) and Russian Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Yuri
Malenchenko, both flight engineers, pose for a photo in the hatchway between the Harmony
node and Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station
Following a nine-day handover with the newly and Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko, and to
arrived Expedition 17 crew, Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman, who arrived at
Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer the station aboard shuttle Endeavour in March.
and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and The departing crew will climb into the Soyuz
South Korean Spaceflight Participant vehicle and close the hatch between Soyuz and
So-yeon Yi will board their Soyuz TMA-11 the Zarya module. Whitson will be seated in
capsule for undocking and a one-hour descent the Soyuz’ left seat for entry and landing as
back to Earth. Whitson and Malenchenko will engineer. Malenchenko will be in the center
complete a six-month mission in orbit, while Yi seat as Soyuz commander, as he was for
will return after an 11-day flight. launch in October 2007. Yi will occupy the right
seat.
About three hours before undocking, Whitson,
Malenchenko and Yi will bid farewell to the new After activating Soyuz systems and getting
Expedition 17 crew Commander Sergei Volkov approval from Russian flight controllers at the

Russian Mission Control Center outside maneuver. The 4.5-minute maneuver to slow
Moscow, Malenchenko will send commands to the spacecraft will enable it to drop out of orbit
open the hooks and latches connecting Soyuz and begin its re-entry to Earth.
and Zarya.
About 30 minutes later, just above the first
Malenchenko will fire the Soyuz thrusters to traces of the Earth’s atmosphere, computers
back away from Zarya. Six minutes after will command the separation of the three
undocking, with the Soyuz about 20 meters modules of the Soyuz vehicle. With the crew
away from the station, Malenchenko will strapped in to the descent module, the forward
conduct a separation maneuver, firing the orbital module containing the docking
Soyuz jets for about 15 seconds to depart the mechanism and rendezvous antennas and the
vicinity of the complex. rear instrumentation and propulsion module,
which houses the engines and avionics, will
About 2.5 hours after undocking, at a distance pyrotechnically separate and burn up in the
of about 19 kilometers from the station, Soyuz atmosphere.
computers will initiate a deorbit burn braking
The Soyuz 15 (TMA-11) approaches the International Space Station, carrying NASA astronaut
Peggy A. Whitson, Expedition 16 commander; cosmonaut Yuri I. Malenchenko, Soyuz
commander and flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency;
and Malaysian spaceflight participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.

The descent module’s computers will orient the propellant from the Soyuz. Computers also will
capsule with its ablative heat shield pointing arm the module’s seat shock absorbers in
forward to repel the buildup of heat as it preparation for landing.
plunges into the atmosphere. The crew will feel
the first effects of gravity at the point called When the capsule’s heat shield is jettisoned the
entry interface, about three minutes after Soyuz altimeter will be exposed to the surface
module separation, about 400,000 feet of the Earth. Signals will be bounced to the
(122,000 meters) above the Earth. ground from the Soyuz and reflected back,
providing the capsule’s computers updated
About eight minutes later, with Soyuz traveling information on altitude and rate of descent.
nearly 220 meters per second at an altitude of
about 10 kilometers, the capsule's computers At an altitude of about 12 meters, cockpit
will begin a commanded sequence for the displays will tell Malenchenko to prepare for the
deployment of its parachutes. First, two “pilot” soft landing engine firing. Just one meter
parachutes will be deployed, extracting a larger above the surface, and just seconds before
drogue parachute, which stretches out over an touchdown, the six solid propellant engines will
area of 24 square meters. Within 16 seconds, be fired in a final braking maneuver, slowing
the Soyuz’s descent will slow to about Soyuz to a velocity of about 1.5 meters per
80 meters per second. second as it lands.
The initiation of the parachute deployment will A Russian recovery team and NASA personnel,
create a gentle spin for the Soyuz as it dangles including a flight surgeon and station program,
underneath the drogue chute, assisting in the astronaut office and public affairs
capsule’s stability during the final minutes prior representatives, will be in the landing area in a
to touchdown. convoy of Russian military helicopters awaiting
the Soyuz landing. Once the capsule touches
Following the first parachute deployment, the down, the helicopters will land nearby to meet
drogue chute will be jettisoned, allowing the the crew.
main parachute to be deployed. Connected to
the descent module by two harnesses, the main A portable medical tent will be set up near the
parachute covers an area of about capsule so the crew can change out of its
1,000 meters. The deployment of the main launch and entry suits. Russian technicians will
parachute will slow down the descent module to open the module’s hatch and begin to remove
a velocity of about seven meters per second. the crew members. They will be seated in
Initially, the descent module will hang special reclining chairs near the capsule for
underneath the main parachute at a 30 degree initial medical tests, and to begin readapting to
angle with respect to the horizon for Earth’s gravity.
aerodynamic stability. The bottommost harness
will be severed a few minutes before landing, About two hours after landing, the crew will be
allowing the descent module to hang vertically assisted to the helicopters for a flight back to a
through touchdown. staging site in Kazakhstan, where local officials
will welcome them. The crew will then board a
At an altitude of a little more than five Russian military transport plane and be flown to
kilometers, the crew will monitor the jettison of the Chkalovsky Airfield adjacent to the Gagarin
the descent module’s heat shield, which will be Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City,
followed by the termination of the aerodynamic Russia, where their families will meet them.
spin cycle and the dumping of any residual The crew will arrive in Star City about eight
hours after Soyuz landing.

Live video from the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft of the International Space Station is shown on
the screen (upper right) in the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, outside Moscow.
NASA astronaut Peggy A. Whitson, Expedition 16 commander; cosmonaut Yuri I. Malenchenko,
Soyuz commander and flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; and
Malaysian spaceflight participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor docked their Soyuz TMA-11
spacecraft to the station in October 2007.

Soyuz Entry Timeline
Technicians begin the process of removing cargo from the Soyuz TMA-7 capsule at sunrise on
the steppes of Kazakhstan on April 9, 2006 (Kazakhstan time) following the pre-dawn landing of
astronaut William S. McArthur Jr., Expedition 12 commander and space station science officer;
Russian cosmonaut Valery I. Tokarev, Soyuz commander and space station flight engineer;
and Brazilian Space Agency astronaut Marcos C. Pontes.
This is the entry timeline for Soyuz TMA-11 for a landing on daily orbit 2 in the northern zone in
Kazakhstan if the SAR forces choose this as the prime option after a surveillance of conditions in both
landing zones on April 14.
Separation Command to Begin to Open Hooks and Latches; Undocking Command + 0 mins.)
11:59 p.m. CT on April 18

Hooks Opened/Physical Separation of Soyuz from Zarya Module nadir port at .12 meter/sec.;
Undocking Command + 3 mins.)
Separation Burn from ISS (15 second burn of the Soyuz engines, .65 meters/sec; Soyuz distance
from the ISS is ~20 meters)
Deorbit Burn (appx 4:35 in duration, 115.2 m/sec; Soyuz distance from the ISS is ~12 kilometers;
Undocking Command appx + ~2 hours, 30 mins.)
Separation of Modules (~23 mins. after Deorbit Burn; Undocking Command + ~2 hours,
57 mins.)

Entry Interface (400,000 feet in altitude; 3 mins. after Module Seperation; 31 mins. after Deorbit
Burn; Undocking Command + ~3 hours)
Command to Open Chutes (8 mins. after Entry Interface; 39 mins. after Deorbit Burn; Undocking
Command + ~3 hours, 8 mins.)
Two pilot parachutes are first deployed, the second of which extracts the drogue chute. The drogue
chute is then released, measuring 24 square meters, slowing the Soyuz down from a descent rate of
230 meters/second to 80 meters/second.
The main parachute is then released, covering an area of 1,000 meters; it slows the Soyuz to a descent
rate of 7.2 meters/second; its harnesses first allow the Soyuz to descend at an angle of 30 degrees to
expel heat, then shifts the Soyuz to a straight vertical descent.
Soft Landing Engine Firing (6 engines fire to slow the Soyuz descent rate to 1.5 meters/second
just .8 meter above the ground)
Landing - appx. 2 seconds
Landing (~50 mins. after Deorbit Burn; Undocking Command + ~3 hours, 24 mins.)
14:38 p.m. Kazakhstan time on April 19 (~6:05 before sunset at the landing site)


International Space Station:
Expedition 17 Science Overview
Expedition 17, the 17th science research the absence of gravity. By recording and
mission on the ISS, includes the operation of analyzing the three-dimensional motion of
26 NASA-managed experiments in human astronauts, this study will help engineers apply
research, exploration technology testing, ergonomics into future spacecraft designs and
biological and physical sciences and education. determine the effects of weightlessness on
An additional 20 experiments are planned for breathing mechanisms for long-duration
operation by two international partners (IPs), missions. Results might also be applied to
the European Space Agency (ESA) and the neurological patients on the ground with
Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency. impaired motor control. This experiment is a
cooperative effort with the Italian Space
During Expedition 17, the scientific work of Agency (ASI).
more than 400 scientists will be supported
through U.S.-managed experiments. The team Space Flight-Induced Reactivation of Latent
of controllers and scientists on the ground will Epstein-Barr Virus (Epstein-Barr) performs
continue to plan, monitor and remotely operate tests to study changes in the human immune
experiments from control centers across the function. Using blood and urine samples
United States. collected from crew members before and after
spaceflight, the study will provide insight for
A team of controllers for Expedition 17 will staff possible countermeasures to prevent the
the POC, the science command post for the potential development of infectious illness in
space station, at NASA’s MSFC in Huntsville, crew members during flight.
Ala. Controllers work in three shifts around the
clock, seven days a week in the POC, which Validation of Procedures for Monitoring
links researchers around the world with their Crew Member Immune Function (Integrated
experiments and the space station crew. Immune) will assess the clinical risks resulting
from the adverse effects of spaceflight on the
The POC also coordinates the payload human immune system. The study will validate
activities of NASA’s IPs. While the partners are a flight-compatible immune monitoring strategy
responsible for the planning and operations of by collecting and analyzing blood, urine and
their space agencies’ modules, NASA's POC is saliva samples from crew members before,
chartered with synchronizing the payload during and after spaceflight to monitor changes
activities among the partners and optimizing the in the immune system.
use of valuable on-orbit resources.
Behavioral Issues Associated with Isolation
Human Life Science Investigations and Confinement: Review and Analysis of
Astronaut Journals (Journals) is studying the
Crew members will be tested to study changes effect of isolation by using surveys and journals
in the body caused by living in microgravity. kept by the crew. By quantifying the
Continuing and new experiments include: importance of different behavioral issues in
crew members, the study will help NASA design
ELaboratore Immagini Televisive – Space 2 equipment and procedures to allow astronauts
(ELITE-S2) will investigate the connection to best cope with isolation and long-duration
between the brain, visualization and motion in spaceflight.
APRIL 2008 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 39

Test of Midodrine as a Countermeasure Experiments Related to Spacecraft
against Post-Flight Orthostatic Hypotension Systems
– Long (Midodrine-Long) measures the ability
of the drug midodrine, as a countermeasure, to Many experiments are designed to help
reduce the incidence or severity of orthostatic develop technologies, designs and materials for
hypotension — dizziness caused by the blood- future spacecraft and exploration missions.
pressure decrease that many astronauts These include:
experience when returning to Earth's gravity.
Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-
Nutritional Status Assessment (Nutrition) is Portable Test System (LOCAD-PTS) is a
NASA's most comprehensive in-flight study to handheld device for rapid detection of biological
date of human physiologic changes during and chemical substances aboard the space
long-duration spaceflight. Its measurements station. Astronauts will swab surfaces within
will include bone metabolism, oxidative the cabin, add swab material to the
damage, nutritional assessments and hormonal LOCAD-PTS, and within 15 minutes obtain
changes. This study will impact both the results on a display screen. The study's
definition of nutritional requirements and purpose is to effectively provide an early
development of food systems for future space warning system to enable crew members to
exploration missions to the moon and beyond. take remedial measures if necessary to protect
This experiment will also help researchers the health and safety of those on the station.
understand the impact of countermeasures
such as exercise and pharmaceuticals on Microgravity Acceleration Measurement
nutritional status and nutrient requirements for System (MAMS) and Space Acceleration
astronauts. Measurement System – II (SAMS-II) measure
vibration and quasi-steady accelerations that
The National Aeronautics and Space result from vehicle control burns, docking and
Administration Biological Specimen undocking activities. The two different
Repository (Repository) is a storage bank equipment packages measure vibrations at
used to maintain biological specimens over different frequencies. These measurements
extended periods of time and under help investigators characterize the vibrations
well-controlled conditions. Samples from the and accelerations that may influence space
station, including blood and urine, will be station experiments.
collected, processed and archived during the
pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight phases of the Materials on the International Space Station
missions. This investigation has been Experiment 6 (MISSE-6A and 6B) is a test bed
developed to archive biological samples for use for materials and coatings attached to the
as a resource for future spaceflight research. outside of the space station that are being
evaluated for the effects of atomic oxygen,
Stability of Pharmacotherapeutic and direct sunlight, radiation and extremes of heat
Nutritional Compounds (Stability) studies the and cold. This experiment allows the
effects of radiation in space on complex organic development and testing of new materials to
molecules, such as vitamins and other better withstand the rigors of space
compounds in food and medicine. This could environments. Results will provide a better
help researchers develop more stable and understanding of the durability of various
reliable pharmaceutical and nutritional materials in space, leading to the design of
countermeasures that are suitable for future stronger, more durable spacecraft components.
long-duration missions.
40 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2008

Biological and Physical Science containerless processing, an important
Experiments operation for fabrication of parts, such as
adhesives or fillers, using elastomeric materials
Plant growth experiments give insight into the on future exploration missions. This knowledge
effects of the space environment on living also can be applied to controlling and improving
organisms. Physical science experiments Earth-based manufacturing processes.
explore fundamental processes — such as
phase transitions or crystal growth — in Education and Earth Observation
microgravity. These experiments include:
Many experiments on board the space station
Coarsening in Solid Liquid Mixtures-2 continue to teach the next generation of
(CSLM-2) examines the kinetics of competitive explorers about living and working in space.
particle growth within a liquid metal matrix. These experiments include:
During this process, small particles of tin
suspended in a liquid tin-lead matrix shrink by Crew Earth Observations (CEO) takes
losing atoms to larger particles of tin, causing advantage of the crew in space to observe and
the larger particles to grow, or coarsen. This photograph natural and human-made changes
study defines the mechanisms and rates of on Earth. The photographs record the Earth’s
coarsening in the absence of gravitational surface changes over time, along with dynamic
settling. This work has direct applications to events such as storms, floods, fires and
metal alloy manufacturing on Earth, including volcanic eruptions. These images provide
materials critical for aerospace applications, researchers on Earth with key data to better
such as the production of better aluminum understand the planet.
alloys for turbine blades.
Crew Earth Observations – International
The Optimization of Root Zone Substrates Polar Year (CEO-IPY) supports an international
(ORZS) for Reduced Gravity Experiments collaboration of scientists studying the Earth’s
Program was developed to provide direct polar regions from 2007 to 2009. Space station
measurements and models for plant rooting crew members photograph polar phenomena,
instructions that will be used in future advanced including icebergs, auroras and mesospheric
life support plant growth experiments. The goal clouds in response to daily correspondence
is to develop and enhance hardware and from the scientists on the ground.
procedures to allow optimal plant growth in
microgravity. Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle
School Students (EarthKAM), an education
Shear History Extensional Rheology experiment, allows middle school students to
Experiment (SHERE) is designed to program a digital camera on board the station
investigate the effect of preshearing, or rotation to photograph a variety of geographical targets
on the stress and strain response of a polymer for study in the classroom. Photos are made
fluid, a complex fluid containing long chains of available on the Web for viewing and study by
polymer molecules, being stretched in participating schools around the world.
microgravity. The fundamental understanding Educators use the images for projects involving
and measurement of the extensional rheology Earth science, geography, physics and
of complex fluids is important for understanding technology.

Space Shuttle Experiments Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air
(ANITA) will monitor 32 potentially gaseous
Many other experiments are scheduled to be contaminants in the atmosphere on board the
performed during upcoming space shuttle station, including formaldehyde, ammonia and
missions that are part of Expedition 17. These carbon monoxide. The experiment will test the
experiments include: accuracy and reliability of this technology as a
potential next-generation atmosphere trace-gas
National Lab Pathfinder – Vaccine 1B monitoring system for the station.
(NLP-Vaccine 1B) is a commercial payload
serving as a pathfinder for use of the ISS as a BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test – 3)
national laboratory after station assembly is consists of two investigations which will study
complete. This payload contains a pathogenic, the long-term behavior of colloids, a system of
or disease-carrying organism, and tests fine particles suspended in a fluid, in a
whether the organism changes in microgravity microgravity environment, where the effects of
in a way that allows it to become a viable base sedimentation and convection are removed.
for a potential vaccine against infections on Crew members will mix the samples,
Earth and in microgravity. photograph the growth and formations of the
colloids and downlink the images for analysis.
Validation of Procedures for Monitoring Results may lead to improvements in
Crew Member Immune Function – Short supercritical fluids used in rocket propellants
Duration Biological Investigation (Integrated and biotechnology applications and
Immune – SDBI) will assess the clinical risks advancements in fiber-optics technology.
resulting from the adverse effects of spaceflight
on the human immune system for space shuttle BCAT-4 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test – 4) is a
crew members. The study will validate a flight- follow-on experiment to BCAT-3. BCAT-4 will
compatible immune monitoring strategy by study 10 colloidal samples. Several of these
collecting and analyzing blood, urine and saliva samples will determine phase separation rates
samples from crew members before, during and and add needed points to the phase diagram of
after spaceflight to monitor changes in the a model critical fluid system initially studied in
immune system. BCAT-3. Crew members photograph samples
of polymer and colloidal particles — tiny
Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure nanoscale spheres suspended in liquid — that
during Spaceflight – Short (Sleep-Short) model liquid/gas phase changes. Results will
examines the effects of spaceflight on help scientists develop fundamental physics
the sleep-wake cycles of the astronauts concepts previously cloaked by the effects of
during space shuttle missions. Advancing gravity.
state-of-the-art technology for monitoring,
diagnosing and assessing treatment of sleep Education Payload Operations (EPO)
patterns is vital to treating insomnia on Earth includes curriculum-based educational activities
and in space. demonstrating basic principles of science,
mathematics, technology, engineering and
Reserve Payloads geography. These activities are videotaped
and then used in classroom lectures. EPO is
Several additional experiments are ready for designed to support the NASA mission to
operation, but designated as “reserve” and will inspire the next generation of explorers.
be performed if crew time becomes available.
They include:

Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure Human Research Facility-2 (HRF-2) provides
during Spaceflight – Long (Sleep-Long) an on-orbit laboratory that enables human life
examines the effects of spaceflight and ambient science researchers to study and evaluate the
light exposure on the sleep-wake cycles of the physiological, behavioral and chemical changes
crew members during long-duration stays on in astronauts induced by spaceflight.
the space station.
Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for
Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, ISS (MELFI) provides refrigerated storage and
Reorient, Experimental Satellites fast-freezing of biological and life science
(SPHERES) are bowling-ball sized spherical samples. It can hold up to 300 liters of samples
satellites. They will be used inside the space ranging in temperature from -80°C, -26°C, or
station to test a set of well-defined instructions 4°C throughout a mission.
for spacecraft performing autonomous
rendezvous and docking maneuvers. Three The Destiny lab also is outfitted with five
free-flying spheres will fly within the cabin of the EXPRESS Racks. EXPRESS, or Expedite the
station, performing flight formations. Each Processing of Experiments to the Space
satellite is self-contained with power, Station, racks are standard payload racks
propulsion, computers and navigation designed to provide experiments with utilities
equipment. The results are important for such as power, data, cooling, fluids and gasses.
satellite servicing, vehicle assembly and The racks support payloads in disciplines
formation flying spacecraft configurations. including biology, chemistry, physics, ecology
and medicines. The racks stay in orbit, while
Destiny Laboratory Facilities experiments are changed as needed.
EXPRESS Racks 2 and 3 are equipped with the
The Destiny Laboratory is equipped with Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS) for
state-of-the-art research facilities to support countering minute vibrations from crew
space station science investigations: movement or operating equipment that could
disturb delicate experiments.
The Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) is
used to perform combustion experiments in Other ISS Laboratories
microgravity. It is designed to easily be
reconfigured on orbit to accommodate a wide With ESA’s Columbus module and JAXA’s Kibo
variety of combustion experiments. Module, the Laboratory space aboard the
station has nearly tripled. Certain U.S. facilities
The General Laboratory Active Cryogenic will be permanently located in one of these
ISS Experiment Refrigerator (GLACIER) will other modules.
serve as an on-orbit cold stowage facility as
well as carry frozen scientific samples to and In the Columbus Module, the Microgravity
from the station and Earth via the space shuttle. Science Glovebox (MSG) provides a safe
This facility is capable of thermally controlling environment for research with liquids,
the samples between 4°C and -185°C. combustion and hazardous materials on the
ISS. Without the MSG, many types of
The Human Research Facility-1 (HRF-1) is hands-on investigations would be impossible or
designed to house and support life sciences severely limited on the station.
experiments. It includes equipment for lung
function tests, ultrasound to image the heart Express Rack 3A, containing the European
and many other types of computers and Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) facility,
medical equipment. also is located in Columbus. EMCS is a large

incubator that provides control over the On the Internet
atmosphere, lighting and humidity of growth
chambers used to study plant growth. The For fact sheets, imagery and more on
facility was developed by the European Space Expedition 17 experiments and payload
Agency. operations, click on
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/
station/science/index.html

The Payload Operations Center
From the Payload Operations Center at NASA’s MSFC in Huntsville, Ala., scientists and
engineers operate all the U.S. experiments located 240 miles above Earth on the ISS.
The best technology of the 21st century monitors and stores several billion bits of
data from the space station, while saving NASA millions of dollars and serving
a diverse community of research scientists located around the globe.
The Payload Operations Center (POC) at private, commercial, industry and government
MSFC in Huntsville, Ala., is NASA’s primary agencies nationwide, makes the job of
science command post for the ISS. Space coordinating space station research critical.
station scientific research plays a vital role in
NASA's roadmap for returning to the moon and The POC continues the role Marshall has
exploring our solar system. played in management and operation of
NASA’s on-orbit science research. In the
The ISS accommodates dozens of experiments 1970s, Marshall managed the science program
in fields as diverse as medicine, human life for Skylab, the first American space station.
sciences, biotechnology, agriculture, Spacelab, the international science laboratory
manufacturing and Earth observation. that the space shuttle carried more than a
Managing these science assets, as well as the dozen times to orbit in the 1980s and 1990s,
time and space required to accommodate was the prototype for Marshall’s space station
experiments and programs from a host of science operations.
APRIL 2008 PAYLOAD OPERATIONS CENTER 45

Today, the POC team is responsible for crew time. NASA’s partners are the Russian
managing all U.S. science and research Space Agency (RSA), ESA, JAXA, and the
experiments aboard the station. The center Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
also is home for coordination of the mission
planning work, all U.S. science payload NASA’s partners’ control centers are:
deliveries and retrieval, and payload training
and payload safety programs for the station • Center for Control of Spaceflights (“TsUP” in
crew and all ground personnel. Russian) in Korolev, Russia
State-of-the-art computers and communications • Space Station Integration and Promotion

equipment deliver around-the-clock reports to Center (SSIPC) in Tskuba, Japan
and from science outposts across the United
States to POC systems controllers and science • Columbus Control Center (Col-CC) in
experts. Other computers stream information to Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
and from the space station itself, linking the
orbiting research facility with the science Once launch schedules are finalized, the POC
command post on Earth. oversees delivery of experiments to the space
station. Experiments are rotated in and out
The payload operations team also synchronizes periodically as the shuttle or other launch
the payload time lining among IPs, ensuring the vehicle makes deliveries and returns completed
best use of valuable on-orbit resources and experiments and samples to Earth.
Orbiting 250 miles above the Earth, the space station crew works together with science experts
at the POC at the MSFC and researchers around the world to perform cutting-edge science
experiments in the unique microgravity environment of space. (NASA)
46 PAYLOAD OPERATIONS CENTER APRIL 2008

Housed in a two-story complex at Marshall, the controller oversees station science operations
POC is staffed around the clock by three shifts resources such as tools and supplies and
of systems controllers. During space station assures support systems and procedures are
operations, center personnel routinely manage ready to support planned activities. The data
10 to 40 or more experiments simultaneously. management coordinator is responsible for
station video systems and high-rate data links
The payload operations director leads the to the POC. The payload rack officer monitors
POC’s main flight control team, known as the rack integrity, power and temperature control,
"cadre." The payload operations director and the proper working conditions of station
approves all science plans in coordination with experiments.
Mission Control at JSC, the station crew and
the IP control centers. The payload Additional support controllers routinely
communications manager, the voice of the coordinate anomaly resolution and procedure
POC, coordinates and manages real-time voice changes and maintain configuration
responses between the station crew conducting management of on-board stowed payload
payload operations and the researchers whose hardware.
science the crew is conducting. The operations
APRIL 2008 PAYLOAD OPERATIONS CENTER 47

48 PAYLOAD OPERATIONS CENTER APRIL 2008

ISS-17 Russian Research Objectives
Russian Research Objectives

Category Experiment Experiment Hardware Research Objective Unique Payload
Code Name Description Constraints
Commercial GTS-2 GTS-2 Electronics unit-2; Global time system test Unattended
Antenna assembly development
with attachment
mechanism
Technology & ТХН-9 Kristallizator “Crystallizer” complex Biological macromolecules
Material (Crystallizer) crystallization and obtaining bio-
Science crystal films under microgravity
conditions
Geophysical ГФИ-1 Relaksatsiya “Fialka-MB-Kosmos” - Study of chemiluminescent Using OCA
Spectrozonal chemical reactions and
ultraviolet system atmospheric light phenomena
High sensitive images that occur during high-velocity
recorder interaction between the exhaust
products from spacecraft
propulsion systems and the
Earth atmosphere at orbital
altitudes and during the entry of
space vehicles into the Earth
upper atmosphere
Geophysical ГФИ-8 Uragan Nominal hardware: Experimental verification of the Using OCA
Camera Nikon D2Х ground and space-based system
Laptop for predicting natural and man-
made disasters, mitigating the
damage caused, and facilitating
recovery
Geophysical ГФИ-16 Vsplesk “Vsplesk” hardware Seismic effects monitoring. EVA
(Burst) Mechanical adapter Researching high-energy
Conversion board particles streams in near-Earth
space environment
Biomedical МБИ-5 Kardio-ODNT Nominal Hardware: Comprehensive study of the Will need help from US
“Gamma-1M” cardiac activity and blood crewmember
equipment; circulation primary parameter
dynamics
“Chibis”
countermeasures
vacuum suit
Biomedical МБИ-8 Profilaktika TEEM-100M gas Study of the action mechanism Time required for the
analyzer; and efficacy of various experiment should be
Accusport device; countermeasures aimed at counted toward physical
preventing locomotor system exercise time
Nominal Hardware:
disorders in weightlessness
“Reflotron-4” kit; TVIS
treadmill; ВБ-3 cycle
ergometer; Set of
bungee cords;
Computer; “Tsentr”
equipment power
supply
Biomedical МБИ-12 Sonokard “Sonokard” set Integrated study of physiological
“Sonokard” functions during sleep period
throughout a long space flight
“Sonokard-Data” kit
Laptop RSE-Med
APRIL 2008 RUSSIAN RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 49

Russian Research Objectives (continued)
Biomedical МБИ-15 Pilot Right Control Handle Researching for individual
Left Control Handle features of state
psychophysiological regulation
Synchronizer Unit
and crewmembers professional
(БС) ULTRABUOY-
2000 Unit activities during long space
flights.
“Neyrolab” set
Nominal hardware:
Laptop RSE-Med
Biomedical МБИ-16 Vsaimodeystvie “Vsaimodeystvie” kit Control of group activity of crew
(Interaction) in space flight conditions
Biomedical МБИ-18 Dykhanie “Dykhanie-1” set Study of respiration regulation
“Dykhanie-1 - Data” kit and biomechanics under space
Nominal hardware: flight conditions
Laptop RSE-Med
Biomedical МБИ-21 Pneumocard “Pneumocard” set Study of space flight factors
“Pneumocard-КРМ” kit impacts on vegetative regulation
of blood circulation, respiration
“Pneumocard-Data” kit
and contractile heart function
during long space flights
Biomedical МБИ-22 BIMS Kit TBK-1 Study of flight medical
(Onboard Kit TBK-1. information support using
Information Accessories onboard information medical
Medical Kit TBK-1. Data system
System)
Nominal Hardware:
Laptop RSE-Med
Biomedical БИО-2 Biorisk “Biorisk-KM” set Study of space flight impact on EVA
“Biorisk-MSV” microorganisms-substrates
containers systems state related to space
technique ecological safety and
“Biorisk-MSN” kit
planetary quarantine problem
Biomedical БИО-4 Aquarium “Rasteniya (Plants)” kit Study of stability of model closed Crewmembers
(with “Aquarium” ecological system and its parts involvement is taken into
packs - 2 items) under microgravity conditions, account in Rasteniya
both as microsystem experiment
components and as perspective
biological systems of space
crews life support
Biomedical БИО-5 Rasteniya “Lada” greenhouse Study of the space flight effect
Nominal Hardware: on the growth and development
of higher plants
Water container;
Sony DVCam;
Laptop RSE-Med
Biomedical БИО-8 Plazmida Hybridizers Recomb-K Investigation of microgravity During ISS-16, ISS-17
“Kriogem-03M” freezer effect on the rate of transfer and crews rotation
(TBD) mobilization of bacteria plasmids
50 RUSSIAN RESEARCH OBJECTIVES APRIL 2008

Biomedical РБО-1 Prognoz Nominal Hardware for Development of a method for Unattended
the radiation real-time prediction of dose loads
monitoring system: on the crews of manned
P-16 dosimeter; spacecraft
ДБ-8 dosimeters
“Pille-ISS” dosimeter
“Lyulin-ISS” complex
Biomedical РБО-3 Matryeshka-R Passive detectors unit Study of radiation environment
“Phantom” set dynamics along the ISS RS flight
“MOSFET-dosimeter” path and in ISS compartments,
scientific equipment and dose accumulation in
“Bubble-dosimeter” antroph-amorphous phantom,
hardware “Lyulin-5” located inside and outside ISS
hardware
“Matryeshka”
equipment
(monoblock)
Study of ДЗЗ-2 Diatomea “Diatomea” kit Study of the stability of the
Earth natural Nominal hardware: geographic position and form of
resources the boundaries of the World
Nikon F5 camera;
and Ocean biologically active water
ecological DSR-PD1P video areas observed by space station
monitoring camera; crews
Dictaphone;
Laptop RSK1
Biotechnology БТХ-1 Glykoproteid “Luch-2” biocrystallizer Obtaining and study of E1-E2
“Kriogem-03M” freezer surface glycoprotein of α-virus
Biotechnology БТХ-2 Mimetik-K (TBD) Anti-idiotypic antibodies as
adjuvant-active glycoproteid
mimetic
Biotechnology БТХ-3 KAF Crystallization of Caf1M protein
and its complex with C-end
peptide as a basis for formation
of new generation of
antimicrobial medicines and
vaccine ingredients effective
against yersiniosis
Biotechnology БТХ-4 Vaktsina-K Structural analysis of proteins-
(Vaccine) candidates for vaccine effective
against AIDS
Biotechnology БТХ-20 Interleukin-K Obtaining of high-quality 1α, 1β
interleukins crystals and
interleukin receptor antagonist –
1
Biotechnology БТХ-5 Laktolen “Bioekologiya” kit Effect produced by space flight During ISS-16, ISS-17
factors on Laktolen producing crews rotation
strain
Biotechnology БТХ-6 ARIL Effect produced by SFFs on During ISS-16, ISS-17
expression of strains producing crews rotation
interleukins 1α, 1β, “ARIL”
Biotechnology БТХ-7 OChB Effect produced by SFFs on During ISS-16, ISS-17
strain producing crews rotation
superoxidodismutase (SOD)

Biotechnology БТХ-8 Biotrack “Bioekologiya” kit Study of space radiation heavy
charged particles fluxes
influence on genetic properties of
bioactive substances
cells-producers
Biotechnology БТХ-10 Kon’yugatsiya “Rekomb-K” hardware Working through the process of During ISS-16, ISS-17
(Conjugation) Nominal Hardware: genetic material transmission crews rotation
“Kriogem-03M” freezer using bacteria conjugation
(TBD) method
Biotechnology БТХ-11 Biodegradatsiya “Bioproby” kit Assessment of the initial stages

of biodegradation and
biodeterioration of the surfaces
of structural materials
Biotechnology БТХ-14 Bioemulsiya Changeable bioreactor Study and improvement of During ISS-16, ISS-17
(Bioemulsion) Thermostat with drive closed-type autonomous reactor crews rotation
control unit with stand for obtaining biomass of
and power supply microorganisms and bioactive
cable in cover ТВК substance without additional
“Biocont-Т” Thermo- ingredients input and metabolism
vacuum container products removal
Biotechnology БТХ-27 Astrovaktsina “Bioekologiya” kit Cultivation in zero-gravity
conditions Е.Coli–producer of
Caf1 protein
Biotechnology БТХ-29 Zhenshen-2 “Bioekologiya” kit Study of a possibility to increase
biological activity of ginseng
Biotechnology БТХ-31 Antigen “Bioekologiya” kit Comparative researching
heterologous expression of acute
viral hepatitis HbsAg in
S.cerevisiae yeast under
microgravity and Earth
conditions and determining
synthesis optimization methods
Technical ТЕХ-14 Vektor-T Nominal Hardware: Study of a high-precision system Unattended
Studies (SDTO ISS RS СУДН for ISS motion prediction
12002-R) sensors; ISS RS orbit
radio tracking [PKO]
system;
Satellite navigation;
equipment [ACH]
system
GPS/GLONASS
satellite systems

Technical ТЕХ-15 Izgib Nominal Hardware: Study of the relationship
Studies (SDTO ISS RS onboard between the onboard systems
13002-R) measurement system operating modes and ISS flight
(СБИ) accelerometers; conditions
ISS RS motion control
and navigation system
GIVUS (ГИВУС
СУДН)
Nominal temperature-
sensing device for
measures inside
“Progress” vehicle
modules
“Dakon” hardware
Technical ТЕХ-20 Plazmennyi “PC-3 Plus” Study of the plasma-dust crystals
Studies Kristall (Plasma experimental unit and fluids under microgravity
Crystal) “PC-3 Plus”
telescience
Nominal hardware
“Klest” (“Crossbill”)
TV-system
Technical ТЕХ-22 Identifikatsiya Nominal Hardware: Identification of disturbance Unattended
Studies (SDTO ISS RS СБИ sources when the microgravity
13001-R) accelerometers conditions on the ISS are
disrupted
Technical ТЕХ-44 Sreda-ISS Nominal Hardware: Studying ISS characteristics as Unattended
Studies (Environment) Movement Control researching environment
System sensors;
orientation sensors;
magnetometers;
Russian and foreign
accelerometers
Complex КПТ-2 Bar Remote – indicating IR Selection and testing of detection
Analysis. thermometer “Kelvin- methods and means for
Effectiveness Video” depressurization of the
Estimation Pyroendoscope International Space Station
“Piren-V” Modules
Thermohygrometer
“Iva-6А”
Hot-wire anemometer-
thermometer ТТМ-2
Ultrasound analyzer
AU-01
Leak indicator UT2-03
Complex КПТ-3 Econ “Econ” kit Experimental researching of ISS
Analysis. Nominal Hardware: RS resources estimating for
Effectiveness Nikon D1X digital ecological investigation of areas
Estimation
camera,
Laptop RSK1
Complex КПТ-6 Plazma-MKS “Fialka-MB-Kosmos” - Study of plasma environment on
Analysis. (Plasma-ISS) Spectrozonal ISS external surface by optical
Effectiveness ultraviolet system radiation characteristics
Estimation

Complex КПТ-13 Plazma- Ground observation Study of reflection characteristics Unattended
Analysis. Progress facilities of spacecraft plasma
Effectiveness environment with onboard
Estimation engines activated
Complex КПТ-14 Ten’ – Mayak Complex of amateur Working-out of the method for
Analysis. (Shadow - packet radio radio probing of board-ground
Effectiveness Beacon) communication set space for supporting preparation
Estimation with 145/430 MHz of “Ten’” (“Shadow”) plasma
frequency range: experiment on ISS RS
- receiver-transmitter;
- 4 antenna-feeder
devices;
- 2 power supply units;
- controlling computer
Study of ИКЛ-2В BTN-Neutron Detection Block Study of fast and thermal
cosmic rays Electronic Equipment neutrons fluxes
Block
Mechanical interface
Education ОБР-2 MATI-75 Poroplast pouch with Demonstration effect of shape
original samples recovery of blanks made from
Photographic/Video cellular polymeric materials
Camera
Pre/Post Motor control Electromiograph, Study of hypo-gravitational Pre-flight data collection is
Flight control unit, ataxia syndrome on L-60 and L-30 days;
tensometric pedal, Post-flight: on 1, 3, 7,
miotometer 11 days
«Miotonus», «GAZE»
Total time for all 4 tests is
equipment
2.5 hours
Pre/Post MION Impact of microgravity on Pre-flight biopsy (60 min)
Flight muscular characteristics on L-60, and L-30 days;
Post-flight: 3-5 days
Pre/Post Izokinez Isocinetic ergometer Microgravity impact on voluntary Pre-flight: L-30;
Flight «LIDO», muscular contraction; human Post-flight: 3-5, 7-9,
electromiograph, motor system re-adaptation to 14-16, and 70 days
reflotron-4, cardiac gravitation
1.5 hours for one session
reader, scarifier
Pre/Post Tendometria Universal Microgravity impact on induced Pre-flight: L-30;
Flight electrostimulator muscular contraction; long Post-flight: 3, 11, 21,
(ЭСУ-1); bio-potential duration space flight impact on 70 days;
amplifier (УБП-1-02); muscular and peripheral nervous
1.5 hours for one session
tensometric amplifier; apparatus
oscilloscope with
memory; oscillograph
Pre/Post Ravnovesie “Ravnovesie” Sensory and motor mechanisms Pre-flight: L-60, L-30
Flight (““Equilibrium”) in vertical pose control after long days;
equipment duration exposure to Post-flight: 3, 7, 11 days,
microgravity and if necessary on 42 or
70 days;
Sessions: pre-flight data
collection 2x45 min, post-
flight: 3x45 min

Russian Research Objectives (concluded)
Pre/Post Sensory IBM PC, Pentium 11 Countermeasures and correction Pre-flight: L-30, L-10;
Flight adaptation with 32-bit s/w for of adaptation to space syndrome Post-flight: 1, 4, and
Windows API and of motion sickness 8 days, then up to 14 days
Microsoft if necessary;
45 min for one session
Pre/Post Lokomotsii Bi-lateral video filming, Kinematic and dynamic Pre-flight: L-20-30 days;
Flight tensometry, locomotion characteristics prior Post-flight: 1, 5, and
miography, pose and after space flight 20 days;
metric equipment
45 min for one session
Pre/Post Peregruzki Medical monitoring G-forces on Soyuz and In-flight: 60 min;
Flight nominal equipment: recommendations for anti-g-force instructions and
Alfa-06, Mir 3A7 used countermeasures development questionnaire
during descent phase familiarization: 15 min;
Post-flight: cosmonauts
checkup – 5 min; debrief
and questionnaire –
30 min for each
cosmonauts
Pre/Post Polymorphism No hardware is used Genotype parameters related to Pre-flight: blood samples,
Flight in-flight human individual tolerance to questionnaire,
space flight conditions anthropometrical and
anthroposcopic
measurements – on early
stages if possible; blood
samples could be taken
during preflight medical
checkups on L-60, L-30
days. 30 min for one
session


European Experiment Program
The European Space Agency has a Internal Experiments:

comprehensive package of experiments that
will take place during the Expedition 17 tour of
Fluid Science
duty on the International Space Station. The
scope of European experimentation on the Fluid Science Laboratory: Geoflow
station has become more extensive following The Geoflow experiment concerns flow in the
the attachment of the Columbus laboratory in atmosphere, the oceans, and the movement of
February 2008. The experiments include Earth’s mantle on a global scale, as well as
internal and external experiments, those other astrophysical and geophysical problems.
performed both inside and outside the station, The experiment will investigate the flow of an
in the areas of biology, fluid science, human incompressible viscous fluid, silicone oil, held
physiology, radiation dosimetry, solar science, between two concentric spheres, which are
materials science, exobiology and tribology, as rotated around a common axis, or kept
well as additional monitoring and measurement stationary. A central force field is introduced by
devices. applying a high voltage difference between the
two spheres. Maintaining the inner sphere at a
Internal Experiments: Biology higher temperature to the outer sphere also
creates a temperature gradient from inside to
Biolab: WAICO outside. This geometrical configuration can be
seen as a representation of the Earth, where
This is the second run of the WAICO the role of gravity is played by the central
experiment in the Biolab facility within the electric field. It will prove useful in a variety of
Columbus Laboratory. WAICO, which stands applications, such as improving spherical
for Waving and Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots at gyroscopes and bearings, centrifugal pumps
different g-levels, involves the effect that gravity and high-performance heat exchangers. It is
has on the spiralling motion (circumnutation) the first experiment to take place within the
that occurs in plant roots. It is suspected that Fluid Science Laboratory inside the Columbus
this spiralling mechanism is an internal Laboratory.
mechanism in the plant, independent of the
influence of gravity. If so, as the level of gravity Science Team:
decreases, the level of root spiralling should Ch. Egbers, L. Jehring, B. Futterer, F. Feudel,
increase. Two types of Arabidopsis seed will Ph. Beltrame (DE), P. Chossat, I. Mutabazi,
be used in the experiment: a wild type seed L. Tuckerman (FR), R. Hollerbach (UK)
and a mutant strain, which has a very low
response to the effect of gravity. Root samples
grown in space will be analyzed after their
Internal Experiments:
return to Earth. High resolution photos will be Human Physiology
taken of the samples and similar seedlings also
will be cultivated under 1g conditions. 3D-Space
This experiment involves comparisons of
Science Team: preflight, flight, and postflight perceptions and
G. Scherer (DE) mental imagery, with special reference to
decreases in the vertical component of what is
perceived during spaceflight. Virtual reality is
APRIL 2008 EUROPEAN EXPERIMENT PROGRAM 57

used as a visual and perceptual stimulus, crew members will perform a simple inhalation
making use of a head-mounted display, finger and exhalation procedure every six weeks
trackball and digitizing tablet and stylus. The during their stay on the space station. Elevated
subject will be required to recognize forms, levels of expired nitric oxide compared to
write, draw and perceive distances. Stimulus pre-flight levels would indicate airway
production and evaluation will determine inflammation. This experiment started during
whether the subject’s mental imagery is motor- Expedition 12.
induced or perceptual. The second focus of the
experiment uses the small digitizer table for Science Team
subject written input. D. Linnarsson (SE), L. E. Gustafsson (SE),
C. G. Frostell (SE), M. Carlson (SE),
Science Team: J. Mann (SE)
G. Clement (FR), C. E. Lathan (USA)
NOA 2
Early Detection of Osteoporosis in
The occurrence of decompression sickness in
Space (EDOS) astronauts, similar to divers, following
The mechanisms underlying the reduction in spacewalks is not documented. However, it
bone mass that occurs in astronauts in has been demonstrated that similar
weightlessness are still unclear. The Early decompression techniques on the ground give
Detection of Osteoporosis in Space (EDOS) rise to overt symptoms of decompression
experiment will evaluate the structure of weight sickness in approximately 6% of the cases. A
and non-weight bearing bones of cosmonauts non-invasive and simple technique for
and astronauts preflight and postflight using the assessing current decompression techniques
method of computed tomography (pQCT) before and after spacewalks would be
together with an analysis of bone biochemical beneficial. In this experiment, astronauts will
markers in blood samples. EDOS should perform a simple inhalation and exhalation
significantly contribute to the development of a procedure, as in the NOA 1 experiment, before
reference technique to perform an early and after a spacewalk. An increased level of
detection of osteoporosis on Earth. The ground expired nitric oxide following a spacewalk will
experiment with the space station expedition indicate the presence of gas emboli in the blood
crews will take place at Star City near Moscow and, if so, may call for modifying the existing
and is scheduled to target 10 to 12 short- and spacewalk procedures.
long-term subjects in total.
Science Team
Science Team: D. Linnarsson (SE), L. E. Gustafsson (SE),
C. Alexandre (FR), L. Braak (FR), L. Vico (FR), C. G. Frostell (SE), M.Carlson (SE),
P. Ruegsegger (CH), M. Heer (DE) J. Mann (SE)
NOA 1 Portable Pulmonary Function System

Research has demonstrated that an elevation The Portable Pulmonary Function System is
of expired nitric oxide is an early and accurate new equipment, which will be launched to the
sign of airway inflammation, especially in ISS to be utilized for MedOps and scientific
asthma, but also after occupational dust protocols. It is an autonomous multi-user
inhalation. This experiment will utilize improved facility supporting a broad range of human
techniques for analysis of nitric oxide in expired physiological research experiments under the
air. This will be used to study physiological condition of weightlessness in the areas of
reactions by humans in weightlessness. The respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic
58 EUROPEAN EXPERIMENT PROGRAM APRIL 2008

physiology. The Portable Pulmonary Function Internal Experiments:
System is an evolution to the existing
Pulmonary Function System, which was jointly
Radiation Dosimetry
developed by ESA and NASA and was
Matroshka 2B
launched to the space station on the STS-114
mission in July 2005. The ESA Matroshka facility was initially
installed on the external surface of the space
Solo station on Feb. 27, 2004, to enable the study of
radiation levels experienced by astronauts
This experiment is a continuation of extensive
during spacewalk activities. It consists of a
research into the mechanisms of fluid and salt
human-like head and torso, called the Phantom,
retention in the body during bed rest and
equipped with several active and passive
spaceflight. As early as after the first month of
radiation dosimeters. The Phantom is mounted
flight, astronauts will participate in two diet
inside an outer container of carbon fibber and
periods of five days each. They will follow a
reinforced plastic to simulate a spacesuit. The
constant diet of either low or normal sodium
facility was brought back inside the station on
intake, fairly high fluid consumption and
Aug. 18, 2005, to take radiation measurements
isocaloric nutrition, which is equivalent caloric
inside the station. For the Matroshka 2B
value. The experiment will include urine
experiment, new passive radiation sensors
collection, blood sampling and mass
were launched on Soyuz 15S in October 2007
measurement at the end of the periods.
for installation inside the Phantom. The active
Samples will be returned to earth for analysis.
radiation dosimeters inside the facility were
activated in February 2008.
Science Team:
M. Heer (DE), N. Baecker (DE), P. Frings (DE), Science Team:
P. Norsk (DK), S. Smith (USA) G. Reitz (DE), R. Beaujean (DE),
W. Heinrich (DE), M. Luszik-Bhadra (DE),
Spin M. Scherkenbach (DE), P. Olko (PL),
This experiment is a comparison between P. Bilski (PL), S. Derne (HU), J. Palvalvi (HU),
preflight and postflight testing of astronaut E. Stassinopoulos (US), J. Miller (US),
subjects, using a centrifuge and a standardized C. Zeitlin (US), F. Cucinotta (US),
tilt test. Orthostatic tolerance, or the ability to V. Petrov (RU).
maintain an upright posture without fainting, will
be correlated with measures of otolith-ocular Project Team:
function, which is the body’s mechanism linking ESA: J. Dettmann,
the inner ear with the eyes that deals with DLR: G. Reitz, J. Bossler,
maintaining balance. Kayser Italia: M. Porciani, F. Granata
Science Team: External Experiments:

F. Wuyts (BE), S. Moore (US), EuTEF Facility
H. MacDougall (AU), G. Clement (FR),
B. Cohen (US), N. Pattyn (BE), The European Technology Exposure Facility, or
A. Diedrich (US). EuTEF, was one of the first two external
facilities attached to the Columbus laboratory in
February 2008 and houses the following
experiments requiring either exposure to the
open space environment, or a housing on the
external surface of the station:

EXPOSE-E the outer surface of spacecraft to the open
space environment. Three aspects of
EXPOSE-E is a subsection of EuTEF and
resistance are being investigated: the degree
consists of five individual exobiology of resistance; the types of damage sustained;
experiments: and the spores' repair mechanisms.
LIFE – The Lichens and Fungi Experiment
Science Team:
(LIFE) tests the limits of survival of Lichens,
G. Horneck (DE), J. Cadet (FR), T. Douki (FR),
Fungi and symbionts under space conditions.
R. Mancinelli (FR), R. Moeller(DE),
Some of the organisms being exposed for
J. Pillinger (UK), W. Nicholson (US),
approximately 1.5 years include the black E. Rabbow (DE), J. Sprey (UK),
Antarctic fungi (Cryomyces antarcticus and P. Rettberg (DE), E. Stackebrandt (DE),
Cryomyces minteri), the fungal element
K. Venkateswaren (US)
(mycobiont) of the lichen Xanthoria elegans,
and the complete lichens (Rhizocarpon SEEDS – This experiment will test the plant
geographicum and Xanthoria elegans) in situ on seed as a terrestrial model for a panspermia
rock samples. Previous results from the Biopan vehicle, which is a means of transporting life
exposure facility on the Foton-M2 mission in through the universe and as a source of
2005 showed the ability for lichens to survive in universal ultraviolet screens.
exposed space conditions for 15 days.
Science Team:
Science Team: D. Tepfer (FR), S. Leach (UK), A. Zalar (HR),
S. Onofri (IT), L. Zucconi (IT), S. Hoffmann (DK), P. Ducrot (FR),
L. Selbmann (DE), S. Ott (DE), F. Corbineau (FR).
J-P.de Vera (ES), R. de la Torre (ES)
DEBIE-2
ADAPT – This experiment involves the
molecular adaptation strategies of DEBIE, which stands for ‘DEBris In orbit
micro-organisms to different space and Evaluator,’ is designed to be a standard in-situ
planetary ultraviolet climate conditions. space debris and micrometeoroid monitoring
instrument which requires low resources from
Science Team: the spacecraft. It measures sub-millimeter -
P. Rettberg (DE), C. Cockell (UK), sized particles and has three sensors facing in
E. Rabbow (DE), T. Douki (FR), J. Cadet (FR), different directions. The scientific results from
C. Panitz (DE), R. Moeller (DE), several DEBIE instruments onboard different
G. Horneck (DE), H. Stan-Lotter (AT). spacecraft will be compiled into a single
database for ease of comparison.
PROCESS – The main goal of the PROCESS
(PRebiotic Organic ChEmistry on Space Science Team:
Station) experiment is to improve our G. Drolshagen - ESA, A. Menicucci - ESA
knowledge of the chemical nature and evolution
of organic molecules involved in extraterrestrial Dostel
environments. Dostel (DOSimetric radiation TELescope) is a
small radiation telescope that will measure the
Science Team:
H. Cottin (FR), P. Coll (FR), D. Coscia (FR), radiation environment outside the space station.
A. Brack (FR), F. Raulin (FR). Science Team:
G. Reitz (DE)
PROTECT – The aim of this experiment is to
investigate the resistance of spores attached to

EVC PLEGPLAY
The Earth Viewing Camera, or EVC payload is The scientific objective of the PLasma Electron
a fixed-pointed Earth-observing camera. The Gun PAYload (PLEGPAY) is the study of the
main goal of the system is to capture color interactions between spacecraft and the space
images of the Earth’s surface, to be used as a environment in low earth orbit, with reference to
tool to increase general public awareness of the electrostatic charging and discharging.
space station and promote the use of the Understanding these mechanisms is very
station for observation purposes to the potential important, as uncontrollable discharge events
user community. can adversely affect the functioning of
spacecraft electronic systems.
Science Team:
M. Sabbatini – ESA Science Team:
G. Noci (IT)
FIPEX
Tribolab
This experiment helps to understand the
varying atmospheric conditions in low earth This series of experiments covers research in
orbit where orbiting spacecraft are still affected tribology, which is the science of friction and
by atmospheric drag. The density of the lubrication. This is of major importance for
atmosphere is the major factor affecting drag, spacecraft systems. The Tribolab experiments
and the density is influenced by solar radiation will cover both experiments in liquid and solid
and the earth’s magnetic and gravitational lubrication, such as the evaluation of fluid
fields. The flux of atomic oxygen is important, losses from surfaces and the evaluation of wear
as it shows different interactions with spacecraft of polymer and metallic cages weightlessness.
surfaces, such as surface erosion. The FIPEX
micro-sensor system will measure the atomic Science Team:
oxygen flux as well as the oxygen molecules in R. Fernandez (ES)
the area surrounding the space station.
External Experiments: SOLAR Facility
Science Team:
The SOLAR facility, which was attached to the
Prof. Fasoulas (DE)
external surface of the Columbus laboratory in
February 2008, studies the sun with
MEDET
unprecedented accuracy across most of its
The aims of the Materials Exposure and spectral range. This study is currently
Degradation ExperimenT (MEDET) are: to scheduled to last for two years. SOLAR is
evaluate the effects of open space on materials expected to contribute to the knowledge of the
currently being considered for utilization on interaction between the solar energy flux and
spacecraft in low earth orbit; to verify the the Earth's atmosphere chemistry and
validity of data from the space simulation climatology. This will be important for Earth
currently used for materials evaluation; and to observation predictions. The payload consists
monitor solid particles impacting spacecraft in of three instruments complementing each
low earth orbit. other, which are:
Science Team: SOL-ACES

V. Inguimbert (FR), A. Tighe - ESA
The goal of the Solar Auto-Calibrating Extreme
UV-Spectrometer (SOL-ACES) is to measure the
solar spectral irradiance of the full disk from 17 to

220 nm at 0.5 to 2 nm spectral resolution. Solar and improved with respect to the experience
extreme ultraviolet radiation strongly influences gained in the previous missions, Spacelab-1,
the propagation of electromagnetic signals, such Atlas-1, Atlas-2, Atlas-3, and Eureca.
as those emitted from navigation satellites.
Providing the variability of solar extreme Science Team:
ultraviolet radiation with the accuracy of M.G. Thuillier (FR).
SOL-ACES will contribute to improving the
accuracy of navigation data, as well as the orbit SOVIM
forecasts of satellites and debris. Using an auto-
The Solar Variability and Irradiance Monitor
calibration capability, SOL-ACES is expected to
(SOVIM) is a re-flight of the SOVA experiment
gain long term spectral data with a high absolute
on Eureca-1. The investigation will observe
resolution. In its center, it contains four extreme
and study the irradiance of the Sun, with high
ultra-violet spectrometers.
precision and high stability. The total
irradiance will be observed with active cavity
Science Team:
radiometers and the spectral irradiance
G. Schmidtke (DE)
measurement will be carried out by one type of
sun photometer.
SOLSPEC
The purpose of the SOLar SPECctral irradiance SOVIM is interested in the basic solar
measurements (SOLSPEC) experiment is to variability, and using the solar variability to
measure the solar spectrum irradiance from 180 study other physical phenomena, such as solar
nm to 3000 nm. The aims of this investigation oscillations. The basic reasons for irradiance
are the study of solar variability at short and long changes are crucially important for
term, and the achievement of absolute understanding the solar and stellar evolution.
measurements, 2% in ultraviolet and 1% above.
The SOLSPEC instrument is fully refurbished Science Team:
C. Frohlich (CH).

Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Operations
Artist’s impression (cutaway view) of the ATV attached to the ISS
On March 9, 2008, the European Space Cargo Upload

Agency launched the first of a new logistics
spacecraft to service and maintain the space The first ATV, called Jules Verne after the
station. This new spacecraft, called the famous French author, was launched with
Automated Transfer Vehicle, or ATV, will deliver 8.3 tons of wet and dry cargo to the space
equipment, spare parts, food, air and water for station. The 1.3 tons of dry cargo inside the
the space station expedition crews. Following a pressurized forward section of the ATV, known
rigorous monitoring and test phase after its as the Integrated Cargo Carrier, included
launch, the first ATV docked with the Russian 500 kg of food for the crew, 136 kg of spare
Service Module, Zvezda on April 3. parts for the Columbus laboratory, 80 kg of
clothing, and a number of additional items
With the ATV now scheduled to be an element including public relations items to
of the station until August 2008, the Expedition commemorate the Jules Verne ATV launch.
17 crew will be involved in procedures that This included two Jules Verne manuscripts.
revolve around the ATV’s main functions for the The Expedition 17 crew can access this
station. These include: pressurized section in normal clothing in order
to unload the contents of the Integrated Cargo
carrier as necessary.

The wet cargo carried by Jules Verne re-supply mission, the Expedition 17 crew will
accounted for around 7 tons. The largest reattach the docking mechanism to the ATV
proportion of this was the ATV propellant, and close the hatch. The ATV will be
accounting for 5.8 tons. Sixty percent of the commanded by the ATV Control Centre in
propellant was used for the ATV to travel to and Toulouse, France, to undock, deorbit and burn
dock with the space station, and for the future up in the Earth’s atmosphere.
deorbiting of the spacecraft. 860 kg of the wet
cargo was refuelling propellant for transfer to
the station, 270 kg is potable water for use by
the crew for drinking, food rehydration and oral
hygiene, and 20 kg is oxygen used for resupply
of the station cabin oxygen.
Station Reboost
Forty percent of the ATV’s propellant will be
used by the ATV to reboost the station to a
higher orbiting altitude, and for ISS attitude
control and debris avoidance manuevers.
Waste Removal
The final part of its mission will be the removal Artist’s impression of the ATV reboosting
and disposal of up to 6.4 tons of equipment, the ISS to a higher orbit
material and general waste that is no longer
used on the station. At the end of the ATV

Digital NASA Television
NASA Television can be seen in the continental Internet Information

United States on AMC-6, at 72 degrees west
longitude, Transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical Information is available through several sources
polarization, FEC 3/4, Data Rate 36.860 MHz, on the Internet. The primary source for mission
Symbol 26.665 Ms, Transmission DVB. If you information is the NASA Human Space Flight
live in Alaska or Hawaii, NASA TV can now be Web, part of the World Wide Web. This site
seen on AMC-7, at 137 degrees west longitude, contains information on the crew and its
Transponder 18C, at 4060 MHz, vertical mission and will be updated regularly with
polarization, FEC 3/4, Data Rate 36.860 MHz, status reports, photos and video clips
Symbol 26.665 Ms, Transmission DVB. throughout the flight. The NASA Shuttle Web’s
address is:
Digital NASA TV system provides higher quality
images and better use of satellite bandwidth, http://spaceflight.nasa.gov
meaning multiple channels from multiple NASA
program sources at the same time. General information on NASA and its programs
is available through the NASA Home Page and
Digital NASA TV has four digital channels: the NASA Public Affairs Home Page:
1. NASA Public Service (“Free to Air”), http://www.nasa.gov

featuring documentaries, archival
programming, and coverage of NASA or
missions and events.
http://www.nasa.gov/newsinfo/
2. NASA Education Services (“Free to index.html
Air/Addressable”), dedicated to providing
educational programming to schools,
educational institutions and museums.
3. NASA Media Services (“Addressable”), for
broadcast news organizations.
4. NASA Mission Operations (Internal Only).
Note: Digital NASA TV channels may not
always have programming on every
channel simultaneously.
APRIL 2008 NASA TELEVISION 65

66 NASA TELEVISION APRIL 2008

Expedition 17 Public Affairs Officers (PAO) Contacts
Michael Braukus International Partners 202-358-1979

NASA Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov
Katherine Trinidad Shuttle, Space Station Policy 202-358-3749

NASA Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
katherine.trinidad@nasa.gov
John Yembrick Shuttle, Space Station Policy 202-358-0602

NASA Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
john.yembrick-1@nasa.gov
Grey Hautaluoma Research in Space 202-358-0668

NASA Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
grey.hautaluoma-1@nasa.gov
Stephanie Schierholz Research in Space 202-358-4997

NASA Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
Stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov
James Hartsfield Astronauts/Mission Operations 281-483-5111

NASA Johnson Space Center
Houston, TX
james.a.hartsfield@nasa.gov
Rob Navias Mission Operations 281-483-5111

Houston, TX
rob.navias-1@nasa.gov
Kylie Clem Astronauts/Mission Operations 281-483-5111

NASA Johnson Space Center Directorate
Houston, TX
kylie.s.clem@nasa.gov
APRIL 2008 PAO CONTACTS 67

Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters International Space Station 281-483-5111
Houston, TX
nicole.cloutier-1@nasa.gov
Steve Roy Science Operations 256-544-0034

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Ala.
steven.e.roy@nasa.gov
Ed Memi International Space Station 281-226-4029

The Boeing Company
Houston, TX
edmund.g.memi@boeing.com
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

JAXA Public Affairs Office
Tokyo, Japan
011-81-3-6266-6414, 6415, 6416, 6417
proffice@jaxa.jp
Kumiko Tanabe
JAXA Public Affairs Representative
Houston, TX
281-483-2251
Tanabe.kumiko@jaxa.jp
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)

Jean-Pierre Arseneault
Manager, Media Relations and Information Services
Canadian Space Agency
514-824-0560 (cell)
jean-pierre.arseneault@space.gc.ca
Isabelle Laplante
Media Relations Advisor
Canadian Space Agency
450-926-4370
isabelle.laplante@space.gc.ca
68 PAO CONTACTS APRIL 2008

NASA ISS Expedition 17 Press Kit

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NASA ISS Expedition 17 Press Kit

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION: EXPEDITION 17 SCIENCE OVERVIEW .............................. 39

APRIL 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS i

ii TABLE OF CONTENTS APRIL 2008

Expedition 17: Global Science in Space

APRIL 2008 MISSION OVERVIEW 1

Once they arrive, Volkov and Kononenko will

2 MISSION OVERVIEW APRIL 2008

APRIL 2008 MISSION OVERVIEW 3

4 MISSION OVERVIEW APRIL 2008

APRIL 2008 CREW 5

Short biographical sketches of the crew follow

6 CREW APRIL 2008

APRIL 2008 CREW 7

8 CREW APRIL 2008

APRIL 2008 CREW 9

10 CREW APRIL 2008

APRIL 2008 CREW 11

12 CREW APRIL 2008

(Dates are subject to change)

April 10 Expedition 17 docks to the International Space Station’s Pirs Docking

April 17 Change of command ceremony with departing

May 14 Launch of ISS Progress 29 resupply ship from Baikonur Cosmodrome,

May 16 Docking of ISS Progress 29 to the Pirs Docking Compartment

June 2 Docking of Discovery to ISS Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2); Reisman

June 10 Undocking of Discovery from ISS PMA-2

June 13 Landing of Discovery to complete STS-124/1J

July 10 Russian spacewalk by Volkov and Kononenko

Aug. 12 Launch of ISS Progress 30 resupply ship from Baikonur Cosmodrome,

APRIL 2008 MISSION MILESTONES 13

Sept. 12 Docking of ISS Progress 31 to the Pirs Docking Compartment

14 MISSION MILESTONES APRIL 2008

Cosmonaut Oleg D. Kononenko, Expedition 17 flight engineer representing Russia's

APRIL 2008 SPACEWALKS 15

16 SPACEWALKS APRIL 2008

APRIL 2008 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 17

18 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2008

The basic Soyuz vehicle is considered a three-

• A lower portion consisting of four boosters

• An upper portion, consisting of the third

• Liquid oxygen and kerosene are used as

First Stage Boosters

APRIL 2008 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 19

Third Stage Baikonur Cosmodrome is in the Republic of

Launcher Telemetry Tracking & Flight Rendezvous to Docking

20 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2008

First Stage Data - Blocks B, V, G, D

APRIL 2008 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 21

T- 34 Hours Booster is prepared for fuel loading

22 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2008

T- 2:30 Booster propellant tank pressurization starts

T- :00 Lift off

APRIL 2008 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 23

FLIGHT DAY 1 OVERVIEW

24 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2008

APRIL 2008 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 25

26 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2008

APRIL 2008 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 27

28 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2008

Expedition 17/SFP Launch

6:16:35 a.m. CT on April 8

11:16:35 GMT on April 8

15:16:35 p.m. Moscow time on April 8

17:16:35 p.m. Baikonur time on April 8