Space Shuttle Mission STS-116

STS-121 Press Kit
CONTENTS
Section Page
STS-116 MISSION OVERVIEW: POWER RECONFIGURATION HIGHLIGHTS STATION ASSEMBLY MISSION ............................................................................................... 1 STS-116 TIMELINE OVERVIEW ............................................................................................... 10 MISSION PRIORITIES .............................................................................................................12 LAUNCH AND LANDING ........................................................................................................... 15
L A U N CH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 A B OR T- T O- OR B IT ( AT O ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 T RA N SA TLA NT I C A B OR T L A N D I NG ( TAL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 R E T UR N -T O -L A U N CH - SI T E ( R TL S ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1 5 A B OR T O N C E A RO U N D (A OA ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1 5 L A N D I NG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5
MISSION PROFILE................................................................................................................... 16 STS-116 DISCOVERY CREW ................................................................................................... 17 MISSION PERSONNEL ............................................................................................................. 27 RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING .................................................................................................. 28
U N D O CK I NG , S E PA RA TI O N A N D D EPA RTU R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM (EPS) ................................... 32 ACTIVE THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM (ATCS) OVERVIEW ..................................................... 50 SPACEWALKS ......................................................................................................................... 65
E V A 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6 E V A 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 E V A 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 9
PAYLOAD OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................. 71

I N T E GRA T ED T R U SS S E GME N T P5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 7 1 I N T E GRA T ED C A RG O CA RRI ER (SPA CEHA B ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7 L OG I ST I C S SI N GL E M O D UL E ( SPA C EH AB L SM ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 8
December 2006
CONTENTS
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Section
EXPERIMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 79
D E TA IL E D T ES T OBJECT I VE S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 7 9 S H OR T- D UR AT I O N BI OA S TR O NA U TI C S INV E S T IG AT IO N (SDBI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9 S H OR T- D UR AT I O N R E S EA RC H A ND S TATI O N EX P ER IMEN T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 0 E U R OP EA N SP A CE AG E N CY E X P ER IM E NT S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4
SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE ADVANCED HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ........................ 89 SHUTTLE REFERENCE DATA .................................................................................................... 90 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................... 103 MEDIA ASSISTANCE ...............................................................................................................118 PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS .................................................................................................. 119

December 2006
CONTENTS
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STS-116 MISSION OVERVIEW: POWER RECONFIGURATION HIGHLIGHTS STATION ASSEMBLY MISSION
Withitscranestillattached,theorbiterDiscoverywasmated totheexternaltankandsolidrocketboostersonthemobile launcherplatforminhighbay3oftheKennedySpace CenterVehicleAssemblyBuilding. December 2006 MISSION OVERVIEW 1
IntegratedTrussSegmentP5,whichmeasures 11feetlongby15feetwideby14feethigh(3.3 x4.5x3.2meters).Itwillserveasaspacerand bematedtotheP4trussthatwasattachedin SeptemberduringtheSTS115missionof Atlantis. Attachmentofthe4,000pound (1,800kilogram)P5setsthestageforthe relocationtoitsfinalassemblypositionofthe P6trussandthepairofsolararraysthathave beenlocatedtemporarilyatopthestations Unitymoduleforsixyears.
SpaceShuttleDiscoverylaunchesinDecember onits33rdmissiontodeliveranothertruss segmentoftheInternationalSpaceStationand begintheintricateprocessofreconfiguringand redistributingthepowergeneratedbytwo pairsofU.S.solararrays. Theshuttlelauncheswithsevenastronauts sixshuttleandonelongdurationstationcrew member.Thisisthefirstcrewmemberrotation infouryearsinvolvingashuttleratherthana RussianSoyuz. TheprimaryassemblyhardwareDiscoverywill delivertothespacestationisthe$11million
AcomputergeneratedartistsrenderingoftheInternationalSpaceStationafterflight STS116/12A.1,followingthedeliveryandinstallationofthethirdporttrusssegment (P5)andtheretractionoftheP6portsolararraywingandtworadiators.
December 2006
MISSION OVERVIEW
theshuttleandstationcrewmembersandflight controllersinMissionControl,whowillsend allcommandstocarefullyredistributepower andthermalmanagementfromonelocationto another.TheSTS118missioninthesummerof 2007willdeliveranidenticalshortspacer(S5) totheoppositeendofthestationstruss. Discoverywilllaunchwithsevencrew members,includingCommanderMark Polansky,PilotWilliam(Bill)Oefelein (Commander,USN),andMissionSpecialists NicholasPatrick,Robert(Bob)Curbeam (Captain,USN),JoanHigginbotham,Christer FuglesangrepresentingtheEuropeanSpace Agency,andSunitaWilliams.Williamswill replacecrewmemberThomasReiter(ESA)who willreturntoEarthaboardDiscoveryinher place.Williamswillreturnhomenextsummer followingEndeavoursSTS118mission.
Threespacewalks(ExtravehicularActivitiesor EVAs)spreadacrossthesevendaysofdocked operationswillinvolveP5installationand reconfigurationofcablessothatflight controllersinMissionControl,Houston,can sendcommandstoswappowergenerationand distributionfromhalfoftheP6arraystothe newestP4pair(powerchannel2/3movesto P42Aand1/4movestopowerchannelP44A). InadditiontotheP5spacer,Discoverys payloadbayalsohousesasmallpressurized logisticsmoduleholdingsuppliesandan integratedcarrierdeliveringspacestation hardwareandthreesmallsatellitestobe deployedaftertheshuttlehasundockedfrom thespacestation. The20thshuttlemissiontotheInternational SpaceStationrepresentsthemost choreographedassemblyflighttodatebetween
Attiredintheirtrainingversionsoftheshuttlelaunchandentrysuit,astronauts MarkL.Polansky(left),STS116commander,andWilliamA.Oefelein,pilot, occupythecommanderandpilotsstationduringatrainingsessioninthefixed baseshuttlemissionsimulator(SMS)intheJakeGarnSimulationand TrainingFacilityatJohnsonSpaceCenter.
December 2006
MISSION OVERVIEW
Thefirstthreedaysofthemissionnearlymirror thoseofthepreviousthreeshuttleflightsto inspectthethermalprotectionsystemtilesand thewingleadingedgereinforcedcarboncarbon panels,andrendezvousanddockwiththe InternationalSpaceStation. Patrickistheprimeshuttleremotemanipulator system(roboticarm)operatorandwillleadthe inspectioneffortusingtheRemoteManipulator System(RMS)extensiontheOrbiterBoom SensorSystem.PolanskyandOefeleinserveas backupshuttlearmoperators. Thehighestprioritytasksoftheflightwillbeto transferonestationcrewmemberforanother, installthenewP5shortspacer,reconfigurethe electricalpowersystemandthermalcontrol systemandtransferextraoxygentostorage tanksontheoutsideoftheU.S.QuestAirlock.
Thelaunchfromcomplex39BattheKennedy SpaceCenter,Florida,istimedpreciselyto occurwithinthesamelaunchplane(similartoa laneonahighway)asthespacestationto maximizepropellantsavingsandminimize rendezvoustime. Becauseoftheexcellentperformanceofthe shuttlesexternaltankinminimizingfoam sheddingduringascent,andtheabilityto performa100percentinspectionoftheorbiter thermalprotectionsystemforunlikelydamage, therestrictionfordaylightonlylauncheshas beenlifted.ThisallowsDiscoveryslaunchto takeplaceatnightforthefirst10daysofits window,whichopensnoearlierthanDec.7 andclosesonoraboutDec.26basedonasun betaangleconstraint.
AstronautNicholasJ.M.Patrick,STS116missionspecialist,participates inatrainingsessioninthecrewcompartmenttrainer(CCT2)inthe SpaceVehicleMockupFacilityatJohnsonSpaceCenter.
December 2006
MISSION OVERVIEW
IntheKennedySpaceCenterSpaceStationProcessingFacility,anoverheadcrane movestheP5trussformissionSTS116tothepayloadcanister.Thethirdport trusssegment,theP5willbeattachedtotheP3/P4trussontheInternational SpaceStationduringthe11daymission. Afterdocking,thefirstpriorityistotransfer formfittingseatlinersintheSoyuzspacecraft makingWilliamsanofficialmemberofthe Expedition14crewalongwithCommander MichaelLopezAlegriaandFlightEngineer MikhailTyurin.Reiterthenbecomesamember oftheshuttlecrewwithwhichhewillreturn homeafterasixmonthstayonthestation. Onflightday3,PatrickwillcarefullylifttheP5 spacerwiththeshuttleRMSandhandittothe waitingstationarm.Higginbothamand Williamswillcontrolthestationarmatthe stationsroboticworkstationintheDestiny Laboratory.Thespacerwillremainonthe stationsarmovernightinpreparationfor installationthenextdayduringthefirstofthree plannedspacewalks.
December 2006
MISSION OVERVIEW
AstronautsRobertL.Curbeam,Jr.andChristerFuglesang,STS116missionspecialists, wearingtrainingversionsoftheExtravehicularMobilityUnit(EMU)spacesuit, participateinanunderwatersimulationofextravehicularactivity(EVA). CurbeamandFuglesangaredwarfedbystationtrusssegmentsinthis overallviewofthesimulationconductedintheNeutralBuoyancy Laboratory(NBL)neartheJohnsonSpaceCenter. Thedayafterdocking(flightday4),Curbeam andFuglesangwillleavetheQuestAirlockona sixhourspacewalktoassistwithinstallation andutilityconnectionsbetweentheP5short spacerandtheP4truss. Theconnectiontasksincluderemovaloffour launchlockswiththetwotrusssegments approximately612inchesapart.The spacewalkersthenwillserveasonthescene observersforalignmentandinstallationofP5to P4.Theinstallationiscompletedwiththe matingofsixutilitycables.
AstronautRobertL.Curbeam,STS116 missionspecialist,attiredinatrainingversion oftheExtravehicularMobilityUnit(EMU) spacesuit,awaitsatrainingsessioninthe watersoftheNeutralBuoyancyLaboratory (NBL)nearJohnsonSpaceCenter.
December 2006
MISSION OVERVIEW
EuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA)astronautChristerFuglesang,STS116missionspecialist, participatesinanExtravehicularMobilityUnit(EMU)spacesuitfitcheckintheSpace StationAirlockTestArticle(SSATA)intheCrewSystemsLaboratoryattheJohnson SpaceCenter.AstronautWilliamA.Oefelein,pilot,assistedFuglesang. Betweenthefirstandsecondspacewalksbegins aprocessofpowerandthermalreconfiguration thathasneverbeenattemptedbefore.Ground commandingremovespowerfromonehalfof theP6solararrayfollowedbytheretractionof itsportarray.Aminimumof40percentofthe arraymustberetractedtoprovideenough clearanceforactivationoftheP4solararray trackingrotaryjointtestedduringtheprevious shuttlemission(STS115).Thestarboardsolar arrayofP6willberetractedduringSTS117 nextMarchbeforeinstallationoftheS3/S4setof solararraysontheintegratedtrussstructureof thestation. ThoughfullretractionoftheP6portarrayis notnecessary,itisplannedinathreestep processbudgetedforfivehours,withretraction ofthreebaysfirst.Thentheportarraywill continuetoberetractedtoapproximately40 percent,andfinallytoonebay. Thenextfourhoursincludesfillingoneofthe thermalcontrolsystemswithammoniabefore thefinalretractionofthesolararrayintoits canister. Onceautomaticsuntrackingisconfirmedfor thenewP4arrays,thestageissetforthenext dayssecondspacewalktoreconfigurepower totheoutboardarrays.Thisrequiresprecise coordinationbetweenthegroundandcrewto ensureelectricalpowerisnotflowing. TheUnitedStatesOrbitalSegment(USOS) electricalpowersystem(EPS)isdividedinto threemainsubsystems:primary,secondary andsupportsystems.ThegoalwhileDiscovery isdockedistoreconfigurethestationspower systemfromthecurrenttemporarystatustoits assemblycompleteconfiguration. TheS0trusssegmentsitsinthemiddleposition onthetrussstructureontopoftheU.S.Destiny
December 2006
MISSION OVERVIEW
onP1.Tofacilitatethatheatrejection,the radiatorsaremountedonarotatingbeamthat canpointthemtowarddeepspaceandaway fromthesun. Forthesecondtimeinthreedays,Curbeamand FuglesangwillheadoutoftheQuestAirlockon themissionssecondspacewalkonthesixth dayofthemissiontoreconfigurepartofthe powerchannel(2/3)byroutingprimarypower throughtheMBSUs. WilliamsjoinsCurbeamonthethirdspacewalk ontheeighthdayofthemissiontodothesame reconfigurationontheotherhalfofthepower channel(1/4).Oefeleinwillserveasthein cabinchoreographerforallspacewalksand spacesuitcheckout.
Laboratory,flankedbytheS1andP1truss elements.ThattrussandtheS1andP1trusses containthemajorelectricalcomponentsofthe permanentelectricalsystem.Thosearethe MainBusSwitchingUnits(MBSUs)andlarge transformerscalledDCtoDCconverterunits (DDCUs)thatservetomodulatesolararray powertotheproperlevelsrequiredtooperate stationsystems. S1andP1alsohousethestationstwo independentcoolingsystems,eachofwhich includelargeammoniatanks,anitrogengas pressurizationsystemandamassivepump moduletoenableammoniatoflowthrough plumbinglinestoradiatorsthatwilldissipate heatfromtheavionicssystemsonthestation. TherearethreesuchradiatorsonS1andthree
AstronautsSunitaL.Williams(left),Expedition14flightengineer,and JoanE.Higginbotham,STS116missionspecialist,usethevirtualreality labattheJohnsonSpaceCentertotrainfortheirdutiesaboardthespace shuttle.Thistypeofcomputerinterface,pairedwithvirtualreality traininghardwareandsoftware,helpstopreparetheentireteam fordealingwithspacestationelements.
December 2006
MISSION OVERVIEW
Transporterwillberelocatedtothestarboard endofthetrussandwillundergoacheckoutin preparationforthenextshuttlevisit,scheduled forMarch2007,todeliveranothertruss segmentandthethirdpairofsolararraysa mirrorimageflighttothatofAtlantisonthe STS115missioninSeptember. Onflightday9,(thedayafterEVA3),the MobileTransporterwillbemovedtothe starboardendofthetrussandundergoa checkoutinpreparationforitssupportofthe nextassemblymissionnextMarch. Oncetransfersarecomplete,theshuttlewill undockfromthestation,conductaflyaround andmovetoastationkeepingdistanceofabout 40miles. Backonitsown,Discoveryscrewwilloversee afinalinspectionoftheorbitersthermal protectionsystemtoensureithasnotsustained anydamagefrommicrometeoroiddebrisbefore theshuttleisclearedforentry.Thecrewwill alsoremotelydeploythreesmalltechnology demonstrationsatellitesmountedinside canistersalonganequipmentcarrierinthe payloadbay. ThecarrieralsoholdstheServiceModule DebrisPanels,15AdjustableMassPlatesand anISSPassiveFlightReleasableAttachment Mechanism. Activitiesonthedaybeforelandinginclude stowageofgearandcheckoutoforbiterentry andlandingsystems,includingtheflight controlsurfacesandthrusterjetsusedforon orbitandentrysteering. Discoveryisscheduledtolandthefollowing dayattheKennedySpaceCenter,completing the117thshuttlemission.
Mountedonthecentraltrusssegment(S0) launchedinApril2002,thesefourMBSUshave neverbeenactivated,butwerecheckedout duringthatmissionandagaininDecember 2002. Whilethecrewmembersprepareforthesecond andthirdspacewalks,alengthysetofpower downcommandswillbeexecutedbyflight controllerstoplaceallassociatedequipmentin asafeconfigurationbeforeopeningtheDirect CurrentSwitchingUnitremotebusisolators. BecausetheMBSUsgenerateheatwhencurrent isflowing,theyrequirecoolingviathe ammonialoops.EstimatesshowtheMBSUs canrunwithoutcoolingforaboutonehour,so wellchoreographedcommandingisplannedto activatetheammoniapumpmoduletoprovide coolingtotheMBSUswithinthattimeframe. Oncethepowerreconfigurationiscomplete, thestationsnewestpairofsolararraysonthe portsideofthetrusswillbebroughttolifeto provideelectricalpowertothestation. Throughoutthemission,transferofcargofrom thepressurizedmodule(SPACEHAB)in Discoveryspayloadbaytakesplaceto resupplythestation. Hardwarestowedinthemoduleincludesa VideoBasebandSignalProcessor,aRotaryJoint MotorControllerAssembly,anExternalTV CameraGroup(ETVCG),OxygenGeneration System,AdjustableGrappleBar;RemotePower ControlModule(s),NickelRemovalAssembly Kit,CharcoalBedAssembly, Desiccant/Adsorbentreplacementunit,Control MomentGyroElectricalAssemblyandan AvionicsAirAssembly. Aftertheoutsideworkiscompletedandbefore Discoverydeparts,thestationsMobile
December 2006
MISSION OVERVIEW
STS-116 TIMELINE OVERVIEW
FLIGHT DAY 1:
Launch PayloadBayDoorOpening SpacehabModuleActivation KuBandAntennaDeployment ShuttleRobotArmPowerUp ExternalTankHandheldVideo,Umbilical WellImageryandWingLeadingEdge SensorDataDownlink
HatchOpeningandWelcomingby Expedition14Crew SuniWilliamsjoinsExpedition14crewwith Soyuzseatlinertransfer;ThomasReiter joinsshuttlecrew ShuttlerobotarmgrappleofP5spacertruss andhandofftostationrobotarm CurbeamandFuglesangsleepinQuest Airlockforspacewalkprebreathecampout protocol
FLIGHT DAY 2:
ShuttleRobotArmCheckout ShuttleRobotArmGrappleofOrbiter BoomSensorSystem(OBSS) InspectionofShuttleThermalProtection SystemandWingLeadingEdgeReinforced CarbonCarbon(RCC) OBSSBerthing SpacesuitCheckout OrbiterDockingSystemOuterRing Extension AirlockPreparations RendezvousToolCheckout
FLIGHT DAY 4:
StationrobotarminstallsP5spacertruss installationonP4trussattachment CurbeamandFuglesangEVA#1toconnect P5/P4powercables,releaselaunch restraintsandtochangeoutTVcameraon S1truss MobileTransportermovesfromWorksite7 toWorksite3
FLIGHT DAY 5:
P6trussportarrayisretractedtoenable SolarAlphaRotaryJointactivationand rotationonP4truss P4SolarAlphaRotaryJointactivationand autotrackingofthesun PortsideloopofExternalActiveThermal ControlSystemisfilledwithammonia
FLIGHT DAY 3:
RendezvousOperations TerminalInitiationEngineFiring RendezvousPitchManeuverandISSDigital PhotographyofDiscovery DockingtotheInternationalSpaceStation
CurbeamandFuglesangsleepinQuest Airlockforspacewalkprebreathe campoutprotocol
December 2006
TIMELINE OVERVIEW
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FLIGHT DAY 6:
ISSpowerdownofelectricalchannels2 and3 CurbeamandFuglesangEVA#2to reconfigureelectricalchannels2and3, relocateCrewEquipmentTranslationAid (CETA)carts1and2 ISSTreadmillVibrationIsolationSystem gyroscopereplacementandmaintenance PortsideloopoftheExternalActive ThermalControlSystemisactivatedto allowammoniatoflow ISSpowerupofelectricalchannels2and3
FLIGHT DAY 9:
ShuttletoISStransferwork MobileTransportermovestoWorksite2for S3/S4surveyforSTS117,thenreturnsto Worksite4 Rendezvoustoolcheckoutinpreparation forundocking
FLIGHT DAY 10:

Finaltransferwork FarewellsandHatchClosing UndockingandISSflyaround FinalseparationfromISS MEPSIpicosatellitedeploy ANDEpicosatellitedeploy
FLIGHT DAY 7:
ShuttletoISStransferwork JointCrewNewsConference Crewoffdutytime StarboardsideloopofExternalActive ThermalControlSystemisfilledwith ammonia CurbeamandWilliamssleepinQuest Airlockforspacewalkprebreathecampout protocol
FLIGHT DAY 11:

FlightControlSystemCheckout ReactionControlSystemHotFireTest CabinStowage RAFTpicosatellitedeploy DeorbitTimelineReview RecumbentSeatSetUpforReiterin middeck KuBandAntennaStowage
FLIGHT DAY 8:
ISSpowerdownofelectricalchannels1 and4 CurbeamandWilliamsEVA#3to reconfigureelectricalchannels1and4and transferServiceModuleDebrisPanelsto PressurizedMatingAdapter3 StarboardsideloopoftheExternalActive ThermalControlSystemisactivatedto allowammoniatoflow ISSpowerupofelectricalchannels1and4
FLIGHT DAY 12:

DeorbitPreparations PayloadBayDoorClosing DeorbitBurn KSCLanding
December 2006
TIMELINE OVERVIEW
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MISSION PRIORITIES
1. Performinspectionofspaceshuttle reinforcedcarboncarbon(RCC)and downlinksensordataforevaluationonthe ground. 2. Documentspaceshuttletileduring rendezvouswithstationusingISSimagery resourcesduringtherendezvouspitch maneuver(RPM),followedbydocking. 3. CompleteISScrewmemberswap (Expedition14FlightEngineerSuni WilliamsforExpedition13FlightEngineer ThomasReiter). InstalltheSoyuzseatliner,knownas theIndividualEquipmentLinerKit (IELK) CheckouttheRussianlaunch/entrysuit, knownastheSokolsuit ISSsafetybriefing Transfermandatorycrewrotationitems RemoveP5grapplefixtureandrelocate toP5keel(willallowP4betagimbal assemblytorotate)
6. DeactivateP62BloadsandreconfigureU.S. segmentloadstoreceivepowerdistribution fromP42AandP6EBviamainbus switchingunits2and3.Thisincludes establishmentofactivecoolingforchannel 2/3MBSUsandDCtoDCconverterunits viaexternalactivethermalcontrolsystem loopB. RetractP64Bsolararraywingtoone bayandinitiateP3/P4solaralpharotary jointtracking. RemoveP13ADCtoDCconverter unitEthermalcovers.
(a) TransferrequiredoxygentoISS(~100 pounds). (b) TransferandreturnElektron. 4. Transferwater. 5. InstalltheP5trusssegmentontoP4using theshuttleandstationroboticarms. RemoveP5inboardlaunchlocks (requiredformatingwithP4) Installfourtrussattachmentboltsto structurallymateP5toP4
7. DeactivateP64BloadsandreconfigureU.S. segmentloadstoreceivepowerdistribution fromP44Amainbussswitchingunit1and 4.Thisincludesestablishmentofactive coolingforchannelMBSUs/DDCUsvia externalactivethermalcontrolsystemloop A.(P64Bchannelconfiguredto dormant/parachutemode. RemoveS14BandS04BDCtoDC converterunitEthermalcovers. UplinktheD1patchtoportable computersystemR9.
8. Transfercriticalcargoitemspertransfer prioritylist. 9. TransferZvezdaServiceModuledebris panelsandadaptertopressurizedmating adapter3aftgrapplefixture.
December 2006
MISSION PRIORITIES
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20. PerformpayloadoperationstosupportSTP H2(ANDE,MEPSI,RAFT). 21. Performthefollowingtoallowreturnof onorbithardware: Treadmillgyroremovaland replacement Charcoalbedassembly Respiratorysupportpackcheckout
10. RelocatebothCrewandEquipment TranslationAid(CETA)cartsfromthe starboardsidetotheportside. (a) Performcontingencyspacewalkto completeprimarymissionobjectives. (b) PerformlateinspectionofDiscoverys wingleadingedgeandnosecap. 11. Performminimumcrewhandover (12hours)forrotatingcrewmembers. (a) PerformtheOxygenRecharge CompressorAssemblyandCarbon DioxideRemovalAssemblyremoval andreplacementandreturnremoved hardwareviashuttle. 12. Performutilizationactivitiestosupport experiments,includingmidodrine,ALTEA, LatentVirus,SleepShort,andPMDIS. 13. PerformdailyISSpayloadstatuschecksas required. 14. Transferremainingcargoitemspermission rules. 15. Performexternalwirelessinstrumentation systempowerconnectionsbetweenP5and P4. 16. RemoveandreplaceExternalTelevision CameraGroup(ETVCG)atCameraPort3, Starboard1OutboardLower. 17. Transfertheadjustablegrapplebarfrom insidethestationtotheflexhoserotary coupleronexternalstowageplatform2. 18. PerformP64Bfinalretractionandlatching ofthesolararrayblanketbox. 19. InstallpowercablesforS0channels1/42/3.
22. TransfernitrogenfromtheshuttletotheISS QuestAirlockhighpressuretanks. 23. PerformU.S.andRussianpayloadresearch operationtasks. 24. PerformanadditionalfourhoursofISS crewhandover(16hourstotal). 25. PerformimagerysurveyoftheISSexterior fromshuttleafterundocking. 26. Performpayloadoperationstosupport MauiAnalysisofUpperAtmospheric Injections(MAUI)andRamBurn Observations(RAMBO) 27. ReboostISS(altitudeTBDbasedon availableshuttlepropellant). 28. Thefollowingtasksfitwithintheexisting spacewalktimelines;however,theymaybe deferredifthespacewalkisbehind schedule.TheEVAwillnotbeextendedto completethesetasks. Installstationrobotarmforcemoment sensor(FMS)insulation Installthestarboardandportfluid quickdisconnectbagsontheQuest Airlock
December 2006
MISSION PRIORITIES
13
InstallS0/UnityNodeprimarypower cable(S0sideonly)andreconfigureZ1 patchpanelsandRussianpowerto operatefromprimarypower(i.e., MBSU) Installthepumpmodulejumperbagon theQuestAirlock Installtheventtoolextensionbagon Quest
29. Performprogramapprovedspacewalkget aheadtasks.Thefollowinggetaheadtasks donotfitintheexistingspacewalk timelines;however,theteamwillbetrained andreadytoperformanyofthesetasks shouldtheopportunityarise. ConnectP5toP4umbilicals(6) OpenP5capturelatchassembly(CLA) andpartiallyclose(~1turn) RemoveP5toP6trussattachment systemlaunchlocks
30. Perform: DevelopmentTestObjective(DTO)257 StructuralDynamicsModelValidation FlightTestandSupplementary ObjectivesDocument(InternalWireless InstrumentationSystem,knownas IWIS,isrequired) PerformISSStructuralLifeValidation andExtensionfortheshuttleundocking (IWISrequired).
December 2006
MISSION PRIORITIES
14
LAUNCH AND LANDING
LAUNCH
AswithallpreviousSpaceShuttlelaunches, DiscoveryonSTS116willhaveseveralmodes availablethatcouldbeusedtoaborttheascent ifneededduetoenginefailuresorother systemsproblems.Shuttlelaunchabort philosophyaimstowardsaferecoveryofthe flightcrewandintactrecoveryoftheorbiter anditspayload.Abortmodesinclude:
RETURN-TO-LAUNCH-SITE (RTLS)
Earlyshutdownofoneormoreengines,and withoutenoughenergytoreachZaragoza, wouldresultinapitcharoundandthrustback towardKSCuntilwithinglidingdistanceofthe ShuttleLandingFacility.Forlaunchto proceed,weatherconditionsmustbeforecastto beacceptableforapossibleRTLSlandingat KSCabout20minutesafterliftoff.
ABORT-TO-ORBIT (ATO)
Partiallossofmainenginethrustlateenoughto permitreachingaminimal105by85nautical mileorbitwithorbitalmaneuveringsystem engines.
ABORT ONCE AROUND (AOA)

AnAOAisselectedifthevehiclecannot achieveaviableorbitorwillnothaveenough propellanttoperformadeorbitburn,buthas enoughenergytocircletheEarthonceandland about9i0minutesafterliftoff.
TRANSATLANTIC ABORT LANDING (TAL)

Lossofoneormoremainenginesmidway throughpoweredflightwouldforcealanding ateitherZaragoza,Spain;Moron,Spain;or Istres,France.Forlaunchtoproceed,weather conditionsmustbeacceptableatoneofthese TALsites.
LANDING
TheprimarylandingsiteforDiscoveryon STS116istheKennedySpaceCentersShuttle LandingFacility.Alternatelandingsitesthat couldbeusedifneededduetoweather conditionsorsystemsfailuresareatEdwards AirForceBase,California,andWhiteSands SpaceHarbor,NewMexico.
December 2006
LAUNCH & LANDING
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MISSION PROFILE
CREW
Commander: Pilot: MissionSpecialist1: MissionSpecialist2: MissionSpecialist3: MissionSpecialist4: MissionSpecialist5: MarkPolansky BillOefelein NicholasPatrick BobCurbeam ChristerFuglesang JoanHigginbotham SuniWilliams/ ThomasReiter
Space Shuttle Main Engines:

SSME1: SSME2: SSME3: ExternalTank: SRBSet: RSRMSet: 2050 2054 2058 ET123 BI128 95
SHUTTLE ABORTS
Abort Landing Sites
RTLS: TAL: AOA: KennedySpaceCenterShuttle LandingFacility PrimaryZaragoza,Spain. AlternatesMoronandIstres,France PrimaryKennedySpaceCenter ShuttleLandingFacility;Alternate WhiteSandsSpaceHarbor
LAUNCH
Orbiter: LaunchSite: LaunchDate: LaunchTime: Discovery(OV103) KennedySpaceCenter LaunchPad39B NoEarlierThan December7,2006 9:36p.m.EST(Preferred InPlanelaunchtimefor 12/7) 5Minutes 123NauticalMiles(142 Miles)OrbitalInsertion; 190NM(218Miles) Rendezvous 51.6Degrees 10Days18Hours40 Minutes
Landing
NoEarlierThan December18,2006 LandingTime: 4:16p.m.EST PrimarylandingSite: KennedySpaceCenter ShuttleLandingFacility LandingDate:
LaunchWindow: Altitude:
Inclination: Duration:
PAYLOADS
lntegratedTrussSegment(ITS)P5,SPACEHAB SingleModule
VEHICLE DATA
ShuttleLiftoffWeight: Orbiter/PayloadLiftoffWeight: 4,521,350 pounds 265,466 pounds
Orbiter/PayloadLandingWeight: 225,350 pounds SoftwareVersion: OI30
December 2006
MISSION PROFILE
16
STS-116 DISCOVERY CREW
TheSTS116patchdesignsignifiesthe continuingassemblyoftheInternationalSpace Station.Theprimarymissionobjectiveisto deliverandinstalltheP5trusselement.TheP5 installationwillbeconductedduringthefirstof threeplannedspacewalks,andwillinvolveuse ofboththeshuttleandstationroboticarms. Theremainderofthemissionwillincludea majorreconfigurationandactivationofthe stationselectricalandthermalcontrolsystems, aswellasdeliveryofZvezdaServiceModule debrispanels,whichwillincreaseprotection frompotentialimpactsofmicrometeoritesand orbitaldebris.Inaddition,asingleexpedition crewmemberwilllaunchonSTS116toremain onboardthestation,replacinganexpedition crewmemberThomasReiter,whowillfly homewiththeshuttlecrew.Thecrewpatch depictsthespaceshuttlerisingabovetheEarth andthestation.TheUnitedStatesandSwedish flagstrailtheorbiter,depictingthe internationalcompositionoftheSTS116crew. ThesevenstarsoftheconstellationUrsaMajor areusedtoprovidedirectiontotheNorthStar, whichissuperimposedovertheinstallation locationoftheP5trussonthestation.
December 2006
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Thesesevenastronautstakeabreakfrom trainingtoposefortheSTS116crewportrait. ScheduledtolaunchaboardtheSpaceShuttle Discoveryare,frontrow(fromtheleft), astronautsWilliamA.Oefelein,pilot;JoanE. Higginbotham,missionspecialist;andMarkL. Polansky,commander.Onthebackrow(from theleft)areastronautsRobertL.Curbeam, NicholasJ.M.Patrick,SunitaL.Williamsand theEuropeanSpaceAgencysChrister Fuglesang,allmissionspecialists.Williamswill joinExpedition14inprogresstoserveasa flightengineeraboardtheInternationalSpace Station.Thecrewmembersareattiredin trainingversionsoftheirshuttlelaunchand entrysuits. Shortbiographicalsketchesofthecrewfollow withdetailedbackgroundavailableat:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/
December 2006
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CommanderMarkPolansky AformerAirForcetestpilot,MarkPolansky willleadthecrewofSTS116onthe20thshuttle missiontothespacestation.Polanskyserved asthepilotonSTS98in2001.Makinghis secondspaceflight,hehasloggedmorethan 309hoursinspace.Hehasoverall responsibilityfortheonorbitexecutionofthe mission,orbitersystemsoperationsandflight operationsincludinglandingtheorbiter.In addition,Polanskywillflytheshuttleina procedurecalledtherendezvouspitch maneuverwhileDiscoveryis600feetbelowthe stationbeforedockingtoenablethestation crewtophotographtheorbitersheatshield. HewillthendockDiscoverytothestation. Polanskywillalsobeheavilyinvolvedin shuttleroboticarmoperationsforinspecting theorbitersheatshield,andtransferringcargo tothestationduringthedockedphaseofthe mission.
December 2006
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PilotBillOefelein WilliamOefelein(Ohfeline),whohaslogged morethan3,000hoursflyingmorethan50 aircraft,willmakehisfirstjourneyintospaceas thepilotfortheSTS116mission.Selectedby NASAinJune1998,Oefeleinreportedtothe JohnsonSpaceCenterinHoustoninAugust 1998.HehasservedintheAstronautOffice AdvancedVehiclesBranchandCAPCOM (capsulecommunicator)Branch.Hewillbe responsiblefororbitersystemsoperationsand assistingPolanskyintherendezvousand dockingtotheInternationalSpaceStation.He willalsoserveasthechoreographerinside Discoveryandthestationforthemissions threeplannedspacewalks,helpingtosuitup anddirectthespacewalkersthroughtheir activities.OefeleinwillundockDiscoveryfrom thestationattheendofthedockedphaseofthe missionandconductaflyaroundtoenablehis crewmatestophotographthestations configurationandassessitscondition.
December 2006
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MissionSpecialistNicholasPatrick Amemberofthe1998astronautclassanda formerflightinstructor,NicholasPatrickis assignedtoSTS116asmissionspecialist1 (MS1).HereportedtoNASAsJohnsonSpace CenterinHoustonforastronauttrainingin August1998.Hisinitialtrainingincluded scientificandtechnicalbriefings,intensive instructioninshuttleandInternationalSpace Stationsystems,physiological,survivaland classroomtraininginpreparationforT38 flight.Makinghisfirstspaceflight,Patrickwill betheprimaryoperatoroftheshuttlesrobotic arm,usingittounberththeorbiterboomsensor systemtosurveyDiscoverysthermal protectionsystemonflightday2andto grapplethestationsP5trussforahandoffto thestationroboticarmoperatedbyMission SpecialistJoanHigginbothamonflightday3. Hewillberesponsiblefortheshuttlesvideo andcomputernetworks,andwillassistwith thetransferofcargobetweentheshuttleand thestation.Hewillbeseatedontheflightdeck forlaunchandonthemiddeckforlanding.
December 2006
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MissionSpecialistBobCurbeam Aveteranoftwospaceshuttleflights,Mission Specialist2(MS2)BobCurbeamconducted threespacewalksbeforebeingassignedto STS116.HeflewonSTS85inAugust1997and onSTS98inFebruary2001.Heloggedmore than19hoursoverthecourseofthree spacewalksduringSTS98,completingdelivery oftheU.S.laboratoryDestinytothespace station.Hewillconductthreespacewalks duringSTS116.Curbeam,asEV1,will conductthefirsttwospacewalksofthemission withChristerFuglesangonflightdays4and6. Duringthefirstspacewalk,thetwowillinstall theP5trussandattachallmechanicaland electricalinterfacesbetweenitandtheexisting stationtruss.TheyalsowillchangeoutaTV cameraonthestarboard1(S1)truss.During thesecondspacewalk,theduowillunplug stationpowerchannels2and3fromtheP6 powertrussandconnectthemtothemaintruss (permanent)powersystem.Theyalsowill movetheCrewandEquipmentTranslationAid cartsinpreparationthenextpower reconfigurationtooccurduringthethird spacewalkofthemission.Curbeamwill conductthethirdplannedspacewalkofthe missiononflightday8withSunitaWilliams. Theywillunplugstationpowerchannels2and 3fromtheP6powertrussandconnectthemto themaintruss(permanent)powersystem. TheyalsowilltransferServiceModuledebris panelsfromtheshuttletothestation.Curbeam willbeseatedontheflightdeckforlaunchand landing,operatingastheflightengineerto assistCommanderMarkPolanskyandPilotBill Oefelein.
December 2006
CREW
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MissionSpecialistChristerFuglesang Makinghisfirstspaceflight,EuropeanSpace AgencyastronautChristerFuglesang (Fyugelsang)joinsthecrewofSTS116asa missionspecialist.Fuglesangisamemberof ESAsEuropeanAstronautCorps,whosehome baseistheEuropeanAstronautCentrein Cologne,Germany.Heenteredthemission specialistclassatNASAsJohnsonSpaceCenter inAugust1996andqualifiedforflight assignmentasamissionspecialistinApril1998. MissionSpecialist3(MS3)Fuglesang,asEV2, willconductthefirsttwoplannedspacewalks ofthemissionwithCurbeamonflightdays4 and6.Fuglesangistheleadfordeployingthree smallsatellitesfromthepayloadbaytoward theendofthemission.Fuglesangwillsetup therecumbentseatreturningExpedition14 crewmemberThomasReiterwilluseforthe triphomeaboardtheshuttle.Fuglesangwillbe seatedonthemiddeckforlaunchandlanding.
December 2006
CREW
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MissionSpecialistJoanHigginbotham MissionSpecialist4(MS4)JoanHigginbotham willbemakingherfirstflightintospaceaboard Discovery.Toassistwiththeconstructionof thespacestation,Higginbothamsprimarytask onSTS116willbetooperatethestations roboticarm.Amongotherrobotictasks,she willusethestationarmtoinstalltheP5truss ontotheP4trussattachmentonflightday4. Duringtherendezvous,dockingand undocking,shewillmanagetherendezvous navigationtoolsusedtoguidetheshuttles trajectoryrelativetothestation.Shewillserve astheleadcargotransferofficer,overseeingthe transferofsuppliesandequipmentbetweenthe shuttleandthestation.Shewilloversee payloadbaydoorclosingoperations.Shewill beseatedonthemiddeckforlaunchandthe flightdeckforlanding.
December 2006
CREW
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MissionSpecialist/Expedition14FlightEngineerSuniWilliams Makingherfirstspaceflight,MissionSpecialist 5(MS5)Sunita(Sooneetah)Williamswilljoin Expedition14inprogressandserveasaflight engineeraftertravelingtothestationonspace shuttlemissionSTS116.Williams,whogoesby thenameSuni(sunny),willjoinExpedition14 onflightday3,whenherSoyuzseatlineris transferredfromtheshuttle3.Thetransferwill markthebeginningofherscheduledsixmonth stayaboardthestation.Williams,asEV3,will joinBobCurbeamforthethirdplanned spacewalkofthemissiononflightday8.She willbeseatedonthemiddeckforlaunch.
December 2006
CREW
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ThomasReiter InternationalSpaceStationFlightEngineer ThomasReiter(ToemahsRyeturr)(FE2)of theEuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA)flewtothe spacestationaboardDiscoveryinJuly2006and becameamemberoftheExpedition13crew. HewillreturntoEarthaboardDiscoverywith theSTS116crew.InSeptember2006, Expedition13CommanderPavelVinogradov andFlightEngineerandNASAScienceOfficer JeffWilliamsleftthestationaboardaRussian Soyuzspacecraft.Reiterwasjoinedby Expedition14CommanderMikeLopezAlegria andFlightEngineerMikhailTyurin.Reiteris thefirstcrewmembertoserveontwo expeditions.Hespent179daysinspacein 19951996foramissiontotheRussianMir spacestationduringwhichheconductedtwo spacewalksandabout40Europeanscientific experiments.ReiteristhefirstESAastronautto liveaboardtheInternationalSpaceStationfora longtermmission.Reiterworkedonthe stationaspartofanagreementbetweenthe RussianFederalSpaceAgencyandESA.Reiter willbeonthemiddeckforlandingina speciallydesignedrecumbentseattofacilitate hisadaptationtoagravityenvironmentforthe firsttimeinsixmonths.
December 2006
CREW
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MISSION PERSONNEL
KEY CONSOLE POSITIONS FOR STS-116
Ascent
Flt.Director
SteveStich
CAPCOM
KenHam ChrisFerguson(Wx) KevinFord MeganMcArthur ShannonLucid KenHam ChrisFerguson(Wx) N/A TerryVirts SteveRobinson HalGetzelman N/A N/A
PAO
KellyHumphries
Orbit1(Lead) Orbit2 Planning Entry
TonyCeccacci MattAbbott RickLaBrode NormKnight
KyleHerring(Lead) NicoleCloutier JohnIraPetty KyleHerring
ShuttleTeam4 ISSOrbit1 ISSOrbit2(Lead) ISSOrbit3 StationTeam4 MissionControl, Korolev,Russia
RichardJones DerekHassmann JohnCurry JoelMontalbano DanaWeigel KwatsiAlibaruho
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
JSCPAORepresentativeatKSCforLaunchKylieClem KSCLaunchCommentatorBruceBuckingham KSCLaunchDirectorMikeLeinbach NASALaunchTestDirectorJeffSpaulding
December 2006
MISSION PERSONNEL
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RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING

DiscoverysfinalapproachtotheInternational SpaceStationduringtheSTS116rendezvous anddockingprocesswillincludethe nowstandardbackflippirouettemaneuverto allowstationcrewmemberstotakedigital imagesoftheshuttlesheatshield. WithshuttleCommanderMarkPolanskyatthe controls,theshuttlewillperformthecircular pitcharoundfromadistanceofabout600feet belowthestation.The9minuteflipoffers Expedition14CommanderMikeLopezAlegria andFlightEngineerMikhailTyurintimeto documentthroughdigitalstillphotographythe requiredimageryofDiscoverysthermal protectionsystem. Thephotosthenwillbetransmittedtoimagery expertsintheMissionEvaluationRoomat MissionControl,Houston,viathestations Kubandcommunicationssystem. Thephotographywillbeperformedoutof windows6and8intheZvezdaServiceModule withKodakDCS760digitalcamerasand 400mmand800mmlenses.TheRendezvous PitchManeuver(RPM)isoneofseveral inspectionproceduresdesignedtoverifythe integrityoftheshuttlesprotectivetilesand reinforcedcarboncarbonwingleadingedge panels. ThesequenceofeventsthatbringsAtlantisto itsdockingwiththestationbeginswiththe preciselytimedlaunchoftheshuttle,placing theorbiteronthecorrecttrajectoryandcourse Thesequenceofeventsthatculminatewith Discoverysdockingtothestationactually beginswiththepreciselytimedlaunchthat
NOTE indicates critical focus point. 2. Sequence is ~16 shots; repeat sequence, as time allows. 1.
bottomside_800mm.cnv
placestheorbiteroncourseforitstwoday chasetoarriveatthestation.The43hour rendezvousincludesperiodicthrusterfirings thatultimatelywillplaceDiscoveryabout9 statutemilesbehindthestation,thestarting pointforfinalapproach. About2.5hoursbeforethescheduleddocking timeonflightday3,Discoverywillreacha pointabout50,000feetbehindthestation. Discoverysjetswillbefiredinwhatiscalled theTerminalInitiation(TI)burntobeginthe finalphaseoftherendezvous.Discoverywill closethefinalmilestothestationduringthe nextorbit.
December 2006
RENDEZVOUS & DOCKING
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Rendezvous Approach Profile
AsDiscoverymovesclosertothestation,the shuttlesrendezvousradarsystemand trajectorycontrolsensor(TCS)willbegin trackingthecomplex,andprovidingrangeand closingrateinformationtothecrew.During thefinalapproach,Discoverywillexecutefour smallmidcoursecorrectionswithitssteering jetstopositiontheshuttleabout1,000feet directlybelowthestation.Fromthispoint, Polanskywilltakeoverthemanualflyingofthe shuttleupanimaginarylinedrawnbetween thestationandtheEarthknownastheRBar orradialvector. HewillslowDiscoverysapproachatabout600 feetand,ifrequired,waitforproperlighting conditionstooptimizeinspectionimagery gatheringaswellascrewvisibilityforthefinal rendezvoustodocking.
Space Shuttle Rendezvous Maneuvers

OMS-1 (Orbit insertion)- Rarely used ascent burn. OMS-2 (Orbit insertion)- Typically used to circularize the initial orbit following ascent, completing orbital insertion. For gro und-up rendezvous flights, also considered a rendezvous phasing burn. NC (Rendezvous phasing) Performed to hit a range relative to the target at a future time. NH (Rendezvous height adjust) Performed to hit a delta -height relative to the target at a future time. NPC (Rendezvous plane change) Performed to remove planar errors relative to the target at a future time. NCC (Rendezvous corrective combination) First on-board targeted burn in the rendezvous sequence. Using star tracker data, it is performed to remove phasing and height errors relative to the target at Ti. Ti (Rendezvous terminal intercept) Second on-board targeted burn in the rendezvous sequence. Using primarily rendezvous radar data, it places the orbiter on a trajectory to intercept the target in one orbit. MC-1, MC-2, MC-3, MC-4 (Rendezvous midcourse burns)- These on-board targeted burns use star tracker and rendezvous radar data to correct the postTi trajectory in preparation for the final, manual proximity operations phase.
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PolanskythenwillmoveDiscoverytoa positionabout400feetinfrontofthestation alongtheVBar,orthevelocityvectorthe directionoftravelforbothspacecraft.Oefelein willprovidenavigationinformationto Polanskyastheshuttleinchestowardthe dockingportattheforwardendofthestations DestinyLaboratory. OefeleinwilljoinMissionSpecialistsNicholas PatrickandJoanHigginbothaminplayingkey rolesintherendezvous.Theywilloperate laptopcomputersprocessingthenavigational data,thelaserrangesystemsandDiscoverys dockingmechanism. UsingacameraviewfromcenterofDiscoverys dockingmechanismasakeyalignmentaid, Polanskywillpreciselymatchthedockingports ofthetwospacecraftandflytoapoint30feet fromthestationbeforepausingtoverifythe alignment. ForDiscoverysdocking,Polanskywillclose thefinal30feetatarelativespeedofabout onetenthofafootpersecond(whileboth spacecraftaretraveling17,500mph),andkeep thedockingmechanismsalignedwithina toleranceofthreeinches.
NOTE indicates critical focus point. 2. Sequence is ~16 shots; repeat sequence, as time allows. 1.
bottomside_800mm.cnv
OnverbalconfirmationbyPilotBillOefeleinto alertthestationcrew,Polanskywillcommand Discoverytobeginanoseforward,three quartersofadegreepersecondrotationalback flip.AtRPMstart,thestationcrewwillbegina seriesofpreciselytimedphotographyfor inspection.Thesequenceofmapping optimizesthelightingconditions. Boththe400mmand800mmdigitalcamera lenseswillbeusedtocaptureimageryofthe requiredsurfacesoftheorbiter.The400mm lensprovidesupto3inchresolutionandthe 800mmlenscanprovideupto1inch resolutionanddetectanygapfillerprotrusions greaterthan1/4inch.Theimageryincludesthe uppersurfacesoftheshuttleaswellas Discoverysunderside,nosecap,landinggear doorsealsandtheelevoncoveareaswith 1inchanalyticalresolution.Thephotography includesdetectionofanygapfillerprotrusions whentheorbiterisat145and230degreeangles duringtheflip.Themaneuverandlighting typicallyoffersenoughtimefortwosetsof pictures. WhenDiscoverycompletesitsrotation,itwill returntoanorientationwithitspayloadbay facingthestation.
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OnceDiscoveryisabouttwofeetfromthe station,withthedockingdevicesclearofone another,Oefeleinwillactivatethesteeringjets toveryslowlymoveaway.Fromtheaftflight deck,OefeleinmanuallywillcontrolDiscovery withinatightcorridorasitseparatesfromthe stationessentiallythereverseofthetask performedbyPolanskyduringrendezvous. Discoverywillcontinueawaytoadistanceof about450feet,whereOefeleinwillguidethe shuttleinacircularflyaroundofthestation. OnceDiscoverycompletes1.5revolutionsof thecomplex,OefeleinwillfireDiscoverysjets todepartthestationsvicinityforthefinaltime. Discoverywillseparatetoadistanceofabout 40nauticalmilesandremaintheretoprotectfor areturntothecomplexintheunlikelyevent thelateinspectionrevealsanydamagetothe shuttlesthermalheatshield.
Atcontact,preliminarylatcheswill automaticallyattachthetwospacecraft. ImmediatelyafterDiscoverydocks,the shuttlessteeringjetswillbedeactivatedto eliminateforcesactingatthedockinginterface. Shockabsorberlikespringsinthedocking mechanismwilldampenanyrelativemotion betweentheshuttleandthestation. Oncemotionbetweenthetwospacecrafthas beenstopped,MissionSpecialistsBobCurbeam andChristerFuglesangwillsecurethedocking mechanism,sendingcommandsforDiscoverys dockingringtoretractandtocloseafinalsetof latchesbetweenthetwovehicles.
UNDOCKING, SEPARATION AND DEPARTURE

WithadditionalinspectionsofDiscoverysheat shieldexpectedtobescheduledafter undocking,theorbiterwilldepartthestation withtheshuttleroboticarmandOrbiterBoom SensorSystem(OBBS)intheirstowed configuration.TheOBSSwillbeunstowedto accommodatetheinspections. OnceDiscoveryisreadytoundock,Fuglesang willsendacommandtoreleasethedocking mechanism.Atinitialseparationofthe spacecraft,springsinthedockingmechanism willpushtheshuttleawayfromthestation. Discoveryssteeringjetswillbeshutoffto avoidanyinadvertentfiringsduringtheinitial separation.
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INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM (EPS)

TheInternationalSpaceStation(ISS)electrical powersystemconsistsofpowergeneration, energystorage,powermanagement,and distribution(PMAD)equipment.Electricityis generatedinasystemofsolararrays.Besides thesolararraysontheRussianelement,the stationcurrentlyhastwophotovoltaicmodules, atermthatreferstoasetofsolararrays, batteriesandtheassociatedelectronics,on orbit,withtwomorescheduledfordelivery. TheElectricPowerSystem(EPS)providesall userloadsandhousekeepingelectricalpower andiscapableofexpansionasthestationis assembledandgrows.Eightindependent powerchannelsforhighoverallreliability supplytheelectricpower. Aphotovoltaic(PV)electricpowergeneration subsystemwasselectedforthespacestation.A PVsystemusessolararraysforpower generationandchemicalenergystorage (Nickelhydrogen)batteriestostoreexcesssolar arrayenergyduringperiodsofsunlightand providepowerduringperiodswhenthestation isinEarthsshadow(eclipse).Thestation orbitstheearthevery90minutesandforabout 35minutes,thestationmustrunonbatteries whilethestationisineclipse. Flexible,deployablesolararraywingsthatare coveredwithsolarcellsprovidepowerforthe ISS.EachPVmodulecontainstwowings,and eachwingconsistsoftwoblanketassemblies. Thesolararraywingsaretightlyfoldedinsidea blanketforlaunch.Theyaredeployedinorbit andsupportedbyanextendablemast.
Analogybetweenmunicipalutility andthestationsEPS Nominalelectricaloutputofeachpower channelisabout11kilowatts(kW),or20.9kW perPVmodule.FourPVmoduleswillsupply approximately83.6kW. TheprimarypurposeoftheEnergyStorage Subsystem(ESS)istoprovideelectricalpower duringperiodswhenpowerfromthesolar arraysisnotenoughtosupportchannelloads. TheESSstoresenergyduringperiodswhen solararrayscangeneratemorepowerthan necessarytosupportloads.Thesystemconsists ofthreenickelhydrogen(NiH2)batteriesper powerchannelandeachbatteryconsistsoftwo batteryOrbitalReplacementUnits(ORUs). Eachbatteryalsohasacharge/dischargeunit (BCDU).TheNi/H2batterydesignwaschosen becauseofitshighenergydensitylightweight andprovenheritageinspaceapplicationssince thelate1970stoearly1980s. TheentireEPSmaybedividedintotwopower subsystems.Theprimarypowersubsystem operatesatavoltagerangeof137to173volts directcurrent(Vdc)andconsistsofpower generation,storageandprimarypower distribution.Thesecondarypowersubsystem
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ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM
32
ThehighervoltagemeetsthehigheroverallISS powerrequirementswhilepermittinguseof lighterweightpowerlines.Thehighervoltage reducesohmicpowerlossesthroughthewires. Someeightmilesofwiredistributepower throughoutthestation. EachPVmodulecontainstwosolararray wings.Anindividualwingis110feetlongby 38feetwide.Eachwingconsistsoftwoarray blanketsthatarecoveredwithsolarcells.The blanketscanbeextendedorretractedbya telescopicmastwhichislocatedbetweenthe twoblankets.Eachsolararraywingis connectedtotheISSs310footlongtrussand extendoutwardatrightanglestoit(P4andP6 arecurrentlyonorbit).Aseriesof400solar cells,calledastring,generateselectricityathigh primaryvoltagelevelswhile82stringsare connectedinparalleltogenerateadequate powertomeetthepowerrequirementforeach powerchannel.Thereareatotalof32,800cells perpowerchannelor65,600solarcellsoneach PVmodule. Asolarcellassemblyisaboutthreeinches square.Thecellsaremadeofsiliconandhavea nominal14.5percentefficiencyforsunlightto electricityconversion.Cellsareweldedontoa flexibleprintedcircuitlaminatethatconnects cellselectrically.Thesunfacingsurfaceofthe cellisprotectedbyathincoverglass.Each groupofeightcells,connectedinseries,is protectedbyabypassdiodetominimize performanceimpactoffracturedoropencells onastring.Solararraysaredesignedforan operatinglifeof15years. Twomutuallyperpendicularaxesofrotation areusedtopointsolararraystowardstheSun. EachsolararraywingisconnectedtooneBeta GimbalAssembly(BGA),locatedoneachPV module,thatisusedtorotatethatsolararray
operatesatavoltagerangeof123to126Vdc andisusedtosupplypowertouserloads. DirectCurrenttoDirectCurrentConverter Units(DDCUs)areusedtoconvertprimary powertosecondarypower. TheU.S.powersystemisalsointegratedwith Russianpowersources,sothatpowerfromthe Americanpowerbuscanbetransferredtothe Russianpowerbusandviceversa.TheRussian powersystemoperatesatanominalvoltageof 28Vdc.AmericantoRussianConverterUnits (ARCUs)andRussiantoAmericanConverter Units(RACUs)areusedtoconvertpowerfrom theAmericansecondarypowerbustothe Russianpowerbusandviceversa.
SOLAR POWER
Themostpowerfulsolararraysevertoorbit Earthcapturesolarenergytoconvertitinto electricpowerfortheISS. Eightsolararraywingssupplypoweratan unprecedentedvoltagelevelof137to173Vdc thatisconvertedtoanominal124Vdcto operateequipmentontheISS.TheSpace Shuttleandmostotherspacecraftoperateat nominal28Vdc,asdoestheRussianISS segment.
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Thepowersystemiscooledbyathermal systemthroughwhichexcessheatisremoved byliquidammoniacoolantintubesthat ultimatelyloopthroughradiatorpanelsthat radiatetheheattospace. RussiassegmentoftheISSprovidesitsown powersources,supplying28voltdctothe Russianmodules.Powerissharedbetweenthe twosegmentswhenrequiredtosupport assemblyandoperationsforallISSpartners. RussiantoAmericanConverterUnits(RACUs) andAmericantoRussianConverterUnits (ARCUs)stepupandstepdownconverters, respectively,dealwiththedifferencebetween U.S.andRussianbusvoltagelevels.AsISS assemblycontinues,Russiansolararrays (a72footpaironControlModuleZaryaanda 97footpairontheRussianServiceModule) willreceivemoreshadow,whichwilldiminish theirpowergenerationcapability. TheoveralldesignandarchitectureoftheISS EPSwasmanagedbyNASAsGlennResearch Centerintheearly1990s.BoeingsRocketdyne PropulsionandPowerdivision(nowPratt& WhitneyRPP)builtmostofthehardwarefor theelectricalpowersystem.LockheedMartin builtthesolararraysandtheSolarAlpha RotaryJointforRocketdyne.Boeing,along withPratt&WhitneyRPP,asasubcontractor, continuestoprovideEPSsustaining engineeringtoNASA.MostEPScomponents andcargoassembliesundergofinalacceptance testingatKennedySpaceCenterbeforeflightto ISS.
wing.Anotherrotaryjoint,calledSolarAlpha RotaryJoint(SARJ),ismountedonthetruss androtatesthefoursolararraywingstogether. Whenthestationiscomplete,therewillbe eightBGAsandtwoSARJs.Theserotaryjoints arecomputercontrolledandensurefullsun trackingcapabilityastheISSgoesaroundthe earthunderawiderangeoforbitsandISS orientations.
ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Likeacityscentralpowerplant,thePV modulesgenerateprimarypoweratvoltage levelstoohighforconsumeruse,rangingfrom 137to173Vdc.Theprimarypowerisroutedto BCDUsforchargingbatteriesandtoswitching unitsthatrouteittolocaldistributionnetworks. TheDCDCConverterUnits,DDCUs, stepdowntheprimarypowertoamore tightlyregulatedsecondarypowervoltage, nominally124.5Vdcthatisregulatedplusor minus1.5Vdc,anddistributeittoISSloads. OnMainStreet,USA,theuserswouldbeshops andhomes.OntheISS,theyarelaboratories, livingquartersandothermodules. EventhoughtheStationspendsaboutonethird ofeveryorbitinEarthsshadow,theelectrical powersystemcontinuouslyprovidesusable power(about84kWatassemblycomplete)to ISSsystemsandusers.WhentheISSisin eclipse,thebatteriesthatstoredenergyfrom solararraysduringthesunlitportionofthe orbitsupplypower.
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ElectricalPowerDistributionOverview
EPS BLOCK DIAGRAM OVERVIEW

Thisblockdiagramgivesanoverviewofhow thestationselectricalsystemfunctionswhen assemblyiscomplete.TheSolarArrayWing (SAW)cangeneratepoweratawiderangeof voltage,however,theSequentialShuntUnits (SSU),locatedclosetotheSAWinthe IntegratedEquipmentAssembly(IEA),regulate thevoltagethatcomesoutofthesolararraysat anestablishedsetpointofabout160Vdc.When asolararraycanproducesufficientpower,then thesurpluspowerisroutedtotheBattery Charge/DischargeUnits(BCDU),whichcharge thebatteries.Whenasolararraycannot producesufficientpowertosatisfyISSloads thenthebusvoltagestartstodropbelowthe SSUsetpoint,andwhenitdropsbelowthe BCDUsetpoint,thentheBCDUsstartto dischargebatteriestosupportISSloads.The primarybusvoltagevariesbetweentheSSU andBCDUvoltagesetpointsplusasmall voltageregulationband.
TheprimarypowerisprovidedtotheMainBus SwitchingUnits(MBSU)forsubsequent distributiontoISSelectricalloads.FourMBSUs arelocatedontheS0trussthatisfedbyeight independentpowerchannelsandtheMBSU outputssupplyallISSloads.Undernormal operations,eachpowerchannelsuppliespower toaspecificsetofloads.However,ifthat channelfails,theMBSUenablesfeedingpower tothoseloadsfromanotherchannel.This greatlyenhancesthefailuretoleranceofthe EPS. AllEPSoperationsarecomputercontrolledand controlscanbeexercisedbytheonorbitcrew orbyoperatorsonground.Operatorsonthe groundtofreeupcrewtimeformoreimportant onorbitoperationsperformmostofthese functions.Allcontrolsetpointsarestoredon onorbitcomputersandcanbechangedwhen needed.
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networkofhighpowerswitchescalledRemote BusIsolators(RBIs)todirectthepowerflow. TheRBIsdonotphysicallycontrolthedirection ofthecurrentflowingthroughthembutthey doprovideameansofisolatingacurrentpath intheeventofamalfunctionorifarepairis neededontheprimarypowersystem.The RBIsinboththeDCSUandMBSUarefully commandablebyonboardcomputers. EachpowerchannelcontainsoneDCSUto performpowerdistributionontheIntegrated EquipmentAssembly(IEA).Duringinsolation, theDCSUroutespowerfromthearraystoan MBSUdistributionbus,aswellastotheBCDUs forbatterycharging.Duringeclipse,theDCSU routesbatterypowertothesameMBSU distributionbustosatisfypowerdemands,and italsosendsasmallamountofpowerbackto theSSUtokeeptheSSUfirmwarefunctioning inpreparationforthenextinsolationcycle.In additiontoprimarypowerdistribution,the DCSUhastheadditionalresponsibilitiesof routingsecondarypowertocomponentsonthe PVmodules(i.e.,theElectronicsControlUnit andothersupportcomponents).This secondarypowerisprovidedbytheDDCU locatedontheIEA.TheDDCUreceives primarypowerfromtheDCSU,convertsitinto secondarypower,andsendsittoRemote PowerControllerModules(RPCMs)for distribution.ThePVmoduleRPCMsare housedwithintheDCSU. TheMBSUsactasthedistributionhubforthe EPSsystem.ThefourMBSUsonboardtheISS arealllocatedontheStarboardZero(S0)truss. EachofMBSUreceivesprimarypowerfrom twopowerchannelsanddistributesit downstreamtotheDDCUsandotherusers includingServiceModule(SM)Americanto RussianConverterUnits(ARCUs).Inaddition, theMBSUscanbeusedtocrosstiepower channels(i.e.,feedonepowerchannelloads
TheMBSUsroutepowertotheDCtoDC ConverterUnits(DDCUs).TheDDCUsconvert primarypowertosecondarypowerat123to 126Vdc.SeveralDDCUsarelocatedinside pressurizedcompartments,suchasUSLab, whileseveralarelocatedexternallyontrusses. DDCUssupplyregulatedsecondarypowerto RemotePowerControllerModules(RPCMs). RPCMsareboxeswithmultipleswitcheswith severaldifferentloadratingstoroutepowerto userloads.TheRPCMsprovideremote switchingofloadsandovercurrentprotection. AnRPCMcanalsofeedotherRPCMsandcan feedRussianpowerconverters,outletpanels, etc.Therewillbethousandsofindividual switchesinapproximately184RPCMsonthe stationatassemblycomplete.Thereareabout 119RPCMsonthestationcurrently. TheEuropeanandJapaneselaboratory moduleshavetheirowninternalpower distributionsystem.Thosemoduleswilldraw powerfromDDCUs,fromNode2.Their uniquetransformersandpowercontrol modulesequivalenttoU.S.RPCMswillhandle power.NASAandBoeinghaveresponsibility fordistributingpowertothoseelements,but theindividualinternationalpartnerswillbe responsibleforpowerwithintheirrespective elements.
PRIMARY POWER DISTRIBUTION OVERVIEW

PrimaryPowerDistributionprovidesa commandableinterfacebetweengeneratedor storedpowertoloadsthatarelocateddown stream.Powerdistributionwithinapower channelisperformedbyaDCSwitchingUnit (DCSU)andthepowerdistributiontoloadsis performedbytheMBSU.AtISSassembly complete,therewillbeeightDCSUsandfour MBSUsinvolvedinprimarypower distribution.TheDCSUsandMBSUsusea
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PowerDistributionAssemblies(SPDA)or RemotePowerDistributionAssemblies (RPDA).Essentially,SPDAsandRPDAsare housingsthatcontainoneormoreRPCMs.The onlydistinctionbetweenSPDAsandRPDAsis thelocationdownstreamofaDDCU.RPDAs arealwaysfedfromotherRPCMsinside SPDAs.NotethatRPCMshaveonlyonepower input;thus,ifpowerislostatanylevelofthe SecondaryPowerSystem,alldownstreamuser loadswillbewithoutpower. ThereisnoredundancyintheSecondaryPower System;rather,redundancyisafunctionofthe usersloads.Forexample,acriticaluserload maybeabletoselectbetweentwoinputpower sourcesthatusedifferentpowerchannelsand thusdifferentsecondarypowerpaths. AswithDDCUs,SPDAsandRPDAsmaybe locatedinsidepressurizedcompartmentsor outside.Dependingontheirspecificlocation, SPDAsorRPDAsmayinterfacewiththeLab InternalThermalControlSystem(ITCS)oruse heatpipestodissipateheat.RPCMsarealso locatedwithintheDCSUontheIEAsto providesecondarypowertopowerchannel components,asrequired.
withadifferentpowerchannelsource)toassist infailurerecoveryandassemblytasks. TheBGAsandSARJsontheISSalsoplayarole inprimarypowerdistribution.TheBGA providesforthetransmissionofprimarypower fromthesolararraywingstotheIEAandthe SARJprovidesfortransmissionofprimary powerfromtheDCSUstotheMBSUs.The BGAsandSARJsincorporatearollringdesign toprovideconduitsforpower(anddata),while allowingacontinuous360rotation.
SECONDARY POWER DISTRIBUTION

Theworkhorseofthesecondarypower distributionsystemistheRPCM,anOrbital ReplacementUnit(ORU),whichcontainssolid stateorelectromechanicalswitches,knownas RemotePowerControllers(RPCs).RPCscanbe remotelycommanded,byonboardcomputers, tocontroltheflowofpowerthroughthe distributionnetworkandtotheusers.There aredifferenttypesofRPCMs,containing varyingnumbersofRPCsandvaryingpower ratings.Asshownabove,secondarypower flowsfromaDDCUandisthendistributed throughanetworkofORUscalledSecondary
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REDUNDANCY
Eachofthepowerchannelsispreconfiguredto supplypowerforparticularISSloads;however, toprovideabackupsourceofpowerforcritical equipment,theassemblycompletedesign providesforrerouting(i.e.,crosstying) primarypowerbetweenvariouspower channels,asnecessary.Atassemblycomplete, theISSwillhavefourPVmodulescontaining eightpowerchannelswithfullcrossstrapping capability.However,itisimportanttonote thatonlyprimarypowercanbecrossstrapped. Oncepowerisconvertedintosecondarypower, powerflowthroughthedistributionnetwork cannotbererouted. Asaresult,ifthereisafailurewithinthe SecondaryPowerSystem,thereisno redundancy,andtheentiredownstreampath fromthefailureisunpowered.Instead,user loadsgenerallydetermineredundancy.There arethreetypesofuserredundancyschemesas listedbelow: Componentsmaybewiredwithmultiple powerinputsources,providingthe capabilityofswappingamongthem. Twoormorecomponentsthatperformthe samefunctioncanbefedbydifferentpower sources;thus,theresponsibilitiesofone componentcanbeassumedbyanother. Multiplecomponentscanworktogetherto performafunction;withthelossofasingle component,operationalcapabilitiesare degradednotlost. Setofavailablejumpersthatcanbeusedto temporarilyregainpowertoaloaduntilthe secondarysystemcanbefixed.
SYSTEM PROTECTION
TheEPSisdesignedtoprotectequipmentfrom powersurgesandoverheatingatseveralpoints alongthepowerpathfromthesourcetothe users.Current,voltage,andtemperature sensorsarelocatedinnearlyalltheEPS equipment(ORUs)andaremonitoredby firmwarelocatedonthehardwareoronboard computers,orboth.Ifavoltage,current,or temperatureisoutofrange,anappropriate safingactionwillbeinitiatedeitherbythe firmwareorbycomputersoftware.Thesafing actionisdesignedtolimittheamountoftime thattheboxisexposedtohighpowerorhigh temperature.Incaseofpowersurges,itisalso designedtolimittheimpactofthatsurgeon otherequipmentalongthepowerpath. Thesystemprotectionfunctionincludesthe architecturesabilitytodetectthatafault conditionhasoccurred,confinethefaultto preventdamagingconnectingcomponents,and executeanappropriaterecoveryprocessto restorefunctionality,ifpossible.Thisprocessis usuallyreferredtoasFaultDetection,Isolation, andRecovery(FDIR).Forexample,upon detectionofafault,componentscanbeisolated, therebypreventingpropagationoffaults.In responsetoovercurrentconditions,the architectureisdesignedsuchthateach downstreamcircuitprotectiondeviceissettoa lowercurrentratingandrespondsmore quicklythantheprotectiondevicedirectly upstream.Thisensuresthatelectricalfaultsor shortsinthesystemdonotpropagatetoward thepowersource.Anotherfunctionofthe architecturessystemprotectionshutsdownthe productionofpowerwhenarrayoutputvoltage dropsbelowaspecifiedlowerlimitthreshold. ThispreventsthePVcellsfromcontinuingto feedadownstreamfault.Insummary,allthe variousimplementationsofsystemprotection
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wingistransferredthroughtheBGAoverthe entirerangeofBGAaxisrotation.Thetransfer ofpowerisaccomplishedbyarotarycoupling, therollringsubassembly,whichismounted coaxiallywiththeaxisbearingandtorque motor. TheBGAmaybecommandedtothefollowing modesofoperation: AngleCommandMode.BGAaxisof rotationalignedtoacommandedangle position. LatchMode.TheBGAaxisofrotationis lockedatspecifiedlocationandprevented fromfurtherrotation. ManualOperatingMode.Allnonessential functionsaredisabledandthedrivemotor isdisabled.BGAaxismayberotatedby manualactionfromtheIEAside. RateMode.BGAmaybecommandedto rotateataspecifiedrate.
worktogethertoisolatefaultsorshortsatthe lowestlevel.Thisapproachminimizesimpacts totheusersoftheEPSandprotectstheEPS fromdamagebylowlevelfaults.
KEY EPS COMPONENTS
SOLAR ARRAY WING (SAW)

TheprinciplefunctionoftheSAWistoproduce electricalpowerfromsolarenergy.TheSAW contains32,800solarcells,16,400perblanket, whichcanproduceapproximately31kilowatts (kW)ofelectricalpoweratBeginningofLife (BOL),andabout26kWafter15years,attheir designedEndofLife(EOL).However,itis importanttonotethatpoweravailabilityis influencedbyISSattitude,operationalmode (e.g.,proximityoperations),Sunalphaandbeta angle,shadowing,etc.
ELECTRONICS CONTROL UNIT (ECU)

TheECUislocatedontheBGA.Itisthe commandandcontrollinkforthesolararray wingandBGA.TheECUprovidespowerand controlforextensionandretractionofthesolar arraymast,latchingandunlatchingofthe blanketboxes,BGArotation,andBGAlatching.
BETA GIMBAL ASSEMBLY (BGA)

ThefunctionoftheBGAistoprovideminor arraypointingcorrectionalongtheBetaAngle. Thebetaangleistheanglebetweentheorbit planeandthesolardirection(changes ~4/day))tocompensateforapparentsolar motioninducedbyseasonalvariations.There isoneBGAassociatedwitheachSAW.The BGAprovidesoneaxisofrotationforasolar arraywing.TheBGAiscapableofafull 360degreesofrotationormaybecommanded toaspecificlocationviacomputercommand. Electricpowergeneratedbythesolararray
SOLAR ALPHA ROTARY JOINT

ThepurposeoftheSARJistorotatethePVMs toprovidealphaanglearraypointing capability.TheportSARJandstarboardSARJ arelocatedattheoutboardendoftheP3andS3 trusssegmentsandprovide360continuous rotationalcapabilitytothesegmentsoutboard ofP3andS3.TheSARJwillnormallycomplete onecomplete360degreerevolutionperorbit.
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TheIEAmeasures16feet(4.9meters)by16feet (4.9meters)by16feet((4.9meters),weighs nearly17,000poundsa(7,711.1kilograms)and isdesignedtoconditionandstoretheelectrical powercollectedbythephotovoltaicarraysfor useonboardtheStation. TheIEAintegratestheenergystorage subsystem,theelectricaldistribution equipment,thethermalcontrolsystem,and structuralframework.TheIEAconsistsofthree majorelements: 1. Thepowersystemelectronicsconsistingof theDCSUusedforprimarypower distribution;theDDCUusedtoproduce regulatedsecondarypower;theBCDUused tocontrolthecharginganddischargingof thestoragebatteries;andthebatteriesused tostorepower. 2. ThePhotovoltaicThermalControlSystem (PVTCS)consistingof:thecoldplate subassemblyusedtotransferheatfroman electronicboxtothecoolant;thePump FlowControlSubassembly(PFCS)usedto pumpandcontroltheflowofammonia coolant;andthePhotovoltaicRadiator (PVR)usedtodissipatetheheatintodeep space. 3. ThecomputersusedtocontroltheP4 moduleORUsconsistoftwoPhotovoltaic ControllerUnit(PVCU) Multiplexer/Demultiplexers(MDMs). TheIEApowersystemisdividedintotwo independentandidenticalchannels.Each channeliscapableofcontrol(fineregulation), storageanddistributionofpowertotheISS. Thetwopowermodulesareattachedoutboard oftheAJIS.
TheSARJtransferelectricalpowerthrougha setofrollrings,whichprovideacontinuous rollingelectricalconnectionwhilerotating.
INTEGRATED EQUIPMENT ASSEMBLY (IEA)

EachIEA,locatedonP4,S4,P6andS6,has manycomponents:12BatterySubassembly orbitalreplacementunits(ORUs),sixBattery Charge/DischargeUnits(BCDU)ORUs,two DirectCurrentSwitchingUnits(DCSUs),two DirectCurrenttoDirectCurrentConverter Units(DDCUs),twoPhotovoltaicController Units(PVCUs),andintegratestheThermal ControlSubsystemwhichconsistsofone PhotovoltaicRadiator(PVR)ORUandtwo PumpFlowControlSubassembly(PFCS)ORUs usedtotransferanddissipateheatgeneratedby theIEAORUboxes.Inaddition,theIEA providesaccommodationforammonia servicingoftheoutboardPVmodulesaswell aspassthroughofpower,datatoandfromthe outboardtrusselements.Thestructural transitionbetweentheP3andP4(andS3and S4whenlaunchednextyear)segmentsis providedbytheAlphaJointInterfaceStructure.
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TherewillbeeightSSUsonorbitwhenthe stationassemblyiscomplete(twoeachperIEA, fourIEAswhenassemblycomplete).TheSSU islocatedonthebetagimbalplatform,atthe bottomofthemastcanister.
BATTERY SUBASSEMBLY ORBITAL REPLACEMENT UNIT

Thebatterysubassemblyconsistsof38 lightweightnickelhydrogencellsand associatedelectricalandmechanicalequipment, packagedinanORUenclosure.Whenthesun isbehindtheEarth,allofthepowerisprovided offthebatteries,providingaboutathirdofthe stationspowerdaily.Thebatteryinterfaces withaBatteryCharge/DischargeUnit(BCDU), whichprovideschargeanddischargecontrolof electricenergy.Duringisolation,solarelectric energy,regulatedbytheSSU,willreplenish energystoresinpreparationforthenexteclipse cycle.TwobatteryORUsmakesabatteryset. Therewillbe24batterysetsonISSatassembly complete. Thebatterieshaveadesignlifeofaboutseven years,buttheactuallifeobtainedonorbitisa functionofhowdeeplythebatteryis dischargedandthenumberofchargedischarge cycles(nominally16cyclesperday).
SEQUENTIAL SHUT UNIT (SSU)

TheSSUistheprimarypowerregulationdevice thatcontrolsSAWoutput.Bydesign,theSSU providesaconsistentsourceofpower(typically ~160Vdc),baseduponaprogrammable setpoint.Regulationofthearrayoutput voltageisrequiredbecausearrayoutput current,whenilluminatedwithsunlight,is oftengreaterthantheISSdemands.To accomplishthis,theSSUreceivespower directlyfromthePVarrayandmaintains outputvoltagetoasetpoint,byshuntingand unshuntingsolararraystrings.Eachstringcan beindividuallyconnectedordisconnectedfrom theprimarybusandthepoweroutputfromthe SSUisthesumofallconnectedstringsatany time.WhentheSSUpoweroutputexceedsthe powerdemand,thenthebusvoltagestartsto riseandthattriggersSSUtoshuntstringsto reduceSSUpoweroutput,andviceversa. ThevoltagesetpointisprovidedtotheSSUby theonboardcomputer.Thesetpointis designedtomaximizearraypowercapability (maximumpowerpoint)whileensuringcontrol stability.Assolararraysage,thevoltage setpointisadjustedtoensureoptimum performance.
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ThebatteryORUscanbechangedout roboticallyusingaspecialpurposemanipulator ontheendofthestationsroboticarm.Each batterymeasures41inches(104.1cm)by 37inches(94cm)by19inches(48.3cm)and weighs372pounds(168.7kilograms).
BATTERY CHARGE/DISCHARGE UNIT (BCDU)

TheBCDUservesadualfunctionofcharging thebatteriesduringisolationandproviding conditionedbatterypowertotheprimary powerbussesduringeclipse. TheControlPowerRemoteBusIsolator (CPRBI)controlstheflowofpowertotheDC controlpoweroutputbusandalsofunctionsas acircuitbreaker,limitingtheloadcurrent duringfaults.TheFaultIsolator(FI)limitsthe batterydischargecurrent,intheeventofafault, to85to127amps.TheBCDUalsoincludes provisionsforbatterystatusmonitoringand protectionfrompowercircuitfaults. EachBCDUmeasures28inches(71.1cm)by 40inches(101.6cm)by12inches(30.5cm)and weights235pounds(106.6kilograms).The BCDUhasan8.4kWbatterychargecapability witha6.6kWdischargecapability.Itprovides 70to120voltsdccontrolpoweroutputandcan regulatepowerbetween130to180voltsdc. ThepowerstoragesystemconsistsofaBCDU andtwoBatterySubassemblyORUs.
MAIN BUS SWITCHING UNIT (MBSU)

LocatedontheS0truss,thefourMBSUs distributeprimarypowerfromthepower channels,downstreamtotheDDCUs,andother loads.Theyalsoprovidethecapabilitytocross tiePrimaryPowerChannelstofeedthose DDCUloadsintheeventofaPrimaryPower Failure. Command,communication,healthmonitoring, andRBIdrivefunctionsareprovidedbythe SwitchgearControllerAssembly(SCA).The MBSUshaveadesignlifeofapproximately fifteenyears.ThereisaspareMBSUlocatedon orbit. Thesystemsdesigncanaccommodatetheloss ofPVmodulesandotherproblemsbyremotely accessingtheMBSUs,byeitherthegroundor onstation,andinternallyredirectingpowerto bypassfaultsorfailuresintheEPS.Thefour MBSUsthemselvesarenotredundant.All MBSUsarerequiredtopowerallstationloads. However,MBSUsprovideredundancyfor powermodulesupstream.TheMBSUoutput voltagerangeisfrom133to177Vdc.
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DIRECT CURRENT-TO-DIRECT CURRENT CONVERTER UNIT (DDCU)

Thesecondarypowerconversionfunctionuses onetypeofORU,theDDCU.TheDDCU provideselectricalisolationbetweenthe primaryandsecondaryEPS.Asthename implies,theDDCUisresponsiblefordcpower conversion,inthiscaseprimarypowerinto secondarypower,usingatransformer.Each DDCUhasoneprimarypowerinputandone secondarypoweroutput.TheDDCUconverts thecoarselyregulatedprimarypower(115Vdc to173Vdc)toavoltageregulatedsecondary power(124.5Vdcnominalplusorminus 1.5Vdc).TheprimarypowerontheISSislike themaintransmissionlinesinacitywiththe DDCUservinglikeatransformeronautility polethatconvertsthepowersoitcanbeused inyourhome.Theprimarypowervoltageis typically160Vdc;however,voltagecanvary overawiderangealthoughtheoutputis specifiedtobe124Vdc,whichistheprescribed voltageforallusersoftheSecondaryPower System.Ifanyothervoltagelevelisrequired byuserloads(suchaspayloadsorcrew equipment),itistheusersresponsibilityto performtheconversionfrom124Vdctoits requiredvoltage.
TheMBSUwillbefirstusedduring STS116/AssemblyMission12A.1.Allfour MBSUsareactivatedduringthismission.Each MBSUboxis28inchesby40inchesby 12inchesandweighs220pounds.
DC SWITCHING UNIT (DCSU)

TheDCSUistheelectricaldistributionboxfora primarypowerchannel.Itprovidesfault protectionforthemanyEPSORUs,and numerousEPSsupportfunctions.TheDCSUs primaryfunctionistoroutepowerbetweenthe solararrays,batteries,anddownstreamMBSUs andDDCUs. TheDCSUisusedforpowerdistribution, protectionandfaultisolationwithinthe IntegratedEquipmentAssembly.TheDCSU usesremotecontrolledrelays(RBIs)identicalto thoseontheMBSUtorouteprimarypowerto theBCDUs,MBSUsandDDCU.TheDCSU alsoroutessecondarypower(124Vdcplusor minus1.5Vdc)throughsolidstateswitchesto theECU,SSU,andPFCSORUs. TherewillbeatotalofeightDCSUsontheISS onceS5/S6isdeliveredinJune2008.Todate, DCSUshaveperformedverywell,withno failures.Theyhaveadesignlifeof15years. EachDCSUboxis28inchesby40inchesby 12inchesandweighs238pounds.
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DDCUI(internal) DDCUscomeinthreeversions: DDCUE(forexternal).Theseareused outsidethehabitablespacesonthestation onthepowermoduleIEA,andZ1,S0,S1 andP1trusses.TherearefourDDCUEson S0,andoneeachonS1andP1. DDCUI(forinternal).Theseareused currentlyintheU.S.Laboratoryand eventuallyintheNode2moduleswhen thosearedeliveredoverthenextseveral years.TherearesixDDCUIsintheU.S. laboratory. DDCUHP,Theheatpipeversionsare currentlylocatedontheZenithOne(Z1) truss.TherearetwoDDCUHPsonZ1. DDCUI(external)
externalS1andP1trusses(whichwillbecome activeduringthismission).TheDDCUEsare cooledviacoldplateswhichinterfacedirectly totheexternalsystems.TheDDCUHPare cooleddirectlybytheradiatorheatpipepanel onwhichtheyaremounted. Todate,DDCUshaveperformedverywell, withnofailures.Theyhaveadesignlifeof 15years.TherearealreadyspareDDCUs(with theexceptionofDDCUHP)onorbit.Each DDCUEis27inchesby23inchesby12inches andweighs129pounds.EachDDCUIis 27inchesby18inchesby10inchesandweighs 112pounds.EachDDCUHPis68inchesby 25inchesby14inchesandweighs200pounds.
Theonlydifferencebetweenthethreetypesis thenatureofthecoolingsystemthattransfers internalheatbuildupduringoperationtothe surroundingspaceenvironment.TheDDCUIs areaffixedtocoldplatesthattransfertheheat toawatercooledsysteminsidetheLaband Nodemodules.Thisheatisthentransferredby heatexchangerstotheexternalammonia coolingsystemwheretheheatisrejectedinto spaceviathelargecentralradiatorsonthe
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RPCMsarelocatedinthefollowingmodules: IntegratedEquipmentAssembly(Twoeachin DCSUoratotalof16),P1(12),P3(8),S1(12),S3 (8),S0(24),Z1(4),Node1(12),Node2(18), Node3(27),QuestAirlock(4)andU.S.Destiny Lab(39).EachRPCMis6.8inchesby8inches by3.5inchesandweigh10.5pounds.
REMOTE POWER CONTROLLER MODULE (RPCM)

RPCMsaretheinterfacebetweentheEPSand allnonEPSequipmentonboardtheISS.The RPCMisamultichannel,highpowercircuit breaker.TheRPCMistheworkhorseofthe secondarypowersystem.TheRPCMhasthe followingtwopurposes: Tocontrolthedistributionofsecondary powertodownstreamloadsbyopeningor closingRPCs ToprotecttheEPSagainstdownstream faultsbyopeningRPCswhenovercurrents aresensed
ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM (EPS) RECONFIGURATION

Thespacestationwillchangefromitsearly configurationtothebeginningofthefinal assemblycompleteconfiguration.SincetheP6 modulehasbeenontopofZ1,itspowerhas beengoingdirectlytotheDDCUsinthelab andZ1.FourMBSUshavebeensittingonthe S0truss,buthavenotbeengettinganyinput powerandarenotfeedinganything downstream.Theyhavebeensittingonanon operatingcoolingloop.Aseriesofbypass jumpercablesandreconfigurableconnections wereinitiallyinstalledthathaveallowedP6to directlyfeedtheDDCUsfromtheDCSUs.The initialconfigurationessentiallybypassedthe MBSUs.DuringSTS116,powerwillflow throughtheMBSUsforthefirsttimesincethey havebeenonorbit,sothatthemainpower fromthetrussescomesintotheMBSUsfirst beforegoingtotheDDCUs.EachDCSUwill feedonesideofanMBSU. Tocompletethereconfiguration,approximately 112ExtravehicularActivity(EVA)power connectorswillberemovedandreattached. Hundredsofcommandsfrommissioncontrol willbeissuedtopowerupanddownvarious components.Thismissionincludesthelargest numberofEVApowerconnectorsever removedinasingleassemblymission.
SixtypesofRPCMsfacilitatesystemprotection, faultisolationandpowerflowcontrolintheISS ElectricPowerSystems.Thereare approximately119RPCMscurrentlylocatedon thestationandtherewillbeatotalof184when assemblyiscomplete.Therearemultiplespare RPCMlocatedonorbit.SeveralfailedRPCMs havebeenreplacedontheISS.
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severalhourswhilevariouspowerconnectors arerewired.Theremaining1/4pathwill supportalltheloadsontheISS,whichmeans therewillbenoredundantpowerforthe heatersandmostoftheequipmentandsystems (communications,guidance,navigationand control,etc.)throughoutthestation.Theywill powereverythingbackuponcethe2/3domain isconfiguredproperly,andtheMBSUsare broughtonline.TheMBSUswerecheckedon earlierspacewalksin2002.NASAhas provisionsinplaceincaseanMBSUfailswhen reconfigured.Therewillbeanentireday, beginningwhenthecrewbeginstheirsleep shiftfollowingthefirstEVA,inwhichmission controllerswillbegintheirproceduresto transferallthestationsystemsfrom1/4tothe 2/3domainpowerpath.PoweringtheDDCUs down,manyofthesystemsthatarebeing poweredhavebeenfedbyDDCUsinthelabup tonow,butafterthisreconfiguration,manyof theDDCUsfromthetrusseswillcomealivefor thefirsttime.TwoMBSUsandthreetruss DDCUswillbeactivated.OnEVA2,thereare 15umbilicalsconnectedviaEVA,and6Intra VehicularActivity(IVA).IVAactivitiesconsist ofjumpersbeingconnectedinsidetheLab, Node,andAirlockbythecrewtoprovide backuppowersourcesduringthe reconfigurations.Therewillbeabout 73mates/dematesofpowerconnectors. Twodayslater,athirdEVAwillbeconducted onFlightDay8toreconfigurethe1/4domain. ForEVA3,20umbilicalswillbeconnected duringtheEVAand9IVAs,withatotalof 81mates/demates.LikeontheearlierEVA, everythingwillrunoffthe2/3domainpower pathwhilevariousconnectorsareremovedand missioncontrolpowersitemsupanddown. TwoMBSUsandthreetrussDDCUswillbe activated.Likethe2/3domainreconfiguration, therewillbelimitedpowerredundancyfor
TwoEVAswillbeconductedtoreconfigurethe mainpowerchannelsorpaths.Thepurposeof thereconfigurationsistoroutepowerthrough thetrussMBSUsandDDCUs.Therearetwo channeldomainsoverwhichelectricalpower travelsacrossthetrussandstationelements calledthe1and4,and2and3powerdomains, whichcomprisesthebasicnumberingsystem forthepowerpathsordomains.Thefour MBSUsarenumbered1through4.Allthe hardwaredownstreamhasasimilarnumbering systemsoyouknowwhichMBSUitcamefrom. Forexample,whenmissioncontrollersreferto the2/3domain,theyarereferringtoallthe loadsthatgothroughMBSUs2and3.In understandingthestationpowersystem, anythingthatreceivesapowerfeedfromthe 2/3domainwillhavea2/3numbering scheme.Twoseparatethermalcoolingloopson theISScoolthe1/4and2/3hardware.Each SAWontheIEAislabeledasAorB,sothat eachpowerchannelhasapowerdomainanda solararraydesignation.Forexample,thetwo powerchannelsontheP6moduleare2Band 4B,andthoseontheP4moduleare2Aand4A. SimilarlythechannelsonS4are1Aand3Aand S6are1Band3B. DuringthefirstEVAduringSTS116/Assembly Mission12A.1,theP5trusswillbeinstalledon theoutboardsideofP4.Onthenextday, NASAwillremotelyretractthe4Bsolararray, sincethereisastructuralinterferencebetween theP64BarrayandtheP4arraysifrotatedon theSolarAlphaRotaryJoint.SolarArray4Bon P6willberetractedintoitsblanketboxesand theSARJwillbecommandedintoasolar trackingmode.P4isnotcurrentlypowering therestofthespacestation,butwillbebrought onlineduringthismission. DuringthesecondEVAduringFlightDay6, theentire2/3domainwillbebroughtdownfor
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movedovertotheU.S.primarysidetowhere theyaregettingahighervoltageinput.Itisa seamlesschangeandtherearenochangesin themajorconfigurationsonhowtheU.S.and Russianssidessharepower. NASAconductedalargenumberofelectrical powersystemsimulationstoprepareforthis missionandisconfidentthatelectrical reconfigurationwillgoasplanned.NASAhas anumberofcontingencyproceduressincethis reconfigurationoperationisnotwithoutrisks, especiallyifaproblemshouldoccurwiththe ammoniapumpsforthecoolingsystemthat willbebroughtonlineforthefirsttime. Boeingandotherindustryengineerswillbe assistingNASAintheISSMissionEvaluation Room,oneoftheprimarybackroomsupport centerstomissioncontrol,shouldanyissuesor problemsarise.
severalhours.Theastronautswilldoallofthe reconfigurationsonthe1/4sidewhile everythingispowereddownandthenonceall theconnectionsarecomplete,thenallfour MBSUswillbeonlineandbothcoolingloops willberunningandallthepowerisbrought backup.OnceNASAstartspoweringupafter each2/3and1/4reconfiguration,theywill knowrightawayifanyofthe2/3or1/4 hardwareisnotworking.Aseachitemis poweredbackup,theelectronicswillconduct aninternalselfcheckingprocedure.Allofthis datagoesintomissioncontrol.Thereisa considerableamountofcleanupfollowingan EVAtogetallthesystemsbackrunningandin anominalconfiguration.Ittakestheentire nightandnextdayfollowingeachEVAto verifythosesystemsareoperatingnominally. Therewillalsobesomeminorreconfigurations ontheRussiansidewhenpowerconvertersare
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EQUIPMENT REFERENCE
ImageshowslocationsofDDCUsandMBSUs ontheSOtrusselementtobeactivated
ImageshowslocationsoftheMBSUsand DDCUsontheSOtrusselementaspart oftheElectricalPowerSystem
LocationofDDCUtobeactivatedonS1truss LocationofDDCUtobeactivatedonP1
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EPSandothersystemscomponentsonSOtruss
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ACTIVE THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM (ATCS) OVERVIEW

Mostofthestationsmanysystemsproduce wasteheat,whichneedstobetransferredfrom theISStospacetoachievethermalcontroland maintaincomponentsatacceptable temperatures.AnActiveThermalControl System(ATCS)isrequiredtoachievethisheat rejectionfunctionwhenthecombinationofthe ISSexternalenvironmentandthegenerated heatloadsexceedsthecapabilitiesofthe PassiveThermalControlSystemtomaintain temperatures.AnATCSusesamechanically pumpedfluidinclosedloopcircuitstoperform threefunctions:heatcollection,heat transportation,andheatrejection.Wasteheat isremovedintwoways,throughcoldplates andheatexchangers,bothofwhicharecooled byacirculatingammonialoopsontheoutside ofthestation.Theheatedammoniacirculates throughlargeradiatorslocatedontheexterior ofthespacestation,releasingtheheatby radiationtospacethatcoolstheammoniaasit flowsthroughtheradiators. TheATCSconsistsoftheInternalActive ThermalControlSystem(IATCS),External ActiveThermalControlSystem(EATCS),the PhotovoltaicThermalControlSystem(PVTCS) andtheEarlyExternalActiveThermalControl System(EEATCS).TheIATCSconsistsofloops thatcirculatewaterthroughtheinteriorofthe U.S.DestinyLaboratorymoduletocollectthe excessheatfromelectronicandexperiment equipmentanddistributesthisheattothe InterfaceHeatExchangersfortransfertothe EATCS.Atassemblycomplete,therewillbe nineseparateITCSwaterloopsintheU.S.and InternationalPartnerpressurizedmodules. ThePhotovoltaicThermalControlSystem (PVTCS)consistsofammonialoopsthatcollect excessheatfromtheElectricalPowerSystem (EPS)componentsintheIntegratedEquipment Assembly(IEA)onP4andeventuallyS4and transportthisheattothePVradiators(located onP4,P6,S4andS6)whereitisrejectedto space.ThePVTCSconsistofammoniacoolant, elevencoldplates,twoPumpFlowControl Subassemblies(PFCS)andonePhotovoltaic Radiator(PVR).
ActiveThermalControlSystemArchitecture
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loads,simplifiesheatloadmanagement,and providesredundancyincaseofequipment failure.TheLTLisdesignedtooperateat40F (4C)andservicesystemsequipmentrequiring lowtemperatures,suchastheEnvironmental ControlandLifeSupportSystem(ECLSS) CommonCabinAirAssembly(CCAA)and somepayloadexperiments.TheLTLcontains approximately16.64gallons(63liters)offluid. TheMTLnominallyoperatesat63F(17C) andprovidesmostofthecoolingforsystems equipment(i.e.avionics)andpayload experiments.TheMTLcontainsapproximately 52.83gallons(200liters)offluid.TheIATCS loopscanbeconfiguredandoperatedasa singleloop.Thiscapabilityisusedforavariety ofpurposes,includingthereductionofwearon thepumps,reductionofpumppowerusage,or tocompensateforapumpfailure.
TheExternalActiveThermalControlSystem (EATCS),activatedforthefirsttimeonthis mission,consistsofammonialoopstocollect heatfromtheInterfaceHeatExchangersand externalelectronicequipmentmountedon coldplatesandtransportsittotheS1andP1 radiatorswhereitisrejectedtospace.Inlieuof usingtheEATCSinitially,thestationhardware hasbeencooledbytheEarlyExternalActive ThermalControlSystem(EEATCS).The EEATCShasprovidedheatrejectioncapability rejectioncapabilityfortheU.S.Laboratory InterfaceHeatExchangers(IFHX)sinceSTS98 throughSTS116. TheEEATCSisthetemporarysystemusedto collect,transport,andrejectwasteheatfrom habitablevolumesontheInternationalSpace Station(ISS).TheEEATCScollectsheatfrom theInterfaceHeatExchangers(IFHX)located ontheU.S.Laboratorymodule,circulatesthe workingfluid,anhydrousammonia,viathe PumpandFlowControlSubassembly(PFCS), andrejectsheattospaceviatwoorthogonally orientedstationaryradiators.
PHOTOVOLTAIC THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM (PVTCS)

ThePVTCSconsistofammoniacoolant,eleven coldplates,twoPumpFlowControl Subassemblies(PFCS)andonePhotovoltaic Radiator(PVR).Thecoldplatesubassemblies areanintegralpartofIEAstructural framework.HeatistransferredfromtheIEA orbitalreplacementunit(ORU)electronicboxes tothecoldplatesviafineinterweavingfins locatedonboththecoldplateandtheelectronic boxes.Thefinsaddlateralstructuralstiffness tothecoldplatesinadditiontoincreasingthe availableheattransferarea.ThePFCSisthe heartofthethermalsystem.Itconsistsofall thepumpingcapacity,valvesandcontrols requiredtopumptheheattransferfluidtothe heatexchangesandradiator,andregulatethe temperatureofthethermalcontrolsystem ammoniacoolant.ThePVTCScandissipate 6,000wattsofheatperorbitonaverageandis commandedbytheIEAcomputer.EachPFCS
INTERNAL ACTIVE THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM (IATCS)

ThepurposeoftheU.S.DestinyLaboratory ITCSistomaintainequipmentwithinan allowabletemperaturerangebycollecting, transporting,andrejectingwasteheat.The ITCSuseswaterbecauseitisanefficient thermaltransportfluidandissafeinsidea habitablemodule.TheIATCSisaclosedloop systemthatprovidesaconstantcoolantsupply toequipment,payloadsandavionicsto maintainpropertemperature. TheU.S.Laboratorycontainstwoindependent loops,aLowTemperatureLoop(LTL)anda ModerateTemperatureLoop(MTL).This approachallowsforsegregationoftheheat
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TheEEATCSisneededuntilthepermanent EATCSisactivated.Oncethepermanent EATCSbecomesoperationalonmission,the EEATCSwillbedeactivated.After deactivation,portionsoftheEEATCSwillbe usedassparecomponentsforthePVTCSloops.
consumes275wattsduringnormaloperations andmeasuresapproximately40inches (101.6cm)by29inches(73.7cm)by19inches (48.3cm),weighing235pounds(106.7 kilograms). ThePVRtheradiatorisdeployableonorbit andcomprisedoftwoseparateflowpaths throughsevenpanels.Eachflowpathis independentandisconnectedtooneofthetwo PFCSsontheIEA.Intotal,thePVRcanreject upto14kWofheatintodeepspace.ThePVR weighs1,633pounds(740.7kilograms)and whendeployedmeasures10.24feet (3.12meters)by44.62feet(13.6meters).When thestationassemblyiscomplete,therewillbea totaloffourPVRs,oneforeachPVmodule(S4, P4,P6,S6).
Hardware
Pump&FlowControlSystem(PFCS) EachexternalloopcontainsaPump&Flow ControlSystem(PFCS)whichcontainsmostof thecontrolsandmechanicalsystemsthatdrive theEEATCS.TherearetwopumpsperPFCS whichcirculateammoniathroughoutthe externalcoolantloopsandaFlowControl Valve(FCV)whichmixescoldradiatorflow andwarmIFHXreturnflowtoregulatethe temperatureoftheammoniaintheloop.The PFCSalsocontainstheprimaryammonia accumulator,whichprovideslimitedammonia leakagemakeup,protectionagainstthermal expansionoftheammonia,andanetpositive suctionheadgreaterthantheminimum requiredtopreventpumpcavitations. Additionally,allmannerofpressure, temperature,flow,andquantitysensorsused bytheEEATCSarepartofthePFCS. Radiators TheEEATCSradiatorORUisadirectflow, deployableandretractableradiatorsystemwith twoindependentcoolingloops.TheEEATCS radiatorconsistsofsevenradiatorpanels,the deploy/retractmechanism,supportstructure, andthenecessaryplumbing.TheEEATCS radiatorhastwochannels(A&B)thatacquire heatfromtheLabLowTemperature(LT)and ModerateTemperature(MT)LoopInterface HeatExchanger(IFHX)vialiquidanhydrous ammonia.TheammoniaflowsfromthePFCS totheassociatedIFHX,totheEEATCSradiator
EARLY EXTERNAL ACTIVE THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM (EEATCS)

Function
SincetheU.S.Laboratorybecameoperational beforethepermanentExternalActiveThermal ControlSystem(EATCS)wasassembled,a temporaryexternalcoolingsystemwasneeded. ExternalcoolingfromtheRussiansegmentis notpossiblebecausetherearenooperational interfacesbetweentheU.S.OnorbitSegment (USOS)andtheRussianOnorbitSegment (ROS)thermalsystems.Instead,amodified versionofthePhotovoltaicThermalControl System(PVTCS)calledtheEarlyExternal ActiveThermalControlSystem(EEATCS)acts asatemporarythermalsystem.TheEEATCS consistsoftwoindependent,simultaneously operatingammoniacoolingloops(ACL).These loopstransportheatloadsfromtheInterface HeatExchanger(IFHX)locatedonthe Laboratorymodulesaftendconetothe radiatorslocatedontrusssegmentP6.
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thermalcapacityandwiderangeofoperating temperatures.Ammoniahasanextremelylow freezingpointof107degreesF(77C)at standardatmosphericpressure.TheEATCSis comprisedoftwoindependentloopslabeled loopAonS1(Starboard)andLoopBonP1 (Port).Theindependentloopsweredesignedso thatafailureinonewouldnottakedownthe entireEATCSsystem.Bothloopsarephysically separatedtopreventorbitaldebrisfromtaking outthelinesandthefluidtransportlinesare buriedwithinthetrussstructure.Ifaloopdoes godown,theEATCSoperatesatareduced capacity.Eachloopcollectsheatfromuptofive InterfaceHeatExchangers(IFHXs)mountedon theNode2,U.S.DestinyLaboratory,andNode3 aswellasexternallymountedcoldplates.Most ofthecoldplatesandplumbingtothe pressurizedmodulesarelocatedontheS0center truss.TheEATCSisdesignedtoprovide35kW ofheatrejectionperloopforatotalcapabilityof 70kW.TheEATCSalsoprovidesammoniare supplycapabilitytothePhotovoltaicThermal ControlSystems(PVTCS)locatedonP4,P6,S4 andS6.AllEATCScomponentsarelocated outsidethepressurizedvolumestopreventcrew contactwithammonia. Atassemblycomplete,eachammonialoopwill supplycoolanttofiveInterfaceHeatExchangers (IFHX)andfivecoldplates(threeDirect CurrenttoDirectCurrentUnits(DDCUs)and twoMainBusSwitchUnits(MBSUs).Two MBSUcoldplates,eachdesignedtoremove 495wattsat80lbs/hr.ThreeDDCUcoldplates areeachdesignedtoremove694wattsat 125lbs/hr.Thecoldplateinterfaceswiththe componentbaseplateviaradiantfins.IFHXs transferthermalenergyfromtheInternal ThermalControlSystems(ITCS)waterbased coolanttotheETCSanhydrousammonia coolant.Ammoniasupplytemperatureis currentlysetat37F(2.8C)
manifoldtubes,acrosstheradiatorpanelsand backtothePFCS.Theradiatorpanelsrejectthe excessheattospaceviatwononarticulating EEATCSradiatorORUs:oneAFT(Trailing) andoneStarboard(Normal).Thetworadiator ORUsarelocatedontheP6LongSpacerTruss Segment.Theradiatormeasures10.24feet (3.12meters)by44.62feet(13.6meters). InterfaceHeatExchanger(IFHX) TheInterfaceHeatExchanger(IFHX)units accomplishheattransferfromtheIATCSwater coolantloopstotheexternalammoniacoolant loops.Whenthestationiscomplete, 10interfaceheatexchangerswillbein operationtoprovideheattransferfromthe IATCSloopsofthevarioushabitablemodules tothetwoexternalammoniacoolantloops. TheIFHXunitsarelocatedontheU.S. Laboratory,Node2,andNode3.
EXTERNAL ACTIVE THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM (EATCS) OVERVIEW

TheEATCSprovidesheatrejectioncapabilities forallU.S.pressurizedmodulesandthemain powerdistributionelectronicsonS0,S1andP1. Thesystemusesasinglephaseanhydrous ammoniaasitsworkingfluidforitshigh
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TheITCSsupplytemperaturevariesasa functionofthemodulesthermalload.IFHX canisolateandbypasstheIFHXcoreonthe ammoniasideintheeventacoldslugis detectedatthepumpoutlettopreventITCS coolantfromfreezing.
Heat Acquisition Subsystem (HAS)

TheHASconsistsoftheInterfaceHeat Exchanger(IFHX)OrbitalReplacementUnits (ORU),MainBusSwitchUnit(MBSU)and DCtoDCConverterUnit(DDCU)coldplates ORU.
Key Components
TheExternalActiveThermalControlSystem (EATCS)istheprimarypermanentactiveheat rejectionsystemonISS.Itacquires,transports, andrejectsexcessheatfromallU.S.and InternationalPartnermodulesexceptthe Russianmodules.TheEATCScontainstwo ammoniacoolantloops,whichcoolequipment ontheS0,S1,andP1trusssegments.Capable ofrejectingupto70kW,theEATCSprovidesa substantialupgradeinheatrejectioncapacity fromthe14kWcapabilityoftheEarlyExternal ActiveThermalControlSystem(EEATCS).
Heat Rejection Subsystem (HRS)

TheHRSconsistsoftheradiatorORU,whichis adeployable,eightpanelsystemthatrejects thermalenergyviaradiation.TheHRSalso consistsoftheRadiatorBeamValveModule (RBVM)thatprovidesradiatorisolatingor venting,radiatorbeamwhichcarriesthree radiatorsandconnectstotheThermalRadiator RotaryJoint(TRRJ),whichrotatestothe radiatorbeamtoprovideradiatorarticulation. TheEATCSallowstheflowofammonia throughheatrejectionradiatorsthatconstantly rotatetooptimizecoolingforthestation.
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withnocommandortelemetrycapability. IFHXsaremountedontheNode2,U.S. Laboratory,andNode3.TheU.S.Laboratory IFHXshavebeenconnectedtotheEEATCS, untilthisflight,whentheEEATCSammonia fluidlinequickdisconnectwillbedisconnected andreconnectedtotheEATCS.WhenNode2 arrivesonSTS120,itisequippedwithsix IFHXsdesignedtoprovidecoolingforitself,the ColumbusandJapaneseExperimentModule. Node3alsocontainsasetofIFHXs,whichare connectedtotheEATCSwhenitarrivesona shuttleflightcurrentlysetforlaunchnoearlier thanJanuary2010. Whenthestationiscomplete,10interfaceheat exchangerswillbeinoperationtoprovideheat transferfromtheIATCSloopsofthevarious habitablemodulestothetwoexternalammonia coolantloops.TheIFHXunitswillbelocated ontheU.S.Laboratory,Node2,andNode3. Becauseofthehighlytoxicnatureofammonia, IFHXORUsaremountedexternaltothe pressurizedmodulesasasafetyprecaution. EachIFHXmeasures25inches(63.50cm)by21 inches( 53.34cm)by8inches(20.32cm)and weighsabout91pounds(41.28kilograms).
Interface Heat Exchanger (IFHX)

TheInterfaceHeatExchanger(IFHXs)provides theinterfacebetweenamodulesinternalTCS andtheEATCS.TheIFHXstransferheatfrom theinternalloopsoftheUSOSmodulestothe EATCSammonialoops.IFHXsareusedto collectheatfromUSOSmodules.Therearefive IFHXsforeachEATCSloop.SomeIFHXsare plumbedinseriessuchthatthecoolammonia flowsthroughamodulesLowTemperature Loop(LTL)IFHXpriortoflowingthough anothermodulesModerateTemperatureLoop (MTL)IFHX. TheIFHXunitsaccomplishheattransferfrom theIATCSwatercoolantloopstotheexternal ammoniacoolantloops.EachIFHXcore utilizesacounterflowdesignwith45 alternatinglayers.IATCSwaterflowsthrough 23ofthelayers,whileEATCSammoniaflows throughthe22alternatelayersintheopposite direction.Thesealternatinglayersofrelatively warmwaterandrelativelycoldammoniahelp tomaximizetheheattransferbetweenthetwo fluidsviaconductionandconvection.Theheat exchangercoreisasimpleflowthroughdevice
InterfaceHeatExchanger(IFHX) providethe interfacebetweentheITCSandtheEATCS
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Heaters
EachEATCSloophaselectricallypowered heaterswrappedaroundthesupplyandreturn fluidlinesontheS0Trusstomaintainthe minimumoperatingtemperature.These heatersareusedduringlowheatload conditionsandareturnedonandoffby softwareintheMultiplexer/Demultiplexer (MDMs).Theseheaterscanbeoperatedin closedloopmode(temperaturebased)oropen loopmode(timebased).Numerousheatersare locatedontheEATCSplumbingontheS1 (LoopA)andP1(LoopB)trusssegmentsto preventammoniafreezingandflexiblehose damageduringnonoperationalperiods.These heatersarethermostaticallycontrolledand havenosoftwareinterface.
DirectCurrenttoDirectCurrentConverter Units(DDCU)ColdPlate EachMBSUcoldplatemeasures37inches (93.98cm)by33inches(83.8cm)by20inches (50.8cm)andweighsabout109pounds (49.4kilograms). EachcoldplateORUisconnectedtotheEATCS ammonialoopbyselfsealingquickdisconnect (QD)couplingsandcontainsafinnedcoldplate, twoorthreestripheatersandtemperature sensor.Thecoldplatesareinstalledsuchthat thefinsofthecoldplatearepositionedadjacent tocorrespondingfinsoneithertheDDCUor theMBSUtofacilitateheattransferbyradiation betweenthecooledequipmentandthe coldplate.EachDDCUcoldplatemeasures 35inches(88.9cm)by28inches(71.12cm)by 31inches(78.74cm)inchesandweighsabout 96pounds(43.54kilograms).
Cold Plate
EachETCSloopprovidescoolingtoexternally mountedcoldplateslocatedontheS0,S1(Loop A),andP1(LoopB)trusssegment.These coldplatescontainElectricalPowerSystem (EPS)equipmentusedtoconvertanddistribute powertodownstreamISSloads.Each ammonialoopcontainsfourcoldplates,two attachedtoDirectCurrenttoDirectCurrent ConverterUnits(DDCUs)andtwoattachedto MainBusSwitchingUnits(MBSUs).
Pump Module (PM)

Circulation,looppressurization,and temperaturecontroloftheammoniais providedbythePumpModule(PM).Each ammonialoopcontainsaPumpModule Assembly(PM)ORUtoprovideflowand accumulatorfunctionsandmaintainsproper temperaturecontrolatthepumpoutlet.Each
MainBusSwitchingUnit(MBSU)Coldplate
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ForSTS116,initialactivationwithU.S. LaboratoryIFHXwhereLoopApumpwillrun at11,500rpm,equivalentto5,000lb/hrwhile LoopBpumpwillrunat11,500rpmwhichis equivalentto5,200lb/hr. TheaccumulatorlocatedinthePMprovides auxiliarypressurecontrol.Theaccumulator residesupstreamofthePCVPineachPMORU. Theaccumulatorkeepstheammoniainthe liquidphasebymaintainingthepressureabove thevaporpressureofammoniaandprovides makeupammoniaincaseofaleak.The accumulatorworksinconjunctionwiththe ATAtoabsorbfluctuationsinthefluidvolume duetovaryingheatloadsthroughthe expansionandcontractionofitsinternal bellows. Nominaloperatingpressurefortheloopsis 300psiaatthepumpinlet;thepressurewillbe broughtupto390psiaforstartup.The maximumsystemdesignpressureis500psia. EachPMmeasures69inches(175.26cm)by 50inches(127cm)by36inches(.91cm)inches andweighsabout780pounds(353.8kilograms)
PMconsistsofasinglepump,afixedcharge accumulator,aPump&ControlValvePackage (PCVP)containingafirmwarecontroller, startupheaters,isolationvalves,andvarious sensorsformonitoringperformance.The accumulatorwithinthePMworksinconcert withtheAmmoniaTankAssembly(ATA)tanks tocompensateforexpansionandcontractionof ammoniacausedbythetemperaturechanges andkeepstheammoniaintheliquidphasevia afixedchargeofpressurizednitrogengason thebacksideofitsbellows. ThePumpModule(PM)providesfluid pumping,fluidtemperaturecontrolandsystem pressurecontrol.ThePCVPprovidesflow control.AsinglepumpinthePCVPprovides circulationoftheammonia.TheFlowControl Valve(FCV)locatedwithinthePCVPregulates thetemperatureoftheammonia.TheFCV mixescoolammoniaexitingtheradiators withwarmammoniathathasbypassedthe radiators. Nominally,loopAwilloperateat8,200lb/hr andloopBat8,900lb/hrat14,000and14,700 revolutionsperminute,respectively.
Low and High Pressure Flow Control Monitoring

FailureDetection,IsolationandRecovery (FDIR)forhighandlowpressureconditionsare monitoredandissuedbytheS1/P1 Multiplexer/Demultiplexers(MDMs).Foran overpressure,gaseousnitrogenpressureis relieveddownto360psiawhenpumpinlet pressurereaches415psia(activecontrol).The PVCPInletpressure,Radiatorreturnpressure, andBypassreturnpressuresensorsarepartof thissystemandtwoofthreepressurereadings areusedtodetermineifanoverpressure conditionexists.Thepumpwillshutdown issuedwhenthepumpoutletpressurereaches 480psia(activecontrol).Variousreliefvalves
ThePumpModuleORUcirculatesliquid ammoniaataconstantflowratetoanetwork ofcoldplatesandheatexchangerslocatedon theexternaltrussesandU.S.modules, respectively.
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(firstleg).Whenanundertemperature conditionisdetectedbytheS1/P1MDMs,it willpullpowerfromtheSDOcardproviding powertothePM(secondleg).Under temperaturedetectedbytheS01,2MDMspulls powerfromtheutilityrail(thirdleg,leaves manythingswithoutpower).Thecurrentlimit issetat35F(1.67C).
andburstdisksattheIFHX,PM,andRBVM willrelieveatapproximately70psia(passive control) Lowpressure(currentlimitsetat170psia)is monitoredbytwomethodstodeterminealow pressurecondition(chooseshigherofthetwo valuestodeterminethelimit).Lowpressure conditionsaremonitoredusingthePVCPinlet pressure,radiatorreturnpressure,andbypass returnpressuresensors.
Fluid Supply
EachammonialoopcontainsanATAORUto containtheheattransferfluid(liquidammonia) usedbytheEATCSloops.ThereisoneATA perlooplocatedonthezenithsideoftheS1 (LoopA)andP1(LoopB)trusssegments.The ATAORUwillbeusedtofilltheEATCSloop onstartup,tosupplymakeupfluidtothe system,toactasanaccumulatorinconcertwith thePMaccumulatorandprovidethecapability toventtheammonialoopsbywayofa connectiontoanexternalnonpropulsivevent. EachATAprimarilyconsistsoftwobellows ammoniatankspressurizedbyanexternal nitrogensource,twointernalsurvivalheaters andtwosetsofquantity,differentialpressure, absolutepressureandtemperaturesensors. TheATAsareisolatableandreplaceableon orbit.
Temperature Control
ThePCVPalsomaintainstemperaturesetpoint controloftheammoniasuppliedtotheHAS. ThePCVPhasatemperaturecontrolcapability of36F(2.2C)to43F(6.1C)anditwillbe setat37F2F(2.8C).Thetemperature controlmethodisbythreewaymixingvalve thatmixesflowfromtheradiatorsandtheHRS Bypass.HeatersontheHRSBypasslegprovide anadditionallevelofcontrol.Heatersareused toprovidefluidconditioningintheeventthe thermalloadontheloopisnotsufficientto maintainsetpointcontrolandtosupport temporarytransientevents.Totalheaterpower of1.8kWissplitacrosstwoheaterstrips mountedontheHRSbypasslines(900watts each). Pumpoutletovertemperatureprotectionis providedbyaFirmwareController(FWC)in thePCVPthatusesthreePCVPoutletsensors todetermineanovertempconditionandissues zeropumpspeed.TheS1/P1MDMsusethe PMoutletsensortodetermineanovertemp conditionandpullpowerfromtheSolenoid DriverOutput(SDO)cardprovidingpowerto thePM. Currentlimitissetat65F(18.33C).Freeze ProtectionintheIFHXisdetectedbythePCVP firmwarewhichshutsdownthepump
Ammoniaresupplycapabilityforthe EATCSandtheeightPVTCSlocated onP6,P4,S4andS6isprovidedby theAmmoniaTankAssembly(ATA).
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TheNTAmountstotheS1(LoopA)andP1 (LoopB)trusssegmentsandisconnectedtothe ATAbyselfsealingQDs.EachNTAORU primarilyconsistsofanitrogentank,agas pressureregulatingvalve(GPRV),isolation valvesandsurvivalheaters.Thenitrogentank providesastoragevolumeforthe highpressuregaseousnitrogen,whilethe GPRVprovidesapressurecontrolfunctionas wellasnitrogenisolationandoverpressure protectionofdownstreamcomponents.The NTAprovidesthenecessarypressuretomove theammoniaoutoftheATA.Thesinglehigh pressuretankcontainingnitrogenat2,500psia (@70F,groundfill)andusestheGPRVto supplycontinuouspressureupto390psiain onepsiaincrements.Abackupmechanical valvelimitsthemaximumnitrogenpressureto 416psia.TheGPRVprovidespressurecontrol aswellashighpressurenitrogenisolationand overpressureprotectionofdownstream components.TheNTAhasventingcapabilities andoverpressurecontrols.EachNTA measures64inches(162.56cm)by36inches (91.44)by30inches(76.2cm)inchesandweighs about460pounds(208.65kilograms).
MultilayerInsulation(MLI)appliedtothe exteriorsurfacesoftheORUisprovidedto guardagainstexcessiveheatloss.TheATA ORUisprotectedagainstMicro Meteoroid/OrbitalDebris(MM/OD)by shieldingontheexteriorofeachtankandthe ORUitself.EachATAmeasures79inches (200.66cm)by46inches(116.84cm)by55 inches(139.7cm)inchesandweighsabout 1,120pounds(508.02kilograms). TheATAincombinationwiththeNitrogen TankAssembly(NTA)providefluidsupply andprimarysystempressurecontrol.Asingle ATAwaslaunchedonFlights9Aand11A (ITSS1andP1)withapproximately640lbm ammoniaineachATA,320lbmpertank.ATA providesnecessaryplumbingconnectiontothe ammoniaventsystemviatheventpanel. Supplytooutboardtrussesisprovidedthrough theventpanel.TheATAactsastheprimary accumulatorfortheEATCSinconcertwiththe NTA.Ifrequired,itcanalsobeusedto replenishthePVTCSfluidlines. EachammonialoopcontainsaNTAORUto providestorageforthehighpressurenitrogen usedforcontrolledpressurizationoftheATA.
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Fluid Lines and Quick Disconnects (QD)

FluidlinesandexternalQDsprovidethe transportationpathfromthetrusssegmentsto theIFHXs.Connectionsbetweensegmentsare madewithflexhosesandQDs.Thereareflex hosesandQDsbetweeneachtruss,and betweentheS0trussandthevariousIFHXs.
Heat Rejection System

HeatcollectedbytheEATCSammonialoopsis radiatedtospacebytwosetsofrotating radiatorwingseachcomposedofthree separateradiatorORUs.EachradiatorORUis composedofeightpanels,squibunits,squib unitfirmwarecontroller,IntegratedMotor ControllerAssemblies(IMCAs), instrumentation,andQDs.EachRadiatorORU measures76.4feet(23.3meters)by11.2feet (3.4meters)andweighs2,475pounds (1,122.64kilograms) Eachammonialoopcontainsoneradiatorwing comprisedofthreeRadiatorORUsmountedon theRadiatorBeamandsixRadiatorBeamValve Modules(RBVM)andoneThermalRadiator RotaryJoint(TRRJ).TheRadiatorORUsutilize anhydrousammoniatorejectheatfromthe EATCS.
EachRadiatorORUcontainsadeployment mechanismandeightradiatorpanels.The deploymentmechanismallowstheRadiator ORUtobelaunchedinastowedconfiguration anddeployedonorbit.EachradiatorORUcan beremotelydeployedandretracted. Eachindividualradiatorhastwoseparate coolantflowpaths.Eachflowpathflows throughalleightradiatorpanels.Eachpanels flowpathhaselevenflowtubesforatotalof 22Inconelflowtubesorpassages(11passages perflowpath)perradiatorpanel;flowtubes arefreezetolerant.Flowtubesareconnected alongtheedgeofeachpanelbymanifolds.Flex hosesconnectthemanifoldtubesbetween panels.Eachpanelhasawhite(Z93)coating whichprovidesoptimumthermooptical propertiestomaximizeheatrejection.Flow tubearrangementisdesignedtominimize ammoniafreezingintheradiator. EachradiatorpathcontainsoneRadiatorBeam ValveModule(RBVM)asapartoftheradiator wing.SixRBVMsaremountedontheradiator beamsontheS1andP1trusssegments.Two RBVMsserviceeachradiatorORU.Each RBVMconsistsofanisolationreliefvalve,an isolationvalve,anIntegratedMotorController Assembly(IMCA),QDs,andpressureand
HeatRejectionSystem(HRS)Radiatorduring deploymenttestingatLockheedMartin MissilesandFireControl.
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Assemblies(DLAs),aFlexHoseRotaryCoupler (FHRC),andaPowerandDataTransfer Assembly(PDTA).Thebearingassemblyisthe rotaryinterfaceandprimarystructural componentoftheTRRJ.TheRJMCsprovide controlfortheDLAsystem,whichprovides jointrotationandjointlockingcapability.The FHRCconsistsoffourflexhoses,twosupply andtworeturn.ThePDTAprovidesthedata andpowerpathsfortransfertoandfromthe radiatorbeam. TRRJORUprovidesrotationcapabilitytothe RadiatorBeamtooptimizethethermal environmentoftheradiatorsandtomaximize heatrejectioncapabilityandpreventfreezingin theradiatormanifolds.Rotationanglesare determinedviatheRadiatorGoalAngle Calculation(RGAC)algorithmwhich commandstheRadiatorBeamtoputthe radiatorseitheredgetothesunduring isolationphaseoftheorbitorfacetothe Earthduringtheeclipsephase.TheRGAC ensurestheradiatorsstaycoldenoughsothe heatcanberejectedbutwarmenoughsothat theammoniadoesnotfreeze.Thereisa temperaturegoalof40Fattheradiator outlet.TheFHRCprovidesthetransferof liquidammoniaacrosstherotaryjointandis capableofrotating230degrees,at115degrees fromitsneutralposition.(softwarecommand limitis105);withavariablerotationspeedof
temperaturesensors.TheRBVMcontrolsthe transferofammoniabetweentheRadiator AssemblyORUandtherestoftheEATCSloop. EachRBVMcontainssensorstomonitor absolutepressure,temperatureandvalve positionwithintheORU.Remotecontrol ventingoftheradiatorfluidloopisalso availablethroughtheRBVMtofacilitate radiatorreplacementandpreventfreezingof theATCScoolantduringcontingency operations.TheRBVMprovidesflowpath isolationintheeventthatapanelsuffers micrometeoroiddamage.LeakisolationFDIR functionsarecontrolledbytheS1/P1MDMs monitoringlargeleaksviatheSTR/PTRMDMs. Additionally,theRBVMprovidesautomatic pressurereliefwhentheEATCSisover pressurized.EachRBVMweighsabout 50pounds(22.68kilograms)andmeasures 24inches(60.96cm)by20inches(50.8cm)x5.4 inches(13.72cm). Therotationcapabilityforeachradiator assemblyisprovidedthroughaThermal RadiatorRotaryJoint(TRRJ).TheTRRJ providespower,data,andliquidammonia transfertotherotatingradiatorbeamwhile providingstructuralsupportfortheradiator panels.EachTRRJiscomposedofthe following:abearingassembly,twoRotaryJoint MotorControllers(RJMCs),twoDriveLock
TherearetwoRBVMs(oneperflowpath)that alloworpreventthetransferofammoniato andfromtheradiatorpanels.
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ThermalRadiatorRotaryJoint(TRRJ)providescontrolledrotationoftheEATCSradiators,allows thetransferofpower,data,andammoniaacrosstherotatinginterface,andprovidesthestructural supportbetweentheS1/P1trusssegmentsandtheassociatedradiatorwingassembly. 0to45degreesperminute.EachTRRJ measuresapproximately5.6feet(1.7meters)by 4.6feet(1.4meters)by4.3feet(1.3meters)and weighs927pounds(420.5kilograms). groundworkstations.Inaddition,Fault Detection,Isolation,andRecovery(FDIR) softwareisusedtomonitortheperformanceof theTCSand,ifthereisaproblem,alertthe crewandflightcontrollers.Insomecases, FDIRsoftwareinitiatesrecoveryactions.
System Performance Overview

LoopAandBoperateatslightlydifferentflow ratesmainlyduetodifferingsystemhydraulic resistancelayout.Actualheatrejectionwill needtobeplannedandcoordinatedbetween allmodulessoasnottoexceedtheEATCStotal heatrejectioncapabilityof70kW(atassembly complete),includingS1/P1/S0mounted electricalequipment.
EATCS Activation
Withthesolararraysattachedbytheshuttle AtlantiscrewinSeptember,NASAisready withSTS116tostartgeneratingenoughpower sothatthepermanentcoolingsystemcanbe broughtonline.NASAwillhavetobringup thepermanentelectricalpowerdistribution systemonlinefirstbeforeactivatingEATCS. ThegoalistopoweruptheMBSUs,route powerthroughthemtothecoolingsystemand getsthatsystemactivatedbeforetheMBSUs canoverheat.TheEATCShasneverbeen testedasanentireintegratedsysteminitson orbitconfiguration.However,NASAand Boeingengineersdidconductanentireloop test,butitdidnothavearotatingRadiator. DuringSTS116/Assemblyflight12A.1,during thesecondandthirdspacewalks,theEATCSis
Software
ThermalControlSystem(TCS)softwareisused tocontrolandmonitorthesystem.TheTCS softwareexecutesactionssuchassystem startup,loopreconfiguration,andvalve positioningforflowandtemperaturecontrol automaticallyorviacommandsfromcrew laptopsorgroundworkstations.Telemetry fromthevarioustemperature,pressure,flow, andquantitysensorsismonitoredbyTCS softwareanddisplayedoncrewlaptopsor
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continuetobecooledviatheEarlyExternal ActiveThermalControlSystem(EEATCS) locatedonP6LongSpacer. Duringthe12A.1stage,EVAswillbe conductedtoconnecttheU.S.Laboratory IFHXstotheEATCS.AftertheIFHXsare connectedtotheEATCS,theEEATCSwillenter adormancyphase. OnSTS120,alsoknownasAssemblyMission 10A,thetworemainingradiatorORUsperwing aredeployedandfilled.Node2endconesare connectedtotheEATCSviathestarboardand port,boomtrayslocatedontheforwardendof S0.Pumpshutdownwillberequired.Allsix IFHXsonNode2receivecoolingfromthe EATCS:twoforNode2,twoforAttached PressurizedModule(APMColumbus),andtwo forJapaneseExperimentModule(JEMKibo). TheAPMandJEMIFHXsremaininabypassed andisolatedconfigurationtopreventaccidental freezingofthewatersidecoreoftheIFHXs. OnAssemblyFlight20A,currentlysetfor launchnoearlierthanJanuary2010,theNode3 endconeisconnectedtotheEATCSviajumpers fromtheUSLaboratoryaftendcone.Abypass linewithanisolationvalveontheUSLaboratory Aftendconeallowsthefluidcircuittobe completedpriortoNode3arrival.UponNode3 arrival,theendconeconnectionandactivation thebypassIsolationvalvesonUSLabendcone areclosed.ThismissioncompletestheEATCS looparchitecture. BoeingengineersinHuntingtonBeach,Calif. designedtheEATCSaswellasS0,S1andP1 whichcontainsmostoftheEATCShardware. MajorsubcontractorstoBoeingwereHamilton Sundstrand(PCVP,coldplates,coreforheat exchanger),Honeywell(tanks,accumulator, RBVMs),LockheedMartin(radiators)and Marotta(valves).
activatedaspartoftheentirereconfiguration. Therearetwomajorpowerdomains,1/4and 2/3.DuringEVA2,the2/3powerdomain reconfigurationtakesplaceandloopBis activatedandthenonEVA3,the1/4power domainreconfigurationtakesplaceandloopA isactivated.Bothpoweronandpoweroffare majorreconfigurations,whenhalfthestation poweristurnedoffforperiodsoftime.NASA hasimplementedalargenumberofprocedures toaccountforthesituationwheretheyarezero faulttolerate.ThekeytoeachEVAisactivation ofthepumpmodulesandgettingthesystem startedforthefirsttime.Assuminganominal activation,thereareapproximately24 procedurestepstoactivatetheEATCSforthe firsttime. PreparationstoactivatetheEATCSstartwhen thegroundfillednitrogenpadisventedfrom thecenterradiatorsandtherestofthesystem (tobeventedafterSTS116reachesorbit).The systemispresentlypressuredwithabout 80psiaofnitrogen.Thenextstepwillbeto introduceammoniaintothesystemwithonly oneradiatorORUperloopplumbed,which willtakeseveralhours.Fillingandactivating thesystemwillbeoneofthemajorchallenges thatmissioncontrollersandengineerswillface. Activationwilltakeaboutanhourforeach loop.Iftherewereananomalyduringfilling suchaspressurebeginstodroplikealeak,then theentirereconfigurationwouldbe interrupted.Missioncontrollershave thoroughlyrehearsedtheirproceduresto identifyanypotentialleaksinthesystem. Someminorleaksarepossible.Earlyactivation willprovidecoolingtotheMBSUsandDDCUs (theirrespectivecoldplates)onS1,S0andP1. Theactivationsequencealsoallowsfora throughcheckoutoftheEATCSloopspriorto connectingtheU.S.DestinyLaboratoryIFHXto theEATCS.TheUSLaboratoryIFHXswill
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COMPONENT REFERENCE DRAWINGS
ComponentlocationsonS1/P1
ComponentlocationsonS1/P1
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SPACEWALKS
Themajorobjectivesofthethreespacewalkson theSTS116missioninclude:installthePort5 (P5)trusssegment;reconfigurethespace stationpowersystemfromitstemporarytoits permanentconfigurationandincorporate powerfromtheP4solararraysforthefirst time:activateammonialoopsforcooling; relocatethePhotovoltaicRadiatorGrapple Fixture(PVRGF)andtheCrewEquipment TranslationAid(CETA)carts;andtransferthe ServiceModuleDebrisPanels(SMDPs). ThesquareshapedP5trussisaboutthelength ofasmallcompactcar.Itwillprovide structuralspacingandutilityconnections betweentheP4andP6solararraysafterthe P6solararraysarerelocatedduringashuttle missionnextyear.Thestationeventuallywill have11integratedtrusssegmentsjoined togethertostretch356feetendtoendto supportfoursolararrayassembliesand radiatorstopowerandcoolthestation.
AstronautsRobertL.Curbeam,Jr.andChristerFuglesang,STS116missionspecialists,wearing trainingversionsoftheExtravehicularMobilityUnit(EMU)spacesuit,participateinan underwatersimulationofextravehicularactivity(EVA).CurbeamandFuglesangare dwarfedbystationtrusssegmentsinthisoverallviewofthesimulationconducted intheNeutralBuoyancyLaboratory(NBL)neartheJohnsonSpaceCenter.
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Duringthethreespacewalks,theastronauts andMissionControlHoustonwillpowerdown equipment,transferpowertootherredundant powerchannelsandunplugandplugin electricalconnectors. Theextravehicularactivities(EVAs)are plannedforflightdays4,6and8,witheach spacewalkestimatedtolast6.5hours.There willbeseveralchallengesduringthe spacewalks.Onflightday4,astheP5spaceris beingmovedintoposition,itwillcomeasclose as2.7inchesfromtheP4trussinamovesimilar toparallelparkinginasnugspace.Onflight day6andagainonflightday8,Mission Control,Houston,willpowerdownhalfofthe stationasthecrewpreparestorearrangethe powersystemfromthetemporarysystemithas usedtoitspermanentconfiguration.The processwillactivateseveralpiecesof equipmentforthefirsttime.Italsowillallow thestationtousepowergeneratedbytheP4 solararrays,addedtothecomplexduring STS115inSeptember2006,forthefirsttime. MissionspecialistsBobCurbeamandChrister Fuglesangwillconductthefirstandsecond spacewalks.CurbeamandMissionSpecialist SuniWilliamswillconductthethirdspacewalk. PilotBillOefeleinwillbetheintravehicularlead forthespacewalks,assistingthespacewalkers frominsidethespacecraftwiththeirtasks. Williamswilloperatethestationsroboticarm duringthefirsttwospacewalksandmission specialistJoanHigginbothamwilloperatethe stationsarmduringthethirdspacewalk. MissionSpecialistNicholasPatrickwilloperate theshuttlesroboticarm. Curbeamisaveteranofthreeprevious spacewalks.Thiswillbethefirstspaceflight andspacewalksforFuglesangandWilliams. Williams,whojoinsthestationcrewfora
AstronautBobCurbeam sixmonthstay,isslatedtoperformthree spacewalksduringherstationflight. Onspacewalks1and2,Curbeamwillweara spacesuitmarkedwithredstripesaroundthe legsandFuglesangwillwearanallwhite spacesuit.Onspacewalk3,Curbeamwillwear thespacesuitmarkedwithredstripes,while Williamswillwearallwhite.Allofthe spacewalkswilloriginatefromthestations Questairlock.
EVA 1
TherearethreemajorobjectivesduringEVA1: First,installtheP5spacer;second,removeand stowthePhotovoltaicRadiatorGrapple Fixtureahandleusedbytheshuttleand stationroboticarmsduringtheP5installation; andthird,removeandreplaceacameraonthe S1trussthatisneededtoviewclearances duringfuturetrusssegmentinstallations. Onflightday3,thecrewwillusetheshuttles roboticarmtolifttheP5trussfromtheshuttles payloadbayandhandittothestationsrobotic arm.Itwillremainparkedattheendofthe stationarmwhilethecrewsleepsthatnight. Then,onflightday4,thestationsarmthe SpaceStationRemoteManipulatorSystemor SSRMSwillbeusedtomovetheP5spacerto apreinstallationpositionontheleft,orport,
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crewwillattachgroundingstrapsoneach cornerandremovethesoftcapturepins. Next,thecrewwillmovethePhotovoltaic RadiatorGrappleFixture(PVRGF)fromtheP5 toaplaceonthestationsMobileBaseSystem. Thegrapplefixturewillbetemporarilystored thereuntilitcanbemovedtotheP6aftradiator onalaterspacewalk.ThePVRGFisahandle thatwasinstalledonthetop,orzenith,sideof theP5spacerandusedbytheshuttleand stationarmstomovethetruss.Itisbeing removedtoprovideenoughclearanceforthe solararraystorotateandtrackthesun. Toaccomplishthis,CurbeamandFuglesang willmovetothegrapplefixture,where Curbeamwillusethepistolgriptooltobegin removingfasteners.Meanwhile,Fuglesangwill moveafootrestrainttoanewworksite interface.Oncethefootrestraintisinplace, Fuglesangwillbeginremovinggrapplefixture fasteners.Onceallthefastenersareremoved, FuglesangandCurbeamwillperformanalmost acrobatictransferofthetetheredgrapplefixture fromonetotheotherastheymovetothe stationskeel. Thefinaltaskforthisspacewalkistheremoval andreplacementofacameralocatedatport3of thestationsstarboard1(S1)truss.Thecamera isneededtoviewclearancesduringfuture installationsanddeployments.Curbeamwill setuptheworksitewhileFuglesangretrieves thereplacementcamerafromtheairlock.Both willworktoremovethefailedcameraand installthenewone.
sideofP4.OncetheP5isinposition,Curbeam andFuglesangwillremovethelocksthat securedthespacershardwareduringitslaunch ontheshuttle.CurbeamwillremovetheP5 launchlocksfromcorners3and1.Fuglesang willremovelocksfromcorners2and4. Oncethelocksareremoved,thetwowill provideverballyguideWilliamsasshe maneuversthestationarmtoalignP5toP4. Theinstallationiscompletedbymatingsix utilitycables. BeforetheP5islockedinplace,Mission Controlmusttakeseveralmeasurestoensure nothingdisturbstheoperation.Thestations thrusterswillbeturnedoffandthecontrol momentgyroscopeswillbeinamodethat createsaslittledisturbanceaspossibleuntilthe crewhastightenedthreeofthefourModified RocketdyneTrussAttachmentSystem (MRTAS)bolts.MissionControlalsowill configuretheSolarAlphaRotaryJointandBeta GimbalAssembliesusedtoswivelthesolar arraystoallowthemtotrackthesunintothe properpositionsforP5installation.Allofthe jointswillbelockedtoensurethereisno unexpectedmotion. AftertheP5launchlocksareremoved,the stationroboticarmwillguideP5intothesoft captureposition,withCurbeamandFuglesang assistingbymonitoringstructuralclearances. OncetheP5coarsealignmentconehas capturedtheP4softcapturepin,the spacewalkerswilluseapistolgriptoolsimilar toaportablehanddrilltotightenthe attachmentbolts.Firsttheboltsoncorner1 (forward/zenith)and2(forward/nadir)willbe tightened,inthatorder,toaninitialtorque. Next,boltsoncorners3(aft/zenith)and4 (aft/nadir)willbedriventofinaltorque. Finally,bolts1and2willbetightenedtotheir finaltorque.Aftertheboltsaredriven,the
EVA 2
DuringEVA2,therearetwoprimarytasksand twosecondarytasksforthecrew.Thefirst primarytaskistoreconfigurespacestation
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powertothepermanentarchitectureand integrateP4powerbeginningwiththechannel 2/3sideofthestationsElectricalPowerSystem. Thesecondistorelocatetwocrewand equipmenttranslationaid(CETA)cartsfrom thestarboardsideofthestationtoitsportside. ThiswillclearthewayforthestationsMobile Transportertomovetoworksite2onthe starboard1truss.Worksite2mustbechecked outpriortotheSTS117missionnextyear.On thatmission,itwillbeusedduringinstallation ofthestarboard3and4(S3/S4)trusssegments. Duringthespacewalk,thecrewalsowillinstall athermalblanketfortheforcemomentsensors onthestationsroboticarmslatchingend effector. First,CurbeamandFuglesangwillreconfigure powerontheChannel2/3sideofthestations ElectricalPowerSystemtorouteitthroughthe MainBusSwitchingUnits.Thepower reconfigurationrequiresthatallpowerbeshut downfromChannel2/3.Toaccomplishthis,a lengthysetofpowerdownprocedureswillbe executedfromthegroundwhilethecrew preparesforthespacewalk. TheChannel2/3powerreconfigurationis expectedtotakeCurbeamandFuglesangabout anhourandahalftocomplete.Duringthe spacewalk,primarypowerfromchannels2A and2Bwillbeconnectedtothemainbus switchingunit2.Theworkwillbedoneatthe Starboard0(S0)trusssegmentneartheforward S0Labstruts.CurbeamwilltranslatetotheS0 todisconnectthelabssecondarypower,install acabletoroutepowerfromtheS0trusstothe P1truss,andtoreconfiguretheS02Bdc converterunit,thebypassjumperonthemain busswitching,andtheP13Adcconverter. AstronautChristerFuglesang
TheS0trusssegmentsitsinthemiddleposition onthetrussstructureontopoftheU.S.Destiny Laboratory,flankedbytheS1andP1truss elements.Thattruss,alongwiththeS1andP1 trusses,containthemajorelectricalcomponents ofthepermanentelectricalsystem,including themainbusswitchingunitsandtheDCtoDC converterunits. Thepowerproducedbythestationssolar arraysisroutedtobatteriesforstorageandthen tothemainbusswitchingunits.Themain busesroutepowertoDCtoDCconverterunits (DDCUs)whichthenadjusttheprimary, 160voltdcelectricityitreceivesfromthemain busestoabout125voltsofpower.Thedc convertersfeedthestationthroughtheRemote PowerControllerModules(RPCMs).A simplifiedcomparisonisthatthemainbuses aresimilartoapowersubstation,thedc convertersareliketransformers,andthe controllermodulesareliketheelectrical switchesinsideahome. WhileCurbeamisconfiguringpowertothe Unit2mainbus,Fuglesangwillberemoving CircuitInterruptDevices(CIDS)3,4,and5. Oncethemainbusisoperating,thecircuit interruptdeviceswontbeneeded.Thecircuit interruptsservedasearlycircuitbreakersfor
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reconfigurepowertotheZ1trusselectrical patchpanel6,whichprovidespowertotheZ1 trussaswellastheRussiansegment. Theelectricalpaneltaskmustbeconducted separatelyfromthemainpowerdownbecause theSbandcommunicationantennaspowered byChannel2/3aresensitivetocoldandshould notbeshutdownforaprotractedperiodof time. WhileCurbeamisbusywiththis reconfiguration,Fuglesangwillretrievethe starboardandportquickdisconnectbags stowagebagsfilledwithmaintenancehardware andtoolsfromtheairlockandinstallthebags ontop,orthezenithside,oftheairlock.
thecrew.TheywillbereturnedtoEarth.All threecircuitinterruptersarelocatedatthelabs aftendconepanel,inanareaknownasthe ratsnest. Becausethemainbusswitchingunitgenerates heatonceitisactivated,apumpmodulemust alsobeactivatedtoenableammoniatoflow throughlargecoldplateloopsthatcoolthebus. Priortoboththesecondandthethird spacewalks,thestationsExternalThermal ControlSystem(ETCS)ammonialoopswillbe filledsotheyarereadywhenthebusesare activated.However,ifthepumpmodule doesntworkitispoweredbythebusthere isanestimatedfivetosixhourwindowbefore thebusmustbepoweredoffandallowedto cool.Ifthepumpisntworkingbecauseit failed,itwillneedtoberemovedandreplaced. Thisprocedurewillrequirethecrewtoremove andreplacethepumponthethirdspacewalk insteadofcompletingthepower reconfigurationtotheP4truss.Thatcould resultinanadditionalspacewalktocomplete thestationspowerreconfiguration.Thecrew hastrainedforthatpossibility. Anotherconsiderationisthepossibilitythatthe busoradcconverterwillfailandwillneedto beremovedandreplaced. OncetheEVcrewmembershavefinishedthe Channel2/3powerreconfiguration,theywill beginothertaskswhileMissionControlpowers upthestation.CurbeamandFuglesangwill relocatetwocrewandequipmenttranslation aid(CETA)cartsfromtheircurrentlocationson theS1trusstotheS0trusstoclearthewayfor AtlantisastronautstoinstalltheS3andS4 trusssegmentsontheSTS117mission. Thecrewalsowillinstallathermalcoveronthe forcemomentsensorsonthelatchingend effectoronthestationsroboticarmand
EVA 3
Theprimaryobjectiveofthethirdspacewalkis toreconfigurepowerontheChannel1/4sideof thestationsElectricalPowerSystem.Thecrew alsowillstowthreeServiceModuleDebris Panelbundlesonagrapplefixtureonthe PressurizedMatingAdapter3amodule attachedtotheportsideofNode1;reconfigure powerontheZ1trusspatchpanels1and6;and installanAdjustableGrappleBar(AGB)onthe flexhoserotarycouplerontheairlocks ExternalStowagePlatform2. Thethirdspacewalkonflightday8isbasically arepeatoftheflightday6power reconfigurationactivities.DuringEVA3,the Channel1/4sideofthestationsElectrical PowerSystemwillbereconfiguredtoroute primarypowerthroughtheMainBus SwitchingUnits.Asonflightday6,this spacewalkrequiresthatallpowerbeshut downthistimefromChannel1/4.Again,a lengthysetofpowerdownprocedureswillbe executedfromthegroundwhilethecrew preparesforthewalk.Thereconfigurationtask
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isalsopredictedtotakeaboutanhouranda half. TheworkwillagainbeattheStarboard0(S0) trusssegment.CurbeamwillreconfiguretheS0 forwardstarboardavionicsandtheS14Band S01Adcconverters,disconnectthesecondary powerLab4Adcconverters,routetheS0/N1 powercable,andreconfigurethebusbypass jumper. Whileheisdisconnectingandconnecting cables,Williamswillremovethe1and2circuit interruptdevicesandreconfiguretheotherhalf oftheZ1trusselectricalpatchpanel5.The circuitinterrupterswillbereturnedonthe shuttle.Also,duringtheZ1patchpaneltask, thecrewwillventureouttotheRussian segmentinterfaceatNode1andreconfigure theRussianpowerfeedsfromtheU.S.segment. ThisreconfigurationwillallowtheRussiansto drawadditionalpowerfromtheU.S.segment bymovingsomeoftheirpowerfeedstolarger switches,capableoftransferringmorecurrent, shouldthatbeneeded. AsCurbeamandWilliamsreconfigureexternal powerconnectors,thecrewinsidewill reconfigureanelectricalpatchpanelinthe Destinylab.Thisnewconfigurationwill providetwiceasmuchpowerforpayloaduse. OncepowerisreconfiguredforChannel1/4, CurbeamandWilliamswillmovetothe shuttlespayloadbaytoattachthreeService ModuleDebrisPanelbundles(SMDPs)ontoan adapter.Thethreebundlesandadapterwere launchedontheIntegratedCargoCarrier(ICC), apalletlocatedattherearofthepayloadbay. Oncethebundlesareattachedtotheadapter, theassemblyisreferredtoastheChristmas tree. AstronautSunitaL.Williamspriortobeing submergedinthewatersoftheNBL. AstronautWilliamA.(Bill)Oefelein, STS116pilot,assistedWilliams. Williamswillworkfromtheshuttlearmto movetheChristmastreetostowitonthe grapplefixturelocatedontheaftsideofthe PressurizedMatingAdapter3.Thebundlesare composedofindividualpanelsthatwillbe installedontheServiceModuletoprovide additionalmicrometeroiddebrisprotection. ThepanelswillbemovedtotheService ModuleduringaRussianEVAcurrentlyslated forthesummerof2007. WhileWilliamscompletescleanupofthetask, Curbeamwillmovetoreconfigurepowertothe Z1trusselectricalpatchpanel1. Duringthethirdspacewalk,Curbeamand WilliamswillalsotransfertheAdjustable GrappleBar(AGB)aportablehandlethatcan beinstalledonobjectstomakeiteasierforthe crewtomovethemaroundduring spacewalkstotheFlexHoseRotaryCoupler (FHRC)ontheairlocksExternalStowage Platform2,whereitwillbestowedforfuture use.
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PAYLOAD OVERVIEW
INTEGRATED TRUSS SEGMENT P5

STS116willdeliverthesquareshapedPort5 (P5)trusssegmenttotheInternationalSpace Station.P5ispartofthe11segmentintegrated trussstructureandthesixthtrusselementtobe delivered.Thetrussstructureformsthe backboneoftheInternationalSpaceStation withmountingsforunpressurizedlogistics carriers,radiators,solararrays,otherhardware andthevariouselements.Port5willbe attachedtothePort4trusselementviathe
ModifiedRocketdyneTrussAttachmentSystem (MRTAS)interface.P5isusedprimarilyto connectpowerandcoolinglinesandserveasa spacerbetweentheP4photovoltaicmodule (PVM),orsolarbattery,andP6PVM,which willbejoinedduringalaterassemblymission. P5isverysimilarinconstructiontothelong spacerlocatedonP6.WithouttheP5short spacer,theP4andP6solararrayswouldnotbe abletoconnectduetothewaythephotovoltaic arrays(PVA)aredeployedonorbit.
TheP5ShortSpacerisshownintheSpaceStationProcessingFacilityatKennedySpaceCenter.
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P5 Specifications Dimensions: Length is 132.813 inches or 11 feet and 0.813 inches (3.37 meters) Width is 179.014 inches or 14 feet, 11 inches (4.55 meters) Height is 167.031 inches or 13 feet and 11 inches (4.24 meters) Weight: Cost 4,110 lbs or 2 tons (1,864.26 kg) $10,972,000
Thegirderlikestructureismadeofmostly aluminumandprovidesseveralextravehicular aids,roboticinterfaces,ammoniaservicing hardware(aspartofthestationsExternal ActiveThermalControlSystemthatallows ammoniafluidtotransferfromP4toP6)and canalsoaccommodateanexternalstorage platform.TheEnhancedUniversalTrunnion AttachmentSystem(EUTAS)allowsplatforms tobeattachedtoP5forthestorageofadditional sciencepayloadsorspareOrbitalReplacement Units.P5alsohaswhitethermalblanketson thestructure,whichhelpshadetheP4Solar ArrayAssemblyORUs.
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predictthefatiguelifeanddurabilityofthe trussstructure. BoeingsRocketdynePowerandPropulsion (nowPrattandWhitney)designedP5.The componentwasconstructedinTulsa,Okla.,in 2000.P5arrivedatKennedySpaceCenterJuly 19,2001,forfinalmanufacture,acceptanceand checkout.Boeingwillcontinuetoprovide sustainingengineeringofP5andfortheentire 310footintegratedtrussassembly.
P5istransferredusingtheshuttlearmfromthe payloadbaytotheSpaceStationRobotic ManipulatorSystem(SSRMS),thestations roboticarm,whereitwillbeplacedintothe installorsoftdockposition.Whilebeing movedontheSSRMS,P5willhaveaboutthree inchesofclearanceasitpassestheP4 SequentialShuntUnit(SSU).Thetrusselement isinstalledroboticallywithacrewassist. Duringthefirstspacewalk,astronautswilluse thetrussattachmentsystemtoconnectP5toP4 byusingtheirportablehandtoolstodrivein four3/4inchdiameterprimaryboltsineach corner.Ifaprimaryboltcannotbesecured,two contingencyboltsateachcorneronP5canbe tightenedintothenutassembliesonP4. AnotherfeatureofP5isthePhotoVoltaic RadiatorGrappleFeature(PVRGF).For launch,thePVRGFisstowedontopofP5and isusedbytheshuttleandstationroboticarms tograbP5toliftiffromtheshuttlecargobay andattachittothestation.AfterP5isattached toP4,thePVRGFwillberelocatedtothetruss keelduringthefirstspacewalkusingfour fasteners. P5alsocontainsaremotesensorbox,two triaxialacceleratorsandtwoantenna assembliesaspartoftheExternalWireless InstrumentationSystem(EWIS).EWISwill giveengineersabetterunderstandingofthe actualresponseofthetrusssystemonorbitto vibrationandotherstressesandhelpengineers
DrawingshowsthePhotoVoltaicRadiator GrappleFeature(PVRGF)attachedto afoldedphotovoltaicradiator(PVR)
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SequenceshowingremovalofP5fromthepayloadbay andtransferredtothespacestationsroboticarm.
SequenceshowingthemovementandinstallationofP5 tothesoftdockpositionattheendofP4
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P5showninstalledontheISS
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OnSTS116,theICCwillcarrytheService ModuleDebrisPanels(SMDP),SpaceTest ProgramH2(STPH2),15AdjustableMass Plates(AMPs)andanInternationalSpace StationPassiveFlightReleasableAttachment Mechanism(ICCPFRAM).TheSTPH2isa payloadwhichdeploysthreesatellitesafterthe shuttleundocksfromthespacestation.The ICCPFRAMisdesignedforacontingency returnofaPumpModuleIntegratedAssembly (PMIA)shouldapumpmodulefailduringthe flightssecondspacewalk.TheSMDPsare transferredtospacestationandaretemporarily stowedonPMA3.
INTEGRATED CARGO CARRIER (SPACEHAB)

TheIntegratedCargoCarriercancarryupto 8,000poundsofcargoonbothfacesofapallet measuring8feetlong,15feetwideand10 inchesthick.Itcarriescargofortransferfrom theshuttletothestationandfromthestationto worksitesonthetrussassemblies.Thecarrier isanunpressurized,flatbedpalletandkeel yokeassemblyhousedintheorbiterspayload bay.Ithasnoactiveinterfaces(thermal, electricalordata)withtheshuttle.
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RotaryJointMotorController(RJMC) Assembly,anExternalTVCameraGroup (ETVCG),OxygenGenerationSystem(OGS), AdjustableGrappleBar,RemotePowerControl Module(s)(RPCM),NickelRemovalAssembly (NIRA)Kit,CharcoalBedAssembly(CBA), Desiccant/AdsorbentORU,ControlMoment Gyro(CMG)ElectricalAssembly(EA),an AvionicsAirAssembly(AAA)andpayloads.
LOGISTICS SINGLE MODULE (SPACEHAB LSM)

InDiscoveryspayloadpay,thesmall pressurizedmoduleknownastheSPACEHAB LogisticsSingleModuleprovidescargolaunch andreturntransportation.Someofthe hardwarestowedinthemoduleonSTS116are aVideoBasebandSignalProcessor(VBSP),a
Aft Bulkhead Viewport Opening Rack Overhead Structure Cylinder D-Ring Bulkhead-to-Top Panel Diagonal Tie Rods EVA Handrail EVA Handrail Bulkhead T-Beams
NPRV Opening
Bulkhead-to-Bulkhead Horizontal Tie Rods
Flex Section Interface Ring Forward Bulkhead
Rack Support Structure
Keel Trunnion (Not Shown)
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EXPERIMENTS
DETAILED TEST OBJECTIVES

DetailedTestObjectives(DTOs)areaimedat testing,evaluatingordocumentingspace shuttlesystemsorhardware,orproposed improvementstothespaceshuttleorspace stationhardware,systemsandoperations. SuchexperimentsassignedtoSTS116arelisted below.
SHORT-DURATION BIOASTRONAUTICS INVESTIGATION (SDBI)

ShortDurationBioastronauticsInvestigations (SDBIs)areshuttlebased,lifesciencepayloads, experimentsandtechnologydemonstrations.
SDBI 1503S Test of Midodrine as a Countermeasure against Postflight Orthostatic Hypotension

Presently,therearenomedicationsortreatment toeliminateorthostatichypotension,a conditionthatoftenaffectsastronautsfollowing spaceflight.Orthostatichypotensionisa suddenfallinbloodpressurethatoccurswhen apersonassumesastandingposition. Symptoms,whichgenerallyoccuraftersudden standing,includedizziness,lightheadedness, blurredvisionandatemporarylossof consciousness. Spacealterscardiovascularfunction,and orthostatichypotensionisoneofthealterations thatnegativelyimpactscrewsafety. Susceptibilitytoorthostatichypotensionis individual,withsomeastronautsexperiencing severesymptoms,whileothersarelessaffected. Thiscountermeasureevaluationproposal, sponsoredbytheCountermeasuresEvaluation andValidationProject,isinitssecondphaseof theevaluationofmidodrine.Itisdesignedto givethegreatestopportunityofmeasuringthe maximumefficacyofthedrug. Thisexperimentwillmeasuretheeffectiveness ofmidodrineinreducingtheincidenceand,or, theseverityoforthostatichypotensionin returningastronauts.Itseffectivenesswillbe evaluatedwithanexpandedtilttest.
DTO 805 Crosswind Landing Performance (If Opportunity)

ThepurposeofthisDTOistodemonstratethe capabilitytoperformamanuallycontrolled landinginthepresenceofacrosswind.The testingisdoneintwosteps. 1. Prelaunch:Ensureplanningwillallow selectionofarunwaywithMicrowave ScanningBeamLandingSystemsupport, whichisasetofdualtransmitterslocated besidetherunwayprovidingprecision navigationvertically,horizontallyand longitudinallywithrespecttotherunway. Thisprecisionnavigationsubsystemhelps provideahigherprobabilityofamore preciselandingwithacrosswindof10to15 knotsaslateintheflightaspossible. 2. Entry:Thistestrequiresthatthecrew performamanuallycontrolledlandingin thepresenceofa90degreecrosswind componentof10to15knotssteadystate. Duringacrosswindlanding,thedragchutewill bedeployedafternosegeartouchdownwhen thevehicleisstableandtrackingtherunway centerline.
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SDBI 1493 Monitoring Latent Virus Reactivation and Shedding in Astronauts

TheobjectiveofthisSDBIistodeterminethe frequencyofinducedreactivationoflatent viruses,latentvirussheddingandclinical diseaseafterexposuretothephysical, physiologicalandpsychologicalstressors associatedwithspaceflight. Inducedalterationsintheimmuneresponse willbecomeincreasinglyimportantonlong durationmissions,withonefocusbeingthe potentialforreactivationanddisseminationor sheddingoflatentviruses.Anexampleofa latentvirusisherpessimplextype1,which infects70to80percentofadults.Its manifestationisclassicallyassociatedwiththe presenceofcoldsores,pharyngitisand tonsillitis.Itisusuallyacquiredthrough contactwiththesaliva,skinormucous membranesofaninfectedindividual. However,manyrecurrencesareasymptomatic, resultinginsheddingofthevirus.
SHORT-DURATION RESEARCH AND STATION EXPERIMENTS

Short-duration Research to Be Completed during STS-116
IncidenceofLatentVirusShieldingDuring Spaceflight(LatentVirus)willdeterminethe frequenciesofreactivationoflatentviruses inactivevirusesinthebodythatcanbe reactivated,suchascoldsoresandclinical diseasesafterexposuretothephysical, physiological,andpsychologicalstressors associatedwithspaceflight.Understanding latentvirusreactivationmaybecriticaltocrew healthduringextendedspacemissionsascrew membersliveandworkinaclosed environment. MauiAnalysisofUpperAtmospheric Injections(MAUI)willobservetheexhaust plumeoftheSpaceShuttlewillleadto assessmentofspacecraftplumeinteractions withtheupperatmosphere. EffectofSpaceFlightonMicrobialGene ExpressionandVirulence(Microbe)will investigatetheeffectsofthespaceflight environmentonvirulence(abilitytoinfect)of threemodelmicrobialpathogens:Salmonella typhimurium,Pseudomonasaeruginosa,and Candidaalbicans,thathavebeenidentifiedas potentialthreatstocrewhealthbasedupon previousspaceflightmissions. TestofMidodrineasaCountermeasure AgainstPostFlightOrthostaticHypotension (Midodrine)measurestheabilityofthedrug midodrine,asacountermeasure,toreducethe incidenceorseverityoforthostatic hypotensiondizzinesscausedbytheblood pressuredecreasethatmanyastronauts experienceuponreturningtotheEarths gravity.
SDBI 1634 Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight

SubjectswilldontheActilightwatchassoonas possibleuponenteringorbitandwillwearit continuouslythroughoutthemissionontheir nondominantwristsoutsideoftheir clothing/sleeve.TheActilightwatchcanbe temporarilyremovedforactivitiessuchas spacewalks.Subjectswillalsocompleteashort logwithin15minutesoffinalawakeningevery morninginflight. Theexperimentexaminestheeffectsof spaceflightonthesleepwakecyclesof astronautsduringmission.Thisinformation couldbevitalintreatinginsomniaonEarthand inspace.
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lowEarthorbit(LEO)atmospherewhilebeing trackedfromtheground.Thedatawillbeused tobetterpredictthemovementofobjectsin orbit. MicroelectromechanicalSystemBased (MEMS)PICOSATInspector(MEPSI)will demonstratetheuseoftiny(thesizeofacoffee cup)lowpowerinspectionsatellitesthatcanbe sentouttoobservelargerspacecraft.Thesmall inspectionsatellitesareenabledby microelectromechanicalsystems(MEMS),and willtestthefunctioningofsmallcamera systemsandgyros. RadarFenceTransponder(RAFT)isastudent experimentfromtheUnitedSatesNaval Academythatusespicosatellitestotestthe SpaceSurveillanceRadarFenceand experimentalcommunicationstransponders.
PerceptualMotorDeficitsinSpace(PMDIS) willinvestigatewhyshuttleastronauts experiencedifficultywithhandeye coordinationwhileonorbit.Thisexperiment willmeasurethedeclineofastronautshand eyecoordinationduringspaceshuttlemissions. Thesemeasurementswillbeusedtodistinguish betweenthreepossibleexplanations:thebrain notadaptingtothenearweightlessnessof space;thedifficultyofperformingfine movementswhenfloatinginspace;andstress duetofactorssuchasspacesicknessandsleep deprivation. RamBurnObservations(RAMBO)isan experimentinwhichtheDepartmentof Defenseusesasatellitetoobservespaceshuttle orbitalmaneuveringsystemengineburns.Its purposeistoimproveplumemodels,which predictthedirectiontheplume,orrising columnofexhaust,willmoveastheshuttle maneuversonorbit.Understandingthe directioninwhichthespacecraftengineplume, orexhaustflowscouldbesignificanttothesafe arrivalanddepartureofspacecraftoncurrent andfutureexplorationmissions. SleepWakeActigraphyandLightExposure DuringSpaceflightShort(SleepShort)will examinetheeffectsofspaceflightonthesleep wakecyclesoftheastronautsduringspace shuttlemissions.Advancingstateoftheart technologyformonitoring,diagnosingand assessingtreatmentofsleeppatternsisvitalto treatinginsomniaonEarthandinspace.
Payloads Delivered on STS-116 to Be Used in Future Station Research

CardiovascularandCerebrovascularControl onReturnfromISS(CCISS)willallow scientiststobetterunderstandtheeffectsof spaceflightoncardiovascularand cerebrovascularfunctionsoflongduration crewmembers. CommercialGenericBioprocessingApparatus ScienceInsert01(CSI01)iscomprisedof twoeducationalexperimentsthatwillbe utilizedbymiddleschoolstudents.One experimentwillexamineseedgerminationin microgravityincludinggravitropism(plant growthtowardsgravity)andphototropism (plantgrowthtowardslight).Thesecond experimentwillexaminehowmicrogravity affectsthemodelorganism,Caenorhabditis elegans,asmallnematodeworm. ElasticMemoryCompositeHinge(EMCH) willstudytheperformanceofanewtypeof
Space Test Program H2

AtmosphericNeutralDensityExperiment (ANDE)consistsoftwomicrosatellites launchedfromtheShuttlepayloadbaywill measurethedensityandcompositionofthe
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performingflightformations.Eachsatelliteis selfcontainedwithpower,propulsion, computersandnavigationequipment.The resultsareimportantforsatelliteservicing, vehicleassemblyandformationflying spacecraftconfigurations. TestofReactionandAdaptationCapabilities (TRAC)willtestthetheoryofbrainadaptation duringspaceflightbytestinghandeye coordinationbefore,duringandafterthe mission.
compositehingetodetermineifitissuitablefor useinspace.Theexperimentwilluseelastic memoryhingestomoveanattachedmassat oneend.Materialstestedinthisexperimentare strongerandlighterthancurrentmaterialused inspacehingesandcouldbeusedinthedesign offuturespacecraft. ThresholdAccelerationforGravisensing (Gravi)willdeterminetheminimumamountof artificialgravityneededtocauselentilseedling rootstostartgrowinginanewdirection.This worksupportsfutureeffortstogrowsufficient ediblecropsonlongdurationspacemissions. LabonaChipApplicationDevelopment PortableTestSystem(LOCADPTS)isa handhelddeviceforrapiddetectionof biologicalandchemicalsubstancesonboard thespacestation.Astronautswillswab surfaceswithinthecabin,addswabmaterialto theLOCADPTSandwithin15minutes,obtain resultsonadisplayscreen.Itspurposeisto effectivelyprovideanearlywarningsystemto enablecrewmemberstotakeremedial measuresifnecessarytoprotectthehealthand safetyofthoseonboardthestation. SynchronizedPositionHold,Engage, Reorient,ExperimentalSatellites(SPHERES) arebowlingballsizedsphericalsatellites.The firstSPHEREsatellitearrivedonthestationin April2006tuckedinsideaRussianProgress supplyship.AnotherarrivedonSTS121in July2006andathirdwillbecarriedtoorbitby STS116inDecember2006.Theywillbeused insidethespacestationtotestasetofwell definedinstructionsforspacecrafttoperform autonomousrendezvousanddocking maneuvers.Threeselfcontainedfreeflying sphereswillflywithinthecabinofthestation,
Space Station Research Samples Returned on STS-116

LongTermMicrogravity:AModelfor InvestigatingMechanismsofHeartDisease withNewPortableEquipment(Card)will examinetherelationshipbetweensaltintake andthecardiovascularsystemwhenexposedto themicrogravityenvironment. NeuroendocrineandImmuneResponsesin HumansDuringandAfterLongTermStayat ISS(IMMUNO)willprovideanunderstanding forthedevelopmentofpharmacologicaltoolsto countermeasureunwantedimmunologicalside effectsduringlongdurationmissionsinspace. TheOptimizationofRootZoneSubstrates (ORZS)forReducedGravityExperiments Programisaninternationalcollaborationthat willprovidedirectmeasurementsandmodels forplantrootingmediathatwillbeusedin futureAdvancedLifeSupport(ALS)plant growthexperiments. PassiveObservatoriesforExperimental MicrobialSystems(POEMS)isa demonstrationofapassivesystemforgrowing microbialculturesinspaceandtoobserve geneticchangesthatoccurinthemasaresultof livingandgrowinginthespaceenvironment.
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insightonwhatgenesareresponsiblefor successfulplantgrowthinmicrogravity.
TheRenalStoneexperimentteststhe effectivenessofpotassiumcitrateinpreventing renalstoneformationduringlongduration spaceflight.Kidneystoneformation,a significantriskduringlongmissions,could impairastronautfunctionality. SpaceExperimentModule(SEM)allows studentstoresearchtheeffectsofmicrogravity, radiationandspaceflightonvariousmaterials. Somestudentswilltestforseedgrowthafter microgravityexposure,whileotherswilltest howtheirmaterialsprotectagainstradiation exposure.Thesamplevialswillbereturnedto Earthonafuturemissionforstudentsto analyzefurther. StabilityofPharmacotherapeuticand NutritionalCompounds(Stability)willstudy theeffectsofradiationinspaceoncomplex organicmolecules,suchasvitaminsandother compoundsinfoodandmedicine.Thiswill helpindevelopingmorestableandreliable pharmaceuticalandnutritional countermeasuressuitableforfuturelong durationmissionstothemoonandMars. AComprehensiveCharacterizationof MicroorganismsandAllergensinSpacecraft (SWAB)willuseadvancedmolecular techniquestocomprehensivelyevaluate microbesonboardthespacestation,including pathogensorganismsthatmaycausedisease. Italsowilltrackchangesinthemicrobial communityasspacecraftvisitthestationand newstationmodulesareadded.Thisstudy willallowanassessmentoftheriskofmicrobes tothecrewandthespacecraft. AnalysisofaNovelSensoryMechanismin RootPhototropism(Tropi)willobservethe growthandcollectsamplesofplantssprouted fromseeds.Byanalyzingthesamplesata molecularlevel,researchersexpecttogain
Additional Space Station Research From Now Until the End of Expedition 14
AnomalousLongTermEffectsinAstronauts CentralNervousSystem(ALTEA)integrates severaldiagnostictechnologiestomeasurethe exposureofcrewmemberstocosmicradiation. Itwillfurtherourunderstandingofradiations impactonthehumancentralnervousand visualsystems,andprovideanassessmentof theradiationenvironmentinthestation. CrewEarthObservations(CEO)takes advantageofthecrewinspacetoobserveand photographnaturalandhumanmadechanges onEarth.ThephotographsrecordtheEarths surfacechangesovertime,alongwithmore fleetingeventssuchasstorms,floods,firesand volcaniceruptions.Together,theyprovide researchersonEarthwithvital,continuous imagestobetterunderstandtheplanet. SpaceFlightInducedReactivationofLatent EpsteinBarrVirus(EpsteinBarr)performs teststostudychangesinthehumanimmune function.Usingbloodandurinesamples collectedfromcrewmembersbeforeandafter spaceflight,thestudywillprovideinsightfor possiblecountermeasurestopreventthe potentialdevelopmentofinfectiousillnessin crewmembersduringflight. BehavioralIssuesAssociatedwithIsolation andConfinement:ReviewandAnalysisof AstronautJournals,usingjournalskeptbythe crewandsurveys,studiestheeffectofisolation toobtainquantitativedataontheimportanceof differentbehavioralissuesinlongduration crews.ResultswillhelpNASAdesign equipmentandprocedurestoallowastronauts tobestcopewithisolationandlongduration spaceflight.
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MicrogravityAccelerationMeasurement System(MAMS)andSpaceAcceleration MeasurementSystem(SAMSII)measure vibrationandquasisteadyaccelerationsthat resultfromvehiclecontrolburns,dockingand undockingactivities.Thetwodifferent equipmentpackagesmeasurevibrationsat differentfrequencies. MaterialsontheInternationalSpaceStation Experiment3and4(MISSE3and4)arethe thirdandfourthinaseriesoffivesuitcasesized testbedsattachedtotheoutsideofthespace station.Thebedsweredeployedduringa spacewalkonSTS121inJuly2006.Theywill exposehundredsofpotentialspace constructionmaterialsanddifferenttypesof solarcellstotheharshenvironmentofspace. Afterbeingmountedtothespacestationabout ayear,theequipmentwillbereturnedtoEarth forstudy.Investigatorswillusetheresulting datatodesignstronger,moredurable spacecraft. NutritionalStatusAssessment(Nutrition)is themostcomprehensiveinflightstudydoneby NASAtodateofhumanphysiologicchanges duringlongdurationspaceflight;thisincludes measuresofbonemetabolism,oxidative damage,nutritionalassessments,andhormonal changes.Thisstudywillimpactboththe definitionofnutritionalrequirementsand developmentoffoodsystemsforfuturespace explorationmissionstotheMoonandMars. Thisexperimentwillalsohelptounderstand theimpactofcountermeasures(exerciseand pharmaceuticals)onnutritionalstatusand nutrientrequirementsforastronauts. SleepWakeActigraphyandLightExposure DuringSpaceflightLong(SleepLong)will examinetheeffectsofspaceflightonthesleep wakecyclesofthecrewmembersduringlong durationstaysonthespacestation.
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY EXPERIMENTS

ThemajorityofChristerFuglesangstimeatthe stationwillbetakenupwithstationassembly tasks.However,hewillstillbeundertakinga numberofexperimentsandadditionalactivities duringthemission.Oneexperiment (Chromosome2),oneactivitymonitoring radiationdosimetry(EuCPD),andtwo educationactivities(ALTEAFilmedLesson, FrisbeeCompetition)aresupportedbythe EuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA).TheParticle FluxDemonstratorisaSwedishNationalSpace Boardeducationexperiment,andALTEAis supportedbyASI,theItalianSpaceAgency.
ALTEA (Human Physiology/Radiation Dosimetry)

TheALTEAprojectinvestigatestheeffectsof cosmicradiationonbrainfunction.Thefocus oftheprogramwillbeonabnormalvisual perceptions(oftenreportedaslightflashes byastronauts)andtheimpactthatparticle radiationhasontheretinaandvisualstructures ofthebrainunderweightlessconditions. ALTEAwillalsoprovidemoreinformationon theradiationenvironmentinthestation. TheALTEAfacilityisahelmetshapeddevice, whichcoversmostoftheastronautshead.It consistsofsixparticledetectorsandwillpermit a3Dreconstructionofcosmicradiation passingthroughthebrain:measuringparticle trajectory,energyandparticletype.Atthe sametime,a32channelEEGwillmeasurethe astronautsbrainactivityandavisual stimulatorandapushbuttonwillbeusedto
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Venousbloodsampleswillbetakenafewdays beforelaunchanddirectlyonreturnfromthe longdurationandshortdurationmissions. Fromthesebloodsamples,wholeblood cultureswillbesetupwithasubstance (phytohemagglutinin),whichstimulatesthe lymphocytestoenterthecellcycle,i.e.,togo throughthecelldivisionprocess. ALTEAFlightHardware. Fortyeighthoursafterthestartofthe incubationperiod,thesampleswillbeprepared foranalysis.Thisconsistsofaddingtwo substancestothesamples.One(calyculinA) willcausetheDNAstrandstobecometightly packedinthechromosomes,aprocessthat occursincellsatthebeginningofthecellcycle. Theother(colchicine)willpreventthe chromosomesfromdividingintotwoforcells atalaterstageinthecellcycle. Hereafterthepreparationswillbeanalyzedby oneoftwomethodstodeterminethefull spectrumofabnormalitiesinthechromosomes. Thiswilleitherbebythefluorescenceinvitro hybridization(FISH)methodorclassical Giemsastaining.
determinevisualperformanceandoccurrence oflightflashes.Whennotinusebyan astronaut,theALTEAdevicewillbeusedto collectcontinuousmeasurementsofthecosmic radiationintheU.S.Destinylaboratoryonthe station. TheALTEAexperimentfollowsonfromthe precursorAlteinoexperimentthattookplace duringtheEuropeanMarcoPoloandEneide missions(2002and2005),nowcontinuingwith theEuropeanALTCRISSproject. TheALTEAexperimentisparticularly importantwiththeincreasinglengthofhuman operationonboardtheInternationalSpace Stationandintheperspectiveoflongerterm journeystoMars.Resultsmayalsohold benefitsonEarthinneurosciencein,for example,theuseofIontherapiestotreatbrain tumors.
Chromosome-2 (Human Physiology)

Duringspaceflights,crewmembersareexposed todifferenttypesofionizingradiation.To assesstheimpactoftheseradiationsatagenetic level,ananalysiswillbemadeofabnormalities inchromosomenumberandstructurein lymphocytes(whitebloodcells)ofstationcrew members.
Multifluorescentchromosomemapofacell exposedtocosmicradiation
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Asmallportionofthebloodsampleswillbe irradiatedwithXrays.Thefrequencyof abnormalitiesinducedbythisirradiationwill provideinformationabouttheradiosensitivity ofindividualcrewmembersandprobable changesinsensitivitycausedbyspaceflight. TheChromosome2experimentisplannedto becarriedoutusingeightsubjects:four subjectsfromshortdurationflightsandfour Expeditioncrewmembers.
ESAastronautThomasReiterwearing EuropeanCrewPersonalDosimeter duringsampleprocessingontheISS TwoEuropeanCrewPersonalDosimeterswill bewornbyFuglesangduringlaunch.The otherswillbetransportedtothestationas shuttlecargo. Postflightanalysisofthedifferentradiation sensorswillbecarriedoutinalaboratory environmentaccordingtostandardized methodsdevelopedbythescienceteam.
European Crew Personal Dosimeters (EuCPD) (Radiation dosimetry)

ESAastronautFuglesangfromSwedenwillbe equippedwithpassivepersonalradiation dosimeterstomeasuretheradiationexposure duringhisflight.ESAastronautThomasReiter hasbeenusingsimilardosimeterssince arrivingatthestationinJuly2006. Thepersonaldosimetershavetobeworn aroundthelefthandsideofthewaistandthe leftankleforastronautsinsidethestationand atthesamelocationsabovetheliquidcooling garmentinsidethespacesuitforastronauts undertakingspacewalks. Eachdosimeterisonly8mmthickandconsists ofastackoffivedifferentpassiveradiation sensors,i.e.,sensorsthatprovideameasureof theoverallradiationdoseratherthanameasure ofradiationwithrelationtotime.Thedifferent sensorswillmeasuredifferentradioactive particlessuchasarangeofneutrons(thermal, epithermalandfast),andheavyionsaswellas measuringparticleimpactanglesandenergy transferfromparticles. Thedifferentsensorstobeusedwillincludea layerofthermoluminescencedosimetersthat arealsousedintheEuropeanMatroshka radiationdosimetryexperimentthathasbeenat thestationsinceitslaunchonJan.29,2004.
Particle Flux Demonstrator (Education)

Thisexperimentaimstoillustratetostudents thedifferenceintheradiationenvironmentin spaceandonEarth.TheParticleFlux Demonstratorwillbeusedtomeasuretheflux orflowofchargedparticles(cosmicrays) passingthroughthestation.Thiswillvaryto thegreatestdegreewiththevariationofthe latitudeatwhichthestationisflying. ChargedparticlesaredetectedintheParticle FluxDemonstratorusingaplasticscintillator materialconnectedtoaphotomultipliertube. Thechargedparticlegeneratesaveryfaintflash ofdeepbluelightinthescintillatormaterial. Thisisconvertedtoanelectricalpulsebythe photomultipliertube.TotriggertheParticle FluxDemonstrator,thechargedparticlemust passthroughtwopiecesofscintillator
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meansthatabeltofparticlesapproachesclose totheEarthssurface.Theparticlefluxinside thestationwillalsoincreasedrasticallyatthis location.Additionally,itisexpectedto demonstratethedirectionalityofparticles withintheradiationbelt Onground,theParticleFluxDemonstratorwill beabletodetectmuons(anelementaryparticle similartotheelectronbutwith~200timesthe mass).Theseareproducedbycosmicray particlesinteractingwithmoleculeshighupin theatmosphere.However,theratewillbe smallabout1muonperminute(withthe telescopeorientatedvertically). ParticleFluxDemonstratorhardware TheParticleFluxDemonstratorformspartofan educationexperimentathighschooland universitylevels.Severaleducation institutions,principallyinSwedenbutalsoin NorwayandDenmark,willbetakingpartin thisexperimentusingcosmicraydetectorsto takereadingsonEarthduringstationflyovers. Thereadingsfromtheinstitutionswillbe comparedagainstreadingsfromtheParticle FluxDemonstratoronthestation.Video footageoftheonorbitexperimentwith Fuglesangwillbemadeavailabletostudents. TheParticleFluxDemonstratorwasdesigned andbuiltintheParticleandAstroparticle PhysicsresearchgroupatTheRoyalInstituteof Technology(KTH)inStockholm,Sweden.As partofapublicrelationseventinStockholm, FuglesangwilldemonstratetheParticleFlux Demonstratorduringalivevideolinktothe station.
separatedbyafewcentimeters.Thisgivesthe ParticleFluxDemonstratorsomedirectional sensitivity.Onthestation,themajorityof detectedparticleswillbeprotons.However,by varyingarequirementontheamountoflight producedinoneofthescintillators,itis possibletoselectmuchrarerchargedionsalso. TheParticleFluxDemonstratorisaportable devicethatcanbecarriedthroughthestation bytheastronaut.Itisexpectedtoshowhow thefluxvariesindifferentpartsofthestation, dependingonhowmuchlocalshielding materialthereis.Onewillalsoseethechange influxwiththeorbitalposition:higherfluxat highlatitudesandlowerneartheequator,due totheinteractionoftheEarthsmagneticfield. Anadditionalaimistodemonstratethatthe relativeabundanceofionsincreasesathigh latitudes. SpecialattentionwillbepaidtotheSouth AtlanticAnomaly,wheretheexternalparticle fluxisseveralordersofmagnitudelargerthan elsewhereintheorbitdueadipintheEarths magneticfieldinthevicinityoftheBrazilian coast.Thebehaviorofthemagneticfield
ALTEA: Filmed Lesson on Radiation (Education)

Thisactivityinvolvesthefilmingofamini documentaryabouttheALTEAexperimentto
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Frisbee Competition (Education)

AlittleknownfactaboutFuglesangisthathe wasonceaSwedishnationalFrisbeechampion, holdingthenationaltitleinmaximumtime aloftin1978,i.e.,thelongesttimeaFrisbeecan stayintheair.HelatercompetedintheFrisbee WorldChampionshipin1981. Thisactivityisacompetitionforchildrenupto 15yearsofagethatwillstimulatetheinterestof childreninspaceandculminateinalivelinkup withthecompetitionwinneronthegroundand Fuglesangonthestation.Duringthisinflight call,Fuglesangwilltrytobreakthecurrent worldrecordformaximumtimealoft,which standsat16.72seconds.Thisshouldnotprove tobetoodifficultaprospectasFuglesanghas theadvantageofweightlessnessonhisside. ThecompetitionwillbeorganizedinSweden bythenationalnewspaperAftonbladetand willbebasedonquestionsincludingthetopics ofspace,spaceactivitiesandFrisbeegames. Thecompetitionwinnerwillbeannounced duringtheinflightcallandtheywillpresent Fuglesangwiththelicence,necessarytobeable tocompeteinprofessionalcompetition.Once thishasoccurred,Fuglesangwillbeginhis worldrecordattempt. TheFrisbeethatFuglesangwilltaketothe stationwithhimisoneofhispersonalFrisbees, whichmarksanAtlanticcrossinghemade.
NASAastronautJeffWilliamsnexttothe ALTEAhardwareintheU.S.Laboratory oftheISSduringExpedition13 formpartofalessononradiationfor1618year olds.WhileESAastronautFuglesangis undertakingtheALTEAexperimentonthe stationaspartofhismission,ESAastronaut ThomasReiter,currentlyonthestationasan Expedition14flightengineer,willfilmthe experiment. Thefootagewillberecordedonvideotapeand returnedtoEarth.Thisfootagewillbe combinedwithadditionalfootagethatwas filmedduringFuglesangstrainingwith ALTEAhardwareattheJohnsonSpaceCenter inHoustonbeforelaunchandaccompanied withcommentaryfromamemberofthe ALTEAscienceteamandbyFuglesanghimself. Fuglesanghasbeenpreviouslyinvolvedasa memberofthescientificteamforasimilar experiment:SilEye,whichinvestigatedlight flashesinastronautseyesontheMirSpace Stationbetween1995and1999. TheISSEducationOfficewillcoordinatethe developmentandcontentofthelessontogether withtheALTEAscienceteam.Oncethe productioniscomplete,ESAwilldistributethe lessontoEuropeansecondaryschoolteachers andtheirstudents.
TheFrisbeethatFuglesangwill betakingintospace
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SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE ADVANCED HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

TheAdvancedHealthManagementSystem (AHMS)willmakeitsfirstflightinmonitor onlymodeontheSTS116mission.Whenin monitoronlymode,theAHMSsystemcollects andprocessestheturbopumpaccelerometer data,whichisameasurementofturbopump vibration,andcontinuouslymonitors turbopumphealthbutcannotshutdownan engine.DatafromtheSTS116flightwillbe collectedandexaminedtoensureAHMS operatesasintendedbeforeitssubsequent flightinactivemode. WhenaNASAspaceshuttleliftsoffthelaunch paditdoessowiththehelpofthreereusable, highperformancerocketengines.Eachspace shuttlemainengineisfourteenfeetlong,seven andonehalffeetindiameteratthenozzleexit, weighsapproximately7,750poundsand generatesmorethantwelvemillion horsepower,whichisequivalenttotheoutput ofmorethansevenHooverDams.Theengines operateforabouteightandonehalfminutes duringashuttleliftoffandascentlong enoughtoburnmorethan500,000gallonsof supercoldliquidhydrogenandliquidoxygen propellantsstoredinthehugeexternaltank attachedtotheundersideoftheorbiter.Liquid oxygenisstoredat298degreesFahrenheitand liquidhydrogenat423degreesFahrenheit. Theenginesshutdownjustbeforetheorbiter, travelingatabout17,000mph,reachesorbit. NASAisconfidentthatthisengineupgrade willsignificantlyimprovespaceshuttleflight safetyandreliability.Theupgrade,developed byNASAsMarshallSpaceFlightCenterin
Huntsville,Ala.,isamodificationofthe existingmainenginecontroller,whichisthe onenginecomputerthatmonitorsandcontrols allmainengineoperations.Themodifications includetheadditionofadvanceddigitalsignal processors,radiationhardenedmemoryand newsoftware.Thesechangestothemain enginecontrollerprovidethecapabilityfor completelynewmonitoringandinsightintothe healthofthetwomostriskycomponentsofthe spaceshuttlemainenginethehighpressure fuelturbopumpandthehighpressureoxidizer turbopump. Thehighpressurefuelandhighpressure oxidizerturbopumpsrotateatapproximately 35,000revolutionsperminuteand28,000 revolutionsperminute,respectively.To operateatsuchextremespeeds,thehigh pressureturbopumpsutilizehighlyspecialized bearingsandpreciselybalancedcomponents. TheAHMSupgradeutilizesdatafromthree existingsensors(accelerometers)mountedon eachofthehighpressureturbopumpsto measurehowmucheachpumpisvibrating. Theoutputdatafromtheaccelerometersis routedtothenewAHMSdigitalsignal processorsinstalledinthemainengine controller.Theseprocessorsanalyzethesensor readings20timespersecondlookingfor vibrationanomaliesthatareindicative ofimpendingfailureofrotatingturbopump componentssuchasblades,impellers,inducers andbearings.Ifthemagnitudeofanyvibration anomalyexceedssafelimits,theupgraded mainenginecontrollerimmediatelywouldshut downtheunhealthyengine.
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SHUTTLE REFERENCE DATA
SHUTTLE ABORT MODES

RSLS Aborts
Theseoccurwhentheonboardshuttle computersdetectaproblemandcommanda haltinthelaunchsequenceaftertakingover fromthegroundlaunchsequencerandbefore solidrocketboosterignition.
Ascent Aborts
Selectionofanascentabortmodemaybecome necessaryifthereisafailurethataffectsvehicle performance,suchasthefailureofaspace shuttlemainengineoranorbitalmaneuvering systemengine.Otherfailuresrequiringearly terminationofaflight,suchasacabinleak, mightalsorequiretheselectionofanabort mode.Therearetwobasictypesofascentabort modesforspaceshuttlemissions:intactaborts andcontingencyaborts.Intactabortsare designedtoprovideasafereturnoftheorbiter toaplannedlandingsite.Contingencyaborts aredesignedtopermitflightcrewsurvival followingmoreseverefailureswhenanintact abortisnotpossible.Acontingencyabort wouldgenerallyresultinaditchoperation.
TheRTLSprofileisdesignedtoaccommodate thelossofthrustfromonespaceshuttlemain enginebetweenliftoffandapproximatelyfour minutes20seconds,atwhichtimenotenough mainpropulsionsystempropellantremainsto returntothelaunchsite.AnRTLScanbe consideredtoconsistofthreestagesa poweredstage,duringwhichthespaceshuttle mainenginesarestillthrusting;anexternal tankseparationphase;andtheglidephase, duringwhichtheorbiterglidestoalandingat theKennedySpaceCenter.ThepoweredRTLS phasebeginswiththecrewselectionofthe RTLSabort,whichisdoneaftersolidrocket boosterseparation.Thecrewselectstheabort modebypositioningtheabortrotaryswitchto RTLSanddepressingtheabortpushbutton. ThetimeatwhichtheRTLSisselecteddepends onthereasonfortheabort.Forexample,a threeengineRTLSisselectedatthelast moment,about3minutes,34secondsintothe mission;whereasanRTLSchosenduetoan engineoutatliftoffisselectedattheearliest time,about2minutes,20secondsintothe mission(aftersolidrocketboosterseparation). AfterRTLSisselected,thevehiclecontinues downrangetodissipateexcessmainpropulsion systempropellant.Thegoalistoleaveonly enoughmainpropulsionsystempropellantto beabletoturnthevehiclearound,flyback towardtheKennedySpaceCenterandachieve thepropermainenginecutoffconditionssothe vehiclecanglidetotheKennedySpaceCenter afterexternaltankseparation.Duringthe downrangephase,apitcharoundmaneuveris initiated(thetimedependsinpartonthetime ofaspaceshuttlemainenginefailure)toorient theorbiter/externaltankconfigurationtoa headsupattitude,pointingtowardthelaunch
Intact Aborts
Therearefourtypesofintactaborts:abortto orbit(ATO),abortoncearound(AOA), transoceanicabortlanding(TAL)andreturnto launchsite(RTLS).
Return to Launch Site

TheRTLSabortmodeisdesignedtoallowthe returnoftheorbiter,crewandpayloadtothe launchsite,KennedySpaceCenter, approximately25minutesafterliftoff.
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InaTALabort,thevehiclecontinuesona ballistictrajectoryacrosstheAtlanticOceanto landatapredeterminedrunway.Landing occursabout45minutesafterlaunch.The landingsiteisselectednearthenormalascent groundtrackoftheorbitertomakethemost efficientuseofspaceshuttlemainengine propellant.Thelandingsitealsomusthavethe necessaryrunwaylength,weatherconditions andU.S.StateDepartmentapproval.Thethree landingsitesthathavebeenidentifiedfora launchareZaragoza,Spain;Moron,Spain;and Istres,France. ToselecttheTALabortmode,thecrewmust placetheabortrotaryswitchintheTAL/AOA positionanddepresstheabortpushbutton beforemainenginecutoff.(Depressingitafter mainenginecutoffselectstheAOAabort mode.)TheTALabortmodebeginssending commandstosteerthevehicletowardtheplane ofthelandingsite.Italsorollsthevehicle headsupbeforemainenginecutoffandsends commandstobeginanorbitalmaneuvering systempropellantdump(byburningthe propellantsthroughtheorbitalmaneuvering systemenginesandthereactioncontrolsystem engines).Thisdumpisnecessarytoincrease vehicleperformance(bydecreasingweight),to placethecenterofgravityintheproperplace forvehiclecontrolandtodecreasethevehicles landingweight.TALishandledlikeanormal entry.
site.Atthistime,thevehicleisstillmoving awayfromthelaunchsite,butthespaceshuttle mainenginesarenowthrustingtonullthe downrangevelocity.Inaddition,excessorbital maneuveringsystemandreactioncontrol systempropellantsaredumpedbycontinuous orbitalmaneuveringsystemandreaction controlsystemenginethrustingstoimprovethe orbiterweightandcenterofgravityforthe glidephaseandlanding. Thevehiclewillreachthedesiredmainengine cutoffpointwithlessthan2percentexcess propellantremainingintheexternaltank.At mainenginecutoffminus20seconds,apitch downmaneuver(calledpoweredpitchdown) takesthematedvehicletotherequiredexternal tankseparationattitudeandpitchrate.After mainenginecutoffhasbeencommanded,the externaltankseparationsequencebegins, includingareactioncontrolsystemmaneuver thatensuresthattheorbiterdoesnotrecontact theexternaltankandthattheorbiterhas achievedthenecessarypitchattitudetobegin theglidephaseoftheRTLS. Afterthereactioncontrolsystemmaneuverhas beencompleted,theglidephaseoftheRTLS begins.Fromthenon,theRTLSishandled similarlytoanormalentry.
Transoceanic Abort Landing

TheTALabortmodewasdevelopedto improvetheoptionsavailablewhenaspace shuttlemainenginefailsafterthelastRTLS opportunitybutbeforethefirsttimethatan AOAcanbeaccomplishedwithonlytwospace shuttlemainenginesorwhenamajororbiter systemfailure,forexample,alargecabin pressureleakorcoolingsystemfailure,occurs afterthelastRTLSopportunity,makingit imperativetolandasquicklyaspossible.
Abort to Orbit
AnATOisanabortmodeusedtoboostthe orbitertoasafeorbitalaltitudewhen performancehasbeenlostanditisimpossible toreachtheplannedorbitalaltitude.Ifaspace shuttlemainenginefailsinaregionthatresults inamainenginecutoffunderspeed,the MissionControlCenterwilldeterminethatan abortmodeisnecessaryandwillinformthe
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Contingencyabortsduetosystemfailuresother thanthoseinvolvingthemainengineswould normallyresultinanintactrecoveryofvehicle andcrew.Lossofmorethanonemainengine may,dependingonenginefailuretimes,result inasaferunwaylanding.However,inmost threeengineoutcasesduringascent,the orbiterwouldhavetobeditched.Theinflight crewescapesystemwouldbeusedbefore ditchingtheorbiter.
crew.Theorbitalmaneuveringsystemengines wouldbeusedtoplacetheorbiterinacircular orbit.
Abort Once Around

TheAOAabortmodeisusedincasesinwhich vehicleperformancehasbeenlosttosuchan extentthateitheritisimpossibletoachievea viableorbitornotenoughorbitalmaneuvering systempropellantisavailabletoaccomplishthe orbitalmaneuveringsystemthrusting maneuvertoplacetheorbiteronorbitandthe deorbitthrustingmaneuver.Inaddition,an AOAisusedincasesinwhichamajorsystems problem(cabinleak,lossofcooling)makesit necessarytolandquickly.IntheAOAabort mode,oneorbitalmaneuveringsystem thrustingsequenceismadetoadjustthepost mainenginecutofforbitsoasecondorbital maneuveringsystemthrustingsequencewill resultinthevehicledeorbitingandlandingat theAOAlandingsite(WhiteSands,N.M.; EdwardsAirForceBase;ortheKennedySpace Center).Thus,anAOAresultsintheorbiter circlingtheEarthonceandlandingabout 90minutesafterliftoff. Afterthedeorbitthrustingsequencehasbeen executed,theflightcrewfliestoalandingatthe plannedsitemuchasitwouldforanominal entry.
Abort Decisions
Thereisadefiniteorderofpreferenceforthe variousabortmodes.Thetypeoffailureand thetimeofthefailuredeterminewhichtypeof abortisselected.Incaseswhereperformance lossistheonlyfactor,thepreferredmodes wouldbeATO,AOA,TALandRTLS,inthat order.Themodechosenisthehighestonethat canbecompletedwiththeremainingvehicle performance. Inthecaseofsomesupportsystemfailures, suchascabinleaksorvehiclecoolingproblems, thepreferredmodemightbetheonethatwill endthemissionmostquickly.Inthesecases, TALorRTLSmightbepreferabletoAOAor ATO.Acontingencyabortisneverchosenif anotherabortoptionexists. MissionControlHoustonisprimeforcalling theseabortsbecauseithasamoreprecise knowledgeoftheorbiterspositionthanthe crewcanobtainfromonboardsystems.Before mainenginecutoff,MissionControlmakes periodiccallstothecrewtotellthemwhich abortmodeis(orisnot)available.Ifground communicationsarelost,theflightcrewhason boardmethods,suchascuecards,dedicated displaysanddisplayinformation,todetermine theabortregion.
Contingency Aborts
Contingencyabortsarecausedbylossofmore thanonemainengineorfailuresinother systems.Lossofonemainenginewhile anotherisstuckatalowthrustsettingmayalso necessitateacontingencyabort.Suchanabort wouldmaintainorbiterintegrityforinflight crewescapeifalandingcannotbeachievedata suitablelandingfield.
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followingaproblemwithpurgepressure readingsintheoxidizerpreburneronmain engineNo.2Columbiasthreemainengines werereplacedonthelaunchpad,andtheflight wasrescheduledbehindDiscoveryslaunchon STS56.Columbiafinallylaunchedon April26,1993.
Whichabortmodeisselecteddependsonthe causeandtimingofthefailurecausingthe abortandwhichmodeissafestorimproves missionsuccess.Iftheproblemisaspace shuttlemainenginefailure,theflightcrewand MissionControlCenterselectthebestoption availableatthetimeamainenginefails. Iftheproblemisasystemfailurethat jeopardizesthevehicle,thefastestabortmode thatresultsintheearliestvehiclelandingis chosen.RTLSandTALarethequickestoptions (35minutes),whereasanAOArequiresabout 90minutes.Whichoftheseisselecteddepends onthetimeofthefailurewiththreegoodspace shuttlemainengines. Theflightcrewselectstheabortmodeby positioninganabortmodeswitchand depressinganabortpushbutton.
(STS-51) Aug. 12, 1993

ThecountdownforDiscoverysthirdlaunch attemptendedattheT3secondmarkwhen onboardcomputersdetectedthefailureofone offoursensorsinmainengineNo.2which monitortheflowofhydrogenfueltothe engine.AllofDiscoverysmainengineswere orderedreplacedonthelaunchpad,delaying theshuttlesfourthlaunchattemptuntil Sept.12,1993.
(STS-68) Aug. 18, 1994

ThecountdownforEndeavoursfirstlaunch attemptended1.9secondsbeforeliftoffwhen onboardcomputersdetectedhigherthan acceptablereadingsinonechannelofasensor monitoringthedischargetemperatureofthe highpressureoxidizerturbopumpinmain engineNo.3.Atestfiringoftheengineatthe StennisSpaceCenterinMississippion September2ndconfirmedthataslightdriftina fuelflowmeterintheenginecausedaslight increaseintheturbopumpstemperature.The testfiringalsoconfirmedaslightlyslowerstart formainengineNo.3duringthepadabort, whichcouldhavecontributedtothehigher temperatures.AfterEndeavourwasbrought backtotheVehicleAssemblyBuildingtobe outfittedwiththreereplacementengines, NASAmanagerssetOct.2asthedatefor Endeavourssecondlaunchattempt.
SHUTTLE ABORT HISTORY

RSLS Abort History: (STS-41 D) June 26, 1984
Thecountdownforthesecondlaunchattempt forDiscoverysmaidenflightendedatT4 secondswhentheorbiterscomputersdetected asluggishvalveinmainengineNo.3.Themain enginewasreplacedandDiscoverywasfinally launchedonAug.30,1984.
(STS-51 F) July 12, 1985

ThecountdownforChallengerslaunchwas haltedatT3secondswhenonboard computersdetectedaproblemwithacoolant valveonmainengineNo.2.Thevalvewas replacedandChallengerwaslaunchedon July29,1985.
(STS-55) March 22, 1993

ThecountdownforColumbiaslaunchwas haltedbyonboardcomputersatT3seconds
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Themainengineoperatesatgreater temperatureextremesthananymechanical systemincommonusetoday.Thefuel, liquefiedhydrogenat423degreesFahrenheit (253degreesCelsius),isthesecondcoldest liquidonEarth.Whenitandtheliquidoxygen arecombusted,thetemperatureinthemain combustionchamberis6,000degrees Fahrenheit(3,316degreesCelsius),hotterthan theboilingpointofiron. Themainenginesuseastagedcombustion cyclesothatallpropellantsenteringtheengines areusedtoproducethrustorpowermore efficientlythananypreviousrocketengine.In astagedcombustioncycle,propellantsarefirst burnedpartiallyathighpressureandrelatively lowtemperaturethenburnedcompletelyat hightemperatureandpressureinthemain combustionchamber.Therapidmixingofthe propellantsundertheseconditionsisso completethat99percentofthefuelisburned. Atnormaloperatinglevel,theenginesgenerate 490,847poundsofthrust(measuredina vacuum).Fullpoweris512,900poundsof thrust;minimumpoweris316,100poundsof thrust. Theenginecanbethrottledbyvaryingthe outputofthepreburners,thusvaryingthe speedofthehighpressureturbopumpsand, therefore,theflowofthepropellant. Atabout26secondsintolaunch,themain enginesarethrottleddownto316,000pounds ofthrusttokeepthedynamicpressureonthe vehiclebelowaspecifiedlevelabout 580poundspersquarefootormaxq.Then,the enginesarethrottledbackuptonormal operatinglevelatabout60seconds.This reducesstressonthevehicle.
Abort to Orbit History: (STS-51 F) July 29, 1985

AfteranRSLSabortonJuly12,1985, ChallengerwaslaunchedonJuly29,1985.Five minutesand45secondsafterlaunch,asensor problemresultedintheshutdownofcenter engineNo.1,resultinginasafeaborttoorbit andsuccessfulcompletionofthemission.
SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINES

Developedinthe1970sbyNASAsMarshall SpaceFlightCenterinHuntsville,Ala.,the spaceshuttlemainengineisthemostadvanced liquidfueledrocketengineeverbuilt.Every spaceshuttlemainengineistestedandproven flightworthyatNASAsStennisSpaceCenter insouthMississippi,beforeinstallationonan orbiter.Itsmainfeaturesincludevariable thrust,highperformancereusability,high redundancyandafullyintegratedengine controller. Theshuttlesthreemainenginesaremounted ontheorbiteraftfuselageinatriangular pattern.Spacedsothattheyaremovable duringlaunch,theenginesareusedin conjunctionwiththesolidrocketboostersto steertheshuttlevehicle. Eachofthesepowerfulmainenginesis14feet (4.2meters)long,weighsabout7,000pounds (3,150kilograms)andis7.5feet(2.25meters)in diameterattheendofitsnozzle. Theenginesoperateforabout8minutes duringliftoffandascentburningmorethan 500,000gallons(1.9millionliters)ofsupercold liquidhydrogenandliquidoxygenpropellants storedinthehugeexternaltankattachedtothe undersideoftheshuttle.Theenginesshut downjustbeforetheshuttle,travelingatabout 17,000mph(28,000kilometersperhour), reachesorbit.
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throatmaincombustionchamberthatimproves theenginesreliabilitybyreducingpressure andtemperatureinthechamber. Aftertheorbiterlands,theenginesareremoved andreturnedtoaprocessingfacilityat KennedySpaceCenter,Fla.,wheretheyare recheckedandreadiedforthenextflight.Some componentsarereturnedtothemainengines primecontractor,Pratt&WhitneyRocketDyne, WestPalmBeach,Fla.,forregularmaintenance. Themainenginesaredesignedtooperatefor 7.5accumulatedhours.
Themainenginesarethrottleddownagainat aboutsevenminutes,40secondsintothe missiontomaintainthreegsthreetimesthe Earthsgravitationalpullagainreducing stressonthecrewandthevehicle.This accelerationlevelisaboutonethirdthe accelerationexperiencedonpreviouscrewed spacevehicles. About10secondsbeforemainenginecutoffor MECO,thecutoffsequencebegins;aboutthree secondslaterthemainenginesarecommanded tobeginthrottlingat10percentthrustper secondto65percentthrust.Thisisheldfor about6.7seconds,andtheenginesareshut down. Theengineperformancehasthehighestthrust foritsweightofanyengineyetdeveloped.In fact,onespaceshuttlemainenginegenerates sufficientthrusttomaintaintheflightof2 747airplanes. Thespaceshuttlemainengineisalsothefirst rocketenginetouseabuiltinelectronicdigital controller,orcomputer.Thecontrollerwill acceptcommandsfromtheorbiterforengine start,changeinthrottle,shutdown,and monitorengineoperation.Intheeventofa failure,thecontrollerautomaticallycorrectsthe problemorsafelyshutsdowntheengine. NASAcontinuestoincreasethereliabilityand safetyofshuttleflightsthroughaseriesof enhancementstothespaceshuttlemain engines.Theenginesweremodifiedin1988, 1995,1998and2001.Modificationsincludenew highpressurefuelandoxidizerturbopumps thatreducemaintenanceandoperatingcostsof theengine,atwoductpowerheadthatreduces pressureandturbulenceintheengine,anda singlecoilheatexchangerthatlowersthe numberofpostflightinspectionsrequired. Anothermodificationincorporatesalarge
SPACE SHUTTLE SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS

ThetwoSRBsprovidethemainthrusttoliftthe spaceshuttleoffthepadanduptoanaltitude ofabout150,000feet,or24nauticalmiles (28statutemiles).Inaddition,thetwoSRBs carrytheentireweightoftheexternaltankand orbiterandtransmittheweightloadthrough theirstructuretothemobilelauncherplatform. Eachboosterhasathrust(sealevel)ofabout 3,300,000poundsatlaunch.Theyareignited afterthethreespaceshuttlemainengines thrustlevelisverified.ThetwoSRBsprovide 71.4percentofthethrustatliftoffandduring firststageascent.Seventyfivesecondsafter SRBseparation,SRBapogeeoccursatan altitudeofabout220,000feet,or35nautical miles(40statutemiles).SRBimpactoccursin theoceanabout122nauticalmiles(140statute miles)downrange. TheSRBsarethelargestsolidpropellant motorseverflownandthefirstdesignedfor reuse.Eachis149.16feetlongand12.17feetin diameter. EachSRBweighsabout1,300,000poundsat launch.Thepropellantforeachsolidrocket
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anomalyoccurredinacriticalweldbetweenthe holddownpostandskinoftheskirt.A redesignwasimplementedtoadd reinforcementbracketsandfittingsintheaft ringoftheskirt. Thesetwomodificationsaddedabout 450poundstotheweightofeachSRB. ThepropellantmixtureineachSRBmotor consistsofanammoniumperchlorate(oxidizer, 69.6percentbyweight),aluminum(fuel, 16percent),ironoxide(acatalyst,0.4percent),a polymer(abinderthatholdsthemixture together,12.04percent),andanepoxycuring agent(1.96percent).Thepropellantisan 11pointstarshapedperforationintheforward motorsegmentandadoubletruncatedcone perforationineachoftheaftsegmentsandaft closure.Thisconfigurationprovideshigh thrustatignitionandthenreducesthethrustby aboutathird50secondsafterliftofftoprevent overstressingthevehicleduringmaximum dynamicpressure. TheSRBsareusedasmatchedpairsandeachis madeupoffoursolidrocketmotorsegments. Thepairsarematchedbyloadingeachofthe fourmotorsegmentsinpairsfromthesame batchesofpropellantingredientstominimize anythrustimbalance.Thesegmentedcasing designassuresmaximumflexibilityin fabricationandeaseoftransportationand handling.Eachsegmentisshippedtothe launchsiteonaheavydutyrailcarwitha speciallybuiltcover. Thenozzleexpansionratioofeachbooster beginningwiththeSTS8missionis7to79. Thenozzleisgimbaledforthrustvector (direction)control.EachSRBhasitsown redundantauxiliarypowerunitsandhydraulic pumps.Theallaxisgimbalingcapabilityis 8degrees.Eachnozzlehasacarbonclothliner
motorweighsabout1,100,000pounds.The inertweightofeachSRBisabout 192,000pounds. Primaryelementsofeachboosterarethemotor (includingcase,propellant,igniterandnozzle), structure,separationsystems,operationalflight instrumentation,recoveryavionics, pyrotechnics,decelerationsystem,thrustvector controlsystemandrangesafetydestruct system. Eachboosterisattachedtotheexternaltankat theSRBsaftframebytwolateralswaybraces andadiagonalattachment.Theforwardendof eachSRBisattachedtotheexternaltankatthe forwardendoftheSRBsforwardskirt.Onthe launchpad,eachboosteralsoisattachedtothe mobilelauncherplatformattheaftskirtbyfour boltsandnutsthatareseveredbysmall explosivesatliftoff. DuringthedowntimefollowingtheChallenger accident,detailedstructuralanalyseswere performedoncriticalstructuralelementsofthe SRB.Analyseswereprimarilyfocusedinareas whereanomalieshadbeennotedduring postflightinspectionofrecoveredhardware. Oneoftheareaswastheattachringwherethe SRBsareconnectedtotheexternaltank.Areas ofdistresswerenotedinsomeofthefasteners wheretheringattachestotheSRBmotorcase. Thissituationwasattributedtothehighloads encounteredduringwaterimpact.Tocorrect thesituationandensurehigherstrength marginsduringascent,theattachringwas redesignedtoencirclethemotorcase completely(360degrees). Previously,theattachringformedaCand encircledthemotorcase270degrees. Additionally,specialstructuraltestsweredone ontheaftskirt.Duringthistestprogram,an
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LocationaidsareprovidedforeachSRB, frustum/droguechutesandmainparachutes. Theseincludeatransmitter,antenna, strobe/converter,batteryandsaltwaterswitch electronics.Thelocationaidsaredesignedfora minimumoperatinglifeof72hoursandwhen refurbishedareconsideredusableupto 20times.Theflashinglightisanexception.It hasanoperatinglifeof280hours.Thebattery isusedonlyonce. TheSRBnosecapsandnozzleextensionsare notrecovered. TherecoverycrewretrievestheSRBs, frustum/droguechutes,andmainparachutes. Thenozzlesareplugged,thesolidrocket motorsaredewatered,andtheSRBsaretowed backtothelaunchsite.Eachboosteris removedfromthewater,anditscomponents aredisassembledandwashedwithfreshand deionizedwatertolimitsaltwatercorrosion. Themotorsegments,igniterandnozzleare shippedbacktoATKThiokolfor refurbishment. EachSRBincorporatesarangesafetysystem thatincludesabatterypowersource, receiver/decoder,antennasandordnance.
thaterodesandcharsduringfiring.Thenozzle isaconvergentdivergent,movabledesignin whichanaftpivotpointflexiblebearingisthe gimbalmechanism. Theconeshapedaftskirtreactstheaftloads betweentheSRBandthemobilelauncher platform.Thefouraftseparationmotorsare mountedontheskirt.Theaftsectioncontains avionics,athrustvectorcontrolsystemthat consistsoftwoauxiliarypowerunitsand hydraulicpumps,hydraulicsystemsanda nozzleextensionjettisonsystem. Theforwardsectionofeachboostercontains avionics,asequencer,forwardseparation motors,anoseconeseparationsystem,drogue andmainparachutes,arecoverybeacon,a recoverylight,aparachutecameraonselected flightsandarangesafetysystem. EachSRBhastwointegratedelectronic assemblies,oneforwardandoneaft.After burnout,theforwardassemblyinitiatesthe releaseofthenosecapandfrustum,atransition piecebetweenthenoseconeandsolidrocket motor,andturnsontherecoveryaids.Theaft assembly,mountedintheexternaltank/SRB attachring,connectswiththeforwardassembly andtheorbiteravionicssystemsforSRB ignitioncommandsandnozzlethrustvector control.Eachintegratedelectronicassembly hasamultiplexer/demultiplexer,whichsends orreceivesmorethanonemessage,signalor unitofinformationonasinglecommunication channel. Eightboosterseparationmotors(fourinthe nosefrustumandfourintheaftskirt)ofeach SRBthrustfor1.02secondsatSRBseparation fromtheexternaltank.Eachsolidrocket separationmotoris31.1incheslongand 12.8inchesindiameter.
Hold-Down Posts
Eachsolidrocketboosterhasfourholddown poststhatfitintocorrespondingsupportposts onthemobilelauncherplatform.Holddown boltsholdtheSRBandlauncherplatformposts together.Eachbolthasanutateachend,but onlythetopnutisfrangible.Thetopnut containstwoNASAstandarddetonators (NSDs),whichareignitedatsolidrocketmotor ignitioncommands. WhenthetwoNSDsareignitedateachhold down,theholddownbolttravelsdownward becauseofthereleaseoftensioninthebolt
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forthePICs.ThearmsignalchargesthePIC capacitorto40voltsdc(minimumof20volts dc). Thefire2commandscausetheredundant NSDstofirethroughathinbarriersealdowna flametunnel.Thisignitesapyrobooster charge,whichisretainedinthesafeandarm devicebehindaperforatedplate.Thebooster chargeignitesthepropellantintheigniter initiator;andcombustionproductsofthis propellantignitethesolidrocketmotor initiator,whichfiresdownthelengthofthe solidrocketmotorignitingthesolidrocket motorpropellant. TheGPClaunchsequencealsocontrolscertain criticalmainpropulsionsystemvalvesand monitorstheenginereadyindicationsfromthe SSMEs.TheMPSstartcommandsareissuedby theonboardcomputersatTminus6.6seconds (staggeredstartenginethree,enginetwo, engineoneallaboutwithin0.25ofasecond), andthesequencemonitorsthethrustbuildup ofeachengine.AllthreeSSMEsmustreachthe required90percentthrustwithinthreeseconds; otherwise,anorderlyshutdowniscommanded andsafingfunctionsareinitiated. Normalthrustbuilduptotherequired90 percentthrustlevelwillresultintheSSMEs beingcommandedtotheliftoffpositionat Tminusthreesecondsaswellasthefire1 commandbeingissuedtoarmtheSRBs.At Tminusthreeseconds,thevehiclebase bendingloadmodesareallowedtoinitialize (movementof25.5inchesmeasuredatthetipof theexternaltank,withmovementtowardsthe externaltank). AtTminuszero,thetwoSRBsareignited undercommandofthefouronboard computers;separationofthefourexplosive boltsoneachSRBisinitiated(eachboltis28
(pretensionedbeforelaunch),NSDgaspressure andgravity.Theboltisstoppedbythestud decelerationstand,whichcontainssand.The SRBboltis28incheslongand3.5inchesin diameter.Thefrangiblenutiscapturedina blastcontainer. Thesolidrocketmotorignitioncommandsare issuedbytheorbiterscomputersthroughthe mastereventscontrollerstotheholddown pyrotechnicinitiatorcontrollersonthemobile launcherplatform.Theyprovidetheignitionto theholddownNSDs.Thelaunchprocessing systemmonitorstheSRBholddownPICsfor lowvoltageduringthelast16secondsbefore launch.PIClowvoltagewillinitiatealaunch hold.
SRB Ignition
SRBignitioncanoccuronlywhenamanual lockpinfromeachSRBsafeandarmdevicehas beenremoved.Thegroundcrewremovesthe pinduringprelaunchactivities.AtTminus fiveminutes,theSRBsafeandarmdeviceis rotatedtothearmposition.Thesolidrocket motorignitioncommandsareissuedwhenthe threeSSMEsareatorabove90percentrated thrust,noSSMEfailand/orSRBignitionPIC lowvoltageisindicatedandtherearenoholds fromtheLPS. Thesolidrocketmotorignitioncommandsare sentbytheorbitercomputersthroughthe MECstothesafeandarmdeviceNSDsineach SRB.APICsinglechannelcapacitordischarge devicecontrolsthefiringofeachpyrotechnic device.Threesignalsmustbepresent simultaneouslyforthePICtogeneratethepyro firingoutput.Thesesignalsarm,fire1and fire2originateintheorbitergeneralpurpose computersandaretransmittedtotheMECs. TheMECsreformatthemto28voltdcsignals
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ThetwosystemsoperatefromTminus 28secondsuntilSRBseparationfromthe orbiterandexternaltank.Thetwoindependent hydraulicsystemsareconnectedtotherock andtiltservoactuators. TheAPUcontrollerelectronicsarelocatedin theSRBaftintegratedelectronicassemblieson theaftexternaltankattachrings. TheAPUsandtheirfuelsystemsareisolated fromeachother.Eachfuelsupplymodule (tank)contains22poundsofhydrazine.The fueltankispressurizedwithgaseousnitrogen at400psi,whichprovidestheforcetoexpel (positiveexpulsion)thefuelfromthetankto thefueldistributionline,maintainingapositive fuelsupplytotheAPUthroughoutits operation. ThefuelisolationvalveisopenedatAPU startuptoallowfueltoflowtotheAPUfuel pumpandcontrolvalvesandthentothegas generator.Thegasgeneratorscatalyticaction decomposesthefuelandcreatesahotgas.It feedsthehotgasexhaustproducttotheAPU twostagegasturbine.Fuelflowsprimarily throughthestartupbypasslineuntiltheAPU speedissuchthatthefuelpumpoutletpressure isgreaterthanthebypasslines.Thenallthe fuelissuppliedtothefuelpump. TheAPUturbineassemblyprovides mechanicalpowertotheAPUgearbox.The gearboxdrivestheAPUfuelpump,hydraulic pumpandlubeoilpump.TheAPUlubeoil pumplubricatesthegearbox.Theturbine exhaustofeachAPUflowsovertheexteriorof thegasgenerator,coolingit,andisthen directedoverboardthroughanexhaustduct. WhentheAPUspeedreaches100percent,the APUprimarycontrolvalvecloses,andtheAPU speediscontrolledbytheAPUcontroller
incheslongand3.5inchesindiameter);thetwo T0umbilicals(oneoneachsideofthe spacecraft)areretracted;theonboardmaster timingunit,eventtimerandmissionevent timersarestarted;thethreeSSMEsareat 100percent;andthegroundlaunchsequenceis terminated. Thesolidrocketmotorthrustprofileistailored toreducethrustduringthemaximumdynamic pressureregion.
Electrical Power Distribution

ElectricalpowerdistributionineachSRB consistsoforbitersuppliedmaindcbuspower toeachSRBviaSRBbusesA,BandC.Orbiter maindcbusesA,BandCsupplymaindcbus powertocorrespondingSRBbusesA,BandC. Inaddition,orbitermaindcbusCsupplies backuppowertoSRBbusesAandB,and orbiterbusBsuppliesbackuppowertoSRBbus C.Thiselectricalpowerdistribution arrangementallowsallSRBbusestoremain poweredintheeventoneorbitermainbusfails. Thenominaldcvoltageis28voltsdc,withan upperlimitof32voltsdcandalowerlimitof 24voltsdc.
Hydraulic Power Units

Therearetwoselfcontained,independent HPUsoneachSRB.EachHPUconsistsofan auxiliarypowerunit,fuelsupplymodule, hydraulicpump,hydraulicreservoirand hydraulicfluidmanifoldassembly.TheAPUs arefueledbyhydrazineandgenerate mechanicalshaftpowertoahydraulicpump thatproduceshydraulicpressurefortheSRB hydraulicsystem.ThetwoseparateHPUsand twohydraulicsystemsarelocatedontheaft endofeachSRBbetweentheSRBnozzleand aftskirt.TheHPUcomponentsaremountedon theaftskirtbetweentherockandtiltactuators.
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Thespaceshuttleascentthrustvectorcontrol portionoftheflightcontrolsystemdirectsthe thrustofthethreeshuttlemainenginesandthe twoSRBnozzlestocontrolshuttleattitudeand trajectoryduringliftoffandascent.Commands fromtheguidancesystemaretransmittedtothe ATVCdrivers,whichtransmitsignals proportionaltothecommandstoeach servoactuatorofthemainenginesandSRBs. Fourindependentflightcontrolsystem channelsandfourATVCchannelscontrolsix mainengineandfourSRBATVCdrivers,with eachdrivercontrollingonehydraulicporton eachmainandSRBservoactuator. EachSRBservoactuatorconsistsoffour independent,twostageservovalvesthat receivesignalsfromthedrivers.Each servovalvecontrolsonepowerspoolineach actuator,whichpositionsanactuatorramand thenozzletocontrolthedirectionofthrust. Thefourservovalvesineachactuatorprovidea forcesummedmajorityvotingarrangementto positionthepowerspool.Withfouridentical commandstothefourservovalves,theactuator forcesumactionpreventsasingleerroneous commandfromaffectingpowerrammotion.If theerroneouscommandpersistsformorethan apredeterminedtime,differentialpressure sensingactivatesaselectorvalvetoisolateand removethedefectiveservovalvehydraulic pressure,permittingtheremainingchannels andservovalvestocontroltheactuatorram spool. Failuremonitorsareprovidedforeachchannel toindicatewhichchannelhasbeenbypassed. Anisolationvalveoneachchannelprovidesthe capabilityofresettingafailedorbypassed channel. Eachactuatorramisequippedwithtransducers forpositionfeedbacktothethrustvector
electronics.Iftheprimarycontrolvalvelogic failstotheopenstate,thesecondarycontrol valveassumescontroloftheAPUat112 percentspeed. EachHPUonanSRBisconnectedtoboth servoactuatorsonthatSRB.OneHPUservesas theprimaryhydraulicsourceforthe servoactuator,andtheotherHPUservesasthe secondaryhydraulicsfortheservoactuator. Eachservoactuatorhasaswitchingvalvethat allowsthesecondaryhydraulicstopowerthe actuatoriftheprimaryhydraulicpressure dropsbelow2,050psi.Aswitchcontactonthe switchingvalvewillclosewhenthevalveisin thesecondaryposition.Whenthevalveis closed,asignalissenttotheAPUcontroller thatinhibitsthe100percentAPUspeedcontrol logicandenablesthe112percentAPUspeed controllogic.The100percentAPUspeed enablesoneAPU/HPUtosupplysufficient operatinghydraulicpressuretoboth servoactuatorsofthatSRB. TheAPU100percentspeedcorrespondsto 72,000rpm,110percentto79,200rpm,and 112percentto80,640rpm. Thehydraulicpumpspeedis3,600rpmand supplieshydraulicpressureof3,050,plusor minus50,psi.Ahighpressurereliefvalve providesoverpressureprotectiontothe hydraulicsystemandrelievesat3,750psi. TheAPUs/HPUsandhydraulicsystemsare reusablefor20missions.
Thrust Vector Control

EachSRBhastwohydraulicgimbal servoactuators:oneforrockandonefortilt. Theservoactuatorsprovidetheforceand controltogimbalthenozzleforthrustvector control.
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TheSRBsseparatefromtheexternaltank within30millisecondsoftheordnancefiring command. Theforwardattachmentpointconsistsofaball (SRB)andsocket(ET)heldtogetherbyonebolt. TheboltcontainsoneNSDpressurecartridgeat eachend.Theforwardattachmentpointalso carriestherangesafetysystemcrossstrap wiringconnectingeachSRBRSSandtheET RSSwitheachother. Theaftattachmentpointsconsistofthree separatestruts:upper,diagonalandlower. EachstrutcontainsoneboltwithanNSD pressurecartridgeateachend.Theupperstrut alsocarriestheumbilicalinterfacebetweenits SRBandtheexternaltankandontotheorbiter. Therearefourboosterseparationmotorson eachendofeachSRB.TheBSMsseparatethe SRBsfromtheexternaltank.Thesolidrocket motorsineachclusteroffourareignitedby firingredundantNSDpressurecartridgesinto redundantconfineddetonatingfusemanifolds. Theseparationcommandsissuedfromthe orbiterbytheSRBseparationsequenceinitiate theredundantNSDpressurecartridgeineach boltandignitetheBSMstoeffectaclean separation.
controlsystem.Withineachservoactuatorram isasplashdownloadreliefassemblytocushion thenozzleatwatersplashdownandprevent damagetothenozzleflexiblebearing.
SRB Rate Gyro Assemblies

EachSRBcontainstwoRGAs,witheachRGA containingonepitchandoneyawgyro.These provideanoutputproportionaltoangularrates aboutthepitchandyawaxestotheorbiter computersandguidance,navigationand controlsystemduringfirststageascentflightin conjunctionwiththeorbiterrollrategyrosuntil SRBseparation.AtSRBseparation,a switchoverismadefromtheSRBRGAstothe orbiterRGAs. TheSRBRGAratespassthroughtheorbiter flightaftmultiplexers/demultiplexerstothe orbiterGPCs.TheRGAratesarethenmid valueselectedinredundancymanagementto provideSRBpitchandyawratestotheuser software.TheRGAsaredesignedfor 20missions.
SRB Separation
SRBseparationisinitiatedwhenthethreesolid rocketmotorchamberpressuretransducersare processedintheredundancymanagement middlevalueselectandtheheadendchamber pressureofbothSRBsislessthanorequalto 50psi.Abackupcueisthetimeelapsedfrom boosterignition. Theseparationsequenceisinitiated, commandingthethrustvectorcontrolactuators tothenullpositionandputtingthemain propulsionsystemintoasecondstage configuration(0.8secondfromsequence initialization),whichensuresthethrustofeach SRBislessthan100,000pounds.Orbiteryaw attitudeisheldforfourseconds,andSRBthrust dropstolessthan60,000pounds.
SPACE SHUTTLE SUPER LIGHT WEIGHT TANK (SLWT)

Thesuperlightweightexternaltank(SLWT) madeitsfirstshuttleflightJune2,1998,on missionSTS91.TheSLWTis7,500pounds lighterthanthestandardexternaltank.The lighterweighttankallowstheshuttletodeliver InternationalSpaceStationelements(suchas theservicemodule)intotheproperorbit. TheSLWTisthesamesizeastheprevious design.Buttheliquidhydrogentankandthe
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The154footlongexternaltankisthelargest singlecomponentofthespaceshuttle.Itstands tallerthana15storybuildingandhasa diameterofabout27feet.Theexternaltank holdsover530,000gallonsofliquidhydrogen andliquidoxygenintwoseparatetanks.The hydrogen(fuel)andliquidoxygen(oxidizer) areusedaspropellantsfortheshuttlesthree mainengines.
liquidoxygentankaremadeofaluminum lithium,alighter,strongermaterialthanthe metalalloyusedfortheshuttlescurrenttank. Thetanksstructuraldesignhasalsobeen improved,makingit30percentstrongerand 5percentlessdense. TheSLWT,likethestandardtank,is manufacturedatMichoudAssembly,near NewOrleans,byLockheedMartin.
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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

A/L AA AAA ABC AC ACBM ACO ACS ACSM ACU ADO ADSEP ADVASC ADVASCGC AEA AFD AJIS AKA APAS APCU APDS APFR APM APPCM APS AR ARCU ARIS ARS ASCR ATA ATCS ATU AUAI AVU AVV BA BBC BC Airlock AntennaAssembly AvionicsAirAssembly AudioBusCoupler AssemblyComplete ActiveCommonBerthingMechanism AssemblyandCheckoutOfficer AtmosphereControlandSupply AttitudeControlSystemModing ArmComputerUnit AdaptationDataOverlay AdvancedSeparation AdvancedAstroculture AdvancedAstrocultureGrowthChamber AntennaElectronicsAssembly AftFlightDeck AlphaJointInterfaceStructure ActiveKeelAssembly AndrogynousPeripheralAttachmentSystem AssemblyPowerConverterUnit AndrogynousPeripheralDockingSystem ArticulatingPortableFootRestraint AttachedPressurizedModule ArmPitchPlaneChangeMode AutomatedPayloadSwitch AtmosphereRevitalization AmericantoRussianConverterUnit ActiveRackIsolationSystem AirRevitalizationSystem AssuredSafeCrewReturn AmmoniaTankAssembly ActiveThermalControlSystem AudioTerminalUnit AssembleContingencySystem/UHFAudioInterface ArtificialVisionUnit AccumulatorVentValve BearingAssembly BusBoltController BusController
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ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS
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BatteryCharge/DischargeUnit BackupControllerUnit BackupDriveUnit BetaGimbal BetaGimbalAssembly BetaGimbalDeploymentTransitionStructure BetaGimbalHousingSubassembly BuiltInTest BuiltInTestEquipment BearingMotorandRollRingModule BoneMarrowMacrophagesinSpace BottomRightSide BasebandSignalProcessor BoltTightSwitch CommandandControl CommandandDataHandling ControlandMonitor CommunicationandTracking CautionandWarning Coarse/Acquisitioncode CrewLock ControlAttitude CommonAttachSystem CommonBerthingMechanism CellularBiotechnologyOperatingScienceSystem CommonCabinAirAssembly CommercialCassetteExperiment CursorControlDevice ConcentricCableManagementSystem CommunicationandControlSystem ClosedCircuitTelevision CommonDisplayDevelopmentTeam CarbonDioxideRemovalAssembly CommandandDataSoftware CrewandEquipmentTranslationAid ControlElectronicsUnit CircularFanAssembly CommercialGenericBioprocessingApparatus CrewHealthCareSystem CondensingHeatExchanger CircuitInterruptDevice CargoIntegrationandOperationsBranch
BCDU BCU BDU BG BGA BGDTS BGHS BIT BITE BMRRM BONEMAC BRS BSP BTS C&C C&DH C&M C&T C&W C/Acode C/L CA CAS CBM CBOSS CCAA CCASE CCD CCMS CCS CCTV CDDT CDRA CDS CETA CEU CFA CGBA CHeCS CHX CID CIOB
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CameraandLightAssembly CameraLightandPan/TiltAssembly ControlMomentGyroscope ControlMomentGyroscopeThrusterAssist CarbonDioxide CrewOpticalAlignmentSight CommunicationOutageRecorder CommercialOffTheShelf ColdPlate CommercialProteinCrystalGrowthHigh ChangeRequest CorrosionResistantSteel CommercialRefrigeratorIncubatorModule CommercialRefrigeratorIncubatorModuleModified CanadianRemotePowerControllerModule ComputerSystemsArchitecture CompoundSpecificAnalyzerCombustionProducts ComputerSoftwareConfigurationItem CargoSystemsManual CargoTransferBag CommonVideoInterfaceUnit CurrentValueTable CarbonDioxideVentValve ContingencyWaterCollection DockedAudioInterfaceUnit DigitalAutopilot DockingCompartment directcurrent DisplayandControlPanel DirectCurrentSwitchingUnit DCtoDCConverterUnit DCtoDCConverterUnitColdPlate ExternalDDCU DCtoDCConverterUnitHeatPipe InternalDDCU DataFormatLoad DriveLockingAssembly DockingMechanismControlUnit DataManagementSystemRussian deltapressure/deltatime DigitalPreassembly DataProcessingSystem
CLA CLPA CMG CMGTA CO2 COAS COR COTS CP CPCGH CR CRES CRIM CRIMM CRPCM CSA CSACP CSCI CSM CTB CVIU CVT CVV CWC DAIU DAP DC dc DCP DCSU DDCU DDCUCP DDCUE DDCUHP DDCUI DFL DLA DMCU DMSR dp/dt DPA DPS
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DevelopmentTestObjective DigitalTelevision EquipmentLock EmergencyStop EMUAudioControlPanel EMUAudioInterfaceUnit EarlyAmmoniaServicer ExternalActiveThermalControlSubsystem EnvironmentalControlandLifeSupportSystem ElectronicsControlUnit EngagementDrive ExternalManeuveringUnitDon/DoffAssembly EarlyExternalActiveThermalControlSystem ExperimentElapsedTime EarlyExternalThermalControlSystem ElectricalFlightreleasableGrappleFixture ElectricalGenerationandIntegratedLightingSystemsEngineer ElectricalInterfaceAssembly EmergencyManualPressureEqualizationValue ExtravehicularMobilityUnit EVAOhmmeterAssembly ElectricalPowerConsumingEquipment ElectricalPowerGenerator ElectricalPowerSystem EdgeRouter ExternalSamplingAdapter ExternalStowagePlatform EnhancedSpaceStationMultiplexer/Demultiplexer EndStopUnit ExternalThermalControlSystem ElapsedTimeIndicator EVATemporaryRailStop EVAToolStorageDevice ExternalTelevisionCamerasGroup ExperimentUniqueEquipment Extravehicular ExtravehicularChargedParticleDirectionalSpectrometer ExtravehicularActivity ExtravehicularRobotics ExternalVideoSwitchingUnit EXpeditethePRocessingofExperimentstotheSpaceStation ExperimentalTerminal
DTO DTV E/L EStop EACP EAIU EAS EATCS ECLSS ECU ED EDDA EEATCS EET EETCS EFGF EGIL EIA EMPEV EMU EOA EPCE EPG EPS ER ESA ESP ESSMDM ESU ETCS ETI ETRS ETSD ETVCG EUE EV EVCPDS EVA EVR EVSU EXPRESS EXT
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ExternalWirelessInstrumentationSystem FlightAssignmentWorkingGroup FirmwareController FlatControllerCircuit FlightControlTeam FlowControlValve FlightDay FaultDetectionAnnunciation Failure,Detection,IsolationandRecovery FireDetectionandSuppression FieldEffectTransistor FunctionalCargoBlock FlexHoseRotaryCoupler FaultIsolator FluidPumpingUnit FluidQuickDisconnectCoupling FlightRequirementsDocument FlightReleasableGrappleFixture FlightSupportEquipment FluidSystemServicer FirmwareConfigurationItem GetAwaySpecial GrowthCell GrowthCellAssembly GovernmentFurnishedEquipment GroundFaultInterrupter GLObalNavigationalSatelliteSystem Guidance,NavigationandControl GuidanceNavigationComputer GeneralPurposeComputer GasPressureregulatingValve GlobalPositioningSystem GraphicalUserInterface Hydrogen HabitatModule HandController HollowCathodeAssembly HighRateCommunicationOutageRecorder HighDataRate HighDateRateLink
EWIS FAWG FC FCC FCT FCV FD FDA FDIR FDS FET FGB FHRC FI FPU FQDC FRD FRGF FSE FSS FWCI GAS GC GCA GFE GFI GLONASS GN&C GNC GPC GPRV GPS GUI H2 HAB HC HCA HCOR HDR HDRL
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HighEfficiencyParticulateAir HighGainAntenna HandheldLidar HeatPipe HighPressureGasTank HumanResearchFacility HumanResearchFacilityPuffDataKit HumanResearchFacilityResupply HighRateFrameMultiplexer HighRateModem HandReactionSwitch Interface Input/Output InternalAudioController InternalAudioSubsystem InternalActiveThermalControlSystem IntegratedCargoCarrier IntegratedDiodeAssembly IncrementDefinitionRequirementsDocument IntegratedEquipmentAssembly InterfaceHeatExchanger InflightMaintenance IntegratedMotorControlAssembly IntegratedMissionControlSystem ImpedanceMatchingUnit IntermoduleVentilation InstrumentationandCommunicationOfficer Instrumentation Internal InternalSystems Input/OutputController Input/OutputControllerUnit InternationalPartner InFlightRefillUnit InternalSamplingAdapter IntegratedStationLAN InventoryandStowageOfficer InternationalStandardPayloadRack InternationalSpaceStation InternationalSpaceStationSystemsHandbook IntegratedTruss InternalThermalControlSystem
HEPA HGA HHL HP HPGT HRF HRFPUFDK HRFRes HRFM HRM HRS I/F I/O IAC IAS IATCS ICC IDA IDRD IEA IFHX IFM IMCA IMCS IMU IMV INCO INSTM INT INTSYS IOC IOCU IP IRU ISA ISL ISO ISPR ISS ISSSH IT ITCS
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IntegratedTrussSegment InterfaceUmbilicalAssembly Intravehicular IntravehicularActivity InternalVideoSwitchUnit InternalWirelessInstrumentationSystem JapaneseExperimentModule JointElectronicUnit Kilowatt LaunchAft Laboratory LocalAreaNetwork LocalBus RWSLocalBus LabCradleAssembly LaunchCommitCriteria LiquidCrystalDisplay LocalDataInterface LowDataRate LinearDriveUnit LightEmittingDiode LatchingEndEffector LEEElectronicUnit LoadFaultDetectionProtection LowGainAntenna LowLevelAnalog LightweightMultipurposeCarrier LaunchOnNeed LowTemperature LaunchtoActivation LowTemperatureLoop LoadTransferUnit LocalVerticalLocalHorizontal MechanicalAssembly ManualAugmentedRole MetalBellowsExpander ManualBerthingMechanism MobileRemoteServiceBaseSystem MainBusSwitchingUnit MidcourseCorrection
ITS IUA IV IVA IVSU IWIS JEM JEU kW LA Lab LAN LB LBRWS LCA LCC LCD LDI LDR LDU LED LEE LEU LFDP LGA LLA LMC LON LT LTA LTL LTU LVLH MA MAM MBE MBM MBS MBSU MC
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MajorConstituentAnalyzer MBSCommonAttachSystem MissionControlCenter MissionControlCenterHouston MissionControlCenterMoscow MultifunctionCRTDisplaySystem MotionControlSystem MBSComputerUnit MotorDriveAssembly MiddeckLocker Multiplexer/Demultiplexer MedicalOperations MicroencapsulationElectrostaticProcessingSystem MicroElectromechanicalSystembasedPicoSatelliteInspector MissionEvaluationRoom MissionElapsedTime MetalOxide ManualFlowControlValve MCUHostSoftware ModeIndicatingLightAssembly MissionIntegrationPlan MaterialsInternationalSpaceStationExperiment MultiLayerInsulation Micrometeoroid/OrbitalDebris MissionManagementTeam MissionOperationsDirectorate ManualPressureEqualizationValve MultipurposeLogisticsModule ManipulatorPositioningMechanism ManipulatorRetentionLatch MobileRemoteServicer MassStorageDevice MarshallSpaceFlightCenter MicrogravityScienceGlovebox MobileServicingSystem MobileTransporter MobileTransporterCaptureLatch ModerateTemperatureLoop ModuletoTrussSegment ModuletoTrussSegmentAttachmentSystem MovetoWorksiteNumber
MCA MCAS MCC MCCH MCCM MCDS MCS MCU MDA MDL MDM MEDOPS MEPS MEPSI MER MET METOX MFCV MHS MILA MIP MISSE MLI MM/OD MMT MOD MPEV MPLM MPM MRL MRS MSD MSFC MSG MSS MT MTCL MTL MTS MTSAS MTWsN
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Nitrogen nauticalmile NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration NominalCorrectiveCombinationburn NonCondensableGas NodeControlSoftware NetworkControlUnit NoEarlierThan NitrogenInterfaceAssembly NickelHydrogen NitrogenIntroductionValve NASAStandardInitiator NationalSpaceTransportationSystem NitrogenTankAssembly Oxygen OrbitalCommunicationsAdapter OperationalControlAgreementDocument OperatorCommandedJointPositionMode OperatorCommandedPORMode OperationsandControlSoftware OrbitalDesignIntegrationSystem OrbiterDockingSystem OperationalIncrement OrbiterInterfaceUnit OxygenIsolationValve OnOrbitMaintainableItem OrbitalManeuveringSystem ObservableProteinCrystalGrowthApparatus OSVSPatchPanel Operations OperationsLocalAreaNetwork OptimizedRBarTargetingTechnique OxygenRechargeCompressorAssembly OrbitalReplacementUnit OrbiterSupportEquipment OperationsSupportOfficer OrbiterSpaceVisionSystem ORUTransferDevice OrbiterVehicle PointingandSupport PrecisionCode
N2 n.mi. NASA NCC NCG NCS NCU NET NIA NiH2 NIV NSI NSTS NTA O2 OCA OCAD OCJM OCPM OCS ODIN ODS OI OIU OIV OMI OMS OPCGA OPP Ops OPSLAN ORBT ORCA ORU OSE OSO OSVS OTD OV P&S Pcode
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Payload Photo/Television Port3/Port4 PayloadAttachSystem PortableBreathingApparatus PersonalComputer PressureControlAssembly ProteinCrystallizationApparatusforMicrogravity PassiveCommonBerthingMechanism PowerConverterController ProteinCrystalGrowthSingleThermalEnclosureSystem PersonalComputerMemoryCardInternationalAdapter PressureControlPanel PortableComputerReceptacle PortableComputerSystem PostContactThrusting PlasmaConnectorUnit PumpandControlValvePackage PowerandDataGrappleFixture PayloadDataInterface PayloadDataInterfacePanel PayloadDeploymentandRetrievalSystem PowerDataTransferAssembly PowerDriveUnit PayloadEthernetHubGateway PumpFlowControlSubassembly PortableFireExtinguisher Pump/FanMotorController PlantGenericBioprocessingApparatusStowage PortableGeneralSupportComputer PistolGripTool Power,Heating,Articulation,Lighting,andControlOfficer PrestoredJointPositionAutosequenceMode PayloadBay PumpModule PressurizedMatingAdapter PowerManagementControlUnit PerceptualMotorDeficitsInSpace PayloadMountingPanel Payload/ORUAccommodation PointofReference PowerONSelfTest
P/L P/TV P3/P4 PAS PBA PC PCA PCAM PCBM PCC PCGSTES PCMCIA PCP PCR PCS PCT PCU PCVP PDGF PDI PDIP PDRS PDTA PDU PEHG PFCS PFE PFMC PGBAS PGSC PGT PHALCON PJAM PLB PM PMA PMCU PMDIS PMP POA POR POST
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PlanningPeriod PumpPackageAssembly PrestoredPORAutosequenceMode partialpressureofoxygen PositivePressureReliefValve Precipitate PayloadRetentionDevice PayloadRetentionLatchAssembly ProximityOperations PowerSourceNode PayloadSignalProcessor PayloadTrainingBuffer PassiveThermalControlSystem PortThermalRadiator Pan/TiltUnit Photovoltaic PhotovoltaicControllerApplication PhotovoltaicControllerElement PhotovoltaicControllerUnit PhotovoltaicModule PhotovoltaicRadiator PhotovoltaicRadiatorGrappleFixture PhotovoltaicThermalControlSystem PortableWorkPlatform PortableWaterReservoir PitchYawRoll QuickDisconnect Refrigerator/Freezer RussiantoAmericanConverterUnit RussianAudioInterfaceUnit RandomAccessMemory RheostatAirMixValve RightBlanketBox RemoteBusIsolator RadiatorBeamValve ReinforcedCarbonCarbon ReactionControlSystem RetainerDoorAssembly RadioFrequency RackFlowControlAssembly RadioFrequencyGroup
PP PPA PPAM ppO2 PPRV PPT PRD PRLA ProxOps PSN PSP PTB PTCS PTR PTU PV PVCA PVCE PVCU PVM PVR PVRGF PVTCS PWP PWR PYR QD R/F RACU RAIU RAM RAMV RBB RBI RBVM RCC RCS RDA RF RFCA RFG
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RateGyroAssemblies RotationalHandController RegenerativeHeatExchanger RackInterfaceController RotaryJointMotorController RemoteManipulatorSystem RussianOrbitalSegment RemotePowerController RemotePowerControllerModule RemotePowerDistributionAssembly RbarPitchManeuver RendezvousandProximityOperationsProgram RussianSegment RMSSideviewCamera ResupplyStowagePlatform ResupplyStowageRack RackStandaloneTemperatureSensor RollerSuspensionUnit RemoteSensingUnit RemoteTerminal ReactionTimeBox RocketdyneTrussAttachmentSystem ResistiveThermalDevice ReadytoLatch RoboticWorkstation Starboard StructuresandMechanisms SolarArray SolarArrayBlanketBox SpaceArabidoposisGenomicsExperiment SolarAlphaRotaryJoint SARJController SARJManager SbandAntennaSupportAssembly SolarArrayWing SwitchgearControllerAssembly SignalConditioningInterface ServiceandCoolingUmbilical SmokeDetector SolenoidDriverOutput SampleDeliverySystem ShuntElectronicsModule
RGA RHC RHX RIC RJMC RMS ROS RPC RPCM RPDA RPM RPOP RS RSC RSP RSR RSTS RSU RT RTBox RTAS RTD RTL RWS S S&M SA SABB SAGE SARJ SARJ_C SARJ_M SASA SAW SCA SCI SCU SD SDO SDS SEM
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SecondaryElectricalPowerSubsystem SystemFlowControlAssembly SquibFiringUnit SpacetoGroundAntenna SpacehabOceaneeringSpaceSystem SpaceHardwareOptimizationTechnology SpaceIntegratedGlobalPositioningSystem/InertialNavigationSystem SingleJointRateMode SpacelabDataProcessing SpacelabLogisticsPallet ServiceModule ShuttleMissionControlCenter ServiceModuleDebrisPanel StateofCharge ShutoffValve ServicingPerformanceandCheckoutEquipment SpoolPositioningDevice SecondaryPowerDistributionAssembly SpecialPurposeDexterousManipulator SinglePointGround ShuttleRemoteManipulatorSystem SegmenttoSegmentAttachSystem SpaceStationBufferAmplifier StationSupportComputer SpaceStationMultiplexer/Demultiplexer SpacetoSpaceOrbiterRatio StandardSwitchPanel SpaceStationRemoteManipulatorSystem SpaceShuttleSystemsHandbook SpacetoSpaceStationRadio SequentialShuntUnit StarboardThermalControlRadiator SingleThermalEnclosureSystem StarboardThermalRadiator SpaceVisionSystem ThrusterAssist TriaxialAccelerometerAssembly TrayActuationHandle TrundleBearingAssembly TerminalComputer TraceContaminantControlSubassembly TemperatureControlandCheckValve
SEPS SFCA SFU SGANT SHOSS SHOT SIGI SJRM SLDP SLP SM SMCC SMDP SOC SOV SPCE SPD SPDA SPDM SPG SRMS SSAS SSBA SSC SSMDM SSOR SSP SSRMS SSSH SSSR SSU STCR STES STR SVS TA TAA TAH TBA TC TCCS TCCV
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TrajectoryControlSensor TranslationDrive TrackingandDataRelaySatellite TrackingandDataRelaySatelliteSystem TorqueEquilibriumAttitude TranslationFootRestraint TemperatureandHumidityControl ThermalOperationsandResourcesOfficer TerminalPhaseInitiation TwiceOrbitalRateFlyaround TeleoperatorControlMode TwiceOrbitalRate+Rbarto+VbarApproach TransferPriorityList TestofReactionandAdaptionCapabilities TransmitterReceiverController ThermalRadiatorRotaryJoint TwistedShieldedPair TrailingThermalControlRadiator TrailingUmbilicalSystem TreadmillVibrationIsolationSystem ThreeWayMixingValve UnpressurizedCargoCarrierAttachSystem UserDataGeneration UtilizationFlight UltrahighFrequency UmbilicalInterfaceAssembly UtilityInterfacePanel UtilizationLogisticsFlight UmbilicalMechanismAssembly UtilityOutletPanel U.S.Laboratory UnitedStatesOnOrbitSegment UtilityTransferAssembly VacuumAccessJumper VideoBasebandSignalProcessor VideoCameraPort VideoDistributionSystem VideoDistributionUnit VacuumExhaustSystem VideoGraphicsSoftware Vent/ReliefControlValve
TCS TD TDRS TDRSS TEA TFR THC THOR TI TORF TORU TORVA TPL TRAC TRC TRRJ TSP TTCR TUS TVIS TWMV UCCAS UDG UF UHF UIA UIP ULF UMA UOP USL USOS UTA VAJ VBSP VCP VDS VDU VES VGS VRCV
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Vent/ReliefIsolationValve VESResourceSystem Vent/ReliefValve VideoSignalConverter VideoStanchionSupportAssembly Worksite WVSExternalTransceiverAssembly WorkstationHostSoftware WorksiteInterface WaterRecoveryManagement WaterSeparator WaterVentAssembly XaxisPointingOutofPlane ZeoliteCrystalGrowthSampleStowage ZerogStowageRack
VRIV VRS VRV VSC VSSA W/S WETA WHS WIF WRM WS WVA XPOP ZCGSS ZSR
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MEDIA ASSISTANCE
NASA TELEVISION TRANSMISSION

NASATelevisioniscarriedonanMPEG2 digitalsignalaccessedviasatelliteAMC6,at72 degreeswestlongitude,transponder17C,4040 MHz,verticalpolarization.ForthoseinAlaska orHawaii,NASATelevisionwillbeseenon AMC7,at137degreeswestlongitude, transponder18C,at4060MHz,horizontal polarization.Inbothinstances,aDigitalVideo Broadcast(DVB)compliantIntegratedReceiver Decoder(IRD)(withmodulationofQPSK/DBV, datarateof36.86andFEC)willbeneededfor reception.TheNASATelevisionscheduleand linkstostreamingvideoareavailableat: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv NASATVsdigitalconversionwillrequire membersofthebroadcastmediatoupgrade withanaddressableIntegratedReceiver Decoder,orIRD,toparticipateinlivenews eventsandinterviews,pressbriefingsand receiveNASAsVideoFilenewsfeedsona dedicatedMediaServiceschannel.NASA missioncoveragewillaironadigitalNASA PublicServices(FreetoAir)channel,for whichonlyabasicIRDwillbeneeded.The schedulefortelevisiontransmissionsfromthe orbiterandformissionbriefingswillbe availableduringthemissionatKennedySpace Center,Fla.;MarshallSpaceFlightCenter, Huntsville,Ala.;DrydenFlightResearch Center,Edwards,Calif.;JohnsonSpaceCenter,
Houston;andNASAHeadquarters, Washington.Thetelevisionschedulewillbe updatedtoreflectchangesdictatedbymission operations.
Status Reports
Statusreportsoncountdownandmission progress,onorbitactivitiesandlanding operationswillbepostedat: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle Thissitealsocontainsinformationonthecrew andwillbeupdatedregularlywithphotosand videoclipsthroughouttheflight.
Briefings
Amissionpressbriefingschedulewillbeissued beforelaunch.TheupdatedNASAtelevision schedulewillindicatewhenmissionbriefings areplanned.
Internet Information
Informationonsafetyenhancementsmade sincetheColumbiaAccidentisavailableat: www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/system/index.html InformationonothercurrentNASAactivitiesis availableat: http://www.nasa.gov/home Resourcesforeducatorscanbefoundatthe followingaddress: http://education.nasa.gov
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PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
AllardBeutel PublicAffairsOfficer SpaceOperations 2023584769 KatherineTrinidad PublicAffairsOfficer SpaceOperations 2023583749 GreyHautaluoma PublicAffairsOfficer SpaceOperations 2023580668 MelissaMathews PublicAffairsOfficer InternationalPartners 2023581272
RobNavias ProgramandMissionOperationsLead 2814835111 LynnetteMadison PublicAffairsSpecialist InternationalSpaceStationandEngineering 2814835111
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FLORIDA

BruceBuckingham NewsChief 3218612468 JessicaRye PublicAffairsSpecialist SpaceShuttle 3218672468 TracyYoung PublicAffairsSpecialist InternationalSpaceStation 3218672468
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER HOUSTON, TEXAS

JamesHartsfield NewsChief 2814835111 KyleHerring PublicAffairsSpecialist SpaceShuttleProgramOffice 2814835111 KylieClem PublicAffairsSpecialist MissionOperationsand FlightCrewOperations 2814835111
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA

DomAmatore PublicAffairsManager 2565440034 JuneMalone PublicAffairsSpecialist SpaceShuttlePropulsion 2565440034
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KatherineMartin PublicAffairsSpecialist 2164332406
STENNIS SPACE CENTER MISSISSIPPI

LindaTheobald PublicAffairsSpecialist 2286883249 PaulFoerman NewsChief 2286881880 RebeccaStrecker PublicAffairsSpecialist 2286883346
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER HAMPTON, VIRGINIA

H.KeithHenry Deputy,OfficeofPublicAffairs 7578646120
UNITED SPACE ALLIANCE

MikeCurie SpaceProgramOperationsContract HoustonOperations 2814839251 3218613805 TracyYates FloridaOperations 3218613956
AMES RESEARCH CENTER MOFFETT FIELD, CALIFORNIA

MikeMewhinney NewsChief 6506043937 JonasDino PublicAffairsSpecialist 6506045612
BOEING
EdMemi MediaRelations BoeingNASASystems 2812264029
DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER CALIFORNIA

AlanBrown NewsChief 6612762665 LeslieWilliams PublicAffairsSpecialist 6612763893
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

ClareMattok, ESAHeadOffice Paris,France Phone+33153697412 Fax+33153697690 Clare.Mattok@esa.int BrigitteKolmsee, ESAHeadOffice Paris,France Phone+33153697299 Fax+33153697690 Brigitte.Kolmsee@esa.int
GLENN RESEARCH CENTER CLEVELAND, OHIO

LoriRachul NewsChief 2164338806
December 2006
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RositaSuenson, ESA/ESTEC Noordwijk,theNetherlands Phone+31715653009 Fax+31715655728 Rosita.Suenson@esa.int
FrancoBonacina, ESAHeadOffice Paris,France Phone+33153697713 Fax+33153697690 Franco.Bonacina1@esa.int
December 2006
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Space Shuttle Mission STS-116

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Space Shuttle Mission STS-116

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STS-121 Press Kit

PAYLOAD OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................. 71

STS-116 MISSION OVERVIEW: POWER RECONFIGURATION HIGHLIGHTS STATION ASSEMBLY MISSION

Withitscranestillattached,theorbiterDiscoverywasmated totheexternaltankandsolidrocketboostersonthemobile launcherplatforminhighbay3oftheKennedySpace CenterVehicleAssemblyBuilding. December 2006 MISSION OVERVIEW 1

AcomputergeneratedartistsrenderingoftheInternationalSpaceStationafterflight STS116/12A.1,followingthedeliveryandinstallationofthethirdporttrusssegment (P5)andtheretractionoftheP6portsolararraywingandtworadiators.

AstronautNicholasJ.M.Patrick,STS116missionspecialist,participates inatrainingsessioninthecrewcompartmenttrainer(CCT2)inthe SpaceVehicleMockupFacilityatJohnsonSpaceCenter.

AstronautRobertL.Curbeam,STS116 missionspecialist,attiredinatrainingversion oftheExtravehicularMobilityUnit(EMU) spacesuit,awaitsatrainingsessioninthe watersoftheNeutralBuoyancyLaboratory (NBL)nearJohnsonSpaceCenter.

STS-116 TIMELINE OVERVIEW

CurbeamandFuglesangsleepinQuest Airlockforspacewalkprebreathe campoutprotocol

FLIGHT DAY 10:

FLIGHT DAY 11:

FLIGHT DAY 12:

8. Transfercriticalcargoitemspertransfer prioritylist. 9. TransferZvezdaServiceModuledebris panelsandadaptertopressurizedmating adapter3aftgrapplefixture.

InstallS0/UnityNodeprimarypower cable(S0sideonly)andreconfigureZ1 patchpanelsandRussianpowerto operatefromprimarypower(i.e., MBSU) Installthepumpmodulejumperbagon theQuestAirlock Installtheventtoolextensionbagon Quest

LAUNCH AND LANDING

ABORT ONCE AROUND (AOA)

TRANSATLANTIC ABORT LANDING (TAL)

LAUNCH & LANDING

Space Shuttle Main Engines:

Orbiter/PayloadLandingWeight: 225,350 pounds SoftwareVersion: OI30

STS-116 DISCOVERY CREW

Orbit1(Lead) Orbit2 Planning Entry

TonyCeccacci MattAbbott RickLaBrode NormKnight

KyleHerring(Lead) NicoleCloutier JohnIraPetty KyleHerring

ShuttleTeam4 ISSOrbit1 ISSOrbit2(Lead) ISSOrbit3 StationTeam4 MissionControl, Korolev,Russia

RichardJones DerekHassmann JohnCurry JoelMontalbano DanaWeigel KwatsiAlibaruho

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

JSCPAORepresentativeatKSCforLaunchKylieClem KSCLaunchCommentatorBruceBuckingham KSCLaunchDirectorMikeLeinbach NASALaunchTestDirectorJeffSpaulding

RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING

RENDEZVOUS & DOCKING

Rendezvous Approach Profile

Space Shuttle Rendezvous Maneuvers

RENDEZVOUS & DOCKING

RENDEZVOUS & DOCKING

UNDOCKING, SEPARATION AND DEPARTURE

RENDEZVOUS & DOCKING

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM (EPS)

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM OVERVIEW

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

EPS BLOCK DIAGRAM OVERVIEW

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

PRIMARY POWER DISTRIBUTION OVERVIEW

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

SECONDARY POWER DISTRIBUTION

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

worktogethertoisolatefaultsorshortsatthe lowestlevel.Thisapproachminimizesimpacts totheusersoftheEPSandprotectstheEPS fromdamagebylowlevelfaults.

KEY EPS COMPONENTS

SOLAR ARRAY WING (SAW)

ELECTRONICS CONTROL UNIT (ECU)

BETA GIMBAL ASSEMBLY (BGA)

SOLAR ALPHA ROTARY JOINT

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

TheSARJtransferelectricalpowerthrougha setofrollrings,whichprovideacontinuous rollingelectricalconnectionwhilerotating.

INTEGRATED EQUIPMENT ASSEMBLY (IEA)

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

TherewillbeeightSSUsonorbitwhenthe stationassemblyiscomplete(twoeachperIEA, fourIEAswhenassemblycomplete).TheSSU islocatedonthebetagimbalplatform,atthe bottomofthemastcanister.

BATTERY SUBASSEMBLY ORBITAL REPLACEMENT UNIT

SEQUENTIAL SHUT UNIT (SSU)

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

ThebatteryORUscanbechangedout roboticallyusingaspecialpurposemanipulator ontheendofthestationsroboticarm.Each batterymeasures41inches(104.1cm)by 37inches(94cm)by19inches(48.3cm)and weighs372pounds(168.7kilograms).

BATTERY CHARGE/DISCHARGE UNIT (BCDU)