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General Description
The US Lab module was the centerpiece and heart of the US ISS segment, the place much of scientific research is performed, and the nerve center of the US segment for control of the ISS. Other modules also support research like the COF, and JEM modules, and in fact the international partners share space in each others modules in accordance to a formula defined by each countries contribution to the construction and on-going support of the ISS.
Details of Standard Payload Computer (ISSstdcomputer98.pdf)
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| The US Lab being built at Boeing, Huntsville, AL, USA |
The US Lab interior being outfitted with standoffs which provide mounting points for racks and connecting points for Lab services like power, water, vacuum lines, etc. to the racks. | |||||
The US Lab's development was eventful and its launch intimintly tied to its proceeding components the FGB, Node-1, Service Module, Z1 Truss and P6 Truss. Only after these components were in orbit could the Lab be supported and function as intended. With each delay in launch of any of these elements, the Lab was delayed. During its development, the US Lab suffered 24 months of delay directly due to delays in launch of the Service Module or Z1 Truss, the majority due to the Service Module. But, it would be false to say the Lab could have been launched as planned if these other delays had not happened. Certianly several months of delay were experienced in development of the Lab on its own, the delays just did not exceed the delays of the Service Module or Z1 Truss. Cumulativly, the delays among all themodules meant their costs increased over plan, the cost of the lab was estimated at $1.38 Billion.
The lab is a cylinder with a common berthing mechanism dockng port on each end. Internally the lab has 4 walls running the length of the lab. The walls are made up of 6 rack spaces each. The lab was launched with a partial set of racks with more racks to be launched later on MPLM modules and transfered by hand into and out of the lab. One lab rack space includes a large port hole for crew use and a special rack for period scientific use. The empty lab rack positions were covered with cloth covers during launch, some of the spaces were to be filled with cloth rack shaped bags to serve as storage containers. Each rack position provides power, cooling, vacuum and data connections. Rack design is common among the non-Russian built modules and the MPLM's can transport racks for any of these modules.
The Air Revitalization (AR) rack installed in the US Lab prior to launch.
Standard size US racks can be removed and replaced in flight as seen here simulated on the ground. The rack attaches at one standoff and is rotated into place forming part of a wall in a module. Racks can only pass through module to module hatches on the US side of the station, and can only be delivered by MPLM or other modules. They can't fit into Russian modules of through the APAS Shuttle docking mechanism or PMA's.
The US lab contains 24 standard rack locations (including the window rack space which will not be used for stardard racks) and 12 system racks for station support systems llike the Air Revitalization rack, command & control systems, etc. Launching the Lab without a full set of racks was required due to launch weight constraints. This also had the benefit of easing the workload for integrating racks to the Lab, and distributing crew setup time on orbit, as more racks were added to the Lab over several assembly flights.
Originally, launch of the Lab was expected to be one of the heaviest payloads and most difficult to launch. Ways to increase payload were considered like removing parachutes from the shuttle SRB's were under consideration to accomodate the Lab's weight. In the end, the Lab's weight was somewhat under estimate, and most importantly, the stations altitude was lower than previously planned, allowing for a heavier payload.
Other than carrying science racks, the Lab's 5 systems racks provide:
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Air Revitalization
Thermal Control
With these systems the Lab also controls air pressure via the Pressure Control Assembly, circulates air around the US segment of the station, normal and emergency lights, hull heaters (to prevent condensate pooling on the cold hull), collects waste water from the humidity control system in a tank, vents waste water overboard, and provides vacuum lines to lab racks.
The modules large window or port hole provides a high quality window for scientific observations from inside the module. There is a manually operated shutter similar in shape to a kitchen pan which is normally closed to protect the window from orbital debris and rocket exhaust and other station outgassing.
After addition of the Lab to the station and successful activiation of its systems (the control moment gyro's to provide effecient antenna pointing), primary control of day to day opperation of the station shifted from the RSA in Moscow to NASA's JSC Houston. Control of individual components remained in the hands of the owning counrty.
The US Lab as seen before launch. Although only carrying a few racks due to weight constraints for launch, the empty rack spaces are filled with soft cloth storage bags which appear to make the walls filled. The storage bags can be removed and folded up when a real rack takes their place.
Images from NASA, ESA, NASDA, CSA, RSA
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