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- International Space Station Assembly flight 5A.1 carried the first Mini Pressurized Logistics Module to the ISS. The MPLM is a reusable logistics carrier which is the primary delivery system used to resupply and return station cargo requiring a pressurized environment. It is one of Italy's major contributions to the International Space Station Program. The cylindrical module is approximately 21 feet long and 15 feet in diameter, weighting almost 4.5 tons excluding its capability to hold up to 20,000 pounds of contents. Launched in the Space Shuttle's payload bay, it is docked to the International Space Station once on orbit. It will transport supplies, science experiments, spare parts and other logistical components to the International Space Station.
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1995 Development Events
- Environmental Control and Life-Support System (ECLS) for the Mini Pressurized Logistics Module (MPLM) program proposals were submitted to Council for approval in October. For various reasons, final approval of both programs was delayed and so, due to the urgency, preliminary industrial activities were initiated within the legal boundaries and approved financial capabilities available to the Executive. Following the agreement in principle between ESA and the Italian Space Agency to use the ECLS for both the Columbus Orbital Facility (COF) and MPLM, specific tasks related to the harmonization of MPLM/COF ECLS technical requirements and specifications were also initiated in industry. (ESA Bulletin Nr. 82. Published May 1995.)
Boeing concluded negotiations for a $3.7 million contract with Alenia Spazio S.p.a. of Torino, Italy, for common hardware, including common berthing mechanisms, hatches, and various support equipment. Alenia is building the MPLM for use in resupply of the International Space Station while in orbit. (Space Station This Week, May 15, 1995)
Final approval by the participants in step 1 of the ECLS Program was not achieved, putting into question the feasibility of completing the industrial work within the very tight schedule constraints imposed by the Italian MPLM program, to meet their delivery dates to NASA. Pending the above approval, ESA continued to work together with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to finalize the text of the ESA/ASI Agreement relating to this development and the provision by ASI of an MPLM structure for the COF 'design-to-cost' baseline. In addition, the technical requirements for the MPLM ECLS development were finalized and approved by ESA and ASI. (ESA Bulletin Nr. 83. Published August 1995.)
Alenia Spazio has taken delivery of a common berthing mechanism (CBM) test article, the first of numerous pieces of Space Station hardware Alenia is purchasing from Boeing. This test article will allow Alenia to mount a pressure dome to the mini pressurized logistics module the Italian firm is building for Space Station, and to conduct pressure testing of the module. (Space Station This Week, August 22, 1995)
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1996 Development Events
- Manufacture of the structural test unit of the MPLM has been completed and it is being prepared for qualification testing. (ESA Bulletin Nr. 86. Published May 1996.)
The Phase-C/D industrial proposal for the Environmental Control and Life-Support System (ECLS) for the Italian MPLM was received in the first quarter of 1996 and, following negotiation, the contract for the full development phase was signed in May. The Subsystems Requirements Review was completed and all baseline specifications and plans were approved by the Agency, with the exception of the management plan. Several equipment Preliminary Design Reviews were initiated. During negotiation of the PLM-ECLS/MPLM Interface Control Document, a potential technical problem emerged relating to fire detection and suppression (air leakage). This was subsequently resolved through the ISS Safety Panel endorsement of MPLM proposed design implementation. (ESA Bulletin Nr. 87. Published August 1996.)
The MPLM vibro-acoustic test model is being integrated at Alenia Spazio in Turin. (ESA Annual Report '96, Published 1997, Developed by ESA-ESRIN ID/D)
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1997 Development Events
- The acceptance and transfer of ownership process concerning the MPLM ECLSS between ESA and ASI is now working well, and delivery has been formalized for the Ground-Support Equipment items and all delivered engineering-model equipment. Subsystem-level qualification tests have all been completed. However, due to the late close-out of equipment-level qualification testing both in the USA and in Europe, the overall ECLS Subsystem Qualification Review is now expected to be delayed until the end of November. The qualification delays are cascading into the flight-unit deliveries, units of which are now scheduled to be delivered to the MPLM Prime Contractor in December.(ESA Bulletin Nr. 92.Published November 1997.)
Delivery of the first set of flight hardware took place in December. All Engineering Models and Ground Support Equipment for MPLM Environmental Control and Life Support Subsystem have been delivered to the Prime Contractor. All subsystem-level qualification test reports have been approved by the Agency. The Prime Contractor is proceeding with the generation of the MPLM System Qualification Review. Equipment qualification and acceptance testing is underway and Equipment Qualification Reviews have started in November and will proceed through January 1998. (ESA Bulletin Nr. 93, Published February 1998.)
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1998 Development Events
- Equipment testing is underway and Equipment Qualification Reviews should be completed in April. Flight-unit acceptance activities are continuing, with about 80% of the Flight Module 1 and spares deliveries now complete.(ESA Bulletin, Number 94, May 1998)
After the solution of several problems, the full set of Environmental Control and Life-Support Subsystem Flight Unit 1 and Flight Spares hardware has been delivered to ASI/Alenia (I) for incorporation into the first MPLM flight model, to complement the already delivered EQM hardware and the full sets of Ground Support Equipment. Continuing cooperative discussions with the MPLM project management has ensured that the delays have not impacted upon the delivery date to NASA of the system, and the system qualification tests have shown that the ECLS has performed in accordance with specifications. Most of the Equipment Qualification Reviews have been conducted, and will be completed in June. The Subsystem Qualification Review is in currently in progress, thereby ensuring its completion before acceptance of the overall MPLM flight model by NASA, currently scheduled for late-July. ECLS Flight Unit 2 equipment has started to be delivered, and Flight Unit 3 is in production. It is still anticipated that the contract deliveries will be completed in the third quarter of this year.(ESA Bulletin, Number 95, August 1998)
Environmental Control and Life Support Subsystem design modifications for the Duct Smoke Detector are under discussion, and those for the Line Shut-off Valves are under way. As a result of these two items, the finalization of qualification of the overall MPLM/ECLS will be delayed until early next year. The flight hardware, which is installed in the MPLM flight model 'Leonardo', already delivered to NASA/Kennedy Space Center, will have to be removed and replaced with upgraded items. Flight Unit 2 equipment has been delivered to the MPLM Prime Contractor, as have almost all items for Flight Unit 3.(ESA Bulletin, Number 96, November 1998)
NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin and the President of the Italian Space Agency, Sergio De Julio, will meet at the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, Dec. 3 for a ceremonial event transferring the "Leonardo" Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM) from the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) to NASA. The MPLM will be the primary delivery system used to resupply and return station cargo requiring a pressurized environment. It is one of Italy's major contributions to the International Space Station Program. (November 25, 1998, KSC Contact: George H. Diller, KSC Release No. 146-98, LEONARDO MPLM TRANSFER CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT KSC DEC. 3)
"Leonardo," one of three Italian Space Agency multi-purpose logistics modules that will be used to resupply the International Space Station, arrived last weekend at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, FL, on a special "Beluga" air cargo plane from the Alenia Aerospazio factory in Turin, Italy. Scheduled to launch aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-100) in December 1999. "Leonardo" is being processed at Kennedy's Space Station Processing Facility with engineering support from the Italian Space Agency, Alenia Aerospazio and Boeing. Among the activities necessary for the payload test team to prepare the module for launch are integrated electrical tests with other station elements in the facility, leak tests, electrical and software compatibility tests with the Space Shuttle using the Cargo Integrated Test Equipment, and an Interface Verification Test once the module is installed in the Space Shuttle's payload bay at the launch pad. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, provided the module's hardware development engineering oversight. The most significant mechanical task to be performed on "Leonardo" in Kennedy's facility is the installation and outfitting of the racks for carrying the various experiments and cargo. The module will provide interfaces for up to 16 racks, five of which also furnish power, data and fluid support to a refrigerator freezer. (August 3, 1998, KSC Contact: George H. Diller, Release No. 98-142, "LEONARDO" ARRIVES AT NASA'S KENNEDY SPACE CENTER)
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1999 Development Events
- The close-out of the MPLM ECLS subsystem Qualification Review is in progress. An out-of-limit leakage at cold temperatures occurred after the engineering qualification model thermal-vacuum test on the Inter-Module Ventilation (IMV) shut-off valve. After re-adjustment, the engineering-qualification and flight models were successfully re-tested. The structural analysis of the Duct Smoke Detector (DSD) has been updated and reviewed. Special attention is being paid to the power-transformer mounting, where a potential for failure was identified. (ESA Bulletins Bulletin Nr. 98, June 1999)
The Italian Space Agency's "Raffaello" Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), the second of three for the International Space Station, is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy Space Center late Wednesday, Aug. 4. It is to be transported to the United States by a special Airbus "Beluga" air cargo plane from the factory of Alenia Aerospazio in Turin, Italy. Among the activities for the payload test team to prepare the module for launch are integrated electrical tests with other station elements in the SSPF, leak tests, electrical and software compatibility tests with the Space Shuttle using the Cargo Integrated Test Equipment (CITE), and an Interface Verification Test (IVT) once the module is installed in the Space Shuttle's payload bay at the launch pad. ("RAFFAELLO" MULTI-PURPOSE LOGISTICS MODULE TO ARRIVE AT KSC, August 2, 1999, George H. Diller, KSC Release No. 68-99, NASA)
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