ISS Phase 2 Underway
(STS-88 Preview)
Filed 11/29/98
See also:
ISS Status
Upcoming events for ISS/Mir
STS-88 begins mating parts of the International
Space Station in an assembly sequence lasting over 40 missions and several
years. It carries the "Unity" Node-1 to attach it to the "Zarya"
FGB launched from Russia on November. The Zarya is the power, control, life
support and propulsion base for the first few elements of the ISS. Unity
does not carry any power or propulsion capability, but serves as the back
bone for adding all future US modules to the ISS.
The shuttle RMS will extract the Unity module from the cargo bay and
holding it the shutte will dock the UDS to Unity just like was done on STS-74
with the Mir docking module. After rendevous the shuttle with Unity attached
will be docked to the Zarya module in the same fashion by first grappling
it with the RMS. The crew will then perform EVA's to outfit the newly docked
configuration, and the crew will open the modules and checkout their systems
and setup communications systems for a video conference. The crew will also
leave behind some equipment for use by future crews. ISS is left to assume
a gravity gradient (PMA-2 down) with 30 min roll.
A new Houston Mission Control for ISS will be used for control as a
backup to Moscow. Houston will be manned for one shift a day when the ISS
is within Russian ground station control, or 24 hours a day when manned
missions are on site.
STS-88 Cargos
- Unity (Node-1)
- IMAX Cargo bay Camera
- TCS
- APFRI
- ECOMM
- Mighty Sat
- SAC Sat
- APFRZ
- Orbiter docking system
- SAFER's & 3 EMU's
- RMS
- Space Vision System
- EVA tools for Contingency
- Unity (Node-1) statistics at launch:
- 10 meters long
- 4.5 meters diameter
- 11,455 kg. weight
- construction began 5 years ago
- Leaks 0.02 kg. of air per day
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Flight Schedule
- Day 1 - the crew prepars the Orbiter Docking System,
checkout Remote Manipulator
- Day 2 - Unity docks to the ODS, crew enters &
installs docking camera in PMA-2
- Day 4 - Rendezvous & RMS graples Zarya and docking
- Day 5 - EVA - 1 cables for communications and power
installed, thermal cover removal
- Day 6 - Orbital reboost
- Day 7 - EVA - 2 equalize PMA-1 and Zarya, install
comm antennas, remove launch harward
- Day 8 - Entry into Zarya, destow equipment, install
comm equipment, videocomference
- Day 9 - Additional interior activities, closeout,
orbital reboost
- Day 10 - EVA - 3, control tests from Moscow &
Houston,
- Day 11 - Undock, fly around, Mighty Sat
- Day 12 - SAC-A Sat deploy
- Day 13 - Landing
Crew
STS-88
Commander..........Marine Col. Robert Cabana
Pilot(reserve EVA).Marine Maj. Frederick "Rick" Sturckow
MS1/EV1............Air Force Col. Jerry Ross
MS2/FE.............Army Lt. Col. Nancy Currie
MS3/EV2............James Newman, Ph.D.
MS4................Sergei Krikalev
For more see: CBS Up to the Minute : Bill Harwoods Space
EVA Description
- EVA 1 - mates 2 sets of 20-30 ft. long power and communications
cables with 40 connectors between PMA-2 and the Unity node. Another set
of similar cables are connected between Unity and PMA-1. They next will
install a slide wires on the sides of Unity. 6 cables 20 ft. long are then
connected between Unity and Zarya. They provide redundant connections between
the modules in addition to redundant connections internal to the APAS docking
system. They next remove covers from 2 MDM computer boxes on PMA-2.
- EVA 2 - Install of hand rail and foot restraints on
Unity. Install of 2 antenna's on port and starboard hatches on Unity. Install
of a sun shade for one MDM computer on PMA-2.
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- EVA 3 - Install a large bag of 20 contingency tools
to PMA-2 for future EVA's to use. Install a EVA hand rail on the far end
of Zarya and prepare it for future EVA's. The cables controlling the Zarya
and PMA-2 APAS docking systems will be disconnected. They will they test
SAFER maneuvers in the shuttle payload bay as a demonstration.
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- EVA 4 - Contingency only
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The STS-88 crew will be the first people to enter this hatch in orbit. |
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The interior of the Zarya (FGB) module |
ISS Status
As the first NASA launch of the ISS phase 2 program approaches, progress
on other missions is being made:
- The Service Module is at RKK Energia for final outfitting
and integrated testing. Shipping to Baykonur is scheduled in Feb. 1999
for July 1999 launch
- The Z1 truss & 3rd solar array are in integrated
testing at KSC
- The Italian Leonardo logistics module is in testing
and launch processing at KSC
- The US lab is in integrated testing at KSC
- The Space Station RMS integrated testing begins in
early 1999
- The Airlock integrated testing begins in early 1999
- The Japanese Experiment Module is in testing currently
in Japan
- The S0 truss is in testing
- The ESA COF module is completing final mockup
- Nodes 2 & 3 are in development
- The Transhab module testing continuing prior to a
final decision on its approval
- The US Habitation module construction is on hold pending
Transhab approval
- Other components in less advanced states of completion
ISS program manager Randy Brinkley said there have been talks about
an additional Shuttle flight to Mir for equipment transfer to ISS, but this
would have disrupted the schedule and was rejected. The proposal reportedly
included retreiving the equipment, returning it to Earth, inspection and
refirbishment, then re-launch to ISS.
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Inside the Service Module trainer at Star City |
Upcoming events for ISS/Mir:
Soyuz TM-29/EO-27..03/??/99..Viktor Afanasyev,Jean-Pierre Haignere,Ivan Bella
2A.1..STS-96.......05/13/99..Discovery..Spacehab DM; Russian cargo crane
Soyuz TM-30/EO-28..08/??/99..TBD - may be Zalyotin & Kaleri
1R.................07/??/99..Proton.....Service module
1P.................08/??/99..Soyuz......Progress M1 resupply
2A.2..STS-101......08/05/99..Atlantis...Spacehab DM
2P.................10/??/99..Soyuz......Progress M1 resupply
3A....STS-92.......10/28/99..Discovery..Z1 truss;CMGs;KU-band;S-band;PMA3
4A....STS-97.......12/02/99..Atlantis...P6,PV array+batteries;radiators
For more see: CBS Up to the Minute : Bill Harwoods Space
Images from NASA & RSA
This page is maintained by :
issguide@attbi.com |
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