The International Space Station's evolution, final configuration and
Russia's involvement were largely settled in 1994. The Station's pressurized
modules will provide a shirt-sleeve environment for up to seven astronauts and
scientists. NASA will provide the truss structure, two laboratory and habitation
modules, and two interconnecting nodes. Japan will fly a lab/experiment
platform. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Columbus laboratory has been
gradually reduced because of financial constraints, but the contract was finally
signed in April 1996. Canada's Mobile Servicing System will play a key role in
assembly and servicing. Logistics modules will be delivered as required.
Boeing Defense & Space Group was named 17-Aug-1993 as prime contractor
for the revised station. Boeing is responsible for delivering the full-up
vehicle and for co-ordinating and integrating the US portion with international
elements. It is responsible for the design, development, physical and analytical
integration, test, delivery, and launch of the vehicle, in addition to one year
of sustaining engineering following launch of each package, including spares. It
also manages the subcontractors.
Assembly will require about 22 Shuttle and 11 Russian launches. The current
Shuttle-Mir missions are acting as Phase 1 of the program to reduce risks.
Continuous occupation (Phase 3) by a 3-man crew will be possible in 1999
(although there will be little power for science activities), increased to a
6-man crew at assembly completion in 2003.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SPECIFICATIONS
(Figures at Assembly Complete)
Principal uses: civilian space station
Cost: preliminary
design (1985-87) $0.6 billion; station-related design/development $0.7 billion;
development $8.9 billion; NASA estimate for assembly complete $17.4 billion;
operations (2003-2012) $13.0 billion
Orbit: 407 km, 51.6o
Crew size: up to 7
Wingspan: 108.6 m
Length:
79.9 m
Habitable volume: ~1,200 m3
Total mass:
456,620 kg
Environment: 1 atm pressure
HARDWARE
Canadian Mobile Servicing System: includes a 16.8
m robot arm with 113 t payload capability, as well as a mobile transporter,
which can be positioned along the truss for robotic assembly and maintenance
operations
Functional Cargo Block (FGB): includes the energy block,
contingency fuel storage, propulsion, and multiple docking ports. The 19,300 kg
element, built in Russia but purchased by the US, will be launched on a Proton
vehicle
Russian Service Module: provides life support and utilities,
thrusters, and habitation functions (toilet and hygiene facilities). The 21,000
kg element will also be launched on a Proton vehicle
Science Power
Platform (SPP): will provide power (approximately 25 kW) and heat rejection
for the Space Station's science and operations
Crew Transfer Vehicles
(CTVs): include a modified Russian Soyuz TM capsule and another vehicle yet
to be determined. The Soyuz CTV can normally accommodate a crew of three, or a
crew of teo when considering the return of an ill or injured crewmember with
room for medical equipment
Progress Cargo Vehicles: carry reboost
propellant (up to 3,000 kg) to the Space Station about four times per year
Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV): is a transfer vehicle to carry
reboost propellant and supplies to the Space Station. The European-developed ATV
will be launched by Europe's Ariane 5
Six Laboratories: two US - a
laboratory and a Centrifuge Accommondation Module (CAM); one ESA Columbus
Orbital Facility (COF); one Japanese Experiment Module (JEM); and two Russian
Research Modules
U.S., European and Japanese laboratories: together
provide 33 International Standard Payload Racks; additional science space is
available in the two Russian Reasearch Modules
Japan's JEM: has an
exposed platform, or 'back porch', attached to it, with 10 mounting spaces for
experiments, which provide direct contact with the space environment. The JEM
also has a small robotic arm for payload operations on the exposed platform
U.S. Habitation Module: Contains the galley, toilet, shower, sleep
stations, and medical facilites
Three Italian Mini Pressurized Laboratory
Modules (MPLMs): carries all the pressurized cargo and payloads launched on
the Space Shuttle. Each module is capable of delivering 16 International
Standard Payload Racks
Two U.S. Nodes: Node 1 is for storage space
only; Node 2 contains racks of equipment used to convert electrical power for
use by the international partners. The nodes are also the structural building
blocks that link the pressurized modules together
External Sites:
four locations on the truss for mounting experiments intended for looking down
at Earth and up into space or direct exposure to space
Power: 110 kW
average (46 kW average for research, with Russian segment producing an
additional 14 kW for research). There are four large US solar arrays; each array
has four modules, each approximately 34 m long x 11.9 m wide. Each array
generates approximately 23 kW. The arrays rotate to face the Sun, providing
maximum power to the station
