Columbus (ISS module)

List of ISS modules

The Columbus laboratory is a science laboratory to the International Space Station (ISS ) and the largest contribution of the European Space Agency (ESA ) on the ISS. The module was connected on 11 February 2008 to the ISS after it was previously placed in the context of flight STS -122, the Space Shuttle Atlantis to the space station. Prime contractor for Columbus was EADS Astrium Space Transportation in Bremen, where the final took place. The main structure, which is based on the design of MPLM - supply module, however, comes from Alenia Spazio in Italy. Columbus is designed for a service life of ten years.

ESA has spent approximately 1.4 billion euros for the construction and the ground infrastructure of Columbus.

Construction

Columbus is a cylindrical module, which was transported by the Space Shuttle Atlantis to the ISS and mounted on 11 February 2008 on the starboard side of the Harmony connecting node. The access hatch is located at one end of the cylinder, most on-board computer on the starboard end. Columbus is smaller than the other lab modules of the space station ( the American Destiny and the Japanese Kibo PM).

The module contains ten so-called International Standard Payload Racks ( ISPRs ). Four racks are located on the front side, four on the rear side and two on the ceiling. Three ISPRs contained life support and cooling systems. The remaining three racks provide storage for experiments. Four more payload modules can be mounted externally.

The following ISPRs to be installed in Columbus:

External payloads ( integration in orbit ):

  • Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space ( ACES )
  • European Technology Exposure Facility ( EuTEF )
  • Solar Monitoring Observatory ( SMO / SOLAR )

Specifications

  • Length: 6,871 m
  • Outer Diameter: 4,477 m ( Incl. micrometeoroid shield of 13 cm thickness of several layers of aluminum and Kevlar and Nextel ( ceramic fabric ) )
  • Inner Diameter: 4.215 m
  • Volume: 75 m³ ( of which 25 m³ for the racks )
  • Mass without payload: 10,275 kg (TOC )
  • Space volume of the payload racks: 25 m³
  • Maximum mass of the payload racks: 9000 kg
  • Payload Racks: 16 with a weight of up to 500 kg per rack
  • Electric power from the ISS: 20 kW ( 13.5 kW them for experiments )

The specified launch weight of 12,775 kg, including 2500 kg payload. The maximum specified on-orbit mass is 21,000 kg and including 10,160 kg payload; the payload is located mostly within the module, and the other part on the External Payload Facility ( working name during development, " flower boxes ").

History

The Columbus program was approved in 1985 by the ESA. It included three flight configurations: a free-flying experimental platform ( MTFF = One Tented Free Flyer ), which should dock for reconfiguration and maintenance of the station, a Attached Pressurized Module (APM ) and a platform in a polar orbit ( PPF). At the beginning of the studies, a Service Vehicle was investigated, which was used to transport astronauts between the station and MTFF.

In order to minimize costs, the same parts (computers, printing cylinders, etc. ) were incorporated as far as possible in all flight configurations; to reduce costs of spare parts during the operational phase were many devices that work together in close association with the NASA systems (intercom, video), as common items provided.

Because of the high costs for the development and delivery of the three flight configurations and their ground support equipment in MBB - ERNO offer in 1989 ( formally in the offer declared costs exceeded the previously estimated only by studies costs by more than 50%) and political discussions remained only the APM left, which was renamed in Columbus; the polar platform was handled as a separate contract. In addition, the Commonality reduced by ESA with NASA equipment to encourage more European developments. Therefore, the development costs rose, and the possibility of duplicate parts for the entire station was reduced.

Due to Italian and French intervention a new company Euro Columbus was founded by representatives of DASA, Alenia and Matra with its headquarters in Bremen and side based in Turin in 1994. It soon became apparent that this management structure was not viable, and so in 1995 the classic concept with one main contractor was reintroduced (EADS Astrium in Bremen with 41 companies from 14 countries ). The responsibility for the Columbus system as a whole between Italy ( Alenia ) and Germany (DASA ) to the PICA principle was divided. Later it turned out that this division both the schedule and the cost of the program had a negative impact.

The official mission of the ESA on 28 March 1996. As a fixed price including test facilities 880 million euros has been agreed.

Since the interest in external experiment facilities grew, ESA initiated during the current development is a major change, namely the implementation of the External Payload Facility EPF.

Project Management

The so-called PICA principle ( Pre- Integrated COF APM; COF stands for " Columbus Orbital Facility ," APM for " Attached Pressurized Module " ) defines the division of technical responsibilities for system design and verification of the European space laboratory Columbus between the main contractor DASA and Alenia.

This is a special case, since normally the prime contractor is responsible for a space program for the entire system (such as MBB ERNO for Spacelab ).

It is the responsibility of DASA / EADS, the overall design and verification documents, data processing (including software ), communication, electric power supply, the safety / reliability and payload integration.

Alenia was responsible for the configuration design (including ergonomics), the mechanical system design, the heat balance, the life support system, the lighting and wiring.

Alenia system responsibility included the pre- integration of the flight model to the installation of the wiring in Turin and the delivery of the PICA to Bremen for completion by the main contractor DASA.

Problems

In order to regulate the complex complementary responsibilities, extensive specifications and ICDs ( Interface Control Documents) were necessary. Occurring problems often related to the area of ​​responsibility of the other company (eg necessary changes to the wiring of Alenia due to a change of energy supply through the DASA) and required lengthy negotiations to find a solution to keep the impact on the respective fixed price contracts minimal.

With this division of responsibilities at the system level fell at an estimated additional cost of up to 25%.

Start

On May 2, 2006 saw the official handover of the Columbus module to the ESA. On May 27, the module is loaded at the Bremen airport into an Airbus Beluga and started the next day his multi-day transportation to the American Kennedy Space Center (KSC ). Due to the short range of the aircraft the U.S. state of New York were in Edinburgh, to Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and finally in the inserted intermediate stops. On 30 May 2006 the module arrived at KSC.

The Columbus module has been associated with the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis during the flight STS- 122 launch on 7 February 2008 to the ISS. On 11 January 2008, at 22:44 (CET), the module was successfully docked after a 7h 58min lasting spacewalk astronauts Stanley Love and Rex Walheim, to the ISS.

However, a meaningful operation of Columbus had not been possible, since the limited crew of the ISS was largely occupied with maintenance. With the beginning of the ISS Expedition 20 on May 29, 2009, manning from three to six people could be increased, so that now a regular research activities can take place.

Columbus Control

The Columbus Control Centre ( Col -CC) was built in the premises of the Space Control Center of the German Center for Aerospace Oberpfaffenhofen.

The main functions of the control center, the control and monitoring of the Columbus laboratory systems and the provision and operation of the European ground communications network.

The ground control is undertaken here by engineers who, broken down by responsibilities, can support the occupation in all experiments or system operations. The actual Flight Control Team (FCT ) in the control room K4 to working in three 8 -hour shifts, seven days a week. The FCT receives this support partially external teams such as the Engineering Support Team (EST ) or the responsible for the infrastructure of Bodensegements Ground Control Team ( GCT ).

Distribution of tasks in the control room of the K4 Col -CC:

The call sign of the control center in Oberpfaffenhofen is MUNICH ( see also HOUSTON and MOSCOW ).

Assembly of the International Space Station Harmony (ISS module) STS-122 Destiny (ISS module) SOLAR (ISS) Human factors and ergonomics Stanley G. Love Rex J. Walheim Pressurized Mating Adapter External Stowage Platform Mobile Servicing System Quest Joint Airlock Pirs (ISS module) Strela (crane) EXPRESS Logistics Carrier Cupola (ISS module) Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Nauka (ISS module) European Robotic Arm Centrifuge Accommodations Module Habitation Module Interim Control Module ISS Propulsion Module Russian Research Module Science Power Platform NASA X-38 Amateur radio Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
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