External Stowage Platform

The External Stowage Platforms ( ESPs ) are three components of the International Space Station ( ISS). Each ESP is a device which is attached to the outside of the space station and be in the equipment and spare parts, so-called Orbital Replacement Units ( ORUs ), housed.

ESP -1

The first External Stowage Platform, ESP -1, was transported to the Space Shuttle mission STS -102 to the ISS. Took place on 13 March 2001 during the second spacewalk (EVA ) installation on the exterior of the Destiny module.

ESP -2

ESP -2 was mounted on 3 August 2005 during the Third Space exit the STS-114 mission to the Quest airlock. ESP -2 is significantly greater than ESP -1 and can thus more spare parts ( ORUs ) record.

Originally four mounts for video cameras were mounted on ESP -2. In spacewalks these were mounted on 7 November 2005 at the P1 element on 3 August 2006 at the S1 element, 17 June 2007 at the S3 element and on 23 July 2007 at the P1 element.

ESP -3

ESP -3 was installed on August 14, 2007, during the space shuttle mission STS -118. The platform has eight suspensions, up to seven ORUs or equipment can be mounted on the. The platform has handles and attachment points for safety lines and footrests for astronauts.

ESP -3 was mounted differently than the other two ESPs without spacewalk with the robotic arms of the ISS and the shuttle to the P3 lattice structure.

Currently, the following ORUs are attached to ESP 3:

  • Battery Charge / Discharge Unit ( BCDU ) - A charging and discharging device for batteries that provide a uniform power during orbital night phases.
  • Nitrogen tank assembly (NTA) - A replacement nitrogen tank for the two tanks, which are attached to the S1 and P1- lattice structures. The NTAS ensure a constant pressure in the ammonia tanks when they leave their contents into the pipes of the cooling circulatory system.
  • Pitch Roll Joint ( P / RJ) - A built by the Canadian Space Agency joint replacement for the robotic arm of the space station.

During the launch of STS- 118, a Ersatzgyroskop also was mounted on ESP -3. This gyroscope was attached during the second spacewalk at the ISS and fixed the faulty gyroscope to ESP -2, since the distance from ESP -3 from the cargo bay of the space shuttle no way existed to convey the component back to Earth. As part of an EVA with STS -122, it was attached to the Integrated Cargo Carrier of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and transported to Earth.

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