reibaldi 6/2/05 2:37 PM Page 60 - European Space Agency · reibaldi 6/2/05 2:37 PM Page 61. 62 esa bulletin 122 - may 2005 A s part of the European contribution to the International

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The ESA Payloads forColumbus – A bridge between the ISS and exploration

The ESA Payloads forColumbus – A bridge between the ISS and exploration


62 esa bulletin 122 - may 2005 www.esa.int

As part of the European contribution to the International Space Station (ISS) Programme, ESA has developed a number of complex, pressurisedand unpressurised payloads for conducting scientific investigations in a variety of disciplines, such as the life and physical sciences, technologyand space science. The majority of these payloads will already be installed in ESA’s Columbus Laboratory when it is launched in 2006. Many of

them are ready for flight, whilst the others are approaching final acceptance. The development of these payloads and their utilisation on the ISS canbe considered as a bridge to ESA’s future Exploration activities.

Giuseppe Reibaldi, Rosario Nasca, Horst Mundorf, Pierfilippo Manieri, Giacinto Gianfiglio, Stephen Feltham, Piero Galeone & Jan DettmannESA Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Human Spaceflight, Microgravity & Exploration

IntroductionWhen the ESA Member States confirmedtheir participation in the InternationalSpace Station (ISS) Programme back in1995, it consisted of both ISSinfrastructure elements (e.g. ColumbusLaboratory, Automated Transfer Vehicleand others) and utilisation elements (e.g.Microgravity Facilities for Columbus,European Drawer Rack, External Payloadsand others).

Once in orbit, Columbus will beoutfitted with several multi-user payloads,located both inside and outside theLaboratory. The experiments that will beperformed using these payloads willprovide a much-needed boost to theEuropean scientific and industrialcommunity. Equally importantly, they willgreatly increase the competitiveness ofEuropean industry by fostering innovativeresearch, which is a major priority for bothESA and the European Union. Theutilisation of these multi-user payloadswill also contribute to the preparation ofthe Agency’s new Exploration Programme.

When Columbus is launched by NASA’sSpace Shuttle (Fig. 1) in 2006, it will beoutfitted with the following payloads:

Pressurised payloads:(a) Biolab(b) Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL)(c) European Physiology Modules (EPM)

Facility(d) European Drawer Rack (EDR)(e) European Transport Carrier (ETC)

Unpressurised payloads:(f) SOLAR(g) EuTEF.

Payloads (a), (b) and (c) are beingdeveloped within the MicrogravityFacilities for Columbus (MFC)Programme, while (d), (e), (f) and (g) fallunder the Utilisation Programme.

Together with the pressurised payloads,there will be an allocated stowage volume(e.g. one quarter of the stowage rack for eachfacility) to upload a minimum set of sparesfor maintenance, as well as the necessaryexperiment hardware in terms of containers,

The Space Shuttle Flight-1E launch configuration


esa bulletin 122 - may 2005www.esa.int 63

cartridges, etc. All this equipment will be contained in the European TransportCarrier (ETC). Once in orbit, the ColumbusLaboratory can accommodate up to tenactive payload racks.

In the framework of the Space StationAgreements with NASA, ESA is allocated51% usage of the Columbus Laboratory,which is equivalent to five active racklocations, the other five rack locationsbeing allocated to NASA.

Physical and Life Science researchunder microgravity conditions embraces awide range of disciplines, includingfundamental physics, physical chemistry,fluid science, solidification physics (e.g.crystal growth, and metallurgy), biology,biotechnology, human physiology andmedicine, making it the largest Europeanuser of the Space Station. The ESAMicrogravity Life and Physical ScienceProgramme’s primary goal is to offerEuropean scientists the possibility toperform materials and fluid sciences,biology and human-physiology ex-periments in space using mainly thepressurised payloads.

The ESA ISS Utilisation Programme isdesigned to offer the capability to conductexperiments in additional disciplines, suchas space science, technology, Earthobservation and fundamental physics,primarily using the unpressurised payloads

Each active multi-user payload issupported by a dedicated Science Team,composed of respected Europeanscientists, who advise the Agency on thescientific requirements to be fulfilled byeach payload. They also review the facilitydesign to ensure that it can meet thoserequirements.

The ESA Columbus External PayloadFacility (CEPF) will provide four locationsfor the unpressurised payloads (i.e.platforms to accommodate externalpayloads). The initial set of multi-userpayloads are: SOLAR, which is a solarobservatory with three scientificinstruments, and EuTEF, which is anensemble of nine individual instruments

dedicated to in-orbit technologyexperiments.

In order to select experiments for thepressurised payloads, Life and PhysicalScience Announcements of Opportunity(AOs) have been released over the past fewyears, resulting in the selection of severalbatches of peer-reviewed experiments foreach payload. New experiment solicitationAOs are planned every 1 to 2 years. Theselection of instruments for theunpressurised payloads follows a similarapproach, but then via the user Directorate,such as Space Science, Earth Observationor Technology.

The Pressurised Payloads

The starts of the main development phases(Phase-C/D) for these payloads werestaggered over a two-year period, from1997 to1999, depending on the level ofmaturity reached during the definitionphases. The industrial contracts wereawarded to major European primecontractors, such as EADS Astrium (F) forthe Biolab, Alenia Spazio (I) for the FSL,and EDR and OHB Systems (D) for theEPM.

The flight models of Biolab, FSL andEPM underwent verification of their

Columbus interfaces using the Rack-LevelTest Facility (RLTF) at EADS-ST inBremen (D) in 2003. They completed theirqualification in 2004 with their deliveryfor the Integrated System Test (IST) andthe end-to-end System Validation Test(SVT) that was successfully performedinside the flight model of the ColumbusLaboratory in Bremen. Their finalintegration into Columbus is planned to becompleted by autumn 2005.

The training models of Biolab, FSL,EPM and EDR have already beendelivered to the European AstronautCentre in Cologne (D), and the engineeringmodels will be delivered to the UserSupport Operations Centres (USOCs) inthe course of 2005, in order to retrofit thelate changes introduced into the flightmodels as a result of the scientificallyrequired upgrades.

The specific features of each multi-userpayload are as follows:

Biolab

Scientific objectivesLife Science experiments in space areaimed at identifying the role thatmicrogravity plays at all levels of life, fromthe organisation of a single cell to the

ESA Payloads for Columbus

The flight models of the pressurised payloads inside Columbusduring IST testing in Bremen



nature of gravity resisting and detectingmechanisms in the more highly developedorganisms, including man. Whilst theeffects of microgravity on humans willalso be investigated by other payloads (e.g.EPM), it is important to start theinvestigation with the smaller elements ofthe biological structure. At the sciencecommunity’s behest, ESA has always had astrong involvement in supporting theinvestigation of biological samples, withfor example the Biorack on the SpaceShuttle and the Biobox on a Russiancarrier. The scientific results from theseflights can certainly influence our

everyday lives, particularly in the areas ofimmunology, bone demineralisation,cellular signal transduction and cellular-repair capabilities. Such results couldeventually have a strong bearing on crucialproducts in the medical, pharmacologicaland biotechnological fields.

The current Biolab concept is that of amulti-user payload for conductingbiological experiments on cells, micro-organisms, small plants and smallinvertebrates, as well as research inbiotechnology. The design respects thescience recommendations, the outcome ofthe scientific and feasibility study

performed (i.e. Phase-A/B), the experiencegained from payloads flown previously,and the requirements and possibilitiesoffered by the utilisation of the SpaceStation.

Payload operationBiolab is divided physically andfunctionally into two sections: theautomatic section in the left-hand side ofthe rack, and the manual section on theright-hand side. In the automatic section,also known as the ‘Core Unit’, all activitiesare performed automatically by thepayload, after manual sample loading intothe centrifuge in the incubator by the crew.By implementing such a high level ofautomation, the demands on crew time aredrastically reduced. The manual section, inwhich all activities are performed by thecrew, is mainly devoted to sample storageand crew-specific activities.

The biological samples are contained instandard ‘Experiment Containers’, whichhave standard external interfaces with theBiolab, an approach that has been wellproven with the Biorack. The internalvolume available to experimenters is 60 x 60 x 100 mm3 for the standardcontainer; a larger one is also available.

Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL)

Scientific objectivesFluid-science experiments in space aredesigned to study dynamic phenomena inthe absence of gravitational forces. Undermicrogravity conditions, such forces arevirtually eliminated, including their effectsin fluid media (e.g. gravity-drivenconvection, sedimentation and strat-ification and fluid static pressure). Thisallows fluid-dynamics effects that arenormally masked by gravitation to bestudied, such as the diffusion-controlled(rather than convective-flow-dominated)heat and mass transfer in crystallisationprocesses.

The absence of gravity-driven con-vection eliminates the negative effects of


The flight model of Biolab



density gradients (inhomogeneous massdistribution), which always arise on Earthin processes involving heat treatment,phase transitions, diffusive transport orchemical reactions (i.e. convection inearthbound processes is perceived as astrong perturbing factor, the effects ofwhich are seldom predictable with greataccuracy and dominate heat and masstransfer in fluids).

The ability to control such processes isstill limited; their full understandingrequires further fundamental research byconducting well-defined modelexperiments for the development andtesting of related theories undermicrogravity. This will allow theoptimisation of manufacturing processeson Earth.

ESA has already been involved in thestudy of fluid-science phenomena undermicrogravity conditions for several years,notably with the BDPU (Bubble, Drop andParticle Unit), which has already beenflown twice on Spacelab missions,providing valuable results.

Payload operationThe kernel of the FSL payload is made upby the Optical Diagnostics Module (ODM)and the Central Experiment Modules

(CEM), into which the ExperimentContainers (EC) (see figure) aresequentially inserted and operated.Together, these modules represent theFacility Core Element (FCE), which iscomplemented by the functionalsubsystems for system and experimentcontrol, power distribution, environmentalconditioning, and data processing andmanagement. The FCE will be suspendedusing the Microgravity Vibration IsolationSystem (MVIS) provided by the CanadianSpace Agency. It will improve themicrogravity conditions during experimentprocessing by reducing the residualdynamic forces present on the ISS. TheMVIS will offer unique researchcapabilities to both European andCanadian scientists.

European Physiology Modules (EPM)

Scientific objectivesHuman Life Science experiments inmicrogravity not only increase ourknowledge of how the human body reactsto long exposure to weightlessness, butalso contribute to a better understanding of Earth-related problems such as:cardiovascular, neurophysiology, ageingprocesses, osteoporosis, balance disorders,

biomedical research, cancer research andmuscle wasting during limb immob-ilisation (casts) and bed-rest.

Investigations into the effects ofmicrogravity on the human body have beenconducted for many years and ESA inparticular has successfully flown relatedfacilities (e.g. Sled, Anthrorack, etc.) onseveral Spacelab missions.

To be able to a make proper evaluationof the data collected onboard the SpaceStation, it is essential that reference (orbaseline) data be collected both prior to themission and after the crew returns to Earth.For this purpose, the EPM will include aBaseline Data Collection (BDC) systemcomposed of functional replicas of theinstruments on board. The BDC will beeasily transportable to ensure that it can beavailable at the crew’s location shortlybefore their launch and immediately aftertheir landing.

NASA is developing a similar payloadknown as the Human Research Facility(HRF). It consists of two racks, the first ofwhich was launched early in the ISSassembly sequence; the second will belaunched with the Shuttle’s return to flight,in advance of the Columbus Laboratory.ESA and NASA plan to collocate thesetwo payloads within Columbus, therebyallowing the execution of experimentsutilising scientific instruments from bothpayloads and increasing the scientificreturn.

Payload operationThe EPM payload is a multi-user facilityintended to support research in the area ofhuman physiology in a weightlessenvironment. It consists of a complementof Science Modules plus the infrastructure,the Carrier, needed to support thecoordinated operation of these modules.The Carrier provides the data handling,thermal control and mechanicalaccommodation to the Science Modules,nine of which can be active at any onetime.

The Science Modules are accom-modated in standard-sized drawers (4 and8 PU, where 1 PU = 4.45 cm) and interface


The flight model of the FSL

The flight model of the EPM



to the rack via a standardised guide systemthat simplifies Module installation andexchange in orbit. All rack-mountedScience Modules are cooled via a ductedair system provided as part of the Carrier.

Two Science Modules will be launchedinside the EPM:

(a) Multi-Electrode ElectroencephalogramMapping Module (MEEMM)Developed by ESA, the MEEMM isdedicated to non-invasive studies ofbrain activity by measuring EEG andevoked potentials in the stationary anda bulatory modes (e.g. sleep studies).In addition, the MEEMM can be usedfor EMG measurements to investigatemuscle deconditioning/atrophy.

(b) Cardiolab (Cardiovascular Laboratory)Developed by CNES (F) and DLR (D),Cardiolab’s main objective is to studythe cardiovascular system, particularlyits central and peripheral regulation,and its short- and long-term adaptationto altered gravity levels. Researchareas include the autonomous controlof heart rate, and circulation and fluidvolume regulation.

The EPM will also carry a NASAstowage container that will include HRFinstruments.

Future modules under developmentinclude the Bone Analysis Module (BAM)for the investigation of bone loss in space,an issue of paramount importance in termsof conducting the long-duration missionsrequired by the Exploration Programme,and a Portable Pulmonary FunctionSystem (PPFS).

European Drawer Rack (EDR)

The EDR is a multi-user payload,providing the infrastructure toaccommodate and service experimentmodules housed in International SubrackInterface Standards (ISIS) drawers and instandard Shuttle-type Mid-Deck Lockers(MDLs). The main drivers in its design aremodularity and standardisation ofexperiment interfaces. The use of thestandard drawers and lockers will ensure

quick experiment turnaround, therebyincreasing the number of flightopportunities for the user community.

Payload operationThe EDR provides accommodation forsmall and modular experimentsaccommodated in ISISs and MDLs withaccess to the Columbus Laboratoryservices. A fundamental goal of the EDR isto support the accommodation of smallersub-rack payloads (so-called ‘Class IIpayloads’ - the experiment modules)through the provision of accommodationresources and flight opportunities whenquick turnaround is required. The EDR hasbeen designed for maximum user-friendliness and flexibility of experimentaccommodation and operation.

Future pressurised payloads

New payloads such as the Electro-Magnetic Levitator (EML) and PlasmaPhysics payloads are currently beingdefined to respond to the evolvingrequirements of the scientific community.

The Unpressurised Payloads

The ESA external payloads are a uniqueasset since no other ISS Partner will havecomparable capabilities in place. Several

multi-user payloads are already in anadvanced stage of development, includingSOLAR, EuTEF and ACES, and more areunder definition, such as SPOrt-Plus,EUSO, Lobster, ASIM, and ROSITA. Thefirst ESA external payload, Matroshka, isalready in orbit attached to the RussianService Module and is fully operational.

In-orbit transfer of the unpressurisedpayloads from the Shuttle to the ColumbusExternal Payload Facility, and vice-versa,will be performed by Extra VehicularRobotics (EVR) using the ISS RoboticSystems, i.e. the Space Station RoboticManipulator System provided with theSpecial-Purpose Dexterous Manipulator.For SOLAR and EuTEF, the transfer willbe carried out by the astronauts, via EVAs,as the EVR will not yet be operational.

The current status of the individualpayloads is as follows:

SOLARSOLAR will measure the Sun’s spectralirradiance over a wide energy range andwith unprecedented accuracy. Apart fromcontributing to solar-physics research,SOLAR is expected to contribute to ourknowledge of the interaction between thesolar-energy flux and the Earth’satmospheric chemistry and climatology,which will be important for futureenvironmental predictions.

The payload accommodates threecomplementary science instruments ableto measure the solar flux across theelectromagnetic spectrum, from theextreme ultraviolet to the infrared:– SOVIM (SOlar Variability & Irradiance

Monitor, developed by the Observatoryof Davos (CH), covering the nearultraviolet (UV), visible and thermalregions of the spectrum and the totalsolar irradiance

– SOLSPEC (SOlar SPECtral Irradiancemeasurements, developed by CNRS (F),with support from BIRA (B),covering the 180 – 3000 nm rangewith high spectral resolution, andstudying the solar variability

– SolACES (SOlar Auto-Calibrating


The training model of the EDR



EUV/UV Spectrophotometers, devel-oped by the Fraunhofer Institute,(D)) measuring the extreme UV and UVspectral region.

Manufacture of the flight models of thethree instruments has been completed andthey have already been tested, showingperformances meeting or even exceedingspecification.

The three instruments will be pointedtowards the Sun using a multi-purpose,two-degree-of-freedom, Coarse PointingDevice (CPD) that compensates for theSpace Station’s orbital motion.

The prime contractor for SOLAR isAlenia Spazio (I).

Integration of the SOLAR proto-flightmodel is in progress and will be completedby summer 2005. Integration with a launchcarrier for the unpressurised payloads thatwill share the accommodation in theShuttle together with the ColumbusLaboratory will begin at Cape Canaveralfour to five months before launch.

EuTEFThe European Technology ExposureFacility is a programmable, fullyautomated multi-user payload. A modulararchitecture provides uniform interfacesfor up to nine instrument modules, all ofwhich can be operated simultaneously. Thefollowing instruments are currently underdevelopment:– TRIBOLAB: a Tribology Testbed,

developed by INTA (E)

– PLEGPAY: a Plasma Electron GunPayload, developed by Laben (I), usedfor protection against charged particles

– MEDET: a Material Exposure andDegradation Experiment, developed byCNES/ESA/ONERA/University ofSouthampton (UK)

– DEBIE-2: a debris detector, developedby ESA/Patria Finavitech (SF)

-– FIPEX: a Flux Probe Experiment,developed by the University of Stuttgart(D)

– EXPOSE: an exobiology facility,developed by Kayser-Threde (D)

– DOSTEL: a dosimetric radiationtelescope, developed by DLR (D)

– EuTEMP: a EuTEF temperaturemeasurement device, developed byESA/EFACEC

– EVC: an Earth Viewing Camera,developed by ESA/Carlo Gavazzi Space(I), for outreach activities.

The EuTEF flight unit, including thefirst set of instruments, is currently beingintegrated and will be completed bysummer 2005. The prime contractor isCarlo Gavazzi Space (I).

ACESThe Atomic Clock Ensemble in Spacepayload will test a new generation ofatomic clocks in space. Importantexperiments will be performed in severalscientific domains including, fundamentalphysics (cold atoms), high-precisiongeodesy, and global network synchronis-ation.

The payload supports two clocksworking in unison. The cold-caesium-atomclock PHARAO (Projet d'HorlogeAtomique par Refroidissement d Atomesen Orbite) is funded by France anddeveloped by CNES. The Space HydrogenMaser (SHM) is funded by Switzerland viaESA’s PRODEX programme (Programmede Dévelopment d'Experiences scientif-iques) and developed nationally by theObservatory of Neuchâtel. Both clockswill be characterised and compared in amicrogravity environment to explore theirultimate performances in space.

The ACES payload is being developedand integrated by an industrial team led byEADS-ST based in Friedrichshafen (D).Unique to ACES is the possibility forworldwide participation involving a globalarray of User Home Bases (UHBs)procured by national time and frequencyscientific institutes. The payload iscurrently in Phase-C/D, involving the


SOLAR model during Columbus interface testing in Bremen

The flight model of EuTEF

The ACES payload



development, manufacture and veri-fication of engineering and flighthardware. ACES will be ready for launchno earlier than 2010.

MatroshkaMatroshka is a human dummy for studyingthe radiation doses to which astronauts’bodily organs are exposed during Extra-Vehicular Activities (EVAs). It consists ofa simulated human upper torso, outfittedwith special radiation-measurementdevices.

Matroshka was transported to the ISS onProgress flight 13P on 29 January 2004and installed on the outside of the Russian‘Zvezda’ module. The scientific results areproviding important information aboutastronaut radiation exposure during EVA.It is planned to retrieve Matroshka by theend of 2005, exchange its sensors onboardthe ISS, and then re-expose it outside‘Zvezda’ for further investigations.

SPOrt-Plus This payload will include the grouping ofthe SPOrt science instrument with anadditional instrument(s), currently beingevaluated by ESA, able to share the sameaccommodation requirements.

SPOrt (Sky Polarization Observatory),an astrophysical instrument selected byESA and developed by ASI (I), is designedto measure the sky polarisation in the

unexplored microwave frequency rangefrom 20 to 90 GHz. The scientific goalsinclude production of the first polarisationmap of our Galaxy at 22, 32 and 60 GHz, and full-sky measurements ofunprecedented accuracy in the so-called‘cosmological window’ at 90 GHz.

The SPOrt science instrument designphase (Phase-B) has been completed, andthe main development phase (Phase-C/D)will be initiated by ASI in 2005. The primecontractor is Alenia Spazio (I). The earliestlaunch opportunity is foreseen 18 monthsafter Shuttle flight 1E.

Future unpressurised payloads Extreme Universe Space Observatory(EUSO)EUSO is devoted to the investigation of thehighest energy processes present andaccessible in the Universe. By using theEarth’s atmosphere as a giant cosmic-raydetector, EUSO will observe the flash offluorescence light and the reflectedCherenkov light produced when anExtreme-Energy Cosmic Ray (EECR),with energy greater than 3x1019 eV,interacts with the Earth’s atmosphere.EUSO will take advantage of thecontinuous Earth-pointing provided by thelowest balcony of the Columbus ExternalPayload Facility and, by looking to nadirwith a 60-degree field of view, will detectaround 1000 such events per year, allowinga sensitive search for EECR-producingobjects.

A worldwide consortium of investigatorsfrom the USA, Japan and several Europeancountries, led by IASF-CNR of Palermo(I), is developing the Observatory. It

consists of a UV telescope, with alightweight double-Fresnel-lens opticssystem, a highly segmented focal-surfacedetector array, sophisticated onboardimage processing, a Lidar, and anatmospheric sounding device that willprovide ‘real-time’ knowledge of theatmospheric scattering and light-absorption properties.

The EUSO study phase (Phase-A),completed in July 2004, demonstrated thatit is indeed possible to transport andaccommodate such a large payload – 2.5 min diameter and 4 m long – on the ISS.However, in view of the large amount ofresources required to implement themission, continuation of the project iscurrently under discussion.

LobsterLobster is an all-sky monitoring packageoperating in the soft-X-ray band (0.1 – 3.5keV), with a main instrument consisting of


The Matroshka phantom in orbit

The SPOrt instrument

The EUSO payload

Lobster



six microchannel-plate X-ray telescopesaccommodated on the Columbus ExternalPayload Facility. It uses a novelmicrochannel-plate arrangement toprovide an extremely wide field of view,allowing it to generate a catalogue of about250 000 sources every two months with aspatial resolution of a few arc-minutes.

The instrument is being developed bythe University of Leicester (UK) togetherwith various co-investigators. Theinstrument design study (Phase-A) wascompleted in early 2005.

Röntgen Survey and Imaging TelescopeArray (ROSITA)ROSITA will perform an all-sky surveyand imaging mission in the medium-energy X-ray range up to 10 keV, withunprecedented spectral and angularresolution. The telescope, supplied byMPE-Garching (D), will consist of areplica of the Wolter-I mirror systemsalready flown on ABRIXAS, and a noveldetector system, currently underdevelopment, based on the XMM pn-CCDtechnology. The feasibility of accom-modating this large payload – about 1 m indiameter, 2.5 m long and weighing morethan 500 kg – has been preliminarilydemonstrated in the context of a pre-Phase-A study performed by the ESTECConcurrent Design Facility.

Atmosphere Space Interactions Monitor(ASIM)ASIM will study the high-altitude opticalemissions from the Earth’s stratosphereand mesosphere using two types ofinstruments: an optical Miniature Multi-

spectral Imaging Array (MMIA) with fourimagers, and a single module of aMiniature X- and gamma-ray Sensor(MXGS). The instrument is beingdeveloped by DNSC (DK).

The ASIM pre-Phase-A study,completed by the ESTEC ConcurrentDesign Facility in October 2004,confirmed the feasibility of the payload.The Phase-A study has been initiated in2005.

The Challenges

Developing state-of-the-art pressurisedpayloads has meant meeting several majorchallenges. They have to comply with verychallenging scientific requirementsestablished by the science teams, and mustalso include the greatest possible degree ofautomation in order to minimise crewinvolvement. Telescience operation fromthe ground allows the scientists to interactdirectly with their experiments in space,while the high level of modularity meansthat the payloads can be refurbished in-orbit rather than having to be returned to the ground. This minimises the upload requirements for the scientificexperiments.

Cooperative endeavours such as MVISand Cardiolab have added value to theprogramme. MVIS will greatly enhancethe FSL, providing good isolation forexperiments from the Station’smicrogravity disturbances, whileCardiolab will offer a wide range ofphysiology instruments for cardiovascularstudies in space.

The ESA External Payload Programme

was initially based on the NASA ExpressPallet Programme. The payloads wereoriginally designed for launch and retrievalwith the Express Pallet System and whenNASA suspended this programme ESAhad to face a completely new situation. Theunpressurised payloads were relocated tothe Columbus External Platform by meansof a dedicated payload adapter called theColumbus External Payload Adapter(CEPA). This had important impacts onpayloads already under development.

As far as the development of SOLAR isconcerned, it called for innovative designsolutions for the Coarse Pointing Device(CPD) and the science instruments. TheCPD’s structural design was particularlychallenging because of the demandingcombination of mechanical and structuralrequirements (loads, stiffness, mass,pointing requirements, return to Earth aftera 1.5 to 3-year long mission). The designtherefore involved the use of compositematerials, supported by test campaigns tocharacterise the materials and processesbeing used in orbit for the first time.

The main development challenge forEuTEF was linked to the spread inmaturity of the nine instruments that makeup the payload. Difficulties experiencedwith the instruments’ development had tobe resolved by work-around solutions onthe platform side.

Other important challenges are beingmet during the development of ACES andthe other external payloads.

Both the pressurised and unpressurisedpayloads have been developed within verytight financial budgets set by ESA.Contracts totalling more than 50% of theoverall budget have been awarded toseveral small- and medium-sizedenterprises (SMEs), developing skills inthese companies that will be exploited infuture programmes, even outside ESA.

A Bridge between the ISS and Exploration

The ESA pressurised payloads incorporatestate-of-the-art technology with an optimumblend of automation and human inter-vention. They are the most complex andproductive payloads yet built for the ISS and


ROSITA

ASIM



are the result of the shared expertise andclose cooperation of the ESA and Industryteams. The technology and know-howdeveloped will have immediate applicationsin ESA’s Exploration Programme, which isseeking to expand human frontiers throughactivities linked to evolution beyond thecurrent ISS or to technology preparation forMoon/Mars missions. Research into humanphysiology conducted with the EPMpayload will be fundamental to under-standing the limits of human endurance inweightlessness (e.g. bone loss) and thedevelopment and verification of appropriatecountermeasures.

A further contribution to the Explorationactivities will come from the unpressurised

payloads, such as the research intoradiation effects on astronauts conductedwith Matroshka, which has already been inorbit for a year. The EuTEF payload for conducting in-orbit technologyexperiments can be used to test newtechnologies, as well as for exobiologyresearch, required by the ExplorationProgramme. All of the payloads developedwill provide ESA with unique operationaland sustaining-engineering experience thatis also important for Europe’s futureExploration Programme.

ConclusionsPressurised and unpressurised payloads arebeing delivered to the ISS that not only

meet, but in many cases exceed eventoday’s challenging technical require-ments. The robustness built into theirdesigns, through modularity and in-orbitupgrade capabilities, will allow them to beoperated in orbit for at least 10 years, wellbeyond the planned retirement of theSpace Shuttle in 2010. With itsunpressurised payloads on the ISS, ESAwill have the unique capability ofinstalling and operating complexinstruments that can not only look down onthe Earth, but also peer out into the fardistant cosmos. They will offer uniqueopportunites to European scientists.

r


First Announcement

Sixth ESA/CNES International Workshop: Applications of Pyrotechnics in Space Systems25/26 October 2005, ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

The main aim of this Workshop will be to stimulate discussion and exchange of ideas, and to promote contacts between all thoseinvolved in or affected by the use of pyrotechnics in space systems.

The main theme of this particular Workshop will be: ‘Engineering Reliability: What it means and how it is quantified’. It is plannedto devote a full day to statistics, focussing on the standards and requirements, the best analysis methods, the available tools, and theresults of recent work. Lectures will be given by professional statistics consultants, who will be happy to discuss statistical solutionsand assist participants with problems related to reliability quantification.

There will be presentations by invited speakers and time will be allocated for questions and discussion to explore topics more fully.More such opportunities will be available during the several breaks. Presentations will also be given on contract work performed forESA and CNES in their respective R&D programmes. Topics to be covered will include: Reliability and Statistical Methods,Pyrotechnic Composition and Pyrotechnic Device Lifetime, Shock Measurement and Testing, Approaches to Cost Reduction,Release-Nut Development, Pyrotechnic-Valve Development, Laser Ignition, Subsystem Design, Computer Simulation, SpacecraftSolid Propulsion, Testing, Standards for Pyrotechnics (ECSS, ISO, GTPS, etc.), Databases, Information Media, and current andfuture ESA and CNES activities. Suggestions are welcome regarding other topics to be included and should be sent to the addressbelow.

No fee will be charged for this ESA/CNES Workshop. Registration and accommodation arrangements can be made once thePreliminary Programme has been published. Forms for these purposes will be available in both paper and electronic form.

Contact Person :Neil CableESTEC/TEC-MCSPO Box 299, 2200 AG NoordwijkThe Netherlands

E-mail: [email protected]


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reibaldi 6/2/05 2:37 PM Page 60 - European Space Agency · reibaldi 6/2/05 2:37 PM Page 61. 62 esa bulletin 122 - may 2005 A s part of the European contribution to the International