The Launcher and Spacecraft The International Space ... · The current Expedition 7 crew of Edward Lu and Yuri Malenchenko arrived on the ISS on 28 April 2003. They will return with

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The Mission

Mission NameMission LogoMission ObjectivesMission Key Reference DataMission Timeline

The Crew

Pedro DuqueAlexander KaleriMichael FoaleAndré KuipersValery TokarevWilliam McArthurReturning Crew

The Launcher and Spacecraft

Soyuz LauncherSoyuz TMA Spacecraft

The International Space Station

Current Configuration

Control and Support Centres

Erasmus Payload Operations CentreEuropean Astronaut CentreEuropean Space Operations CentreSpanish User Support and Operations CentreBelgian User Support and Operations CentreMission Control Centre – MoscowMission Control Center - HoustonPayload Operations Center - Huntsville

Life Sciences Experiments

AGEINGGENEROOTMESSAGE BMICARBON DIOXIDE SURVEY SSASCARDIOCOGNEUROCOGSYMPATHOAORTACHROMOSOMES

Physical Science Experiments

NANOSLABPROMISS

Earth Observation Experiments

LSO

Technology Demonstrations

3D CAMERACREW RESTRAINT

Educational Experiments

APISCHONDRO THEBASVIDEO-2WINOGRADARISS

Launch, Flight and Landing Procedures

Launch ProceduresDocking ProceduresUndocking ProceduresRe-entry ProceduresLanding ProceduresPost Landing Procedures

Acronyms

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The MissionMission Name

The ‘CERVANTES’ mission takes its name fromMiguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616), thefamous Spanish poet, playwright and novelist whoseworks included La Galatea in 1585 and the first andsecond parts of Don Quijote in 1605 and 1615.

He was born in Alcalá de Henares, the son of a sur-geon. After studying in Madrid he went to work forCardinal Giulio Acquaviva in Rome in 1569 where,after several months, he joined the Spanish Armybased in Naples.

He lost his left hand at the battle of Lepanto in 1571against the Turkish forces and four years later aftercampaigns in Navarino, Corfu and Tunis he was cap-tured at sea by pirates. He was held as a slave inAlgiers until 1580 when his family was able to buy hisfreedom.

In 1584 he married the daughter of a real estateowner, a few months before La Galatea was pub-lished.

Hereafter Cervantes spent ten years carrying outadministrative work for the Spanish Armada followedby work as a tax collector before being put intoprison for financial problems in 1597.

During his stay in prison beginning in 1597,Cervantes came up with the concept for DonQuijote. It is credited as being the first modern novel,countering the idealised heroes of previous literaturewith its use of satire and complex characters.

The first part of Don Quijote was published after hisrelease and his literary career continued until hisdeath in April 1616, just days after finishing his lastnovel, Persiles y Sigismunda.

The works of Cervantes have been set to ballet,music and cinema and he has influenced many writ-ers such as Dickens, Flaubert and Dostoyevsky.



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Portrait of Miguel de Cervantes

The MissionMission Logo

The mission logo was designed by Spanish artistMiguel Gallardo. It shows an astronaut looking intospace with his hand held towards the stars, which hewishes to reach. Like Don Quijote, he hopes to winhis search for the universe in order to discover the

mysteries of life. The largest star is the one Man hasinstalled, the International Space Station, whichshines above as a starship for modern pioneers.

This logo highlights the Spanish involvement in themission and the drive of space research to improvehumanity by reaching for and fulfilling its aspirations.

The logos of the mission partners are shown under-neath: The European Space Agency (ESA),Rosaviakosmos, the Russian Space Agency, theEnergia Rocket and Space Corporation and CDTI,the Centre for Technological and IndustrialDevelopment, part of the Ministry of Science andTechnology in Spain.



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The MissionMission Objectives

Spanish ESA astronaut Pedro Duque will fly intospace in the framework of the Spanish Soyuz mission‘Cervantes’. His 10-day flight will include 8 days onthe International Space Station.

The Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology,through the Centre for Technological and IndustrialDevelopment (CDTI), sponsored the mission withinthe framework of an agreement between ESA andRosaviakosmos.

The principle objectives of the mission are:1. To carry out a full scientific experiment pro-

gramme. ESA’s astronaut Pedro Duque will carryout a full scientific programme, spending some 40hours of his eight days on the ISS on experimen-tal activity. Most of the experiments are sponsoredby the Spanish government although there arealso a number of reflights of experiments from theBelgian Odissea mission to the ISS in October2002.

Duque will also participate in a number of educa-tional and promotional activities with the aim ofbringing the European human space programmeand research performed in space to a wider pub-lic, and young people in particular.

2. To increase operational experience aboard theISS. From a European perspective the Cervantesmission is important because it increases ESA’sastronaut experience ahead of the launch ofColumbus, Europe’s own laboratory to the Space

Station. Pedro Duque has worked previously onthe development of Columbus. He reviewed itsdesign in terms of operability and maintainabilityand checked on ergonomic aspects of its struc-ture. The ongoing development of Columbus andits research facilities will benefit from the ‘handson’ experience Pedro will get during his stay onthe ISS.

3. To exchange the station lifeboat: the SoyuzTMA-2, for the Soyuz TMA-3. The Soyuz TMAspacecraft act as a lifeboat for the ISS for use inemergency situations. These are exchangedevery six months to maintain the integrity of theon-board systems. The Soyuz TMA-2 spacecraft,which bought the ISS Expedition 7 crew to theInternational Space Station in April, will beexchanged for the Soyuz TMA-3, which will bringPedro Duque and the ISS Expedition 8 Crew tothe ISS. The Soyuz TMA-2 spacecraft will returnwith Pedro Duque and the Expedition 7 crew.



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The Erasmus Payload Operations Centre at ESTEC in Noordwijk,The Netherlands, the centre of European operations for theCervantes Mission.

Soyuz TMA-2 spacecraft docked to the ISS

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The Mission

4. To exchange the current ISS Expedition 7 crewfor the ISS Expedition 8 crew. In light of theColumbia accident in February 2003, the SoyuzTMA spacecraft are currently acting as the crewexchange vehicles for the ISS permanent crews.The current Expedition 7 crew of Edward Lu andYuri Malenchenko arrived on the ISS on 28 April2003. They will return with ESA astronaut PedroDuque at the end of his 8-day stay on the ISS.

The expedition 8 crew will be stationed on the ISSfor approximately 6 months and will return withESA astronaut André Kuipers as part of his mis-sion to the ISS in the April of 2004.



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ISS Expedition 8 crewISS Flight Engineer Alexander KaleriISS Commander Michael Foale

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ISS Expedition 7 CrewISS Commander Yuri Malenchenko ISS Flight Engineer Edward Lu

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The MissionMission Key Reference Data

CREWS:Ascent Flight (Flight ISS-7S):

Soyuz Commander: Alexander Yurievich Kaleri (Rosaviakosmos)Soyuz Flight Engineer: Pedro Duque (ESA)2nd Soyuz Flight Engineer: Michael C. Foale (NASA)

Backup Soyuz Commander: Valery Ivanovich Tokarev (Rosaviakosmos)Backup Soyuz Flight Engineer: André Kuipers (ESA)Backup 2nd Soyuz Flight Engineer: William S. McArthur, jr (NASA)

Return Phase (Flight ISS-6S):

Soyuz Commander: Yuri Malenchenko (Rosaviakosmos)Soyuz Flight Engineer: Pedro Duque. Backup André Kuipers (ESA)2nd Soyuz Flight Engineer: Edward Lu (NASA)

SPACECRAFT:Launcher: Soyuz FGLaunch Spacecraft: Soyuz TMA-3Return Spacecraft: Soyuz TMA-2

LAUNCH and LANDING SITES:Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, KazakhstanLanding Sites: Near town of Arkalyk or Dzhezkazgan in

Kazakhstan

MISSION PARAMETERS:Launch Date: 07:37 Central European Time (CET), 18 October

2003

Time to ISS: 2 days 2 hours 34 minutes.Docking: 09:11 (CET), 20 October 2003Altitude: ~400kmInclination: 51.6°

Undocking: 00:20 (CET), 28 October 2003Return Duration: 3 hours 16 minutesLanding: 03:36 (CET), 28 October 2003



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The MissionMission Timeline

The following information provides a day-by-daybreakdown summary of ESA astronaut PedroDuque’s work between docking and opening theSoyuz TMA-3 hatch on 20 October 2003 and closingthe Soyuz TMA-2 hatch and undocking on 28October.

20 October 2003• Installation of the Ageing, Gene, and Chondro

experiments• Preparation and activation of Message experiment• Set up Promiss experiment hardware in

Microgravity Science Glovebox• Set up Nanoslab experiment hardware in

Microgravity Science Glovebox• Activate Microgravity Science Glovebox• Activate Promiss experiment• Set up the BMI (Blood Pressure Measurement

Instrument) hardware• Installation of Root experiment in Aquarius

Incubator• Public Affairs Event• Emergency ISS training for visiting crew

21 October 2003• Take blood sample for Sympatho Experiment• Activate the Blood Pressure Measurement

Instrument and complete associated question-naires (morning and evening)

• Public Affairs Events with Spain and the UnitedStates and VIP

• Prepare Cardiocog experiment, take measurements• Carry out Message experiment• Activate Nanoslab experiment• Replace Video for Promiss experiment• Preparation of Ariss radio equipment• Video session with the help of Alexander Kaleri• Preparation and filming of the Ageing experiment• Gene experiment frozen for return to Earth• Take ISS images using 3D camera

22 October 2003• Fill in Blood Pressure Measurement Instrument

questionnaire and deactivate experiment hardware• Public Affairs events with Russia and VIP• Set up and carry out Neurocog experiment in fixed

and floating positions with the help of AlexanderKaleri

• Carry out Message experiment• Photo/Video session• Ariss radio contact with school children• Take ISS images using 3D camera• Set Nanoslab experiment to cool• Replace Video for Promiss experiment• Activate Solid Sorbent Air Sampler

23 October 2003• Public Affairs Events• Set up and test crew restraint hardware• Photo/Video session• Set up and Carry out CO2 survey• Carry out message experiment• Preparation and filming of Ageing experiment• Ariss radio contact with school children• Replace Video for Promiss experiment • Set up and carry out Video-2 experiment with

Alexander Kaleri• Deactivate, relocate and reactivate Solid Sorbent

Air Sampler

24 October 2003• Public Affairs Events with Spain and VIP• Set up and carry out Neurocog experiment in fixed

and floating positions with the help of AlexanderKaleri

• Carry out Message experiment• Replace Video for Promiss experiment • Photo/Video session• Deactivate Solid Sorbent Air Sampler

25 October 2003• Take blood sample for Sympatho Experiment• Activate the Blood Pressure Measurement

Instrument and complete associated question-naires (morning and evening)

• Public Affairs Events with Spain • Carry out CO2 surveys and download data• Prepare Cardiocog experiment, take measure-

ments and download data• Carry out Message experiment• Preparation and filming of the Ageing experiment• Photo/Video session• Take ISS images using 3D camera• Replace Video for Promiss experiment• Set up, carry out and deinstall Thebas experiment



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The Mission

26 October 2003• Fill in Blood Pressure Measurement Instrument

questionnaire and deactivate experiment hardware • Public Affairs events with Spain• Set up, carry out and deinstall Apis experiment• Ariss radio contact with school children• Replace Video for Promiss experiment• Photo/Video session• Take ISS images using 3D camera

27 October 2003• Promiss Experiment. Load data to computer for

downloading to Earth• Take ISS images using 3D camera• Power down Microgravity Science Glovebox• Stow away Nanoslab Hardware• Stow away Promiss hardware• Public Affairs Event• Close out Aquarius Incubator• Finish Root experiment and Stow away for return to

Earth• Deinstallation of Ageing experiment for return to

Earth• Disconnect Winograd experiment and Stow away

for return to Earth• Disconnect Chondro experimentand Stow away for

return to Earth• Finalisation and transfer of Message experiment for

return to Earth • Close out Sympatho experiment



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The CrewPrimary Crew: Pedro Duque (ESA)

ESA astronaut Pedro Duque is Europe’s key astro-naut in the Cervantes mission. Born in Madrid, Spainon 14 March 1963, he is married with 3 children andis an avid swimmer, diver and cyclist.

After graduating in Aeronautical engineering in 1986,Duque soon moved to ESA’s European SpaceOperations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany,where he spent six years helping to develop models,algorithms and software to determine correct orbitingtrajectories. He formed part of flight control teams fortwo scientific research missions using the ESA satel-lites ERS-1 and EURECA.

Duque joined the ESA Astronaut Corps based at theEuropean Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, inMay 1992. He completed the one year Basic TrainingProgramme at EAC plus a four-week training pro-gram at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training centre(TsPK) in Star City, Russia.

In August 1993, Duque returned to TsPK to train forthe joint ESA-Russian Euromir 94 mission, which tookplace in Oct/Nov 1994. For this mission, Pedro wasthe backup astronaut for Ulf Merbold, ESA astronautfrom Germany, and was the Crew InterfaceCoordinator (CIC) at the Mission Control Centre inRussia. In the CIC function he was the interface

between the European scientists on the ground andthe Mir space station crew. Hereafter he received theRussian “Order of Friendship” from Boris Yeltsin inMarch 1995.

Pedro’s next mission was in June/July 1996, as partof the Life and Microgravity Spacelab mission (STS-78) aboard the Columbia Space Shuttle. Duque wasan alternate payload specialist for the mission andwas one of the Crew Interface Coordinators for allexperiment-related issues on the 17-day Spacelabmission. ESA had five major experiment facilities onthis flight and was responsible for more than half ofthe experiments performed.

Duque became certified as a Shuttle mission spe-cialist in April 1998, which led to his first spaceflightexperience on board the 9-day STS-95 Shuttle mis-sion as a mission specialist. Pedro was responsible,among others, for the five ESA scientific facilities onboard and for the extensive computer system andconfigurations used on the Shuttle.

The following year Pedro received the "Great Crossof Aeronautical Merit" from the King of Spain and the"Prince of Asturia" prize for InternationalCooperation. He shared this prize with three otherastronauts

Since then Duque has worked as a crew integrationsupport specialist in development of the EuropeanColumbus Laboratory and Cupola observation windowfor the ISS, providing design feedback on operability.

Since 2001 Duque has been assigned to the first ISSadvanced training class to prepare for one of the firstEuropean long-term flights onboard the ISS.



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ESA astronaut Pedro Duque

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Pedro Duque communicating with Ground Control during his STS-95 mission.

The CrewPrimary Crew: Alexander Yurievich Kaleri (Rosaviakosmos)

Kaleri was born 13 May 1956, in Yurmala, Latvia. Heis married to Svetlana and they have one son.Alexander enjoys running, reading, and gardening.

He graduated from the Moscow State Institute ofMechanical Physics in 1979 and became a test cos-monaut of the Energia Rocket/Space Corporation(RSC) in Moscow.

After participating in full-scale tests and developingdocumentation for the Mir Space Station, Kaleri start-ed Basic Cosmonaut training at the GagarinCosmonaut Training Centre in Star City near Moscowin 1984.

From April until December 1987, Alexander Kaleritook advanced training to meet the qualification for along-duration space flight aboard the Russian Mirorbital complex. This led to his first assignment as abackup crew flight engineer. After further periods oftraining Kaleri was nominated in February 1992 as aprimary crew flight engineer for the 11th permanentcrew aboard the Russian Mir space station.

Kaleri served as flight engineer on the Mir space sta-tion on three separate long-duration space flightslasting a total of 415 days, 3 hours, 19 minutes and 1second including 4 spacewalks.

The first of these, with Commander AlexanderViktorenkov (Mir-11 mission) lasted 145 days, beinglaunched on board Soyuz TM-14, on 17 March 1992.This mission included two spacewalks.

During this mission, Kaleri flew with the Europeanastronauts Klaus-Dietrich Flade from Germany andMichel Tognini from France, both on short-term mis-sions.

The second Mir mission with Commander ValeriGrigorjevitch Korzun (Mir-22 mission) lasted 197days returning to Earth on board Soyuz TM-24 on 12February 1997. NASA astronaut John E. Blaha joinedthe Mir-22 crew from the Space Shuttle mission STS-79.

During this mission Kaleri flew with European astro-naut Claudie André-Deshays (now ClaudieHaigneré) from France and European astronautReinhold Ewald from Germany, the OperationsManager for the Cervantes Mission. They were alsoon short-term missions.

Kaleri’s last mission on Mir with Commander SergejZaljotin (Mir-28 mission) lasted 73 days, beinglaunched on board Soyuz TM-30 from BaikonurCosmodrome on 4 April 2000.

Kaleri was assigned to ISS 5 and ISS 7 backupcrews as Crew Commander and will be Commanderfor the launch, journey and return of the of the SoyuzTMA-3 spacecraft. On the ISS, Kaleri will be theFlight Engineer.

During his astronaut career, Kaleri has received thehonours of “Hero of the Russian Federation” andgained the title of a “Pilot-cosmonaut of the RussianFederation”.



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Alexander Kaleri – Russian cosmonaut

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The CrewPrimary Crew: Michael C. Foale (NASA)

Michael Foale was born in Louth, England on 6January 1957 though considers Cambridge,England to be his hometown where his parents stilllive. His wife’s name is Rhonda and they have twochildren. He enjoys wind surfing, flying, scuba div-ing, physics and writing children’s software.

He received a first class honours degree in Physicsfrom the University of Cambridge, Queens College in1978 where he also completed his doctorate inLaboratory Astrophysics in 1982.

Michael then moved to Houston, Texas to pursue acareer in the U.S. Space Program. After working onSpace Shuttle navigation problems at the McDonnellDouglas Aircraft Corporation he joined NASA’sMission Operations Directorate at the JohnsonSpace Center in June 1983. In his role as payloadofficer in the Mission Control Center, he was respon-sible for payload operations on Space Shuttle mis-sions STS-51G, 51-I, 61-B and 61-C.

In June 1987 he was selected as an astronaut candi-date. As well as testing Shuttle software and devel-opment of ISS crew rescue and integration proce-dures, he undertook additional training at theGagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City,

Moscow in preparation for a long duration flight onthe Mir Space Station.

Foale has over 178 days experience in space over 5missions including 3 spacewalks lasting over 18hours.

He was a mission specialist on the 8/9-day Shuttlemissions: STS-45 (Mar/Apr 1992), STS-56 (Apr1993) and STS-63 (Feb 1995), all of which coveredatmospheric and solar research.

The STS-63 mission was the first mission where anon-Russian craft had docked with the Mir spacestation and during this mission Foale made his firstspacewalk.

Foale’s next mission lasted 145 days, serving asFlight Engineer 2 on the Mir-23 mission. It was on 25June during this mission that a Progress supply vehi-cle collided with the Mir space station sending it intoan unplanned spin and causing depressurisation.

Foale helped to reestablish Mir after the collision,including carrying out a 6-hour spacewalk to helpassess damage to the station’s Spektr module.

Foale’s last mission was on the 8-day STS-103 mis-sion in December 1999, during which time he car-ried out a spacewalk with ESA astronaut ClaudeNicollier from Switzerland for over 8 hours. The pur-pose of this was to upgrade systems on the HubbleSpace Telescope including the telescope’s maincomputer and Fine Guidance Sensor.



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NASA astronaut Michael Foale reports on hislast flight, STS-103.

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The CrewBackup Crew: André Kuipers (ESA)

André Kuipers is ESA’s backup astronaut for theCervantes Mission. He was born on 5 October 1958,in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has two daugh-ters. He enjoys flying, scuba diving, skiing, hiking,travelling and history.

He received a Medical Doctor’s degree from theUniversity of Amsterdam in 1987. During his medicalstudies, André Kuipers carried out research on thebody’s equilibrium system at the Academic MedicalCentre in Amsterdam.

This was followed up after graduation by researchinto physiological areas including spatial disorienta-tion and cerebral blood flow of pilots for the RoyalNetherlands Air Force Medical Corps (in which hewas an officer) and the Netherlands AerospaceMedical Centre.

Since 1991 André has been involved in the collectionof baseline data for European Space Agency physi-ology experiments, and was project scientist for ahuman physiology experiment (Anthrorack) on the D-2 Spacelab Mission (1993), and two lung andbone physiology experiments on the 6-monthEuromir-95 mission to the Mir space station.

In 1996 he had responsibility for facilities, which flewon the LMS Spacelab Mission: The Torque VelocityDynamometer (TVD), which measures muscledeconditioning; the Muscle Atrophy Research andExercise System (MARES), a device used in muscleresearch on board the Space Station; and anelectronic muscle stimulator (PEMS) to be used onastronauts.

In 1999 he joined ESA’s European Astronaut corebased in Cologne, Germany and in 2002 completedthe Basic Training Programme, which took place inCologne and the Gagarin Cosmonaut training centerin Star City Moscow. This includes science and tech-nology, systems, survival and spacewalk training.

Besides training, André Kuipers provides support forthe life science experiments during the ESA para-bolic flight campaigns, which are performed twice ayear. He participates in flights as an experimentoperator, technician, test subject and flight surgeon.

He coordinated the European experiments on lungfunction and blood pressure regulation, which will beperformed using ESA’s specially developed appara-tus, the Advanced Respiratory Monitoring System(ARMS)

In October/November 2002 André acted as Crewinterface Officer on the Odissea mission, whichincluded Belgian astronaut Frank De Winne. For thishe was based in the Russian Mission Control Centre(TsUP) in Moscow.

As well as being backup flight engineer for theSoyuz TMA-3 flight, André is assigned as primaryBoard Engineer on the Soyuz TMA-4 scheduled forlaunch in April 2004.



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ESA astronaut André Kuipers from The Netherlands

The CrewBackup Crew: Valery Ivanovich Tokarev (Rosaviakosmos)

Valery Ivanovich Tokarev was born on 29 October1952 in the town of Kap-Yar, Astrakhan Region inRussia. His wife is called Irina and they have two chil-dren: a daughter, Olya, and a son, Ivan. Valeryenjoys nature, cars, airplanes, and sports.

He has a Masters degree in State Administration fromthe National Economy Academy, which is affiliatedwith the Russian Federal Government in Moscow.

In 1973, Tokarev graduated from the StavropolHigher Military School of Fighter Pilots and in 1982,from the Test Pilot Training Centre with honours. Healso went on to graduate from the Yuri A. Gagarin AirForce Academy in the town of Monino, near Moscow.

Tokarev is a 1st Class Air Force Pilot and Test Pilot.He has flight experience with 44 different types of air-plane and helicopter and has participated in tests offourth-generation carrier-based aircraft and verti-cal/short takeoff and landing jets (Su-27K, MiG-29K,Yak-38M, Su-25UTG), as well as naval bombers andfleet jets.

In 1987, Valery Tokarev was selected to join the cos-monaut corps to test and fly the Buran spacecraft.Since 1994, he has served as commander of a groupof cosmonauts of aerospace systems.

Since termination of the Buran programme in 1997,Tokarev has been assigned as a test cosmonaut atthe Yuri A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre.

His first spaceflight experience was between 27 Mayto 6 June 1999 when he flew as a mission specialiston the 10-day STS-96 Mission on the DiscoverySpace Shuttle.

During the mission, the crew delivered 4 tonnes oflogistics and supplies to the International SpaceStation in preparation for the arrival of the first long-term crew to live on the station.

Valery Tokarev is assigned on this mission as thebackup Soyuz Commander and backup ISSExpedition-8 Flight Engineer.

He has been awarded the title “Hero of the RussianFederation” as well as other orders and medals ofRussia.



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Valery Tokarev – test pilot and cosmonaut.

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The CrewBackup Crew: William Surles McArthur, jr. (NASA)

William McArthur was born on 26 July 1951, inLaurinburg, North Carolina and his hometown isWakulla, North Carolina. His wife is called Cynthiaand they have two daughters. He enjoys basketball,running, and working with personal computers.

McArthur received a bachelors degree in appliedscience and engineering from the US MilitaryAcademy, West Point, New York, in 1973. Thereafterhe entered the U.S. Army Aviation School in 1975where he was the top graduate of his flight class andin 1978 was assigned to the 24th Combat AviationSection where he served as a company commander,platoon leader, and operations officer.

He received a masters degree in aerospace engi-neering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in1983, which led to a position as assistant professorat the Department of Mechanics at West Point.

McArthur was assigned to NASA at the JohnsonSpace Center in 1987 as a vehicle integration testengineer for the Space Shuttle, which involved engi-neering liaison for launch and landing operations.

He became an astronaut in July 1991 and his firstspaceflight was on Shuttle Columbia mission STS-58

(18 Oct - 1 Nov 1993). This mission principally cov-ered physiological experiments.

His second mission (STS-74) was on board ShuttleAtlantis (12-20 Nov, 1995). This was NASA’s secondSpace Shuttle mission to dock with the Russian MirSpace Station. This mission included attaching apermanent docking module to Mir.

His last mission (STS-92) on the Shuttle Discovery(11-24 Oct, 2000) was a 13-day flight, during whichthe Z1 Truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 wereattached to the International Space Station.

McArthur has logged over 35 days in space duringwhich time he has carried out two spacewalkstotalling over 13 hours.

His non-spaceflight experience as an astronautincludes working issues relating to the solid rocketbooster, redesigned solid rocket motor, and theadvanced solid rocket motor of the US SpaceShuttle. He served as Chief of the Astronaut OfficeFlight Support Branch, supervising astronaut sup-port of the Mission Control Center, pre-launch SpaceShuttle processing, and launch and landing opera-tions. McArthur also served as Director ofOperations, Russia, overseeing training activities forastronauts in Star City.

MacArthur retired from the Army in 2001 and hasreceived a great degree of honours both military andcivilian.



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NASA astronaut William Surles McArthur, jr.

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The CrewReturning Crew

Yuri Ivanovich MalenchenkoYuri was born on 22 December 1961, in Svetlovodsk,in Ukraine and has one son called Dmitri.

He graduated from two different Russian aviationacademies and was chosen as an astronaut candi-date in 1987. His first spaceflight was asCommander on the Mir 16 mission (1 July- 4 Nov1994), which included ESA astronaut Ulf Merbold.This was after being backup Commander on the Mir15 mission.

Yuri was also part of the STS-106 Shuttle mission(Sep 2000) during which he performed a spacewalkwith Edward Lu to connect power, data and commu-nications cables to the ISS Zvezda Service Module.

He has logged 137 days in space including 18 hoursof spacewalks.

Yuri Malenchenko (Rosaviakosmos) is the ISS Expedition 7 Commander and Edward Lu (NASA) the ISSExpedition 7 Flight Engineer. Yuri and Edward arrived at the ISS on 28 April 2003 in the Soyuz TMA-2 space-craft. They will be returning with Pedro Duque in the Soyuz TMA-2 spacecraft currently docked at the ISS.

Edward Tsang LuLu was born on 1 July 1963 in Springfield,Massachusetts and enjoys aerobatic flying, piano,tennis, surfing, skiing and travel.

After receiving a doctorate in applied physics in1989 he worked as a researcher in solar and astro-physics, having articles published. He was selectedas an astronaut candidate in 1994.

His first spaceflight was as mission specialist onShuttle mission STS-84 in 1997, which docked withthe Mir Space Station.

His second mission was on Shuttle mission STS-106as mission specialist and payload commander, alsoperforming a 6 hour 14 minute spacewalk with YuriMalenchenko.

Lu has logged over 504 hours in space.



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Yuri Malenchenko, Soyuz TMA-2 and ISSExpedition 7 Commander

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Edward Lu, Soyuz TMA-2 and ISS Expedition7 Flight Engineer

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The Launcher and SpacecraftSoyuz Launcher

The Soyuz TMA-3 spacecraft that Pedro Duque,Alexander Kaleri and Michael Foale will travel to theISS in will be launched into orbit by a Soyuz-FGlauncher from the Baikonur Cosmodrome inKazakhstan.

The history of the Soyuz launcher developed from theRussian military rockets, which started production inthe late 1940’s with the R-1 and R-2 rockets, the Rstanding for ‘Raketa’. Further developments led tothe launch of the first intercontinental ballistic missile,the R-7, or ‘Semyorka’ on 21 August 1957, Semyorkameaning “The Seven” in Russian. It was the R-7launcher configuration, which put Sputnik 1 into orbiton 4 October 1957.

Russian launchers normally take their name from thepayload or spacecraft they are launching. The R-7that launched Sputnik 1 into orbit was thereforecalled the ‘Sputnik launcher’. The Sputnik launcherthereafter developed into the three-stage Vostok-Llauncher for launching lunar probes and then theVostok launcher, which put Yuri Gagarin into orbit in1961.

After six further manned Vostok missions, the Vostoklauncher was developed into the 4-stage Molniyalauncher, for putting satellites into high elliptical

orbits, and the Voskhod 2 launcher. This led to thedevelopment of the Soyuz launcher, which used astronger third rocket stage. It was first launched on16 November 1963 and was named after themanned Soyuz spacecraft for the launch of which itwas designed.

The first manned Soyuz launch took place on 23April 1967. A more powerful version called theSoyuz-U followed in 1971, which developed into theSoyuz-U2 in 1982, a rocket with a 7 tonnes maximumpayload that used a new synthetic kerosene calledSintin, whose use is now discontinued for cost rea-sons.

The current version of launcher is the Soyuz FG,which was used for the first time on 30 October 2002to launch the Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft on ISS flight5S with ESA astronaut Frank De Winne from Belgiumon the Odissea Mission. The FG stands for‘Forsunochnaya Golovka’ meaning injection head inRussian. It is an improved version of the Soyuz-U asthe injection head in the FG has 1000 holes insteadof 200 for distributing kerosene and liquid oxygen tothe combustion chamber. This leads to a 1.3% high-er specific impulse, which increases the thrust by500kN. This in turn leads to an increase of 250-300kg in the payload.



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Soyuz launcher being transported by rail to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome

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The Soyuz launcher and all its predecessors consistof four conical lateral boosters, which first appearedon the R-7 rocket, arranged around a core stage. InRussian terminology, the core stage and the lateralboosters are called “blocks”. Each block of thelauncher is designated a letter, which follows theCyrillic alphabet. The lateral boosters are calledblocks B,V,G and D. Together they make up what inwestern terminology we would call stage 1 as theyare the first stage to finish burning and separate afterlaunch. The central block, or second stage, is calledblock A and the final block or third stage is calledblock I. Each block runs on a fuel mixture of keroseneand liquid oxygen.

Each lateral booster is about 20 metres long by up to2.7 metres in diameter. Each has a RD-107A propul-sion unit. In combination the four boosters have anempty mass of 15 tonnes and a capacity for 160tonnes of fuel. Together the boosters provide nearly3300kN thrust on launch when they are ignitedtogether with the central stage. The boosters havefinished burning after two minutes when they sepa-rate.

The central block, block A, is nearly 28 metres longand up to nearly 3 metres in diameter. It has an RD-108A propulsion unit and an empty mass of 6tonnes, which provides a capacity for 95 tonnes offuel. It provides a thrust of 940kN and has finishedburning 288 seconds after launch after which it sep-arates.

At five minutes after launch the third stage is ignited.This third stage burns until eight minutes and 40minutes after launch when it is cut-out and thereafterjettisoned. This third stage or block is just over 8metres long, (or just over 21.5 metres if the SoyuzTMA and rescue system are also included). Thisstage has an empty mass of up to 2.5 tonnes withprovision for up to 22 tonnes of fuel. It has a liquidfuel propulsion system, which prides nearly 300 kNin thrust.



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Soyuz launcher with clear view of lateral boosters arranged around central core stage

The Launcher and SpacecraftSoyuz Spacecraft

For more than 35 years Soyuz spacecraft have beenlaunched into Earth orbit and are the longest servingaccess to space. Its design goes back to the Vostokspacecraft, which was used for the first ever mannedspace flight in 1961 with Yuri Gagarin, and its suc-cessor, the Voskhod spacecraft.

The Soyuz spacecraft is capable of accommodating3 cosmonauts. It has the capability to activelymanoeuvre, rendezvous and dock whilst in orbit. Thefirst launch of a manned Soyuz spacecraft took placeon 23 April 1967. Since then it has gone through fur-ther improvements with the introduction of the Soyuz-T series on 6 June 1980, the Soyuz TM series on 2February 1987 to the current Soyuz TMA series,which was launched for the first time on 30 October2002 with ESA astronaut Frank De Winne fromBelgium on board.

The TMA series has a new soft landing system andallows for a greater height and weight range of astro-nauts. The A in TMA stands for anthropomorphic.

Soyuz spacecraft consist of three compartments:The utility or orbital module; the landing or commandmodule; and the instrument assembly or servicemodule. It has a length of 6.9 metres, a maximumdiameter of 2.7 metres (over 10 metres with solararrays attached to service module) and a total massof 7.1 tonnes.

Utility or Orbital Module

This spherical module has a mass of 1.3 tonnes andcan be classed as the astronauts living quarters asit is used for work, hygiene and sleeping duringorbital free flight. It is the largest module of the Soyuzspacecraft with a volume of 6.5 m3.

Contained within this section are remote controls,food cupboards and the toilet. A hatch connects it tothe Command module, which together are com-pletely pressurised. Opposite this hatch is anotherhatch with associated docking mechanism, dockingsystem (KURS), antennae and lamps for dockingwith the ISS. The orbital section is also equippedwith a hatch and airlock for provisional ExtraVehicular Activities (spacewalks).

Landing or Command Module

This module is the middle portion of the Soyuzspacecraft. It is 2.7m high and 2.2m in diameter witha habitable volume of 4 m3 and a mass of about 2.9tonnes. This is the only module to return to Earthafter module separation and so is designed to resistthe aerodynamic stresses of re-entry.

Up to three individually moulded crew seats are sit-uated at the bottom of the landing module’s bellshape. They are shock absorbing to provide a safe



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Artists impression. Soyuz TMA Spacecraft

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landing together with the parachute system in theouter shell and the soft landing engines.

The control panel in front of the crew can be used tocontrol navigation and guidance, life support, energysupply and communication systems. Environmentalsystems keep the module’s temperature at around18-20°C, the humidity at 40% and constant nitro-gen/oxygen atmosphere like that on Earth

Up to 50kg of cargo can be returned in the module(150kg if there are only two crew members).

Instrument-assembly or service moduleThe cylindrical service module has a mass of 2.6tonnes and a diameter of 2.7 metres, 10.7 metreswide with solar arrays. It contains oxygen storagetanks, the propellant tanks, attitude control thrusters,electronics for communication and the primary guid-ance and navigation control. Cosmonauts have noaccess to the service module and all functions arecontrolled remotely.

Two engines are used to perform rendezvous, dock-ing and de-orbit/orbit procedures before moduleseparation occurs. These engines use a propellantof nitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetric dimethylhy-drazine.

Rescue systemSoyuz rockets are equipped with a rescue system incase of an accident during the two hours before andfirst minutes after launch. In this case the utility andlanding modules are separated from the instrumentmodule and launcher and fired one kilometre higherwithin seconds.

This system performed successfully on the one timeit had to be used, before take-off of Soyuz-T 10 in1983. The rescue system activated in response to afire during the countdown. The launcher explodedafter the module separation and both cosmonautswere rescued.



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Artists Impression of the Command/Landing Module

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Soyuz TM-32 command module after landing in Kazakhstan

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The International Space Station ISS Current Configuration



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ISS

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Control and Support CentresErasmus Payload Operations Centre, Noordwijk, The Netherlands(Overall Control of Mission activities)

The Erasmus Payload Operations Centre (EPOC) forthe Cervantes Mission is located at ESA's EuropeanSpace Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), inNoordwijk, the Netherlands. The operations centre ishosted in the multimedia library of the Erasmus UserCentre, which comes under the auspices of theHuman Spaceflight Directorate of ESA.

The function of this operations centre will be to:

• Coordinate the European experiment activities onboard the ISS

• Act as an interface between European ISS crewand Ground User Support and Operations Centres(USOCs) in Spain and Belgium.

• Monitor activities undertaken by the Europeancrewmember on the ISS

There will be a team of 15 engineers, scientists and

planners manning the EPOC during the mission.Leading the European operations is ESA astronautReinhold Ewald, who was on the 18-day Mir 97 mis-sion (10 February to 2 March 1997) on the RussianMir Space Station, flying there and back in a SoyuzTM series spacecraft.

Whilst on Mir he performed experiments in biomed-ical and material sciences, and carried out opera-tional tests in preparation for the International SpaceStation.

As a member of the EAC Team, Reinhold Ewald wasthe Crew Operations manager for the two Soyuz mis-sions with ESA astronauts to the ISS in 2002.



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The EPOC during the Odissea mission of ESA astronaut Frank De Winne

Control and Support CentresEuropean Astronaut Centre, Cologne, Germany(Medical Operations Support Centre)

The European Astronaut Centre (EAC) of theEuropean Space Agency is situated in Cologne,Germany. It was established in 1990 as a result ofEurope's commitment to human space programmesand is the home base of the 15 European astronautswho are members of the European Astronaut Corps.

As well as acting as an astronaut training centre,EAC will be responsible during the CervantesMission for medical support and monitoring, andcrew safety of ESA astronaut Pedro Duque duringthe mission. It will also provide medical support tothe astronauts and their families at their duty stationsin the USA and Russia.



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EAC - home base of the European Astronaut Corps

Control and Support CentresEuropean Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany(European Communications Network)

Founded on 8 September 1967, the EuropeanSpace Operations Centre (ESOC) is the main controlcentre of ESA. It is responsible for the operation ofnumerous satellites as well as the necessary groundstations and the communication network.

For the Cervantes Mission, ESOC will be responsiblefor the operation and maintenance of the Europeancommunications infrastructure for operational, non-operational and support communications.

ESOC will be linked to and receiving visual, voiceand data information from the International SpaceStation, the Mission Control centres in Houston andKorolev and the different European locations: theErasmus Payload Operations Centre; the EuropeanAstronaut Centre, and the Belgian and Spanish UserSupport and Operations Centres.

This information will be routed between all the rele-vant locations to make sure that the mission runs assmoothly as possible.

The extensive communications network not only pro-vides a means of communication between all inter-national partners involved in the mission, it allowsESA to track every element of the mission as andwhen it happens.

It also provides the scientists on the ground at thedifferent User Support and Operations Centres(USOCs) to make adaptations to experiments takingplace during the mission as and when necessary.



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ESOC Main Control Room

Control and Support CentresSpanish User Support and Operations Centre, Madrid, Spain(Coordination of Spanish experiments)

The Spanish User Support and Operations Centre(USOC) was formally created as an independentinstitute in 1997 and is based in the “Ignacio DaRiva” University Institute of Microgravity at thePolytechnic University of Madrid. This institute car-ries out research and development in the field ofspace science and engineering and has participatedin several microgravity missions ranging fromSpacelab, to mini- and micro-satellites, soundingrockets, parabolic flights and drop towers.

The “Ignacio Da Riva” Institute of Microgravity actsas a support centre for scientists preparing or con-ducting experiments in the ESA facilities on boardthe International Space Station (ISS).

To help carry out experiments, the Centre includes aMicrogravity Fluid Physics Laboratory equipped with a dropTower (15m in height), a Plateau Tank facility and severalsmaller facilities for performing capillary-driven experiments.

The work of the Institute dates back to the 1970’swhen experiments were carried out on fluids underreduced gravity conditions.

The Institute has a staff of more than 25 people,including Ph.D.s, engineers and technicians.

The Spanish USOC will be coordinating the opera-tions for the Spanish experiments that will take placeduring the Cervantes mission. It will be responsiblefor managing data reception, data transmission,data storage and data archiving.

In the future, the “Ignacio Da Riva” Institute ofMicrogravity will act as the Facility Support Centrefor the Fluid Science Laboratory, which is due to belaunched in the European Columbus Laboratory in2004.



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The Spanish User Support and Operations Centre (USOC) at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.S

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Control and Support CentresBelgian User Support and Operations Centre, Brussels, Belgium(Coordination of Belgium experiments)

The Belgian User Support and Operations Centre(USOC) was founded in February 1997 and exists asa separate unit within the offices of the BelgianInstitute for Space Aeronomy.

The Belgian USOC will be undertaking similar func-tions as it did for the Odissea mission, which involvedESA astronaut Frank De Winne from Belgium. Thereason for the inclusion of the Belgian USOC in theSpanish mission is to monitor reflights of someBelgian experiments.

The Belgian USOC will be coordinating the opera-tions for Belgian Experiments. This coordinationprocess covers five home bases in Belgium. Theseare the locations from where the scientists can mon-itor their experiments.

There are two home bases at the Université Libre inBrussels covering life science and fluid science

experiments, one at the Katholieke Universiteit inLeuven for material science experiments, one at theRoyal Meteorological Institute of Belgium for solarexperiments and one at the Royal Observatory ofBelgium for space science experiments.

The Belgian USOC supports the User Home Basesfor experiment preparation, simulations and opera-tions; and manages data reception, data transmis-sion, data storage and data archiving. The BelgianUSOC coordinates and controls the activities of allthe Home bases.



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Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, home of the Belgian User Support and Operation Centre

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Control and Support CentresMission Control Centre – Moscow(Responsibility for Soyuz spacecraft launch, ascent and descent phases and Russian ISS modules)

The Russian Mission Control Centre, also known asTsUP in Russian, is situated in Korolev (formerlyKaliningrad) near Moscow. TsNIIMash, the Russianacronym for the Central Research Institute forMachine Building, operates the centre on behalf ofthe Russian space agency, Rosaviakosmos.

It was built in 1973 and is the same location for theMission Control Centre of the Mir and Salyut spacestations and further contains the flight control roomsfor the Progress and Soyuz launches.

Flight control personnel are organized into teams,and each function has a NASA counterpart atMission Control Center - Houston. These functionsinclude the Flight Director, who provides policy guid-ance and communicates with the mission manage-ment team. This consists of the Flight Shift Director,who is responsible for real-time decisions, within aset of flight rules; the Mission Deputy Shift Managerfor the Mission Control Centre, who is responsible forthe control room's consoles, computers and periph-

erals; the Mission Deputy Shift Manager for GroundControl, who is responsible for communications, andthe Mission Deputy Shift Manager for Crew Training.

The spaceflights are actually managed by numerousexperts in control, space technology, ballistics,telemetry, communications, automated control,tracking systems, and by experts of scientific institu-tions who share the experiment and research.

A huge visual display in the centre of the MainControl Room is used to show information such asthe current position of orbiting spacecraft. There areseveral digital and character displays for actual mis-sion elapsed time, counters, telemetry data, orbitalcharacteristics, etc. Specific information comesdirectly to each individual controller´s computer dis-play unit.

The ISS Zarya module flight control room is also inKorolev, in what was formerly the Mir flight controlroom.



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ISS Control Room at the Mission Control Centre in Korolev near Moscow

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Control and Support CentresMission Control Center – Houston, Texas(Overall Control of ISS activities)

The NASA Mission Control Center for theInternational Space Station (ISS) is located at theLyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston. Thefocus for ISS operations is the ISS Flight ControlRoom, which began operations on 20 November1998. It acts as the command and coordination cen-tre for all ISS activities, including ISS flight control.There are consoles in the Control Room, which areassociated with specific functions. A flight controlleroccupies each console in the control centre, withsecondary support supplied by other engineers andflight controllers in different locations.

Work is undertaken in shift teams, monitoring ISSsystems and activities 24 hours a day with the use ofsophisticated communications, computer, and datahandling equipment. The Control Room has largedisplay screens at the front and cameras for provi-sion of live broadcasts to and from the ISS.

The individual functions at Mission Control Center -Houston start with the Flight Director. The FlightDirector is the primary decision maker and responsi-

ble for the overall ISS mission operations.For infrastructure and communications, the GroundControl function is responsible for all mission controlsystems, and ground to space communications net-work. There is a separate function responsible forsuch communication functions on board the ISS anda communication officer responsible for managingsystems, which provide uplink and downlink capa-bility.

For the living environment inside the ISS there arethree functions, which cover the station’s thermalcontrol, power availability and life support systems.

There are two further functions, which cover the sta-tions trajectory, altitude and reboost activities, onefor assembly and activation operations, and two tomonitor spacewalking tasks, and external roboticarm tasks.

Other functions include a Flight Surgeon and aPublic Affairs Officer.



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Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas

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Control and Support CentresPayload Operations Center, Huntsville, Alabama(Overall Control of ISS Research activities)

The ISS Payload Operations Center (POC) is locatedat the Huntsville Operations Support Center onNASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. Itis responsible for the overall control of scientificresearch activities on the ISS.

The Payload Operations Director at the POC is incharge of coordinating all payload activity, togetherwith the Flight Director at Mission Control in Houston,international partners, crew and research facilities.From this interaction, timelines of scientific activityare drawn up.

The Payload Communications Manager at the POCcoordinates voice communications between theInternational Space Station crew and the POC onpayload matters, enabling researchers around theworld to talk directly with the crew about their exper-iments.

There are further functions at the Payload OperationsCenter associated with separate elements of pay-load procedure. These functions cover the safety ofexperiments (and changes to them); coordinatingexperiment resources such as power; scheduling;prioritisation; and controlling and processing ofvoice, video and data channels.

The authority for the control of payloads and henceexperiments is distributed around the world. EachInternational Partner is responsible for the operation

of its payloads in its on-orbit laboratory, as it fallswithin the given payload timelines, under the guid-ance of the Payload Operations Center.

There are four additional centres, which are equiva-lent to the European User Support and Operationscentres that support the Payload Operations Centerby managing certain scientific operations.

These are the Marshall Space Flight Center, wherethe POC is itself situated, for materials science,biotechnology and microgravity research, andspace product development; the Ames ResearchCenter in California, for gravitational biology andecology; the John Glenn Research Center in Ohio forfluids and combustion research; and the JohnsonSpace Center in Houston, Texas, for human life sci-ences, including crew health and performance.



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Payload Operations Center in Huntsville, Alabama

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Life Science ExperimentsAGEING

What is the aim of the experiment?

The AGEING experiment aims to study the increasedactivity of fruit flies in weightlessness. This follows onfrom previous research, which linked acceleratedageing of the species to increased activity underweightless conditions. This is a phenomenon foundto be more noticeable in the younger male fruit flies.

Three different strains of fruit fly will be studied: Along-living strain, a short-living strain and a strain,which shows an increased response to gravity onEarth. All flies will be recently hatched except for onetwo-week old population of one strain to confirm theincreased activity exhibited by the younger speciesmembers.

Ground controlled experiments on Earth, with a simi-lar population of flies, will complement the experi-ment executed in space.

Why do it in space?

The anomalous activity of fruit flies has been previ-ously studied in weightlessness. To be able to furtheranalyse and confirm this phenomenon, it becomesclear that the only real environment to carry out theseexperiments in, is on board a platform that repro-duces weightlessness.

What is it good for?

This type of research is purely fundamental andserves to gain further knowledge on how cells andorganisms react to gravity. The main question thatscientists wish to answer is why cells tend to behavedifferently in an environment where gravity is not thesame as on Earth. This could possibly, in the future,lead to a better understanding of general biologicalprocesses on Earth.



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Principal Investigator: Roberto MarcoDepartamento de BioquimicaFacultad de Medicina de la UniversidadAutonoma de MadridC/Arzobispo Morcillo, 428049 Madrid, Spain.

Experiment Container

Internal part of experiment container containing flies

Life Science ExperimentsGENE


The GENE experiment studies the effect that thespace environment has on the gene expression offruit fly pupae. Gene expression is the processing ofDNA information to yield biological active molecules,such as proteins.

Fruit flies are chosen for the experiment, as weunderstand more about the genetics of the fruit flythan any other higher organism. Also, they are small,require little storage space or maintenance, and canbe grown in numbers large enough to support mean-ingful statistical analysis.

Because the entire DNA sequence of the fruit fly isnow known and it is also easy to perform geneticinterventions in this species, an almost limitless abil-ity to control the biology of a multicellular organism isavailable.

The post-flight analysis of the data collected will belooking for increases, decreases and non-changesof gene expression levels when compared to similarground experiments. If the results obtained in spaceare significantly different to those collected duringEarth-based experimentation, a method will be usedto map the molecular structure of the proteins.

Why do it in space?

Human space exploration requires unique approach-es to life support, which necessitates a much deep-er understanding of how the high-radiation andweightless environment of space affects fundamen-tal biological processes. Fruit flies and humans areactually more similar than was believed. Almostevery gene discovered in the fruit fly has proven tohave a counterpart in humans which functions in thesame way.

Although experiments involving mammals such asmice undoubtedly provide essential information onthe effects of space flight on physiological systemsimportant to humans, experimentation with fruit fliesaffords us the ability to probe the genetic and molec-ular basis of these effects.


Radiation is everywhere and the risks that are cou-pled to its exposure are still not clearly understood.This experiment can lead to the acquisition of moreknowledge regarding the effects of radioactivity, andit can allow scientists to find out exactly the level ofgenome damage caused by radiation. Furthermore, it can also provide clues as to why bio-logical systems react differently to radiation in aweightless environment.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Principal Investigator: Roberto MarcoDepartamento de BioquimicaFacultad de Medicina de la UniversidadAutonoma de MadridC/Arzobispo Morcillo, 428049 Madrid, Spain.

Life Science ExperimentsROOT


The ROOT experiment aims to study the effects ofthe space environment on the structure and functionof root cells of plants. The particular type of plantused for this experimentation is a member of themustard family. This is a model organism in plantbiology, the first plant with a completely sequencedgenome or genetic map. The specific cells studiedare those responsible for new cell production.

On return to Earth the roots will be processed formicroscopic observation, determining changes instructure and physiology by comparison against sim-ilar samples obtained from ground-based experi-ments, which take place at the same time as theexperiments in space.

Why do it in space?

On Earth, gravity plays an important role in plantgrowth. The directional growth of a plant in responseto a directional stimulus is called plant tropisms. Oneof these is gravitotropism, which is the growth stimu-lated by gravity. Plant roots grow in the direction ofgravity and away from sunlight, while shoots growagainst gravity and toward sunlight.

Plants sense gravity with the use of a specific cellelement called statolith, which produce hormones bygene expression. One particular class of hormones

is responsible for root cell elongation. These hor-mones are synthesized in tips of the shoots but theyeventually migrate down to the roots where theyaccumulate because of gravity and stimulate thegrowth of root cells. Hormones are similarly respon-sible for shoot tip growth away from gravity.

In space, however, the absence of gravity meansthat the signals that are normally triggered by gravi-ty will not be activated, or at least not from a specif-ic direction. This means that even though plants dogrow in space, most times they show unusualresponses to zero gravity. The root cells of someplants have been observed to have changes in theirchromosomes.

An extremely interesting aspect observed in previ-ous research, is that the measured root production insome specimen plants was markedly faster in spacethan in the same plants on Earth. Scientists still can-not fully explain these observations and furtherresearch needs to be conducted.


The fact that an improved growth rate of plant rootcells has been observed under weightless condi-tions, could possibly lead to an understanding of themechanisms that allow for a faster and thereforeincreased growth rate of plants on Earth. Theadvantage of this is an increased production of foodon Earth.

Furthermore, for future long-term human space mis-sions, the possibility of the astronauts growing theirown food has always been an objective of spaceresearchers.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Principal Investigator: Francisco Javier MedinaCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC),Velázquez 14428006 Madrid, Spain.

Double sealed experiment bag

Life Science ExperimentsMESSAGE


The scientific research program MESSAGE standsfor Microbial Experiments in the Space Station AboutGene Expression. The main objective of this programis to study the effects of space conditions such asweightlessness and cosmic radiation on metabolicprocesses in bacteria.

The MESSAGE experiments will analyse many differ-ent aspects of bacterial activity using many differentmicrobial and molecular methods.

The effects of space conditions on bacteria will bestudied on 4 domains, i.e., the bacterial cell physiol-ogy, the ability of the bacteria to move, the geneticstability and rearrangements in bacteria, and thegene expression with special attention to genesinvolved in the response to stress. This will lead to aunique view on the physiological and metabolicresponse of a whole organism to such a specificgrowth condition as space.

The results will be used to improve projects coveringmicro-organism detection devices and microbial lifesupport systems.

The MESSAGE experiment is an improved re-flight ofan experiment performed by ESA astronaut Frank DeWinne from Belgium on board the InternationalSpace Station (ISS) during the Odissea Mission inNovember 2002. The MESSAGE experiment pro-posed here is essential for reproducibility and statis-tic analysis of the scientific results obtained in theoriginal experiment.

Why do it in space?

In the confined environment of manned space mis-sions like the ISS, safety from bacteria is a criticalpoint to address. With prolonged missions, itbecomes more important to study in detail the differ-ent aspects of microbial activity in space environ-ments.

Micro-organisms that are present in manned spaceplatforms could be of danger for the crew or could

cause damage to materials. The study of bacterialactivity under space conditions is therefore highlyimportant for the early detection of changes in bac-teria with medical or environmental consequences.


The results obtained from these experiments willhelp better understand how bacteria grow in space,which is of fundamental importance to mannedspace missions, in particular long term missions.This will lead to a safer living environment for astro-nauts, reducing the possibilities of unwanted infec-tions or even damaged material (bacteria on theRussian space stations have been known to con-sume materials such as cables, creating the risk ofshort circuits).

The ultimate objective will be to be able to developsmall equipment capable of detecting and identify-ing micro-organisms. An in-depth knowledge of howbacteria behave in space could also be useful inrecycling waste and producing food during longduration human space flight.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Principal Investigators: Max Mergeay, Natalie LeysBelgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK/CEN)Division Radioactive Waste & Clean-upLaboratory of Radiobiology and MicrobiologyBoeretang 200, B-4000 Mol, Belgium.

Components of Message Experiment

Life Science ExperimentsBLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT (BMI)


The BMI experiment aims to investigate the modifi-cations in blood pressure rhythms under weightlessconditions over a period of 24 hours, using a com-puter controlled blood pressure recorder speciallydeveloped for round-the-clock monitoring.Astronauts will be used as test subjects.

The Blood pressure Measurement Instrument (BMI)is the first European commercially provided instru-ment. Tested for the first time during the Marco PoloMission, it is used again during the CervantesMission. It will remain stored on board of the Russian segment of the ISS, and thus be availablefor future investigations in the area of humanphysiology on a rental basis.

In order to gain tangible results from the experiment,blood pressure readings are taken pre-flight (40 daysand 30 days before launch), in-flight (beginning andend of flight) and post-flight (four days and ten daysafter return).

During post-flight analysis, the results will also becompared to the data obtained during the MarcoPolo mission, which took place in 2002 and wherethe test subject was the ESA astronaut Roberto Vittorifrom Italy.

Why do it in space?

In weightlessness, the almost total absence of gravi-ty influences the way the blood in the human bodybehaves. On Earth, our heart pumps blood so that it

keeps circulating throughout our body, which wouldotherwise pool in our lower extremities due to thepull of gravity. In space this stimulus is missing, butthe heart keeps pumping as it would on Earth.

The result is that most of the blood in our bodiesremains in the upper parts, since the heart’s pump-ing force is not balanced by the pull of gravity. After1-2 days the body begins to adapt to the weightlessenvironment, with the heart pumping less, therebyreducing the phenomenon of liquids accumulating inthe upper body. To understand this phenomenonmore, it is necessary to study the changes in bloodpressure and to analyse more data provided by thistype of experimentation.


This type of research could lead to countermeasuresfor the phenomenon of upper extremities blood pool-ing in space. It has been found that in long durationmissions the heart begins to adapt to the weightlessenvironment, pumping with ever-decreasing intensity.Unfortunately, this can have severe consequences forastronauts upon their return to Earth. Also, the differ-ent fluid balance (water loss) in space, which is cou-pled to the fluid shifts, needs to be clarified.

Similar physiological behaviours have been identi-fied in patients who have been bed-ridden for longperiods on Earth, and this research could provideanswers in the search for suitable countermeasures.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Principal Investigators: Claude Gharib, Faculté de Médecine LyonGrange Blanche, Lyon, France. John M. Karemaker, Univ. of Amsterdam,Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Marc-Antoine Custaud, Faculté de Medicined’Angers, Angers, France. Philippe Arbeille, CHU Trousseau, ToursFrance. Jean Luc Elghozi, Faculté de Médecine15 rue de l'Ecole de MédecineParis, France.

BMI measurement unit with arm cuff

Life Science ExperimentsCARBON DIOXIDE SURVEY

What is the aim of this experiment?

Constant monitoring of environmental factors such asCO2 is of critical importance in the enclosed settingof the ISS. The purpose of this operational activity isto monitor the level of CO2 in the ISS sleeping quar-ters during times of potential CO2 accumulation i.e.sleep. This comes from the fact that ISS crew mem-bers have experienced headaches after sleep. Thiscould be due to a build up of CO2.

The experiment utilises the Carbon DioxideMonitoring Kit. This is part of the Crew Health CareSystem hardware on the ISS, which is used for theMedical Crew Operations. The monitoring takesplace in an enclosed sleeping compartment of theISS for one hour.

Why do it in space?

The composition of the atmosphere on the ISS is con-stantly monitored to prevent the dangerous build upof gases such as carbon dioxide. However, localisedbuilt up of carbon dioxide could occur in the sleep-ing compartments during sleep.

The measurements obviously have to take place inthese compartments on the ISS to provide relevantdata.


Ensuring the ongoing safety and health of astronautson the ISS is clearly central to this experiment. Thisexperiment helps to analyse and hence reduce agas, which can effect the performance of astronautsserving on the International Space Station.

The data generated by this experiment will help todesign more effective ways of circulating air on theISS and in similar enclosed locations on Earth suchas on submarines where the environment is con-trolled.

The data generated can also impact on the designof such compartments in enclosed environment-controlled areas on the ISS or Earth.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Team Coordinator: Frits de JongESA/European Astronaut Centre, MSM-AMECologne, Germany.

Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Kit

Life Science ExperimentsSSAS


This experiment, or ISS medical activity, is one of twothat will be carried out by Pedro Duque on theCervantes Mission. The other is the carbon dioxidesurvey. The purpose of this task is to collect archivalair samples, which will be analysed on the groundpost flight. This activity is usually performed by theISS crewmembers in regular intervals.

The Solid Sorbent Air Sampler is a battery poweredair sampler containing 8 tubes. Each tube contains adual sorbent material. Seven of the tubes use the sor-bent material to absorb volatile organic compoundsfrom the air on the ISS over a 24-hour period on con-secutive days, while one acts as a control for theexperiment.

Why do it in space?

There is a long list of so-called ISS MedicalOperations, which are undertaken when time is avail-able. The composition of the atmosphere on the ISSis constantly monitored to prevent the dangerousbuild up of gases or organic compounds in theenclosed environment of the International SpaceStation.


Ensuring the ongoing safety and health of astronautson the ISS is clearly central to this activity. It helps toanalyse and hence reduce airborne compounds,which can affect the performance of astronauts serv-ing on the International Space Station.

The data generated by this operation will help todesign more effective ways of circulating and recy-cling air on the ISS and in similar enclosed locationson Earth such as on submarines where the environ-ment is controlled.

The data generated can also impact on the design ofareas in enclosed environment-controlled areas onthe ISS or Earth.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Solid Sorbent Air Sampler

Team Coordinator: Frits de JongESA/European Astronaut Centre, MSM-AMECologne, Germany.

Life Science ExperimentsCARDIOCOG


The Cardiocog experiment is a series of differentexperiments. The first part of the experiment dealswith the cardiovascular system of the body. It aims to:study the changes to the body’s cardiovascular sys-tem caused by weightlessness; monitor the restora-tion of the body’s autonomic function e.g. functionssuch as heart beat, which are not controlled con-sciously; quantify changes to the physical aspects ofblood circulation caused by weightlessness; andcompare the effect of weightlessness on the cardio-vascular system as a function of the amount of time.

The second part of the experiment covers the body’srespiratory system and its interaction with the body’scardiac systems. Measurements are taken duringboth normal and controlled breathing patterns toevaluate the effect of this on the heart rate. In a nor-mal healthy human being on Earth, heart rateincreases when inhaling and decreases when exhal-ing. Measurements will be used to assess this effectin weightlessness and how the interaction of thebody’s cardiac and respiratory systems readaptsfrom weightlessness to normal gravity.

The last part of the experiment aims to assess theeffect that anxiety has on complex perceptiveprocesses using both mental and physical indica-tors. The psychological part of this experiment is car-ried out using so called ‘Stroop tests’. These testsinclude assessing reactions and reaction times forexample the time needed to correctly identify theword GREEN written in red ink with the addition ofassessing the effect of using negative emotional ver-bal stimuli on response times.

Why do it in space?

This experiment has been performed before on dif-ferent missions. To understand the processes andeffects that the body undergoes under weightlessconditions for extended periods, a research environ-ment such as the International Space Station is nec-essary. This provides scientists with credible results,which can be compared to ground measurementsbefore launch and on return to Earth. Repeating the

measurements on more astronauts will increase thestatistical validity of the data obtained.


By developing a greater understanding of the effectthat weightlessness has on the body’s physiologicalprocesses and how the body readapts to normalgravity, scientists will be able to develop methods ortechnology, which will help reduce some of the neg-ative physical and psychological effects that weight-lessness has on the body both in space and there-after on return to Earth.

This research will therefore help to increase thepotential for work in space by helping to developways for astronauts to stay in space for more extend-ed periods of time and open up more possibilities forlonger distance manned space flights and relevantresearch.

The results of the last part of the experiment will beimportant to evaluate the ability to interpret complexdata and maintain orientation in stressful situations,which is for example also relevant for pilots of com-mercial aircraft.

Results obtained will further help develop a greaterunderstanding of certain illnesses on Earth, whichshow similar symptoms to those experienced tem-porarily by astronauts during and shortly after mis-sions.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Principal Investigator: André E Aubert University Hospital Gasthuisberg O-NLeuven, Belgium.

Life Science ExperimentsNEUROCOG


The NEUROCOG experiment aims at expanding ourknowledge in the field of neuroscience in weightless-ness. The experiment is divided into two parts.

The first part of this experiment investigates humanspatial perception and the role that the sensory infor-mation of sight, balance, motion and position play inthis.

The second part measures the precision of the per-ceptual processes of the brain and tests the effect ofgravity on spatial perception and spatial memory.

The post-flight analysis will include a comparison ofresults obtained with similar ground experiments.

Why do it in space?

In the 40 years of human space flight, many astro-nauts have reported motion sickness of varyingseverity and it has been a matter of study since theApollo missions. The human equilibrium system iscomposed of sensing elements called otoliths.Investigators have shown that a weightless environ-ment provides a different stimulus to the otoliths ofthe inner ear, and therefore the signals from theotoliths no longer correspond with the visual andother sensory signals sent to the brain.

Weightlessness offers a unique opportunity to studythe various components of spatial orientation, whichare intrinsically linked to gravity. It is the only condi-tion in which the gravitational field can be removedfor extended periods, and it provides the ability tomanipulate spatial orientation and follow its adapta-tion during the early and late phases of flight and re-entry. Such experiments, which are of basic interestfor understanding the organization and the neuralbasis for spatial orientation, could not be done with-out using weightlessness.


Besides the benefits this research could have onreducing the discomfort felt by many astronauts dur-ing the early phases of space flight caused byspace sickness, this type of research could havepositive implications for research on Earth.

These include: studies on the balance system car-ried out to help people with equilibrium disorders;motor function development in children; design offlight simulator and virtual reality vision systems;development of new methods for evaluating apatient's ability to use visual and pressure cues formaintaining balance and orientation.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Principal Investigators: G. Cheron, Université Libre de BruxellesBelgium.A. Berthoz, J. McIntyre, CNRS-College deFrance, Paris, France.

Neurocog hardware and experiment configuration

Life Science ExperimentsSYMPATHO


This experiment will study the adrenal activity of thesympathetic nervous system in weightlessness. Thesympathetic system is that part of the nervous sys-tem that accelerates the heart rate, constricts bloodvessels, and raises blood pressure.

The experiment will test the hypothesis that after ini-tially low adrenal activity in the first 24 hours inspace, the adrenal activity increases due to a fall inthe volume of blood in the cardiovascular system.

Blood samples of the crew will be taken before flightand analysed. Shortly after arriving in space and justbefore the end of the mission further samples will betaken and stored in a freezer for return to Earth, atwhich point more samples will be taken and post-flight analyses will begin. This experiment is related to the BMI andCARDIOCOG experiments.

Why do it in space?

Sympathetic activity is of major importance for theregulation of the cardiovascular system in humansubjects especially in the upright position. This isdue to gravitational stress, which results in pooling ofthe blood in the lower part of the body.

Ground based experiments have shown that thesympathetic activity is decreased in response to dis-placement of the blood from the lower part of thebody to the heart-lung area after changing from theupright or sitting position to the supine position. Inspace sympathetic activity was expected to bedecreased but experiments have shown that it actu-ally increases during weightlessness. More resultsneed to be collected to study this phenomenon fur-ther, in the hope that they will provide clues to whythis type of behaviour is manifested in space.


The conflicting results obtained from the studies thathave been carried out thus far, highlight the fact thatwe do not as yet have a clear understanding of themechanisms involved in the sympathetic nervoussystem. Since this system controls the physiologicalelements that are linked to stress, clear scientificresults can provide useful information in the clinicalresearch of physical and mental stress patterns inpatients.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Principal Investigator: Niels Juel Christensen M.D., DMSc.Department of EndocrinologyHerlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen2730 Herlev, Denmark.

On board sample freezer

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Life Science ExperimentsAORTA


This ground experiment is a repeat of the experimentperformed on the Belgian Odissea Mission of ESAastronaut Frank De Winne in 2002.

The experiment ties in with the CARDIOCOG experi-ment, as the objective is to predict orthostatic intol-erance, i.e. the inability to stand upright, of astro-nauts who have spent a long period in a weightlessenvironment.

The predictions will be based on the measurements ofphysical parameters such as blood pressure, electro-cardiograms, and brain blood flow by ultrasound. Theastronauts are tested pre-flight and post-flight in aground-based lab using a computerised tilting table.

These parameters will act as predictors for the out-come of the test, where astronauts are asked tostand relaxed, leaning against a wall for a maximumof 10 minutes. Orthostatic intolerance is defined asthe inability to stand for 10 minutes.

Why do it in space?

This experiment will not take place in space, but willuse astronauts as test subjects pre-flight and post-flight. Orthostatic intolerance is a phenomenon,which has manifested itself in astronauts on theirreturn to Earth. It is therefore important to understandthe changes in certain human physiological parame-ters by comparing the data obtained before and aftera flight.


The results obtained from this research will aid sci-entists to define a set of pre-flight tests that predictswho is more liable to manifest postflight orthostaticintolerance, and consequently to develop reliable in-flight countermeasures.

These developments are also important for the clini-cal medicine environment, where it is necessary toimprove the rehabilitation of patients after prolongedperiods of bedrest.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Principal Investigator: John M. Karemaker Academic Medical CenterUniversity of Amsterdam The Netherlands.

Life Science ExperimentsCHROMOSOMES


The aim is to study Chromosome damage in spacecaused by ionising radiation, which comes from theSun or cosmic rays. As ionising radiation is strongenough to change the atomic structure of cells, thisexperiment will be looking at the effect of ionisingradiation at a genetic level.

This experiment will use astronauts as test subjectsbut will not actually fly to the ISS. Scientifically theresearch consists in analysing and comparing bloodsamples drawn from the astronauts pre-flight andpost-flight.

This experiment is linked to the GENE experiment.

Why do it in space?

On Earth, our atmosphere provides some form ofprotection from the intense levels of radiation ema-nating from space. In space, however the absence ofthis protective shield exposes astronauts to thesehigher levels of radiation. Even though astronautsfind themselves within spacecrafts, the habitablemodules usually have skins that are a few millimetresthick, and thus do not provide sufficient protectionfrom this radiation. It is known that DNA is damagedby ionising radiation, which may lead to chromoso-mal aberrations. This in turn could lead to elevatedrisks of cancer. More results regarding the effects ofradiation are still needed to fully understand itseffects on the human body, and possibly to come upwith suitable countermeasures.


Firstly, this type of research is of importance to thefuture of human space flight, in particular for longduration missions such as the ISS and, looking to thefuture, a Mars mission.

It is of utmost importance not to put the lives of astro-nauts at risk, and the results of this experiment cancontribute to the development of proper shielding forthe astronauts who must endure the harshness of thespace environment. Furthermore, it can also provideclues as to why biological systems react differentlyto radiation in a weightless environment.

Radiation is everywhere and the risks that are cou-pled to its exposure are still not clearly understood.This experiment can lead to the acquisition of moreknowledge regarding the effects of radioactivity, andit can allow scientists to find out exactly the level ofdamage caused by radiation at a genetic level.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Principal Investigator: Günter Obe, Ph.D.Universität Essen, FB 9 / GenetikUniversitätsstraße 55117 Essen, Germany.

Physical Science ExperimentsNANOSLAB


The aim of this experiment is to analyse the processof formation of a zeolite structure from two separatematerials. The materials used in this experiment arean ammonium hydroxide and an aluminium silicate.

Zeolites are microporous crystalline solids with well-defined structures or pores in them. Many occur nat-urally as minerals, and are extensively mined in manyparts of the world. Others are synthetic, and aremade commercially for specific uses, or producedby research scientists trying to understand moreabout their chemistry.

Why do it in space?

A main goal of zeolite synthesis research is theunderstanding of transport phenomena, which canlead to non-negligible compositional non-uniformityof the solution that would influence the final productof the synthesis. On the ground, the transport phe-nomenon is dominated by natural gravity inducedconvection. In addition sedimentation causes non-uniform growth conditions.

Under weightless conditions the transport is not influ-enced by convection and sedimentation is stronglysuppressed. For this reason, it is expected that sys-tematic experimentation in space would give insightson the process dynamics.


Zeolites contribute to a safer, cleaner environment innumerous ways. In fact nearly every application ofzeolites has been driven by environmental concerns,or plays a significant role in reducing toxic wasteand energy consumption.

In powder detergents, zeolites have replaced harm-ful phosphate builders, now banned in many parts ofthe world because of water pollution risks. Zeolitesmake chemical processes more efficient, thus sav-ing energy and indirectly reducing pollution.Moreover, processes can be carried out in fewersteps, miminising unecessary waste and by-prod-ucts. As solid acids, zeolites reduce the need forcorrosive liquid acids, and as sorbents they can alsoremove atmospheric pollutants, such as engineexhaust gases and ozone-depleting gases. Zeolitescan also be used to separate harmful organics fromwater, and in removing heavy metal ions, includingthose produced by nuclear fission, from water.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Investigators: J. Martens / S. Kremer University of LeuvenCOK / KU-LeuvenKasteelpark Arenberg 23Heverlee, Belgium

Physical Science ExperimentsPROMISS


PROMISS aims to investigate the growth processesof proteins in weightless conditions. The experimentwill use special techniques, which produce efficientprotein growth in weightlessness.

The major objective of the present experiment is tosee how the growth conditions influence the qualityof the crystals by analyzing them using advancedimaging methods (digital holography).

Why do it in space?

Convection, or fluid flow, is a phenomenon inducedby gravity, and is suspected of being a culprit inunusable crystals. This convection takes place dur-ing crystal growth as protein molecules diffuse fromthe surrounding solution and add in an orderly way tothe growing crystal lattice. These convective currentsare harmful because they alter the orientation of theprotein molecules as they add to the crystal lattice,thereby causing disorder of the lattice. This affectsthe resolution, or clarity, with which a crystallograph-er can "see" the precise position that each atomoccupies in the three-dimensional structure of theprotein.

Another adverse effect of gravity on growing crystalis sedimentation. Crystals drift to the bottom of thesolution when they have grown to a mass larger thancan be supported by suspension in the solution.When this happens, partially formed crystals fall ontop of one another and continue growing into eachother. Since certain types of analysis require singlecrystals, sedimentation renders potentially high-qual-ity crystals unusable for data collection.


Studies using space-grown protein crystals in par-ticular provide information for the understanding ofcrystallisation processes. With the advent of geneticinformation from humans and many other species,the role proteins play in diseases and degenerativeconditions is becoming more clear and the need forinformation about the structure of these proteinsmore critical.

Benefits from protein growth experiments conductedin space have already been seen, and scientistshope that space research may one day lead to thedevelopment of new drugs



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Principal Investigator: I. ZegersDepartment of UltrastructuurVrije Universiteit BrusselBelgium.

Example of protein crystals in solution

Earth Observation ExperimentsLIGHTNING AND SPRIGHT OBSERVATION (LSO)


Sprites are a meteorological phenomenon discov-ered in 1989, which have the appearance of a lumi-nous glow above lightning storms between 50-90kmabove the Earth’s surface. Sprites have a duration ofonly a few milliseconds and are caused as a result ofpowerful lightning strikes, which affect the electricalfield in the ionosphere (part of the upper atmos-phere).

The aim of this experiment is to observe sprites dur-ing storms, determine the energy emitted by them(and elves, which are similar phenomenon tosprites), and compare this to nightly emissions oflightning. It is also planned to compile statistical datato determine the frequency of sprites and their origin.

Why do it in space?

Due to the altitude at which sprites have beenobserved, and the fact that they occur above cloudtops extending in an upward direction, makes itimpossible to view them from the ground. Low-earthorbit is an optimal vantage point for studying thisphenomenon.


Since sprites are associated with thunderstorms andlightning, scientists suspect the flashes may be aform of electrical discharge. If so, they could pres-ent a concern to high-altitude research aircraft,which means that a more in-depth understanding ofthis phenomenon is required.

Lightning, on the other hand, is something we havealways lived with, and yet it’s mechanisms are stillnot totally clear. This ever-fascinating phenomenonof nature often plays havoc with radio communica-tions and power lines and it is important to be ableto predict when and where they will strike to takenecessary precautions and countermeasures.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Investigators: E. Blance, CEA/DASE,Bruyères le Chatel, France.D. Chaput, A. Labarthe, CNES, Toulouse, France.

Sprite captured above a storm

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Technology Demonstrations3D CAMERA

Purpose of Activity

The purpose of this activity is to test and evaluate a3D still photo camera under weightless conditions inthe ISS operational environment. This will provideillustrative aids for future technical mission aspectsand astronaut training.

3D pictures will further help improve ISS simulatorssuch as the virtual reality simulator at ESTEC inNoordwijk, The Netherlands and help to better satis-fy the public interest in the International SpaceStation.

Activities with the 3D camera will also lead ESA fur-ther with future ISS development of 3D video imagesand help to forge cooperation with ISS partnersundertaking 3D research.

How is the Research Done?

This activity will take place in the ISS after docking.This will include seven 20-minute sessions for theEuropean astronaut and seven 20-minute sessionsfor the Russian cosmonaut onboard. This will havethe following themes:

• Views outside of the ISS and the Earth through awell-located window with daylight. It is preferredthat the pictures include both parts of the ISS andEarth view in the background for better 3D effect.

• Russian Segment of the ISS and Russian facilitieson the ISS.

• American segment and facilities.• European experiments.• Astronauts.

At the end of the mission only films in their containerwill be transported to the ground. The 3D CAMERAwill remain stowed in the Russian Segment of the ISSin a location where radiation and ambient tempera-ture are minimal.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Coordinator: Dieter IsakeitESA/ESTEC, MSM-HENoordwijk, The Netherlands

3D Camera (front view)

Technology DemonstrationsCREW RESTRAINT

Purpose of Activity

The experiment is aimed at testing new crew restraintequipment, which uses astronaut’s knees to holdthem in position during operational activities.

Almost all current restraint devices use the feet torestrain the body and it is generally perceived thatthis unnaturally overloads the smaller muscle groupsof the feet.

Restraining the crewmember at the knee level lowersthe forces needed since the knees are closer to thecentre of gravity of the astronaut and larger musclegroups are relied upon to a greater extent.

How is the Research Done?

The restraint parts are assembled and directlyattached to one seat track. The crew restraint con-sists of a vertical Interface beam and a knee block,which is covered in elastic foam and thereafterNomex fabric to resist abrasion. The form of the kneeblock has been designed, taking into account size,curve and relevant angles associated with the kneejoint. All angles were defined by taking an astronautin his neutral body orientation.

The vertical interface beam is attached to a fixedposition at two points and designed to withstandmaximum loads. The foam on the knee block hasthe flexibility to allow for accommodation of differentsizes of crewmember legs.

For approximately 30 minutes the astronaut will carryout an operational activity such as using a laptopwhilst in the position shown in the concept diagram.After use the crew restraint will be dismantled.



C E R V A N T E S

M I S S I O N

Coordinator:Pia MitschdoerferESA, ESTEC, MSM-MSNoordwijk, The Netherlands

Crew Restraint concept. Isometric views

Crew Restraint.

Educational ExperimentsAPIS


This experiment focuses on the behaviour of a rigidbody rotating around its centre of mass. The rigidbody used in the experiment can, for example, simu-late a rotating spacecraft.

The objective of this experiment is to prepare a videofor educational purposes to demonstrate the dynam-ics of solid body rotation. This aims to show the dif-ferent types of motion, which may occur dependingon the distribution of mass of the body. Such factorscan have the effect of changing the axis of rotation ofa spacecraft.

The experiment consists of a handle, which holds aclear sphere made up of two hemispheres. Three dif-ferent experiment modules are fixed inside thesphere at different times to give it different character-istics whilst rotating.

The sphere is rotated on the experiment handleabout the central shaft of the internal module. Thehandle is then released from the sphere, leaving thesphere to rotate in weightlessness.

Why do it in space?

This kind of demonstration would be impossible inthe 1g environment of Earth, and requires the 0g pro-vided by the Space Station.


The benefits provided by this experiment are purelydidactic, in that it will provide an educational tool(video material), which can be used for analytic pur-poses in universities to help students to betterunderstand certain mechanical principles, and inschools as a visual tool to help describe the envi-ronment of space. This kind of educational materialincreases the attention and comprehension of stu-dents towards topics of this nature.



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Principal Investigator: A. Laverón-SimavillaInstituto Universitario “Ignacio da Riva”Madrid, Spain.

ESA Coordinator: R. Schonenborg ESA/ESTEC MSM-GSNoordwijk, The Netherlands.

Experimental configuration

Educational ExperimentsCHONDRO


The objective of the Chondro space experiment is tofind more stable bone cartilage structures, by dis-solving cartilage tissue from pig bones into its basiccomponents and then re-growing these componentsinto new cartilage.

Another purpose of this experiment is to test the stu-dent-developed experiment hardware.

Why do it in space?

Gravity plays a disturbing influence in the formationof cartilage on Earth, so much so that current meth-ods do not completely satisfy the needs of today’smedical world.

Under the influence of gravity new cartilage tissuegrowth normally forms a 2-dimensional structure, dueto sedimentation. By eliminating the sedimentationprocess the experiment should achieve 3-dimension-al symmetrical growth.


Cartilage problems are common on Earth and mod-ern medicine is trying to develop methods to artifi-cially produce cartilage for surgical implantation.This would have an enormous impact on the lives ofmillions of people who suffer from problems relatedto permanent bone cartilage damage, either frominjury or disease.



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Student Investigators: G. Keller, V. Stamenkovic, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland


Chondro experiment container

Educational ExperimentsTHEBAS


The experiment aims to illustrate with relatively sim-ple hardware principles of dynamics. Experimentalvideo data material will also be used for educationalpurposes.

The behaviour of transparent closed containers,which have the same size and total mass and filledwith spherical bodies of different radii, will beanalysed. The mass of the content of each containeris the same in all the considered cases.

Why do it in space?The objective is to study the effect of the interactionbetween the container and the particles inside whenthe system is periodically oscillated in one dimensionalong a straight line. After completion, videotapes ofthe experiments will be returned to Earth and the per-formances will be compared with reference experi-ments, which have identical hardware, performed onthe ground to quantify the effect of gravity on the sys-tem.

What is it good for?This experiment will provide video material of someprinciples of dynamics, which form the basis of fun-damental mechanics taught in universities.

The use of audiovisual media in education is helpingto improve educational techniques by providing stu-dents with a greater degree of stimulus. Audiovisualtechniques of presenting information lead to agreater retention of that information when comparedto traditional teaching techniques.



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Principal Investigator: A. Laverón-SimavillaInstituto Universitario “Ignacio da Riva” Madrid,Spain.


Thebas hardware configuration

Educational ExperimentsVIDEO-2


The objective of the experiment is to demonstrate basicphysical phenomena i.e. Newton’s Three Laws of Motion,by means of filming European astronauts performing relat-ed experiments on board the Space Station.

Why do it in space?The experiments are carried out in space to demonstrateNewton’s Laws of Motion in weightlessness, providing anovel classroom environment to draw the attention of stu-dents. They will also visually demonstrate the nearabsence of gravity on board the Space Station and the dif-ferences between the Earth and space environments.

The first experiment covers Newton’s 1st Law of Motion:‘An object at rest, or in uniform motion, remains in this stateuntil a force acts upon it.’ A wooden ball is released so thatit ‘hangs’ in the air (at rest). It is then blown (applied force)so that it moves. Once this step has been completed, theball is once again blown and follows a straight line (uniformmotion). A crewmember then places his hand in front ofthe ball stopping it (applied force). The final task consists in the ball being blown following astraight line (uniform motion), after which a crewmemberblows (applied force) at 90 degrees to the direction ofmotion changing the ball’s direction.

The second experiment illustrates Newton’s 2nd Law ofMotion: ‘Force = mass x acceleration’. A wooden ball anda brass ball are positioned vertically in mid air and areblown (with the same applied force) one immediately afterthe other. The wooden ball will move faster as its mass isless and therefore its acceleration will be greater.

The third experiment demonstrates Newton’s 3rd Law ofMotion: ‘Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.’ Inthe first part of this experiment two astronauts are facingeach other with their palms against each other at waistheight. The first astronaut pushes against the second(applied force). This will cause both astronauts to moveaway from each other with approximately the same velocity.

The second part of the experiment repeats the first but witha heavy water container strapped to the second astronaut.The second astronaut will move backwards more slowlythan the first as his mass is disproportionately greater.

The fourth experiment highlights the near absence of grav-ity. A sealed coffee drinking bag is filled with water. A clipis placed over the bag’s drinking straw. The bag is thencarefully held upside down (with the straw pointing down-wards and without any pressure applied to the bag). Theclip is then removed to see whether the coffee will flow outor not. The experiment provides a simple, visual exampleof the fact that objects on board the Space Station are notsubject to gravity.

The fifth experiment illustrates centripetal effects, as a sim-ulation of gravitational forces. In the first part of the exper-iment a ball filled with 10ml coffee is spun around anempty ball of exactly the same dimensions. The two ballsare attached by lacing tape. In the second part of theexperiment the same two balls attached by lacing tape arerotated around a horizontal axis. This time, one of the ballsis filled with 20ml coffee and the other is empty. The lacingtape is then cut at the centre of mass and the trajectory ofthe two balls is observed.


The on board experiments will be complemented by com-parable ground experiments performed by students. ADVD of the experiments, with additional explanations andanimations, fitting the European science curriculum of theage group 12-18 year olds, will be produced and distrib-uted to schools in ESA Member States.

The DVD will provide teachers with a novel and useful toolfor explaining Newton’s Laws of Motion and the concept ofgravity, which are a fundamental part of the basic physicscurriculum.



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Principal Investigator: Prof. M. PaivaFree University of BrusselsFaculty of Medicine Brussels, Belgium.

ESA Coordinator: S. IjsselsteinESA/ESTEC MSM-GSNoordwijk, The Netherlands.

Educational ExperimentsWINOGRAD


The Winograd experiment will be used to growWinogradski columns in a weightless environment.

A Winogradski column is a colony of different typesof bacteria wherein the waste products of one bac-terium serve as the nutrients of the other. They aresystems that are found in ordinary pond or lake waterand need no other input than light for photosynthesis.

This experiment was launched to the ISS on theProgress mission 12P in August 2003 and thereafterstarted. It will be returned to Earth on Pedro Duque’sreturn flight.

On return these samples will be analysed to deter-mine where certain bacteria were located duringflight and hence determine the effect of weightless-ness on the formation of Winogradski columns.

Why do it in space?

The space experiment should clarify if the bacteria inthe water will organise themselves in a similar patternas they would do on Earth.

Since bacteria can also be useful during humanspace missions, it is important to know whether theirbehaviour is predictable in the space environment.


In future human space missions (particularly longduration missions), bacteria could be used to helpdispose of waste created by the astronauts. Theycould eat everything such as leftover food. As aresult of this consumption they could give off gasesthat may be used as fuel. Also they could be used asa part of the Environmental Life Support System,playing an important role in the recycling of air andwater, both vital for a human space missions.



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Student Investigators: R. Dhir, D. Smillie, T. Banergee. (Supported byProf. Jim Deacon) Biology Teaching Organization,The University of Edinburgh, Scotland


Winograd block holding sample containers with illumination block

Educational ExperimentsARISS(Amateur Radio on the ISS)


The objectives of this activity are to provide a liveradio link from the ISS to selected Spanish childrenfrom primary schools. Students will put questions toESA astronaut Pedro Duque.

Why do it in space?

The students who will take part in this live radio activ-ity are:• The CEIP CEIXALBO primary school in Ourense,

Spain,• The winners of the ‘Habla ISS’ contest for primary

schools. The contact will take place from the ‘VER-BUM’ museum in Vigo, Spain,

Each school will receive one live broadcast.Excluding preparation, connection and cut-off timeeach location will have ten minutes of broadcasttime.

Twenty children will be ready in each location to puttheir questions in the presence of many otherschoolchildren with parents and authorities in assis-tance.

These questions will be sent by radiogram to the ISSthe day before to give the astronaut time to preparehis answers and therefore use the broadcast time asefficiently as possible.

Ground stations will be provided by the members ofthe local amateur radio clubs of the Union deRadioaficionados Españoles in Spain and ARISSmembers in the Netherlands.

The total time for this activity is approximately 90 min-utes.

Two weeks before this activity is due to take place,ARISS will provide the text of four messages (one percontact) to be radio-grammed to the astronaut theday before the contact.

These messages will include the radio call-sign to beused, the radio frequency, the exact day and time of

contact, the text of the twenty questions (in Spanish)and a brief presentation of the school.


This exercise serves as an educational tool for mak-ing children aware of space, a topic that is often notcovered in school syllabuses. It is important to bringspace to the children to provide them with a betterunderstanding of the benefits of space and how sci-ence in space can also improve life for us here onEarth. Also, space is all around us therefore acquir-ing knowledge on it can lead to an appreciation oflife on our Blue planet.



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André Kuipers and Pedro Duque training with Ariss equipment

Coordinators: G. Bertels, ARISS-Europe, BelgiumC. Pujol, ESA/ESTEC, ADM-AEThe Netherlands

Launch, Flight and Landing ProceduresLaunch Procedures

The Soyuz crew begin their day with a careful clean-ing procedure of their bodies to avoid takingpathogens to the space station. Before leaving theirrooms they sign the door, a tradition, which datesfrom the time of Yuri Gagarin.

The final countdown starts with six hours to go. Thecrew are taken by bus to the launch area where theyput on their Sokol space suits with four hours 20 min-utes to go. There is a formal military ceremony inwhich the crew receive official authorisation to leavefor launch from the flight commission. This is the lastchance to say goodbye to family, the media and thebackup crew who now stay behind.

Three hours and counting

Around the same time with three hours to go the pro-pellant tanks start to be filled. The crew arrive at thelaunch pad 20 minutes later while thrust checks arebeing carried out on the different launch stages. TheSoyuz crew take a lift to the top of the Soyuz space-craft and enter through the hatch of the utility module

of the Soyuz spacecraft. They lower themselves intotheir seats in the landing module, which is nearly fullwhen they take their positions: The commander inthe middle (Alexander Kaleri), the flight engineer onthe left (Pedro Duque) and the second flight engi-neer on the right (Michael Foale).

After being strapped in, the crew carry out checkson communications equipment before the hatch isclosed with just under two hours until launch. Thecommand/landing module is then checked and theSoyuz spacecraft is pressurised. Checks are carriedout on the on-board equipment, systems, pressureand temperature before the launcher’s inertial guid-ance systems are activated and the crew switch ontheir communications systems.

With one hour until launch the launcher teams areevacuated from the launch pad area. Fifteen minuteslater the flight programme is loaded into the on-board computers and the service gantries rolledback. The spacesuits are checked for air tightnessand the safety systems are activated with 30 minutesuntil launch.

With 15 minutes until launch the launch site is totallyevacuated and inertial guidance systems unlocked.The automatic launch sequence becomes ready forignition with six minutes until launch followed by activa-tion of ground and on-board telemetry one minute later.



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Soyuz TMA-1 crew on launch pad before take-off on 30 October 2002

Soyuz launcher on the launch pad shortly before lift-off ofAndromède Mission on 21 October 2001

Launch, Flight and Landing ProceduresLaunch Procedures (contd)

At 2 minutes 40 seconds until launch the avionics onthe 3rd stage switch to internal power supply and theumbilical mast is disconnected. With 29 secondsremaining, the four lateral boosters together with thecentral core are ignited.

Lift-off

The Soyuz launcher and spacecraft slowly raises,starting to roll into its trajectory 20 seconds afterlaunch. It accelerates to 4g over the first few minutes,pushing the crew back in their seats.

Two minutes after lift-off the four lateral boosters havefinished burning and the acceleration drops from 4gto 1.5g. These boosters and the launch escape sys-tem are jettisoned. As soon as the core stage enginesfire on full thrust, the g-forces increase again.

At about two and a half minutes, the crew get theirfirst view of space 84 km above the Earth as thelaunch fairing protecting the spacecraft againstatmospheric drag is jettisoned leaving an open viewthrough the spacecraft windows. This is almostabove the atmosphere.

After separation of the core stage at 288 secondsafter launch, the acceleration seams to stop until thethird stage engines fire at 5 minutes after lift-off. Thespacecraft is now 167 kilometres high. 7 secondslater the 2nd/3rd stage interface is jettisoned. The

third stage is extinct after 520 seconds and sepa-rates at 528 seconds (8 minutes 48 seconds) afterlaunch.

For the first two orbits, the cosmonauts remain intheir seats, checking all on board systems, mostimportantly the attitude control systems that controlhow the spacecraft is pointing. After checks arecompleted, the Soyuz is orientated in a way that thesolar arrays are always directed to the sun for powergeneration.

After the tasks are completed the cosmonauts canget out of their seats and take off their pressurizedspace suits.



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Soyuz TMA-1 crew in Soyuz command module just before thehatch is closed

Lift off of Soyuz TMA-2 on 26 April 2003 on Flight 6S to the ISS.

Launch, Flight and Landing ProceduresDocking Procedures

Gaining altitude

Nine minutes after launch and the Soyuz is in orbit.From now on the spacecraft is floating, or more cor-rectly, free falling around the Earth at 28,000 km perhour with an initial orbit altitude of 220 kilometres. Itnow takes two days to reach the International SpaceStation. This is because the chosen docking trajec-tory for the Soyuz is the most effective for fuel con-sumption.

The cosmonauts cooperate with the ground con-trollers who calculate the trajectory parameters,which will enable the spacecraft to conduct orbitalmanoeuvres to get it onto a higher orbit. Theseparameters are sent to the spacecraft, whereaftercommands are given to fire the spacecraft’s enginesat certain times. Every burn of the engines increasesthe speed of the Soyuz vehicle and thus raises theorbit to near the trajectory of the International SpaceStation (380 to 400 km altitude).

Docking

The crew is busy with monitoring the spacecraft sys-tems and preparing themselves in case the automat-ic rendezvous and docking systems fail and theyhave to take over manually. Mission Control on theground can accurately track the spacecraft’s trajec-tory, but there are still slight errors the crew has tocorrect with the help of the radar system and the cal-culations of the computer on board.

The Soyuz crew watches this flight phase on ascreen inside the descent capsule, dressed in theirSokol space suits. On the screen is an image gener-ated from the periscope outside the descent mod-ule. During the final approach the crew inside has tocheck all data and to make sure that the spacecraftis lined up properly with the docking port of the ISS.This is also monitored by Mission Control at Korolev,near Moscow.Soyuz usually docks with the station’s Pirs Docking

Compartment. It could also dock with the dockingadapter between Zarya and Unity or at the rear endof the Zvezda module. The Progress supply vehiclesalmost always dock with Zvezda’s aft docking port,as will Europe’s ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle)whose first launch is scheduled for 2004.

Each Soyuz spacecraft remains docked for about sixmonths to serve as a lifeboat. If necessary, Soyuzvehicles can change their docking location to clearthe occupied docking port for another approachingSoyuz or Progress supply spacecraft.

Pedro Duque will be docking with the ISS in theSoyuz-TMA-3 spacecraft and staying for 8 daysbefore undocking and returning to Earth in the olderSoyuz TMA-2, which is currently stationed at the ISS.



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Progress M1 approaches the ISS.

Soyuz spacecraft docking with International Space Station

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Launch, Flight and Landing ProceduresUndocking Procedures

Undocking the Soyuz TMA-2 from the InternationalSpace Station 400km above the Earth, re-entry andlanding on the grassy steppes of Kazakhstan is a rel-atively quick procedure, taking no longer than threeand a half hours.

On the last day in orbit the cosmonauts dress againin their special Sokol space suits, needed for launch,docking, return and landing and enter the Soyuzcapsule.

The crew close the hatches and check the seals. AllSoyuz board systems get activated and tested. Themission commander is responsible for pushing theun- docking button. This command opens hooks andlatches, which hold the Soyuz to the docking port onthe ISS. Spring forces are used to push the Soyuzslowly away from the ISS.

During the first minutes the spacecraft graduallyincreases distance from the Station.

At a 20 m distance, approximately 6 minutes afterundocking, the crew fires small brake engines for 15seconds, slowing it down.



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Nikolai Budarin of ISS Expedition Crew 6 in Sokol space suitpreparing for undocking

Undocking shortly after execution of separation command

First short burn to lower the Soyuz spacecraft orbit

Main burn for re-entry into the denser layer of Earth’s atmosphere.

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Launch, Flight and Landing ProceduresRe-entry Procedures

Two and a half hours after undocking, when Soyuz isat a distance of 19 kilometres from the InternationalSpace Station, the en-gines fire again for 4 minutes,21 seconds. This is the deorbit burn, which gives theSoyuz an impulse against the direction of flight. As aconsequence the Soyuz vehicle slows down and itsorbit decreases.

Shortly afterwards at an altitude of 200 kilometresabove the ground and still an hour before landing,the Soyuz spacecraft separates into its three parts.The utility section and the instrument-assembly mod-ule burn upon re-entry in the denser layers of Earth’satmosphere.

The same would happen to the landing module, how-ever it is protected by a heat shield and furtherassumes a shallower aerodynamic flight profile on re-entry.

After separation, the landing module is given thecommand to rotate. This manoeuvre puts thestrongest parts of the heat shield towards the re-

entry direction, Re-entry occurs at an altitude ofapproximately 120 kilometres where it enters theupper layers of the atmosphere. This is half an hourbefore landing. Soyuz is at this point over SouthAmerica.

It will follow a trajectory across the Atlantic Ocean,Africa and the Middle East and eventually land inCentral Asia. The cosmonauts can see a red glowingoutside the window during this period of descentcaused by the friction from the airflow, which heatsthe outer spacecraft shell.

The speed is reduced dramatically and the crew ispushed back into their seats by a force of 4 to 5 g.This is equivalent to approximately four to five timestheir own body weight.



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Soyuz module separation.

Soyuz landing module glowing during re-entry.

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Launch, Flight and Landing ProceduresLanding Procedures

Fifteen minutes prior landing at an altitude of 12 kmthe parachutes begin to deploy while Soyuz is still ata speed of 900 km/h. First, two pilot parachutes openfollowed by a 24 m2 drogue chute, at an altitude of10.5 km. This slows the Soyuz to 360 km/h.

At this point the 1000 m2 main parachute opens,slowing the Soyuz to 7 m/s. Soyuz travels at an angleof 30° for cooling purposes due to special parachuteharness. The capsule then changes to a verticaldescent. As a backup, there is an emergency para-chute half the size of the main parachute. This wouldbe released automatically at a certain height.

At 4 km above ground the heat shield is jettisoned,further reducing descent speed until one secondbefore touch down. This is at a distance of 80cmabove the ground when six soft landing engines fireto reduce the speed to 2 m/s. The Soyuz TMA space-

craft possess two new engines, which reduce land-ing speed and forces by 15 to 30 %.

Further cushioning the impact of landing are thecrew seats with their custom-fitted liners. The linersare individually moulded to each cosmonaut’s body.When permanent crew-members are brought to theInternational Space Station by a Space Shuttle mis-sion, their Soyuz seats are brought with them andfinally transferred to the docked Soyuz lifeboat incase of an emergency.

Immediately after ground contact the parachutecords are automatically cut to avoid any wind distur-

bance. A communication antenna is hereafterdeployed so that the recovery team will find the crewas soon as possible.



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The Andromedè Mission landing module after re-entry and beforelanding

Soyuz landing module after touchdown

Soyuz TM-33 after landing with ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori.Touchdown of the Soyuz landing module

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Launch, Flight and Landing ProceduresPost-Landing Procedures

Ground control in Moscow and Baikonur follow thetouch down of Soyuz. Recovery equipment, helicop-ters, and tents, are prepared for the landing, with arecovery and support team consisting of physicians,psychologists, officials and military personnel fromBaikonur.

After landing, the crew deploy at least one communi-cation antenna, so that the recovery teams can pin-point their precise location on the vast expanse of theKazakh Steppe.

The landing accuracy is within a range of 30 km.Soyuz spacecraft land nominally on land, in two areasin northern Kazakhstan, one near the town of Arkalyk,the other near the town of Dzhezkazgan.Nevertheless a Russian manned mission could alsotouch down anywhere in the world including on water,as happened once before.

Recovery teams in helicopters approach the landingsite soon after landing. Immediately after arrival thehatch is opened and an extraction stand is assem-bled to assist the Soyuz crewmembers to exit thespacecraft. Other helpers are responsible in cordon-ing off the area and gathering the spacecraft’s land-ing parachutes.

In case of a delay reaching the landing site the cos-monauts are trained to help themselves having hadextensive survival training in the mountains andCaspian Sea.

After leaving the capsule each cosmonaut is easedinto a chair by the recovery team where they canrelax and answer any first questions. In the mean-time, a medical tent is prepared for the first medicalchecks, still on site. If everybody from the crew is ina good condition, the cosmonauts are brought toBaikonur by helicopter with an intermediate stop at

Astana, the new capital of Kazakhstan. At the sametime technicians prepare the Soyuz spacecraft forremoval from the landing site.

From Baikonur the crew then fly by plane to Star City,near Moscow where they stay in quarantine for twoweeks for further medical checks, readaptation tolife on the ground and mission evaluations. The fam-ilies are also waiting there.



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Soyuz TM-33 landing site with ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori onboard. The communication antenna, extraction stand and chairsare visible.

Soyuz TM-33 commander Yuri Gidzenko is helped into a chairafter landing

The medical tent, surrounded by a helicopter and landingparachute

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Acronyms

ARISS Amateur Radio on the ISS

ARMS Advanced Respiratory Monitoring System

ATV Automated Transfer Vehicle

BMI Blood PressureMeasurement Instrument

CDTI Centro para el DesarrolloTecnológico Industrial (SpanishCentre for Technological andIndustrial Development)

CEA/DASE Commissariat à l’EnergieAtomique/ Département d’analy-ses et de surveillance de l’envi-ronnement (French AtomicEnergy Commission/Departmentof Environmental Monitoring)

CET Central European Time

CIC Crew Interface Coordinator

CNES Centre National d’EtudesSpatiales (French SpaceAgency)

CNRS Centre National de la RechercheScientifique (French NationalScientific Research Centre)

COK Centrum voorOppervlaktechemie en Katalyse(Centre for Surface Chemistryand Catalysis)

CSIC Consejo Superior deInvestigaciones Científicas(Spanish Council for ScientificResearch)

DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid

DVD Digital Versatile Disk

EAC European Astronaut Centre

EPOC Erasmus Payload OperationsCentre

ERA European Robotic Arm

ERS European Remote SensingSatellite

ESA European Space Agency

ESOC European Space OperationsCentre

ESTEC European Space Research andTechnology Centre

EURECA European Retrievable Carrier

EVA Extra Vehicular Activity (space-walk)

ISS International Space Station

LMS Life and Microgravity Spacelab

LSO Lightning and SpriteObservation

MARES Muscle Atrophy Research andExercise System

MESSAGE Microbial Experiments in theSpace Station About GeneExpression



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Acronyms

MSM Manned Spaceflight andMicrogravity (ESA - internal mail-code for the Directorate ofHuman Spaceflight)

MSS Mobile Servicing System

NASA National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration

PEMS Percutaneous Electrical MuscleStimulator

POC Payload Operations Center

RSC Rocket and Space Corporation(as in RSC Energia)

SCK/CEN Studiecentrum voorKernenergie/Centre d’étude del’Energie Nucléaire (BelgianNuclear Research Centre)

SSAS Solid Sorbent Air Sampler

TsNIIMash Tsentralnyi Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy InstitutMashinostroyeniya (Russian forCentral Research Institute forMachine Building)

TsPK Tsentr Podgotovka Kosmonavtov(Russian name for GagarinCosmonaut Training Centre nearMoscow)

TsUP Tsentr Upravleniya Polyotami(Russian for Mission ControlCentre)

TVD Torque Velocity Dynamometer

US(A) United States (of America)

USOC User Support and OperationsCentre

VIP Very Important Person



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Credits

This document has been produced by the ErasmusUser Centre and Communication Office of theDirectorate of Human Spaceflight of the EuropeanSpace Agency, Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

It has been compiled from internal ESA sources withadditional images and information kindly supplied bythe following organisations:

Russian Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos)

S.P.Korolev Rocket and Space CorporationEnergia

National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration (NASA)

The Spanish User Support and OperationsCentre at the Ignacio Da Riva UniversityInstitute of Microgravity

The Belgian User Support and OperationsCentre at the Belgium Institute of SpaceAeronomy

With relation to the scientific research programme ofthe Cervantes Mission the primary informationsources and investigators are listed with each indi-vidual experiment. The image of Miguel deCervantes for this information kit was kindly suppliedby the Cushing Memorial Library at the Texas A&MUniversity Cervantes Project in collaboration with theCátedra Cervantes at the University of Castilla de laMancha in Spain.



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Contacts

European Space Agency (ESA)Erasmus User Centre and Communication OfficeDirectorate of Human SpaceflightESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, PO Box 2992200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands.Tel: +31 (0) 71 565 5566Fax: +31 (0) 71 565 [email protected]/users

Russian Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos)http://www.rosaviakosmos.ru

S.P.Korolev Rocket and Space CorporationEnergiahttp://www.energia.ru

National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration (NASA)http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov

The Spanish User Supportand Operations Centre at the Ignacio Da Riva UniversityInstitute of Microgravityhttp://www.idr.upm.es/es/fr_usoc.html

The Belgian User Supportand Operations Centreat the Belgium Institute of Space Aeronomyhttp://www.busoc.be/

For the scientific research programme of theCervantes Mission, the relevant contacts are listedwith each individual experiment.



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Documents

The Launcher and Spacecraft The International Space ... · The current Expedition 7 crew of Edward Lu and Yuri Malenchenko arrived on the ISS on 28 April 2003. They will return with