The first QB50 Workshop was held on 17–18 November 2009 at the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI) in Brussels), Belgium.
The aim of the Workshop was to provide essential background information regarding the QB50 Project to the invited representatives of the CubeSat teams and to provide a forum for discussion among Workshop participants.
The participation in the Workshop was limited to about 100 persons (CubeSat teams, Invited Speakers, members of the Scientific Programme Committee, European Space Agency representatives) but our country Peru has managed to be there, being represented by Mr. Jaime Estela and Mr. Naresh Krishnamurthy.
Dr. Asma, responsible for the project´s coordination thanked Mr. Jaime Estela and Mr. Martín Canales Romero for their continuing support and interest on the project.
The QB 50, will be an international network of 50 CubeSats for multi-point, in-situ measurements in the lower thermosphere and re-entry research.
For more information about this project, please visit:
http://www.vki.ac.be/QB50
Friday, November 20, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Vietnam desarrollará un sistema satelital de observación de la Tierra
Hanoi, 13 de noviembre de 2009 – Durante su visita a Vietnam, François Auque, CEO de Astrium ha firmado un acuerdo de asociación con la Academia de Ciencia y Tecnología de Vietnam (VAST) para desarrollar un sistema satelital óptico de observación.
El acuerdo con VAST, responsable de estructurar el programa espacial de observación de la Tierra de Vietnam, y Astrium, cubre el diseño del sistema satelital de monitoreo de los recursos naturales, medioambiente y desastres para Vietnam, que dará respuesta a las necesidades del país en este área.
El sistema incluirá el satélite, el control terreno, y las estaciones de captura de datos y procesamiento de imágenes. El acuerdo cubre igualmente un programa conjunto de cooperación y entrenamiento de ingenieros vietnamitas. El procesado de imágenes y la estación terrena utilizarán las instalaciones ya desarrolladas por Vietnam para su estación ENRMS, una estación terrena multisatélite del Ministerio de Recursos Naturales y Medioambiente de Vietnam.
El acuerdo con VAST, responsable de estructurar el programa espacial de observación de la Tierra de Vietnam, y Astrium, cubre el diseño del sistema satelital de monitoreo de los recursos naturales, medioambiente y desastres para Vietnam, que dará respuesta a las necesidades del país en este área.
El sistema incluirá el satélite, el control terreno, y las estaciones de captura de datos y procesamiento de imágenes. El acuerdo cubre igualmente un programa conjunto de cooperación y entrenamiento de ingenieros vietnamitas. El procesado de imágenes y la estación terrena utilizarán las instalaciones ya desarrolladas por Vietnam para su estación ENRMS, una estación terrena multisatélite del Ministerio de Recursos Naturales y Medioambiente de Vietnam.
"Consulting & Engineering for Space"
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Primer "Letter of Intent" para el QB50
Nuestros esfuerzos estan dando sus frutos al saber que el primer "Letter of Intent" o LoI ha sido recepcionado en Belgica y esta en las manos de los organizadores del proyecto QB50.
Por motivos de discreción profesional no queremos todavia dar a conocer el nombre de la universidad peruana que ha demostrado su interés en participar en el QB50. En un futuro cercano y cuando oficialmente la fecha de entrega de LoIs se cierre podremos entregar al publico los nombres de la o las universidades que formarán parte de este proyecto europeo.
Al firmar ese LoI estaremos asegurando una cooperación internacional y demostrando nuetro propósito de entregar un CubeSat de doble unidad (2U) para el 2013, fecha en que esta programado el lanzamiento de los 50 CubeSats al espacio.
Igualmente vemos que esta oportunidad catapultará a universidades peruanas para hacerse concocidas en Europa y en el mundo.
Por motivos de discreción profesional no queremos todavia dar a conocer el nombre de la universidad peruana que ha demostrado su interés en participar en el QB50. En un futuro cercano y cuando oficialmente la fecha de entrega de LoIs se cierre podremos entregar al publico los nombres de la o las universidades que formarán parte de este proyecto europeo.
Al firmar ese LoI estaremos asegurando una cooperación internacional y demostrando nuetro propósito de entregar un CubeSat de doble unidad (2U) para el 2013, fecha en que esta programado el lanzamiento de los 50 CubeSats al espacio.
Igualmente vemos que esta oportunidad catapultará a universidades peruanas para hacerse concocidas en Europa y en el mundo.
"Consulting & Engineering for Space"
Monday, October 12, 2009
El primer comandante europeo de la Estación Espacial Internacional
El astronauta de la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) Frank De Winne se convertió en el primer comandante europeo de la Estación Espacial Internacional (ISS) este fin de semana pasado al tomar ese puesto dentro del complejo orbital y empezar el siguiente incremento 21 y 22.
Frank De Winne, de nacionalidad belga es el nuevo comandante de la ISS (Foto: NASA).
El cosmonauta ruso Gennady Padalka, quien fuera comandante de la ISS desde Abril, abandonó el complejo orbital en la nave Soyuz el domingo 11 de Octubre por la noche. De Winne es el primer astronauta de nacionalidad diferente a la americana o a la rusa que asume el cargo de comandante de la ISS. El viernes 9 de Octubre se celebraró una simbólica ceremonia de relevo a bordo de la Estación.
Padalka aterrizó en Kazakhstan el domingo junto con el astronauta de la NASA Michael Barratt and el Canadiense y turista espacial Guy Laliberté. Durante su tiempo de comandante, Padalka fur testigo del un evento muy importante para el programa de la Estacion Internacional - el aumento de los miembros de la Estación de 3 a 6. (Foto: NASA)
Juan Martín Canales Romero
ISS Columbus Operations Coordinator
Friday, October 9, 2009
Japan launches first HII-Transfer Vehicle
The Japanese space agency's first HII-Transfer Vehicle (HTV-1) launched today at 17:01 GMT from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The HTV is an unmanned cargo transfer spacecraft, fully developed and built in Japan, that will deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). The maiden flight of HTV will deliver around 4.5 tonnes of new supplies to the ISS, as well as demonstrate the HTV's rendezvous and flight capabilities.
The HTV was launched on the as well japanese H-IIB launch vehicle. After separating from it, HTV automatically started-up its subsystems and initiated communications with the HTV Mission Control Room (HTVMCR) at Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) in Japan.
On this maiden flight, HTV-1 will approache the ISS in a sequence of operations to demonstrate its range of capabilities. Once a go-ahead has been given by ISS management, HTV-1 is scheduled to approach the Station for berthing six days after launch.
Unlike the existing spacecrafts that rendezvous and dock with the Station, HTV-1 will approach to a point just below the ISS. Station crewmembers, NASA astronaut Nicole Stott and ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, will then use the Station's robotic arm, Canadarm 2, to grapple the HTV and berth it to the Earth-facing (nadir) port on the Harmony module.
Later in the attached phase of the HTV-1 mission, De Winne will operate the Japanese robotic arm in order to attach and unpack the Japanese Exposed Pallet on the outside of the Japanese Kibo laboratory.
HTV-1 is scheduled to remain docked to the ISS for 30 days.
Source: NASA, ESA
The HTV is an unmanned cargo transfer spacecraft, fully developed and built in Japan, that will deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). The maiden flight of HTV will deliver around 4.5 tonnes of new supplies to the ISS, as well as demonstrate the HTV's rendezvous and flight capabilities.
The HTV was launched on the as well japanese H-IIB launch vehicle. After separating from it, HTV automatically started-up its subsystems and initiated communications with the HTV Mission Control Room (HTVMCR) at Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) in Japan.
On this maiden flight, HTV-1 will approache the ISS in a sequence of operations to demonstrate its range of capabilities. Once a go-ahead has been given by ISS management, HTV-1 is scheduled to approach the Station for berthing six days after launch.
Unlike the existing spacecrafts that rendezvous and dock with the Station, HTV-1 will approach to a point just below the ISS. Station crewmembers, NASA astronaut Nicole Stott and ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, will then use the Station's robotic arm, Canadarm 2, to grapple the HTV and berth it to the Earth-facing (nadir) port on the Harmony module.
Later in the attached phase of the HTV-1 mission, De Winne will operate the Japanese robotic arm in order to attach and unpack the Japanese Exposed Pallet on the outside of the Japanese Kibo laboratory.
HTV-1 is scheduled to remain docked to the ISS for 30 days.
Source: NASA, ESA
Participación Peruana es posible en Proyecto Europeo
A través de la iniciativa de los Ingenieros Jaime Estela y J. Martín Canales podría ser posible la participación de universidades peruanas que se interesen en participar en el proyecto Europeo QB50.
Después de haber propuesto a los Organizadores del proyecto la cooperación peruana, el Dr. Asma del Instituto Von Karman en Belgica se ha mostrado muy satisfecho en saber que la participacion de universidades peruanas en el Proyecto QB50 sería una realidad.
Para empezar con los preparativos hemos recibido por parte del Dr. Asma la carta "Letter of Intent" que será transmitida a nuestras universidades para que las remitan a los cordinadores del programa mostrando su interés en ser incluidas como participantes del proyecto.
Este es el primer paso para poder cooperar con otras universidades e instituciones en este ámbito y deseamos lograr que por fin el Perú empiece a trabajar en el campo aeroespacial. Minetras más universidades participen tendremos mas posibilidades de ser aceptados como "Partners" del QB50.
Desde luego hay que tener en cuenta y remarcar que tales proyectos son educativos y de demostración tecnológica pero de tal manera empezaremos a crear futuras generaciones de ingenieros peruanos con experiencia en tecnología de satelites.
Después de haber propuesto a los Organizadores del proyecto la cooperación peruana, el Dr. Asma del Instituto Von Karman en Belgica se ha mostrado muy satisfecho en saber que la participacion de universidades peruanas en el Proyecto QB50 sería una realidad.
Para empezar con los preparativos hemos recibido por parte del Dr. Asma la carta "Letter of Intent" que será transmitida a nuestras universidades para que las remitan a los cordinadores del programa mostrando su interés en ser incluidas como participantes del proyecto.
Este es el primer paso para poder cooperar con otras universidades e instituciones en este ámbito y deseamos lograr que por fin el Perú empiece a trabajar en el campo aeroespacial. Minetras más universidades participen tendremos mas posibilidades de ser aceptados como "Partners" del QB50.
Desde luego hay que tener en cuenta y remarcar que tales proyectos son educativos y de demostración tecnológica pero de tal manera empezaremos a crear futuras generaciones de ingenieros peruanos con experiencia en tecnología de satelites.
"Consulting & Engineering for Space"
Thursday, October 1, 2009
X Encuentro Virtual Espacial Latinoamericano
La décima Reunión Virtual de SGAC - Latinoamérica se llevó a cabo el pasado Miércoles 30 de Septiembre a las 18:30 GMT.
Mas información sobre los acuerdos y conclusiones de la reunón pueden encontrar en el Documento preparado para el evento.
Mas información sobre los acuerdos y conclusiones de la reunón pueden encontrar en el Documento preparado para el evento.
Juan Martín Canales Romero
Coordinador Regional Sur América
Space Generation Advisory Council SGAC
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
CONIDA lanzo exitosamente el cohete Sonda Paulet IM
A continuacion reproducimos una Nota de Prensa de la Comandancia General de la Fuerza Aerea del Peru sobre el lanzamiento del Cohete Sonda Paulet IM.
El personal de la Comisión Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Aeroespacial (CONIDA), lanzó el dos de setiembre a las 13:20 horas, al espacio el cohete sonda “Paulet IM” (modificado), diseñado y construido por científicos de esa entidad y la Fuerza Aérea del Perú.
El cohete de 2.80 metros de longitud y de aproximadamente 90 kilos de peso, despegó de la Base Científica de Punta Lobos (Pucusana), logrando una velocidad de cinco veces superior a la del sonido.
Después del conteo reglamentario, el Jefe de CONIDA, Coronel FAP Juan Pasco Barriga, presionó el botón de encendido y mientras observaba el despegue del cohete sonda de tecnología peruana dijo muy emocionado “esto permitirá explorar la alta atmósfera, medir la contaminación ambiental, el exceso de carbono, la capa de ozono y los efectos ionosféricos ocurridos por influencia del Sol”.
Cabe señalar que el 26 de diciembre del 2006 a las 15:30 horas se lanzó el primer cohete sonda “Paulet I” que medía 2,72 metros de longitud y en este lanzamiento estuvo presente Megan Paulet –hija del precursor de de la aeronavegación mundial Pedro Paulet Mostajo-.
Emoción y nerviosismo
Minutos previos al lanzamiento se podía notar en el rostro del personal emoción y nerviosismo. Se mantuvieron callados durante el conteo, cuando de pronto se escuchó una fuerte explosión. Uno de los científicos que participó en el proyecto dijo que con este segundo lanzamiento el Perú pasa a formar parte del grupo de países que buscan su desarrollo espacial.
Finalmente, cabe destacar que estos proyectos se desarrollan con fines pacíficos y aquí lo que se aprovecha es el desarrollo tecnológico y las capacidades conseguidas por la actividad de cohetería de CONIDA.
Lima, 2 de setiembre de 2009
DIRECCIÓN DE INFORMACIÓN
DE LA FUERZA AEREA DEL PERU
NOTA DE PRENSA Nro.008 - Comandancia General FAP
CONIDA LANZA AL ESPACIO SU SEGUNDO COHETE SONDA
El cohete de 2.80 metros de longitud y de aproximadamente 90 kilos de peso, despegó de la Base Científica de Punta Lobos (Pucusana), logrando una velocidad de cinco veces superior a la del sonido.
Después del conteo reglamentario, el Jefe de CONIDA, Coronel FAP Juan Pasco Barriga, presionó el botón de encendido y mientras observaba el despegue del cohete sonda de tecnología peruana dijo muy emocionado “esto permitirá explorar la alta atmósfera, medir la contaminación ambiental, el exceso de carbono, la capa de ozono y los efectos ionosféricos ocurridos por influencia del Sol”.
Cabe señalar que el 26 de diciembre del 2006 a las 15:30 horas se lanzó el primer cohete sonda “Paulet I” que medía 2,72 metros de longitud y en este lanzamiento estuvo presente Megan Paulet –hija del precursor de de la aeronavegación mundial Pedro Paulet Mostajo-.
Emoción y nerviosismo
Minutos previos al lanzamiento se podía notar en el rostro del personal emoción y nerviosismo. Se mantuvieron callados durante el conteo, cuando de pronto se escuchó una fuerte explosión. Uno de los científicos que participó en el proyecto dijo que con este segundo lanzamiento el Perú pasa a formar parte del grupo de países que buscan su desarrollo espacial.
Finalmente, cabe destacar que estos proyectos se desarrollan con fines pacíficos y aquí lo que se aprovecha es el desarrollo tecnológico y las capacidades conseguidas por la actividad de cohetería de CONIDA.
Lima, 2 de setiembre de 2009
DIRECCIÓN DE INFORMACIÓN
DE LA FUERZA AEREA DEL PERU
"Consulting & Engineering for Space"
Monday, August 31, 2009
STS-128 - Two ESA astronauts meet on the International Space Station
Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station earlier today. Shortly afterwards, Shuttle crew-member Christer Fuglesang was welcomed on board the Station by his fellow ESA astronaut and member of the Expedition 20 crew, Frank De Winne.
Some 45 hours after liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Discovery arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) at 00:54 GMT. Following leak checks, the hatches between the two spacecraft were opened at 0!:33 GMT and the two crews greeted each other, starting nine days of joint operations.
Among Discovery’s seven passengers is ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang, from Sweden, while the six ISS hosts include ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, from Belgium, who has been a member of the resident Station crew since his arrival last May, for ESA’s OasISS Mission.
This is only the second time two ESA astronauts have met on the ISS. On his first flight in December 2006, Fuglesang was welcomed to the orbital outpost by Thomas Reiter – the first ESA astronaut to be a member of an ISS Expedition crew.
One of the first tasks after docking was to exchange the Soyuz seat-liners of NASA astronauts Nicole Stott and Timothy Kopra. Stott now is a member of the ISS Expedition 20 crew, and Kopra is a member of Discovery’s crew. Stott will remain on the Station until her return home with Space Shuttle Atlantis in November. Kopra will return to Earth with Discovery on 10 September.
The primary tasks of Discovery's STS-128 mission are to continue ISS assembly and to deliver supplies to sustain the six-strong resident crew. Activities today center around the transfer of Leonardo, the Italian-built Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), from the Shuttle's payload bay to its temporary docking location on the nadir port of the ISS Harmony module.
The STS-128 crew will also participate in three spacewalks during their stay – the first of which is scheduled take place early on Tuesday 1 September.
During the first spacewalk, NASA astronauts John Olivas and Nicole Stott will prepare for the replacement of an empty ammonia tank on the Station's port truss, or backbone, by releasing its bolts. They will also retrieve NASA's materials processing experiment (MISSE) and the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) from the outside of the European Columbus laboratory. Both will be returned to Earth inside Discovery's cargo hold.
Fuglesang is set to take part in the mission's other two spacewalks; these are scheduled to take place on Thursday 3 September and Saturday 5 September.
Some 45 hours after liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Discovery arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) at 00:54 GMT. Following leak checks, the hatches between the two spacecraft were opened at 0!:33 GMT and the two crews greeted each other, starting nine days of joint operations.
Among Discovery’s seven passengers is ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang, from Sweden, while the six ISS hosts include ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, from Belgium, who has been a member of the resident Station crew since his arrival last May, for ESA’s OasISS Mission.
This is only the second time two ESA astronauts have met on the ISS. On his first flight in December 2006, Fuglesang was welcomed to the orbital outpost by Thomas Reiter – the first ESA astronaut to be a member of an ISS Expedition crew.
One of the first tasks after docking was to exchange the Soyuz seat-liners of NASA astronauts Nicole Stott and Timothy Kopra. Stott now is a member of the ISS Expedition 20 crew, and Kopra is a member of Discovery’s crew. Stott will remain on the Station until her return home with Space Shuttle Atlantis in November. Kopra will return to Earth with Discovery on 10 September.
The primary tasks of Discovery's STS-128 mission are to continue ISS assembly and to deliver supplies to sustain the six-strong resident crew. Activities today center around the transfer of Leonardo, the Italian-built Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), from the Shuttle's payload bay to its temporary docking location on the nadir port of the ISS Harmony module.
The STS-128 crew will also participate in three spacewalks during their stay – the first of which is scheduled take place early on Tuesday 1 September.
During the first spacewalk, NASA astronauts John Olivas and Nicole Stott will prepare for the replacement of an empty ammonia tank on the Station's port truss, or backbone, by releasing its bolts. They will also retrieve NASA's materials processing experiment (MISSE) and the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) from the outside of the European Columbus laboratory. Both will be returned to Earth inside Discovery's cargo hold.
Fuglesang is set to take part in the mission's other two spacewalks; these are scheduled to take place on Thursday 3 September and Saturday 5 September.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
STS-128 - ESA astronaut launched to ISS
NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery was launched on Saturday 29 August for the 13-day STS-128 mission to service the International Space Station. Among her crew is ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang from Sweden, who is performing his second spaceflight.
Discovery lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 03:59 GMT, successfully reaching low Earth orbit. After one day of manoeuvres and inspection of her thermal protection system, the Shuttle will rendezvous and dock with the ISS at 01:03 GMT on Monday 31st of August. There, the seven astronauts from Discovery will meet the six astronauts from ISS Expedition 20, and ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, who has been onboard the orbital outpost since late May, will welcome Christer Fuglesang. This is the 15th flight of an ESA astronaut to the ISS in 8 years and the 3rd time in less than 3 years that two ESA astronauts will be onboard the ISS simultaneously.
Three spacewalks with a European flavour
Dubbed 'Alissé', Fuglesang’s mission will cover operations to be conducted both inside and outside the orbital complex. As a qualified Mission Specialist with a specialisation in Extravehicular Activities (EVAs), Christer will take part in the second and third of the mission’s three spacewalks, scheduled for Thursday 3 September and Saturday 5 September, together with NASA astronaut John Olivas. The main objective of these two EVAs will be to install more than 20 meters of vital cabling outside the ISS to prepare for the arrival of the ESA-provided Tranquility Node 3 module in 2010. In parallel, the astronauts will also remove and replace a depleted Ammonia Tank Assembly (ATA) used as part of the ISS active thermal control system. At 800 kg, this will be the heaviest object ever manipulated in space by a single astronaut.
Another EVA, planned for Tuesday 1 September, will be dedicated to the retrieval of the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) – currently mounted on an external payload facility outside ESA’s Columbus laboratory module – and its storage in Discovery’s cargo bay for its return to Earth. This science package, which incorporates nine experiments designed to expose samples to the harsh conditions of space, test materials, analyze the near Earth orbit environment and take pictures of the Earth, has been operating for 18 months.
Deep freezing in orbit
In addition, Discovery is carrying the Italian-built Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), a cargo module the size of Columbus, which will be temporarily docked to the ESA-delivered Harmony Node 2 module in order to enable the transfer of racks, equipment and goods directly to the ISS in a shirtsleeve environment. Christer Fuglesang will be in charge of the payload transfer, and in particular of an important piece of ESA-supplied equipment: the second Minus Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI-2), due to be installed inside Japan’s KIBO laboratory to provide very low temperature storage for samples and experimental results. It will double the capacity provided by MELFI-1, which has been in operation onboard the US Destiny laboratory since 2006.
Among the other equipment delivered to the ISS through Leonardo will be food, clothes, water, and additional astronaut “sleeping quarters”, also to be installed in KIBO.
“When Christer Fuglesang last flew to the ISS he was welcomed aboard by an ESA astronaut who was completing a six-month mission there. This time, again, he will rejoin Frank De Winne, who is conducting a long-duration stay in the ISS, and will soon become its Commander. How better to illustrate the strength of Europe’s presence in human spaceflight?” said Simonetta Di Pippo, ESA’s Director for Human Spaceflight speaking from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. “We currently have astronauts training for two more ISS increments and one shuttle flight on an ASI opportunity. At the same time our next generation of newly selected astronauts is about to start basic training. European astronauts are in space to stay and we are working hard on a daily basis to create the conditions with which to enhance Europe's role in human spaceflight and exploration also in view of the ISS lifetime extension.”
“Not only do we have two astronauts in space, working together within an international crew, but we also have hundreds of scientists and engineers on the ground using the operational science facilities on board. Reaping the benefits of the investments made by ESA Member States in the ISS is now a daily reality through gathering real science data from experiments conducted inside and outside the Station,” notes ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain. “Our contribution to the ISS is an asset for Europe, upon which we will build up future exploration endeavours with our international partners.
Discovery is due to undock from the ISS on Tuesday 8 September, bringing back NASA astronaut Timothy Kopra from the permanent crew, who will be replaced onboard by NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, launched with STS-128. Landing in Florida is set for Friday 11 September.
* Photo: ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang during the first spacewalk of the STS-116 mission. Christer Fuglesang and NASA astronaut Robert Curbeam spent 6 hours and 36 minutes outside the International Space Station - their main task was the installation of the next section of the Station's truss - P5.
Discovery lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 03:59 GMT, successfully reaching low Earth orbit. After one day of manoeuvres and inspection of her thermal protection system, the Shuttle will rendezvous and dock with the ISS at 01:03 GMT on Monday 31st of August. There, the seven astronauts from Discovery will meet the six astronauts from ISS Expedition 20, and ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, who has been onboard the orbital outpost since late May, will welcome Christer Fuglesang. This is the 15th flight of an ESA astronaut to the ISS in 8 years and the 3rd time in less than 3 years that two ESA astronauts will be onboard the ISS simultaneously.
Three spacewalks with a European flavour
Dubbed 'Alissé', Fuglesang’s mission will cover operations to be conducted both inside and outside the orbital complex. As a qualified Mission Specialist with a specialisation in Extravehicular Activities (EVAs), Christer will take part in the second and third of the mission’s three spacewalks, scheduled for Thursday 3 September and Saturday 5 September, together with NASA astronaut John Olivas. The main objective of these two EVAs will be to install more than 20 meters of vital cabling outside the ISS to prepare for the arrival of the ESA-provided Tranquility Node 3 module in 2010. In parallel, the astronauts will also remove and replace a depleted Ammonia Tank Assembly (ATA) used as part of the ISS active thermal control system. At 800 kg, this will be the heaviest object ever manipulated in space by a single astronaut.
Another EVA, planned for Tuesday 1 September, will be dedicated to the retrieval of the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) – currently mounted on an external payload facility outside ESA’s Columbus laboratory module – and its storage in Discovery’s cargo bay for its return to Earth. This science package, which incorporates nine experiments designed to expose samples to the harsh conditions of space, test materials, analyze the near Earth orbit environment and take pictures of the Earth, has been operating for 18 months.
 |
| Fuglesang's first spacewalk in December 2006 * (Photo NASA) |
In addition, Discovery is carrying the Italian-built Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), a cargo module the size of Columbus, which will be temporarily docked to the ESA-delivered Harmony Node 2 module in order to enable the transfer of racks, equipment and goods directly to the ISS in a shirtsleeve environment. Christer Fuglesang will be in charge of the payload transfer, and in particular of an important piece of ESA-supplied equipment: the second Minus Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI-2), due to be installed inside Japan’s KIBO laboratory to provide very low temperature storage for samples and experimental results. It will double the capacity provided by MELFI-1, which has been in operation onboard the US Destiny laboratory since 2006.
Among the other equipment delivered to the ISS through Leonardo will be food, clothes, water, and additional astronaut “sleeping quarters”, also to be installed in KIBO.
“When Christer Fuglesang last flew to the ISS he was welcomed aboard by an ESA astronaut who was completing a six-month mission there. This time, again, he will rejoin Frank De Winne, who is conducting a long-duration stay in the ISS, and will soon become its Commander. How better to illustrate the strength of Europe’s presence in human spaceflight?” said Simonetta Di Pippo, ESA’s Director for Human Spaceflight speaking from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. “We currently have astronauts training for two more ISS increments and one shuttle flight on an ASI opportunity. At the same time our next generation of newly selected astronauts is about to start basic training. European astronauts are in space to stay and we are working hard on a daily basis to create the conditions with which to enhance Europe's role in human spaceflight and exploration also in view of the ISS lifetime extension.”
“Not only do we have two astronauts in space, working together within an international crew, but we also have hundreds of scientists and engineers on the ground using the operational science facilities on board. Reaping the benefits of the investments made by ESA Member States in the ISS is now a daily reality through gathering real science data from experiments conducted inside and outside the Station,” notes ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain. “Our contribution to the ISS is an asset for Europe, upon which we will build up future exploration endeavours with our international partners.
Discovery is due to undock from the ISS on Tuesday 8 September, bringing back NASA astronaut Timothy Kopra from the permanent crew, who will be replaced onboard by NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, launched with STS-128. Landing in Florida is set for Friday 11 September.
* Photo: ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang during the first spacewalk of the STS-116 mission. Christer Fuglesang and NASA astronaut Robert Curbeam spent 6 hours and 36 minutes outside the International Space Station - their main task was the installation of the next section of the Station's truss - P5.
Juan Martín Canales Romero
ISS Columbus Operations Coordinator
Columbus Control Center
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
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