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European high technology for the International Space Station

Berlin/Bremen, le 01 mai 2002

The International Space Station takes shape: Including "Zarya", "Unity", "Zvezda", "Destiny", the Canadian robotic arm, the US airlock Quest, the Russian docking compartment Pirs, frame structures and solar collectors, the station has a weight of about 130 tons already. Since 31 October 2000, crews of three have been permanently working at the "construction site in space". The Space Station, 400 kilometres away from Earth and financed by 15 nations, is regarded as the most ambitious technology project ever in the history of man. Considering a total weight of about 450 tons, a size of 100 m x 80 m x 40 m and a usable interior volume of 1,200 m3, space station construction requires significant efforts: About 50 flights will be necessary to deliver the different components into space until the station and its laboratories will start operation in 2006.

Meanwhile, development and production of hardware components for the European Columbus laboratory will continue according to plan. In 1996, the European Space Agency ESA commissioned Astrium's Space Infrastructure business division with complete system development and integration of the Columbus laboratory representing Europe's principal contribution to this multinational project. The Columbus structure was built by the Italian partner Alenia Spazio (Turin) and delivered to Astrium in September last year. Astrium is responsible for the equipment of the Columbus module as well as for carrying out all system tests required. Work is intended to be completed by the end of 2003. Columbus will then be delivered to Florida, USA, for final functional testing before the laboratory will be launched to the International Space Station on board a US space shuttle in October 2004

Astrium will deliver Columbus at a contractually agreed fixed price of EUR 628 million. Through subcontracts, Astrium distributes almost two thirds of this amount to partner companies and small and medium-sized companies from various sectors.

Utilising many years' experience in space laboratories

The concept of the Columbus module is based on the experience Astrium gained in the, development of Spacelab since the end of the seventies. Spacelab had been in service until 1998, under US management in the end. Similar to Spacelab, the Columbus laboratory, which, including the external payload platform, has a length of eight metres and a diameter of 4.5 metres, will be equipped with twelve standardised payload racks to accommodate experiment equipment, three system racks and one storage rack. Launch mass of Columbus will be almost 13 tons including a payload mass of 2.5 tons. The laboratory provides sufficient space for three crewmembers to carry out their work and has a total service life of 15 years, which is consistent with the service life of the entire space station.

Using an electric test model (ETM), Astrium started functional system qualification of Columbus in Bremen in September 2001. After docking with the International Space Station, the ETM will be available for trouble shooting during the whole service life of the ISS. During the utilisation phase, the ETM and the Astrium developed RLTF (Rack Level Test Facility) will be used for payload rack acceptance tests. These tests have to be performed before payload racks on the Station are to be added or replaced.

By using the laboratory module Columbus, scientists from many research sectors on Earth hope to achieve progress in basic research as well as in the field of applied technology projects, which could hardly be achieved under gravity conditions on Earth.

One of the most important aspects in this context is the fact that materials or fluids react differently in space than in laboratories on earth. So it will be possible to merge metallic alloys which would not form an optimum compound under gravity conditions. The same applies to liquid substances which quite easily form a mixture in space but which do not on Earth. After manned space projects were mainly financed out of public funds in the initial stage, it is now the declared aim of ESA and its member countries to also win over commercial customers for working in space in the future. Columbus will provide the framework required to achieve this goal.

Data management systems for the space station

In addition to the laboratory module including all facilities required for energy supply and communications as well as the interfaces to the other station elements, Astrium supplies technologies required for operations of the entire station. These technologies comprise, for instance, the data management system DMS-R integrated into the Russian service module Zvezda. DMS-R is. a highly sophisticated and extremely fault-tolerant computer system and provides attitude control for the space station. In addition, the system ensures fast and trouble-free communication between the "outpost" in space and the ground stations in Europe, Russia and the United States.

Robotic systems

In order to be able to support the astronauts in the assembly and maintenance of exterior station elements during the construction and operational phase, several remote-controlled manipulator systems will be installed at structures and modules in the years to come. One of these systems is the European Robotic Arm, ERA, for which the Astrium will supply essential systems such as end effectors and onboard computers. Another system is the Canadian robotic arm, which has already been attached to the station.

Astrium used own funds to finance the development of the free-flying, remote-control led observation system Inspector. Integrated high-performance cameras will monitor all the station elements to thus facilitate maintenance and repair in those areas that are difficult to access. The prototype of the Inspector was successfully tested on a Mir mission in 1997. The experience gained from this mission is currently being used in the construction of the "Micros" system designed for the new space station.

Experiment facilities for scientific utilisation

Under subcontract to the US Space Administration NASA, Astrium developed the medical system LBNP (Lower Body Negative Pressure Device). The LBNP, known as "negative-pressure pants" was already employed on the last Spacelab mission in 1998. The system allows medical scientists to examine the regulatory processes of the human cardiovascular system and to develop new methods to minimise disturbance of the astronauts' health during long missions under microgravity conditions. The LBNP was originally developed under contract to Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR, Cologne).

Under contract to ESA and DLR, Astrium also supplies experiment facilities for use in various station modules. These facilities comprise the Materials Science Laboratory (MSL), the Modular Cultivation System (MCS), the Refrigerator Freezer System (RER) and the Cryo Freezer Rack (CFR) as well as the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) designed for handling sensitive and toxic materials and substances. The Protein Crystallisation and Diagnostic Facility (PCDF), the Advanced Protein Crystallisation Facility (APCF), the laboratories CL (Cardiolab) and Biolab for research in the biology and life science sectors as well as the physical Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL) are intended for use in the Columbus module itself.
Space station supply

Other supplies, for which Astrium is responsible, comprise the unmanned supply vehicle ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle), development and operation of the logistic pallet system ICC for the US Space Shuttle as well as participation in the development of the X-38 demonstrator of the future transport and astronaut rescue vehicle.

Astronaut training

In addition to the development and supply of hardware components and systems, Astrium is responsible for the training of the astronaut team in handling the relevant facilities. For this purpose, the Space Infrastructure business division established the only full-scale mock-up of the laboratory worldwide in Bremen to give users an impression of their future workplace. Associated with this task is the development of a Columbus simulator, which will provide extensive opportunities for crew training on ground, two years before the laboratory will be put into service in space.

Astrium, Europe's leading space company, is a joint company of EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (75%) and BAE SYSTEMS (25%). The Space Infrastructure business division of Astrium develops and operates space laboratories and experiment facilities. The division also develops stages and propulsion systems for the Ariane family of launchers as well as propulsion systems for satellites. In 2001, Astrium Space Infrastructure achieved a turnover of about 700 million EUR with a labour force of 3,000.

Berlin/Bremen, May 2002

Your contact:
Kirsten Leung
Astrium Space Infrastructure
Phone: +49-421-539-5326 / Fax: +49-421-539-4534
e-mail: presse-si@astrium-space.com