Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Table of Contents
Crew.................................................................................................................................. 6
Mission Milestones.......................................................................................................... 11
Spacewalks ...................................................................................................................... 12
U.S. Experiments/Facilities............................................................................................. 53
i
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
ii
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Overview
A veteran crew will fly aboard the of assembly of new components at the
International Space Station this spring, complex as well as the return to a
working to set the stage for the resumption three-person crew on board.
Attired in Russian Sokol launch and landing suits, the next crew to launch to the
International Space Station pauses from its training schedule in Star City, Russia, to
pose for a crew portrait. From the left are Brazilian Space Agency astronaut
Marcos C. Pontes; cosmonaut Pavel V. Vinogradov, Expedition 13 commander,
representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, and NASA astronaut Jeffrey N. Williams,
Expedition 13 Flight Engineer and Science Officer.
Making his second flight into space, Army colonel, will serve as Flight Engineer
Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov and Science Officer. He is also making his
(Pah'-vuhl Vee-nah-grah'-dawf), 52, will second flight into space.
command the 13th Expedition to the station
and serve as Soyuz Commander for Vinogradov and Williams will launch on the
launch, landing and on-orbit operations. ISS Soyuz 12, or TMA-8, spacecraft on
NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams, 48, an March 29, CST, from the Baikonur
1
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a two-day Pontes will return to Earth on the ISS
flight to link up to the Zvezda Service Soyuz 11, or TMA-7, capsule with
Module on the station. They will be joined Expedition 12 Commander and NASA
on the Soyuz by Brazilian Space Agency Science Officer William McArthur and
astronaut Marcos Pontes (Mar'-kuss Russian Flight Engineer and Soyuz
Pahn'-tess), 43, a lieutenant colonel in the Commander Valery Tokarev (Vuh-lair'-ee
Brazilian Air Force, who will spend eight Toe'-kuh-reff) in the pre-dawn hours of
days on the complex under a contract April 9, Kazakhstan time. McArthur and
signed with the Russian Federal Space Tokarev have been aboard the station since
Agency (Roscosmos). October, 2005.
2
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Vinogradov and Williams will be joined on a commercial agreement between ESA and
the station during Expedition 13 by Roscosmos.
European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut
Thomas Reiter (Toe-mahs' Rye'-turr) of Once on board, Vinogradov and Williams
Germany, 47, who will launch to the outpost will conduct more than a week of handover
on the STS-121 shuttle mission. Reiter is activities with McArthur and Tokarev,
expected to be a station crewmember familiarizing themselves with station
during both the Expedition 13 and 14 systems and procedures. They will also
missions, and is scheduled to return on a receive proficiency training on the
future shuttle or Soyuz mission. He would Canadarm2 robotic arm from McArthur and
be the first non-American or Russian long- will engage in safety briefings with the
duration crew member on the station under departing Expedition 12 crew as well as
payload and scientific equipment training.
Vinogradov and Williams will assume their mission. Pontes’ mission will span 10
formal control of the station at hatch closure days.
for the Expedition 12 crew members shortly
before they and Pontes undock the ISS After landing, the trio will be flown from
Soyuz 11 craft from their docking port at the Kazakhstan to the Gagarin Cosmonaut
Zarya Module. With Tokarev at the controls Training Center in Star City, Russia, for
of Soyuz, he, McArthur and Pontes will land about two weeks of initial physical
in the steppes of Kazakhstan to wrap up rehabilitation. Pontes will spend a much
3
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
shorter time acclimating himself to Earth’s The crew will work with experiments across
gravity due to the brevity of his flight. a wide variety of fields including human life
sciences, physical sciences and Earth
Vinogradov and Williams are expected to observation as well as education and
spend about six months aboard the station. technology demonstrations. Many
After the Columbia accident on experiments are designed to gather
Feb. 1, 2003, the station program and the information about the effects of
international partners determined that the long-duration spaceflight on the human
complex would be occupied by only two body to help with planning future
crewmembers until the resumption of exploration missions to the moon or Mars.
shuttle flights because of limitations on
consumables. Once Reiter arrives on The science team at the Payload
board, the station will operate with a Operations Center at the Marshall Space
three-person crew for the first time since Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will operate
May, 2003. some experiments without crew input and
other experiments are designed to function
autonomously.
During their six months aloft, Vinogradov will augment the delivery of supplies on
and Williams will greet the arrival of two visiting shuttles. If all goes as planned,
Russian Progress resupply cargo ships they will also greet two visiting shuttle
filled with food, fuel, water and supplies that crews.
4
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
On STS-121, Discovery will deliver Reiter to spacewalks scheduled for Expedition 13.
the complex as well as logistical supplies The first would be staged by Williams and
and a new umbilical cable system for the Reiter out of the Quest airlock wearing U.S.
station’s Mobile Transporter rail car. The suits to install a variety of external
new system will replace a unit that incurred equipment for future assembly work. The
a mechanical failure last December, second would be conducted by Vinogradov
resulting in the severing of one of two and Williams in Russian Orlan suits out of
redundant cables that enable the car to the Pirs airlock to install a new vent nozzle
move along the station’s truss. for the Elektron oxygen-generation system
and to retrieve experiments.
STS-115, on Atlantis, will deliver the next
pair of segments for the port side of the Vinogradov is a veteran of five spacewalks
truss. The P3 and P4 trusses will also add on the Mir Space Station. Reiter conducted
a new set of photovoltaic solar arrays to a pair of spacewalks on Mir. Williams
increase the power capability of the station. would be conducting his second spacewalk.
His first was during a shuttle assembly
The ISS Progress 21 cargo ship is mission to the International Space Station.
scheduled to reach the station in late April
and ISS Progress 22 is earmarked to fly to Also on the crew’s agenda is work with the
the complex in late June. The first station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2. Robotics
Progress craft will link up to the aft port of work will focus on observations of the
Zvezda and the second will arrive at the station’s exterior, maintaining operator
Pirs Docking Compartment. proficiency, and completing the schedule of
on-orbit checkout requirements that were
U.S. and Russian specialists are reviewing developed to fully characterize the
tasks that will be included in two performance of the robotic system.
5
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Expedition 13 Crew
6
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
This will be the second visit to the May 2000, the third shuttle mission devoted
International Space Station for NASA to space station construction. During the
astronaut Jeffrey Williams, an Army colonel, flight, Williams performed his first
who will serve as the flight engineer. He’ll spacewalk lasting nearly seven hours as he
also serve as the NASA station science officer for worked on station assembly tasks. He is
the six-month mission, overseeing a diverse scheduled to conduct two spacewalks
range of U.S. experiments. His previous during Expedition 13.
spaceflight experience includes STS-101 in
7
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
As the first astronaut from the European Reiter will launch with Discovery’s crew,
Space Agency to conduct a long-duration scheduled for liftoff no earlier than
mission on the International Space Station, July 2006. Shortly after docking to the
Thomas Reiter is scheduled to join outpost, Reiter will transfer his custom-
Expedition 13 in progress, launching on made Soyuz capsule seat liner from the
Discovery on the STS-121 mission. Once shuttle to the station to officially join
on board, Reiter will return the station to a Expedition 13. He is scheduled to return to
three-man crew for the first time since May Earth aboard shuttle mission STS-116 or
2003. Reiter is flying under a commercial aboard a Russian Soyuz.
agreement between ESA and the Russian
Federal Space Agency.
8
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
9
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Brazilian Space Agency astronaut Marcos Commander Bill McArthur and Flight
Pontes, a lieutenant colonel in the Brazil Air Engineer Valery Tokarev.
Force, will join the Expedition 13 crew for its
launch to the International Space Station. While on board, Pontes will perform
He will remain aboard the complex for eight research and science experiments on
days of docked operations, and then return behalf of the Brazilian Space Agency under
to Earth in with the Expedition 12 crew, a commercial agreement with the Russian
Federal Space Agency.
10
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Mission Milestones
(Dates are subject to change.)
11
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Expedition 13 Spacewalks
Two spacewalks are planned during Williams and Thomas Reiter will perform
Expedition 13. The first spacewalk, staged the spacewalk from Quest. Pavel
from the Quest airlock, is scheduled in July Vinogradov and Williams will perform the
and the second, staged from the Pirs spacewalk from Pirs.
airlock, is scheduled in August. Jeff
12
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
13
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Space Shuttle Program to test shuttle
All three crewmembers are spacewalk heat shield inspection techniques
veterans. Vinogradov has made five,
Williams has made one and Reiter has • A variety of get-ahead tasks for future
made two. shuttle assembly mission to the station
are under consideration, including:
The following activities are to be
accomplished during the Expedition 13 – Install a light on the Crew
spacewalks: Equipment Translation Aid cart on
the S1 truss
U.S. Spacewalk No. 5
Williams (EV1) and Reiter (EV2) – Install a Non-Propulsive Valve on
the Destiny Laboratory
• Install Video Stanchion Support
Assembly and Floating Potential • Remove Global Positioning Satellite
Measurement Unit on the S1 truss antenna No. 4
• Install Thermal Radiator Rotary Joint • Elektron vent nozzle (hydrogen relief
Rotary Joint Motor Controller on valve) installation
S1 truss
• Retrieve third Biorisk container from
• Remove and replace Thermal Radiator DC-1
Multiplexer/Demultiplexer on S1 truss
• Perform Golf Project
• Remove and replace Node 2 Shunt
Jumper in S0 truss • Retrieve Pressure Control and Exposure
Monitor Sensor
• Install four Spool Positioning Devices
(SPDs) on the S0 truss • Retrieve Kromka No. 3
14
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
The Soyuz TMA spacecraft is designed to Soyuz capsule is normally delivered to the
serve as the International Space Station's station by a Soyuz crew every six months,
crew return vehicle, acting as a lifeboat in replacing an older Soyuz capsule at the
the unlikely event an emergency would ISS.
require the crew to leave the station. A new
The Soyuz spacecraft is launched to the The opposite end of the orbital module
space station from the Baikonur connects to the descent module via a
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a pressurized hatch. Before returning to
Soyuz rocket. It consists of an orbital Earth, the orbital module separates from
module, a descent module and an the descent module -- after the deorbit
instrumentation/propulsion module. maneuver -- and burns up upon re-entry
into the atmosphere.
Orbital Module
Descent Module
This portion of the Soyuz spacecraft is used
by the crew while on orbit during free-flight. The descent module is where the
It has a volume of 6.5 cubic meters cosmonauts and astronauts sit for launch,
(230 cubic feet), with a docking mechanism, re-entry and landing. All the necessary
hatch and rendezvous antennas located at controls and displays of the Soyuz are here.
the front end. The docking mechanism is The module also contains life support
used to dock with the space station and the supplies and batteries used during descent,
hatch allows entry into the station. The as well as the primary and backup
rendezvous antennas are used by the parachutes and landing rockets. It also
automated docking system -- a radar-based contains custom-fitted seat liners for each
system -- to maneuver towards the station crewmember, individually molded to fit each
for docking. There is also a window in the person's body -- this ensures a tight,
module. comfortable fit when the module lands on
the Earth. When crewmembers are brought
to the station aboard the space shuttle, their
15
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
seat liners are brought with them and a cooling area of 8 square meters (86
transferred to the existing Soyuz spacecraft square feet). The propulsion system,
as part of crew handover activities. batteries, solar arrays, radiator and
structural connection to the Soyuz launch
The module has a periscope, which allows rocket are located in this compartment.
the crew to view the docking target on the
station or the Earth below. The eight The propulsion compartment contains the
hydrogen peroxide thrusters located on the system that is used to perform any
module are used to control the spacecraft's maneuvers while in orbit, including
orientation, or attitude, during the descent rendezvous and docking with the space
until parachute deployment. It also has a station and the deorbit burns necessary to
guidance, navigation and control system to return to Earth. The propellants are
maneuver the vehicle during the descent nitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetric-
phase of the mission. dimethylhydrazine. The main propulsion
system and the smaller reaction control
This module weighs 2,900 kilograms system, used for attitude changes while in
(6,393 pounds), with a habitable volume of space, share the same propellant tanks.
4 cubic meters (141 cubic feet).
Approximately 50 kilograms (110 pounds) The two Soyuz solar arrays are attached to
of payload can be returned to Earth in this either side of the rear section of the
module and up to 150 kilograms instrumentation/propulsion module and are
(331 pounds) if only two crewmembers are linked to rechargeable batteries. Like the
present. The Descent Module is the only orbital module, the intermediate section of
portion of the Soyuz that survives the return the instrumentation/propulsion module
to Earth. separates from the descent module after
the final deorbit maneuver and burns up in
Instrumentation/Propulsion Module atmosphere upon re-entry.
16
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
crewmember size for the TMA is 1.5 meters associated software, as well as modified
(4 feet, 11 inches) and 50 kilograms boosters (incorporated to cope with the
(110 pounds), compared to 1.6 meters TMA's additional mass), were tested on
(5 feet, 4 inches) and 56 kilograms flights of Progress unpiloted supply
(123 pounds) for the TM. spacecraft, while the new cooling system
was tested on two Soyuz TM flights.
Two new engines reduce landing speed
and forces felt by crewmembers by 15 to Descent module structural modifications,
30 percent and a new entry control system seats and seat shock absorbers were
and three-axis accelerometer increase tested in hangar drop tests. Landing
landing accuracy. Instrumentation system modifications, including associated
improvements include a color "glass software upgrades, were tested in a series
cockpit," which is easier to use and gives of airdrop tests. Additionally, extensive
the crew more information, with hand tests of systems and components were
controllers that can be secured under an conducted on the ground.
instrument panel. All the new components
in the Soyuz TMA can spend up to one year Soyuz Launcher
in space.
Throughout history, more than
New components and the entire TMA were 1,500 launches have been made with
rigorously tested on the ground, in hangar- Soyuz launchers to orbit satellites for
drop tests, in airdrop tests and in space telecommunications, Earth observation,
before the spacecraft was declared flight- weather, and scientific missions, as well as
ready. For example, the accelerometer and for human flights.
17
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
18
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
• An upper portion, consisting of the third An equipment bay located atop the second
stage, payload adapter and payload stage operates during the entire flight of the
fairing. first and second stages.
An NPO Energomash RD 107 engine with The third stage engine is fired for about
four main chambers and two gimbaled 240 seconds. Cutoff occurs at a calculated
vernier thrusters is used in each booster. velocity. After cutoff and separation, the
The vernier thrusters provide three-axis third stage performs an avoidance
flight control. maneuver by opening an outgassing valve
in the liquid oxygen tank.
Ignition of the first stage boosters and the
second stage central core occur Launcher Telemetry Tracking & Flight
simultaneously on the ground. When the Safety Systems
boosters have completed their powered
flight during ascent, they are separated and Soyuz launcher tracking and telemetry is
the core second stage continues to provided through systems in the second
function. and third stages. These two stages have
their own radar transponders for ground
First stage separation occurs when the pre- tracking. Individual telemetry transmitters
defined velocity is reached, which is about are in each stage. Launcher health status
118 seconds after liftoff. is downlinked to ground stations along the
flight path. Telemetry and tracking data are
transmitted to the mission control center,
where the incoming data flow is recorded.
Partial real-time data processing and
19
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
plotting is performed for flight following and launch zone occurs two days before launch.
initial performance assessment. All flight The vehicle is erected and a launch
data is analyzed and documented within a rehearsal is performed that includes
few hours after launch. activation of all electrical and mechanical
equipment.
Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch
Operations On launch day, the vehicle is loaded with
propellant and the final countdown
Soyuz missions use the Baikonur sequence is started at three hours before
Cosmodrome’s proven infrastructure, and the liftoff time.
launches are performed by trained
personnel with extensive operational Rendezvous to Docking
experience.
A Soyuz spacecraft generally takes two
Baikonur Cosmodrome is in the Republic of days to reach the space station. The
Kazakhstan in Central Asia between 45 rendezvous and docking are both
degrees and 46 degrees north latitude and automated, though once the spacecraft is
63 degrees east longitude. Two launch within 150 meters (492 feet) of the station,
pads are dedicated to Soyuz missions. the Russian Mission Control Center just
outside Moscow monitors the approach and
Final Launch Preparations docking. The Soyuz crew has the capability
to manually intervene or execute these
The assembled launch vehicle is moved to operations.
the launch pad on a railcar. Transfer to the
20
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
21
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
22
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Ascent/Insertion Timeline
23
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
24
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
25
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
26
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
27
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
28
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
For the seventh time, an American McArthur will be in the Soyuz’ left seat for
astronaut will return to Earth from orbit in a entry and landing and on-board engineer.
Russian Soyuz capsule. Expedition 12 Tokarev will be in the center commander’s
Commander and Science Officer William seat, and Pontes will occupy the right seat.
McArthur will be aboard the Soyuz TMA-7
capsule as he, Soyuz Commander Valery After activating Soyuz systems and getting
Tokarev and Brazilian Space Agency approval from Russian flight controllers at
astronaut Marcos Pontes touch down in the the Russian Mission Control Center outside
steppes of Kazakhstan to complete their Moscow, Tokarev will send commands to
mission. McArthur and Tokarev will be open hooks and latches between Soyuz
wrapping up six months in orbit while and Zvezda.
Pontes will return after a brief commercially-
sponsored 10-day flight. Tokarev will fire the Soyuz thrusters to back
away from Zvezda. Five minutes after
The grounding of the Space Shuttle fleet undocking and with the Soyuz about
following the Columbia accident on 20 meters away from the station, he will
Feb. 1, 2003, necessitated the landing of conduct a separation maneuver, firing the
expedition crews in Soyuz capsules. The Soyuz jets for about 15 seconds to move
Expedition 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 crews rode away from the complex.
the Soyuz home in May and October 2003,
April and October 2004 and April 2005 and A little less than 21⁄2 hours later, at a
October. The Soyuz also provides a distance of about 19 kilometers from the
lifeboat capability for residents aboard the station, Soyuz computers will initiate a
ISS. deorbit burn braking maneuver of about
41⁄2 minutes in duration to slow the
The Expedition 7, 8, 9,10 and 11 crews spacecraft and enable it to drop out of orbit
landed on target, but as a precaution to begin its reentry to Earth.
against any possibility that the Soyuz could
land off course as did Expedition 6, Less than a half hour later, just above the
Tokarev, McArthur and Pontes will have a first traces of the Earth’s atmosphere,
satellite phone and Global Positioning computers will command the separation of
System locator for instant communications the three modules of the Soyuz vehicle.
with Russian recovery teams. With the crew strapped in to the descent
module, the forward orbital module
About three hours before undocking, containing the docking mechanism and
Tokarev, McArthur and Pontes will bid rendezvous antennas and the rear
farewell to the new Expedition 13 crew, instrumentation and propulsion module,
Russian Commander Pavel Vinogradov and which houses the engines and avionics, will
Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer pyrotechnically separate and burn up in the
Jeffrey Williams. The departing crew will atmosphere.
climb into the Soyuz vehicle, closing the
hatch between Soyuz and Zvezda.
29
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
The descent module’s computers will orient Within minutes, at an altitude of a little more
the capsule with its ablative heat shield than 5 kilometers, the crew will monitor the
pointing forward to repel the buildup of heat jettison of the descent module’s heat shield,
as it plunges into the atmosphere. The which is followed by the termination of the
crew will feel the first effects of gravity in aerodynamic spin cycle and the dumping of
almost six months at the point called entry any residual propellant from the Soyuz.
Interface, when the module is about Computers also will arm the module’s seat
400,000 feet above the Earth, about shock absorbers in preparation for landing.
3 minutes after module separation.
With the jettisoning of the capsule’s heat
About 8 minutes later at an altitude of about shield, the Soyuz altimeter is exposed to
10 kilometers, traveling at about 220 meters the surface of the Earth. Using a reflector
per second, the Soyuz’ computers will system, signals are bounced to the ground
begin a commanded sequence for the from the Soyuz and reflected back,
deployment of the capsule’s parachutes. providing the capsule’s computers updated
First, two “pilot” parachutes will be information on altitude and rate of descent.
deployed, extracting a larger drogue
parachute, which stretches out over an area At an altitude of about 12 meters, cockpit
of 24 square meters. Within 16 seconds, displays will tell Tokarev to prepare for the
the Soyuz’s descent will slow to about 80 soft-landing engine firing. Just one meter
meters per second. above the surface, and just seconds before
touchdown, the six solid propellant engines
The initiation of the parachute deployment are fired in a final braking maneuver,
will create a gentle spin for the Soyuz as it enabling the Soyuz to land to complete its
dangles underneath the drogue chute, mission, settling down at a velocity of about
assisting in the capsule’s stability in the 1.5 meters per second.
final minutes prior to touchdown.
A recovery team, including a U.S. flight
At this point, the drogue chute is jettisoned, surgeon and astronaut support personnel,
allowing the main parachute to be will be in the landing area in a convoy of
deployed. Connected to the descent Russian military helicopters awaiting the
module by two harnesses, the main Soyuz landing. Once the capsule touches
parachute covers an area of about down, the helicopters will land nearby to
1,000 meters. Initially, the descent module begin the removal of the crew.
will hang underneath the main parachute at
a 30 degree angle with respect to the Within minutes of landing, a portable
horizon for aerodynamic stability, but the medical tent will be set up nearby in which
bottommost harness will be severed a few the crew can change out of its launch and
minutes before landing, allowing the entry suits. Russian technicians will open
descent module to hang vertically through the module’s hatch and begin to remove the
touchdown. The deployment of the main crew, one-by-one. They will be seated in
parachute slows down the descent module special reclining chairs near the capsule for
to a velocity of about 7 meters per second. initial medical tests and to provide an
30
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
opportunity to begin readapting to Earth’s their families will meet them. In all, it will
gravity. take at around eight hours between landing
and the return to Star City.
About two hours after landing, the crew will
be assisted to the helicopters for a flight Assisted by a team of flight surgeons, the
back to a staging site in Kazakhstan, where crew will undergo more than two weeks of
local officials will welcome them. The crew medical tests and physical rehabilitation
will then board a Russian military transport before McArthur and Tokarev return to the
plane to be flown back to the Chkalovsky U.S. for additional debriefings and follow-up
Airfield adjacent to the Gagarin Cosmonaut exams. Pontes’ acclimation to Earth’s
Training Center in Star City, Russia, where gravity will be a much shorter.
31
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
11:30 p.m. CST on March 31, 530 GMT on 6:46:06 p.m. CST on April 8, 2346 GMT on
April 1, 9:30 a.m. Moscow time on April 1. April 8, 3:46:06 a.m. Moscow time on April
9, 5:46:06 a.m. Kazakhstan time on April 9
Expedition 12 / Pontes Hatch Closure to (about 1 hour, 4 minutes before sunrise)
the ISS:
Launch on March 29 / 30 puts Houston 10
12:12 p.m. CST on April 8, 1712 GMT on hours behind Moscow, which would be 2
April 8, 9:12 p.m. Moscow time on April 8, hours behind Baikonur, with Moscow
11:12 p.m. Kazakhstan time on April 8. having moved to Daylight Savings Time on
March 26. Same spread for docking April
1. For landing on April 8 / 9, Houston would
again be 9 hours behind Moscow, only 11
hours behind Kustanai / Arkalyk /
Karaganda / Dzhezkazgan.
32
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Hooks Opened / Physical Separation of Soyuz from Zvezda aft port at .12 meter/sec:
33
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Separation Burn from ISS (8 second burn of the Soyuz engines, .29 meters/sec; Soyuz
distance from the ISS is ~20 meters):
Deorbit Burn (appx 4:24 in duration, 115.2 m/sec; Soyuz distance from the ISS is ~12
kilometers):
34
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Entry Interface (400,000 feet in altitude; 3 mins. after Module Seperation; 31 mins. after
Deorbit Burn):
35
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Command to Open Chutes (8 mins. after Entry Interface; 39 mins. after Deorbit Burn):
36
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Soft Landing Engine Firing (6 engines fire to slow the Soyuz descent rate to
1.5 meters/second just .8 meter above the ground)
37
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Many Expedition 13 research activities will Many experiments are designed to help
be carried out using scientific facilities and develop technologies, designs and
samples already on board the space materials for future spacecraft and
station, along with new research facilities exploration missions. These experiments
transported during the next shuttle mission, include:
STS-121. NASA’s second Return to Flight
test flight, a Space Shuttle Discovery Dust Aerosol Measurement Feasibility
mission, is scheduled for launch in Test (DAFT) will test the effectiveness of a
July 2006. device that counts ultra-fine dust particles in
a microgravity environment, a precursor to
During Expedition 13, two Russian the next generation of fire detection
Progress cargo flights – called ISS 21P equipment for exploration vehicles.
and 22P for the 21st and 22nd Progress
vehicles – are scheduled to dock with the Materials on the International Space
space station in April and June 2006, Station Experiment (MISSE – 3/4 and 5)
respectively. The re-supply ships will are suitcase-sized test beds attached to the
transport scientific equipment and supplies outside of the space station. The beds
to the station. expose hundreds of potential space
The research agenda for the expedition construction materials and different types of
remains flexible. The Expedition 13 crew solar cells to the harsh environment of
has scheduled about 170 hours for U.S. space. After spending about a year
payload activities. Space station science mounted to the space station, the
also will be conducted remotely by the team equipment will be returned to Earth for
of controllers and scientists on the ground, study. Investigators will use the resulting
who will continue to plan, monitor and data to design stronger, more durable
operate experiments from control centers spacecraft.
across the United States.
Synchronized Position Hold, Engage,
A team of controllers for Expedition 13 will Reorient, Experimental Satellites
work in the Payload Operations Center – (SPHERES) are bowling-ball sized spherical
the science command post for the space satellites. They will be used inside the
station – at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight space station to test control algorithms for
Center in Huntsville, Ala. Controllers work spacecraft by performing autonomous
in three shifts around the clock, seven days rendezvous and docking maneuvers. The
a week in the Payload Operations Center, results are important for designing
which links researchers around the world constellation and array spacecraft
with their experiments and the station crew. configurations.
38
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
39
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
evaluate risks to human health. Plant Crew Earth Observations (CEO) takes
growth experiments also give insight into advantage of the crew in space to observe
the effects of the space environment on and photograph natural and human-made
living organisms. These experiments changes on Earth. The photographs record
include: the Earth’s surface changes over time,
along with more fleeting events such as
A Comprehensive Characterization of storms, floods, fires and volcanic eruptions.
Microorganisms and Allergens in Together, they provide researchers on
Spacecraft (Swab) will use advanced Earth with vital, continuous images to better
molecular techniques to comprehensively understand the planet.
evaluate microbes on board the space
station, including pathogens – organisms Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle
that may cause disease. It also will track School Students (EarthKAM), an
changes in the microbial community as education experiment, allows middle school
spacecraft visit the station and new station students to program a digital camera on
modules are added. This study will allow board the station to photograph a variety of
an assessment of the risk of microbes to geographical targets for study in the
the crew and the spacecraft. classroom.
40
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Bioavailablity and Performance Effects Two new space station facilities are
Of Promethazine During Spaceflight scheduled to be launched on STS-121.
(PMZ) will examine the bioavailability and
performance impacting side-effects of this Minus Eighty-degree Laboratory Freezer
medication. Promethazine is a medication for ISS (MELFI) is a cold storage unit that
taken by the astronauts to prevent motion will maintain experiment samples at
sickness. temperatures of -80° C, -26° C, or +4° C
throughout a mission.
Effect of Space Flight on Microbial Gene
Expression and Virulence (Microbe) will European Modular Cultivation System
investigate the effects of the space flight (EMCS) is a large incubator that will provide
environment on the infectiousness of three control over the atmosphere, lighting and
model microbial pathogens identified during humidity of growth chambers used to study
previous space flight missions as potential plant growth. The facility was developed by
threats to crew health. the European Space Agency.
41
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Station, racks are standard payload racks Isolation System (ARIS) for countering
designed to provide experiments with minute vibrations from crew movement or
utilities such as power, data, cooling, fluids operating equipment that could disturb
and gasses. The racks support payloads in delicate experiments.
disciplines including biology, chemistry,
physics, ecology and medicines. The racks On the Internet:
stay in orbit, while experiments are For fact sheets, imagery and more on
changed as needed. EXPRESS Racks 2 Expedition 13 experiments and payload
and 3 are equipped with the Active Rack operations, click on http://www.nasa.gov
42
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
The Payload Operations Center at Marshall The International Space Station will
Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., is accommodate dozens of experiments in
NASA’s primary science command post for fields as diverse as medicine, human life
the International Space Station. Space sciences, biotechnology, agriculture,
Station scientific research plays a vital role manufacturing, Earth observation, and
in implementing the Vision for Space more. Managing these science assets -- as
Exploration, to return to the moon and well as the time and space required to
explore our solar system. accommodate experiments and programs
from a host of private, commercial, industry
and government agencies nationwide --
makes the job of coordinating space station
research a critical one.
43
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Today, the team at the POC is responsible disciplines of study with commercial
for managing all U.S. science research payload operations. They are:
experiments aboard the station. The center
also is home for coordination of the • Marshall Space Flight Center, managing
mission-planning work of a variety of microgravity (materials sciences,
sources, all U.S. science payload deliveries microgravity research experiments,
and retrieval, and payload training and space partnership development program
payload safety programs for the Station research)
crew and all ground personnel.
• John Glenn Research Center in
State-of-the-art computers and Cleveland, managing microgravity
communications equipment deliver round- (fluids and combustion research)
the-clock reports from science outposts
around the United States to systems • Johnson Space Center in Houston,
controllers and science experts staffing managing human life sciences
numerous consoles beneath the glow of (physiological and behavioral studies,
wall-sized video screens. Other computers crew health and performance)
stream information to and from the space
station itself, linking the orbiting research The POC combines inputs from all these
facility with the science command post on centers into a U.S. payload operations
Earth. master plan, delivered to the Space Station
Control Center at Johnson Space Center to
Once launch schedules are finalized, the be integrated into a weekly work schedule.
POC oversees delivery of experiments to All necessary resources are then allocated,
the space station. These will be constantly available time and rack space are
in cycle: new payloads will be delivered by determined, and key personnel are
the space shuttle, or aboard launch assigned to oversee the execution of
vehicles provided by international partners; science experiments and operations in
completed experiments and samples will be orbit.
returned to Earth via the shuttle. This
dynamic environment provides the true Housed in a two-story complex at Marshall,
excitement and challenge of science the POC is staffed around the clock by
operations aboard the space station. three shifts of systems controllers. During
space station operations, center personnel
The POC works with support centers routinely manage three to four times the
around country to develop an integrated number of experiments as were conducted
U.S. payload mission plan. Each support aboard Spacelab.
center is responsible for integrating specific
44
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
The POC’s main flight control team, or the The timeline coordination officer maintains
"cadre," is headed by the payload the daily calendar of station work
operations director, who approves all assignments based on the plan generated
science plans in coordination with Mission at Johnson Space Center, as well as daily
Control at Johnson, the Station crew and status reports from the station crew. The
the payload support centers. The payload payload rack officer monitors rack integrity,
communications manager, the voice of the power and temperature control, and the
POC, coordinates and manages real-time proper working conditions of station
voice responses between the ISS crew experiments.
conducting payload operations and the
researchers whose science is being Additional support controllers routinely
conducted. The operations controller coordinate anomaly resolution, procedure
oversees Station science operations changes, and maintain configuration
resources such as tools and supplies, and management of on-board stowed payload
assures support systems and procedures hardware.
are ready to support planned activities. The
photo and TV operations manager and data For updates to this fact sheet, visit the
management coordinator are responsible Marshall News Center at:
for station video systems and high-rate data
links to the POC. http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/news
45
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
46
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Biomedical БИО-12 Regeneratciya "Planariya" incubating Study of microgravity influence on regeneration During ISS-13, ISS-14 crews rotation
(Regeneration) container processes for biological objects by
"ART" (Autonomous Recorder electrophysiological and morphological indices
of Temperature) kit
Thermostat
Biomedical РБО-1 Prognoz Nominal Hardware for the Development of a method for real-time prediction of Unattended
radiation monitoring system: dose loads on the crews of manned spacecraft
P-16 dosimeter;
ДБ-8 dosimeters
“Pille-ISS” dosimeter
“Lyulin-ISS” complex
47
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Study of Earth ДЗЗ-11 Volny (Waves) LSO hardware Observation of wave disturbances (of man-caused
natural resources and natural origins) in intermediate atmosphere
and ecological
monitoring
Biotechnology БТХ-1 Glikoproteid "Luch-2" biocrystallizer Obtaining and study of E1-E2 surface glycoprotein of
"Kriogem-03M" freezer α-virus
Biotechnology БТХ-2 Mimetik-K Anti-idiotypic antibodies as adjuvant-active
glycoproteid mimetic
Biotechnology БТХ-3 KAF Crystallization of Caf1M protein and its complex with
C-end peptide as a basis for formation of new
generation of antimicrobial medicines and vaccine
ingredients effective against yersiniosis
Biotechnology БТХ-4 Vaktsina-K Structural analysis of proteins-candidates for vaccine
(Vaccine) effective against AIDS
Biotechnology БТХ-20 Interleukin-K Obtaining of high-quality 1α, 1β interleukins crystals
and interleukin receptor antagonist – 1
Biotechnology БТХ-8 Biotrek "Bioekologiya" kit Studying influence of flows of heavy charged particles
of space radiation on genetic properties of cells-
producers of biological active substances
Biotechnology БТХ-10 Kon’yugatsiya "Rekomb-K" hardware Working through the process of genetic material During ISS-12, ISS-13 crews rotation
(Conjugation) ТВК "Biocont-Т" Thermo- transmission using bacteria conjugation method
vacuum container
"Kriogem-03M" freezer
Nominal hardware:
"Kriogem-03" freezer
48
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Biotechnology БТХ-14 Bioemulsiya Changeable bioreactor Study and improvement of closed-type autonomous During ISS-11, ISS-12 crews rotation
(Bioemulsion) Thermostat with drive control reactor for obtaining biomass of microorganisms and
unit with stand and power bioactive substance without additional ingredients
supply cable in cover input and metabolism products removal
ТВК "Biocont-Т" Thermo-
vacuum container
Biotechnology БТХ-31 Antigen “Antigen” kit Comparative researching heterologous expression of
acute viral hepatitis HbsAg in S.cerevisiae yeast
under microgravity and Earth conditions and
determining synthesis optimization methods
Technical Studies ТЕХ-5 Meteoroid Nominal micrometeoroid Recording of meteoroid and man-made particles on Unattended
(SDTO monitoring system: the ISS RS Service Module exterior surface
16002-R) MMK-2 electronics unit;
Stationary electrostatic
sensors КД1, КД2, КД3, and
КД4;
Removable electrostatic
sensor КДС
Technical Studies ТЕХ-14 Vektor-T Nominal Hardware: Study of a high-precision system for ISS motion
(SDTO ISS RS СУДН sensors; prediction
12002-R) ISS RS orbit radio tracking
[PKO] system; Unattended
Satellite navigation; equipment
[ACH] system
GPS/GLONASS satellite
systems
49
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Technical Studies ТЕХ-44 Sreda Nominal Hardware: Studying ISS characteristics as researching Unattended
(Environment) Movement Control System environment
sensors;
orientation sensors;
magnetometers ;
Russian and foreign
accelerometers
Technical Studies ТЕХ-45 Infotekh Telemetric monoblock with Working-off method of high-speed data transfer from Unattended
transmit-receive antenna from ISS Service Module board to Earth
"Rokviss" scientific equipment
Complex Analysis. КПТ-3 Econ "Econ" kit Experimental researching of ISS RS resources
Effectiveness High Resolution Equipment estimating for ecological investigation of areas
Estimation Set (HRE)
Nominal Hardware:
Nikon D1 digital camera,
Laptop №3
Complex Analysis. КПТ-6 Plazma-MKS “Fialka-MB-Kosmos” - Study of plasma environment on ISS external surface
Effectiveness (Plasma-ISS) Spectrozonal ultraviolet by optical radiation characteristics
Estimation system
50
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
51
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
52
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Astronauts in orbit are exposed to cosmic The crewmember will wear an instrumented
radiation that is of sufficient frequency and helmet that measures radiation exposure
intensity to cause effects on the central and brain electrical activity. Each
nervous system, such as the perception of crewmember will complete built-in visual
flashes of light. Anomalous Long-Term tests. While not in use, the hardware will
Effects in Astronauts' Central Nervous continue to measure the radiation
System (ALTEA) will measure details about environment of the U.S. lab.
the cosmic radiation passing through a
crewmember's head, while measuring the Flight History/Background
brain electrophysiological activity and the
performance of the visual system. A predecessor of the ALTEA experiment,
Furthermore, ALTEA will measure the Alteino, was conducted aboard the space
particle flux in the U.S. lab, discriminating station in April 2002 during a Soyuz taxi
the type of particles, to measure their mission. Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori
trajectories and the delivered energies. donned hardware that measured heavy
radiation close to his head while
This data will provide in-depth information simultaneously measuring his brain activity.
on the radiation experienced and its impact An analysis of the results from Alteino is
on the nervous system and visual providing a baseline for data collected from
perception. ALTEA will also develop new ALTEA.
risk parameters and possible
countermeasures aimed at the possible Web Site:
functional nervous system risks. Such
information is needed for long-duration For more information on ALTEA, visit:
exploration crews.
http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/sta
tion/list.html
53
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
54
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
55
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Sony PD 100
Camcorder
Maintenance
Work Area (MWA)
56
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
This study will assess changes in the Two heparinized blood samples (samples
morphology of chromosomes, particularly are treated with heparin to prevent blood
chromosomal aberrations, by taking into clotting) are taken (one preflight and one
account the sensitivity to radiation by each postflight). The blood is shipped to the
crewmember. The frequency and the type principal investigator's laboratory in Essen,
of chromosomal aberrations depend on Germany, for analysis.
characteristics and doses of ionizing
radiation the crewmembers are exposed to Flight History/Background
while in orbit.
Chromosome, the precursor to this
Chromosomes collected from blood investigation, was operated on
lymphocytes are analyzed for different Expeditions 6-11.
types of abnormalities before and after a
stay on the space station. Some of the Web Site:
analysis methods are new and will provide
a new way of visualizing all changes, For more information on Chromosome-2,
particularly those increasing the risk of visit:
cancer.
http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/sta
tion/list.html
57
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Principal Investigator and Payload Developer: Susan Runco, NASA Johnson Space Center,
Houston
Co-Principal Investigator: Kim Willis, ESCG, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston
58
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
59
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
60
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Using the Internet, working through the The EarthKAM camera is periodically set-
EarthKAM Mission Operations Center up in the International Space Station,
located at the University of California at San typically for a 4-day data gathering session.
Diego (UCSD), middle school students can Beginning with the Expedition 2 crew, in
actually control a camera mounted at the May 2001, the payload is scheduled for
science-grade window in the station’s operations that coincide with the traditional
Destiny science module to capture high- school year. Once the ISS crew mounts
resolution digital images of features around the camera at the window, the payload
the globe. Students use these images to requires no further crew interaction for
enhance their study of geography, geology, nominal operations.
botany, history, earth science, and to
identify changes occurring on the Earth’s EarthKAM photographs are taken by
surface, all from the unique vantage point of remote operation from the ground. When
space. Using the high-speed digital the middle school students target the
communications capabilities of the ISS, the images of terrestrial features they choose to
images are downlinked in near real-time acquire, they submit the image request to
and posted on the EarthKAM web site for the Mission Operation Center at UCSD.
the public and participating classrooms Image requests are collected and compiled
around the world to view. into a “Camera Control File” for each ISS
orbit that the payload is operational. This
Experiment Operations camera control file is then uplinked to a
Station Support Computer (laptop) aboard
Funded by NASA, EarthKAM is operated by the space station that controls when the
the University of California, San Diego, and digital camera captures the image. The
NASA field centers. It is an educational Station Support Computer activates the
payload that allows middle school students camera at the specified times and
to conduct research from the International immediately transfers these images to a file
61
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
server, storing them until they are States, Japan, Germany, France, Chile,
downlinked to Earth. With all systems Canada and Mexico.
performing nominally, a picture can be
requested, captured and posted to the Benefits
EarthKAM website in as little as four hours.
EarthKAM brings education out of
EarthKAM is monitored from console textbooks and into real life. By integrating
positions in the Tele-Science Support Earth images with inquiry-based learning,
Center (Mission Control) at Johnson Space EarthKAM offers students and educators
Center in Houston. As with all payloads, the opportunity to participate in a space
the EarthKAM operations on board the mission while developing teamwork,
space station are coordinated through the communication and problem-solving skills.
Payload Operations Integration Center
(POIC) at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight No other NASA program gives students
Center in Huntsville, Ala. EarthKAM is a such direct control of an instrument flying
long-term payload that will operate on the on a spacecraft orbiting Earth, and as a
space station for multiple increments. result of this, students assume an
unparalleled personal ownership in the
Flight History/Background study and analysis of their Earth
photographs.
In 1994, Sally Ride, a physics professor
and former NASA astronaut, started what is Long after the photographs are taken,
now EarthKAM with the goal of integrating students and educators continue to reap
education with the space program. the benefits of EarthKAM. Educators are
EarthKAM has flown on five shuttle flights. able to use the images alongside
Its first flight was aboard space shuttle suggested curriculum plans for studies in
Atlantis in 1996, with three participating physics, computers, geography, math, earth
schools taking a total of 325 photographs. science, botany, biology, art, history,
Since 1996, EarthKAM students have taken cultural studies and more.
more than 25,407 publicly accessible
images of the Earth. More information on EarthKAM and the
International Space Station can be found at:
EarthKAM invites schools from all around
the world to take advantage of this www.earthkam.ucsd.edu
educational opportunity. Previous
participants include schools from the United www.spaceflight.nasa.gov
62
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
63
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
in space to develop such remedies and results from decreased T-cell function. If
ensure future exploratory space missions. Epstein-Barr yields similar results, it will
allow for a very specific focus on
Results developing drug therapies that will allow for
more rapid treatment for space travelers
This experiment is still being conducted and those on Earth.
aboard the ISS, but earlier studies aboard
the shuttle, which were the predecessors to
this, suggested that virus reactivation
64
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Increment(s) Assigned: 13
• This experiment will study the growth of This experiment requires the crew to
cancerous and benign tumors in monitor the cassette for temperature
sensitized genetic lines (breeds) of stability. Researchers will analyze changes
Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) that in blood cell, hematopoietic organ (lymph
show an increase in the incidence of gland) and fat body (liver) morphology from
tumor formation. The effect of radiation postflight samples.
exposure will be coupled to this study.
Flight History/Background
• In addition, samples of a fungal
pathogen that infects flies will be The STS-121 mission will be the first flight
exposed to radiation and the space for this experiment.
environment. Space-flown samples will
be used post-flight to infect Drosophila Web Site
on the ground and assess changes in
For more information on FIT, visit:
the pathogen.
http://exploration,nasa.gov/prorgams/sta
tion/list.html
65
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Journals
Behavioral Issues Associated with Isolation and Confinement:
Review and Analysis of ISS Crew Journals
66
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Overview Benefits
The objective of this experiment is to Latent virus reactivation may be an
determine the frequencies of reactivation of important threat to crew health during the
latent viruses and clinical diseases after longer duration exploration missions as
exposure to the physical, physiological, and crewmembers live and work in a closed
psychological stressors associated with environment. This investigation will aid in
space flight. determining the clinical risk of
asymptomatic reactivation and shedding of
Risks associated with most bacterial, latent viruses to astronaut health, and the
fungal, viral, and parasitic pathogens can need for countermeasures to mitigate the
be reduced by a suitable quarantine period risk. Stress-induced viral reactivation may
before the flight and by appropriate medical also prove useful in monitoring early
care. However, latent viruses (viruses that changes in immunity prior to onset of
lie dormant in cells, such as herpes viruses clinical disease.
that cause cold sores) already inside the
cells of crewmembers are unaffected by The viral-specific saliva DNA test currently
such actions and pose an important used for space flight investigations may be
infectious disease risk to crewmembers applied to the rapid diagnosis of herpes
involved in space flight and space virus disease in clinics. These studies of
habitation. latent virus reactivation in the very healthy,
superbly conditioned flight crews may
Weakening of the immune system of provide new insight into stress, immunity,
astronauts that may occur in the space and viral disease in the general population.
environment could allow increased
reactivation of the latent viruses and Web Site
increase the incidence and duration of viral
shedding. Such a result may increase the For more information on this experiment,
concentration of herpes and other viruses in visit:
the spacecraft.
http://hrf.jsc.nasa.gov/science.asp
67
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Overview Benefits
Harmful microbes carried to spacecraft on Results from this single-flight experiment
the human body, or in water or food, could will provide important information on the
cause crewmembers to become sick and threat of pathogens in the space
put a long-duration mission at risk. The environment, which will assist with
combination of radiation and microgravity in development of diagnostic tools to monitor
the space environment may impact the the atmosphere, water and surfaces for the
growth and mutation of microbes and presence of these microbes.
increase their virulence. The Microbe Understanding the molecular responses of
experiment will study three prevalent these organisms to spaceflight is a
microbes (Salmonella typhimurium, necessary step that will significantly
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida contribute to development of systems that
albicans) that have been identified meet requirements for supplying and
previously in the spacecraft environment in storing potable water that is free of
human flora, water and food. Data on their microbial contaminants. Furthermore,
growth and mutation will identify whether identification of the changes caused by
risks of microbial contamination are spaceflight to genes and proteins will
increased for lunar and Martian missions provide novel targets for pharmacological
compared to conditions on Earth. intervention to prevent and control
infectious disease, which will ultimately
Research Operations
facilitate safe and productive long-term
The three microbes, Salmonella exploration of the moon and Mars.
typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
and Candida albicans, will be activated, By understanding the unique spectrum of
grown for 24 hours and terminated. Once microbial genetic and virulence changes
the samples have been recovered, the live induced by spaceflight, this experiment will
cells and stabilized cells will be examined. yield valuable knowledge leading to
advances in vaccine development and
Flight History/Background other therapeutics for treatment, prevention
Microbe complements the nominal space and control of infectious diseases on Earth
station environmental monitoring payloads as well as in space.
by providing a comparison of analyses from Web Site
current media-based and advanced
molecular-based technologies. For more information on Microbe, visit:
http://exploration.nasa.gov/prgrams/stati
on/list.html
68
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
69
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
70
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
71
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
This experiment will evaluate the effect of Replicate cultures are inoculated on the
stress in the space environment on the ground and launched on the space shuttle.
generation of genetic variation within model Half the cultures are returned with the
microbial cells. shuttle that they launch on and half are
transferred to the space station where they
Research Summary are preserved (frozen in the MELFI freezer)
at successive time-points over the course of
This experiment uses a new system for six months. These cultures will then be
microbial cultivation in the spaceflight returned to Earth and compared to ground
environment to observe the generation and controls to determine if the space
maintenance of genetic variation within environment affected the rate of generation
microbial populations in microgravity. of new mutants.
POEMS will contain experiments studying
the growth, ecology and performance of Flight History/Background
diverse assemblages of microorganisms in
space. POEMS will be launched on ULF1.1
(STS-121).
Understanding microbial growth and
ecology in a space environment is Web Sites
important for maintaining human health and
bioregenerative life support functions in For more information on POEMS, visit:
support of NASA Exploration Systems
requiring Advanced Life Support. http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station
/list.html
72
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Renal Stone
Renal Stone Risk During Spaceflight:
Assessment and Countermeasure Validation
Principal Investigator: Peggy A. Whitson, Ph.D., NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston
Payload Developer: Peggy A. Whitson (Expedition 5 Flight Engineer), NASA Johnson
Space Center
Project Manager: Michelle Kamman, NASA Johnson Space Center
Operations: Inflight
73
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
74
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
75
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
76
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
77
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Principal Investigator: Ruthan Lewis, Ph.D., Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
Increment(s) Assigned: 10, 11, 13
Students select the items that will be SEM introduces the concept of space-
contained inside the vials. Some of the based scientific experiments to the next
items include seeds, such as corn, generation. SEM is educating and inspiring
watermelon, cucumber, beans, peas and the next generation to take the journey.
several other vegetable seeds. Additional
items include materials such as wool, Web Site
Kevlar, silk, ultraviolet beads, chicken
For more information on SEM, visit:
bones, copper, plastic, dextrose, yeast,
over-the-counter medications, human hair, http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station
mineral samples, light bulbs and brine /list.html
shrimp eggs. Many students will test for
78
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
79
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
80
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Principal Investigator: Duane L. Pierson, Ph.D., NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston
81
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
This investigation was conducted for the For more information on SWAB, visit:
first time during Expedition 11. The
experiment is to be flown on http://hrf.jsc.nasa.gov/science/swab.asp
Expeditions 13, 14 and 15.
82
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Tropi
Analysis of a Novel Sensory Mechanism in Root Phototropism
Plants sprouted from seeds will be Tropi consists of dry Arabidopsis thaliana
videotaped and samples collected to be (thale cress) seeds stored in small seed
analyzed at a molecular level to determine cassettes. Arabidopsis thaliana is a rapidly
what genes are responsible for successful growing, flowering plant in the mustard
plant growth in microgravity. Insights family. The seed cassettes will be flown
gained from Tropi can lead to sustainable inside the European Modular Cultivation
agriculture for future long-term space System (EMCS). The seeds will remain dry
missions. and at ambient temperature until hydrated
by an automated system of the EMCS. At
The primary objectives of Tropi are: specified times during the experiment, the
plants will be stimulated by different light
• To understand the mechanisms by spectrums and by different gravity
which plant roots respond to varying gradients. The only work required by the
levels of both light and gravity. crew is to replace videotapes and harvest
the plants when they are grown. Once the
• To determine how plants organize plants are harvested, they will be stored in
multiple sensory inputs, like light and the Minus Eighty-degree Laboratory
gravity. Freezer for ISS (MELFI) until their return to
Earth.
• To gain insight into how plants grow in
space to help create sustainable life Web Site
support systems for long-term space
travel. For more information on Tropi, visit:
http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/sta
tion/list.html
83
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
NASA Television can be seen in the 4. NASA Mission Operations (Internal Only)
continental United States on AMC-6, at
Note: Digital NASA TV channels may not
72 degrees west longitude, Transponder 17C,
always have programming on every
4040 MHz, vertical polarization, FEC 3/4,
channel simultaneously.
Data Rate 36.860 MHz, Symbol 26.665 Ms,
Transmission DVB. If you live in Alaska or Internet Information
Hawaii, NASA TV can now be seen on
AMC-7, at 137 degrees west longitude, Information is available through several
Transponder 18C, at 4060 MHz, vertical sources on the Internet. The primary source
polarization, FEC 3/4, Data Rate 36.860 MHz, for mission information is the NASA Human
Symbol 26.665 Ms, Transmission DVB. Space Flight Web, part of the World Wide
Web. This site contains information on the
Digital NASA TV system provides higher crew and its mission and will be updated
quality images and better use of satellite regularly with status reports, photos and video
bandwidth, meaning multiple channels from clips throughout the flight. The NASA Shuttle
multiple NASA program sources at the same Web’s address is:
time.
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov
Digital NASA TV has four digital channels:
General information on NASA and its
1. NASA Public Service ("Free to Air"), programs is available through the NASA
featuring documentaries, archival Home Page and the NASA Public Affairs
programming, and coverage of NASA Home Page:
missions and events;
http://www.nasa.gov
2. NASA Education Services ("Free to
Air/Addressable"), dedicated to providing or
educational programming to schools,
educational institutions and museums; http://www.nasa.gov/newsinfo/index.html
3. NASA Media Services ("Addressable"),
for broadcast news organizations; and
84
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
85
Expedition 13 Press Kit
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
86