NASA ISS Expedition 2 Press Kit

8/14/2019 NASA ISS Expedition 2 Press Kit

1/27

W W W .SH UTTLEPRESSKI T. CO M

Up d a t e d M a r . 6 , 2 0 0 1

E x p e d i t i o n T w o :

O p e n F o r B u s i n e s s


2/27

Expedition Two Press Kit

Table of Contents

Overview ....................................................................................................................... 1

Crew ............................................................................................................................... 3Payload Operations Center ...........................................................................................5

Experiments

Advanced Astroculture _ (Advasc) .................................................................................. 7Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS)

ARIS ISS Characterization Experiment (ARIS ICE) ........................................................ 8

Bonner Ball Neutron Detector ......................................................................................... 9

Crew Earth Observations (CEO) ................................................................................... 10

Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA) ............................................... 11

Protein Crystal GrowthBiotechnology Ambient Generic(PCG-BAG) ............................................ ..................................................................... 12

Bonner Ball Neutron Detector ....................................................................................... 13

Dosmap (Dosimetric Mapping) ..................................................................................... 14

EXPRESS Rack ............................................................................................................ 15

Effects of Altered Gravity on Spinal Cord Excitability (H-Reflex) .................................. 16

Human Research Facility Rack 1 .................................................................................. 17Crewmember and Crew-Ground Interactions DuringISS Missions (Interactions) ........................................................................................... 18

Experiment of Physics of Colloids in Space (PCS) ....................................................... 19

Payload Equipment Restraint System (PERS) ............................................................. 20

Phantom Torso ............................................................................................................. 21

Acceleration Measurements Aboard the International Space Station ........................... 23

Space Acceleration Measurement System II (SAMS-II) ............................................... 23

Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS) ............................................ 24Sub-Regional Assessment of Bone Loss In the AxialSkeleton In Long-Term Space Flight ............................................................................ 25


3/27


4/27


5/27


Crew

EXPEDITION TWO CREW BIOS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Jim Voss (Col., USA, Ret.), 52, will return to the International Space

Station (ISS) for a second time as both Mission Specialist 3 (MS 3) onthe STS-102 crew and as Flight Engineer-1 for the second long duration,or Expedition Two, crew, which will spend four months on the orbitalcomplex. Voss previously flew on STS-44 in 1991, STS-53 in 1992, STS-69 in 1995 and STS-101 in 2000. He will be seated on the middeckduring Discoverys climb to orbit. Voss will join Susan Helms, anotherExpedition Two crewmember, for the first space walk of the STS-102mission, and is scheduled to conduct at least one space walk during his

stay on the ISS. Voss will be among those responsible for transferring cargo from theLeonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module to the ISS, and will trade places with ExpeditionOne Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalev during crew transfer operations while Discovery is

docked to the station. During his four months on the ISS, Voss will work with Helms in theoperation of the new Canadian-built Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS),conduct checkouts of the soon-to-be installed U.S. Airlock and perform experiments on thefirst science racks in the U.S. Laboratory Destiny.

Susan Helms (Col., USAF), 43, is one of three crewmembers to returnto the International Space Station on Discoverys flight. Helms is makingher fifth flight into space, having previously flown on STS-54 in 1993,STS-64 in 1994, STS-78 in 1996 and STS-101 in 2000. She will be

seated on the middeck for launch. During STS-102, Helms will serve asMission Specialist 4 (MS 4) and will join Jim Voss for the flights firstspace walk. She will also act as the choreographer for the missionssecond space walk, to be performed by Andy Thomas and PaulRichards, operating from Discoverys aft flight deck. Helms will be the

last Expedition Two crewmember to swap orbiting homes with an Expedition Onecrewmember, moving over to the ISS to trade places with Expedition One Commander BillShepherd. At that point, crewmate Yury Usachev will become ISS Commander. In addition,Helms will be responsible for the transfer of vital systems racks from the Leonardo moduleto the ISS for installation in the U.S. Laboratory Destiny. During her four-month stay on theISS, Helms will serve as Flight Engineer-2. Shell conduct checkouts with and the operationof the new Canadian-built Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), use theSSRMS to move the U.S. Airlock from the shuttles cargo bay to the ISS and will performexperiments on the first science racks in Destiny.

3


6/27


Yury Usachev, 43, is making his fourth flight into space on the STS-102mission and will be the first Russian commander of the InternationalSpace Station during the four-month increment of the Expedition Twocrew. During STS-102, Usachev will be designated Mission Specialist 5

(MS 5). Usachev flew as a flight engineer during two long durationmissions to the Mir Space Station in 1994 and 1996 and was a missionspecialist during the STS-101 mission of Atlantis in 2000 along withcrewmates Jim Voss and Susan Helms. Usachev has logged 386 daysin space and six space walks. Usachev, who will be seated on

Discoverys middeck for launch, will be the first Expedition Two crewmember to move intothe ISS, a few hours after docking. He will trade places with Expedition One Pilot YuriGidzenko to insure that a Soyuz vehicle expert will be available to fly the craft home in theevent of a contingency. He will officially become Expedition Two commander of the ISSafter Expedition One Commander Bill Shepherd trades places with Helms near the end ofdocked operations. During his four months on the ISS, Usachev will be responsible for the

safety of his crew and the success of the mission, is scheduled to conduct at least onespace walk with Voss and will assist Voss and Helms in the checkout and operation of theCanadian-built Space Station Remote Manipulator System after it is delivered to the ISSthis spring.

4


7/27


The Payload Operations Center

The Payload Operations Center at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., isthe worlds primary science command post for the International Space Station.

The Payload Operations team is responsible for managing all science research experimentsaboard the station. The center also is home for coordination of the mission-planning work of avariety of international sources, all science payload deliveries and retrieval, and payloadtraining and payload safety programs for the station crew and all ground personnel.

State-of-the-art computers and communications equipment deliver round-the-clock reportsfrom science outposts around the planet to systems controllers and science experts staffingnumerous consoles beneath the glow of wall-sized video screens. Other computers streaminformation to and from the space station itself, linking the orbiting research facility with thescience command post on Earth.

The completed space station will boast six fully equipped laboratories, nearly 40 payload"racks" or experiment storage facilities, and more than 15 external payload locations forconducting experiments in the vacuum of space.

Managing these science assets -- as well as the time and space required to accommodateexperiments and programs from a host of private, commercial, industry and governmentagencies worldwide -- makes the job of coordinating space station research a critical one.

5


8/27


The Payload Operations Center (POC) continues the role Marshall has played in managementand operation of NASAs on-orbit science research. In the 1970s, Marshall managed thescience program for Skylab, the first American space station. Spacelab -- the internationalscience laboratory carried to orbit in the early '80s by the space shuttle for more than a dozenmissions -- was the prototype for Marshalls space station science operations.

The POC is the focal point for incorporating research and experiment requirements from allinternational partners into an integrated space station payload mission plan.

Four international partner control centers -- in the United States, Japan, Russia and onerepresenting the 11 participating countries of Europe -- prepare independent science plans forthe POC. Each partners plan is based on submissions from its participating universities,science institutes and commercial companies.

The U.S. partner control center incorporates submissions from Italy, Brazil and Canada untilthose nations develop partner centers of their own. The U.S. centers plan also includespayloads commissioned by NASA from the four Telescience Support Centers in the United

States. Each support center is responsible for integrating specific disciplines of study withcommercial payload operations. They are:

Marshall Space Flight Center , managing microgravity (materials sciences, biotechnologyresearch, microgravity research, space product development)

Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., managing gravitational biology and ecology(research on plants and animals)

John Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, managing microgravity (fluids and combustionresearch)

Johnson Space Center in Houston, managing human life sciences (physiological andbehavioral studies, crew health and performance)

The POC combines inputs from all the partners into a Science Payload Operations masterplan, delivered to the Space Station Control Center at Johnson Space Center to be integratedinto a weekly work schedule. All necessary resources are then allocated, available time andrack space are determined, and key personnel are assigned to oversee the execution ofscience experiments and operations in orbit.

Delivery of Payloads to the Station

Once payload schedules are finalized, the POC oversees delivery of experiments to the spacestation. These will be constantly in cycle: new payloads will be delivered by the space shuttle,or aboard launch vehicles provided by international partners; completed experiments andsamples will be returned to Earth via the shuttle.

This dynamic environment provides the true excitement and challenge of science operationsaboard the space station.

6


9/27


Experiments

Advanced Astroculture (Advasc)

Principal Investigators: Tad Theno and Eric Brunsell, Chief Program Scientists forSpace Explorers Inc., and Dr. Weijia Zhou, Wisconsin Center forSpace Automation and Robotics (WCSAR), University ofWisconsin-Madison.

Co-PrincipalInvestigator: Dr. Bratislav Stankovic, WCSAR.

Overview

The Advance Astroculture will be the first plant growth facility installed in the ISS. It has twomiddeck lockers and builds on a smaller experiment flown on eight previous space flightson the space shuttle and on space station Mir. Objectives are (1) to determine whetherArabidopsis, a member of the Brassica plant family that includes species such as cabbageand radishes, can complete its seed-to-seed life cycle in microgravity; (2) to determine theimpact of microgravity on the gene expression levels the plants traits that are determinedgenetically; and (3) to compare the chemical characteristics of the seeds produced in spacewith seeds harvested on Earth.

Operations

Advanced Astroculture provides a completely enclosed, environmentally controlled plantgrowth chamber. It requires no power during shuttle ascent and descent. Before the flight,scientists will plant seeds in a root tray using a dry rooting material similar to peat moss.

The seed tray will be attached to the growth chamber. Reservoirs in the growth unit will beloaded with water and nutrient solutions that plants need to live while aboard the ISS.

The experiment is configured as two middeck lockers that insert separately into a SpaceStation EXPRESS Rack. One locker contains the support systems and the other containsthe plant growth chamber and ancillary hardware. This arrangement allows the supportsystem to remain on board, while the shuttle transports plant growth units to and from theISS with different experiments.

The experiment units will be aboard Flight 6A. It operates automatically for 50 to 55 days.During the plant growth period, the crew will sample nutrients, gases and plant transpirationinside the plant growth chamber three times -- early, middle and late in the experiment.After the flight, investigators can analyze the samples to determine how healthy the plantswere during various growth phases. The crew will monitor the plants status by checkingdisplays on the front panel of the support system unit and by observing the plant video.Science telemetry and video will be transmitted to scientists in their operations center at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison via the Telescience Resource Kit (TReK) system.

7


10/27


11/27


Experiments

Bonner Ball Neutron Detector

Principal Investigator: Dr. Tateo Goka, National Space Development Agency of Japan(NASDA)Project Manager: Takao Akutsu, National Space Development Agency of Japan

(NASDA)

Overview

Traveling in space can be dangerous for humans because of the large amounts of radiationpresent, especially during times of extreme solar flare activity. In the future, radiation willpose a critical concern to crewmembers that engage in long-duration missions to Mars orother planets. High doses of radiation can kill cells and damage tissue, leading to cancerand cataracts. It can even cause injury to the central nervous system.

Monitoring devices have been flown on several space shuttle missions and the RussianSpace Station Mir to provide data on how to protect space flight crews from the effects ofradiation. The measurements yielded valuable information, but it was limited to radiationdoses on the external part of the body.

The Bonner Ball Neutron Detector measures neutron radiation. Neutrons are unchargedatomic particles that have the ability to penetrate living tissues. Neutron radiation can affectthe blood-forming marrow in the mineral bones of human beings and other animals. Byoperating the Bonner Ball in space, neutron radiation information can be collected and usedfor the development of safety measures to protect crewmembers during long-durationspace flights.

History/Background

The Bonner Ball Neutron Detector first flew during STS-89 to perform neutron radiationmeasurements inside the space vehicle during a trip to the Russian Space Station Mir. Thiswas the first time neutron radiation was measured by an active detector inside the spaceshuttle. Active detectors use power to record and transmit data to Earth from space.Previous measurements were recorded passively, which meant data had to be returned toEarth for analysis.

During the STS-98 mission, the Bonner Ball was able to differentiate between neutron andproton radiation. Protons are positively charged subatomic particles. Neutron radiation ismore common than proton radiation, which rarely is produced naturally on Earth.

9


12/27


Experiments

Crew Earth Observations (CEO)

Principal Investigator: Kamlesh Lulla, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston Tex.Payload Developer: Sue Runco, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Tex.

Overview

By allowing photographs to be taken from space, the Crew Earth Observations (CEO)experiment provides people on Earth with data needed to better understand our planet. Thephotographstaken by crewmembers using handheld camerasrecord observable Earthsurface changes over a period of time, as well as more fleeting events such as storms,floods, fires and volcanic eruptions.

Orbiting 220 miles above the Earth, the International Space Station offers an ideal vantagepoint for crewmembers to continue observational efforts that began in the early 1960s whenspace crews first photographed the Earth. This experiment on the space station beganduring Expedition One, STS-97 (ISS Assembly Flight 4A), and is planned to continuethrough Expedition Two as well as through the life of the space station.

History/Background

This experiment has flown on every crewed NASA space mission beginning with Gemini in1961. Since that time, astronauts have photographed the Earth, observing the worldsgeography and documenting events such as hurricanes and other natural phenomena.Over the years, space crews also have documented human impacts on Earthcity growth,agricultural expansion and reservoir construction. The CEO experiment aboard the ISS willbuild on that knowledge.

Benefits

Today, images of the world from 10, 20 or 30 years ago provide valuable insight into Earthprocesses and the effects of human developments. Photographic images taken by spacecrews serve as both primary data on the state of the Earth and as secondary data to becombined with images from other satellites in orbit. Worldwide more than one million userslog on to the Astronaut Earth Photography database each year. Through their photographyof the Earth, space station crewmembers will build on the time series of imagery started 35years agoensuring this record of Earth remains unbroken.

10


13/27


Experiments

Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)

Principal Investigators: Dr. David Klaus, BioServe Space Technologies, University ofColorado, Boulder, and Dr. Raymond Lam, Bristol-Myers SquibbPharmaceutical Research Institute, Wallingford, Conn.

Project Manager: Cooperative agreement managed by John West, Office ofSpace Product Development, NASA Marshall Space FlightCenter, Huntsville, Ala., and technical management by BioServeat the University of Colorado, Boulder

Overview

The goal of the research conducted in the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus

(CGBA) payload is to develop commercial uses of the unique microgravity environmentencountered in space in the field of life sciences. The CGBA hardware is able to supportmany standard biological laboratory techniques that have been adapted to operate inspace. The experiments are designed to further our understanding of how gravityinfluences various biophysical and biochemical actions. Applications of this knowledge aregeared toward creating or improving various biologically derived products or enhancing theprocesses used to create them. The industry-sponsored investigations supported by CGBAfocus on how the space environment can be used as a tool to provide a value addedfactor to a commercial product, process or service.

History/Background

The CGBA is a commercial payload sponsored by NASAs Space Product DevelopmentProgram at the Marshall Space Flight Center. BioServe Space Technologies builds andmanages the apparatus. BioServe is a NASA Commercial Space Center jointly locatedwithin the Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department at the University of Colorado inBoulder and the Division of Biology at Kansas State University in Manhattan. Bristol-MyersSquibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute in Wallingford, Conn., is BioServes sponsoringcommercial partner for this research. Since 1991, BioServe has flown payloads in space on18 missions16 shuttle flights and twice on board the Russian Space Station Mirfor atotal of 414 days in orbit. The CGBA has flown on 14 of these flights.

Benefits

Gaining a better understanding of what is causing the stimulated production of antibiotics inspace is helping scientists to design experiments that attempt to mimic this increase inproductivity on Earth. These experimental techniques may lead to development of methodsfor improving production efficiency in terrestrial pharmaceutical processing facilities.

11


14/27


Experiments

Protein Crystal GrowthBiotechnology Ambient Generic(PCG-BAG)

Project Manager: Todd Holloway, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.

Overview

Structural biological experiments conducted in the Biotechnology Ambient GenericDiffusion-controlled Crystallization Apparatus for Microgravity (BAG DCAM) may provide abasis for understanding the function of important macromolecules and possibly contributeto the development of new macromolecules. The scope of biological macromoleculesincludes proteins, polysaccharides and other carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids ofbiological origin, or those expressed in plant, animal, fungal or bacteria systems.

The fundamental goal for growing biological macromolecular crystals is to determine theirstructure and the biological processes in which they are involved. Scientists selectmacromolecules, crystallize them, and analyze the atomic detailsoften by using X-raycrystallography. By sending an intense X-ray beam through a crystal, scientists try todetermine the three-dimensional atomic structure of the macromolecule. Understandingthese structures may impact the studies of medicine, agriculture, the environment and otherbiosciences.

Microgravitythe near weightlessness of spaceoffers an environment which sometimesallows the growth of macromolecular structurescrystalsthat show greater detail whenexposed to X-ray diffraction than those grown on Earth.

History/Background

The Diffusion-controlled Crystallization Apparatus for Microgravity has flown on thefollowing space shuttle/Russian Space Station Mir missions: STS-73, STS-76(M3), STS-74(M4), STS-81(M6), STS-84(M6) and STS-89(M8).

Benefits

With science being performed on the International Space Station, scientists are no longerrestricted to relatively short-duration flights to conduct structural biology experiments. This

research will enable the more accurate mapping of the three-dimensional structure ofmacromolecules. Once the structure of a particular macromolecule is known, it maybecome much easier to determine how these compounds function. Every chemical reactionessential to life depends on the function of these compounds.

12


15/27


Bonner Ball Neutron Detector

Principal Investigator: Dr. Tateo Goka, National Space Development Agency of Japan(NASDA)

Project Manager: Takao Akutsu, National Space Development Agency of Japan(NASDA)

Overview

Traveling in space can be dangerous for humans because of the large amounts of radiationpresent, especially during times of extreme solar flare activity. In the future, radiation willpose a critical concern to crewmembers that engage in long-duration missions to Mars orother planets. High doses of radiation can kill cells and damage tissue, leading to cancerand cataracts. It can even cause injury to the central nervous system.

Monitoring devices have been flown on several space shuttle missions and the Russian

Space Station Mir to provide data on how to protect space flight crews from the effects ofradiation. The measurements yielded valuable information, but it was limited to radiationdoses on the external part of the body.

The Bonner Ball Neutron Detector measures neutron radiation. Neutrons are unchargedatomic particles that have the ability to penetrate living tissues. Neutron radiation can affectthe blood-forming marrow in the mineral bones of human beings and other animals. Byoperating the Bonner Ball in space, neutron radiation information can be collected and usedfor the development of safety measures to protect crewmembers during long-durationspace flights.

History/Background

The Bonner Ball Neutron Detector first flew during STS-89 to perform neutron radiationmeasurements inside the space vehicle during a trip to the Russian Space Station Mir. Thiswas the first time neutron radiation was measured by an active detector inside the spaceshuttle. Active detectors use power to record and transmit data to Earth from space.Previous measurements were recorded passively, which meant data had to be returned toEarth for analysis.

During the STS-98 mission, the Bonner Ball was able to differentiate between neutron andproton radiation. Protons are positively charged subatomic particles. Neutron radiation ismore common than proton radiation, which rarely is produced naturally on Earth.

13


16/27


Experiments

Dosmap (Dosimetric Mapping)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Guenter Reitz, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt(German Space Agency)

Overview

Radiation constitutes one of the most important hazards for humans during long-durationspace missions. Leaving Earths surface exposes human beings to a wide spectrum ofradiation particles and energies. The International Space Station provides shielding, butsome radiation gets through.

Dosimetric Mapping, or Dosmap, attempts to record and map the different types ofradiation that get inside the space station and ultimately could cause harm to humans

including causing cataracts and cancer.

Dosmaps radiation detection devices are called dosimeters. Because of the variety ofparticles and energies that make up radiation, no single type of dosimeter is capable ofproviding sufficient information to study radiation, so several different types of dosimetersare used in this experiment.

Radiation gathered by the dosimeters will provide scientists information on the nature anddistribution of radiation inside the space station.

History/Background

Since balloon launches in the 1940s, scientists have been measuring radiation in Earthsupper atmosphere and beyond. Radiation experiments have been part of many humanspace missions, including Space Station Mir, measuring radiation exposure to spacecraftand space travelers. Specific missions during which some type of Dosmetric Mappingequipment was used include STS-9; STS-61; Cosmos 1887, Bion 8; Cosmos 2044, Bion 9;STS-42; Cosmos 2229, Bion 10; STS-55; STS-65; Euromir 95; STS-76; STS-79; STS-81;STS-84; and STS-86.

Benefits

The Dosimetric Mapping system research will help scientists more accurately predict theradiation exposure space station crewmembers will experience in space. The result will bethe development of countermeasures to prolong human exposure to radiation during spacetravel.

The Dosmap is one of three radiation-measuring experiments that will fly on board thespace station during Expedition Two.

14


17/27


Experiments

EXPRESS Rack

Project Manager: Annette Sledd, NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center,Huntsville, Ala.

Overview

The EXPRESS Rack is a standardized payload rack system that transports, stores andsupports experiments aboard the International Space Station. EXPRESS stands forEXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to the Space Station, reflecting the fact thissystem was developed specifically to maximize the stations research capabilities. TheEXPRESS Rack system supports science payloads in several disciplines, including biology,chemistry, physics, ecology and medicine. It was successfully tested during the 1997 STS-94 mission.

Operations

With its standardized hardware interfaces and streamlined approach, the EXPRESS Rackenables quick, simple integration of multiple payloads aboard the International SpaceStation. EXPRESS Racks stay on orbit continually, while subracks containing experimentsare exchanged in the EXPRESS Racks as needed remaining on the space station forthree months to several years.

The first two EXPRESS Racks will be installed in the ISS during ISS Mission 6A, in April2001. Later shuttle flights will handle the exchange of experiments or payload hardware.Each EXPRESS Rack is housed in an International Standard Payload Rack arefrigerator-size container that acts as the EXPRESS Racks exterior shell. Each rack canbe divided into segments, whether as large as half the entire rack or as small as abreadbox. The first two EXPRESS Racks have eight middeck locker locations and twodrawer locations each.

Experiments in EXPRESS Racks may be controlled by the ISS crew or remotely from theground by the Payload Rack Officer at the Payload Operations Center at Marshall SpaceFlight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The EXPRESS Rack system was developed by NASAsMarshall Center and built by the Boeing Co. in Huntsville. Eight EXPRESS Racks arebeing built for use on the ISS.

Benefits

By housing, supporting and transporting ISS experiments, the EXPRESS Rack could play akey role in the development of better medicines, more powerful computer chips or lightermetals. Similarly, by reducing the time, complexity and expense historically associated withorbital research, the EXPRESS Rack system will help achieve these advances morequickly and for less money.

15


18/27


Experiments

Effects of Altered Gravity on Spinal Cord Excitability (H-Reflex)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Douglas Watt, McGill University, Montreal, CanadaProject Engineer: Luc Lefebvre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Overview

Experiments performed on space shuttle missions and on Skylab and Mir have shown thatexposure to weightlessness causes changes in a persons neurovestibular systemchanges related to the inner ear, equilibrium and awareness of body or limb orientation. Inthe H-Reflex experiment planned for Expedition Two of the International Space Station,researchers for the Canadian Space Agency are seeking additional information on changes

to the human neurological system that occur during long-duration space flights.Researchers already know prolonged weightlessness results in a loss of muscle strengthand decreased bone density. Currently, the only known treatment for this problem is in-flight exercise. But does exercise work on a long space flight?

A goal of the H-Reflex experiment is to help researchers determine if exercise could bemade more effective on long space flights. The experiment measures spinal cordexcitabilityits ability to respond to stimuli. Researchers believe that spinal cord excitabilitydecreases during prolonged space flight. If this proves true, they hypothesize that in-flightexercise would be less effective and the crews will have to work harder and longer toachieve any benefit. If spinal cord excitability does decrease on prolonged flights,

researchers may be able to reverse the effect and lower the amount of exercise nowrequired in space and thus increase crewmember productivity during the flight.

History/Background

Related experiments flew on eight previous space shuttle missions (STS-9, STS-41G, STS-61, STS-40, STS-42, STS-52, STS-58 and STS-78) and on Skylab.

Benefits

Studies such as the H-Reflex experiment will enable researchers to better understand andassess the physiological risks of long-duration space flight and help them better preparecrews for those flights. By knowing how a crewmembers body is affected in space,scientists can reduce the risk of acute and chronic health problems, increase productivityand make the spacecraft more habitable. Benefits from the H-Reflex study range from theobviouspotential improvement of crewmember healthto the less obviousthe potentialfor improving health care on Earth.

16


19/27


20/27


21/27


Experiments

Experiment of Physics of Colloids in Space (PCS)

Principal Investigator: Prof. David Weitz, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Co-Investigator: Prof. Peter Pusey, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Project Manager: Michael Doherty, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland

Overview

A colloid is a system of fine particles suspended in a fluid. Paint, milk and ink are somecommon examples. Though these products are routinely produced and used, scientists stillhave much to learn about the underlying properties of colloidal systems. Understandingtheir properties may allow scientists to manipulate the physical structures of colloidsa

process called colloidal engineeringfor the manufacture of new materials and products.

The PCS experiment planned for Expedition Two beginning with International SpaceStation Mission 6A (STS-100, April 2001) and concluding with the return of the samples onFlight UF-2 will gather data on the basic physical properties of colloids by studying threedifferent colloid sample types. This experiment represents the first in-depth study of thegrowth and properties of colloidal superlatticesformed from mixtures of different-sizedcolloidal particlesperformed in a microgravity environment. Scientists hope to betterunderstand how colloid structures grow and behave with the long-term goal of learning howto control their growth to create new materials.

The experiment will focus on the growth and behavior of three different classes of colloidmixtures of tiny manmade particles of either polymethyl methacrylate or silica orpolystyrene; these will include samples of binary colloidal crystal alloys, samples of colloid-polymer mixtures and samples of colloidal gels. Binary colloidal crystal alloys aredispersions of two different size particles in a stabilizing fluid. Colloid-polymer mixtures aresolutions of mono-disperse particles mixed with a polymer in a stabilizing fluid, where thephase behaviorsolid, liquid and gasis controlled by the concentration of the polymer.Colloidal gels include aqueous solutions of particles, in this case aggregated on-orbit with asalt solution, to form fractal structures. The structure, stability and equilibrium properties ofall the samples, as well as their structure, dynamics and mechanical properties, will bestudied.

History/Background

The first generation experiments by these investigators in microgravity were Gloveboxexperiments with binary colloidal crystal alloys and colloid-polymer mixtures, flown on theRussian Space Station Mir and on the STS-95 mission in October 1998.

19


22/27


Experiments

Payload Equipment Restraint System (PERS)Payload Developer: David Reynolds, Lead Systems Engineer, NASA Flight Project

Directorate Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.Overview

The Payload Equipment Restraint System (PERS) is the result of a project involvingNASA and industrial design students at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala.PERS provides convenient access and restraint of tools, hardware and payload equipmentaboard the International Space Station. It consists of modular components that assist thespace station crew in controlling and carrying payload equipment and tools in themicrogravity, or near-weightless, environment of space.

History/Background

PERS began when NASA gave the problem of restraining loose equipment in space to anindustrial design class at Auburn University. A Marshall Space Flight Center projectmanager and Auburn professors supervised 36 students in 12 teams as they tackled thedesign and fabrication challenge.

The students submitted more than 360 innovative ideas, and ultimately 12 concepts wereselected for prototype development. The teams presented their proposals and prototypes toprogram managers and engineers at Marshall in late 1998. Marshall managers selectedthree for further development. Those were presented to the astronaut corps and ISSProgram managers in 1999.

An Auburn student who led one of the student design teams was hired by a NASAcontractor to further develop the equipment with NASA engineers and program managers.In late 1999, NASA directed fabrication of the development units that flew aboard NASAsKC-135 aircraft in early 2000 for testing and evaluation. The findings from those test flightsresulted in the final design that was qualified for flight.

Benefits

By having tools, hardware and payload equipment efficiently restrainedand not floatingfreely about the space stationcrewmembers can reduce the set-up time for experimentsand increase the amount of time devoted to science on the space station. PERS will benefitthe crews for the life of the space station.

20


23/27


Experiments

Phantom TorsoPrincipal Investigator: Dr. Gautam Badhwar, Johnson Space Center, HoustonProject Manager: Frank Gibbons, Lockheed-Martin

Overview

Traveling in space can be dangerous for human beings because of the large amounts ofradiation, especially during times of extreme solar flare activity and eventual crewedmissions to Mars or other planets.

To learn more about how to protect astronauts from the effects of radiation, monitoringdevices have flown on several space shuttle missions and the Russian space station Mir.The measurements yielded valuable information, but were limited to radiation doses on theexternal part of the body.

The Phantom Torso experiment is the first to also measure the effects of radiation onorgans inside the body, especially blood-forming organs. The Torso is a phantombecause it is not human, but so close to being human that scientists cannot tell thedifference between a human X-ray and an X-ray of the Phantom.

The Phantom Torso is similar to torsos used to train radiologists on Earth, and is equivalentin height and weight to an average adult male. Covered with a Nomex skin, the interior ishorizontally sliced into 34 sections 1-inch (2.3 centimeters) thick. Each slice is embeddedwith two kinds of detectors: passive detectors, which use no power and will be read afterthe torso returns to Earth; and active detectors that will measure real-time radiation doseson the brain, thyroid, heart and lung area, stomach and colon. Data collected from the

active detectors is transmitted by the crew on board the International Space Station toscientists on Earth every 10 days. Passive detectors on the Nomex will be used forcomparison. Radiation measurements on the ISS exterior will be taken. Data will bedownlinked every 10 days.

Benefits

The Phantom Torso will help scientists more accurately predict the radiation exposureastronauts will experience inside their bodies especially to critical blood-forming organs.Scientists also will learn how long human beings can remain in space before dangerouslevels of radiation are absorbed by the body. The experiment may lead to

countermeasures to safely prolong human exposure to radiation. There are benefits onEarth, as well. This experiment is teaching scientists more about the use of embeddeddevices for data collection and how to monitor real-time data. This could prove beneficial toradiation monitoring of commercial airline crews and military flight crews.

21


24/27


22


25/27


Experiments

Acceleration Measurements Aboard the International Space StationAcceleration

MeasurementDiscipline:Program Manager: David Francisco, NASA Glenn Research Center, ClevelandScientist: Richard DeLombard, NASA Glenn Research Center

Overview

Providing a quiescent microgravity, or low-gravity, environment for fundamental scientificresearch is one of the major goals of the International Space Station program. However,tiny disturbances aboard the space station mimic the effects of gravity, and scientists needto understand, track and measure these potential disruptions. Two accelerometer systems

developed by the Glenn Research Center will be used aboard the station. Operation ofthese systems will begin with Expedition Two and continue throughout the life of thestation.

The Space Acceleration Measurement System II (SAMS-II) will measure accelerationscaused by vehicle, crew and equipment disturbances. To complement the SAMS-IImeasurements, the Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS) will recordaccelerations caused by the aerodynamic drag created as the station moves throughspace. It also will measure accelerations created as the vehicle rotates and vents water.These small, quasi-steady accelerations occur in the frequency range below 1 Hertz.

Using data from both accelerometer systems, the Principal Investigator MicrogravityServices project at the Glenn Research Center will help investigators characterizeaccelerations that influence their station experiments. The acceleration data will beavailable to researchers during the mission via the World Wide Web. It will be updatednominally every two minutes as new data is transmitted from the station to GlennsTelescience Support Center. A catalog of acceleration sources also will be maintained.

Space Acceleration Measurement System II (SAMS-II)Project Manager: William M. Foster, Glenn Research Center

SAMS-II will begin operations on ISS Mission 6A. It measures vibrations that affect nearby

experiments. SAMS-II uses small remote triaxial sensor systems that are placed directlynext to experiments throughout the laboratory module. For Expedition Two, five sensors willbe in the EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to the Space Station Racks (EXPRESS)with experiments before launch.

As the sensors measure accelerations electronically, they transmit the measurements tothe interim control unit located in an EXPRESS Rack drawer. SAMS-II is designed torecord accelerations for the lifetime of the space station. As larger, facility-size experiments

23


26/27


fill entire space station racks in the future, the interim control unit will be replaced with amore sophisticated computer control unit. It will allow onboard data analysis and directdissemination of data to the investigators telescience centers located at universitylaboratories and other locations around the world. Special sensors are being designed tosupport future experiments that will be mounted on the exterior of the space station.

Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS)Project Manager: William Foster, Glenn Research Center

MAMS measures accelerations that affect the entire space station, including experimentsinside the laboratory. It fits in a double middeck locker, in the U.S. Laboratory Destiny inEXPRESS Rack No.1. It will be preinstalled in the rack, which will be placed in thelaboratory during Expedition Two, ISS Flight 6A. At the start of Expedition 3, MAMS will berelocated to EXPRESS Rack No. 4.

The MAMS accelerometer sensor is a spare flight sensor from the Orbital AccelerationResearch Experiment (OARE) program that characterizes similar accelerations aboard thespace shuttle. Unlike SAMS-II, MAMS measures more subtle accelerations that only affectcertain types of experiments, such as crystal growth. Therefore MAMS will not have to beon all the time. During early expeditions, MAMS will require a minimum operational periodof 48 or 96 hours to characterize the performance of the sensors and collect baseline data.During later increments, MAMS can be activated for time periods sufficient to satisfypayload or space station requirements for acceleration data.

MAMS will be commanded on and off from the Telescience Support Center at Glenn.MAMS will be activated when the crew switches on the power switch for the EXPRESSRack No. 1, and the MAMS computer is powered up from the ground control center. When

MAMS is powered on, data is sent to Glenn Research Centers Telescience Support Centerwhere it is processed and displayed on the Principal Investigator Microgravity ServicesSpace Station Web site to be viewed by investigators.

History/Background

The Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS) on which SAMS-II is based -- firstflew in June 1991 and has flown on nearly every major microgravity science mission.SAMS was used for four years aboard the Russian space station Mir where it collecteddata to support science experiments.

24


27/27


Experiments

Sub-Regional Assessment of Bone Loss In the AxialSkeleton In Long-Term Space Flight

Principal Investigator: Dr. Thomas F. Lang, University of California, San FranciscoProject Manager: David K. Baumann, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston

Overview

As demonstrated by Skylab and Russian space station Mir missions, bone loss is anestablished medical risk in long-duration space flight. There is little information about theextent that lost bone is recovered after space flight. This experiment is designed tomeasure bone loss and recovery experienced by crewmembers on the International SpaceStation.

Experiment Operations

Bone loss in the spine and hip will be determined by comparing preflight and postflightmeasurements of crewmembers spine and hip bones using Quantitative ComputedTomography -- a three-dimensional technique that examines the inner and outer portions ofa bone separately. It can determine if the loss was localized in a small sub-region of thebone, or over a larger area.

Bone recovery will be assessed by comparing tomography data taken before and afterflight, and one year later. Results will be compared with ultrasound measurements andDual X-Ray Absorptiometry taken at the same times. The measurements will include DualX-Ray Absorptiometry of the spine, hip and heel, and ultrasound of the heel. Theexperiment begins with the Increment Two crewmembers. Increments Three through Sixcrews also will be measured. To determine how the bone loss in space compares to therange of bone density in a normal adult population, crewmember bone measurements inthe spine and hip will be compared to measurements of 120 healthy people of differentgenders and races between ages 35 and 45.

Benefits

This study will provide the first detailed information on the distribution of spaceflight-relatedbone loss between the trabecular and cortical compartments of the axial skeleton, as wellas the extent to which lost bone is recovered in the year following return. The study willprovide information that could be used in determining the frequency of crewmemberassignments to long-duration missions, and for studying their health in older age. It alsomay be of use in the design of exercise or pharmacological countermeasures to preventbone loss. Finally, comparison of bone mineral density in the hip and spine in the controlpopulation will help to improve understanding of the prevalence of osteoporosis betweendifferent race and gender sub-groups.

Documents

NASA ISS Expedition 2 Press Kit