The International Space Station, ISS (eng. International Space Station, ISS) is a manned multi-purpose space research complex.
The following are involved in the creation of the ISS: Russia (Federal Space Agency, Roskosmos); United States (US National Aerospace Agency, NASA); Japan (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA), 18 European countries (European Space Agency, ESA); Canada (Canadian Space Agency, CSA), Brazil (Brazilian Space Agency, AEB).
Start of construction - 1998.
The first module is "Dawn".
Completion of construction (presumably) - 2012.
The end date of the ISS is (presumably) 2020.
Orbit height - 350-460 kilometers from the Earth.
Orbital inclination - 51.6 degrees.
The ISS makes 16 revolutions per day.
The weight of the station (at the time of completion of construction) is 400 tons (for 2009 - 300 tons).
Internal space (at the time of completion of construction) - 1.2 thousand cubic meters.
Length (along the main axis along which the main modules lined up) is 44.5 meters.
Height - almost 27.5 meters.
Width (on solar panels) - more than 73 meters.
The first space tourists visited the ISS (sent by Roscosmos together with Space Adventures).
In 2007, the flight of the first Malaysian cosmonaut, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, was organized.
The cost of building the ISS by 2009 amounted to $100 billion.
Flight control:
the Russian segment is carried out from TsUP-M (TsUP-Moscow, the city of Korolev, Russia);
the American segment - from MCC-X (MCC-Houston, the city of Houston, USA).
The work of the laboratory modules included in the ISS is controlled by:
European "Columbus" - Control Center of the European Space Agency (Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany);
Japanese "Kibo" - MCC of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Tsukuba, Japan).
The flight of the European automatic cargo spacecraft ATV Jules Verne, intended for supplying the ISS, was controlled jointly with MCC-M and MCC-X by the Center of the European Space Agency (Toulouse, France).
Technical coordination of work on the Russian Segment of the ISS and its integration with the American Segment is carried out by the Council of Chief Designers under the leadership of the President, General Designer of RSC Energia named after V.I. S.P. Korolev, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yu.P. Semenov.
The Interstate Commission for Flight Support and Operation of Manned Orbital Systems is in charge of preparing and conducting the launch of elements of the ISS Russian Segment.
According to the existing international agreement, each project participant owns its segments on the ISS.
The leading organization for the creation of the Russian segment and its integration with the American segment is RSC Energia im. S.P. Queen, and in the American segment - the company "Boeing" ("Boeing").
About 200 organizations take part in the manufacture of elements of the Russian segment, including: the Russian Academy of Sciences; plant of experimental engineering RSC "Energia" them. S.P. Queen; rocket and space plant GKNPTs them. M.V. Khrunichev; GNP RCC "TsSKB-Progress"; Design Bureau of General Engineering; RNII of space instrumentation; Research Institute of Precision Instruments; RGNI TsPK im. Yu.A. Gagarin.
Russian segment: Zvezda service module; functional cargo block "Zarya"; docking compartment "Pirce".
American segment: node module "Unity" ("Unity"); gateway module "Quest" ("Quest"); laboratory module "Destiny" ("Destiny").
Canada has created a manipulator for the ISS on the LAB module - a 17.6-meter robot arm "Canadarm" ("Canadarm").
Italy supplies the ISS with the so-called Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules (MPLM). By 2009, three of them were made: "Leonardo", "Raffaello", "Donatello" ("Leonardo", "Raffaello", "Donatello"). These are large cylinders (6.4 x 4.6 meters) with a docking station. The empty logistics module weighs 4.5 tons and can be loaded with up to 10 tons of experimental equipment and consumables.
The delivery of people to the station is provided by Russian Soyuz and American shuttles (reusable shuttles); cargo is delivered by Russian "Progress" and American shuttles.
Japan created its first scientific orbital laboratory, which became the largest module of the ISS - "Kibo" (translated from Japanese as "Hope", the international abbreviation is JEM, Japanese Experiment Module).
By order of the European Space Agency, a consortium of European aerospace firms made the Columbus research module. It is intended for conducting physical, material science, biomedical and other experiments in the absence of gravity. By order of ESA, the Harmony module was made, which connects the Kibo and Columbus modules, as well as provides their power supply and data exchange.
Additional modules and devices were also made on the ISS: a module for the root segment and gyrodins at node-1 (Node 1); power module (section SB AS) on Z1; mobile service system; device for moving equipment and crew; device "B" of the equipment and crew movement system; trusses S0, S1, P1, P3/P4, P5, S3/S4, S5, S6.
All ISS laboratory modules have standardized racks for mounting units with experimental equipment. Over time, the ISS will acquire new nodes and modules: the Russian segment should be replenished with a scientific and energy platform, the Enterprise multipurpose research module (Enterprise) and the second functional cargo block (FGB-2). On the Node 3 module, the "Cupola" assembly built in Italy will be mounted. This is a dome with a number of very large windows through which the inhabitants of the station, like in a theater, will be able to observe the arrival of ships and control the work of their colleagues in outer space.
History of the creation of the ISS
Work on the International Space Station began in 1993.
Russia offered the US to join forces in the implementation of manned programs. By that time, Russia had a 25-year history of operation of the Salyut and Mir orbital stations, as well as invaluable experience in conducting long-term flights, research, and a developed space infrastructure. But by 1991, the country was in a difficult economic situation. At the same time, the creators of the Freedom orbital station (USA) also experienced financial difficulties.
On March 15, 1993, the general director of the Roscosmos agency, Yu.N. Koptev and General Designer of NPO Energia Yu.P. Semenov approached the head of NASA, Goldin, with a proposal to create the International Space Station.
On September 2, 1993, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Viktor Chernomyrdin and US Vice President Al Gore signed the "Joint Statement on Cooperation in Space", which provided for the creation of a joint station. On November 1, 1993, the "Detailed work plan for the International Space Station" was signed, and in June 1994, a contract between NASA and Roscosmos "On supplies and services for the Mir station and the International Space Station" was signed.
The initial stage of construction provides for the creation of a functionally complete plant structure from a limited number of modules. The first to be launched into orbit by the Proton-K launch vehicle was the Zarya functional cargo block (1998), made in Russia. The shuttle was delivered by the second ship and docked with the functional cargo block the American docking module Node-1 - "Unity" (December 1998). The third was the Russian service module Zvezda (2000), which provides station control, life support for the crew, station orientation and orbit correction. The fourth is the American laboratory module "Destiny" (2001).
The first prime crew of the ISS, who arrived at the station on November 2, 2000 on the Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft: William Shepherd (USA), ISS commander, flight engineer-2 of the Soyuz-TM-31 spacecraft; Sergey Krikalev (Russia), Soyuz-TM-31 flight engineer; Yuri Gidzenko (Russia), ISS pilot, Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft commander.
The duration of the flight of the ISS-1 crew was about four months. Its return to Earth was carried out by the American Space Shuttle, which delivered the crew of the second main expedition to the ISS. The Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft remained a part of the ISS for half a year and served as a rescue ship for the crew working on board.
In 2001, the P6 power module was installed on the Z1 root segment, the Destiny laboratory module, the Quest airlock, the Pirs docking compartment, two cargo telescopic booms, and a remote manipulator were delivered into orbit. In 2002, the station was replenished with three truss structures (S0, S1, P6), two of which are equipped with transport devices for moving the remote manipulator and astronauts while working in outer space.
The construction of the ISS was suspended due to the crash of the American spacecraft Columbia on February 1, 2003, and in 2006 construction work was resumed.
In 2001 and twice in 2007, computers failed in the Russian and American segments. In 2006, smoke occurred in the Russian segment of the station. In the fall of 2007, the station crew carried out repair work on the solar battery.
New sections of solar panels were delivered to the station. At the end of 2007, the ISS was replenished with two pressurized modules. In October, the Discovery shuttle STS-120 brought the Harmony Node-2 connection module into orbit, which became the main berth for the shuttles.
The European laboratory module "Columbus" was launched into orbit on the Atlantis STS-122 spacecraft and, with the help of the manipulator of this spacecraft, was put into its regular place (February 2008). Then the Japanese Kibo module was introduced into the ISS (June 2008), its first element was delivered to the ISS by the Endeavor shuttle STS-123 (March 2008).
Prospects for the ISS
According to some pessimistic experts, the ISS is a waste of time and money. They believe that the station has not yet been built, but is already outdated.
However, in the implementation of a long-term program of space flights to the Moon or Mars, mankind cannot do without the ISS.
Since 2009, the permanent crew of the ISS will be increased to 9 people, and the number of experiments will increase. Russia has planned to conduct 331 experiments on the ISS in the coming years. The European Space Agency (ESA) and its partners have already built a new transport ship - Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), which will be launched into the base orbit (300 kilometers high) by the Ariane-5 ES ATV rocket, from where the ATV will go into orbit due to its engines ISS (400 kilometers above the Earth). The payload of this automatic ship with a length of 10.3 meters and a diameter of 4.5 meters is 7.5 tons. This will include experimental equipment, food, air and water for the ISS crew. The first of the ATV series (September 2008) was named "Jules Verne". After docking with the ISS in automatic mode, the ATV can work in its composition for six months, after which the ship is loaded with garbage and flooded in the Pacific Ocean in a controlled mode. ATVs are planned to be launched once a year, and at least 7 of them will be built in total. The Japanese H-II "Transfer Vehicle" (HTV) automatic truck, launched into orbit by the Japanese H-IIB launch vehicle, which is still being developed, will join the ISS program. . The total weight of the HTV will be 16.5 tons, of which 6 tons is the payload for the station. It will be able to stay docked to the ISS for up to one month.
Obsolete shuttles will be decommissioned in 2010, and the new generation will appear no earlier than 2014-2015.
By 2010, the Russian manned Soyuz will be modernized: first of all, they will replace the electronic control and communication systems, which will increase the ship's payload by reducing the weight of electronic equipment. The updated "Union" will be able to be part of the station for almost a year. The Russian side will build the Clipper spacecraft (according to the plan, the first test manned flight into orbit is in 2014, commissioning is in 2016). This six-seater reusable winged shuttle is conceived in two versions: with an aggregate-household compartment (ABO) or an engine compartment (DO). The Clipper, which has risen into space to a relatively low orbit, will be followed by the interorbital tug Parom. Ferry is a new development designed to replace the cargo Progresses over time. This tug should pull from the low reference orbit to the ISS orbit the so-called "containers", cargo "barrels" with a minimum of equipment (4-13 tons of cargo), launched into space with the help of Soyuz or Proton. The "Parom" has two docking stations: one for the container, the second - for mooring to the ISS. After the container is put into orbit, the ferry, due to its propulsion system, descends to it, docks with it and lifts it to the ISS. And after unloading the container, "Parom" lowers it into a lower orbit, where it undocks and slows down on its own to burn up in the atmosphere. The tug will have to wait for a new container to deliver it to the ISS.
RSC Energia official website: http://www.energia.ru/rus/iss/iss.html
The official website of the Boeing Corporation (Boeing): http://www.boeing.com
Mission Control Center official website: http://www.mcc.rsa.ru
Official website of the US National Aerospace Agency (NASA): http://www.nasa.gov
Official website of the European Space Agency (ESA): http://www.esa.int/esaCP/index.html
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) official website: http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html
Official website of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA): http://www.space.gc.ca/index.html
Official website of the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB):
International space station. It is a 400-ton structure, consisting of several dozen modules with an internal volume of over 900 cubic meters, which serves as a home for six space explorers. The ISS is not only the largest structure ever built by man in space, but also a true symbol of international cooperation. But this colossus did not appear from scratch - it took more than 30 launches to create it.
And it all started with the Zarya module, delivered into orbit by the Proton launch vehicle in such a distant November 1998.
Two weeks later, the Unity module went into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor.
The Endeavor crew docked two modules, which became the main one for the future ISS.
The third element of the station was the Zvezda residential module, launched in the summer of 2000. Interestingly, Zvezda was originally developed as a replacement for the base module of the Mir orbital station (AKA Mir 2). But the reality that followed after the collapse of the USSR made its own adjustments, and this module became the heart of the ISS, which, in general, is also not bad, because only after its installation it became possible to send long-term expeditions to the station.
The first crew went to the ISS in October 2000. Since then, the station has been continuously inhabited for over 13 years.
In the same autumn of 2000, several shuttles visited the ISS and installed a power module with the first set of solar panels.
In the winter of 2001, the ISS was replenished with the Destiny laboratory module delivered into orbit by the Atlantis shuttle. The Destiny was docked to the Unity module.
The main assembly of the station was carried out by shuttles. In 2001-2002 they delivered external storage platforms to the ISS.
Hand-manipulator "Kanadarm2".
Airlock compartments "Quest" and "Piers".
And most importantly - elements of truss structures that were used to store cargo outside the station, install radiators, new solar panels and other equipment. The total length of the trusses currently reaches 109 meters.
2003 Due to the disaster of the space shuttle "Columbia", work on the assembly of the ISS is suspended for almost three to three years.
2005 year. Finally, the shuttles return to space and the construction of the station resumes
Shuttles deliver all new elements of truss structures into orbit.
With their help, new sets of solar panels are installed on the ISS, which allows increasing its power supply.
In the fall of 2007, the ISS is replenished with the Harmony module (it docks with the Destiny module), which in the future will become a connecting node for two research laboratories: the European Columbus and the Japanese Kibo.
In 2008, the Columbus is delivered into orbit by a shuttle and docked with the Harmony (lower left module at the bottom of the station).
March 2009 Shuttle Discovery delivers the last fourth set of solar arrays into orbit. Now the station is operating at full capacity and can accommodate a permanent crew of 6 people.
In 2009, the station is replenished with the Russian Poisk module.
In addition, the assembly of the Japanese "Kibo" begins (the module consists of three components).
February 2010 The "Calm" module is added to the "Unity" module.
In turn, the famous "Dome" docks with "Tranquility".
It's so good to make observations from it.
Summer 2011 - shuttles retire.
But before that, they tried to deliver to the ISS as much equipment and equipment as possible, including robots specially trained to kill all humans.
Fortunately, by the time the shuttles retired, the assembly of the ISS was almost complete.
But still not completely. It is planned that in 2015 the Russian laboratory module Nauka will be launched, which will replace Pirs.
In addition, it is possible that the Bigelow experimental inflatable module, which is currently being developed by Bigelow Aerospace, will be docked to the ISS. If successful, it will be the first orbital station module built by a private company.
However, there is nothing surprising in this - a private truck "Dragon" in 2012 already flew to the ISS, and why not private modules appear? Although, of course, it is obvious that it will be a long time before private companies can create structures similar to the ISS.
In the meantime, this does not happen, it is planned that the ISS will work in orbit until at least 2024 - although I personally hope that in reality this period will be much longer. Still, too much human effort was put into this project to shut it down for momentary savings and not for scientific reasons. And even more so, I sincerely hope that no political squabbles will affect the fate of this unique structure.
The International Space Station is a manned orbital station of the Earth, the fruit of the work of fifteen countries of the world, hundreds of billions of dollars and a dozen service personnel in the form of astronauts and cosmonauts who regularly go on board the ISS. The International Space Station is such a symbolic outpost of mankind in space, the farthest point of permanent residence of people in vacuum space (while there are no colonies on Mars, of course). The ISS was launched in 1998 as a sign of reconciliation between countries that tried to develop their own orbital stations (and this was, but not for long) during the Cold War, and will operate until 2024 if nothing changes. On board the ISS, experiments are regularly carried out, which give their fruits, which are undoubtedly significant for science and space exploration.
$52 million is suddenly in your pocket and it's tight. So you decide what to do with them. Buy your own island? Boring. New lamp? Tired. How about going to a five-star hotel called ""? Here you are waiting for: uncomfortable toilets, sleeping upside down, cramped rooms and space. Lots of space. Billionaire Robert Bigelow presented just such a proposal last week.
The first SpaceX passenger team has been assembled, the flight date has been set, and now it's time to get them ready for the journey into space. On Monday, SpaceX President Gwynn Shotwell showed the first four NASA astronauts who will go into space on the company's new passenger spacecraft, itself built for NASA's commercial manned flight program. The company also told what tools the astronauts will use to prepare for these flights.
Lineup MKC (Dawn — Columbus)
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ISS configuration
Functional cargo block "Zarya"
The deployment of the ISS began with the launch on November 20, 1998 (09:40:00 UTC) using the Russian Proton launch vehicle of the Zarya functional cargo unit (FGB), also created in Russia.
The Zarya functional cargo block is the first element of the International Space Station (ISS). It was designed and manufactured by the M.V. Khrunichev (Moscow, Russia) in accordance with the contract concluded with the general subcontractor for the ISS project — the Boeing Company (Houston, Texas, USA). The assembly of the ISS in near-Earth orbit begins with this module. At the initial stage of assembly, the FGB provides flight control for a bundle of modules, power supply, communications, reception, storage and transfer of fuel.
Scheme of the functional cargo block "Zarya"
| Parameter | Meaning |
| Mass in orbit | 20260 kg |
| body length | 12990 mm |
| Max Diameter | 4100 mm |
| The volume of hermetic compartments | 71.5 cubic meters |
| Swipe solar panels | 24400 mm |
| 28 sq.m | |
| Guaranteed average daily power supply voltage 28 V | 3 kW |
| Power supply capacity of the American segment | up to 2 kW |
| Mass of refueling fuel | up to 6100 kg |
| Working orbit height | 350-500 km |
| 15 years |
The layout of the FGB includes an instrument-cargo compartment (ICP) and a pressurized adapter (GA) designed to accommodate on-board systems that provide mechanical docking with other ISS modules and ships arriving at the ISS. The HA is separated from the PGO by a hermetic spherical bulkhead, which has a hatch with a diameter of 800 mm. On the outer surface of the GA there is a special unit for the mechanical capture of the FGB by the manipulator of the Shuttle spacecraft. The hermetic volume of PGO is 64.5 cubic meters, GA - 7.0 cubic meters. The internal space of the PGO and GA is divided into two zones: instrumental and residential. Blocks of on-board systems are located in the instrument area. The living area is intended for crew work. It contains elements of control and management systems for the onboard complex, as well as emergency warning and warning. The instrument area is separated from the living area by interior panels.
PGO is functionally divided into three compartments: PGO-2 is the conical section of the FGB, PGO-Z is a cylindrical section adjacent to the GA, PGO-1 is a cylindrical section between PGO-2 and PGO-Z.
Connecting module "Unity"
The first US-made element of the International Space Station is the Node 1 (“first node”) module, also called Unity (“Unity” or “Unity”).
The Node 1 module was manufactured by The Boeing Co. in Huntsville (Alabama).
The module has over 50,000 parts, 216 pipelines for pumping liquids and gases, 121 indoor and outdoor cables with a total length of about 10 km.
The module was delivered and installed by the crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavor (STS-88) on December 7, 1998. Crew: Commander Robert Cabana, Pilot Frederic Sturkou, Flight Specialists Jerry Ross, Nancy Currie, James Newman and Sergey Krikalev.
The Unity module is a cylindrical structure made of aluminum with six hatches for connecting other components of the station - four of which (radial) are openings with frames closed by hatches, and two end ones are equipped with locks, to which docking adapters are attached, having two axial docking node., forms a corridor connecting the living and working premises of the International Space Station. This node, 5.49 m long and 4.58 m in diameter, is connected to the Zarya functional cargo block.
In addition to connecting to the Zarya module, this node serves as a corridor connecting the American laboratory module, the American inhabited module (accommodation compartments) and the airlock.
Important systems and communications pass through the Unity module, such as pipelines for supplying liquids, gases, environmental controls, life support systems, power supply and data transmission.
At the Kennedy Space Center, the Unity was equipped with two Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMAs), which look like asymmetrical conical crowns. The PMA-1 adapter will provide docking of American and Russian components of the station, PMA-2 - docking of the Space Shuttle to it. The adapters contain computers that provide control and management functions for the Unity module, as well as data transmission, voice information and video communication with the Houston MCC at the first stages of the ISS installation, complementing the Russian communication systems installed in the Zarya module. The adapter elements are built at Boeing's Huntington Beach, California facility.
Unity with two adapters in the launch configuration has a length of 10.98 m and a mass of about 11500 kg.
The design and manufacture of the Unity module cost approximately $300 million.
Service Module Zvezda
The service module (SM) "Zvezda" was launched into low-Earth orbit by the carrier rocket "Proton" on 12.07.2000. (07:56:36 DMV) and 07/26/2000. docked to the functional cargo block (FGB) of the ISS.
Structurally, the Zvezda SM consists of four compartments: three sealed ones - a transitional compartment (PxO), a working compartment (RO) and an intermediate chamber (PrK), as well as an unpressurized aggregate compartment (AO), which houses the combined propulsion system (ODU). The body of the sealed compartments is made of aluminum-magnesium alloy and is a welded structure consisting of cylindrical, conical and spherical blocks.
The transfer compartment is designed to ensure the transfer of crew members between the SM and other ISS modules. It also performs the functions of an airlock compartment when the crew members go into outer space, for which there is a pressure relief valve on the side cover.
The shape of the FSO is a combination of a sphere with a diameter of 2.2 m and a truncated cone with base diameters of 1.35 m and 1.9 m. The length of the FSO is 2.78 m, the hermetic volume is 6.85 m3. The conical part (large diameter) of the PxO is attached to the RO. Three hybrid passive docking units SSVP-M G8000 (one axial and two lateral) are installed on the spherical part of the FSO. FGB "Zarya" is docked to the axial node at the FSO. It is planned to install the Scientific and Energy Platform (SEP) at the upper node of the FSO. First, Docking Compartment No. 1, and then the Universal Docking Module (USM) should moor to the lower docking port.
Main technical characteristics
| Parameter | Meaning |
| Docking nodes | 4 things. |
| Portholes | 13 pcs. |
| Mass of the module at the launch stage | 22776 kg |
| Mass in orbit after separation from the launch vehicle | 20295 kg |
| Module dimensions: | |
| length with fairing and intermediate compartment | 15.95 m |
| length without fairing and intermediate compartment | 12.62 m |
| body length | 13.11 m |
| width with solar panel open | 29.73 m |
| maximum diameter | 4.35 m |
| volume of sealed compartments | 89.0 m3 |
| internal volume with equipment | 75,0 m3 |
| crew accommodation | 46.7 m3 |
| Crew life support | up to 6 people |
| Swipe solar panels | 29.73 m |
| Area of photovoltaic cells | 76 m2 |
| Maximum output power of solar panels | 13.8 kW |
| Duration of operation in orbit | 15 years |
| Power supply system: | |
| operating voltage, V | 28 |
| solar panels power, kW | 10 |
| Propulsion system: | |
| marching engines, kgf | 2?312 |
| attitude thrusters, kgf | 32?13,3 |
| mass of oxidizer (nitrogen tetroxide), kg | 558 |
| mass of fuel (UDMG), kg | 302 |
Main functions:
- provision of working and rest conditions for the crew;
- management of the main parts of the complex;
- supply of the complex with electricity;
- two-way radio communication of the crew with the ground control complex (GCC);
- reception and transmission of television information;
- transmission to the NKU of telemetric information about the state of the crew and on-board systems;
- reception on board of management information;
- orientation of the complex relative to the center of mass;
- complex orbit correction;
- rendezvous and docking of other objects of the complex;
- maintenance of a given temperature and humidity regime of the living volume, structural elements and equipment;
- exit to the open space of cosmonauts, performance of works on maintenance and repair of the outer surface of the station;
- conducting scientific and applied research and experiments using the delivered target equipment;
- the ability to carry out two-way on-board communication of all modules of the Alpha complex.
On the outer surface of the PchO there are brackets on which handrails are fixed, three sets of antennas (AR-VKA, 2AR-VKA and 4AO-VKA) of the Kurs system for three docking nodes, docking targets, STR units, a remote control refueling unit, a television camera, airborne lights and other equipment. The outer surface is covered with EVTI panels and anti-meteorite screens. There are four portholes in the PHO.
The working compartment is designed to accommodate the main part of the onboard systems and equipment of the SM, for the life and work of the crew.
The RO body consists of two cylinders of different diameters (2.9 m and 4.1 m) connected to each other by a conical adapter. The length of a small diameter cylinder is 3.5 m, a large one is 2.9 m. The front and rear bottoms are spherical. The total length of the SR is 7.7 m, the hermetic volume with equipment is 75.0 m3, the crew dwelling volume is 35.1 m3. Interior panels separate the living area from the control room, as well as from the RO building.
There are 8 portholes in the RO.
The living quarters of the RO are equipped with means of ensuring the life of the crew. In the zone of small diameter of the RO there is a central station control post with control units and emergency warning panels. In the large diameter area of the RO there are two personal cabins (1.2 m3 each), a sanitary compartment with a washbasin and a sewage device (1.2 m3), a kitchen with a refrigerator-freezer, a work table with fixation devices, medical equipment, exercise equipment, a small lock chamber for separating containers with waste and small spacecraft.
From the outside, the RO housing is closed with multilayer screen-vacuum thermal insulation (EVTI). Radiators are installed on the cylindrical parts, which also serve as anti-meteorite screens. Areas unprotected by radiators are covered with honeycomb carbon fiber screens.
Handrails are installed on the outer surface of the RV, which the crew members can use to move and fix while working in outer space.
Outside the small diameter of the RO, sensors of the motion and navigation control system (SUDN) for orientation along the Sun and the Earth, four sensors of the SB orientation system and other equipment are installed.
The intermediate chamber is designed to ensure the transition of cosmonauts between the SM and the Soyuz or Progress spacecraft docked to the aft docking unit.
The PRC is shaped like a cylinder with a diameter of 2.0 m and a length of 2.34 m. The internal volume is 7.0 m3.
The RC is equipped with one passive docking unit located along the longitudinal axis of the SM. The node is designed for docking of cargo and transport ships, including Russian ships Soyuz TM, Soyuz TMA, Progress M and Progress M2, as well as the European automatic vehicle ATV. For external observation, there are two portholes in the PK, and a TV camera is fixed on it from the outside.
The aggregate compartment is designed to accommodate the units of the joint propulsion system (APU).
The AO has a cylindrical shape, from the end it is closed with a bottom screen made of EVTI. The outer surface of the AO is closed with an anti-meteorite protective casing and EVTI. Handrails and antennas are installed on the outer surface, there are hatches for servicing equipment located inside the AO.
At the stern of the AO there are two corrective engines, and on the side surface there are four blocks of orientation engines. Outside, on the rear frame of the AO, a rod with a highly directional antenna (ONA) of the Lira on-board radio system is fixed. In addition, there are three antennas of the Kurs system, four antennas of the radio engineering control and communication system, two antennas of the television system, six antennas of the telephone and telegraph communication system, and antennas of the orbit radio monitoring equipment on the AO case.
Also, SUDN sensors for orientation to the Sun, sensors of the SB orientation system, side lights, etc. are fixed at the AO.
Internal layout of the Service Module:
1 - transition compartment; 2 - passage hatch; 3 - docking equipment in manual mode; 4 - gas mask; 5 - air purification units; 6 - solid fuel oxygen generators; 7 - cabin; 8 - compartment of the sanitary device; 9 - intermediate chamber; 10 - passage hatch; 11 - fire extinguisher; 12 - aggregate compartment; 13 - the place of installation of the treadmill; 14 - dust collector; 15 - table; 16 - the place of installation of the bicycle ergometer; 17 - portholes; 18 - central control post.
The composition of the service equipment of the SM "Zvezda":
onboard control complex consisting of:
— traffic control systems (CMS);
— onboard computer system;
— airborne radio complex;
— on-board measurement systems;
- onboard complex control systems (SUBC);
— equipment for teleoperator control mode (TORU);
power supply system (EPS);
integrated propulsion system (APU);
system for ensuring thermal regimes (SOTR);
life support system (SOZH);
medical supplies.
Laboratory module "Destiny"
On February 9, 2001, the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis STS-98 delivered and docked the laboratory module Destiny (Destiny) to the station.
The American science module Destiny consists of three cylindrical sections and two terminal truncated cones that contain airtight hatches used by the crew to enter and exit the module. The Destiny is docked to the forward docking port of the Unity module.
The science and support equipment inside the Destiny module is mounted in ISPR (International Standard Payload Racks) standard payload units. In total, Destiny contains 23 ISPR units - six each on the starboard, port side and ceiling, and five on the floor.
Destiny has a life support system that provides power, air purification, and temperature and humidity control in the module.
In the pressurized module, astronauts can perform research in various areas of scientific knowledge: medicine, technology, biotechnology, physics, materials science, and the study of the Earth.
The module was manufactured by the American company Boeing.
Universal lock chamber "Quest"
The universal airlock Quest was delivered to the ISS by the Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-104 on July 15, 2001 and, using the remote manipulator of the Canadarm 2 station, was removed from the cargo compartment of the Atlantis, transferred and docked to the berth of the American module NODE-1 "Unity".
The Quest universal airlock is designed to provide spacewalks for ISS crews using both American spacesuits and Russian Orlan spacesuits.
Prior to the installation of this airlock, spacewalks were carried out either through the transition compartment (Pho) of the Zvezda service module (in Russian spacesuits) or through the Space Shuttle (in American spacesuits).
Once installed and brought into working condition, the lock chamber became one of the main systems for providing spacewalks and return to the ISS and allowed the use of any of the existing spacesuit systems or both at the same time.
Main technical characteristics
The airlock is a sealed module consisting of two main compartments (docked at their ends using a connecting partition and a hatch): the crew compartment, through which the astronauts leave the ISS into outer space, and the equipment compartment, where units and spacesuits are stored to ensure EVA, as well as the so-called night "washout" units, which are used on the night before spacewalks to flush out nitrogen from the astronaut's blood in the process of lowering atmospheric pressure. This procedure makes it possible to avoid the manifestation of signs of decompression after the astronaut returns from outer space and pressurizes the compartment.
crew compartment
height - 2565 mm.
outer diameter - 1996 mm.
hermetic volume - 4.25 cubic meters. m.
Basic equipment:
hatch for spacewalk with a diameter of 1016 mm;
gateway control panel.
Equipment compartment
Main technical characteristics:
length - 2962 mm.
outer diameter - 4445 mm.
hermetic volume - 29.75 cubic meters. m.
Basic equipment:
pressure hatch for transition to the equipment compartment;
pressure hatch for transfer to the ISS
two standard racks with service systems;
equipment for maintaining spacesuits and debugging equipment for EVA;
pump for pumping out the atmosphere;
panel for connecting interface connectors;
The crew compartment is a redesigned outer airlock of the Space Shuttle. It is equipped with a lighting system, external handrails and UIA (Umbilical Interface Assembly) interface connectors for connecting support systems. UIA connectors are located on one of the walls of the crew compartment and are designed for water supply, liquid waste removal and oxygen supply. The connectors are also used to provide communication and power supply to the spacesuits and can simultaneously serve two spacesuits (both Russian and American).
Before opening the hatch of the crew compartment for EVA, the pressure in the compartment is reduced first to 0.2 atm, and then to zero.
Inside the suit, an atmosphere of pure oxygen is maintained at a pressure of 0.3 atm for the American suit and 0.4 atm for the Russian one.
Reduced pressure is required to ensure sufficient mobility of the suits. At higher pressures, suits become stiff and difficult to work in for extended periods of time.
The equipment compartment is equipped with service systems for donning and removing space suits, as well as for periodic maintenance work.
In the equipment compartment there are devices for maintaining the atmosphere inside the compartment, batteries, power supply system and other supporting systems.
The Quest module can provide an air environment with a reduced nitrogen content in which astronauts can “spend the night” before spacewalks, due to which their bloodstream is cleared of excess nitrogen, which prevents decompression sickness while working in a spacesuit with oxygen saturated air , and after work, when the ambient pressure changes (the pressure in the Russian Orlan spacesuits is 0.4 atm, in the American EMUs it is 0.3 atm). In the past, to prepare for spacewalks, to rid the body of nitrogen, a method was used in which people inhaled pure oxygen for several hours before going out.
In April 2006, ISS-12 Expedition Commander William McArthur, and ISS-13 Expedition Flight Engineer Geoffrey Williams, tested a new method of preparing for spacewalks by spending the night in the airlock. The pressure in the chamber was reduced from normal - 1 atm. (101 kilopascals or 14.7 pounds per square inch), up to 0.69 atm. (70 kPa or 10.2 psi). Due to an error by the MCC officer, the crew was awakened four hours ahead of schedule, and yet the test was considered successfully passed. After that, this method began to be used by the American side on an ongoing basis before going into space.
The Quest module was needed by the American side because their suits did not match the parameters of Russian airlocks - they had different components, different settings, and different connecting mounts. Prior to the installation of Quest, spacewalks could only be carried out from the airlock compartment of the Zvezda module in Orlan spacesuits. American EMU could be used for spacewalks only during the docking of their shuttle to the ISS. In the future, the connection of the Pirs module added another option for using the Orlans.
The module was attached on July 14, 2001 by STS-104. It was installed on the right docking port of the Unity module to a single docking mechanism (eng. CBM).
The module contains equipment and is designed to work with both types of suits, but currently (information as of 2006!) is only able to function with the American side because the equipment needed to work with Russian space suits has not yet been launched. As a result, when the ISS-9 expedition had problems with the American spacesuits, they had to make their way to their workplace in a roundabout way.
On February 21, 2005, due to a malfunction of the Quest module, caused, as the media reported, by rust formed in the airlock, the astronauts temporarily carried out spacewalks through the Zvezda module
Docking compartment Pirs
The Docking Compartment (SO) Pirs, which is an element of the Russian Segment of the ISS, was launched on September 15, 2001 as part of the Progress M-SO1 Specialized Cargo Module Vehicle (GCM). On September 17, 2001, the Progress M-CO1 spacecraft docked with the International Space Station.
The Pirs docking compartment was designed and manufactured by RSC Energia and has a dual purpose. It can be used as an airlock compartment for spacewalks of two crew members and serves as an additional port for docking with the ISS of manned spacecraft of the Soyuz TM type and automatic cargo spacecraft of the Progress M type.
In addition, it provides the possibility of refueling the ISS PC tanks with propellant components delivered on cargo transport vehicles.
Main technical characteristics
| Parameter | Meaning |
| Weight at start, kg | 4350 |
| Mass in orbit, kg | 3580 |
| Reserve weight of delivered cargo, kg | 800 |
| Orbit height during assembly, km | 350-410 |
| Operating altitude of the orbit, km | 410-460 |
| Length (with docking units), m | 4,91 |
| Maximum diameter, m | 2,55 |
| The volume of the sealed compartment, m? | 13 |
The Pirs docking compartment consists of a pressurized body and equipment installed on it, service systems and structural elements that provide spacewalks.
The pressure vessel of the compartment and the power set are made of aluminum alloys AMg-6, pipelines are made of corrosion-resistant steels and titanium alloys. Outside, the case is closed with 1 mm thick panels of anti-meteorite protection and screen-vacuum thermal insulation
Two docking nodes - active and passive - are located along the longitudinal axis of the Pirs. The active docking station is designed for hermetic connection with the Zvezda CM. The passive docking station, located on the opposite side of the compartment, is designed for hermetic connection with Soyuz TM and Progress M transport vehicles.
Outside the compartment, there are four antennas of the Kurs-A relative motion measurement equipment used when docking SO to the ISS, as well as the equipment of the Kurs-P system, which ensures rendezvous and docking of transport ships to the compartment.
Two annular frames with hatches for spacewalks are installed in the hull. Both hatches have a clear diameter of 1000 mm. Each lid has a porthole with a clear diameter of 228 mm. Both hatches are absolutely equivalent and can be used depending on which side of the Pirs is more convenient for the crew members to go out into outer space. Each hatch is designed for 120 openings. For the convenience of cosmonauts' work in outer space, there are ring handrails around the hatches inside and outside the compartment.
Handrails are also installed outside all elements of the compartment body to facilitate the work of crew members during exits.
Inside the Pirs CO, there are blocks of equipment for the systems of thermal control, communication, control of the onboard complex, television and telemetry systems, cables of the onboard network and pipelines of the thermal control system are laid.
The compartment contains control panels for locking, control and management of SO service systems, communication, removal and supply of power supply, lighting switches, electrical sockets.
Two BSS interface units provide locking for two crew members in Orlan-M spacesuits.
Service systems of the module:
thermal control system;
communication system;
onboard complex control system;
consoles for control and management of SO service systems;
television and telemetry systems.
Module target systems:
gateway control panels.
two interface units providing airlock for two crew members.
two hatches for spacewalks with a diameter of 1000 mm.
active and passive docking stations.
Connection module "Harmony"
The Harmony module was delivered to the ISS aboard the Discovery shuttle (STS-120) and on October 26, 2007 it was temporarily installed on the left docking port of the Unity module of the ISS.
On November 14, 2007, the Harmony module was moved by the ISS-16 crew to its permanent location, the forward docking port of the Destiny module. Previously, the shuttle docking module was moved to the forward docking port of the Harmony module.
The "Harmony" module is a connecting element for two research laboratories: European - "Columbus" and Japanese - "Kibo".
It provides power supply to the modules connected to it and data exchange. To ensure the possibility of increasing the number of permanent ISS crew, an additional life support system is installed in the module.
In addition, the module is equipped with three additional sleeping places for astronauts.
The module is an aluminum cylinder with a length of 7.3 meters and an outer diameter of 4.4 meters. The hermetic volume of the module is 70 m³, the weight of the module is 14,300 kg.
The Node 2 module was delivered to the Space Center. Kennedy June 1, 2003. The module was named "Harmony" on March 15, 2007.
On February 11, 2008, the Columbus European scientific laboratory was attached to the Harmony's right docking port by the Atlantis STS-122 shuttle expedition. In the spring of 2008, the Japanese scientific laboratory "Kibo" was docked to it. The upper (anti-aircraft) docking port, previously intended for the canceled Japanese centrifuge module(CAM), will temporarily be used for docking with the first part of the Kibo laboratory - an experimental cargo hold ELM, which was delivered on March 11, 2008 by the STS-123 expedition of the space shuttle Endeavor.
Laboratory module "Columbus"
"Columbus"(English) Columbus- Columbus) - a module of the International Space Station, commissioned by the European Space Agency by a consortium of European aerospace firms. Columbus, Europe's first major contribution to the construction of the ISS, is a scientific laboratory that gives European scientists the opportunity to conduct research in microgravity.
The module was launched on February 7, 2008, aboard the shuttle Atlantis during flight STS-122. Docked to the Harmony module on February 11 at 21:44 UTC.
The Columbus module was built for the European Space Agency by a consortium of European aerospace firms. The cost of its construction exceeded $1.9 billion.
It is a scientific laboratory designed to conduct physical, materials science, biomedical and other experiments in the absence of gravity. The planned duration of the Columbus operation is 10 years.
The case of the cylindrical module with a diameter of 4477 mm and a length of 6871 mm has a mass of 12,112 kg.
Inside the module there are 10 unified places (cells) for installing containers with scientific apparatus and equipment.
On the outer surface of the module there are four places for attaching scientific equipment intended for research and experiments in outer space. (study of solar-terrestrial relations, analysis of the impact on equipment and materials of a long stay in space, experiments on the survival of bacteria in extreme conditions, etc.).
At the time of delivery to the ISS, 5 containers with scientific equipment for conducting scientific experiments in the field of biology, physiology and materials science weighing 2.5 tons were already installed in the module.
The International Space Station (ISS), the successor to the Soviet station Mir, is celebrating its 10th anniversary since its inception. The agreement on the establishment of the ISS was signed on January 29, 1998 in Washington by representatives of Canada, the governments of the member states of the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan, Russia and the United States.
Work on the International Space Station began in 1993 .
March 15, 1993 Director General of the RCA Yu.N. Koptev and General Designer of NPO "ENERGIA" Yu.P. Semenov approached the head of NASA, D. Goldin, with a proposal to create the International Space Station.
On September 2, 1993, the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation V.S. Chernomyrdin and US Vice President A. Gore signed a "Joint Statement on Cooperation in Space", which, among other things, provides for the creation of a joint station. In its development, RSA and NASA developed and on November 1, 1993 signed the "Detailed Work Plan for the International Space Station". This made it possible in June 1994 to sign a contract between NASA and RSA "On supplies and services for the Mir station and the International Space Station."
Taking into account certain changes at the joint meetings of the Russian and American sides in 1994, the ISS had the following structure and organization of work:
In addition to Russia and the USA, Canada, Japan and the countries of European cooperation are participating in the creation of the station;
The station will consist of 2 integrated segments (Russian and American) and will be gradually assembled in orbit from separate modules.
The construction of the ISS in near-Earth orbit began on November 20, 1998 with the launch of the Zarya functional cargo block.
Already on December 7, 1998, the American Unity connecting module, delivered into orbit by the Endeavor shuttle, was docked to it.
On December 10, hatches to the new station were opened for the first time. The first to enter it were Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev and American astronaut Robert Cabana.
On July 26, 2000, the Zvezda service module was introduced into the ISS, which at the station deployment stage became its base unit, the main place for the life and work of the crew.
In November 2000, the crew of the first long-term expedition arrived at the ISS: William Shepherd (commander), Yuri Gidzenko (pilot) and Sergey Krikalev (flight engineer). Since then, the station has been permanently inhabited.
During the deployment of the station, 15 main expeditions and 13 visiting expeditions visited the ISS. At present, the crew of Expedition 16 is at the station - the first female ISS commander, American, Peggy Whitson, ISS flight engineers, Russian Yuri Malenchenko and American Daniel Tani.
Under a separate agreement with ESA, six flights of European astronauts were carried out to the ISS: Claudie Haignere (France) - in 2001, Roberto Vittori (Italy) - in 2002 and 2005, Frank de Winne (Belgium) - in 2002, Pedro Duque (Spain) - in 2003, Andre Kuipers (Netherlands) - in 2004.
A new page in the commercial use of space was opened after the flights to the Russian segment of the ISS of the first space tourists - American Denis Tito (in 2001) and South African Mark Shuttleworth (in 2002). For the first time non-professional astronauts visited the station.
