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International Space Station
Petra Vitolini Naldini
November 1998 saw the starting point for
the creation of an International Space Station
(ISS), which will eventually represent the largest
permanently manned space station ever
built. On November 20 the first of a series 43
mounting flights left Baikonur space station in
Kazakhstan. On board the flight was Zarya,
which will function as a major operating component
for the space station. A fortnight later,
space shuttle Endeavor started with a crew of
six from Kennedy Space centre in Florida. This
flight brought the initial U.S. contribution into
space, a connection block named ‘Unity’ which
will serve as the central connector for all future
U.S. modules that will be attached to it. In April
1999 a Russian maintenance component will
added which will serve as the major switching
unit for the first stage of the International Space
centre.
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With the beginning of the year 2000 scientific
work is scheduled to start. The main European
research projects are already in the making. A
German-led team is working on the Columbus
research module while a French-led group is
doing research on the ERA robot arm. A U.S.
shuttle is projected to transport both projects to
the station in early 2003.
The International Space Station is one of the
most remarkable scientific projects of the next
millennium. All in all scientists and engineers
from 14 nations co-operate in planning, manufacturing
and operating the station. Their main
drive is to create the best possible research and
working conditions for earth-bound research.
The International Space Station will thus also
work as a ‘field unit’ for scientists on earth. The
money spent for the ISS constitutes an invest-
ment for the future for all participating nations,
creating the first permanently manned multipurpose
research platform in space. The fact
that so many different countries contribute to
the ISS will make for a multi-faceted and complex
research schedule. Six modules and several
external carrier structures will provide an ideal
environment for research projects in a variety
of scientific disciplines. Earth surveillance and
exploration of space will be sponsored as well
as longitudinal studies of the impact of space
on human beings and on diverse materials. In
a European context the participation in the ISS
project is an important step towards securing
a place in future markets. Europe, the USA,
Canada, Russia and Japan will jointly build the
station and will use it intensively for a at least
ten years starting in 2002.
Vorgesehene Flüge bis 2000 Projected flights up to 2000
May 1999 2A.1 US Orbiter STS-96 Spacehab Double Cargo Module
July 1999 1R Russian Proton Service Module
Aug 1999 2A.2 US Orbiter STS-101 Spacehab Double Cargo Module
Oct 1999 3A US Orbiter STS-92 Integrated Truss Structure (ITS) Z, PMA-3, Ku-band Communications System, Control Moment Gyros
Dec 1999 4A US Orbiter STS-97 Integrated Truss Structure P6, Photovoltaic Module, Radiators
Jan 2000 2R Russian Soyuz Soyuz, Expedition 1 Crew
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