Integration of the first European ISS Increments: Concepts and Experiences
- Paper number
IAC-08.B3.3.10
- Author
Dr. Carlo Mirra, EADS Astrium, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Mr. Arndt Menzel, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Hans Juergen Zachrau, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
With the Launch of Columbus in February 2008, Europe accomplished it’s major contribution as partner of the ISS Programme. Though being present on the station for several years with assets developed for the Russian and the US segment, most of its astronauts had a chance to spend from nine days to six months on board the station. Although a large number of European experiments have been already performed on the station, ”the European manned spaceflight starts today”, as astronaut H. Schlegel mentioned on the eve of the STS-122 launch that brought the Columbus laboratory to the station. To prepare for such a mission and to pave the way for regular operations of manned space assets in space, Europe has deployed an integrated team in charge of the integration and operation of the European in orbit infrastructure. Increment 16 has represented the first effort in which Europe, as a partner, has contributed to develop products, train astronauts and operators and develop in orbit activitiy programmes in an integrated fashion with Russian and American teams. This paper addresses the approach to such an endeavor, it’s first experiences and lessons learned to establish a permanent European ISS operations capability for the next years to come.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)