The Integration of ESA’s Long Duration Mission: Astrolab

Paper number

IAC-06-B4.2.01

Author

Ms. Ing Oei, Booz Allen Hamilton, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Carlo Mirra, EADS Astrium, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Erik Dyrkoren, The Netherlands

Year

2006

Abstract

Over the past few years the European Space Agency (ESA) participated in several short duration flights allowing European Astronauts to visit the International Space Station (ISS) to perform scientific research programmes and gain operational experience in preparation for the Columbus flight operations. The “Astrolab” mission, instead, will see an ESA astronaut engaged on the ISS as an increment crew member for 6 months and performing a multidisciplinary European research programme. 

ESA has developed their mission integration capability in such a way that it weaves together the integration processes of the International Partners, ESA’s own mission integration requirements, and also conforms to the requirements set by the European scientific community. After each mission the integration processes have been and are thoroughly evaluated and the lessons learned recommendations have contributed to improving the integration processes for successive missions.

The responsibility for the integration and the operations of the Astrolab mission was fully delegated to an Industrial Operator Team, lead by EADS-ST, representing the first example of this kind in European manned space operations. In addition, the mission, which is mostly integrated in the increment 13 framework, marks the first time ESA officially organised its integration activities on an increment basis.

This paper will outline the Astrolab mission’s organisation, the cooperation with International Partners, the crew training activities integration, the ground segment and will also highlight the main challenges and achievements.

Special attention will be paid to the integration process, the composition of the in-orbit activities programme, its preparation and the integration of these activities with the ESA/Russian experimental programme for the increment 13.

Abstract document

IAC-06-B4.2.01.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-B4.2.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.