From the ISS to the Exploration: Lessons Learned and Perspectives for Future Missions
- Paper number
IAC-07-B3.3.09
- Author
Mr. Eugenio Gargioli, Alcatel Alenia Space Italia, Italy
- Coauthor
Mr. Piero Messidoro, Alcatel Alenia Space Italia, Italy
- Coauthor
Mr. Franco Fenoglio, Alcatel Alenia Space Italia, Italy
- Coauthor
Mr. Giorgio Ferrari, Alcatel Alenia Space Italia, Italy
- Coauthor
Mr. Claudio Ferro, Alcatel Alenia Space Italia, Italy
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The International Space Station (ISS) assembly has regained momentum, after Shuttle return to flight in 2005 and the truss segments added in the course of 2006. This year will mark a decisive step towards the ISS completion, with the expansion of the pressurized volume owing to the Node 2 and the Columbus Laboratory. The logistic cycle, supported already by MPLM Leonardo and Raffaello, that are regularly operative since March 2001, will be soon complemented by the start of the Automated Transfer Vehicle service, with Jules Verne launch by Ariane 5 later this year. The ISS assembly is scheduled for completion in 2009, with delivery of the last pressurized elements, Node 3 and Cupola, which will expand the permanent habitability up to 6 crew members. Nodes 2 and 3, Columbus, ATV and Cupola represent the European Space Agency (ESA) contribution to the ISS; MPLM is the result of a bi-lateral agreement between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and NASA. These programs represented a unique opportunity for Alcatel Alenia Space-Italy (AAS-I), the Italian industrial leader in space business. Starting from the experience gained in the Seventies and Eighties on programs like Spacelab and Spacehab, AAS-I have contributed by supporting ESA in the architecture studies that led to the definition of the ISS in the Nineties. Later on, entering the development phase, AAS-I have been awarded by ASI and ESA the Prime-Contractorship for programs like MPLM, Nodes 2 and 3, Cupola, and acted as major contractor under Astrium for Columbus and ATV pressurized elements: as a result, more than 50The boost produced in the engineering know-how of AAS-I is outstanding. System engineering processes, inherited by the past experience, have been upgraded to introduce and/or enhance features and tools aimed to Concurrent Engineering. Ergonomics and Human Factor have been introduced as key design parameters, with specific attention to Safety and system Maintainability. In-house long term experience in Thermal Control design has been expanded to encompass all Environmental Control aspects, with special emphasis on performance predictions based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques. Specific knowledge has been developed in various fields, like metallic and inflatable structures, Meteoroid and Debris Protection Systems, robotics (in the frame of EUROBOT program). The overall experience gained in the development of ISS modules provides the basis for a new generation of applications oriented to exploration missions: these include innovative elements of habitats supporting the permanence of crew for long periods on Moon/Mars, robotic assistants to facilitate the work of astronauts, vehicles capable of increasing the crew mobility on the planetary surface. This paper describes the most significant experiences developed in the ISS scenario of habitable space infrastructures, and suggests possible ways for the exploitation of the lesson learned, combined with the on-going technological effort and system studies, towards a family of advanced and challenging solutions related to the exploration missions.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-B3.3.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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