Russian Segment Of International Space Station Research Articles

Animal Migration Studies with the Use of ICARUS Scientific Equipment in the URAGAN Space Experiment aboard the Russian Segment of the ISS

The major challenges of space research are monitoring and exploration of our planet, which are carried out through the use of remote sensing satellites (RSS) operating in near-Earth orbits. They provide invaluable information for assessing the environmental, epidemiological and other situations on our planet, including animal migration data. The ICARUS project (International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space) implemented on the International Space Station (ISS) is an ideal laboratory for in-orbit testing of instrumentation and various space technologies aimed to refine methods for tracking movements of mammals and birds. The paper analyzes the experience in the operation of the animal migration monitoring system installed in the Russian segment (RS) of the ISS (ISS RS). The system has incorporated the latest accomplishments in space science, satellite navigation, control technology, and microelectronics. The scientific results on the study of animal and bird migrations obtained within the Russian research program are briefly discussed.

Evolution of the performance monitoring techniques for solar arrays of the service module Zvezda within the ISS Russian segment over the course of its orbital flight

The paper discusses issues involved in mission control of the International Space Station (ISS), in particular, specific aspects of monitoring and evaluating the status of Power Supply Systems (PSS) and solar arrays (SA) as their components. Power budget simulations use as their initial computational parameter the current SA performance, which is determined on the basis of a special performance evaluation mode. The obtained data make it possible to take into account the spaceflight factors resulting in performance degradation. Besides that, when using the SA performance evaluation mode as a method for periodically checking the SA status, the more accurate determination of the actual SA performance involves taking into account the shadowing of the photovoltaic cells, the effect of the light reflected off the Earth surface, and current generation resulting from illumination of both the front and the back surfaces of the SA. The paper presents the results of space experiment Albedo carried out onboard the Russian Segment (RS) of the ISS, which included development of techniques for taking into account the above factors when simulating the PSS power budget for the Service Module (SM) Zvezda. Developed as a result of carrying out the space experiment was a procedure for determining SA performance and simulating the power input from the ISS RS SM SA taking into account the Earth albedo; recommendations were made for the orbital spacecraft PSS control modes taking into account the possibility of power generation from the Earth outgoing light flux. Based on the results of testing the developed computational schemes for evaluating the SA performance and simulations of incoming power that take into account the Earth albedo, substantiated values were obtained for the proposed reference parameter for evaluating the ISS RS SM SA. The developed procedure provides the most accurate performance evaluation for both front and back surfaces of the SA. Computational schemes for predicting incoming power proposed within the framework of the procedure make it possible to give highly accurate predictions of incoming power using precise simulations of light flux coming from Earth, as well as to determine the contribution of variable components into the SA performance determined during a periodic SA performance estimate.

Research potential of the ISS Nauka module

A key feature of the construction and utilization of the International Space Station (ISS) Russian segment (RS) is the consecutive application of exchangeable payloads in the modules of the segment. The goal is the efficient utilization of research facilities installed onboard. This method is based on the concept of multipurpose workstations that are integrated both inside the pressurized compartments and outside the modules. This paper describes and analyses capabilities of engineering facilities and tools to support the use, maintenance, and testing of payloads onboard the multipurpose laboratory module (MLM) Nauka as part of the “Long-Term Dedicated Research Program onboard the ISS RS until 2024” (LTDRP) and for future exploration programs.

Methods and results of extending the life of the International Space Station Russian Segment

The paper discusses the current status of work to extend the life of the International Space Station Russian Segment (ISS RS). The effort to monitor and maintain the ISS RS systems and modules in good working order forms the basis of the work aimed at station longevity and the safety of its crew. It describes measures taken to keep the ISS RS operational in a situation where some of the components have been taken out of production, and specified storage life for the spares, tools and accessories has expired. It reviews changes in the requirements for the operation of constituent components, systems and assemblies that were adopted to support extension of the ISS RS mission. It describes a procedure for detecting the sources of failures and malfunctions found in flight and resolving their causes, which makes it possible to take measures aimed at preventing propagation of faults and malfunctions within the shortest time possible while keeping the systems and assemblies of the ISS RS modules operational during repairs. It describes an approach to analysis of the causes of component failures, which makes it possible to classify them for the purposes of statistical analysis, on the basis of which one could evaluate failure dynamics in the course of the mission and use it for making a conclusion about the feasibility of extending flight tests of the ISS RS till 2024 and further. It provides data on dynamics of changes in the number of component failures in the course of the ISS RS mission, which show that this number does not grow. Key words: International Space Station, ISS RS, Russian Segment, operational integrity, operating life, failures.

Experimental development onboard the ISS Russian segment of the prototype system for quick localization of a puncture in the space station pressure shell

Improving safety of space station operations at the time when the near-Earth space is getting increasingly littered with space junk is one of the principal problems in space station design. Along with the measures to reduce the risk of the station pressure shell penetration resulting from a collision with a meteoroid or a piece of space debris that involve protection of the module pressure shells with shields, there is also a need for developing measures and equipment aimed at mitigating catastrophic consequences of the penetration. One of the key factors allowing successful recovery from an emergency situation caused by station depressurization in case of a puncture is the time needed to locate the puncture, which determines possible scenarios for crew actions during recovery operations and their result. The Immediate Puncture Localization System (IPLS) presented in this paper provides reliable and virtually immediate detection of the time and location of the penetration. The proposed concept for the IPLS architecture is based on the use of piezoelectric sensors of acoustic emissions distributed over the inner surface of the pressurized shell of the module that are connected to an electronic unit for processing signals from the sensors. The paper presents the results of studies of the scientific and engineering feasibility of the IPLS operating principles conducted at RSC Energia and TsNIIMash, as well as results of developmental tests on a prototype of such a system in the Service Module of the International Space Station (ISS) in the space experiment Otklik conducted under the Applied Research Program of the ISS Russian Segment. Key words: International space station, ISS Russian Segment, meteoroid, space debris, pressure shell, immediate puncture localization system, piezoelectric sensor, space experiment, high-velocity impact, penetration.

Convolution of TLD and SSNTD measurements during the BRADOS-1 experiment onboard ISS (2001)

The Russian BRADOS experiment onboard the International Space Station (ISS) was aimed at developing methods in radiation dosimetry and radiobiology to improve the reliability of risk estimates for the radiation environment in low-Earth orbit. Experimental data from thermoluminescence detectors (TLDs) and solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) gathered during the BRADOS-1 (24 February–31 October 2001) mission are reviewed and convolved to obtain absorbed dose and dose equivalent from primary and secondary cosmic-ray particles. Absorbed dose rates in the ISS Russian Segment (Zvezda) ranged from 208 ± 14 to 275 ± 14 μ Gy d - 1 . Dose equivalent rates were determined to range from 438 ± 29 to 536 ± 32 μ Sv d - 1 , indicating a quality factor between 1.95 ± 0.15 and 2.11 ± 0.20 . The contribution of densely ionizing particles ( LET ⩾ 10 keV μ m - 1 ) to dose equivalent made up between 54% and 64%.

Status and calibration results of Liulin-5 charged particle telescope designed for radiation measurements in a human phantom onboard the International Space Station

This is a report on the status of the particle telescope Liulin-5 developed for investigation of the radiation environment dynamics within the Russian spherical tissue-equivalent phantom on the International Space Station (ISS). Liulin-5 experiment will be a part of the international project MATROSHKA-R on ISS and is planned to start in 2007. Its aim is a long-term investigation of the depth–dose distribution in the phantom, mounted in the Russian Segment of ISS. The instrument is capable of simultaneously measuring energy deposition spectra, linear energy transfer (LET) spectra, flux and dose rates for electrons, protons and heavy charged particles at different depths of the phantom’s radial channel. Dose equivalent rate will be calculated from the absorbed dose rate multiplied by quality factor Q(LET). We present the inter-calibration results of the Liulin-5 instrument exposure to heavy ions, at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), Chiba, Japan that was done as part of the ICHIBAN project. The inter-comparison with the radiation dosimeters and spectrometers resulted in definition of the sensitive volumes of the instrument’s silicon detectors as well as estimations of the LET range of the Liulin-5 instrument.

Instrumentation for investigation of the depth-dose distribution by the Liulin-5 instrument of a human phantom on the Russian segment of ISS for estimation of the radiation risk during long term space flights

Described is the Liulin-5 experiment and instrumentation, developed for investigation of the space radiation doses depth distribution in a human phantom on the Russian Segment of the International Space Station (ISS). Liulin-5 experiment is a part of the international project MATROSHKA-R on ISS. The experiment MATROSHKA-R is aimed to study the depth dose distribution at the sites of critical organs of the human body, using models of human body-anthropomorphic and spherical tissue-equivalent phantoms. The aim of Liulin-5 experiment is long term (4–5 years) investigation of the radiation environment dynamics inside the spherical tissue-equivalent phantom, mounted in different places of the Russian Segment of ISS. Energy deposition spectra, linear energy transfer spectra, flux and dose rates for protons and the biologically-relevant heavy ion components of the galactic cosmic radiation will be measured simultaneously with near real time resolution at different depths of the phantom by a telescope of silicon detectors. Data obtained together with data from other active and passive dosimeters will be used to estimate the radiation risk to the crewmembers, verify the models of radiation environment in low Earth orbit, validate body transport model and correlate organ level dose to skin dose. Presented are the test results of the prototype unit. The spherical phantom will be flown on the ISS in 2004 year and Liulin-5 experiment is planned for 2005 year.