National Aeronautics and Space Administration

PRESS KIT/APRIL 2010

Expedition 23 and 24 

Science for Six

www.nasa.gov
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APRIL 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS i

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Section Page 

MISSION OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................... 1

EXPEDITION 23 & 24 CREW ................................................................................................... 11

EXPEDITION 23/24 MAJOR MILESTONES............................................................................... 25

EXPEDITION 23/24 SPACEWALKS ......................................................................................... 27

RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA ............................................................................................................. 29

SOYUZ BOOSTER ROCKET CHA R A C T E R I S T I C S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4

PRELAUNCH COUNTDO W N T I M E L I N E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35

ASCENT/INSERTION T I M E L I N E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ 36

ORBITAL INSERTION TO DOC K I N G T I M E L I N E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

KEY TIMES FOR EXPEDITION 23 LAUNCH EVENT S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2

SOYUZ LANDING .................................................................................................................................. 43

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION: EXPEDITION 23/24 SCIENCE OVERVIEW ...................... 53

DIGITAL NASA TELEVISION .................................................................................................... 97

EXPEDITION 23/24 PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS (PAO) CONTACTS ...................................... 99

 

 
ii TABLE OF CONTENTS APRIL 2010

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APRIL 2010 MISSION OVERVIEW 1

Mission Overview 

Expeditions 23 and 24 

Backdropped by a blue and white part of Earth, the International Space Station is 

featured in this image photographed by an STS-130 crew member on space shuttle 

Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation. 

An American and two Russians will 

restore the International Space Station’s 

Expedition 23 crew to six when they join the 

Russian, American and Japanese crew 

members who have been onboard since 

December. Once united, the first crew to 

include three Russians at once will continue 

outfitting the newest modules of the nearly 

completed outpost, and welcome the last 

planned shuttle flights and a new docking 

port. 

The Expedition 23 and 24 crews, 

comprising a total of nine residents over a 

span of eight months, will continue to usher 

in a new era of scientific research, with 

some 130 ongoing experiments in human 

research, biology and biotechnology, 

physical and materials sciences, technology 

development, and Earth and space 

sciences. 
2 MISSION OVERVIEW APRIL 2010

In addition to welcoming Discovery, Atlantis 

and Endeavour and their cargoes of 

supplies, the long-duration crew will see the 

arrival of a Russian docking module, the 

Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) 

and four Progress resupply ships. 

Expeditions 23 and 24 also will conduct two 

spacewalks and may see the first 

demonstration flights of a commercial 

resupply ship. 

Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov accepted 

command of Expedition 23 on March 17, 

taking over for NASA’s Jeff Williams, who 

landed with Flight Engineer Max Suraev in 

Kazakhstan on March 18. NASA’s 

T.J. Creamer and Soichi Noguchi, of the 

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 

continue to circle the globe with Kotov until 

June, maintaining the station and 

conducting microgravity research in a 

number of disciplines. 

NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer (foreground) and Japan Aerospace Exploration 

Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi (left), both Expedition 22/23 flight engineers; 

along with cosmonaut Oleg Kotov (center background), Expedition 22 flight engineer 

and Expedition 23 commander, participate in an emergency procedure training session 

in an International Space Station mock-up/trainer in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility 

at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. 
APRIL 2010 MISSION OVERVIEW 3

The rest of the Expedition 23 crew will 

launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in 

Kazakhstan on April 2, and dock their 

Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft to the station’s 

Poisk docking compartment on April 4. 

Russian Flight Engineers Alexander 

Skvortsov and Mikhail Kornienko, and 

NASA’s Tracy Caldwell Dyson will become 

a part of the Expedition 23 crew when they 

arrive. 

Skvortsov will become Expedition 24 

commander when Kotov, Creamer, and 

Noguchi depart the station after 163 days in 

space and 161 days aboard the outpost. 

Dyson and Kornienko will remain as 

Expedition 24 flight engineers, and the trio 

will be joined by NASA’s Doug Wheelock 

and Shannon Walker, and Russia’s Fyodor 

Yurchikhin in mid-June. 

Creamer, 50, a U.S. Army colonel from 

Upper Marlboro, Md., is making his first 

spaceflight. Assigned to NASA’s Johnson 

Space Center in 1995 as a space shuttle 

vehicle integration test engineer, he 

supported eight shuttle missions as a 

vehicle integration test team lead and 

specialized in coordinating the information 

technologies for the Astronaut Office. 

Selected as an astronaut in 1998, Creamer 

worked with hardware integration and 

robotics, and was a support astronaut for 

Expedition 12. 

NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson (foreground), Expedition 23/24 flight engineer, 

participates in a training session in an International Space Station mock-up/trainer in 

the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. 
4 MISSION OVERVIEW APRIL 2010

Noguchi, 45, an aeronautical engineer from 

Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, is making his 

second spaceflight. He was selected as a 

National Space Development Agency of 

Japan (NASDA), now JAXA, astronaut 

candidate in 1996 and trained at 

Johnson Space Center. After completing 

his astronaut training, he supported 

development and integration of the station’s 

Japanese Kibo experiment module. 

Noguchi flew on the STS-114 return-toflight mission of Discovery in 2005. He has 

logged nearly 14 days in space, including 

more than 20 hours of spacewalks to test 

new procedures for shuttle inspection and 

repair techniques. 

Dyson, 40, will be making her second trip to 

space. Selected for astronaut training by 

NASA in 1998, she worked in Mission 

Control as spacecraft communicator for 

both space shuttle and station operations, 

and supported shuttle launch and landing 

operations at NASA’s Kennedy Space 

Center. She flew on STS-118 as a mission 

specialist, serving as the mission’s 

intravehicular spacewalk coordinator and 

primary shuttle robotic arm operator. 

Houston’s first and only native astronaut, 

Shannon Walker, 44, will be making her 

first trip into space as a flight engineer on 

the Soyuz for Expedition 24. In 1995, 

Walker joined NASA’s Johnson Space 

Center to work with international partners in 

the design and construction of the space 

station robotics equipment. Four years 

later, she moved to Moscow to work with 

Roscosmos in the areas of avionics 

integration and integrated problem solving. 

Upon returning to Houston, she became 

technical lead for the space station mission 

evaluation room and the deputy manager of 

the On-Orbit Engineering Office. Walker 

spent two years in Russia training to fly the 

Soyuz from launch through landing, and is 

fully qualified in both automatic and manual 

modes. 

An Army colonel and West Point graduate, 

Wheelock, 50, entered flight school in 1984 

and graduated at the top of his flight class 

as an Army aviator. He attended the U.S. 

Naval Test Pilot School and served as an 

experimental test pilot with the Army 

Aviation Technical Test Center. In 2004, 

Wheelock completed training in the 

NASA Extreme Environments Mission 

Operations (NEEMO) program, during a 

10-day undersea mission aboard the 

National Undersea Research Center’s 

Aquarius habitat. During his first space 

mission, STS-120, he participated in 

three spacewalks, totaling 20 hours and 

41 minutes. 

Kotov, 44, a physician and Russian Air 

Force colonel, is making his second 

spaceflight and serving his second tour 

aboard the station. Selected as a 

cosmonaut in 1996, he trained as a 

cosmonaut researcher for a flight on the 

Soyuz and as a backup crew member to 

the Mir-26 mission. A former lead test 

doctor at Gagarin Cosmonaut Training 

Center, he served as a flight engineer and 

Soyuz commander on the Expedition 15 

mission in 2007. He will be a flight 

engineer for Expedition 22, and assume the 

duties of Expedition 23 commander when 

Williams departs in March 2010. 

This will be the first spaceflight for both 

Skvortsov and Kornienko. Skvortsov, 44, is 

a Russian Air Force colonel and secondgeneration cosmonaut. He has logged 

about 1,000 hours of flight time on various 

Russian aircraft. He began his basic space 
APRIL 2010 MISSION OVERVIEW 5

training in 1998, qualifying as a test 

cosmonaut in 1999 and starting space 

station training in 2000. Kornienko worked 

in the Baikonur Launch Facility as a launch 

equipment specialist, and as a cosmonaut 

training engineer for the Russian Space 

Corp., Energia. Kornienko, 50, was 

selected as a cosmonaut candidate in 

1998. 

Yurchikhin, 51, graduated from the 

S. Ordzhonikidze Moscow Aviation Institute, 

and worked at Energia. He began working 

as a controller in the Russian Mission Control Center and held the positions of engineer, senior engineer, and lead engineer, 

eventually becoming a lead engineer for 

Space Shuttle-Mir Program. Yurchikhin 

qualified as a test cosmonaut, and completed his first trip into space aboard the 

space shuttle Atlantis on STS-112. He also 

served as commander of Expedition 15 on 

the space station. 

Astronaut Doug Wheelock, Expedition 24 flight engineer and Expedition 25 commander, 

gets help in the donning of a training version of his Extravehicular Mobility Unit 

spacesuit in preparation for a spacewalk training session in the waters of the Neutral 

Buoyancy Laboratory. 
6 MISSION OVERVIEW APRIL 2010

The Expedition 23 and 24 crews will work 

with experiments across a variety of 

fields, including human life sciences, 

physical sciences and Earth observation, 

and conduct technology demonstrations 

including an additional recycling device 

known as Sabatier, which will help wring 

additional oxygen and water from excess 

hydrogen not yet being reclaimed by the 

station’s Water Recovery System. As with 

prior expeditions, many experiments are 

designed to gather information about the 

effects of long-duration spaceflight on the 

human body, which will help us understand 

complicated processes such as immune 

systems with plan for future exploration 

missions. 

NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock, Expedition 24 flight engineer and Expedition 25 

commander; along with NASA astronaut Shannon Walker (left) and Russian cosmonaut 

Fyodor Yurchikhin (foreground), both Expedition 24/25 flight engineers, participate in 

an advanced cardiac life support training session in an International Space Station 

mock-up/trainer. 
APRIL 2010 MISSION OVERVIEW 7

The STS-131/19A mission of space shuttle 

Discovery is set to launch from 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida, the day 

after Skvortsov, Kornienko, and 

Dyson arrive on station. With timelines 

compressed, the new crew members will 

need to defer some of their normal 

familiarization time to pitch in for eight full 

days of joint operations with Discovery’s 

crew. Carrying the Leonardo multipurpose 

logistics module on its final round-trip to the 

station before it is refitted to become a 

Permanent Multipurpose Module, Discovery 

will launch on April 5 and dock on April 7. 

Discovery’s crew will conduct three 

spacewalks to replace a depleted 

ammonia tank for the station’s active 

external cooling system and a rate 

gyroscope assembly, and retrieve 

Japanese exposure experiment samples 

and a Light Weight Adapter Plate 

Assembly. 

A Progress resupply ship is scheduled to 

launch from Baikonur on April 28 and dock 

with the station’s Pirs module April 30. 

Progress 37 will deliver food, fuel, water 

and other supplies for use by the expedition 

crews. 

The next-to-last Russian module – 

“Rassvet,” the Russian word for dawn, or 

sunrise – scheduled to be added to the 

station will launch in the payload bay of 

the space shuttle Atlantis in May. Also 

known as Mini Research Module 1, it will be 

installed on the Earth-facing docking port of 

the Zarya module during the STS-132 

mission. Also known as Utilization and 

Logistics Flight 4, the mission is scheduled 

to launch from Kennedy Space Center in 

Florida on May 14, dock with the station on 

May 16, and conduct seven days of joint 

operations that will include three 

spacewalks to install a backup space-toground antenna, replace batteries that store 

electricity generated by the station’s solar 

arrays for use when the station is in 

darkness, and install an additional station 

external spare parts cradle. 

A few days after Wheelock, Walker and 

Yurchikhin arrive at the station, they will 

climb back into their Soyuz and move it 

from the aft docking port of the Zvezda 

service module to the newly delivered 

Rassvet port. That will make room at the 

aft port of the Zvezda service module for 

another resupply craft, Progress 38, 

scheduled to launch from Baikonur on June 

28, and dock on June 30. 

In July, one of the station’s new commercial 

resupply rockets, built by Space Exploration 

Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), is set to 

make its first demonstration flight. The 

station crew will not be involved in the 

mission, but it will mark an important 

milestone in providing additional supply 

lines for the station. 
8 MISSION OVERVIEW APRIL 2010

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, NASA astronaut 

Tracy Caldwell Dyson (left), Expedition 23 flight engineer, along with 

Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov (center), Soyuz commander 

and flight engineer, and Mikhail Kornienko, flight engineer, pose for 

pictures in front of their Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft March 22, 2010, 

following a fit check dress rehearsal. 
APRIL 2010 MISSION OVERVIEW 9

Two more spacewalks are planned 

between the STS-132 and STS-134 shuttle 

missions, one using U.S. equipment and 

the other using Russian equipment. They 

are planned for July during Expedition 24. 

During the 15th U.S. stage spacewalk, 

Dyson and Wheelock will exit the Quest 

airlock in U.S. spacesuits to install a power, 

data and grapple fixture on the Zarya 

module so that the space station’s robotic 

arm can be based there to perform work on 

the Russian segment of the station. Later 

that same month, Kornienko and Yurchikhin 

will exit the Russian Poisk airlock to make 

the final external connections of the airlock 

and docking port to the rest of the station. 

At the end of July, the STS-134 mission of 

Endeavour, also known as Utilization and 

Logistics Flight 6, will deliver the Alpha 

Magnetic Spectrometer and mount the 

instrument to the station’s truss structure 

where it will use the power generated by 

the station’s solar arrays to support 

observations of cosmic rays. Looking at 

various types of unusual matter found in the 

universe will allow AMS researchers to 

study the formation of the universe and 

search for evidence of dark matter and 

antimatter. Endeavour is scheduled to 

launch from Kennedy Space Center on July 

29, dock with the station on July 31, and 

conduct eight days of joint operations 

with the expedition crew. In addition, 

STS-134 will deliver EXPRESS Logistics 

Carrier 3 (ELC-3), which will hold a variety 

of spare parts. The STS-134 mission will 

include three spacewalks to lubricate the 

port Solar Alpha Rotary Joints that allow the 

arrays to track the sun as they generate 

electricity, install ammonia jumper hoses for 

the station’s cooling system, stow the 

Orbiter Boom Sensor System outside the 

station for future use as an inspection tool, 

and retrieve a set of materials exposure 

experiments for return to Earth. 

Yet another resupply ship will launch from 

Baikonur on Aug. 31, and dock to the 

station’s aft docking port Sept. 2. Progress 

39 will take the place of Progress 38, which 

will undock on Aug. 30 full of trash that will 

burn up during the entry into Earth’s 

atmosphere. 

On Sept. 16, Skvortsov, Dyson and 

Kornienko will climb into their Soyuz 

spacecraft and depart the station after 

167 days in space and 167 days as 

residents, leaving Wheelock as 

commander, and Walker and Yurchikhin to 

maintain the station until the next crew 

arrives a few weeks later. 

While the Expedition 24 crew stands at 

three, the final space shuttle mission, 

STS-133, will deliver the modified Leonardo 

module as a Permanent Multipurpose 

Module. The venerable Discovery will 

launch Sept. 16, also carrying EXPRESS 

Logistics Carrier 4 and its spare parts, and 

dock to the station on Sept. 18 for four days 

of joint operations by the shuttle and station 

crews. There are no spacewalks planned 

for Utilization and Logistics Flight 5. 
10 MISSION OVERVIEW APRIL 2010

Expedition 23 and 24 crew members pose for a photo during a cake-cutting ceremony 

in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. 

Pictured from the left are Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko, Expedition 23/24 

flight engineer; and Alexander Skvortsov, Expedition 23 flight engineer and Expedition 

24 commander; NASA astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Expedition 23/24 flight 

engineer; Shannon Walker, Expedition 24/25 flight engineer; and Doug Wheelock, 

Expedition 24 flight engineer and Expedition 25 commander; along with Russian 

cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, Expedition 24/25 flight engineer. 

Not quite two weeks later, the next Soyuz 

spacecraft will launch from Baikonur, 

carrying Expedition 24 Flight Engineers 

Scott Kelly, Alexander Kaleri and 

Oleg Skripochka. Their Soyuz TMA-20 

spacecraft is scheduled to launch from 

Baikonur on Sept. 30, and dock with the 

station’s Poisk module on Oct. 2. 

The restored six-person crew will spend 

approximately two months together, 

conducting two Russian spacewalks, before 

Wheelock hands over command of the 

station to Kelly. Wheelock, Walker and 

Yurchikhin will then undock their Soyuz 

TMA-19 spacecraft and head for a landing 

in Kazakhstan on Nov. 26. 
APRIL 2010 CREW 11

Expedition 23 & 24 Crew 

Expedition 23 

Expedition 23 Patch 

The focal point of the Expedition XXIII 

emblem illustrates the beautiful planet 

Earth in the black expanse of space. The 

International Space Station is shown 

traveling in its orbit around Earth. The 

space station orbital path flies through the 

XXIII to show that this increment is building 

upon the missions that have gone on 

before and laying the groundwork for future 

missions. This illustrates the work being 

performed aboard the orbiting complex 

that will lead the way to eventual missions 

to the moon, Mars and beyond. The 

mission designation uses roman numerals 

to illustrate the home nations of the crew, 

which are also represented by their national 

flags. The two stars represent the two 

teams that make up this expedition crew. 
12 CREW APRIL 2010

Expedition 23 crew members take a break from training at NASA’s Johnson Space 

Center to pose for a crew portrait. From the left are Russian cosmonaut 

Mikhail Kornienko, NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Russian cosmonaut 

Alexander Skvortsov, all flight engineers; Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, commander; 

NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) 

astronaut Soichi Noguchi, both flight engineers. 
APRIL 2010 CREW 13

Expedition 24 

Expedition 24 Patch 

Science and exploration are the cornerstones of NASA’s mission onboard the 

space station. This emblem signifies the 

dawn of a new era in our program’s history. 

With each new expedition, as we approach 

assembly complete, our focus shifts toward 

the research nature of this world-class 

facility. Prominently placed in the 

foreground, the station silhouette leads the 

horizon. Each ray of the sun represents the 

five international partner organizations that 

encompass this cooperative program. 

Expedition 24 is one of the first missions 

expanding to a crew of six. These 

crews, symbolized here as stars arranged 

in two groups of three, will launch on 

Soyuz vehicles. The unbroken flight 

track symbolizes our continuous human 

presence in space, representing all who 

have and will dedicate themselves as crew 

and citizens of the space station. 
14 CREW APRIL 2010

Expedition 24 crew members include, from left, 

Col. Doug Wheelock, flight engineer; Tracy Caldwell Dyson, flight engineer; 

Alexander Skvortsov, commander; Mikhail Kornienko, flight engineer; 

Shannon Walker, flight engineer; and Fyodor Yurchikhin, flight engineer. 

Short biographical sketches of the crew 

follow with detailed background available 

at: 

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/
APRIL 2010 CREW 15

Expedition 23 

Oleg Kotov 

Oleg Kotov (Col., Russian Air Force) will 

serve as Expedition 23 commander. Kotov 

most recently served as a flight 

engineer and Soyuz commander on the 

Expedition 15 mission for six months. 

He was selected as a cosmonaut candidate 

by the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center 

in 1996. For the following two years 

he completed his basic training for 

spaceflight. In March 1998, he received 

a test-cosmonaut qualification. Since 

July 1998, Kotov has been undergoing 

advanced training for space station flights. 

In 2004, he became chief of the CAPCOM 

Branch in the Cosmonaut Office. 
16 CREW APRIL 2010

Soichi Noguchi 

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 

(JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi will serve 

as a flight engineer on Expedition 23. He 

holds degrees in aeronautical engineering 

from the University of Tokyo. Noguchi 

was selected by the National Space 

Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) 

in 1996 and reported to NASA’s Johnson 

Space Center the same year. He 

participated in the basic training course for 

Russian manned space systems at 

Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 

Russia in 1998 and then continued mission 

specialist advanced training at JSC. 

Noguchi served as mission specialist-1 and 

EV-1 on STS-114. This was the return-toflight mission during which the shuttle 

docked with the space station and the crew 

tested and evaluated new procedures for 

flight safety and shuttle inspection and 

repair techniques. He also performed three 

spacewalks, totaling 20 hours and five 

minutes. 
APRIL 2010 CREW 17

Timothy J. (T.J.) Creamer 

Timothy (T.J.) Creamer (Col., USA) will be 

making his first trip to space. Assigned as 

NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1995, he 

served as a space shuttle vehicle 

integration test engineer and directly 

supported eight shuttle missions as a 

vehicle integration test team lead. Creamer 

was selected by NASA in 1998 and 

reported for astronaut candidate training the 

same year. 

In November 2000, he became the crew 

support astronaut for the Expedition 3 

crew which was in orbit for four months. 

Creamer headed the Astronaut Office’s 

hardware integration section in March 2002 

and was responsible for ensuring that all 

hardware configurations were properly 

integrated. Most recently, he was assigned 

to the robotics branch and was the real-time 

support lead for Expedition 12 for robotics 

operations on the station. 
18 CREW APRIL 2010

Alexander Skvortsov 

This will be the first spaceflight for 

Alexander Skvortsov (Col., Russian Air 

Force) who will serve as a flight engineer. 

He will also serve as Expedition 24 

commander. Skvortsov has flown L-39, 

MiG-23 and Su-27 aircraft and has logged 

around 1,000 hours of flight time. He is 

also a Class 1 Air Force pilot. 

Skvortsov began his basic space training 

in 1998 and was qualified as a test 

cosmonaut in 1999. He started space 

station advanced training in 2000. 
APRIL 2010 CREW 19

Tracy Caldwell Dyson 

In her second trip to space, Tracy Caldwell 

Dyson will serve as a flight engineer. 

Dyson was selected by NASA in 1998. In 

2000, she was assigned prime crew 

support astronaut for the 5th 

space station Expedition crew. She has 

worked in Mission Control as spacecraft 

communicator (CAPCOM) for both space 

shuttle and station operations, serving 

also as the lead CAPCOM for station 

Increment 11. Other technical assignments 

have included flight software verification in 

the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory 

and supporting shuttle launch and landing 

operations at NASA’s Kennedy Space 

Center. 

She flew on STS-118 as mission 

specialist-1 and served as the intravehicular 

crew member, directing the four spacewalks, as well as the rendezvous mission 

specialist and primary operator of the 

shuttle’s robotic arm. 
20 CREW APRIL 2010

Mikhail Kornienko 

This is the first mission for cosmonaut 

Mikhail Kornienko, who will serve as flight 

engineer. 

From 1986 to 1991 he worked in the 

Baikonur Launch Facility as a launch 

equipment specialist. In 1995, he started 

working at Russian Space Corporation 

Energia as an engineer and was assigned 

with developing technical documentation for 

cosmonaut primary and backup crew tests 

and training. He took part in spacewalk 

tests in simulated zero-gravity at the 

Hydrolab and at the Selen dynamic stand. 

In the process of this work he gained 

experience in organizing extravehicular 

repair/refurbishment and assembly 

activities on the Mir orbital station. 

Kornienko was selected as a testcosmonaut candidate in 1998. He 

completed his basic training at Gagarin 

Cosmonaut Training Center and was 

qualified as a test cosmonaut in 1991. 
APRIL 2010 CREW 21

Expedition 24 

Shannon Walker 

Houston’s first and only native astronaut, 

Shannon Walker, will be making her first 

trip into space as a flight engineer on the 

Soyuz for Expedition 24. 

In 1995, Walker joined the NASA civil 

service at Johnson Space Center working 

with the space station International Partners 

in the design and construction of the 

robotics hardware for the space station. 

Four years later she moved to Moscow, 

Russia, to work with Roscosmos in the 

areas of avionics integration and integrated 

problem solving for the station. After a year 

in Russia she returned to Johnson Space 

Center and became the technical lead for 

the space station Mission Evaluation Room 

and the deputy manager of the On-Orbit 

Engineering Office. 

Walker is fully trained to fly the Soyuz from 

launch through landing in both automatic 

modes and manually. 
22 CREW APRIL 2010

Doug Wheelock 

A graduate of West Point, Doug Wheelock 

(Col., USA) entered flight school in 1984 

and graduated at the top of his flight class 

and was designated as an Army Aviator. 

He was selected as a member of Class 104 

at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and 

upon completion was assigned as an 

experimental test pilot with the Army 

Aviation Technical Test Center (ATTC). 

In 2004, Wheelock completed training in 

the NASA Extreme Environments Mission 

Operations (NEEMO) program, during a 

10-day undersea mission aboard the 

National Undersea Research Center’s 

Aquarius habitat. Three years later he 

completed his first mission into space. 

Wheelock served as a mission 

specialist on STS-120. He participated in 

three spacewalks, totaling 20 hours and 

41 minutes. 
APRIL 2010 MISSION MILESTONES 23

Fyodor Yurchikhin 

Fyodor Yurchikhin will serve as flight 

engineer on Expedition 24/25. 

Upon graduation from the S. Ordzhonikidze 

Moscow Aviation Institute, Yurchikhin 

has worked at the Russian Space 

Corporation Energia. He began working 

as a controller in the Russian Mission 

Control Center and held the positions of 

engineer, senior engineer, and lead 

engineer, eventually becoming a lead 

engineer for Shuttle-Mir and NASA-Mir 

Programs. Yurchikhin qualified as a test 

cosmonaut and two months later he started 

training in the test-cosmonaut group for the 

space station program. 

Yurchikhin’s first trip into space was aboard 

STS-112. He also served as commander of 

Expedition 15. 
24 CREW APRIL 2010

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APRIL 2010 MISSION MILESTONES 25

Expedition 23/24 Major Milestones 

(Dates are subject to change) 

2010: 

April 2 Launch of the Expedition 23/24 crew (Skvortsov, Kornienko, Caldwell Dyson) 

from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, on Soyuz TMA-18 

April 4 Expedition 23/24 docks to the Poisk module in Soyuz TMA-18 

April 5 Launch of Discovery on the STS-131/19A mission 

April 7 Docking of Discovery to Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 

April 15 Undocking of Discovery from Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 

April 27 Undocking of the ISS Progress 35 cargo ship from the Pirs Docking 

Compartment 

April 28 Launch of the ISS Progress 37 cargo ship from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, 

Kazakhstan 

April 30 Docking of the ISS Progress 37 cargo ship to the Pirs Docking Compartment 

May 10 Undocking of the ISS Progress 36 cargo ship from the Zvezda Service Module’s 

aft port 

May 12 Relocation of the Soyuz TMA-17 (Kotov, Creamer, Noguchi) from the Zarya 

module’s nadir port to the aft end of the Zvezda Service module to clear the 

Zarya port for the installation of the Rassvet Mini-Research Module-1 

May 14 Launch of Atlantis on its final flight on the STS-132/ULF-4 mission 

May 16 Docking of Atlantis to Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (Rassvet is installed on the 

nadir port of the Zarya module on Flight Day 5 of the STS-132/ULF-4 mission) 

May 24 Undocking of Atlantis from Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 

June 2 Undocking of the Expedition 23 crew (Kotov, Creamer, Noguchi) in the Soyuz 

TMA-17 craft from the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module and landing 

June 16 Launch of the Expedition 24/25 crew (Yurchikhin, Wheelock, Walker) in the 

Soyuz TMA-19 craft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan 
26 MISSION MILESTONES APRIL 2010

June 18 Expedition 24/25 docks to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module in Soyuz 

TMA-19 

June 22 Relocation of the Soyuz TMA-19 craft (Yurchikhin, Wheelock, Walker) from the 

aft port of the Zvezda Service Module to the Rassvet module 

June 28 Launch of the ISS Progress 38 cargo ship from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in 

Kazakshtan 

June 30 Docking of the ISS Progress 38 cargo ship to the aft end of the Zvezda 

Service Module 

July 8 Spacewalk by Wheelock and Caldwell Dyson in U.S. spacesuits out of the 

Quest airlock 

July 15 35th anniversary of the start of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission 

July 23 Spacewalk by Yurchikhin and Kornienko in Russian Orlan spacesuits out of the 

Pirs Docking Compartment 

July 29 Launch of Endeavour on its final flight on the STS-134/ULF-6 mission 

July 31 Docking of Endeavour to Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 

Aug. 7 Undocking of Endeavour from Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 

Aug. 30 Undocking of the ISS Progress 38 cargo ship from the aft port of the Zvezda 

Service Module 

Aug. 31 Launch of the ISS Progress 39 cargo craft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in 

Kazakhstan 

Sept. 2 Docking of the ISS Progress 39 cargo craft to the aft port of the Zvezda Service 

Module 

Sept. 16 Undocking of the Expedition 24 crew (Skvortsov, Kornienko, Caldwell Dyson) in 

the Soyuz TMA-18 craft from the Poisk module and landing 

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

 Launch of Discovery on the final shuttle mission, STS-133/ULF-5 
APRIL 2010 SPACEWALKS 27

Expedition 23/24 Spacewalks 

Astronaut Doug Wheelock, STS-120 mission specialist, participates in the mission’s 

fourth session of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) while space shuttle Discovery is docked 

with the International Space Station. 

Two spacewalks to be performed by four 

spacewalkers are planned for the July 

timeframe during Expedition 23/24. 

U.S. Flight Engineers Doug Wheelock and 

Tracy Caldwell Dyson will perform a 

6.5-hour spacewalk from the Quest airlock, 

and Russian Flight Engineers Mikhail 

Kornienko and Fyodor Yurchikhin will exit 

the station from the Pirs docking 

compartment for their spacewalk, which is 

scheduled to last a little over six hours. 

Dyson and Kornienko will be performing 

their first spacewalks, though Dyson acted 

as the intravehicular officer during the four 

spacewalks of the STS-118 mission. The 

others are all experienced spacewalkers. 

Wheelock performed three spacewalks in 

2007 during the STS-120, and Yurchikhin 

took part in two during his stint as 

Expedition 15 commander, also in 2007. 
28 SPACEWALKS APRIL 2010

The U.S. Spacewalk 

The first spacewalk, also known as an 

extravehicular activity or EVA, is slated for 

July 8, and is designated U.S. EVA 15. 

Wheelock will be the lead spacewalker and 

wear a suit marked with a red stripe, while 

Dyson wears an all-white suit. The primary 

task for the crew will be to install a power 

and data grapple fixture – or PDGF – on the 

exterior of the Zarya module. The fixture 

will provide a handhold for the space 

station’s robotic arm on the Russian side of 

the station, extending its reach for activities 

in that area. 

The installation of the PDGF is divided into 

four sections. First, Wheelock and Dyson 

will spend 45 minutes actually securing the 

hardware to Zarya. It will be held in place 

by three feet arranged in a triangle, each of 

which can be screwed into spots on the 

station’s exterior. 

Once the PDGF is in place, Wheelock and 

Dyson will begin connecting it to the 

necessary support systems. They will split 

up for about two hours while Wheelock 

installs a video signal converter nearby 

and Dyson plugs it into power for the 

robotic arm to use when it is attached to the 

PDGF. Installing the converter will require 

Wheelock to tighten one bolt, connect three 

cables and cover the equipment with 

insulation. Dyson will meanwhile connect 

six cables and use wire ties to secure them 

to handrails. 

The two spacewalkers will then come 

together again for the final task of installing 

a data cable. The four connections should 

take about an hour and 15 minutes to 

complete. 

The Russian Spacewalk 

Yurchikhin and Kornienko are currently 

scheduled to perform their spacewalk – 

Russian EVA 25 – on July 23. They will 

wear Russian Orlan spacesuits; Yurchikhin, 

the lead spacewalker, will wear one marked 

with a red stripe, while Kornienko will wear 

a blue-striped suit. They will conduct four 

tasks aimed at getting the new Rassvet 

mini research module, which will have 

arrived on STS-132, set up for permanent 

operations in space. 

Their first tasks will be to hook the module 

up to the rest of the station. They will run 

three data cables between Rassvet and the 

Zvezda module, routing them along the 

Zarya module. They will then install cables 

between Rassvet and Zarya. 

The spacewalkers’ last two tasks will 

focus on Rassvet’s television capabilities. 

They will first relocate a camera already on 

Rassvet’s exterior from the zenith or 

space-facing side to the nadir or 

Earth-facing side. And then, as their final 

tasks, Yurchikhin and Kornienko will 

replace a camera used for docking 

European Automated Transfer Vehicles to 

the station. 
APRIL 2010 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 29

Russian Soyuz TMA 

The Soyuz space capsule transported the first 

crew to the International Space Station in 

November 2000. Since then, at least one 

Soyuz always has been docked to the station, 

serving as a lifeboat in the event an emergency 

would cause the crew to leave the station. 

Following the Columbia accident in February 

2003, the Soyuz became the only method of 

transportation for crews launching to or 

returning from the space station. A new trio of 

station crew members arrives aboard a new 

Soyuz capsule about every six months, and 

then returns to Earth aboard the same Soyuz 

capsule in which they arrived. More than 

1,500 launch vehicles by the same name 

have taken humans, as well as satellites 

for telecommunications, Earth observation, 

weather and scientific missions, into orbit. 

Soyuz rockets and capsules already serve as 

the primary crew transport vehicle to the 

station, anticipating the space shuttle’s 

retirement in September 2010. 

Aboard a Soyuz rocket, the Soyuz capsule and 

crew are launched to the space station from the 

Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and land 

in central Asia. The Soyuz spacecraft consists 

of an Orbital Module, a Descent Module and an 

Instrumentation/Propulsion Module. The Orbital 

Module is used by the crew while on orbit 

during free-flight. On the front end it has a 

docking mechanism that is used to dock to the 

space station and a hatch that allows entry into 

the station. It also has rendezvous antennas 

that are used by the automated docking system 

to move toward the station for docking. All the 

necessary controls and displays of the 

Soyuz are located in the Descent Module, 

which also is where the cosmonauts 

and astronauts sit for launch, re-entry 

and landing. The Instrumentation/Propulsion 

Module contains three compartments: 

intermediate, instrumentation and propulsion. 

The intermediate compartment is where the 

module connects to the Descent Module. The 

primary guidance, navigation, control and 

computer systems of the Soyuz are in the 

instrumentation compartment. The propulsion 

compartment contains the system that is used 

to perform any maneuvers while in orbit, 

including rendezvous and docking with the 

space station and the deorbit burns necessary 

to return to Earth. 

It takes about two days after launch for the 

Soyuz to reach the space station and less than 

three and a half hours to return to Earth. 

Though the rendezvous and docking are both 

automated, once the spacecraft is within 

492 feet of the station, the Russian Mission 

Control Center monitors the approach and 

docking. The crew is well trained and has 

the capability to manually intervene or execute 

these operations. Up to three crew members 

can launch and return to Earth from the station 

aboard a Soyuz spacecraft. 
30 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2010

Training to be a crew member on the Soyuz 

takes nearly two and a half years to complete. 

The training consists of lectures in a classroom, 

simulations where the crew members get direct 

hands-on experience and two phases of 

survival training. At the beginning of training 

the crew members typically are not proficient in 

Russian, so they are given an interpreter and 

receive about six to eight hours of language 

training each week. The commander, left seat 

and right seat all do the exact same training 

but depending on which seat they are, 

the amount of training time varies. Soyuz 

commander training is probably the most 

challenging because of the responsibilities and 

expectations the position holds. 

The commander sits in the center seat of the 

Soyuz, does all manual flying when necessary, 

talks directly to ground control while in flight and 

has complete control of the vehicle. The left 

seat serves as the commander’s backup and is 

basically the co-pilot. The left seat completes 

almost exactly as much training as the 

commander in case of an emergency where the 

crew has to return to Earth unexpectedly and 

the commander cannot fulfill his duties. The 

right seat has the fewest responsibilities. While 

the commander and left seat have all the 

hands-on responsibilities in the Soyuz, the right 

seat maintains situational awareness with 

everything that is going on and also monitors 

displays. 

Even though there is so much technical 

systems training, teamwork is perhaps the most 

critical aspect of training to be a Soyuz crew 

member. While the commander is flying the 

vehicle, he needs to be able to have faith in his 

left seat and right seat that they know what they 

are supposed to be doing. Likewise, the left 

seat and right seat have to have the same 

confidence in the commander that he knows 

what exactly to do and when to do it. Overall 

trust among the crew may come later than 

normal with the language and cultural barriers 

that are in place. 

Orbital Module 

This portion of the Soyuz spacecraft is used by 

the crew while on orbit during free-flight. It has 

a volume of 6.5 cubic meters (230 cubic feet), 

with a docking mechanism, hatch and 

rendezvous antennas located at the front end. 

The docking mechanism is used to dock with 

the space station and the hatch allows entry 

into the station. The rendezvous antennas are 

used by the automated docking system – a 

radar-based system – to maneuver towards the 

station for docking. There is also a window in 

the module. 

The opposite end of the orbital module 

connects to the descent module via a 

pressurized hatch. Before returning to Earth, 

the orbital module separates from the descent 

module – after the deorbit maneuver – and 

burns up upon re-entry into the atmosphere. 

Descent Module 

The descent module is where the cosmonauts 

and astronauts sit for launch, re-entry and 

landing. All the necessary controls and 

displays of the Soyuz are here. The module 

also contains life support supplies and batteries 

used during descent, as well as the primary and 

backup parachutes and landing rockets. It also 

contains custom-fitted seat liners for each crew 

member, individually molded to fit each 

person's body – this ensures a tight, 

comfortable fit when the module lands on the 

Earth. When crew members are brought to the 

station aboard the space shuttle, their seat 

liners are brought with them and transferred to 

the Soyuz spacecraft as part of crew handover 

activities. 

The module has a periscope, which allows the 

crew to view the docking target on the station or 

the Earth below. The eight hydrogen peroxide 

thrusters located on the module are used to 

control the spacecraft's orientation, or attitude, 

during the descent until parachute deployment. 

It also has a guidance, navigation and control 
APRIL 2010 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 31

system to maneuver the vehicle during the 

descent phase of the mission. 

This module weighs 2,900 kilograms 

(6,393 pounds), with a habitable volume of 

4 cubic meters (141 cubic feet). Approximately 

50 kilograms (110 pounds) of payload can be 

returned to Earth in this module and up to 

150 kilograms (331 pounds) if only two crew 

members are present. The Descent Module is 

the only portion of the Soyuz that survives the 

return to Earth. 

Instrumentation/Propulsion Module 

This module contains three compartments: 

intermediate, instrumentation and propulsion. 

The intermediate compartment is where the 

module connects to the descent module. It also 

contains oxygen storage tanks and the attitude 

control thrusters, as well as electronics, 

communications and control equipment. The 

primary guidance, navigation, control and 

computer systems of the Soyuz are in the 

instrumentation compartment, which is a sealed 

container filled with circulating nitrogen gas to 

cool the avionics equipment. The propulsion 

compartment contains the primary thermal 

control system and the Soyuz radiator, with a 

cooling area of 8 square meters (86 square 

feet). The propulsion system, batteries, solar 

arrays, radiator and structural connection to the 

Soyuz launch rocket are located in this 

compartment. 

The propulsion compartment contains the 

system that is used to perform any 

maneuvers while in orbit, including rendezvous 

and docking with the space station and the 

deorbit burns necessary to return to Earth. 

The propellants are nitrogen tetroxide 

and unsymmetric-dimethylhydrazine. The main 

propulsion system and the smaller reaction 

control system, used for attitude changes while 

in space, share the same propellant tanks. 

The two Soyuz solar arrays are attached to 

either side of the rear section of the 

instrumentation/propulsion module and are 

linked to rechargeable batteries. Like the 

orbital module, the intermediate section of the 

instrumentation/propulsion module separates 

from the descent module after the final deorbit 

maneuver and burns up in atmosphere upon 

re-entry. 

TMA Improvements and Testing 

The Soyuz TMA spacecraft is a replacement for 

the Soyuz TM, which was used from 1986 to 

2002 to take astronauts and cosmonauts to Mir 

and then to the International Space Station. 

The TMA increases safety, especially in 

descent and landing. It has smaller and more 

efficient computers and improved displays. In 

addition, the Soyuz TMA accommodates 

individuals as large as 1.9 meters (6 feet, 

3 inches) tall and 95 kilograms (209 pounds), 

compared to 1.8 meters (6 feet) and 

85 kilograms (187 pounds) in the earlier TM. 

Minimum crew member size for the TMA is 

1.5 meters (4 feet, 11 inches) and 50 kilograms 

(110 pounds), compared to 1.6 meters (5 feet, 

4 inches) and 56 kilograms (123 pounds) for the 

TM. 

Two new engines reduce landing speed and 

forces felt by crew members by 15 to 

30 percent and a new entry control system and 

three-axis accelerometer increase landing 

accuracy. Instrumentation improvements 

include a color “glass cockpit,” which is easier 

to use and gives the crew more information, 

with hand controllers that can be secured under 

an instrument panel. All the new components 

in the Soyuz TMA can spend up to one year in 

space. 

New components and the entire TMA were 

rigorously tested on the ground, in hangar-drop 

tests, in airdrop tests and in space before the 

spacecraft was declared flight-ready. For 

example, the accelerometer and associated 
32 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2010

software, as well as modified boosters 

(incorporated to cope with the TMA’s additional 

mass), were tested on flights of Progress 

unpiloted supply spacecraft, while the new 

cooling system was tested on two Soyuz TM 

flights. 

Descent module structural modifications, seats 

and seat shock absorbers were tested in 

hangar drop tests. Landing system 

modifications, including associated software 

upgrades, were tested in a series of airdrop 

tests. Additionally, extensive tests of systems 

and components were conducted on the 

ground. 

Soyuz Launcher 

Throughout history, more than 1,500 launches 

have been made with Soyuz launchers to orbit 

satellites for telecommunications, Earth 

observation, weather, and scientific missions, 

as well as for human flights. 

The basic Soyuz vehicle is considered a 

three-stage launcher in Russian terms and is 

composed of: 

• A lower portion consisting of four boosters 

(first stage) and a central core (second 

stage). 

• An upper portion, consisting of the third 

stage, payload adapter and payload fairing. 

• Liquid oxygen and kerosene are used as 

propellants in all three Soyuz stages. 

First Stage Boosters 

The first stage’s four boosters are assembled 

around the second stage central core. The 

boosters are identical and cylindrical-conic in 

shape with the oxygen tank in the cone-shaped 

portion and the kerosene tank in the cylindrical 

portion. 

An NPO Energomash RD 107 engine with four 

main chambers and two gimbaled vernier 

thrusters is used in each booster. The vernier 

thrusters provide three-axis flight control. 

Ignition of the first stage boosters and the 

second stage central core occur simultaneously 

on the ground. When the boosters have 

completed their powered flight during ascent, 

they are separated and the core second stage 

continues to function. 

First stage separation occurs when the 

pre-defined velocity is reached, which is about 

118 seconds after liftoff. 

A Soyuz launches from the Baikonur 

Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. 
APRIL 2010 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 33

Second Stage 

An NPO Energomash RD 108 engine powers 

the Soyuz second stage. This engine has four 

vernier thrusters, necessary for three-axis flight 

control after the first stage boosters have 

separated. 

An equipment bay located atop the second 

stage operates during the entire flight of the first 

and second stages. 

Third Stage 

The third stage is linked to the Soyuz second 

stage by a latticework structure. When the 

second stage’s powered flight is complete, the 

third stage engine is ignited. Separation occurs 

by the direct ignition forces of the third stage 

engine. 

A single-turbopump RD 0110 engine from KB 

KhA powers the Soyuz third stage. 

The third stage engine is fired for about 

240 seconds. Cutoff occurs at a calculated 

velocity. After cutoff and separation, the third 

stage performs an avoidance maneuver by 

opening an outgassing valve in the liquid 

oxygen tank. 

Launcher Telemetry Tracking & Flight 

Safety Systems 

Soyuz launcher tracking and telemetry is 

provided through systems in the second and 

third stages. These two stages have their own 

radar transponders for ground tracking. 

Individual telemetry transmitters are in each 

stage. Launcher health status is downlinked to 

ground stations along the flight path. Telemetry 

and tracking data are transmitted to the mission 

control center, where the incoming data flow is 

recorded. Partial real-time data processing and 

plotting is performed for flight following and 

initial performance assessment. All flight data 

is analyzed and documented within a few hours 

after launch. 

Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch 

Operations 

Soyuz missions use the Baikonur 

Cosmodrome’s proven infrastructure, and 

launches are performed by trained personnel 

with extensive operational experience. 

Baikonur Cosmodrome is in the Republic of 

Kazakhstan in Central Asia between 

45 degrees and 46 degrees north latitude and 

63 degrees east longitude. Two launch pads 

are dedicated to Soyuz missions. 

Final Launch Preparations 

The assembled launch vehicle is moved to the 

launch pad on a railcar. Transfer to the launch 

zone occurs two days before launch. The 

vehicle is erected and a launch rehearsal is 

performed that includes activation of all 

electrical and mechanical equipment. 

On launch day, the vehicle is loaded with 

propellant and the final countdown sequence is 

started at three hours before the liftoff time. 

Rendezvous to Docking 

A Soyuz spacecraft generally takes two days 

to reach the space station. The rendezvous 

and docking are both automated, though once 

the spacecraft is within 150 meters (492 feet) of 

the station, the Russian Mission Control Center 

just outside Moscow monitors the approach and 

docking. The Soyuz crew has the capability to 

manually intervene or execute these 

operations. 
34 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2010

Soyuz Booster Rocket Characteristics 

First Stage Data - Blocks B, V, G, D 

Engine RD-107 

Propellants LOX/Kerosene 

Thrust (tons) 102 

Burn time (sec) 122 

Specific impulse 314 

Length (meters) 19.8 

Diameter (meters) 2.68 

Dry mass (tons) 3.45 

Propellant mass (tons) 39.63 

Second Stage Data, Block A 

Engine RD-108 

Propellants LOX/Kerosene 

Thrust (tons) 96 

Burn time (sec) 314 

Specific impulse 315 

Length (meters) 28.75 

Diameter (meters) 2.95 

Dry mass (tons) 6.51 

Propellant mass (tons) 95.7 

Third Stage Data, Block I 

Engine RD-461 

Propellants LOX/Kerosene 

Thrust (tons) 30 

Burn time (sec) 240 

Specific impulse 330 

Length (meters) 8.1 

Diameter (meters) 2.66 

Dry mass (tons) 2.4 

Propellant mass (tons) 21.3 

PAYLOAD MASS (tons) 6.8 

SHROUD MASS (tons) 4.5 

LAUNCH MASS (tons) 309.53 

TOTAL LENGTH (meters) 49.3 

 
APRIL 2010 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 35

Prelaunch Countdown Timeline 

T- 34 Hours Booster is prepared for fuel loading 

T- 6:00:00 Batteries are installed in booster 

T- 5:30:00 State commission gives go to take launch vehicle 

T- 5:15:00 Crew arrives at site 254 

T- 5:00:00 Tanking begins 

T- 4:20:00 Spacesuit donning 

T- 4:00:00 Booster is loaded with liquid oxygen 

T- 3:40:00 Crew meets delegations 

T- 3:10:00 Reports to the State commission 

T- 3:05:00 Transfer to the launch pad 

T- 3:00:00 Vehicle 1st and 2nd stage oxidizer fueling complete 

T- 2:35:00 Crew arrives at launch vehicle 

T- 2:30:00 Crew ingress through orbital module side hatch 

T- 2:00:00 Crew in re-entry vehicle 

T- 1:45:00 Re-entry vehicle hardware tested; suits are ventilated 

T- 1:30:00 Launch command monitoring and supply unit prepared 

Orbital compartment hatch tested for sealing 

T- 1:00:00 Launch vehicle control system prepared for use; gyro instruments 

activated 

T - :45:00 Launch pad service structure halves are lowered 

T- :40:00 Re-entry vehicle hardware testing complete; leak checks performed on 

suits 

T- :30:00 Emergency escape system armed; launch command supply unit 

activated 

T- :25:00 Service towers withdrawn 

T- :15:00 Suit leak tests complete; crew engages personal escape hardware auto 

mode 

T- :10:00 Launch gyro instruments uncaged; crew activates on-board recorders 

T- 7:00 All prelaunch operations are complete 

T- 6:15 Key to launch command given at the launch site 

Automatic program of final launch operations is activated 

T- 6:00 All launch complex and vehicle systems ready for launch 

T- 5:00 Onboard systems switched to onboard control 

Ground measurement system activated by RUN 1 command 

Commander's controls activated 

Crew switches to suit air by closing helmets 

Launch key inserted in launch bunker 

T- 3:15 Combustion chambers of side and central engine pods purged with 

nitrogen 
36 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2010

Prelaunch Countdown Timeline (concluded) 

T- 2:30 Booster propellant tank pressurization starts 

Onboard measurement system activated by RUN 2 command 

Prelaunch pressurization of all tanks with nitrogen begins 

T- 2:15 Oxidizer and fuel drain and safety valves of launch vehicle are closed 

Ground filling of oxidizer and nitrogen to the launch vehicle is terminated

T- 1:00 Vehicle on internal power 

Automatic sequencer on 

First umbilical tower separates from booster 

T- :40 Ground power supply umbilical to third stage is disconnected 

T- :20 Launch command given at the launch position 

Central and side pod engines are turned on 

T- :15 Second umbilical tower separates from booster 

T- :10 Engine turbopumps at flight speed 

T- :05 First stage engines at maximum thrust 

T- :00 Fueling tower separates 

 Lift off 

 

Ascent/Insertion Timeline 

T- :00 Lift off 

T+ 1:10 Booster velocity is 1,640 ft/sec 

T+ 1:58 Stage 1 (strap-on boosters) separation 

T+ 2:00 Booster velocity is 4,921 ft/sec 

T+ 2:40 Escape tower and launch shroud jettison 

T+ 4:58 Core booster separates at 105.65 statute miles 

Third stage ignites 

T+ 7:30 Velocity is 19,685 ft/sec 

T+ 9:00 Third stage cut-off 

 Soyuz separates 

Antennas and solar panels deploy 

Flight control switches to Mission Control, Korolev 

 
APRIL 2010 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 37

Orbital Insertion to Docking Timeline 

FLIGHT DAY 1 OVERVIEW 

Orbit 1 Post insertion: Deployment of solar panels, antennas and docking 

probe 

- Crew monitors all deployments 

- Crew reports on pressurization of OMS/RCS and ECLSS systems 

and crew health. Entry thermal sensors are manually deactivated 

- Ground provides initial orbital insertion data from tracking 

Orbit 2 Systems Checkout: IR Att Sensors, Kurs, Angular Accels, 

“Display” TV Downlink System, OMS engine control system, 

Manual Attitude Control Test 

- Crew monitors all systems tests and confirms onboard indications 

- Crew performs manual RHC stick inputs for attitude control test 

- Ingress into HM, activate HM CO2 scrubber and doff Sokols 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Manual maneuver to +Y to Sun and initiate a 2 deg/sec yaw 

rotation. MCS is deactivated after rate is established. 

Orbit 3 Terminate +Y solar rotation, reactivate MCS and establish LVLH 

attitude reference (auto maneuver sequence) 

- Crew monitors LVLH attitude reference build up 

- Burn data command upload for DV1 and DV2 (attitude, TIG Delta 

V’s) 

- Form 14 preburn emergency deorbit pad read up 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Auto maneuver to DV1 burn attitude (TIG - 8 minutes) while LOS 

- Crew monitor only, no manual action nominally required 

DV1 phasing burn while LOS 

- Crew monitor only, no manual action nominally required 

Orbit 4 Auto maneuver to DV2 burn attitude (TIG - 8 minutes) while LOS 

- Crew monitor only, no manual action nominally required 

DV2 phasing burn while LOS 

- Crew monitor only, no manual action nominally required 
38 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2010

FLIGHT DAY 1 OVERVIEW (CONTINUED) 

Orbit 4 Crew report on burn performance upon AOS 

(continued) - HM and DM pressure checks read down 

- Post burn Form 23 (AOS/LOS pad), Form 14 and “Globe” corrections 

voiced up 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Manual maneuver to +Y to Sun and initiate a 2 deg/sec yaw 

rotation. MCS is deactivated after rate is established. 

External boresight TV camera ops check (while LOS) 

 Meal 

Orbit 5 Last pass on Russian tracking range for Flight Day 1 

Report on TV camera test and crew health 

Sokol suit clean up 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 6-12 Crew Sleep, off of Russian tracking range 

- Emergency VHF2 comm available through NASA VHF Network 

FLIGHT DAY 2 OVERVIEW 

Orbit 13 Post sleep activity, report on HM/DM Pressures 

Form 14 revisions voiced up 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 14 Configuration of RHC-2/THC-2 work station in the HM 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 15 THC-2 (HM) manual control test 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 16 Lunch 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 17 (1) Terminate +Y solar rotation, reactivate MCS and establish LVLH 

attitude reference (auto maneuver sequence) 

RHC-2 (HM) Test 

- Burn data uplink (TIG, attitude, delta V) 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Auto maneuver to burn attitude (TIG - 8 min) while LOS 

Rendezvous burn while LOS 

Manual maneuver to +Y to Sun and initiate a 2 deg/sec yaw 

rotation. MCS is deactivated after rate is established. 
APRIL 2010 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 39

FLIGHT DAY 2 OVERVIEW (CONTINUED) 

Orbit 18 (2) Post burn and manual maneuver to +Y Sun report when AOS 

- HM/DM pressures read down 

- Post burn Form 23, Form 14 and Form 2 (Globe correction) voiced 

up 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 19 (3) CO2 scrubber cartridge change out 

 Free time 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 20 (4) Free time 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 21 (5) Last pass on Russian tracking range for Flight Day 2 

 Free time 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 22 (6) - 27 

(11) 

Crew sleep, off of Russian tracking range 

- Emergency VHF2 comm available through NASA VHF Network 

FLIGHT DAY 3 OVERVIEW 

Orbit 28 (12) Post sleep activity 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 29 (13) Free time, report on HM/DM pressures 

- Read up of predicted post burn Form 23 and Form 14 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 30 (14) Free time, read up of Form 2 “Globe Correction,” lunch 

- Uplink of auto rendezvous command timeline 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radar and radio transponder tracking 

FLIGHT DAY 3 AUTO RENDEZVOUS SEQUENCE 

Orbit 31 (15) Don Sokol spacesuits, ingress DM, close DM/HM hatch 

- Active and passive vehicle state vector uplinks 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radio transponder tracking 
40 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2010

FLIGHT DAY 3 AUTO RENDEZVOUS SEQUENCE (CONCLUDED) 

Orbit 32 (16) Terminate +Y solar rotation, reactivate MCS and establish LVLH 

attitude reference (auto maneuver sequence) 

Begin auto rendezvous sequence 

- Crew monitoring of LVLH reference build and auto rendezvous 

timeline execution 

- A/G, R/T and Recorded TLM and Display TV downlink 

- Radio transponder tracking 

FLIGHT DAY 3 FINAL APPROACH AND DOCKING 

Orbit 33 (1) Auto Rendezvous sequence continues, flyaround and station 

keeping 

 - Crew monitor 

- Comm relays via SM through Altair established 

- Form 23 and Form 14 updates 

- Fly around and station keeping initiated near end of orbit 

- A/G (gnd stations and Altair), R/T TLM (gnd stations), Display TV 

downlink (gnd stations and Altair) 

- Radio transponder tracking 

Orbit 34 (2) Final Approach and docking 

- Capture to “docking sequence complete” 20 minutes, typically 

- Monitor docking interface pressure seal 

- Transfer to HM, doff Sokol suits 

- A/G (gnd stations and Altair), R/T TLM (gnd stations), Display TV 

downlink (gnd stations and Altair) 

- Radio transponder tracking 

FLIGHT DAY 3 STATION INGRESS 

Orbit 35 (3) Station/Soyuz pressure equalization 

- Report all pressures 

- Open transfer hatch, ingress station 

- A/G, R/T and playback telemetry 

- Radio transponder tracking 

 
APRIL 2010 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 41

Typical Soyuz Ground Track 
42 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2010

Key Times for Expedition 23 Launch Events 

Expedition 23 Launch on Soyuz TMA-18

11:04:34 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 1 

4:04:34 GMT on Thursday, April 2 

8:04:34 a.m. Moscow daylight time on Thursday, April 2 

10:04:34 a.m. Kazakhstan time on Thursday, April 2 

Expedition 23 docking to station on Soyuz TMA-18 (Poisk Module)

12:28 a.m. CT on Sunday, April 4 

5:28 GMT on Sunday, April 4 

9:28 a.m. Moscow daylight time on Sunday, April 4 

Expedition 23 hatch opening to station

~3:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, April 4 

~8:30 GMT on Sunday, April 4 

~12:30 p.m. Moscow daylight time on Sunday, April 4 (three hours after docking) 
APRIL 2010 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA 43

Soyuz Landing 

After about six months in space, the departing 

crew members from the International Space 

Station will board their Soyuz spacecraft 

capsule for undocking and a one-hour descent 

back to Earth. 

About three hours before undocking, the crew 

will bid farewell to the other three crew 

members who will remain on the station 

awaiting the launch of a new trio of 

astronauts and cosmonauts from the Baikonur 

Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan about 17 days 

later. 

The departing crew will climb into its Soyuz 

vehicle and close the hatch between Soyuz and 

its docking port. The Soyuz commander will be 

seated in the center seat of the Soyuz’ descent 

module, flanked by his two crewmates. 

After activating Soyuz systems and getting 

approval from flight controllers at the Russian 

Mission Control Center outside Moscow, the 

Soyuz commander will send commands to open 

hooks and latches between Soyuz and the 

docking port. 

He will then fire the Soyuz thrusters to back 

away from the docking port. Six minutes after 

undocking, with the Soyuz about 66 feet away 

from the station, the Soyuz commander will 

conduct a separation maneuver, firing the 

Soyuz jets for about 15 seconds to begin to 

depart the vicinity of the complex. 

About 2.5 hours after undocking, at a distance 

of about 12 miles from the station, Soyuz 

computers will initiate a deorbit burn braking 

maneuver. The 4.5-minute maneuver to slow 

the spacecraft will enable it to drop out of orbit 

and begin its reentry to Earth. 

About 30 minutes later, just above the first 

traces of the Earth’s atmosphere, computers 

will command the pyrotechnic separation of the 

three modules of the Soyuz vehicle. With the 

crew strapped in the centermost descent 

module, the uppermost orbital module, 

containing the docking mechanism and 

rendezvous antennas, and the lower 

Instrumentation and propulsion module at the 

rear, which houses the engines and avionics, 

will separate and burn up in the atmosphere. 

The descent module’s computers will orient the 

capsule with its ablative heat shield pointing 

forward to repel the buildup of heat as it 

plunges into the atmosphere. The crew will feel 

the first effects of gravity about three minutes 

after module separation at the point called entry 

interface, when the module is about 400,000 

feet above the Earth. 

About eight minutes later, at an altitude of about 

33,000 feet, traveling at about 722 feet per 

second, the Soyuz will begin a computercommanded sequence for the deployment of 

the capsule’s parachutes. First, two “pilot” 

parachutes will be deployed, extracting a larger 

drogue parachute, which stretches out over an 

area of 79 square feet. Within 16 seconds, the 

Soyuz’ descent will slow to about 262 feet per 

second. 

The initiation of the parachute deployment will 

create a gentle spin for the Soyuz as it dangles 

underneath the drogue chute, assisting in the 

capsule’s stability in the final minutes prior to 

touchdown. 

A few minutes before touchdown, the drogue 

chute will be jettisoned, allowing the main 

parachute to be deployed. Connected to the 

descent module by two harnesses, the main 

parachute covers an area of about 3,281 feet. 

The deployment of the main parachute slows 

the descent module to a velocity of about 
44 RUSSIAN SOYUZ TMA APRIL 2010

23 feet per second. Initially, the descent 

module will hang underneath the main 

parachute at a 30 degree angle with respect to 

the horizon for aerodynamic stability. The 

bottommost harness will be severed a few 

minutes before landing, allowing the descent 

module to right itself to a vertical position 

through touchdown. 

At an altitude of a little more than 16,000 feet, 

the crew will monitor the jettison of the descent 

module’s heat shield, which will be followed by 

the termination of the aerodynamic spin cycle 

and the dissipation of any residual propellant 

from the Soyuz. Computers also will arm the 

module’s seat shock absorbers in preparation 

for landing. 

When the capsule’s heat shield is jettisoned, 

the Soyuz altimeter is exposed to the surface of 

the Earth. Signals are bounced to the ground 

from the Soyuz and reflected back, providing 

the capsule’s computers updated information 

on altitude and rate of descent. 

At an altitude of about 39 feet, cockpit displays 

will tell the commander to prepare for the soft 

landing engine firing. Just 3 feet above the 

surface, and just seconds before touchdown, 

the six solid propellant engines will be fired in a 

final braking maneuver. This will enable the 

Soyuz to settle down to a velocity of about five 

feet per second and land, completing its 

mission. 

As always is the case, teams of Russian 

engineers, flight surgeons and technicians in 

fleets of MI-8 helicopters will be poised near the 

normal and “ballistic” landing zones, and 

midway in between, to enact the swift recovery 

of the crew once the capsule touches down. 

A portable medical tent will be set up near the 

capsule in which the crew can change out of its 

launch and entry suits. Russian technicians will 

open the module’s hatch and begin to remove 

the crew members. The crew will be seated in 

special reclining chairs near the capsule for 

initial medical tests and to begin readapting to 

Earth’s gravity. 

About two hours after landing, the crew will be 

assisted to the recovery helicopters for a flight 

back to a staging site in northern Kazakhstan, 

where local officials will welcome them. The 

crew then will board a Russian military plane 

and be flown to the Chkalovsky Airfield adjacent 

to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 

Star City, Russia, where their families will meet 

them. In all, it will take around seven hours 

between landing and the return to Star City. 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 45

International Space Station: Expedition 23/24 Science Overview 

The Expedition 23 and 24 mission will finish the 

laboratory, delivering the final facilities to 

enable full use of the International Space 

Station for research, technology development, 

and education, putting the potential of space to 

work for the people of Earth. 

With nearly 130 integrated investigations – the 

work of nearly 400 scientists around the globe, 

scientific throughput has quadrupled during the 

transition from assembly to the era of utilization. 

Forty-five of the experiments that will be 

performed are new to the station, eight are 

associated with the station’s role as an official 

U.S. National Laboratory, and 55 are sponsored 

by NASA’s international partner agencies – 

the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the 

European Space Agency (ESA) and the 

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). 

Another 40 experiments are sponsored by the 

station’s fifth partner, the Russian Federal 

Space Agency (RSA). All station partners 

cooperate and coordinate their research 

investigations, and many investigations include 

international teams of scientists. 

The investigations cover human research; 

biological and physical sciences; technology 

development; Earth observation, and education. 

In the past, assembly and maintenance 

activities have dominated the available time for 

crew work. But as completion of the orbiting 

laboratory nears, additional facilities and the 

crew members to operate them is enabling a 

measured increase in time devoted to research 

as a national and multinational laboratory. 

The STS-131 mission of space shuttle 

Discovery will deliver the final set of laboratory 

facilities to the station, the Window 

Observational Research Facility (WORF), which 

will enable full scientific use of the opticalquality window in the Destiny Laboratory; the 

third and final Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory 

Freezer for ISS (MELFI), a European Space 

Agency-built, NASA-operated freezer for 

science sample storage; the final EXpedite the 

PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station 

Rack 7 (EXPRESS Rack 7), a multipurpose 

payload rack system that supports experiments 

in any discipline by providing structural 

interfaces, power, data, cooling and water; 

and the Muscle Atrophy Research and 

Exercise System (MARES), another NASA/ESA 

collaboration that will be used to better 

understand the effects of microgravity on the 

human muscular system. 

New experiments on the Expedition 23 and 24 

crew’s “to-do list” will look at long-duration 

spaceflight effects on the human immune, 

balance, oxygen distribution, digestion and 

central nervous systems. They will carry on 

research into how plant bark and roots develop 

in microgravity, and how liquid systems function 

in complex geometries known as capillaries. 

Also on tap are investigations into how gravity 

affects the transition of fluids from liquid to gas, 

the movement of molecules within fluids and 

how metals solidify and semiconductor crystals 

grow. 

Technology demonstration projects during 

Expedition 23 and 24 will test the use of the 

venerable Sabatier system for the first time in 

space, attempting to wring additional oxygen 

and water out of hydrogen and carbon dioxide 

that are currently vented overboard by the 

station’s recycling systems; a new cabin 

atmosphere monitor to identify trace 

contaminants in the air the station’s crew 

breathes; and a new dosimeter that measures 

radiation exposure in space, a key concern 

for scientists and engineers working on sending 

explorers to distant destinations in our 

solar system, where cosmic rays are a human 

health hazard. 
46 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010

An educational experiment platform known as 

Cube Lab will set the stage for cost-effective, 

student-developed experiments that weigh twoand-a-half pounds (1 kilogram) or less. 

Managing the international laboratory’s 

scientific assets, as well as the time and space 

required to accommodate experiments and 

programs from a host of private, commercial, 

industry and government agencies nationwide, 

makes the job of coordinating space station 

research critical. 

Teams of controllers and scientists on the 

ground continuously plan, monitor and remotely 

operate experiments from control centers 

around the globe. Controllers staff payload 

operations centers around the world, effectively 

providing for researchers and the station crew 

around the clock, seven days a week.

State-of-the-art computers and communications 

equipment deliver up-to-the-minute reports 

about experiment facilities and investigations 

between science outposts across the United 

States and around the world. The payload 

operations team also synchronizes the payload 

time lines among international partners, 

ensuring the best use of valuable resources 

and crew time. 

The control centers of NASA and its partners 

are:

• NASA Payload Operations Center, Marshall 

Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. 

• RSA Center for Control of Spaceflights 

(“TsUP” in Russian) in Korolev, Russia 

• JAXA Space Station Integration and 

Promotion Center (SSIPC) in Tskuba, 

Japan 

• ESA Columbus Control Center (Col-CC) in 

Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 

• CSA Payloads Operations Telesciences 

Center, St. Hubert, Quebec, Canada 

NASA’s Payload Operations Center serves as a 

hub for coordinating much of the work related to 

delivery of research facilities and experiments 

to the space station as they are rotated in and 

out periodically when space shuttles or other 

vehicles make deliveries and return completed 

experiments and samples to Earth. 

The payload operations director leads the 

POC’s main flight control team, known as the 

"cadre," and approves all science plans in 

coordination with Mission Control at NASA's 

Johnson Space Center in Houston, the 

international partner control centers and the 

station crew. 

On the Internet 

For fact sheets, imagery and more on 

Expedition 23/24 experiments and payload 

operations, visit 

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 47

Location of International Space Station Experiment Facilities 

JPM1D1

JPM1F1 JPM1F4

JPM1D4

JPM 103

JPM1A1 JPM1A4

JPM1O2

JPM1A5

JPM1O1 JPM1O4 JPM 1O5

deck

forward

aft

overhead

Radial Port

JPM 1A2 JPM1A3 JPM1A6

RMS

SE#355

DMS -2

SE#352

DMS -1

SE#351

HDP

JRSR-1 ICS /

PROX

SE#360

RYUTAI

SE#364

SAIBO

SE#365

JRSR-2

ZSR AVCO

JPM1D2 JPM1D3 JPM1D5 JPM 1D6

ECLSS /

TCS -2

SE#357

CQ -3 MELFI-1

SE#62

EPS-1

SE#358

EPS-2

SE#359

ECLSS /

TCS-1

JPM1F3 JPM1F5 JPM1F6

ZSR

SE#117

ARS W/S

SE#8

EXPR-4 

SE#17

EXPR-5

SE#31

SE#356 SE#25

SE#23 SE#362

SE#354 SE#353

J 

P

M

JPM1F2

ITCS

JLP1A2 JLP1P2 JLP1F2 JLP1S2

JLP1A1 JLP1P1 JLP1F1 JLP1S1

AVCO HDP ZSR

SE#121

JLP

aft port forward starboard 

ZSR ZSR HDP HDP

HDP

SE#120 SE#122

COL1O4 COL1O3

C 

o 

l 

u 

m 

b 

u 

s

COL1O1

ZSR

SE#112

ZSR

SE#113

FSL

SE#412

COL1O2

ZSR

SE#126

COL1A4 COL1A3 COL1A1

HRF-2

SE#417

EPM

SE#413

EXPR-3 

(ARIS )

SE#16

COL1A2

Bio Lab

SE#414

COL1D4 COL1D3 COL1D1

ETC

SE#415

System

SE#400

System

SE#400

COL1D2

System

SE#400

COL1F4 COL1F3 COL1F1

HRF -1 AVCO EDR

SE#411

COL1F2

MSG

SE#13 SE#18

NOD2O5

ZSR

SE#118

NOD2O4

DDCU 

JEM-1

SE#301

NOD2S5

NOD2D5

N 

o 

d 

e 

2

NOD2P5

CQ-1

SE#60

T2

SE#45

CQ -4

SE#63

NOD2S4

NOD2D4

NOD2P4

DDCU 

ESA-2

SE#304

DDCU 

ESA-1

SE#303

DDCU 

JEM-2

SE#302

P

M

A 

- MPLM 2

deck

overhead

AIR1O1

Stowage 

SE#191

AIR1A1

AIR1D1

SE#192

AIR1F1

Avionics

A 

i 

r 

l 

o 

c 

k forward

aft CA Equip

Stowage 

SE#193

SE#194

P

M

A 

-

2

LAB1O1

EXPR-2 

(ARIS )

SE#15

LAB1O3

MSRR -1 

(ARIS )

SE#22

LAB1O2

EXPR-1

SE#14

LAB1S6 LAB1S3 LAB1S1

LAB1P5

LAB1D5

L

A

B

LAB1O6

LAB1D6

ARS

SE#314

LAB1D4

Avionics-1

SE#4

LAB1D3 LAB1D2 LAB1D1

Window Avionics-2

SE#5

Avionics-3

SE#6

WRS -1

SE#315

DDCU -2

SE#9

LAB1S5 LAB1S4 LAB1S2

MELFI-2

SE#34

TCS

SE#3

MSS/AV

SE#12

LAB1P6

TCS

SE#2

LAB1P3 LAB1P1

MSS/AV

SE#11

DDCU -1

SE#7

LAB1P4 LAB1P2

WHC

SE#317

LAB1O5 LAB1O4

SE#21

CIR 

(PaRIS ) TeSS

GALLEY 

(EXPR-6)

FIR 

(ARIS )

SE#370

WRS -2 OGS

RSR 

(CHeCS )

SE#155 SE#318

SE#316 SE#313

SE#27

NOD1D4

NOD1P4 N 

o 

d 

e 

1

NOD1O4

ZSR

SE#110

RSR

SE#381

NOD1S4

ZSR

SE#116

ZSR

SE#111

overhead

starboard

deck

port PMA -3

Z1 

Truss

Air -

lock

PMA -

3

P

M

A 

-

2

CMRS reserved zone

NASA 

Stowage

Subsystem

NASA 

Payload IP Payload

RWS CEVIS

ARIS /PaRIS 

Capable

forward

IRED ARED

IP Stowage

Rack Pivot Point

FGB

COL

JEM

PM
48 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010

International Space Station Experiment Facilities 

Name Title Agency Category Summary Location 

BioLab Biological 

Experiment 

Laboratory 

ESA Facilities Biological Experiment Laboratory in 

Columbus (BioLab) is a multi-user 

research facility located in the 

European Columbus Laboratory. It will 

be used to perform space biology 

experiments on microorganisms, cells, 

tissue cultures, small plants and small 

invertebrates. BioLab will allow a better 

understanding of the effects of 

microgravity and space radiation on 

biological organisms 

Columbus 

EDR European 

Drawer Rack 

ESA Facilities European Drawer Rack (EDR) is a 

multidiscipline facility to support up to 

seven modular Experiment Modules 

(EM). Each payload may be composed 

of several EMs. Each payload will have 

its own cooling, power, and data 

communications, as well as vacuum, 

venting and nitrogen supply if required 

Columbus 

EPM European 

Physiology 

Module 

ESA Facilities European Physiology Module (EPM) is 

designed to investigate the effects of 

short-term and long-duration space 

flights on the human body. It includes 

equipment for studies in neuroscience, 

cardiovascular, bone and muscle 

physiology 

Columbus 

ETC European 

Transportation 

Carrier 

ESA Facilities The European Transportation 

Carrier (ETC) will provide on-orbit 

stowage for payload items and support 

of additional European facilities. After 

the first use of the rack, it will be used 

primarily as a transport rack in 

conjunction with the Multi-Purpose 

Logistics Module (MPLM) 

Columbus 

FSL Fluid Science 

Laboratory 

ESA Facilities Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL) is a 

multiuser facility, designed by the 

European Space Agency (ESA) for 

conducting fluid physics research in 

microgravity conditions. It can be 

operated in fully or in semi-automatic 

mode and can be controlled onboard by 

the International Space Station (ISS) 

crewmembers, or from the ground in 

telescience mode 

Columbus 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 49

International Space Station Experiment Facilities (continued) 

Name Title Agency Category Summary Location 

Solar Sun 

Monitoring on 

the External 

Payload 

Facility of 

Columbus 

ESA Facilities Sun Monitoring on the External Payload 

Facility of Columbus (Solar) is a 

monitoring observatory that will 

measure the solar spectral irradiance. 

Apart from scientific contributions for 

solar and stellar physics, the 

knowledge of the solar energy 

irradiance into the Earth’s atmosphere 

and its variations is of great importance 

for atmospheric modeling, atmospheric 

chemistry and climatology 

External 

Ryutai Ryutai 

Experiment 

Rack 

JAXA Facilities Ryutai Experiment Rack (Ryutai) which 

means “fluid,” is a multipurpose 

payload rack system that includes a 

Fluid Physics Experiment Facility, 

Solution Crystallization Observation 

Facility, Protein Crystallization 

Research Facility, and image 

processing 

Kibo 

Saibo Saibo 

Experiment 

Rack 

JAXA Facilities Saibo Experiment Rack (Saibo), which 

means “living cell,” includes a Clean 

Bench glovebox with microscope that 

isolates the organisms being studied, 

and Cell Biology Experiment Facility 

that includes incubator and centrifuges 

Kibo 

CIR Combustion 

Integrated 

Rack 

NASA Facilities The Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) 

includes an optics bench, combustion 

chamber, fuel and oxidizer control, and 

five different cameras for performing 

combustion experiments in microgravity 

Destiny 

EMCS European 

Modular 

Cultivation 

System 

NASA Facilities European Modular Cultivation 

System (EMCS) allows for cultivation, 

stimulation and crew-assisted operation 

of biological experiments under 

well-controlled conditions 

(e.g., temperature, atmospheric 

composition, water supply and 

illumination). It includes two 

centrifuges that can provide artificial 

gravity from 0 to 2G 
50 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010

International Space Station Experiment Facilities (continued) 

Name Title Agency Category Summary Location 

EXPRESS 

Rack-1 

EXpedite the 

PRocessing of 

Experiments 

to Space 

Station 

Rack-1 

NASA Facilities EXpedite the PRocessing of 

Experiments to Space Station Rack-1 

(EXPRESS Rack-1) is a multipurpose 

payload rack system that stores and 

supports experiments aboard the 

International Space Station. 

The EXPRESS Rack system supports 

science experiments in any discipline 

by providing structural interfaces, 

power, data, cooling, water and other 

items needed to operate science 

experiments in space 

Destiny 

EXPRESS 

Rack-2A 

EXpedite the 

PRocessing of 

Experiments 

to Space 

Station 

Rack-2 Active 

Rack Isolation 

System 

NASA Facilities EXpedite the PRocessing of 

Experiments to Space Station Rack-2 

Active Rack Isolation System 

(EXPRESS Rack-2A) is a modified 

EXPRESS Rack (ER) that house 

experiments aboard the International 

Space Station. The ARIS component 

of the ER reduces external vibration 

disturbances at selected experiment 

locations inside the ER, allowing the 

payloads to operate in an environment 

of greatly reduced vibrational 

disturbances 

Destiny 

EXPRESS 

Rack-3A 

EXpedite the 

PRocessing of 

Experiments 

to Space 

Station 

Rack-3 Active 

Rack Isolation 

System 

NASA Facilities EXpedite the PRocessing of 

Experiments to Space Station Rack-3 

Active Rack Isolation System 

(EXPRESS Rack-3A) is a modified 

EXPRESS Rack (ER) that house 

experiments aboard the International 

Space Station. The ARIS component 

of the ER reduces external vibration 

disturbances at selected experiment 

locations inside the ER, allowing the 

payloads to operate in an environment 

of greatly reduced vibrational 

disturbances 

Columbus 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 51

International Space Station Experiment Facilities (continued) 

Name Title Agency Category Summary Location 

EXPRESS 

Rack-4 

EXpedite the 

PRocessing of 

Experiments 

to Space 

Station 

Rack-4 

NASA Facilities The EXPRESS Rack is a multipurpose 

payload rack system that transports, 

stores and supports experiments 

aboard the International Space Station. 

The EXPRESS Rack system supports 

science payloads in any discipline by 

providing structural interfaces, power, 

data, cooling, water and other items 

needed to operate science experiments 

in space 

Kibo 

EXPRESS 

Rack-5 

EXpedite the 

PRocessing of 

Experiments 

to Space 

Station 

Rack-5 

NASA Facilities The EXPRESS Rack are multipurpose 

payload rack systems that store and 

supports experiments aboard the 

International Space Station. The 

EXPRESS Rack system supports 

science payloads in any discipline by 

providing structural interfaces, power, 

data, cooling, water and other items 

needed to operate science experiments 

in space 

Kibo 

EXPRESS 

Rack-6 

EXpedite the 

PRocessing of 

Experiments 

to Space 

Station 

Rack-6 

NASA Facilities EXpedite the PRocessing of 

Experiments to Space Station Rack-6 

(EXPRESS Rack-6) are multipurpose 

payload rack systems that store and 

support experiments aboard the 

International Space Station. 

The EXPRESS Rack system supports 

science experiments in any discipline 

by providing structural interfaces, 

power, data, cooling, water and other 

items needed to operate science 

FIR Fluids 

Integrated 

Rack 

NASA Facilities The Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR) is a 

complementary fluid physics research 

facility designed to host investigations 

in areas such as colloids, gels, bubbles, 

wetting and capillary action, and phase 

changes including, boiling and cooling 

Destiny 

HRF-1 Human 

Research 

Facility-1 

NASA Facilities The Human Research Facility-1 

(HRF-1) enables study of the effects of 

long-duration space flight on the human 

body. Equipment in the HRF-1 

includes a clinical ultrasound and a 

device for measuring mass 

Columbus 
52 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010

International Space Station Experiment Facilities (continued) 

Name Title Agency Category Summary Location 

HRF-2 Human 

Research 

Facility-2 

NASA Facilities The Human Research Facility-2 

(HRF-2) enables study of the effects of 

long-duration space flight on the human 

body. HRF-2 equipment includes a 

refrigerated centrifuge; devices for 

measuring blood pressure, and heart 

function; and the Pulmonary Function 

System for measuring lung function 

Columbus 

MELFI Minus 

Eighty-Degree 

Laboratory 

Freezer for 

ISS 

NASA Facilities Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory 

Freezer for ISS (MELFI) is a European 

Space Agency built, National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration 

operated freezers will store samples on 

ISS at temperatures as low as 

-80 degrees C 

Kibo 

MELFI-2 Minus 

Eighty-Degree 

Laboratory 

Freezer for 

ISS -2 

NASA Facilities Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory 

Freezer for ISS (MELFI) is a European 

Space Agency built, National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration 

operated freezers will store samples on 

ISS at temperatures as low as 

-80 degrees C 

MSG Microgravity 

Science 

Glovebox 

NASA Facilities Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) 

provides a safe contained environment 

for research with liquids, combustion 

and hazardous materials aboard the 

International Space Station (ISS). 

Without the MSG, many types of 

hands-on investigations would be 

impossible or severely limited onboard 

the Station 

Columbus 

MSRR Materials 

Science 

Research 

Rack-1 

NASA Facilities The Materials Science Research 

Rack-1 (MSRR-1) will be used for basic 

materials research in the microgravity 

environment of the ISS. MSRR-1 can 

accommodate and support diverse 

Experiment Modules (EMs). In this way 

many material types, such as metals, 

alloys, polymers, semiconductors, 

ceramics, crystals, and glasses, can be 

studied to discover new applications for 

existing materials and new or improved 

materials 

Destiny 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 53

International Space Station Experiment Facilities (concluded) 

Name Title Agency Category Summary Location 

UMS Urine 

Monitoring 

System 

NASA Facilities The Urine Monitoring System (UMS) is 

a system designed to collect an 

individual crewmember’s void, gently 

separate urine from air, accurately 

measure void volume, allow for void 

sample acquisition, and discharge 

remaining urine into the Waste and 

Hygiene Compartment (WHC) onboard 

the International Space Station (ISS) 
54 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator ISS/

APEX-CSA2 Advanced Plant Experiment-CSA2 CSA Biological Sciences in Microgravity APEX-CSA2 will compare the gene expression and tissue organization of the white spruce (Picea glauca) in microgravity and on Earth. Advanced Biological Research Facility (ABRS)/ Express Rack (ER) Jean Beaulieu, Ph.D., Natural Resources Canada (Canadian Wood Fibre Centre), Quebec City, Quebec, Canada ISS 

BISE Bodies in the Space Environment CSA Human Research and Countermeasures Development Bodies in the Space Environment (BISE) will evaluate adaptation to, the effect of, and recovery from long- duration microgravity exposure on the perception of orientation using the OCHART protocol. No facility Laurence R. Harris, Ph.D., York University, North York, Ontario, Canada ISS 

HYPERSOLE Cutaneous Hypersensitivity and Balance Control in Humans CSA Human Research and Countermeasures Development HYPERSOLE will determine the change in skin sensitivity post spaceflight for the application to balance control , specifically changes in skin sensitivity of the sole of the foot and which receptors may be influenced following a period of nonloading. No facility Leah R. Bent, Ph.D., University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Pre a

Post-(Shut

VASCULAR Health consequences of Long-Duration Flight CSA Human Research and Countermeasures Development Health Consequences of Long- Duration Flight (VASCULAR) will conduct an integrated investigation of mechanisms responsible for changes in blood vessel structure with long- duration space flight and will link this with functional and health consequences that parallel changes with the aging process. Human Research Facility-2 (HRF-2) Richard Lee Hughson, Ph.D., University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada ISS 

ALTEA- SHIELD Anomalous Long- Term Effects in Astronauts – Radiation Shielding ESA Radiation Dosimetry ALTEA-SHIELD aims at obtaining a better understanding of the light flash phenomenon, and more generally the interaction between cosmic rays and brain function, as well as testing different types of shielding material. Express Rack / ALTEA Italy: L. Narici, F. Ballarini, G. Battistoni, M. Casolini, A. Ottolenghi, P. Picozza, W. Sannita, S. Villari USA: E. Benton, J. Miller, M. Shavers Switzerland: A Ferrari Germany: H. Iwase, D. Schardt Japan: T. Sato Sweden: L. Sihver ISS 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 55 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator ISS/S

CETSOL Columnar-to- Equiaxed Transition in Solidification Processing ESA Physical Sciences in Microgravity CETSOL carries out research into the formation of microstructures during the solidification of metallic alloys specifically the transition from columnar growth to equiaxed growth when crystals start to nucleate in the melt. Results will help to optimise industrial casting processes. (See also MICAST.) Material Science Laboratory (MSL) France: A Gandin, B. Billia, Y. Fautrelle Germany: G. Zimmer-man Ireland: D. Browne USA: D. Poirier ISS 

CFS-A Coloured Fungi in Space (Part A) ESA Biological Sciences in Microgravity CFS-A will undertake an examination of the survival and growth of different coloured fungi species, which can be relevant to spacecraft contamination, panspermia and planetary protection issues. No Facility Romania: D. Hasegan, O. Maris G. Mogildea, M. Mogildea Sortie

Shuttl

DOBIES Dosimetry for Biological Experiments in Space ESA Radiation Dosimetry The objective of DOBIES is to develop a standard dosimetric method to measure absorbed and equivalent doses for biological samples as a contribution to the DOSIS experiment, and EXPOSE-E (completed) and EXPOSE-R payloads. European Physiology Modules (EPM) Belgium: F.Vanhaevere ISS 

DOSIS Dose Distribution Inside the ISS ESA Radiation Dosimetry DOSIS maps the actual nature and distribution of the radiation field inside Columbus using different detectors placed around the European laboratory. European Physiology Modules (EPM) Germany: G. Reitz ISS 

EXPOSE-R: Amino Photochemical processing of amino acids and other organic compounds in Earth orbit ESA Astrobiology The main objective of the Amino experiment is to determine to what extent biologically active molecules (amino acids and peptides) are converted into a mixture of so-called L- and D molecules when exposed to UV-C radiation. EXPOSE-R France: H. Cottin, P. Coll, F. Raulin, N. Fray, C. Szopa, M.C. Maurel, J. Vergne, A. Brack A. Chabin, M. Bertrand, F. Westall, D. Tepfer, A. Zalar, S. Leach ISS EXPOSE-R: Endo Response of endolithic organisms to space conditions ESA Astrobiology The Endo experiment will assess the impact of increased UV-B and UV-C radiation, due to ozone depletion, on algae and cyanobacteria from Antarctic sites under the ozone hole. EXPOSE-R U.K.: C. Cockell, H. Edwards Italy: D. Billi ISS 
56 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

S

EXPOSE-R: Organic Evolution of organic matter in space ESA Astrobiology The goal of the Organic experiment, which concerns the evolution of organic matter in space, is to study the effects of UV radiation, low pressure, and heavy ion bombardment on organic molecules of interest in astrophysics and astrobiology. EXPOSE-R Netherlands: P. Ehren-freund, Z. Peeters, B. Foing, Spain: M. Breitfellner France: F. Robert Germany: E.Jessberger, W. Schmidt, USA: F. Salama, M. Mumma ISS EXPOSE-R: Osmo Exposure of osmophilic microbes to the space environment ESA Astrobiology Osmo aims to understand the response of microbes to the vacuum of space and to solar radiation. It will especially focus on bacteria that survive in environments of high osmotic pressure. EXPOSE-R USA: R. Mancinelli ISS EXPOSE-R: Photo Measurements of vacuum and solar radiation-induced DNA damages within spores ESA Astrobiology This experiment is studying the effect of exposure of bacterial spores and samples of their DNA to solar UV radiation. The objective is to assess the quantity and chemistry of chemical products produced. EXPOSE-R France: J. Cadet, T. Douki, J-L.Ravanat, S. Sauvaigo ISS EXPOSE-R: PUR Phage and Uracil Response ESA Astrobiology The PUR experiment is studying the effect of solar UV radiation on a type of virus (Phage T7) and an RNA compound (uracil) to determine their effectiveness as biological dosimeters for measuring UV dose in the space environment. EXPOSE-R Hungary: G. Rontó, A. Fekete, P. Gróf, A. Bérces ISS EXPOSE-R: Spores Spores in artificial meteorites ESA Astrobiology Spores will assess how meteorite material acts as a protection for bacterial, fungal and ferny spores against space conditions; i.e., UV, vacuum and ionising radiation. EXPOSE-R Germany: G. Horneck, B. Hock, C. Panitz, A. Lux- Endrich, K.Neuberger, R. Möller, E. Rabbow, P. Rettberg, D.P. Häder, G. Reitz, Bulgaria: T. Dachev, B. Tomov ISS 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 57 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

S

EXPOSE-R: Subtil Mutational spectra of Bacillus subtilis spores and plasmid DNA exposed to high vacuum and solar UV radiation in the space environment ESA Astrobiology Subtil will determine the extent of mutation of spores and plasmid DNA of the model bacteria Bacillus subtilis induced by exposure to space vacuum and solar UV radiation. EXPOSE-R Japan: N.Munakata, K. Hieda, F.Kawamura ISS 

FASES Fundamental and Applied Studies of Emulsion Stability ESA Physical Sciences in Microgravity FASES will study the links between the physical chemistry of the droplets interface, the liquid films and the collective properties of an emulsion. Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL) Italy: L. Liggieri, G. Loglio, A. Di Lullo France: D. Clausse A. Steinchen, C. Dalmazzone Germany: R. Miller ISS 

IMMUNO Neuroendocrine and immune responses in humans during and after a long-term stay on the ISS ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development The aim of this experiment is to determine changes in hormone production and immune response during and after an ISS mission. No Facility Germany: A. Chouker, F. Christ, M. Thiel, I. Kaufmann, Russia: B. Morukov ISS 

MATROSHKA-2 MATROSHKA-2 ESA Radiation Dosimetry The Matroshka-2 experiment is carrying out a study of radiation absorption on the ISS using a simulated human Phantom and further investigating the effect of using different shielding materials on the process. MATROSHKA Germany: G. Reitz, R. Beaujean, W. Heinrich, M. Luszik-Badra, M.Scherken-bach Poland: P. Olko, P. Bilski Hungary: S. Derne, J. Palvalvi USA: E. Stassin- opoulos, J. Miller, C. Zeitlin, F. Cucinotta Russia: V. Petrov ISS 
58 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

S

MICAST Microstructure Formation in Casting of Technical Alloys Under Diffusive and Magnetically Controlled Convective Conditions ESA Physical Sciences in Microgravity MICAST carries out research into the formation of microstructures during the solidification of metallic alloys under diffusive and magnetically controlled convective conditions. Material Science Laboratory (MSL) Germany: L. Ratke, G. Mueller, G. Zimmer-man France: Y. Fautrelle, J. Lacaze Hungary: A. Roosz Canada: S. Dost USA: D. Poirier ISS 

OTOLITH OTOLITH ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development The otolith organs in the inner ear play an important role in our balance system as detectors of vertical and horizontal acceleration. This experiment will make an assessment of otolith function before and after short-term spaceflight. No Facility Germany: A Clarke USA: S. Wood Pre 

Pos(Sh

PADIAC Pathway Different Activators ESA Biological Sciences in Microgravity The goal of PADIAC is to determine the different pathways used for activation of T cells, which play an important role in the immune system. European Drawer Rack (EDR)/Kubik Incubator Switzerland: I. Walther, A. Cogoli Italy: P. Pippia USA: M. Hughes-Fulford ISS 

PASSAGES Scaling Body-related Actions in the Absence of Gravity ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development PASSAGES is designed to test how astronauts interpret visual information due to exposure to weightlessness with a focus on the possible decrease in use of the “Eye-Height” strategy. No Facility France: M. Luyat, J. Mcintyre ISS 

SODI-DSC Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument – Diffusion and Soret Coefficient Measurement for Improvement of Oil Recovery ESA Physical Sciences in Microgravity The DSC experiment will determine diffusion data requirements for petroleum reservoir models, measure Soret diffusion coefficients in liquid mixtures and refine relevant models related to petroleum reservoir evaluation. Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Belgium: J. C. Legros France: J.Caltagirone, J.L. Daridon, Canada: Z. Zaghir Denmark: A. Shapiro ISS 

SODI-COLLOID SODI-Advanced Photonic Devices in Microgravity ESA Physical Sciences in Microgravity With the fabrication of photonic devices being a very promising application in colloidal engineering, COLLOID will study the growth and properties of advanced photonic materials grown in weightlessness. Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) USA: D. Weitz, P. Segre, W. V. Meyer, Netherlands: A. Lagendijk, G. Wegdam ISS 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 59 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

S

SOLAR SOLAR ESA Solar Physics In orbit since February 2008, the Solar facility consists of three instruments and continues to study the Sun’s irradiation with unprecedented accuracy across most of its spectral range. SOLAR – Columbus External Payload Facility Germany: G. Schmidtke France: G. Thuillier Switzerland: C. Frohlich ISS 

SOLO Sodium Loading in Microgravity ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development SOLO is carrying out research into salt retention in space and related human physiology effects. European Physiology Modules (EPM)/Human Research Facilities 1 and 2 (HRF-1 and HRF-2) Germany: P. Frings-Meuthen, M. Heer, N. Kamps, F. Baisch Denmark: P. Norsk ISS 

SPIN ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development SPIN is a comparison between pre- flight and post-flight testing of astronaut subjects using a centrifuge and a standardized tilt test to link orthostatic tolerance with otolith- ocular function. No Facility Belgium: F. Wuyts, N. Pattyn USA: S. Moore, B. Cohen, A. Diedrich Australia: H. MacDou-gall France: G. Clement Pre

fligh

TASTE Taste In Space ESA Education Taste is part of the curriculum of school children across Europe. A tasting session will be recorded on the ISS in order to develop online material for use in the classroom. No Facility Netherlands: S. Hartevelt, E. Celton, ESA/ESTEC ISS 

THERMOLAB THERMOLAB ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development THERMOLAB is looking into core temperature changes in astronauts performed before during and after exercise on the ISS to investigate thermoregulatory and cardiovascular adaptations during long-duration spaceflight. Portable Pulmonary Function System (PPFS) Germany: H.C. Gunga, K. Kirsch, E.Koralewski, J. Cornier, H.-V. Heyer, P. Hoffman, J. Koch, F. Sattler France: P. Arbeille ISS 
60 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

S

TRIPLELUX-B TRIPLELUX-B ESA Biological Sciences in Microgravity TRIPLELUX-B will look into the effect of spaceflight on immune system cells. The cells studied will be invertebrate hemocytes from the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Biolab Germany: Prof Dr P.-D. Hansen ISS 

Vessel ID System Vessel ID System ESA Technology Demonstration The Vessel ID System will demonstrate the space-based capability of identification of maritime vessels and also test the ability of an external grappling adaptor to accommodate small payloads. No Facility Netherlands: H. Koenig, ESA/ESTEC ISS 

Vessel Imaging Vascular Echography ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development The main objective of Vessel Imaging is to evaluate the changes in the peripheral blood vessel wall properties (thickness and compliance) and cross sectional areas during long-term spaceflight. Human Research Facility 1 (HRF-1) France: P. Arbeille ISS 

WAICO-2 Waving and Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots ESA Biological Sciences in Microgravity The WAICO experiment aims to understand the interaction between circumnutation (spiralling) and gravitropism (growth in response to gravity) in the model Arabidopsis plant. Biolab Germany: G. Scherer ISS 

ZAG Z-axis Aligned Gravito- inertial force ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development This is an investigation into the effect weightlessness has on an astronaut’s perception of motion and tilt and his level of performance before and immediately after spaceflight. No Facility France: G. Clement USA: S. Wood, D. Harm, A. Rupert Pre 

Pos(Sh

3D SPACE Mental Representation of Spatial Cues During Spaceflight ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development This experiment involves comparison of pre-flight, flight and post-flight perceptions and mental imagery with special reference to spaceflight- related decreases in vertical percepts. No Facility France: G. Clement USA: C. E. Lathan ISS 

CARD CARD ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development The main aims of CARD are to understand how weightlessness affects the regulation of blood pressure and establish how some hormones responsible for regulating the cardiovascular system are affected by long-term exposure to weightlessness. Human Research Facility 2 (HRF-2)/ Pulmonary Function System (PFS)/ European Physiology Module (EPM) Denmark: P. Norsk, N.J. Christen-sen, B. Pump, A. Gabriel-sen, J.G. Nielsen, N. Gadsboll Germany: C. Drummer, N. Kentsch ISS 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 61 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

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EDOS Early Detection of Osteoporosis ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development This is a study into the mechanisms underlying the reduction in bone mass, which occurs in astronauts in weightlessnessand will evaluate bone structure pre- and post-flight. No Facility France: C.Alexandre, L. Braak, L. Vico, Switzerland: P. Rueg-segger Germany: M. Heer Pre

fligh

EKE Assessment of endurance capacity by gas exchange and heart rate kinetics during Physical Training ESA Human Research and Countermeasures Development EKE will make an assessment of endurance capacity and heart rate kinetics during physical training of ISS Expedition crew members. No Facility Germany: U. Hoffman, S. Fasoulas, D. Essfeld, T. Drager Pre

fligh

ERB-2 Erasmus Recording Binocular 2 ESA Technology Demonstration The ERB-2 is a high definition 3D stereoscopic video camera which will be used for taking footage inside the ISS to develop narrated video material for promotional and educational purposes. European Drawer Rack (EDR) Netherlands: M. Sabbatini, ESA/ESTEC ISS 

EXPOSE-R: IBMP Exposure of resting stages of terrestrial organisms to space conditions ESA/IBMP Astrobiology Samples from the Institute for Biomedical Problems in Moscow which are looking into the effect of exposing a diverse collection of terrestrial organisms in a resting stage of their life cycle to space conditions. EXPOSE-R Russia : V. Sychev, N. Novikova, V. Alekseev, M. Leven-skikh, O. Gusev, N.Polikarpov, E.Deshevaya Japan: T. Okuda ISS 

2D Nanotemplate 2D Nanotemplate JAXA Applied Research The 2D Nanotemplate will quantitatively evaluate gravitational effects on a new nanomaterial during its chemical reaction process. To prepare the two-dimensional template with nanoditches for electronic devices. The template is prepared via an isothermal reaction upon mixing of peptides and alkali water. To prevent sedimentation and convective flow, microgravity is needed. MELFI Takatoshi Kinoshita, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Naokiyo Koshikawa, JAXA ISS 
62 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

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PADLES Passive Dosimeter for Life Science Experiments in Space JAXA Human Spaceflight Technology Development Area PADLES surveys the space radiation environment inside Kibo using the PADLES analysis system and passive and integrating dosimeter developed by JAXA for measuring absorbed dose, LET distributions, and dose equivalents. Ultimate goals of this program are to support risk assessment and dose management for Japanese astronauts, and to update radiation assessment models for human spaceflight in the next generation. There are 17 Area PADLES dosimeters installed in Kibo's Pressurized Module (PM) and Kibo's Experiment Logistics Module- Pressurized Section (ELM-PS). They are replaced during each space station expedition. This series of experiments began from Expedition 17. No Facility Keiji Murakami, Akiko Nagamatsu, JAXA ISS 

Ferulate Regulation by Gravity of Ferulate Formation in Cell Walls of Wheat Seedlings JAXA Life Science The objective of this experiment is to confirm the hypothesis under which microgravity conditions modify the endogenous levels of abscisic acid, which in turn causes the reduction of the formation of cell wall-bound ferulic and diferulic acids by decreasing the activity of phenylalanine ammonia- lyase, and thereby decreases the mechanical strength of cell walls. CBEF Kazuyuki Wakabayashi, Osaka City University ISS 

Hydro Tropi Hydrotropism and Auxin-inducible Gene Expression in Roots Grown in Microgravity Conditions JAXA Life Science The hydrotropic response mechanism will be separated from that of gravitropism to understand the regulatory mechanisms of root growth orientation, and to determine whether hydrotropic response can be used to control root growth orientation in microgravity. CBEF Hideyuki Takahashi, Tohoku University ISS 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 63 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

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JAXA PCG High-Quality Protein Crystal Growth Experiment JAXA Applied Research JAXA PCG seeks to grow crystals of biological macromolecules using the counter diffusion technique. The main scientific objective of the JAXA PCG experiment is to produce fine-quality protein crystals in microgravity. The crystals will be grown in the JAXA PCG Canister using the Protein Crystallization Research Facility (PCRF) in the RYUTAI rack. The space-grown crystals will be applied to structural biology and pharmaceutical activities. This experiment is a JAXA-ROSCOSMOS science collaboration. JAXA is performing the onboard experiments, including samples from the Russian research group, and OSCOSMOS is operating the launch and retrieval. PCRF Masaru Sato, JAXA ISS 

Marangoni Exp Chaos, Turbulence and its Transition Process in Marangoni Convection JAXA Fluid Science A liquid bridge 50 mm in diameter is formed between a pair of supporting disks. A temperature difference between disks is imposed gradually. Thermocapillary convection (Marangoni convection) occurs due to surface tension gradient. The flow and temperature fields are observed in each stage. The transition conditions and processes are investigated precisely. In this experiment, an insertion thermocouple will be used to measure the surface temperature fluctuation. FPEF Koichi Nishino, Yokohama National University ISS 
64 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 

APRIL 2010

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Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

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Marangoni UVP Spatiotemporal Flow 

Structure in Marangoni Convection

JAXA Fluid Science Marangoni UVP is an experiment of 

Marangoni convection led by Yasushi Takeda of Hokkaido University, and performed using the Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF) in the RYUTAI rack in Kibo. The operational method is similar to that of the preceding Marangoni experiment: Chaos, Turbulence, and its Transition Process in Marangoni Convection (MEIS). During the experiment, the flow phenomenon will be investigated using a pulsed ultrasonic velocity profiler to obtain the spatiotemporal velocity field inside the fluid column, so as to investigate and clarify the flow transition scheme from laminar to turbulence through chaos. The experiment cell of this experiment will be delivered to the ISS on the HTV-1 Mission scheduled to launch to the ISS in September 2009.

FPEF Shinichi Yoda, 

JAXA

ISS 

Microbe-II Studies on Microbiota 

on board the International Space Station and Their Relationship to Health Problems

JAXA Life Science The purpose of this experiment is to 

monitor microbes in Kibo that may affect the health of the crew. The monitoring of stress from microbes on crew members is evaluated for its impact on space medicine. This experiment includes sampling using Microbial Detection Sheets, Yeast and Mold, Microbe Adhesive Sheets, and Blue/White Wipes in five specific areas of Kibo for molecular and biological analysis.

No Facility Koichi Makimura , 

Teikyo University

ISS 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 65 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

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MAXI Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image JAXA X-ray Astronomy MAXI is an external observatory operated on the EF. MAXI was launched and installed on Kibo's EF during the STS-127 Mission. MAXI has been and will be monitoring X-ray variability for more than 1,000 X-ray sources covering the entire sky. MAXI consists of two types of highly sensitive X-ray slit cameras: the Gas Slit Camera (GSC) and the Solid- state Slit Camera (SSC). The GSC uses a gas proportional counter for X- ray detection, and the SSC uses Peltier-cooled CCDs for X-ray detection. MAXI is equipped with 12 GSCs and 2 SSCs. The discoveries of X-ray novae and gamma-ray bursts with MAXI are to be distributed worldwide via the Internet, so that astronomical observatories may conduct follow-up and detailed observations with telescopes or astronomical satellites. JEM-EF Masaru Matsuoka, JAXA ISS 
66 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 

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Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

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Myco Lab Cbl-Mediated Protein 

Ubiquitination Downregulates the Response of Skeletal Muscle Cells to Growth Factors in Space

JAXA Life Science A gene modified cell line from rat 

muscle cell (L - 6) is utilized, which can be grown as an attached culture in the Meas Exp culture chamber. The cells are launched at ambient using “Meas Exp CO2 bag”, which maintains an adequate concentration of CO2. After the crew member exchanges the medium using the “Meas Exp Solution Exchanger,” the cells are cultivated using the CBEF at 37° C for 12 days. After 11 days of incubation, there is another medium exchange, including IGF-1 for one half of the chambers, and then incubation continues for one more day. After 12 total days of incubation, all chambers are washed using PBS, the RNA is preserved using RNAlater, and frozen for recovery (in MELFI and the STS freezer). After recovery, cells are analyzed for microgravity effects using an RT-PCR assay, DNA microarray, and Western blotting.

CBEF Takeshi Nikawa, 

University of Tokushima

ISS 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 67 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

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NANOSKELETON Production of a High- performance Nanomaterial: "Nanoskeleton" in Microgravity JAXA Applied Research Nanoskeleton1 will quantitatively evaluate gravitational effects on a new nanomaterial during its chemical reaction process. The nanoskeleton, a coined word that is defined as a functional nanoframework, is expected to be a highly functional material because of its high surface area. The high surface area is due to the pore structure and functionality of the framework itself. The TiO2 nanoskeleton, especially, has potential as a high-performance photocatalyst and highly efficient dye- sensitized solar cell. The TiO2 nanoskeleton is synthesized from a mixture of CTAB surfactant solution and TiOSO4-H2SO4 solution at 40° C or 3 days under isothermal conditions. The nanoskeleton experiment will be performed using the CBEF in the SAIBO rack. Oil will be used to enlarge the pore size of the honeycomb structure of the TiO2 nanoskeleton so that flotation of the oil can be suppressed in microgravity. All of the experiment samples will be retrieved and evaluated on the ground. The retrieved samples will be evaluated to clarify convective flow, flotation, and sedimentation effects on the sample quality. During the experiment, temperature and downlinked images of the samples will be monitored. Results of this study may enable the synthesizing of nanoskeleton materials on a mass production scale, and eventually, commercial realization of nanoskeleton materials as photocatalytic particles and so on. This experiment will be performed under JAXA's ISS Applied Research Center promotion program, which is joint university/industry/government research. CBEF, MELFI Masakazu Abe, Tokyo University of Science Naokiyo Koshikawa, JAXA ISS 
68 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

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Neuro Rad Biological Effects of Space Radiation and Microgravity on Mammalian Cells JAXA Life Science A cell line from human neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) is utilized, which can be grown as an attached culture in the Meas Exp Culture Chamber. The cells are launched in the incubator (at 37° C) using the “Meas Exp CO2 Bag,” which maintains an adequate concentration of CO2. The cells are kept in the “Meas Exp CO2 Bag” (without utilizing CO2 from CBEF) and cultured using the CBEF at 37° C in the ISS. After approximately 13 days or 23 days in the CBEF, the cells chambers are washed using PBS (Phosphate Buffered Saline) and treated with RNAlater and CELLBANKER® to facilitate recovery of the frozen cells (in MELFI and the STS freezer). After recovery, the cells are analyzed for space radiation effects of microgravity using a DNA microarray, Western blotting, and mutation assays. CBEF Hideyuki Majima, Kagoshima University SEDA-AP Space Environment Data Acquisition Equipment-Attached Payload JAXA Astrophysics/Earth Observation SEDA-AP is an external experiment conducted on the Exposed Facility (EF). SEDA-AP was launched and installed on Kibo's Exposed Facility (EF) during the STS-127 Mission, and it has been collecting space environment data ever since. It consists of common bus equipment, a mast that extends the neutron monitor sensor into space, and seven measurement units that measure space environment data. The measurement units are (1) Neutron Monitor (NEM), (2) Heavy Ion Telescope (HIT), (3) Plasma Monitor (PLAM), (4) Standard Dose Monitor (SDOM), (5) Atomic Oxygen Monitor (AOM), (6) Electronic Device Evaluation Equipment (EDEE), and (7) Micro-Particles Capture (MPAC) and Space Environment Exposure Device (SEED). JEM-EF Tateo Goka, JAXA ISS 
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SMILES Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder JAXA Astrophysics/Earth Observation SMILES is an external observatory to be operated on the EF. SMILES will be launched and installed during the HTV-1 Mission and aims at globally mapping stratospheric trace gases, using the most sensitive submillimeter receiver. A Superconductor/ Insulator/Superconductor (SIS) mixer in a dedicated cryostat with a mechanical cooler achieved SMILES's super-high sensitivity. SMILES will observe ozone depletion-related molecules, such as ClO, HCl, HO2, HNO3, BrO, and O3, in the frequency bands of 624.32 to 626.32 GHz and 649.12 to 650.32 GHz. A scanning antenna will cover tangent altitudes from 10 to 60 km every 53 seconds, while tracing the latitudes from 38°S to 65°N along its orbit. Due to its global coverage capability, SMILES can observe the low- and mid-latitudinal areas, as well as the Arctic peripheral region. SMILES data will enable us to investigate chlorine and bromine chemistry, and will provide a database for ozone variations in time and position around the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. JEM-EF Masato Shiotani, Kyoto University ISS 
70 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

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UROKO Regulation of Bone Metabolism in Space: Analysis by an In Vitro Assay System Using Goldfish Scales as a Model of Bone JAXA Life Science Scales, (UROKO in Japanese (regenerating scales)) collected from goldfish under anesthesia will be launched at +4° C. They will be incubated for 2 or 4 days at 20° C under microgravity using the cell biology experiment facility (CEBF) and compared with a 1G control in space. We will use the regenerating scales in goldfish because osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the regenerating scales were more active than those in normal scales. After the experiments, the specimens will be frozen at -80° C or fixed with formalin at 4° C. CBEF Nobuo Suzuki, Kanazawa University ISS 

AgCam-2 Agricultural Camera – 

2

NASA Earth and Space 

Science

The Agricultural Camera - 2 (AgCam2) will take frequent images, in visible and infrared light, of vegetated areas on the Earth, principally of growing crops, rangeland, grasslands, forests, and wetlands in the northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States. Images will be delivered directly to requesting farmers, ranchers, foresters, natural resource managers and tribal officials to help improve their environmental stewardship of the land. Images also will be shared with educators for classroom use.

George A. Seielstad, Ph.D., University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D.

ISS

BCAT-3 Binary Colloidal Alloy 

Test – 3

NASA Physical and 

Materials Science

Binary Colloidal Alloy Test – 3 (BCAT-3) will determine phase separation rates and add needed points to the phase diagram of a model critical fluid system. Crewmembers photograph samples of polymer and colloidal particles -- tiny nanoscale spheres suspended in liquid -- that model liquid/gas phase changes. Results will help scientists develop fundamental physics concepts previously cloaked by the effects of gravity.

David A. Weitz, Ph.D., Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Peter J. Lu, Ph.D., Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

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BCAT-4 Binodal Colloidal Aggregation Test – 4 NASA Physical and Materials Science Binary Colloidal Alloy Test – 4 (BCAT-4) is a follow-on experiment to BCAT-3. BCAT-4 will study ten colloidal samples. Seven of these samples will determine phase separation rates and add needed points to the phase diagram of a model critical fluid system initially studied in BCAT-3. Three of these samples will use model hard-spheres to explore colloidal crystal formation, providing insight into how nature brings order out of disorder. David A. Weitz, Ph.D., Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Peter J. Lu, Ph.D., Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Paul M. Chaikin, Ph.D., Princeton University, Princeton, NJ and New York University, New York ISS BCAT-5 Binary Colloidal Alloy Test – 5 NASA Physical and Materials Science Binary Colloidal Alloy Test – 5 (BCAT-5) is a suite of four investigations which will photograph randomized colloidal samples onboard the International Space Station to determine their resulting structure over time. The use of EarthKAM software and hardware will allow the scientists to capture the kinetics, or evolution, of their samples, as well as the final equilibrium state of each sample. Arjun Yodh, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, University Park, Pa. Matthew Lynch, Ph.D., Procter and Gamble, Cincinnati David Weitz, Ph.D., Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Paul Chaikin, Ph.D., New York University, New York ISS
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Bio Biology NASA Technology Biology (Bio) determines the magnifications that are possible with a microscope in an International Space Station vibration environment. Bio will image three-dimensional biological sample particles, tissue samples and live organisms. This will be done to indicate the microscope capabilities for viewing biological specimens. ISS BRIC-16 Biological Research in Canisters – 16 NASA Biology and Biotechnology Biological Research in Canisters – 16 (BRIC-16) germinates Arabidopsis thaliana seeds in microgravity to be returned to Earth for analysis by investigator teams. Howard Levine, Ph.D., Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla. Sor

Bisphosphonates Bisphosphonates as a Countermeasure to Space Flight Induced Bone Loss NASA Human Research Bisphosphonates as a Countermeasure to Space Flight Induced Bone Loss (Bisphosphonates) will determine whether antiresorptive agents which help reduce bone loss, in conjunction with the routine inflight exercise program, will protect station crewmembers from the regional decreases in bone mineral density documented on previous station missions. Adrian LeBlanc, Ph.D., Division of Space Life Sciences, Universities Space Research Association, Houston ISS CCF Capillary Channel Flow NASA Technology Capillary Channel Flow (CCF) is a versatile experiment for studying a critical variety of inertial-capillary dominated flows key to spacecraft systems that cannot be studied on Earth. CCF results are immediately useful for the design, testing, and instrumentation for verification and validation of liquid management systems of current orbiting, design stage, and advanced spacecraft envisioned for future exploration missions. Michael Dreyer, Ph.D., University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany ISS
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CEO Crew Earth Observations NASA Earth and Space Science Crew Earth Observations (CEO) takes advantage of the crew in space to observe and photograph natural and human-made changes on Earth. The photographs record the Earth's surface changes over time, along with dynamic events such as storms, floods, fires and volcanic eruptions. These images provide researchers on Earth with key data to better understand the planet. Susan Runco, Johnson Space Center, Houston ISS CFE-2 Capillary Flow Experiment – 2 NASA Physical and Materials Science Capillary Flow Experiment – 2 (CFE-2) is a suite of fluid physics experiments that investigate capillary flows and flows of fluids in containers with complex geometries. Results will improve current computer models that are used by designers of low gravity fluid systems and may improve fluid transfer systems on future spacecraft. Mark M. Weislogel, Ph.D., Portland State University, Portland, Ore. ISS CSI-05 Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus Science Insert – 05 NASA Education Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus Science Insert – 05 (CSI- 05) is one investigation in the CSI program series. The CSI program provides the K-12 community opportunities to utilize the unique microgravity environment of the International Space Station as part of the regular classroom to encourage learning and interest in science, technology, engineering and math. Louis Stodieck, Ph.D., University of Colorado - Boulder, BioServe Space Technologies, Boulder, Colo. ISS
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CSLM-2 Coarsening in Solid 

Liquid Mixtures-2

NASA Physical and 

Materials Science

Coarsening in Solid Liquid Mixtures-2 (CSLM-2) examines the kinetics of competitive particle growth within a liquid metal matrix. During this process, small particles of tin suspended in a liquid tin-lead matrix shrink by losing atoms to larger particles of tin, causing the larger particles to grow, or coarsen. This study defines the mechanisms and rates of coarsening in the absence of gravitational settling. This work has direct applications to metal alloy manufacturing on Earth, including materials critical for aerospace applications (e.g., the production of better aluminum alloys for turbine blades).

Peter W. Voorhees, Ph.D., Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.

ISS

CVB Constrained Vapor 

Bubble

NASA Physical and 

Materials Science

Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) operates a miniature wickless heat pipe, or heat exchanger, to understand the physics of evaporation and condensation as they affect heat transfer processes in microgravity.

Peter C. Wayner, Jr., Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y. Joel Plawsky, Sc.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.

ISS

Cube Lab Cube Lab NASA Education Cube Lab is a low-cost 1 kilogram 

platform for educational projects on the International Space Station.

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DECLIC-ALI DEvice for the study of Critical LIquids and Crystallization – Alice Like Insert NASA Physical and Materials Science DEvice for the study of Critical LIquids and Crystallization (DECLIC) is a multi-user facility used to study transparent media and their phase transitions in microgravity onboard the International Space Station. The Alice Like Insert (ALI) portion of DECLIC studies the dynamics of near-ambient temperature critical fluids of sulfur hexafluoride, a colorless, odorless, non-toxic and non-flammable gas known and carbon dioxide. ALI is one of the modules developed for DECLIC that will be used to continue the program on fluid physics and dynamics close to critical point. Yves Garrabos, Ph.D., Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France Daniel Beysen, Ph.D., Physique et Mecanique des Milieux Heterogenes, Paris, France ISS DTN Delay Tolerant Networking NASA Technology The Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) will test communication protocols with the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA) onboard the International Space Station that can be used for exploration. The primary purpose of this activity is to rapidly mature the technology for use in NASA's exploration missions and space communications architecture. Kevin Gifford, Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo. ISS EPO-Demos Education Payload Operation – Demonstrations NASA Educational Activities Education Payload Operation – Demonstrations (EPO-Demos) are recorded video education demonstrations performed on the International Space Station by crewmembers using hardware already onboard the station. EPO- Demos are videotaped, edited, and used to enhance existing NASA education resources and programs for educators and students in grades K-12. EPO-Demos are designed to support the NASA mission to inspire the next generation of explorers. Matthew Keil, Johnson Space Center, Houston ISS
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EPO-Robo Education Payload Operations – Robotics NASA Educational Activities Education Payload Operations – Robotics (EPO-Robo) creates an on- orbit video demonstration explaining robotic arm operations on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. Matthew Keil, Johnson Space Center, Houston ISS EarthKAM Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students NASA Educational Activities Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students (EarthKAM), an education activity, allows middle school students to program a digital camera on board the International Space Station to photograph a variety of geographical targets for study in the classroom. Photos are made available on the World Wide Web for viewing and study by participating schools around the world. Educators use the images for projects involving Earth Science, geography, physics and social science. Sally Ride, Ph.D., University of California – San Diego ISS Functional Task Test Physiological Factors Contributing to Changes in Postflight Functional Performance NASA Human Research Physiological Factors Contributing to Changes in Postflight Functional Performance (Functional Task Test) will test astronauts on an integrated suite of functional and physiological tests before and after short and long- duration space flight. The study will identify critical mission tasks that may be impacted, map physiological changes to alterations in physical performance and aid in the design of countermeasures that specifically target the physiological systems responsible for impaired functional performance. Jacob Bloomberg, Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston Pre

Pos

Ham Radio- ARISS Ham Radio – Amateur Radio on the International Space Station NASA Educational Activities Utilizing ham radio's, Ham Radio – Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (Ham Radio – ARISS) gets students interested in space exploration by allowing them to talk directly with the crews living and working aboard the station. ISS 
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HREP-HICO HICO and RAIDS Experiment Payload – Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean NASA Earth and Space Science HICO and RAIDS Experiment Payload – Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HREP-HICO) will operate a Visible and Near-InfraRed (VNIR) Maritime Hyperspectral Imaging (MHSI) system, to detect, identify and quantify coastal geophysical features from the International Space Station. Mike Corson, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington ISS HREP-RAIDS HICO and RAIDS Experiment Payload – Remote Atmospheric and Ionospheric Detection System (RAIDS) NASA Earth and Space Science The HICO and RAIDS Experiment Payload – Remote Atmospheric and Ionospheric Detection System (HREP-RAIDS) experiment will provide atmospheric scientists with a complete description of the major constituents of the thermosphere -- layer of the Earth's atmosphere -- and ionosphere -- uppermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere -- global electron density profiles at altitudes between 100 - 350 kilometers. Scott Budzien, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington ISS IVGEN IntraVenous Fluid GENeration for Exploration Missions NASA Human Research IntraVenous Fluid GENeration for Exploration Missions (IVGEN) will demonstrate the capability to purify water to the standards required for intravenous administration, then mix the water with salt crystals to produce normal saline. This hardware is a prototype that will allow flight surgeons more options to treat ill or injured crewmembers during future long-duration exploration missions. John McQuillen, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland (Hardware Project Scientist) ISS
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Integrated 

Cardiovascular

Cardiac Atrophy and Diastolic Dysfunction During and After Long Duration Spaceflight: Functional Consequences for Orthostatic Intolerance, Exercise Capability and Risk for Cardiac Arrhythmias

NASA Human Research Cardiac Atrophy and Diastolic 

Dysfunction During and After Long Duration Spaceflight: Functional Consequences for Orthostatic Intolerance, Exercise Capability and Risk for Cardiac Arrhythmias (Integrated Cardiovascular) will quantify the extent, time course and clinical significance of cardiac atrophy, or decrease in the size of the heart muscle, associated with longduration space flight. This experiment also will identify the mechanisms of this atrophy and the functional consequences for crewmembers who will spend extended periods of time in space.

Benjamin D. Levine, M.D., Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Presbyterian Hospital and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Michael W. Bungo, M.D., University of Texas Medical School, Houston

ISS

Integrated 

Immune

Validation of Procedures for Monitoring Crewmember Immune Function

NASA Human Research Validation of Procedures for 

Monitoring Crew Member Immune Function (Integrated Immune) will assess the clinical risks resulting from the adverse effects of spaceflight on the human immune system and will validate a flight-compatible immune monitoring strategy. Researchers will collect and analyze blood, urine and saliva samples from crewmembers before, during and after space flight to monitor changes in the immune system. Changes in the immune system will be monitored by collecting and analyzing blood and saliva samples from crewmembers during flight and blood, urine, and saliva samples before and after flight.

Clarence Sams, Ph.D, Johnson Space Center, Houston

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Kids In Micro-g Kids In Micro-gravity! NASA Educational Activities Kids In Micro-gravity! (Kids in Micro- g) is a student experiment design challenge geared toward grades 5 - 8. Its purpose is to give students a hands-on opportunity to design an experiment or simple demonstration that could be performed both in the classroom and aboard the International Space Station. Mark Severance, Johnson Space Center, Houston ISS MAMS Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System NASA Technology Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS) is an ongoing study of the small forces, or vibrations and accelerations, on the station that result from the operation of hardware, crew activities, as well as dockings and maneuvering. Results will be used to generalize the types of vibrations affecting vibration- sensitive experiments. Investigators seek to better understand the vibration environment on the space station to enable future research. William Foster, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland ISS MAUI Maui Analysis of Upper Atmospheric Injections NASA Technology Maui Analysis of Upper Atmospheric Injections (MAUI) will observe the Space Shuttle engine exhaust plumes from the Maui Space Surveillance Site in Hawaii. The observations will occur when the space shuttle fires its engines at night or twilight. A telescope and all-sky imagers will take images and data while the space shuttle flies over the Maui site. The images will be analyzed to better understand the interaction between the spacecraft plume and the upper atmosphere of Earth. Rainer A. Dressler, Ph.D., Hanscom Air Force Base, Lexington, Mass. Sor
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MDCA-FLEX Multi-User Droplet Combustion Apparatus – Flame Extinguishment Experiment NASA Technology Multi-User Droplet Combustion Apparatus – FLame Extinguishment Experiment (MDCA-FLEX) will assess the effectiveness of fire suppressants in microgravity and quantify the effect of different possible crew exploration atmospheres on fire suppression. The goal of this research is to provide definition and direction for large scale fire suppression tests and selection of the fire suppressant for next generation crew exploration vehicles. Forman A. Williams, University of California, San Diego ISS MDCA-FLEX-2 Multi-User Droplet Combustion Apparatus – Flame Extinguishment Experiment – 2 NASA Technology Multi-User Droplet Combustion Apparatus – FLame Extinguishment Experiment – 2 (MDCA-FLEX-2) will assess the effectiveness of fire suppressants in microgravity and quantify the effect of different possible crew exploration atmospheres on fire suppression. The goal of this research is to provide definition and direction for large scale fire suppression tests and selection of the fire suppressant for next generation crew exploration vehicles. Forman A. Williams, University of California, San Diego ISS MISSE-7 Materials International Space Station Experiment – 7 NASA Physical and Materials Science The Materials International Space Station Experiment-7 (MISSE-7) is a test bed for materials and coatings attached to the outside of the International Space Station being evaluated for the effects of atomic oxygen, ultraviolet, direct sunlight, radiation and extremes of heat and cold. This experiment allows the development and testing of new materials to better withstand the rigors of space environment. Results will provide a better understanding of the durability of various materials when they are exposed to the space environment with applications in the design of future spacecraft. Robert Walters, Ph.D., Naval Research Laboratory, Washington ISS
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MISSE-8 Materials International Space Station Experiment – 8 NASA Physical and Materials Science The Materials on International Space Station Experiment – 8 (MISSE-8) is a test bed for materials and computing elements attached to the outside of the International Space Station. These materials and computing elements are being evaluated for the effects of atomic oxygen, ultraviolet, direct sunlight, radiation and extremes of heat and cold. This experiment allows the development and testing of new materials and computing elements that can better withstand the rigors of space environments. Results will provide a better understanding of the durability of various materials and computing elements when they are exposed to the space environment, with applications in the design of future spacecraft. Robert Walters, Ph.D., Naval Research Laboratory, Washington Phillip Jenkins, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington ISS Micro-2 Microbiology – 2 NASA Biology and Biotechnology Microbiology – 2 (Micro-2) is a fundamental biology experiment and will expand our understanding of the fundamental basis of how spaceflight affects the biological and molecular functions of the cell and the molecular mechanisms by which cells and tissues respond to spaceflight conditions. ISS Mouse Immunology Mouse Immunology NASA Biology and Biotechnology Mouse Immunology will expand the knowledge base of the effects of space environment on mammalian immunology and provide fundamental knowledge for current applications that form a foundation for future long- duration space exploration missions. Paula Dumars, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Sor
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MSL-CETSOL and MICAST Materials Science Laboratory – Columnar-to-Equiaxed Transition in Solidification Processing and Microstructure Formation in Casting of Technical Alloys under Diffusive and Magnetically Controlled Convective Conditions NASA Physical and Materials Science The Materials Science Laboratory – Columnar-to-Equiaxed Transition in Solidification Processing and Microstructure Formation in Casting of Technical Alloys under Diffusive and Magnetically Controlled Convective Conditions (MSL- CETSOL and MICAST) are two investigations that support research into metallurgical solidification, semiconductor crystal growth (Bridgman and zone melting), and measurement of thermo-physical properties of materials. This is a cooperative investigation with the European Space Agency and NASA for accommodation and operation aboard the International Space Station. Charles-Andre Gandin, Ph.D., Ecole de Mines de Paris, ARMINES- CEMEF, Sophia Antipolis, France (CETSOL) Lorenz Ratke, Prof., German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany (MICAST) ISS NLP-Cells-4 National Laboratory Pathfinder – Cells – 4 NASA Biology and Biotechnology National Lab Pathfinder – Cells – 4 (NLP-Cells-4) is a commercial payload serving as a pathfinder for the use of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory after station assembly is complete. It contains several different experiments that examine cellular replication and differentiation of cells. This research is investigating the use of spaceflight to enhance or improve cellular growth processes used in ground based research. Sor

NLP-Cells-5 National Laboratory Pathfinder – Cells – 5 NASA Biology and Biotechnology National Lab Pathfinder – Cells – 5 (NLP-Cells-5) is a commercial payload serving as a pathfinder for the use of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory after station assembly is complete. It contains several different experiments that examine cellular replication and differentiation of cells. This research is investigating the use of spaceflight to enhance or improve cellular growth processes used in ground based research. Sor
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NLP-Vaccine-8 National Laboratory Pathfinder – Vaccine – 8 NASA Biology and Biotechnology National Lab Pathfinder – Vaccine – 8 (NLP-Vaccine-8) is a commercial payload serving as a pathfinder for the use of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory after station assembly is complete. It contains several different pathogenic, or disease causing, organisms. This research is investigating the use of spaceflight to develop potential vaccines for the prevention of different infections caused by these pathogens on Earth and in microgravity. Timothy Hammond, M.B.B.S., Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, N.C. SorNLP-Vaccine-9 National Laboratory Pathfinder – Vaccine – 9 NASA Biology and Biotechnology National Lab Pathfinder – Vaccine – 9 (NLP-Vaccine-9) is a commercial payload serving as a pathfinder for the use of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory after station assembly is complete. It contains several different pathogenic, or disease causing, organisms. This research is investigating the use of spaceflight to develop potential vaccines for the prevention of different infections caused by these pathogens on Earth and in microgravity. Timothy Hammond, M.B.B.S., Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, N.C. Sor

NLP-Vaccine-10 National Laboratory Pathfinder – Vaccine – 10 NASA Biology and Biotechnology National Lab Pathfinder – Vaccine – 10 (NLP-Vaccine-10) is a commercial payload serving as a pathfinder for the use of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory after station assembly is complete. It contains several different pathogenic, or disease causing, organisms. This research is investigating the use of spaceflight to develop potential vaccines for the prevention of different infections caused by these pathogens on Earth and in microgravity. Timothy Hammond, M.B.B.S., Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, N.C. Sor
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Nutrition Nutritional Status Assessment NASA Human Research Nutritional Status Assessment (Nutrition) is a comprehensive in-flight study to understand changes in human physiology during long- duration space flight. This study includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage and chemistry and hormonal changes, as well as assessments of the nutritional status of the astronauts participating in the study. The results will have an impact on the definition of nutritional requirements and development of food systems for future exploration missions. This experiment also will help researchers understand the effectiveness of measures taken to counteract the effects of spaceflight, as well as the impact of exercise and pharmaceutical countermeasures on nutritional status and nutrient requirements for astronauts. Scott M. Smith, Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX ISS PACE Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment NASA Physical and Materials Science Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment (PACE) will characterize the capability of conducting high magnification colloid experiments with the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) to determine the minimum size particles which can be resolved. William V. Meyer, Ph.D., Glenn Research Center, Cleveland ISS Pro K Dietary Intake Can Predict and Protect Against Changes in Bone Metabolism during Spaceflight and Recovery NASA Human Research The Dietary Intake Can Predict and Protect Against Changes in Bone Metabolism during Spaceflight and Recovery (Pro K) investigation is NASAs first evaluation of a dietary countermeasure to lessen bone loss of astronauts. Pro K proposes that a flight diet with a decreased ratio of animal protein to potassium will lead to decreased loss of bone mineral. Pro K will have an impact on the definition of nutritional requirements and development of food systems for future exploration missions, and could yield a method of counteracting bone loss that would have virtually no risk of side effects. Scott M. Smith, Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston ISS
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Reaction Self Test Psychomotor Vigilance Self Test on the International Space Station NASA Human Research The Psychomotor Vigilance Self Test on the International Space Station (Reaction Self Test) is a portable 5- minute reaction time task that will allow the crewmembers to monitor the daily effects of fatigue on performance while on board the International Space Station. David F. Dinges, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia ISS Repository National Aeronautics and Space Administration Biological Specimen Repository NASA Human Research The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Biological Specimen Repository (Repository) is a storage bank that is used to maintain biological specimens over extended periods of time and under well- controlled conditions. Biological samples from the International Space Station, including blood and urine, will be collected, processed and archived during the preflight, inflight and postflight phases of station missions. This investigation has been developed to archive biosamples for use as a resource for future spaceflight related research. Kathleen A. McMonigal, M.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston ISS SAME Smoke and Aerosol Measurement Experiment NASA Technology Smoke and Aerosol Measurement Experiment (SAME) measures smoke properties, or particle size distribution, of typical particles from spacecraft fire smokes to provide data to support requirements for smoke detection in space and identify ways to improve smoke detectors on future spacecraft. David Urban, Ph.D., Glenn Research Center, Cleveland ISS
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SAMS-II Space Acceleration 

Measurement System-II

NASA Technology Space Acceleration Measurement 

System (SAMS-II) is an ongoing study of the small forces, or vibrations and accelerations, on the station that result from the operation of hardware, crew activities, as well as dockings and maneuvering. Results will be used to generalize the types of vibrations affecting vibration-sensitive experiments. Investigators seek to better understand the vibration environment on the space station to enable future research.

William Foster, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland

ISS

SEITE Shuttle Exhaust Ion 

Turbulence Experiments

NASA Technology Shuttle Exhaust Ion Turbulence 

Experiments (SEITE) will use spacebased sensors to detect the ionospheric turbulence inferred from the radar observations from a previous Space Shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) burn experiment using ground-based radar.

Paul A. Bernhardt, Ph.D., Naval Research Laboratory, Washington

Sor

SIMPLEX Shuttle Ionospheric 

Modification with Pulsed Localized Exhaust Experiments

NASA Technology The Shuttle Ionospheric Modification 

with Pulsed Localized Exhaust Experiments (SIMPLEX) will investigate plasma turbulence driven by rocket exhaust in the ionosphere using ground-based radars.

Paul A. Bernhardt, Ph.D., Naval Research Lab, Washington

Sor

SNFM Serial Network Flow 

Monitor

NASA Technology Using a commercial software CD, 

Serial Network Flow Monitor (SNFM) monitors the payload local area network (LAN) to analyze and troubleshoot LAN data traffic. Validating LAN traffic models may allow for faster and more reliable computer networks to sustain systems and science on future space missions.

Carl Konkel, Boeing, Houston

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SODI-Colloid Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument – Aggregation of Colloidal Solutions NASA Physical and Materials Science Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument – Aggregation of Colloidal Suspensions (SODI-Colloid) will study the aggregation, or mass, phenomena of colloids in the microgravity environment onboard the International Space Station. Gerard Wegdam, Professor, Van der Waals- Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ISS SPHERES Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites NASA Technology Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) are bowling-ball sized spherical satellites. They will be used inside the space station to test a set of well-defined instructions for spacecraft performing autonomous rendezvous and docking maneuvers. Three free-flying spheres will fly within the cabin of the space station, performing flight formations. Each satellite is self-contained with power, propulsion, computers and navigation equipment. The results are important for satellite servicing, vehicle assembly and formation flying spacecraft configurations. David W. Miller, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass. ISS STL Space Tissue Loss NASA Biology and Biotechnology Space Tissue Loss (STL) advances research objectives for U.S. Armys Combat Casualty Care Research Program by defining cellular effects and growth characteristics in microgravity for immune system modulation, shock response abatement and directed tissue regeneration. F. Pearce, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Md. Sor

STP-H3-Canary Space Test Program – Houston 3 – Canary NASA Technology Space Test Program – Houston 3 – Canary (STP-H3-Canary) is one of four individual experiments that will test concepts in low Earth orbit for long-duration spaceflight. This experiment investigates the interaction of ions with the background plasma environment around the station. Geoff Mcharg, Ph.D., United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. ISS
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STP-H3-DISC Space Test Program – 

Houston 3 – Digital Imaging Star Camera

NASA Technology Space Test Program – Houston 3 – 

Digital Imaging Star Camera (STPH3-DISC) is one of four individual experiments that will test concepts in low Earth orbit for long-duration spaceflight. This experiment is a low size, weight and power sensor used for pointing knowledge of 0.02 degree or greater.

Andrew Williams, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio Geoff Mcharg, Ph.D., US Air Force Academy, Colo. Andrew Nicholas, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington

ISS

STP-H3-MHTEX Space Test Program – 

Houston 3 – Massive Heat Transfer Experiment

NASA Technology Space Test Program – Houston 3 – 

Massive Heat Transfer Experiment (STP-H3-MHTEX) is one of four individual experiments that will test concepts in LEO for long-duration spaceflight. This experiment plans to achieve flight qualification of an advanced capillary pumped loop system.

Andrew Williams, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio Andrew Nicholas, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington Geoff Mcharg, Ph.D., US Air Force Academy, Colo.

ISS
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STP-H3-VADER Space Test Program – Houston 3 – Variable Emissivity Radiator Aerogel Insulation Blanket Dual zone thermal control Experiment suite for Responsive space NASA Technology Space Test Program – Houston 3 – Variable Emissivity Radiator Aerogel Insulation Blanket Dual zone thermal control Experiment suite for Responsive space (STP-H3-VADER) is one of four individual experiments that will test a robust, reconfigurable thermal control system applicable to a wide range of missions and satellite classes. It will also test a new form of MLI protection using Aerogel material as the thermal isolator. Andrew Williams, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio Andrew Nicholas, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington Geoff Mcharg, Ph.D., US Air Force Academy, Colo. IS

SWAB Surface, Water and Air Biocharacterization - A Comprehensive Characterization of Microorganisms and Allergens in Spacecraft Environment NASA Biology and Biotechnology A Comprehensive Characterization of Microorganisms and Allergens in Spacecraft (SWAB) will use advanced molecular techniques to comprehensively evaluate microbes on board the space station, including pathogens. It also will track changes in the microbial community as spacecraft visit the station and new station modules are added. This study will allow an assessment of the risk of microbes to the crew and the spacecraft. Duane L. Pierson, Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston IS

Sleep-Long Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure During Spaceflight-Long NASA Human Research Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure During Spaceflight-Long (Sleep-Long) will examine the effects of spaceflight and ambient light exposure on the sleep-wake cycles of the crewmembers during long- duration stays on the space station. Charles A. Czeisler, M.D., Ph.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Laura K. Barger, Ph.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston IS
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Sleep-Short Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure During Spaceflight-Short NASA Human Research Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure During Spaceflight - Short (Sleep-Short) will examine the effects of spaceflight on the sleep of the astronauts during space shuttle missions. Advancing state-of-the-art technology for monitoring, diagnosing and assessing treatment of sleep patterns is vital to treating insomnia on Earth and in space. Charles A. Czeisler, M.D., Ph.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Laura K. Barger, Ph.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Sor

SpaceDRUMS Space-Dynamically Responding Ultrasonic Matrix System NASA Physical and Materials Science Space Dynamically Responding Ultrasonic Matrix System (SpaceDRUMS) comprises a suite of hardware that enables containerless processing. Using a collection of 20 acoustic beam emitters, SpaceDRUMS can completely suspend a baseball-sized solid or liquid sample during combustion or heat-based synthesis. Because the samples never contact the container walls, materials can be produced in microgravity with an unparalleled quality of shape and composition. The ultimate goal of the SpaceDRUMS hardware is to assist with the development of advanced materials of a commercial quantity and quality, using the space-based experiments to guide development of manufacturing processes on Earth. Jacques Guigne, Ph.D.,Guigne Space Systems, Incorporated, Paradise, Newfoundland, Canada Hu Chun Yi, Ph.D., Guigne Space Systems, Incorporated, Huntsville, AL ISS Spinal Elongation Spinal Elongation and its Effects on Seated Height in a Microgravity Environment NASA Human Research The purpose of the Spinal Elongation and its Effects on Seated Height in a Microgravity Environment (Spinal Elongation) study is to provide quantitative data as to the amount of change that occurs in the seated height due to spinal elongation in microgravity. Sudhakar Rajulu, Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston Sor
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 91 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 21 and 22 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

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TAGES Transgenic Arabidopsis Gene Expression System NASA Biology and Biotechnology Transgenic Arabidopsis Gene Expression System (TAGES) investigation is one in a pair of investigations that use the Advanced Biological Research System (ABRS) facility. TAGES uses Arabidopsis thaliana, thale cress, with sensor promoter-reporter gene constructs that render the plants as biomonitors, or an organism used to determine the quality of the surrounding environment, using real-time nondestructive Green Fluorescent Protein imagery and traditional postflight analyses. Robert Ferl, Ph.D., University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla. Anna-Lisa Paul, Ph.D., University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla. ISS Tropi Analysis of a Novel Sensory Mechanism in Root Phototropism NASA Biology and Biotechnology Analysis of a Novel Sensory Mechanism in Root Phototropism (Tropi) studies Arabidopsis thaliana plants sprouting from seeds to gain insights into sustainable agriculture for future long-duration space missions. John Kiss, Ph.D., Miami University, Oxford, Ohio ISS VCAM Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor NASA Technology Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor (VCAM) identifies gases that are present in minute quantities in the International Space Station breathing air that could harm the crew's health. If successful, instruments like VCAM could accompany crewmembers during long-duration exploration missions. Ara Chutjian, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. ISS VO2max Evaluation of Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Submaximal Estimates of VO2max Before, During, and After Long Duration International Space Station Missions NASA Human Research Evaluation of Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Submaximal Estimates of VO2max Before, During, and After Long Duration International Space Station Missions (VO2max) documents changes in maximum oxygen uptake for crewmembers onboard the station on long-duration missions. Alan D. Moore, Jr., Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston ISS
92 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 21 and 22 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator IS

So

RAMBO-2 Ram Burn Observations – 2 NASA Technology Ram Burn Observations – 2 (RAMBO-2) is an experiment in which the Department of Defense uses a satellite to observe space shuttle orbital maneuvering system engine burns. Its purpose is to improve plume models, which predict the direction the plume, or rising column of exhaust, will move as the shuttle maneuvers on orbit. Understanding the direction in which the spacecraft engine plume, or exhaust flows could be significant to the safe arrival and departure of spacecraft on current and future exploration missions. William L. Dimpfl, Ph.D., Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles Sor

ТХН-9 Kristallizator (Crystallizer) RSA Physico-chemical processes and material in condition of cosmos Biological macromolecules crystallization and obtaining bio- crystal films under microgravity conditions. JAXA PCG NA ISS 

КПТ-21 (ТЕХ-20) Plazmennyi Kristall (Plasma Crystal) RSA Physico-chemical processes and material in condition of cosmos Study of the plasma-dust crystals and fluids under microgravity. "PC-3 Plus" experimental unit NA ISS 

ГФИ-1 Relaksatsiya RSA Geophysics and located beside land outer space Study of chemiluminescent chemical reactions and atmospheric light phenomena that occur during high- velocity interaction between the exhaust products from spacecraft propulsion systems and the Earth atmosphere at orbital altitudes and during the entry of space vehicles into the Earth upper atmosphere. “Fialka-MB- Kosmos” - Spectrozonal ultraviolet system NA ISS ГФИ-8 Uragan RSA Geophysics and located beside land outer space Experimental verification of the ground and space-based system for predicting natural and man-made disasters, mitigating the damage caused, and facilitating recovery. Fotospektralin aya system NA ISS 

ГФИ-12 Impulse (Рulse) RSA Geophysics and located beside land outer space Ionospheric sounding by pulsed plasma sources. IPI-SM NA ISS 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 93 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 23 and 24 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator IS

So

ГФИ-16 Vsplesk (Burst) RSA Geophysics and located beside land outer space Seismic effects monitoring. Researching high-energy particles streams in near-Earth space environment. "Vsplesk" hardware NA ISS 

МБИ-12 Sonokard RSA Biomedical studies Integrated study of physiological functions during sleep period throughout a long space flight. Sonokard NA ISS МБИ-15 Pilot RSA Biomedical studies Researching for individual features of state psychophysiological regulation and crewmembers professional activities during long space flights. Sonokard NA ISS МБИ-16 Vzaimodeistvie (Interaction) RSA Biomedical studies Monitoring of the group crew activities under space flight conditions. Neyrolab-M NA ISS МБИ-18 Dykhanie RSA Biomedical studies Study of respiration regulation and biomechanics under space flight conditions. Dykhanie-1 NA ISS МБИ-20 Tipologia RSA Biomedical studies Researching for typological features of the activities of the ISS crews as operators activities in long term space flight phases. Tipologia kit NA ISS МБИ-21 Pneumocard RSA Biomedical studies Study of space flight factors impacts on vegetative regulation of blood circulation, respiration and contractile heart function during long space flights. Pneumocard kit NA ISS 

БИО-1 Poligen RSA Biomedical studies Detection of genotypic features (experimental object – Drozophila midge), determining individual characteristics of resistance to the long-duration flight factors. Drozophila-2 kit NA ISS БИО-2 Biorisk RSA Biomedical studies Study of space flight impact on microorganisms-substrates systems state related to space technique ecological safety and planetary quarantine problem. Biorisk-KM kit NA ISS 

ДЗЗ-12 Rusalka RSA Remote flexing the Land Testing of the procedure to determine the carbon dioxide and methane content in the Earth atmosphere to understand a role of natural processes in human activity. Rusalka kit NA ISS 
94 SCIENCE OVERVIEW APRIL 2010 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 21 and 22 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator IS

So

ДЗЗ-13 Seyener RSA Remote flexing the Land Experimental methodses of the interaction of the crews to cosmic station with court Fishing in process of searching for and mastering commercial-productive region of the World ocean. Camera NA ISS 

КПТ-3 Econ RSA Remote flexing the Land Experimental researching of ISS RS resources estimating for ecological investigation of areas. Econ kit NA ISS 

ИКЛ-2В BTN-Neutron RSA Study of the Solar system Study of fast and thermal neutrons fluxes. Detection Block Electronic Equipment Block Mechanical interface NA ISS 

БТХ-5 Laktolen RSA Cosmic biotechnology Effect produced by space flight factors on Laktolen producing strain. Bioekologiya kit NA ISS БТХ-6 ARIL RSA Cosmic biotechnology Effect produced by SFFs on expression of strains producing interleukins 1α, 1β, "ARIL." Bioekologiya kit NA ISS БТХ-7 OChB RSA Cosmic biotechnology Effect produced by SFFs on strain producing superoxidodismutase (SOD). Bioekologiya kit NA ISS БТХ-8 Biotrack RSA Cosmic biotechnology Study of space radiation heavy charged particles fluxes influence on genetic properties of bioactive substances cells-producers. Bioekologiya kit NA ISS 

БТХ-10 Kon’yugatsiya (Conjugation) RSA Cosmic biotechnology Working through the process of genetic material transmission using bacteria conjugation method. Rekomb-K NA ISS БТХ-11 Biodegradatsiya RSA Cosmic biotechnology Assessment of the initial stages of biodegradation and biodeterioration of the surfaces of structural materials. Bioproby kit NA ISS БТХ-14 Bioemulsiya (Bioemulsion) RSA Cosmic biotechnology Study and improvement of closed- type autonomous reactor for obtaining biomass of microorganisms and bioactive substance without additional ingredients input and metabolism products removal. BiocontТ thermo- vacuum container NA ISS БТХ-26 Cascad (cascade) RSA Cosmic biotechnology Study of various types cells cultivation processes. Changeable bioreactor NA ISS 
APRIL 2010 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 95 International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 21 and 22 (continued) Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator IS

Sor

БТХ-27 Astrovaktsina (astrovaccine) RSA Cosmic biotechnology Cultivation of E.Coli-protein Caf1 producer in zero-g. Bioecologia kit NA ISS БТХ-35 Membrane RSA Cosmic biotechnology Study of the possibility of the reception in principal new пористых material with regular structure for use as filter and membrane. Membrane kit NA ISS БТХ-39 Asepsises RSA Cosmic biotechnology Development of the methods and on- board technical facilities of the ensuring the aseptic conditions of the undertaking BTH - an experiment in condition of the space flight. Asepsises kit NA ISS БТХ-40 BIF (bifidobacterias) RSA Cosmic biotechnology Study of the influence factor space flight on technological and биомедицинские of the feature bifidobacterias. Bioecologia kit NA ISS БТХ-41 Bakteriofag RSA Cosmic biotechnology Study of the influence factor space flight on bakteriofages. Bioecologia kit NA ISS 

ТЕХ-14 (SDTO 12002-R) Vektor-T RSA Technical studies and experiments Study of a high-precision system for ISS motion prediction. Bioecologia kit NA ISS ТЕХ-15 (SDTO 13002-R) Izgib RSA Technical studies and experiments Study of the relationship between the onboard systems operating modes and ISS flight conditions. Russian motion control and navigation system sensors NA ISS ТЕХ-22 (SDTO 13001-R) Identifikatsiya RSA Technical studies and experiments Identification of disturbance sources when the microgravity conditions on the ISS are disrupted. Russian accelerometers NA ISS 

ТЕХ-38 Veterok RSA Technical studies and experiments Otrabotka new technology to optimize gas ambience in inhabited compartment ISS RS. Ventilator- degogger NA ISS ТЕХ-44 Sreda-ISS (Environment) RSA Technical studies and experiments Studying ISS characteristics as researching environment. Movement control system sensors NA ISS ТЕХ-50 Contur (Sidebar) RSA Technical studies and experiments Development of the methods of management through Internet robot- manipulator on ISS. Rokviss hardware Universal Working Place УРМ-Д NA ISS 

КПТ-2 Bar RSA Technical studies and experiments Testing of principles and methods for the Space Station leak area control, selection of the sensor design and configuration. Bar hardware NA ISS 
96 SCIENCE OVERVIEW 

APRIL 2010

International Space Station Experiments – Expedition 21 and 22 (concluded) 

Acronym Title Agency Category Summary Facility Principal Investigator I

S

РБО-3 Matryeshka-R RSA Study of the 

physical conditions 

in outer spaces on 

orbit ISS

Study of radiation environment dynamics along the ISS RS flight path and in ISS compartments, and dose accumulation in anthropomorphous phantom, located inside and outside ISS.

Phantom and bubble dosimeter passive detectors unit

NA ISS 

ОБР-3 MAI-75 RSA Formation and 

popularization 

cosmic studies

Spacecraft and up-to-date technologies for personal communications.

Digital photo and video equipment and amateur radio communication system

NA ISS 

КПТ-10 Kulonovskiy crystal RSA Formation and 

popularization 

cosmic studies

System speaker Study of the charged particles in magnetic field in condition the microgravity.

KUC hardware NA SS 

КНТ-36 EXPOSE-R RSA Commercial Exposure of material samples in open 

space conditions to study the effect of ultraviolet radiation on them.

EXPOSE-R monoblock accessories kit

NA ISS 
APRIL 2010 NASA TELEVISION 97

Digital NASA Television 

NASA Television can be seen in the continental 

United States on AMC-6, at 72 degrees west 

longitude, Transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical 

polarization, FEC 3/4, Data Rate 36.860 MHz, 

Symbol 26.665 Ms, Transmission DVB. If you 

live in Alaska or Hawaii, NASA TV can now be 

seen on AMC-7, at 137 degrees west longitude, 

Transponder 18C, at 4060 MHz, vertical 

polarization, FEC 3/4, Data Rate 36.860 MHz, 

Symbol 26.665 Ms, Transmission DVB. 

Digital NASA TV system provides higher quality 

images and better use of satellite bandwidth, 

meaning multiple channels from multiple NASA 

program sources at the same time. 

Digital NASA TV has four digital channels: 

1. NASA Public Service (“Free to Air”), 

featuring documentaries, archival 

programming, and coverage of NASA 

missions and events. 

2. NASA Education Services (“Free to 

Air/Addressable”), dedicated to providing 

educational programming to schools, 

educational institutions and museums. 

3. NASA Media Services (“Addressable”), for 

broadcast news organizations. 

4. NASA Mission Operations (Internal Only). 

Note: Digital NASA TV channels may not 

always have programming on every 

channel simultaneously. 

Internet Information 

Information is available through several sources 

on the Internet. The primary source for mission 

information is the NASA Human Space Flight 

Web, part of the World Wide Web. This site 

contains information on the crew and its 

mission and will be updated regularly with 

status reports, photos and video clips 

throughout the flight. The NASA Shuttle Web’s 

address is: 

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov

General information on NASA and its programs 

is available through the NASA Home Page and 

the NASA Public Affairs Home Page: 

http://www.nasa.gov

or 

http://www.nasa.gov/newsinfo/

index.html
98 NASA TELEVISION APRIL 2010

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APRIL 2010 PAO CONTACTS 99

Expedition 23/24 Public Affairs Officers (PAO) Contacts 

Michael Braukus 

NASA Headquarters 

Washington, D.C. 

michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov

International Partners 202-358-1979

Katherine Trinidad 

NASA Headquarters 

Washington, D.C. 

katherine.trinidad@nasa.gov

Shuttle, Space Station Policy 202-358-1100

John Yembrick 

NASA Headquarters 

Washington, D.C. 

john.yembrick-1@nasa.gov

Shuttle, Space Station Policy 202-358-1100

Michael Curie 

NASA Headquarters 

Washington, D.C. 

michael.curie@nasa.gov

Shuttle, Space Station Policy 202-358-1100

Grey Hautaluoma 

NASA Headquarters 

Washington, D.C. 

grey.hautaluoma-1@nasa.gov

Research in Space 202-358-0668

Ashley Edwards 

NASA Headquarters 

Washington, D.C. 

ashley.edwards-1@nasa.gov

Research in Space 202-358-1756

James Hartsfield 

NASA Johnson Space Center 

Houston 

james.a.hartsfield@nasa.gov

Astronauts/Mission Operations 281-483-5111

Rob Navias 

NASA Johnson Space Center 

Houston 

rob.navias-1@nasa.gov

Mission Operations 281-483-5111

Josh Byerly 

NASA Johnson Space Center 

Houston 

josh.byerly@nasa.gov

Mission Operations 281-483-5111
100 PAO CONTACTS APRIL 2010

Kelly Humphries 

NASA Johnson Space Center 

Houston 

kelly.o.humphries@nasa.gov

International Space Station and 

Mission Operations Directorate 

281-483-5111

Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters 

NASA Johnson Space Center 

Houston 

nicole.cloutier-1@nasa.gov

Astronauts 281-483-5111

Steve Roy 

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center 

Huntsville, Ala. 

steven.e.roy@nasa.gov

Science Operations 256-544-0034

Ed Memi 

The Boeing Company 

Houston 

edmund.g.memi@boeing.com

International Space Station 281-226-4029

Adam K. Morgan 

The Boeing Company 

Houston 

adam.k.morgan@boeing.com

International Space Station 281-226-4030
APRIL 2010 PAO CONTACTS 101

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) 

Kumiko Sagara 

JAXA Public Affairs Representative 

Houston 

sagara.kumiko@jaxa.jp

 281-792-7468

JAXA Public Affairs Office 

Tokyo, Japan, 

proffice@jaxa.jp

 011-81-50-3362-4374

Canadian Space Agency (CSA) 

Jean-Pierre Arseneault 

Manager, Media Relations & Information Services 

jean-pierre.arseneault@asc-csa.gc.ca

 514-824-0560 (cell)

Media Relations Office 450-926-4370

 
102 PAO CONTACTS APRIL 2010

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