The Fluid Science Laboratory on the ISS Columbus Module Performances and Operations
Giorgio Trinchero, Mario Cardano, Emanuele Pensavalle, Edmondo Bassano, Pasquale Dell’Aversana, Marcello Lappa, Matteo Tacconi · JASMA : Journal of the Japan Society of Microgravity Application · 2008
The Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL) is an element of the ESA Microgravity Facilities for Columbus program, designed to operate on-orbit within the Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS). The FSL supports scientific microgravity experiments in the field of fluid physics; it distributes standard utilities and specific services and retransmits images, science and housekeeping data. Each experiment is hosted into an Experiment Container, designed under the Science Coordinator direction. The FSL is one of the most complex microgravity laboratory never built. Based on multi-user capabilities, integrating very sensitive optical diagnostics, hosting the exchangeable largest experiment containers ever designed, the FSL represents the leading edge of the European technology. The possibility to ground control it totally ensures the independence of the experiment conduction from the on-board crew. In the last years, the FSL Operations Team, composed by Payload Developers and User Support & Operation Centers experts, worked jointly to prepare the flight operations and the related products to operate the facility. This paper intends to illustrate the peculiarity of the FSL, aimed at the exploitation of its scientific performances for future generations of experiments, and the operations activities that are making the laboratory ready to work. 1. The International Space Station The ISS enables utilization activities in the fields of physical and life sciences, space science, Earth observation and technology innovation. In addition, commercial research and development, novel services (such as education and outreach) and innovative commercial use (such as advertising and broadcasting) are also activities which benefit significantly from use of the capabilities of the Station. The utilization of the Station by users started with experiments carried out on the Zvezda service module and will continue with facilities and resources becoming increasingly available throughout the rest of the assembly phase. Routine utilization will then be available for at least ten years following completion of assembly. The ISS offers: the capability to perform an experiment or observation program over an extended period of time in weightless conditions the capability to perform iterative research on a short timescale through the provision of regular access to and return from the Station the provision of access to a significant level of resources the permanent presence of crew an extensive range of facilities to enable activities in a large number of utilization fields. 2. FSL: a scientific European ISS payload The FSL facility is a multi-purpose modular facility designed for conducting fluid science experiments in space. Its project is one of the primary efforts of ESA participation to the ISS. A huge number of European industries and scientists participate to the FSL realization phases, from feasibility to design and utilization. The FSL is designed to be integrated in the Columbus module for launch and for 10 years on-orbit operation onto the ISS. The FSL consists of different modules and equipment functionally and operationally integrated into one International Standard Payload Rack (ISPR). Adequate conditioning and routing of the Columbus resources is needed in order to support the following main FSL system functions: power conversion and distribution thermal control and fire detection commanding and monitoring communication and data processing, including data & video recording and playback services for experiments: stimuli & diagnostics, resources and interfaces Fig.1 FSL position inside the Columbus module The FSL can be operated in a fully automatic or semi-automatic mode by the flight crew or remotely controlled from ground in Telescience mode. This essentially resulted in a highly modular concept allowing for continual upgrades of the system capabilities. On May 2007 the Fluid Science Laboratory, after 9 years of development carried out at Thales Alenia Space Italia, was finally integrated into the Columbus module and is now ready for the launch, currently planned in December 2007. The FSL Facility Responsible Center (MARS, Napoli, Italy) has the possibility to control totally the laboratory and its experiments from ground. Fig.2 FSL integrated into the Columbus module 3. FSL facility overview In order to allow the execution of a wide range of experiments, proper stimuli and optical diagnostics are provided by means of a set of interfaces and resources in a well-defined area inside the FSL volume for the accommodation of individual Experiment Container. The Experiment Container (EC) is the real core of the facility, containing the fluid cell and all the equipment dedicated to the experiment itself. This part is completely experiment dependent; it is conceived by the scientist to include all the hardware and software to support the specific experimental features. The EC is hosted inside, and supported by, in the lower left part of the FSL module, the Central Experiment Module (CEML), providing all the needed interfaces to the EC, and supporting part of the FSL optical equipment and microgravity measurement. The CEML is part of the Facility Core Equipment (FCE). Other components of the FCE are: the Central Experiment module Upper (CEMU), containing other optical equipment, and the Optical Diagnostic Module (ODM), supporting optical diagnostics on the fluid cell. The Master Control Unit (MCU) drives the general management of all the FSL resources. Experiment images are recorded by various cameras inside the FCE or mounted on the front side of the FCE (Front Mounted Cameras – FMC's). The Video Management Unit (VMU) supports all the experiment video images collection and management. The Lap Top Unit (LTU) represents the interface with the astronaut crew. Other support equipment is represented by the Power Control Unit (PCU), Fire Detection and Suppression (FDS) Panel, Stowage Container, Work Bench, Avionic Air Assembly (AAA), Secondary Water loop Assembly (SWLA). Fig.3 FSL subsystems