Main Supplier Of The International Space Station example essay topic

International Space Station The International Space Station, a worldwide project, is the next goal in a quickly growing space frontier. The station will be the first and next step towards researching the vast unknown world of outer space. What will be learned by this station? NASA has only the highest hopes that with the newest advancements in technology up in space, the fundamental physical, chemical, and biological processes can be examined with the absence of gravity, because of the space station. The space station has been a long awaited project, as the first space station idea was drafted up in 1984. A resolution was made to place a permanent, livable space station in orbit.

When President Ronald Reagan announced his 1984 State of the Union address, he included plans for a space station to be in orbit by the mid 1990's. The idea of having an operable, livable, space station seemed to be inconceivable to everyone who heard that speech. As the ideas for this project began to take off, the main concern was money. How much funding would be necessary to construct a space station?

At first, NASA could only work within the agency's estimated $8.5 billion dollar budget. It was in 1984 when the first construction plan was unveiled, called 'Freedom. ' ; A 'power tower'; concept was designed, which is a long slender unit that would be the center of the entire structure. This tower would be a long, narrow piece of latticework, chosen for its stability and to avoid the use of every day thrusts to maintain its altitude. All the laboratory modules would then surround the 'power tower.

' ; A free-flyer module would be used to conduct experiments in incessant, stable conditions away form the main tower structure. The 'power tower'; concept required too many parts and shuttle missions for it to be completed. That would force the cost of the project to exceed NASA's budget. The following year in 1985, a new, updated station concept was drafted. This was called the 'dual keel'; concept, and included two vertical towers joined and braced together with three horizontal beams. This structure would allow four pressurized operable and livable modules to be placed around the central meeting points of the beams.

The solar panels (now called arrays), radiators, and the other necessary equipment would be added around the horizontal center beam. This idea well established the fact that the space station could be constructed and working towards the latter part of the century. Once again, money became the issue. This is because NASA was to be the main supplier of the International Space Station, building all the crew habitation modules, an emergency crew return vehicle, four out of the six sets of solar arrays, the main control module, the thermal control panels, and other small structures. NASA undertook most of the construction of the station due to the fact that the United States has superior technology, a better and more advanced space program than any other country. It was from the United States that the space station idea first arose from, so NASA took responsibility to get it under way.

Then in 1986, tragedy struck the entire space program. After the disastrous explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, NASA faced constant rising costs, and was forced to re-evaluate the Freedom project. This led to a phase-plan for construction to take place totally in outer space. Everything would be built on earth, but placed together in space, hopefully cutting the skyrocketing costs. Phase 1 would be the horizontal and vertical structure beams, and the four main pressurized modules. Phase 2, which will not start until the first one is totally completed, would bring up everything else that was constructed for use on the station.

The second phase seemed a little to drastic and once again; NASA had to make changes to its 'Freedom Phase'; station. Money was still the constant problem that seems to be endangering the entire project. Even breaking the project into phases still amounted to about $25 billion. This is above the original $8.5 billion, which brought many arguments from congress. In 1990 the budget for the project was cut, for the government felt NASA was exceeding its budget. This brought up one, what seemed to be a final attempt, into action.

It was in 1991, that NASA brought up an almost identical, but smaller version of the phase project. This let the modules be fully equipped with all the necessary equipment without having to overload the Space Shuttle, and it cut the amounts of flights in half to get all the pieces to outer space. Still, the exact timetable remains unclear, as one delay could push back the whole project. In the summer of 1991, NASA proposed that in 1995 assembly would begin, and completed by 1999, with a total of 17 Space Shuttle missions.

The Russian Space Station, M.I.R. became a major influence in the designing process of ISS. The M.I.R. station started in orbit in 1986, but was actually not completed until June of 1995. All the necessary modules had been in place since 1990, with more updated modules being added year by year. Using the M.I.R. was the first big step in going ahead with the planning and idea for the International Space Station. Having American Astronauts on board with the Russian Cosmonauts let the USA study long term effects of the body form being in space.

The United States could not afford the staggering cost of the entire project, even though it seemed as if NASA was going to be in it alone. Former President Reagan had opened the project up to all allies, but they were all trying to expand their own space programs, so they lacked interest. It was not until Russia, Japan, England, and Canada became a active partner with NASA to become foreign suppliers to the ISS. Now that the ISS gathered supporters, it began to take shape. Russia is the second largest supplier other than NASA, supplying many vital modules; the first was the Russian Functional Cargo Block (FGB).

This module will be used for navigation, control, power, life support systems, and for crew living. It was scheduled to be launch in July along with the US Node 1, becoming the first pieces in orbit. Japan became next in line with the production of there JEM, or Japanese Experiment Module. This was the first part offered to NASA by Japan, which will be one of the next major modules to join the ISS in space. The JEM will be attached at one end and have a pallet on the other for experiments to be conducted directly in outer space. Europe, who was planning an attempt to make their own space station, decided to adjust their efforts and make parts for the ISS.

The ESA (European Space Agency) will make the Columbus Orbital Facility, which will be the main research lab on the Space Station. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) designed the RMS system to grapple fixtures. The Remote Manipulator System uses an added arm (hand) with 2 dexterous hands to complete the most precision of tasks. Although those four nations are making up the bulk of the station, a total of 16 nations are actively participating. They are Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. More than 10,000 people are involved through out all the countries listed.

The work force and company support is what is making the International Space Station a success. Boeing Corporation has the largest input of any corporation involved with the space station. Boeing is employing over 5,000 people just for this project alone, with at least another 5,000 in subcontractors. With subcontractors all over the US (49 in CA alone), along with 35 in Europe, 24 in Canada, 9 in Japan, and 2 in Russia, they have over $7 billion dollars invested into the project. Lockheed Martin is the next biggest US corporation, with about $758 million invested to supply solar array panels necessary for power. The Russian company, Energia, has a worth of several billion dollars, but that fluctuates with the worth of the ruble.

With all the money invested to insure a prominent space station, NASA had to come up with the plans. They have the smallest sized station proposal, with a mass of about 500 tons, when it is assembled completely. ISS will measure 361 feet from end to end, and will provide 46,000 cubic feet of actual living space. All that adds up to be the equivalent of one 747 Jumbo Jet. It is now a fact that the International Space Station will not be completed in 1999, as production dates were pushed back and other minor details were being worked out. The first mission was from December 3 to December 10, 1998 using the Space Shuttle Endeavor.

This launched the first module, the US Node 1 into space, and opened the door to the ISS on the last mission day, the 10th of December, at 11: 15 pm CST. With the station now successfully under way, NASA is relying on the other nations to be on schedule with their supplies and parts for the station. Even the smallest delay (as little as 2-3 days) at this stage would still push the entire project back. A total of 34 Space Shuttle missions are scheduled to assemble the station from 1998 to 2004. Approximately 960 clock hours of spacewalks will be performed during that time to assemble and maintain the station.

The first space mission in December brought worries to NASA, because this was the first real test of operating heavy machinery with components in the cargo bay of the shuttle. Astronauts Jerry Ross and James Newman took the first three space walks, totaling 21 hours and 22 minutes of Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) during the first mission. After their three walks, the US Node 1 and the FGB (Russian component) were put into operation. In January of 1999, the Russian Soyuz spacecraft will bring up the first crew module, allowing a three-person crew to stay aboard.

The Soyuz will then stay attached to the ISS, being an emergency escape vehicle. After two more Space Shuttle assembly flights, the launch of Expedition 1 from a Russian Soyuz capsule will begin permanent habitation aboard the ISS. The first crew will spend 5 months on board. The first U.S. laboratory will be sent into orbit a few months after Expedition 1, enabling the U.S. to begin scientific research.

If all is on schedule, the Canadian RMS - a 58-foot robotic arm - will be added next to assist in assembly and maintenance. By the end of summer 1999, the additions to the station will make it functional and livable, and will almost be beyond the entire M.I.R. space station when fully assembled. To get most of the modules into space is a task on its own. NASA is relying heavily on the Space Shuttle, and hopes to have a remodeled version to assist by 2000. For now, two types of Russian rockets will help carry the pieces into space. A total of 45 missions will be needed to launch and assemble the more than 100 parts needed to complete the ISS.

The Space Shuttle will be used also to transport food, equipment, and experiments to and from the station, using three Italian Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules (pressurized containers). Equipment or materials not need to be pressurized will be transferred in Brazil's Unpressurized Logistics Carrier, along with an express pallet carrying experiments to be place outside the ISS. When completed, the ISS will include six laboratories, and will be four times larger than the M.I.R. Two of those laboratories will be provided by the United States. To construct these labs (until they are all in place), the astronauts will have to carry cords that carry fluids and electricity between different parts of the station. That can be dangerous, when they are only restrained by tethers and moveable foot straps. When conducting space walks the astronauts will be harnessed with an emergency jet propulsion pack (system).

The most important module, the HAB, which will be added last, is the bedroom for a crew of seven, a bathroom, and a kitchen all in one insulated cylinder. Inside it will have the first space refrigerator, and will contain a 'cold fluid generic bio processing apparatus,' ; know on earth as a Coca-Cola soft drink machine. Coke is the official soft drink or Space Soda, since being tested on M.I.R. A total of three of these fluid machines will be on board, at a cost of $95,000 each. The most important purpose of the ISS will be providing more space research than any spacecraft ever built. The US modules, ESA's, and the JEM will provide 37 International Standard Payload Racks (IS PR) which holds research equipment and experiments. These tote-tray type racks will be used to hold and store research, much like filing cabinets in an office, but fit into the walls so they wont float away.

Astronauts will study the earth by setting up cameras and imagining tools behind the only ultra-clear window in the lab. Testing of variations of animals, plants and protein crystals in the absence of gravity will hopefully lead to further studies on earth. One of the most sought for research is for Osteoporosis, hoping that zero gravity along with new sample medicines and tests, could lead to stronger, healthier bones as you grow. Microgravity allows two new crystals to be grown that cannot be on earth - high quality crystals for protein study and 3 D tissue samples from lab cultures. Scientists hope that these crystals can help cure the symptoms and conditions that are seen in the elderly on earth.

Trying to cure AIDS is another hopeful that could come from the ISS. The use of new bioreactors has produced new advancements in the formation of HIV, which leads to AIDS. The international Space Station, a testbed for new technologies, will allow us to take the next step into human exploration of the solar system. It will bring faster utilization in both developing products in space and applying gained knowledge for use on earth.

Called by some as the 'Vehicle'; that will finally bring together the world through government, academics, and industrial cooperation. A cooperative effort among 16 nations, the International Space Station will provide living quarters and science labs for long-term stays for up to seven astronauts. In building, operating, and performing research on the station, humanity will gather meaningful experience for future travels beyond Earth orbit. While the station is certain to teach us more about the human body in space, reactions to extended periods in zero gravity, and the effects of these experiments, nothing in this project is guaranteed. NASA is optimistic, but has planned for the worse. Helping the ESA construct three expendable space vehicles by 2003 that could carry and fly the entire station back to earth if needed.

But perhaps the most telling part about this space station is that once completed it will be the size of a city block and will be one of the brightest objects in the sky. That is still years away, but like all great structures ever built, this may be the most dangerous and expensive. The ISS will be a spectacular, challenging experience for us all, and the world can only wait to see what the International Space Station will bring back to the human civilization.