ISS expedition 2

Mission emblem

Mission dates

Mission:

ISS expedition 2

Crew:

3

Rescue ships:

Soyuz TM-31 , Soyuz TM-32

Space station:

ISS

Start:

March 10, 2001, 06:38 UTC

Started by:

Coupling of STS-102

The End:

August 20, 2001, 14:51 UTC

Ended by:

Decoupling from STS-105

Duration:

163d 8h 13min

Number of EVAs :

1

Total length of the EVAs:

19 min

Team photo

(from left) James Voss, Juri Ussatschow and Susan Helms

navigation

Previous
mission:
ISS expedition 1

Next
mission:
ISS expedition 3

ISS Expedition 2 is the mission name for the second long-term crew of the International Space Station . The crew lived and worked on board the ISS from March 10 to August 20, 2001.

team

Yuri Wladimirowitsch Ussatschow (4th space flight), ISS commander March 19 to August 17, 2001 ( Roskosmos / Russia )Roscosmos Russia

Susan Jane Helms (5th Space Flight), Mission Specialist ( NASA / United States ) United States

James Shelton Voss (5th Spaceflight), Mission Specialist ( NASA / United States ) United States

Substitute team

the later crew of the ISS expedition 4 :

Yuri Iwanowitsch Onufrijenko , Commander ( Roskosmos / Russia )Roscosmos Russia

Daniel Wheeler Bursch , Mission Specialist ( NASA / United States ) United States

Carl Erwin Walz , Mission Specialist ( NASA / United States ) United States

Mission description

With the discovery mission STS-102 on March 10, 2001, not only the new long-term crew arrived on the International Space Station (ISS), but also seven racks with system components and experiments. Two racks contained energy converters that provide various voltages for the control and experiment devices on board the station. Two more contained the control systems for the Canadian manipulator arm and its four cameras. The other two racks contained systems for operating the Ku-band communication system and emergency medical equipment. This includes a defibrillator and an ultrasound device. Furthermore, three reusable storage space elements and several containers with supplies changed into the station. Eventually the first science rack was installed in Destiny . Medical research is carried out with the so-called Human Research Facility. All racks were accommodated for transport in a logistics module developed and built in Italy . This was lifted out of the cargo bay on March 12th and docked on the underside of Unity .

The first change of an ISS crew took place during the STS-102 mission. The second crew consisted of the Russian commander Yuri Usachev and the US astronauts Susan Helms and James Voss. The transfer took place in several stages. First, Yuri Usachev moved to the station and replaced the Soyuz pilot Yuri Gidzenko. The commanders of the first and second permanent crews, William Shepherd and Yuri Ussachev, then stayed four days for the handover. They talked about the work that had been done so far as well as about special features and problems. Then the focus was on unloading work and installations. Two hours before the space shuttle left on March 19, Ussachev took command of the space station.

Some functions of the control unit for the station's manipulator were tested shortly after the racks were installed. With the Human Research Facility, the first rack with scientific equipment also found its way into the Destiny laboratory module. The second permanent crew of the ISS is engaged in scientific research to a greater extent than its predecessor. The experiments largely belonged to the radiation measurement complex. The effects of different types of radiation on the human body were studied and intensities were measured in different areas of the station (experiments Phantom Torso , Dosmap and Bonner Ball Neutron Detector ). The program also included research on microgravity, medical examinations of bones and muscles, psychosocial studies, experiments on fluid physics and crystallization of proteins.

The Expedition Two crew carried out the first studies on board the Discovery on the second day of the flight. The reaction speed of the spinal cord was examined in the Hoffmann reflex experiment. A special stimulus to the leg muscles leads to an immediate reaction. From the change in the reaction time during and after the adjustment to weightlessness, one wants to draw conclusions about the stimulus processing in the spinal cord. The experiment was repeated on the sixth day of flight. The apparatus was then brought to the station, where further tests followed.

On March 21st, the Ku-band communication system was activated, with which data transfer rates of 50 Mbit / s are possible. In addition to audio and 4 video channels, scientific data can also be transmitted at high speed. This included, for example, measured values obtained in the MACE II experiment . MACE II (Middeck Active Control Experiment 2) consists of a 1.52 m long platform on which gimbals and wheels are mounted. The moving parts on one side of the platform can be activated by means of a remote control, creating a strong vibration. This is analyzed using 20 sensors . The platform control center now regulates the gimbals and wheels on the other side of the platform so that the vibration is dampened. MACE II is used to develop a vibration-damped system on which sensitive experiments can be carried out largely without interference. The experiment was repeated several times in the following period.

Phantom torso

On March 23, the investigations began with the Bonn Ball Neutron Detector of the Japanese space organization NASDA . The detector measures the intensity of the neutron radiation within the station. Neutrons are uncharged particles that cannot be deflected by magnetic fields. In addition to BBND , two other experiments on radiation measurement played an important role on the ISS. On March 26th, the German DOSimetric MAPping experiment developed for ESA was installed. Initially, two sensitive silicon detectors were used to measure the energy and intensity of the radiation in the Destiny laboratory module. More detectors will be added later and will be distributed over the entire station. Interesting results could also be expected from the Phantom Torso experiment , which was activated in May. Here a human-like torso is divided into 35 layers and equipped with 416 dosimeters and five active detectors. The latter are located in the places where the human brain, thyroid , heart, stomach and intestines are. This should allow the radiation exposure of individual organs and the associated medical risks during a space flight to be assessed more precisely. In addition, the radiation values can be linked to the position of the station in space and thus, for example, the effects of the so-called South Atlantic anomaly over the coast of Brazil can be examined. Here the high-energy particle radiation is significantly higher than in other areas.

In the last week of March, the new CEVIS (Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation System) bicycle ergometer was installed. There had often been problems with the previous model. A software error in the Ku-band communication system also had to be fixed and a defective condensate evaporator in the laboratory module repaired. A contaminated valve opening was discovered as a possible cause of failure on the defective carbon dioxide absorption system of the laboratory module.

The installation of the Human Research Facility was completed on March 30th. Two essential systems are a gas analyzer, which can be used to determine a person's metabolism, and an ultrasound complex, which acquires three-dimensional images of individual organs, muscles or blood vessels . The investigation of the processes and changes in the human body during the stay in weightlessness is an important part of the research work of all crews of the International Space Station. Interpersonal and cultural factors can affect effective collaboration within a crew. Therefore, filling out a special questionnaire every week is one of the duties of astronauts. These questionnaires were prepared by psychologists. Some questions also concern the interaction with the ground stations in the USA and Russia.

The first ISS crew had already documented certain regions of the world and extraordinary phenomena with photographs (Crew Earth Observation). The Expedition Two crew continued this work. On April 2nd, for example, the Paraná river basin in Paraguay and Argentina was observed . The region is subject to major changes due to progressive development. The scientists are particularly interested in the effects of industrialization on the river's water level. The examinations are initially carried out with two handheld cameras (35 mm or 70 mm lens focal length) and a digital camera. Since 2002, several observation instruments can be used in a special facility (Window Observational Research Facility WORF ). The American laboratory module Destiny has a large observation window for this purpose.

With the docked Transporter Progress -M 44, a number of maneuvers were carried out at the beginning of April, which stabilized the station's orbit. The control of the engines was taken over by the computer in the service module Zvezda . On April 16, Progress-M 44 decoupled from the station. Previously, fuel and oxidizer had been pumped into the station's tanks and the cargo hold of the spacecraft had been loaded with waste and parts that were no longer needed. Two days later, the three astronauts boarded her at the lower coupling unit of Zarya docked spacecraft Soyuz TM-31 , took off and docked 21 minutes later at the rear of the Zvezda neck again. This created more space for coupling the Raffaello transport module during the next STS-100 shuttle mission . In addition, a new rescue spaceship docked with Zarya again in early May. After the Soyuz TM-31 was cast off with the guest crew, the stern area was cleared for further Progress transporters.

With the space shuttle Endeavor, which docked with the ISS on April 21, two more racks with experiments and additional components for the existing systems came on board. The Express-Rack 1 contained the vibration measurement complexes SAMS (Space Acceleration Measurement System) and MAMS (Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System), a system for the investigation of plant growth ADVASC (Advanced Astroculture), two experiments for the production of different protein crystals (Protein Crystal Growth - Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System, 1 ° C to 4 ° C) as well as two commercial payloads ( CGBA and CPCG ), in which drugs were manufactured by fermentation or protein crystals for medical research or in which further insights into the structure of protein crystals were to be obtained. CPCG (Commercial Protein Crystal Growth), for example, was activated like CGBA on April 25th and contained more than 1000 biological solutions, the crystallization of which was automatically started. The ARIS vibration damping unit , an experiment to control vibration damping (ARIS-ICE) , a physical experiment with particle-liquid mixtures (colloids) and the SAMS control unit were housed in Express Rack 2 . In addition to the ISS, parts for the Phantom Torso and Dosmap experiments as well as a mobile tool holder were transported .

In the course of the Endeavor's mission, there was a temporary loss of communication between the ISS and the ground station due to defects on the hard drives of two command computers. However, the systems of the docked shuttle could be used during the repair. Initially, the computer problem could only be temporarily resolved.

Shortly after the Endeavor disconnected, the crew of the Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft was received . With it came replenishment of experimental material, but above all a fresh spaceship.

At the beginning of May, the main focus was on activating new experiments. On May 1st, for the first time, an attempt was controlled by direct commands from Earth. One day later, the examinations began with the phantom torso . Additional radiation detectors have also been installed in Destiny and Unity for Dosmap . At the beginning of May, the MAMS vibration measurement experiment and the Protein Crystal Growth - Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System complex were activated (Unit 9). With MAMS , vibrations of the station are recorded during normal operation and during certain events such as engine ignitions, disconnections and couplings. The first such events were the decoupling of Soyuz TM-31 on May 6th and the docking of Progress M1-6 on May 23rd. With PCG-STES , protein crystals of exceptional purity and size were grown in 756 biological samples, which are being carefully examined on Earth.

Advanced Astroculture went into operation on May 10th . In this self-contained ecosystem, plants completed a full reproductive cycle from sowing to harvesting new seeds. At the end of May it was found that the seeds had risen and the plants were in bloom around June 10th.

On May 18, work began on the Human Research Facility. First the gas analyzer was tested. Conclusions about the metabolism can be drawn from the composition of the exhaled air. Information on cardiac output, metabolic function, lung function, gas diffusion in the lungs, lung volume and nitrogen content are possible.

An atlas in book form is preferred by many space travelers

As part of the Crew Earth Observation, industrial complexes in South Africa, the San Cristóbal volcano in Nicaragua , the Paraná in South America, Andean glaciers in Chile, Peru and Bolivia, ice and snow on the Sandwich Islands and in Antarctica , the Red Basin , parts of the Sichuan Province as well as the deltas of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River in China, the Ganges Basin, the Rift Triple Junction in Ethiopia, the Suez Canal , areas in the Philippines, Rwanda and Tanzania as well as Kilimanjaro . The investigations are intended to bring new knowledge for agriculture, urban development and meteorology and were continued in June. By the way, one of the last shuttle missions brought an atlas to the station. The commander of the first ISS crew had complained that it was impractical to use a corresponding computer program. So we went back to conventional technology.

When testing the station's new manipulator system, a problem arose in the second command chain. Once a command was not passed on, another time there were interruptions in the movement of a joint. These problems should be resolved with a software update. It turned out, however, that it was an intermittent defect in a diagnostic circuit of the shoulder-pitch joint. Its signals could easily be bridged by a new software in case of repetition. In order to be able to carry out further, detailed tests, the next shuttle flight was postponed by about a month. Minor problems also occurred with a data recorder and an experiment to study bacteriological fermentation processes (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus). The aim was to find out why the production of antibiotics by microorganisms works better in weightlessness than on earth. While the defect on the data recorder could be repaired, the biotechnological experiment was deactivated after several repair attempts.

On May 23, the transport spaceship Progress M1-6, launched three days earlier, docked at the stern of the Zvezda module. His cargo consisted of 960 kg of fuel, 261 kg of food and medical supplies, 419 kg of personal belongings of the regular crew, 172 kg of scientific equipment and 19 kg of other equipment and documentation. This included a new hard disk for the third command computer on the ISS, which made the system fully functional again. The crew spent several days unloading the cargo. In addition, maintenance work was carried out on an ongoing basis. This includes, for example, the monitoring of the life support systems as well as the changing of data carriers and experimental samples. For example, on May 28, the tenth sample unit in the Protein Crystal Growth experiment - Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System (PCG-STES) was put into operation. Larger data transfers were made on June 1st (Phantom Torso, Bonner Ball Neutron Detector, Dosmap) .

Research on liquid-particle mixtures, so-called colloids (Experiment on the Physics of Colloids in Space EXPPCS ) began on May 30th . The physical properties of eight different samples were examined over a period of 11 months. On June 4, the SAMS II experiment for measuring accelerations on board the station was activated. SAMS is housed in Express Rack 2 and is used to research the influence of on-board activities such as sport or engine ignition on gravitation-sensitive experiments in different areas of the station. The 5 sensors used to measure microgravity are located in the vicinity of ongoing experiments in the Destiny laboratory. The Interactions experiment was continued , in which the spacemen completed weekly questionnaires on the efficiency of cooperation within the crew and with the ground crew.

On June 8, Ussachev and Voss carried out an internal mission under space conditions. For this purpose, the head section of the Zvezda module was de-hermetically sealed for 19 minutes. During this time, the lower hatch was unscrewed, stowed and then replaced by a guide cone, which is required when coupling spaceships with the course system. A modified Progress transporter was supposed to dock here in September, which would transport the Russian Pirs exit and docking module and an expandable mast (Strela) to the station.

The Russian research program mainly carried out biomedical and technological experiments. For example, cardiac activity was measured during exercise (Cardio-ODTN experiment) . The Tschibis vacuum suit was also used. With it, the lower half of the body is exposed to a negative pressure (from 10 to 60 mm of mercury). This will pump more blood to the lower parts of the body. This means a certain relief for the blood circulation in weightlessness. In the Parodont experiment , the oral cavity was examined more closely. Among other things, the concentration of immunoglobulin , the proportions of pathogens and antibodies as well as the individual components of the microflora in the oral cavity were determined. For this purpose, saliva samples and tooth swabs were taken and frozen. The Prognos and Bradoz experiments were used to develop a real-time prediction method and to determine the actual radiation exposure of the crew more precisely. In addition to proven dosimeters, novel systems were used that use thermoluminescence , semiconductor materials and seeds of higher plants as detectors. In addition to the radiation dose , the direct biological and genetic effects can also be determined. The Poligen experiment was also concerned with this . The object of investigation were fruit flies ( Drosophila ), whose genetic resistance to the radiation conditions of near-Earth space was researched. The Farma experiment looked at the efficiency of drugs in weightlessness . The uptake, distribution and degradation of an active ingredient was examined with the help of saliva and blood samples.

The measurement of the noise exposure in the major working and living areas of the ISS is the subject of Infrazvuk M . Since the air within the space station does not circulate by itself, a large number of fans have to ensure that used air is constantly replaced by fresh. Uragan was engaged in testing ground-based and space-based systems to predict natural or man-made disasters on earth. The Diatomeya experiment had its sights on the oceans . Video recordings are used to find and document bioproductive zones in the oceans. In Identifikatsija focused on the structural loads of the station when coupled maneuvers, course corrections, sports activities of crew members and extravehicular activities. For this purpose, acceleration values were measured in different parts of the station with linear-optical and conventional systems. The focus of the Tenzor experiment was the testing of new techniques to determine the movement characteristics of the ISS more precisely. This includes moments of inertia , the air resistance of the growing station and the precise determination of its center of gravity. As part of Vector T , the station's movement parameters were measured using GLONASS sensors. GLONASS is the Russian counterpart to the American Global Positioning System (GPS). The aim is to develop the most accurate possible prediction of the path changes due to the braking effect of the residual atmosphere. The quality of microgravity on board was the experiment Izgib examined while Priviazka dealt with changes in shape of the station. At Iskazhenije , magnetic interferences and their possible effects on the conduct of experiments and orientation to the earth's magnetic field were the subject of investigation. The aim of Scorpio is to develop an improved system for recording environmental parameters. These include microgravity, electromagnetic fields, particle radiation and climatic conditions. For many experiments it is important to know the exact environmental conditions in order to be able to correctly evaluate the results achieved.

As part of Biosfera , small aquatic organisms were observed and filmed. The records are intended to be used in the education of students in Australia, China, Israel, Japan, Russia, and the United States. In contrast, the experiments Vzulad , Lego and Popular Mechanics , in which promotional films were made, were largely used for advertising purposes .

Protein crystals of high purity were produced with the experimental complex CPCF 2 . These include, for example, glycoproteins from viruses or surface fragments of antibodies. The structure of the crystals is analyzed on earth with the help of X-rays . The experiments are used to develop new drugs. Crystals from the gas phase (spray) were drawn in the plasma crystal experiment commissioned by ESA . The samples were brought to the station by the taxi crew (Soyuz TM-32) and taken back to earth after they were successfully carried out. Other experiments were Meteoroid , Massoperenoss and Global Time System (GTS). Detectors are located on the outside of the Zvezda module, which can be used to record the frequency and nature of micrometeorites with diameters of 10 to 60 µm. The aim of the Meteoroid experiment is to predict the expected erosion of the outer skin of the service module in the coming years. At Massoperenoss , the transport of liquids and gases in root tissue under the influence of weightlessness was researched. With the Global Time System of ESA, finally, a process is being tested, in which the time signals are for synchronization of clocks from the International Space Station. They are broadcast on frequencies in the range of 400 MHz and 1.5 GHz.

In mid-June, ARIS , an experiment on active vibration damping in Express Rack 2, was calibrated and prepared for the first investigations. The calibration tests were started until the beginning of August with initially 7 functioning actuators and were successfully completed after the defective device had been replaced. In addition, the imaging medical ultrasound system was tested, samples were taken from the Astroculture mini greenhouse and routine maintenance work was carried out. Above all, this included monitoring ongoing experiments and saving the data obtained. The radiation measurements generate large amounts of data that have to be transferred from the mobile sensors to a laptop. It is also necessary to change and recharge the sensor batteries.

Susan Helms in the Zarya module during an amateur radio contact as part of ARISS

In July the first experiments were completed and prepared for the return to Earth. This included the defective Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus CGBA and the PCG-STES crystallization apparatus (units 9 and 10). With the completed ADVASC (Advanced Astroculture) biosystem , a complete growth cycle was completed from sowing the seeds to obtaining new ones. At the beginning of July the seeds ripened and the plants were dried by removing additional moisture and nutrients and increasing the temperature. Because of its frugality, its short life cycle and the favorable plant cultivation, the Arabidopsis plant, which belongs to the cabbage family, was selected for this experiment . In addition to the routine experiments on radiation and acceleration measurements, the physical experiment EXPPCS (Experiment on Physics of Colloids in Space) was also used. Various samples were melted and illuminated with a laser. Images were then obtained using two video cameras, which reveal the arrangement of individual particles and the formation of larger structures in the particle-liquid mixture (colloid). It is hoped that this will provide knowledge that can be used in the manufacture of optical components, lasers and displays.

In mid-July, the Atlantis ( STS-104 ) brought the Quest exit module , the last ISS-2 experiment PCG-EGND (Protein Crystal Growth - Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar) and supplies to the station. Quest was connected to the station's manipulator system on July 15 (7:40 UTC) on the starboard side of the Unity link module. Then the first hatch was opened and equipment stowed away. The next day the second section of the module was entered and various systems checked. This included the environmental control and the communication systems. A leak in a cooling system was sealed and a defective valve in the air circulation circuit was replaced. In addition, the hatch was installed between the equipment section and the actual exit lock. After lengthy tightness tests, the lock module was ready for use and was used for the first time on July 21st. It turned out that pumping out the air took about 40 minutes instead of the planned 7. A cause was initially not found. When Gernhardt and Reilly (STS-104) left, no signs of a suspected leakage current in the control center on Earth were found on one of the rotary motors used to align the solar cell panels.

The MAMS accelerometer complex was activated when the Atlantis was coupled and uncoupled . This was the first time that data from the docking of a massive coupling partner was obtained. The propulsion phases through the engines of the orbiter (3 orbit corrections) and later of the Progress Transporter, which was also docked (5 orbit corrections), were logged. At the end of July, maintenance work was also carried out and more than 1 tonne of supplies that had been brought to the station by shuttle were stowed.

In August, the three space travelers of the Expedition 2 crew were also busy dismantling some experiments. The Middeck Acceleration Control Experiment (MACE), Protein Crystal Growth - Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar, was transported back to Earth . Phantom Torso and Dosimetric Mapping have also been deactivated . The Bonner Ball Neutron Detector (BBND) experiment , on the other hand, was only relocated within the laboratory module.

After docking the Discovery ( STS-105 ) on August 12, the corresponding equipment and personal items were transported into the shuttle. The seat shells in the Soyuz spaceship were also changed. After a relatively short handover procedure, the ISS-2 crew settled in the space shuttle and prepared intensively for their return. The mission ended with Discovery's decoupling on August 20th.