External Stowage Platform
External Stowage Platforms (ESPs) are key components of the International Space Station (ISS). Each ESP is an external pallet that can hold spare parts, also known as Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs), for the space station. As a platform it is not pressurized, but does require electricity to power the heaters of some of the stored equipment. ORUs are attached to the ESP via Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanisms (FRAMs), matching witness plates that mate the ORU to the platform. The structure of the ESP-2 and ESP-3 platform is based on the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) which was designed for the Space Shuttle, produced by Spacehab, Inc and was not intended to be removed from the payload bay during flight. ESP-2 and ESP-3 are flight-deployable versions of the ICC, whereas ESP-1 is unique in shape (see below) and was delivered to the station attached under an ICC.
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[edit] Locations and components
[edit] ESP-1
The first of the External Stowage Platforms, called ESP-1, was installed on the port side trunnion pin on the outer hull of the Destiny Laboratory Module on March 13, 2001 during the second EVA of the STS-102 Space Shuttle mission.[1] It is powered by the Unity Module and has two attach points to store ORUs. ESP-1 was carried into orbit on the underside of an Integrated Cargo Carrier, and is smaller and unique in shape over the other ESPs and ELCs, with dimensions approximately 0.46 m wide by 2.4 m long.
ESP-1 holds the following ORUs:[2]
- FRAM-1 Pump flow control system (PFCS) added by the STS-102 crew[3]
- FRAM-2 Direct-current switching unit (DCSU) added by STS-100 crew[4]
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ESP-1 and hardware installation locations on the Destiny during STS-102
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ESP-1 attached to the Destiny portside trunnion pin, PFCS on the left
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Another view of ESP-1
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PFCS attach points
[edit] ESP-2
ESP-2 was installed with the assistance of Space Shuttle Discovery's robotic arm and two spacewalkers during the STS-114 mission.[5] It is much larger than ESP-1 with eight FRAMs creating room for up to eight spare parts (ORUs). Like ESP-1, it is powered by the Unity Module. However unlike ESP-1, ESP-2 is attached to the Quest Joint Airlock using a specialized ESP Attachment Device (ESPAD). ESP-2 and ESP-3 are deployable versions of the integrated cargo carrier and have the same dimensions, approximately 8 feet long and 13 feet wide. The ORUs on ESP-2 are:
- FRAM-1 (top side) empty
- FRAM-2 (top side) Direct Current Switching Unit (DCSU) (added by STS-123 crew)[6]
- FRAM-3 (top side) Direct Current Switching Unit (DCSU) (added by STS-123 crew)[6]
- FRAM-4 (top side) Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) launched on ESP-2[7]
- FRAM-5 (keel side) Pitch/Roll Joint (P/R-J) added by STS-123 crew[6]
- FRAM-6 (keel side) Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) added by STS-120 crew[8]
- FRAM-7 (keel side) Flex Hose Rotary Coupler (FHRC-3) launched on ESP-2[7]
- FRAM-8 (keel side) Utility Transfer Assembly (UTA) launched on ESP-2[7]
Notes:
- Video Stanchion Support Assembly (VSSA) launched on ESP-2 at FRAM-2[7] was jettisoned overboard on July 23, 2007 (the video stanchions were placed on the truss during EVAs).
- Pump Module (PM) (s/n 4), initially installed on FRAM-1 during STS-121,[9] was removed on August 17, 2010 and installed on S1 Truss, replacing a failed PM. The failed unit had been temporarily stored on an ORU site on the MBS, then moved to ESP-2 by the STS-133 crew,[10] then returned to earth by the STS-135 crew July 13, 2011.
- A failed Control Moment Gyroscope was installed on FRAM-5 from August 13, 2007 during STS-118[11] until February 13, 2008 when it was returned by STS-122.[12]
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ESPAD mount used to secure ESP-2 to Quest
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ESP-2 in the payload bay of STS-114
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ESP-2 can be seen highlighted and under the Quest Joint Airlock
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ESP-2 viewed during STS-118 EVA to remove a failed CMG for return to earth
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ESP-2 viewed by the departing STS-133 crew
[edit] ESP-3
ESP-3 was installed on the P3 Truss at UCCAS-1 on August 14, 2007 during the Space Shuttle STS-118 mission. It has seven attachment sites for ISS spare parts and assemblies, called Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs). The platform also has handrails and attachment points for tethers and foot restraints that astronauts can use while working with the ORUs on the ESP-3. ESP-3, as with ESP-2 are deployable versions of the Integrated Cargo Carrier and have the same dimensions, approximately 8 feet long and 13 feet wide.
ESP-3 was the first major station element to be installed completely by robotics, using only the shuttle and station’s robotic arms, an external berthing camera system (BCS) and a Photovoltaic Radiator Grapple Fixture (PVRGF). Astronauts robotically installed the platform onto the station's P3 truss segment during the STS-118 mission’s seventh day.[13]
On January 12, 2010, the station's robotic arm was used again to move ESP-3 from the P3 truss segment UCCAS-1 site. It was grappled by the arm and then transferred down the station's backbone on the mobile transporter. ESP-3 was then attached to its new location on the lower part of S3 truss segment at the PAS-3 site. Moving the storage platform cleared the way for ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-3 to be installed during STS-134.
The ORUs installed on ESP-3 are:
- FRAM-1 (top side) Pitch/roll joint (P/R‐J) launched on ESP-3[11]
- FRAM-2 (top side) Flex Hose Rotary Coupler (FHRC) added by STS-126 crew[14]
- FRAM-3 (top side) Pump Module (PM) was added by STS-127 crew[15]
- FRAM-4 (top side) Linear Drive Unit (LDU) added by STS-127 crew[15]
- FRAM-5 (keel side) Space-to-Ground Antenna (SGANT) added by STS-127 crew[15]
- FRAM-6 (keel side) Battery Charge/Discharge Unit (BCDU) launched on ESP-3[11]
- FRAM-7 (keel side) empty
Notes:
CMG & frame on FRAM-4 were removed Aug. 13, 2007 during STS-118. Support frame was placed on ESP-2, CMG was installed in the Z1.[11]
Nitrogen Tank Assembly (NTA) launched on ESP-3[11] at FRAM-2 was moved to the S1 truss on June 8, 2008 during STS-124 to replace a depleted tank.[16]
Depleted Nitrogen Tank Assembly (NTA) was stored on FRAM-2 June 8, 2008[11] thru Nov. 18, 2008 (returned on STS-126)[14]
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ESP-3 in the payload bay of STS-118
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ESP-3 in the payload bay
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ESP-3 being installed by Canadarm2.
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ESP-3 view from the departing STS-133 crew. ESP-3 has the SGANT antenna, note ELC-4 on the left and ELC-2 above
[edit] Notes
- ^ STS-102, Mission Control Center Status Report # 11 Tuesday, March 13, 2001 7:30 a.m. CST
- ^ "Minutes for May 29, 2001 EVA AIT" (Press release). NASA. May 29, 2001. http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=5321. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
- ^ http://www.shuttlepresskit.com/STS-102/
- ^ http://www.shuttlepresskit.com/STS-100/
- ^ NASA ISS Assembly
- ^ a b c "EVA Checklist: STS-123 Flight Supplement". http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/216634main_EVA_FS_123.pdf.
- ^ a b c d "EVA Checklist: STS-114 Flight Supplement". http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/106790main_EVA_114_F_A.pdf.
- ^ http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/193894main_EVA_120_F_A_1.pdf
- ^ http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/119110main_sts121_eva_checklist_specific_eva_ref.pdf
- ^ http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/492875main_EVA_133_F.pdf
- ^ a b c d e f "STS-118 Presskit". http://www.shuttlepresskit.com/STS-118/spk-118.pdf.
- ^ http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/203840main_EVA_122_F_A.pdf
- ^ NASA's ISS assembly information
- ^ a b "EVA Checklist: STS-126 Flight Supplement". http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/290103main_sts126_eva_checklist.pdf.
- ^ a b c "EVA Checklist: STS-127 Flight Supplement". http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/359850main_EVA_127_F.pdf.
- ^ http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/229503main_EVA_124_F_1.pdf
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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