ISS: Expedition 1 (original) (raw)

The Expedition 1 launched withSoyuz TM-31 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and landed onboardSTS-102 at Cape Canaveral (KSC),

Following a two-day solo flightSoyuz TM-31 docked with theISS on November 02, 2000. With this docking at 09:21:03UTC the Expedition One of the International Space Station officially began.

They activated the life support systems of the station and performed first repairing works. The unloading supplies and equipment from aProgress supply ship (Progress M1-3) was done.

The first four science experiments were started: Protein Crystal Growth - Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen in the area of physical sciences and also Middeck Active Control Experiment II (MACE II), Crew Earth Observations (CEO),Space Exposed Experiment Developed for Students (Education-SEEDS).

Progress M1-4 was launched at 01:32:36UTC on November 16, 2000. The freighter docked with the Nadir port of theZarya module at 03:47:42UTC on November 18, 2000. The Kurs docking system failed during docking, and the manual backup, TORU, was used for the docking.Progress M1-4 remained docked for two weeks before undocking at 16:22:52UTC on December 01, 2000. Following its undocking,Progress M1-4 spent 25 days in free flight, prior to redocking with the same port on December 26, 2000 at 11:03:13UTC. Like the original docking, the TORU system was used, as although the fault with the Kurs system had been resolved, the procedure used to abort the original Kurs docking attempt was irreversible due to the retraction of an antenna that could not be redeployed. It remained docked for six weeks before undocking again at 11:26:04UTC on February 08, 2001. It was deorbited at 12:59UTC on the same day. The spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, with any remaining debris landing in the ocean at around 13:50UTC.

On December 02, 2000 the Expedition One crew received the first visiting crew. Space Shuttle STS-97 docked with the International Space Station.
The primary objective was to deliver and connect the first set of U.S.-provided solar arrays to the International Space Station. The astronauts completed three spacewalks, during which they prepared a docking port for arrival of theDestiny Laboratory Module, installed Floating Potential Probes to measure electrical potential surrounding the station, installed a camera cable outside theUnity Module, and transferred supplies, equipment and refuse betweenEndeavour and the station.

After the orbiter docked with theISS, the crew enteredPMA-3 to install ground straps, and perform a pressure leak check and center disk removal to prepare for their later entry into theUnity module of theISS for supply transfer.

AfterEndeavour docked to the International Space Station, MarcGarneau used the Shuttle's robot arm to lift theP6 structure out of the payload bay where it remained attached overnight. Prior to the start of the first spacewalk, he used the arm to move the 35,000-pound (15,876 kg) assembly to the "low hover" position adjacent toEndeavour's payload bay.

The firstEVA by JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega was performed on December 03, 2000 (7h 33m). They performed preparation work for the mount of the energy module and checked the docking toP6/Z1.
Once theP6 was in its low hover position, theEVA crew exited Endeavour's air lock and began assembling the tools and hardware they used during the space walk.
JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega took positions on the forward and aft sides of theZ1 truss, respectively, to provide robot arm operator MarcGarneau with visual cues as he unberthed theP6 structure. MarcGarneau's primary cues came from the Space Vision System that provided him with a closed-circuit television view of targets located on theP6 and theISS, but JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega provided verbal confirmation and additional visual cues throughout the unberthing process.
Once MarcGarneau moved theP6 within its capture envelope, JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega verified the ready-to-latch position and activated the capture latches on theZ1 truss, initiating a coarse alignment between theP6 andZ1 truss. CarlosNoriega then drove the capture latch assembly to bring theP6 into fine alignment. After the structure was secured in place - by 127 turns of the Capture Latch Assembly (CLA) - JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega began securing bolts on each of the four corners of theP6 before releasing the capture latch to allow loads to be carried through the primary bolts.
At that point, MarcGarneau released the robot arm's grip on theP6 structure and maneuvered it into position to allowed CarlosNoriega to attach an articulating portable foot restraint. At this point in the space walk, Pilot MichaelBloomfield assumed responsibility for operating the robot arm using it to maneuver CarlosNoriega as he connected the nine power, command and data umbilicals fromZ1 to the forward face of theP6 that will provide power to the Orbital Replacement Units in anticipation of the deployment of the large solar arrays. MarcGarneau, the back-upEVA crew member, then turned his full attention to acting as the on-board choreographer for the remainder of theEVA's.
As CarlosNoriega connected the umbilicals, JosephTanner set to work releasing first the starboard and then the port Solar Array Blanket Boxes (SABB) by releasing a series of 5/8" (1.5 centimeters) bolts - two on the nadir and six on the zenith ends of each SABB.
CarlosNoriega's next task was to release the starboard Solar Array Wing (SAW) Beta Gimbal launch restraint (BGA) by releasing a pair of retention bolts and allowing the BGA to swing outward and upward or downward into its deployed position. Following the release of the starboard SAW BGA, JosephTanner performed a similar function on the port side of the structure.
Both JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega then began deploying the SABBs by releasing a pip pin on the mast canister and then rotating the boxes 90 degrees from their launch position to their deployable position. Once in the deploy position, a locking arm holds each box in position. The spacewalkers then released three bolts that hold the mast tip fitting releasing it from the top of the mast canister. At that point, BrentJett commanded the mast to deploy, beginning the unfolding of the large solar arrays.
One of the solar arrays failed to unfold in a first attempt. A second attempt was need to unfold the solar array properly.

Thesecond EVA by JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega occurred on December 05, 2000 (6h 37m). The astronauts connected electric power cables between the newP6/Z1 and the moduleUnity.
The second spacewalk was designed to reconfigure electrical connections so that power from the newly-installedP6 solar arrays can be distributed to the U.S. elements of theISS.
CarlosNoriega worked on the port side of the truss structure reconfiguring cables and moving them from one connector to the other to support the transfer of power and then removing a thermal shroud from a DC to DC Conversion Unit (DDCU). JosephTanner removed a similar shroud from a baseband signal processor (BSP) and prepared to relocate the S-Band Antenna Subassembly (SASA) from its location on theZ1 truss where it was temporarily stowed by theSTS-92 crew in October 2000.
The thermal shrouds were removed to allow the DDCU and BSP to dissipate heat as they began operating off of power generated by theP6 arrays.
One of the major elements of this secondEVA was the relocation of the SASA as JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega moved it from a temporary stowage location on the starboard side of theZ1 truss to its new location on the top of theP6 array. JosephTanner removed the power connections that provide maintenance power to theZ1 truss as he unbolted the SASA. MichaelBloomfield maneuvered the arm to CarlosNoriega's location tethered to the Integrated Equipment Assembly (IEA) where, in a series of "leap frog" like exchanges, JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega did alternative possession of the SASA until the antenna assembly was installed in its operating position on the IEA. They removed its thermal shroud and gimbal locks, readying the SASA for operation.
JosephTanner then descended from the truss assembly to connect thermal system umbilicals between theZ1 andP6 truss assemblies, while CarlosNoriega resumed work mating umbilical cables to theZ1 patch panel.
The remainingEVA tasks were designed to pave the way for the arrival of the U.S. LaboratoryDestiny early 2001. JosephTanner mounted the robotic arm to mate a prerouted cable for the centerline berthing camera to the early communications system antenna to provide the STS-98 crew with camera views to aid them in attaching the large lab module. JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega then removed umbilicals from Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2) connecting them to a dummy panel located on that docking port preparing it for relocation to the aft end of theDestiny module during the STS-98 mission.

The third and finalEVA was conducted by JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega on December 07, 2000 (5h 10m). First, they had to repair a solar array wing. Later they installed Floating Potential Probes to measure electrical potential surrounding the station, installed a camera cable outside theUnity Module.

After that the crew of theEndeavour turned over to theISS and its current resident crew (December 08, 2000). Until then the shuttle and the station had kept one hatch closed to maintain respective atmospheric pressures, allowing the shuttle crew to conduct their spacewalks and mission goals. After a welcome ceremony and briefing, the eight spacefarers conducted structural tests of the station and its solar arrays, transferred equipment, supplies and refuse back and forth between the spacecraft, and checked out the television camera cable installed by JosephTanner and CarlosNoriega for the upcoming mission.

On December 09, 2000 the two crews completed final transfers of supplies to the station and other items being returned to Earth. TheEndeavour crew bade farewell to the first expedition at 15:51UTC and closed the hatches between the spacecraft.
Following its undocking from theISS on December 09, 2001, Pilot MichaelBloomfield slowly backedEndeavour away from theISS at the rate of about 1/10th of a foot-per-second (3 centimeters-per-second) before beginning a flyaround ofISS.Endeavour moved to a point about 450 feet (137.2 meters) below the station before beginning a tail-forward circuit of the station, arriving once again at a position approximately 600 feet (182.9 meters) below theISS. At that point, MichaelBloomfield performed a final separation burn to moveEndeavour away from the station.
OnceEndeavour was about 30 feet (9.14 meters) away from the station, the Expedition One crew activated the station's attitude control systems. TheZvezda module then maneuvered station to is normal orientation for orbital operations, the solar arrays were commanded to resume sun tracking, and the station docking system and lights were deactivated.

With STS-98 a second Space Shuttle docked with the International Space Station on February 09, 2001 and became the second visiting crew to Expedition One.
The primary objective of STS-98 (ISS-06-5A Lab "Destiny"), International Space Station Assembly Mission 5A, was to deliver and install the U.S.Destiny Laboratory onto theISS. The centerpiece of research on this world-class scientific orbiting outpost, this workshop in space support experiments and studies in cancer, diabetes and materials, just to name a few.

The aluminum U.S. laboratory moduleDestiny is 28 feet (8.5 meters) long and 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide. It is comprised of three cylindrical sections and two endcones that contain the hatch openings through which astronauts can enter and exit the module.Destiny was mated to the forward port ofUnity.
InDestiny are five systems racks that provide life-sustaining functions on board including electrical power, cooling water, air revitalization, and temperature and humidity control. Each rack weighs about 1,200 pounds (544 kg). Six additional racks were flown toDestiny on STS-102. Four standoffs provide raceways for module utilities - interfaces for ducting, piping, and wiring to be run to/from the individual racks and throughout the Lab. Twelve racks that provide platforms for a variety of scientific experiments will follow on subsequent missions. In total,Destiny hold 23 racks - six each on the port and starboard sides and overhead, and five on the deck.
Astronauts can work inside the pressurized facility to conduct research in numerous scientific fields. Scientists throughout the world can use the results to enhance their studies in medicine, engineering, biotechnology, physics, materials science, and Earth science.
Each of the two berthing ports onDestiny contains a hatch. The aft hatch (hatch toUnity) was opened and remain open (unless a situation arises requiring a module to be isolated). The forward hatch is used as the main access to the orbiter on future missions untilNode 2 arrives.
Each hatch has a window. The hatches can be opened or closed from either side. The hatches have a pressure interlock feature, which prevents the hatch from being opened if there is a negative pressure across the hatch (higher pressure on the outside of the hatch).

Hatches betweenAtlantis and theISS were opened about two hours after docking on February 09, 2001 to allow the Expedition One andSTS-98 crews to greet one another. After the greeting and some initial cargo transfer, the hatches were closed andAtlantis' cabin pressure was lowered in preparation for the spacewalks, which began the next day. Throughout a week of docked operations, the hatches were opened and closed to support the transfer of supplies and three scheduled spacewalks to outfit theDestiny laboratory module.

Mission Specialist MarshaIvins used the shuttle's robotic arm to attachDestiny to the forward port ofUnity. Over the course of three scheduled spacewalks, Mission Specialists ThomasJones and RobertCurbeam performed external outfitting and connect umbilical cables to provide power and data capability betweenDestiny and the space station. FollowingDestiny's installation toUnity, Marsha Ivins once again used the robot arm to relocate Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA-2), which was moved to a temporary location to allow the installation ofDestiny. She then removedPMA-2 from its temporary location on theZ1 Truss and attached it toDestiny's forward Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM). At that point, Commander KennethCockrell issued a series of computer commands from the aft flight deck of Atlantis to command the final latching and berthing operations.

The firstEVA was performed by ThomasJones and RobertCurbeam on February 10, 2001 (7h 33m). They went to the payload bay of Atlantis where they disconnected cables and removed protective covers from the outside hatch ofDestiny. Once at the installation site and afterDestiny had been securely installed, the pair began connecting power and data cables.
The overall objective was to mechanically attach theDestiny laboratory to the station and then connect electrical, computer and cooling lines between the lab module and station. The spacewalk was planned to prepare the laboratory to be entered by both the shuttle and station crews for the first time on the following day to begin its activation.
Shortly before Thomas Jones and RobertCurbeam began the spacewalk, astronaut MarshaIvins latchedAtlantis' robotic arm onto a capture fixture on one of the station's cone-shaped shuttle docking ports, called Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA-2), which occupied the berthing mechanism to which theDestiny lab must be attached. Before the spacewalkers left the airlock, the shuttle crew sent commands to release the bolts holdingPMA-2 to the station, and MarshaIvins moved it from its berth, clearing the way for attachingDestiny to that berthing mechanism on the station'sUnity connecting module.
ThomasJones and RobertCurbeam began the spacewalk working in separate locations. Robert Curbeam's first task was to disconnect umbilicals betweenAtlantis andDestiny that had powered heaters on the module while in the shuttle payload bay. Next, he removed covers, in place to prevent contamination during launch, from theDestiny lab's berthing mechanism at the aft end ofAtlantis' payload bay. Meanwhile, ThomasJones climbed up the station to the first truss segment, called theZ1 Truss, almost 40 feet (12.2 meters) aboveAtlantis' cargo bay. On theZ1 Truss, ThomasJones guided MarshaIvins' work with the robotic arm, providing verbal cues to assist in aligningPMA-2 with a temporary storage location on the truss. Once properly aligned, ThomasJones then manually latchedPMA-2 in place to the truss, temporarily out of the way of ongoing activities to attach theDestiny lab.
Next, as MarshaIvins latched the arm ontoDestiny, lifted it from the shuttle cargo bay and rotated it into position to be attached to the station, the two spacewalkers worked farther up the station truss to prepare the station's starboard early cooling system radiator to be outstretched later in the mission. Then, they released gimbal locks on a station communications antenna in preparation for the later activation of that system. When MarshaIvins maneuveredDestiny to its berthing port onUnity and the crew sent commands for the berthing system to bolt together, ThomasJones and RobertCurbeam stand by to assist if needed.

Upon successful activation ofDestiny's systems, both the STS-98 crew and the Expedition One crewmembers enteredDestiny and began outfitting the lab.

The secondEVA by ThomasJones and RobertCurbeam occurred on February 12, 2001 (6h 50m). They went outside and assisted the robot arm operator with removing the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA-2) from theZ1 Truss segment and installing it onto the forward end of theDestiny laboratory. Once that task was complete ThomasJones and RobertCurbeam moved to a location on theDestiny lab and installed a Power Data and Grapple fixture and video signal converter, to be used with theCanadarm2.
During the second spacewalk thePMA-2 shuttle docking port was relocated from the temporary position on the station truss where it was placed during the first spacewalk to a permanent location at the forward end of theDestiny lab. ThomasJones and RobertCurbeam also attached various equipment and fixtures to the exterior of the new module.
After MarshaIvins had latchedAtlantis robotic arm ontoPMA-2, Thomas Jones manually loosened the latch that held it to the temporary stowage location on the station. While ThomasJones was working at the point on the station truss, RobertCurbeam's first task was to remove covers from the berthing mechanism at the forward end of the lab. Once ThomasJones had released the temporary latch, MarshaIvins maneuveredPMA-2 to the lab's forward berthing mechanism and attached it there, where it will serve as the primary shuttle docking location for most missions to come.
Next, ThomasJones installed thermal covers on theDestiny's four trunnions, the pins which held the module in the shuttle cargo bay during launch, and attached the exterior portion of a vent that will be used by the station's life support systems. RobertCurbeam installed a slidewire along the length of the lab's exterior that was used to ease the tether work required by future spacewalkers as they move up and down the length of the lab. RobertCurbeam also installed several foot platform mounts and handrails. ThomasJones installed a non-propulsive vent toDestiny's Pressure Control Assembly (PCA), part of its environmental control and life support system.
The next major task for both spacewalkers was to install the future connection point for the station's robotic arm toDestiny's exterior, preparing for the launch of that arm on shuttle missionSTS-100 later in 2001.
MarshaIvins maneuvered the robotic arm into position for ThomasJones to install a foot platform at its end in preparation for his work with the arm connection point, called a Power and Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF). Then, working from the arm foot platform, ThomasJones released the PDGF from its launch location inAtlantis' cargo bay and carried it to the position where it was attached toDestiny. Meanwhile, RobertCurbeam was working at the attachment location onDestiny, removing two portions of the module's debris shielding to prepare to make electrical and computer connections for the PDGF. ThomasJones then installed the fixture and both spacewalkers replaced the lab debris shields.

The third and finalEVA by ThomasJones and RobertCurbeam was conducted on February 14, 2001 (5h 25m). Both spacewalkers attached a spare communications antenna to the International Space Station's exterior. They also double-checked connections between theDestiny lab and its docking port, released a cooling radiator on the station, inspected solar array connections at the top of the station and tested the ability of a spacewalker to carry an immobile crew member back to the shuttle airlock.
The third spacewalk attached a spare S-band communications antenna and equipment, called the S-Band Antenna Support Assembly (SASA), to the station; installed an exterior shutter on theDestiny lab window; and connected electrical and data lines between thePMA-2 shuttle docking port andDestiny.
The first task on the third spacewalk was to remove the spare SASA fromAtlantis' cargo bay and attach it to a stowage location on the exterior of the station's lower truss segment, theZ1 Truss. For that task, RobertCurbeam was in a foot platform at the end of the shuttle's robotic arm and ThomasJones assisted from the station and shuttle exterior.
Next, the two spacewalkers worked together to install an outside shutter on theDestiny lab window. The two spacewalkers installed the shutter and its associated gearbox and then removed a soft cover of insulation that protected the window during launch.
They then attached electrical and data connections between thePMA-2 shuttle docking port and theDestiny module. The connections will allow shuttle power and commands to reach the station on future missions, whenPMA-2 becomes the primary shuttle docking location.

TheISS crew and ground controllers performed some activation and checkout tasks of the laboratory after the orbiter crew ingress is complete. The ground commanded a checkout of the Internal Video Distribution Subsystem Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs). As there is no video capability on this mission, this will be a functional checkout of the equipment to verify that it survived launch in good shape. The ground also performed a health and status check of the Ku-band radio frequency group. Once again, this was a health check of theORUs because there was not any Ku-band capability until Mission 5A.1.
TheISS crew inspected the wastewater tank inDestiny to verify there are no leaks. Other activation procedures that were performed by theISS crew afterAtlantis left, included the activation and checkout of the water vent system, inhibiting the water vent system, and activation and checkout of the vacuum vent system. TheISS crew also installed a Pressure Control System extension duct to assist the flow of air through the PCA.

The second in a series of low-cost biological protein crystal growth experiments was transferred to, and conducted aboard, the International Space Station, again used the Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar (EGN). Scientists anticipate that analysis of the human and other proteins that make up the payload may contribute to their understanding of gene function and help uncover the genetic roots of diseases. As part of a pilot education program, the payload also contains protein samples loaded by high school students and teachers from Alabama, California, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas.

STS-98 undocked on February 16, 2001. Following its undocking, Pilot MarkPolansky slowly backedAtlantis away from theISS at the rate of about 1/10th of a foot-per-second (3 centimeters-per-second) before beginning a flyaround.Atlantis was moved to a point about 450 feet (137.1 meters) below the station before beginning a tail-forward circuit of the station, arriving once again at a position approximately 450 feet (137.1 meters) below the station. At that point, MarkPolansky performed a final separation burn to moveAtlantis away from the station.
Once Atlantis was about 30 feet (9.14 meters) away from the station, the Expedition One crew activated the station's attitude control systems. TheZvezda module then maneuvered station to its normal orientation for orbital operations, the solar arrays were commanded to resume sun tracking, and the station docking system and lights were deactivated.

Progress M-44 was launched at 08:09:35UTC on February 26, 2001. The spacecraft docked with the Aft port of theZvezda module at 09:49:47UTC on February 28, 2001.Progress M-44 carried supplies to the International Space Station, including food, water and oxygen for the crew and equipment for conducting scientific research. It was the firstProgress-M spacecraft to visit theISS, previous resupply missions having used theProgress M-1. It remained docked for one and a half months before undocking at 08:48UTC on April 16, 2001. It was deorbited at 13:23UTC the same day. The spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, with any remaining debris landing in the ocean at around 14:11UTC.

On February 24, 2001 the crew took a short flight of 30 minutes around theISS to repositioning theirSoyuz capsule (YuriGidzenko at the controls) from the docking port of theZvezda module to the docking port of theZarya module.

The plasma crystal experiment, known as PKE-Nefedov, was one of the first natural science experiments conducted on the space station. It was a collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany, and the Institute for High Energy Densities (part of the Russian Academy of Sciences).

An example of a low-maintenance experiment was the protein crystal growth experiment, which had also been flown on previous shuttle missions. The goal was to produce better protein crystallizations than those produced on the Earth, and hence allowing for a more accurate model of protein structures. Of the 23 proteins and viruses attempted during Expedition 1, only four resulted in successful crystallizations, which was a lower success rate than predicted. Of those successful was the low-calorie sweetener Thaumatin, whose crystals diffracted at a higher resolution than Earth-grown crystal, which resulted in a more accurate protein structure model.

Another research activity was measuring the crew's heart rates and the station's carbon dioxide levels to determine the effect of exercise on the station.

On March 10, 2001 Space ShuttleSTS-102 brought the Expedition 2 to the station. Finally, the station command changed from US astronaut WilliamShepherd to Russian cosmonaut YuriUsachyov. Expedition One officially ended with undocking ofSTS-102, carrying WilliamShepherd, YuriGidzenko and SergeiKrikalyov, on March 19, 2001 at 04:32:00UTC.

During the stay on board of theISS the crew of Expedition 1 carried out the following scientific experiments:
ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station),
Brados (Acquisition of Data About the Radiological, Electromagnetic and Different Physical Environments on BoardISS, and Their Effects on the Safety of the Crew, Space Equipment and Materials),
Cardio-ODNT (Dynamics of the Main Factors of Cardiac Function, of Central and Regional Circulation in Rest and During the Influence of Lower Body Negative Pressure),
CEO (Crew Earth Observations),
Clinical Nutrition Assessment (Clinical Nutrition Assessment ofISS Astronauts, SMO-016E),
Education-SEEDS (Space Exposed Experiment Developed for Students),
Environmental Monitoring (Environmental Monitoring of the International Space Station),
Identifikatsia (Identification of the Sources of Dynamic Loads onISS),
Inflight Education Downlinks (International Space Station Inflight Education Downlinks),
Iskazheniye (Determination and Analysis of Magnetic Interference onISS),
ISS Acoustics (International Space Station Acoustic Measurement Program),
Izgib (Effect of Performance of Flight and Science Activities on the Function of On-Orbit Systems onISS (Mathematical Model)),
Latent Virus (Incidence of Latent Virus Shedding During Space Flight),
MACE-II (Middeck Active Control Experiment-II),
Paradont (Condition of Peridontal Tissues in Space Flight),
PCG-EGN (Protein Crystal Growth-Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar),
Plasma Crystal (Dusty and Liquid Plasma Crystals in Conditions of Microgravity),
Privyazka (Development of High Precision Orientation of Scientific Devices in Space with Reports of Deformation of theISS Hull),
Prognoz (Development of a Method of Operational Prediction of Work Load on Crew Piloting Objectives),
Sprut-MBI (Determination of Intracellular and Extracellular Fluid Volume in Humans in Space Flight),
Tenzor (Definition of Dynamic Characteristics ofISS),
Uragan (Hurricane: Experimental Development of Groundbased System of Monitoring and Predicting the Progression of a Naturally Occurring Technogenic Catastrophe).

The crew returned to Earth with STS-102.