International Space Station

revised January 1, 2002

NASA picture by Julie Johnson (LARC)

ISS configuration following delivery of Canadarm2 in late April 2001 (NASA)

ISS viewed from Tokyo and photographed by Hiroyuki Kondo on December 11, 2000 (note the orange color contribution from the new solar arrays)

Directory

• News & Rumors Page
• US Control Module
• Unity module
• Zvezda Service Module
• Interim Control Module
• Additional Links
• Viewing the ISS

The First Three Components of the ISS

Zarya (48k)

Zarya/US Control Module (formerly known as FGB Tug)

Construction on-orbit of the 14.2 ton vehicle began on November 20, 1998 with the launch at 06:40:27 UT by Russia for the first element called the Zarya/USCM (US Control Module) on a Proton rocket (Flt. 1A/R). This put Zarya into the same inclined orbit as Mir but in a completely different orbital plane. This was originally proposed by Russia to allow adequate time for the Russian control center to reconfigure for communications between the two different vehicles.

Originally, this module would have provided propulsion storage, propulsion, guidance, and attitude control for subsequent launched elements for up to 400 days. Modifications were made to allow refueling from its nadir or lower facing port from Progress supply vessels. In addition, Zarya will have a power connection as the same nadir port to provide power to any visiting Progress or Soyuz vessel. The aft docking port is being modified to allow docking of the Interim Control Module . Thus, the USCM can provide attitude control to the Unity component for an extended period of time without the use of the Service Module. Zarya will be the active component in docking with the Service Module (SM) once the SM is put into orbit.

Additional details on the Zarya/USCM can be found at Dynacs.

Unity (blue) & Zarya/US Control Module (54k)

Unity (formerly Node 1)

The second element, the Unity node, was launched on the shuttle Endeavour STS-88 (Flt. 2A). on December 4, 1998. Attached to either end of the pressurized connecting node, a Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA) provides an androgynous peripheral docking interface between the Zarya and future orbiters.

According to Jonathan's Space Report No. 380, the PMA-1 and PMA-2 adapters are detachable from Unity. Endeavour will unberth Unity from the bay using the RMS arm, and dock PMA-2 to the Orbiter Docking System. After rendezvous, the axial +Y port of Zarya will be attached to PMA-1. PMA-2 will be used as ISS's main Shuttle docking port; it will be moved from Unity to the Lab module when that is launched.

Here's a view (178k) of Unity and one PMA without shielding and thermal insulation prior to pressurization testing in March, 1998.

Service Module (blue) with Zarya & Unity(62k)

Zvezda Service Module has docked with the ISS

The third element which was launched by Russia on July 12, 2000 at 0456 UTC smoothly docked with the ISS on July 26 at 00:44 UTC over northeastern Kazakhstan above the Russian Federation.

A Progress supply vessel (Progress M1-3) was launched on August 6, 2000 at 18:27 UTC and docked at the aft end of Zvezda on August 8 at 20:14 UTC. This docking (although only temporary) increased the length of the ISS to 43 meters and 67 tons. Propulsion fuels and supplies will be ferried by the modified Progress tankers for delivery to the Service Module.

The Zvezda (Star) Service Module has been the second and probably the most critical portion of the second launch mission provided by the Russians. Problems with shuttle scheduling and Proton second stage engine problems moved the expected launch date from Dec 1999-Jan 2000 to Feb 2000 and then to July 2000.

This module will allow permanent habitation of the orbiting station by crew members (an American and two Russians) to be launched on October 31, 2000 on a Soyuz TM-31.

The Service Module will provide long term propulsion and attitude control. This 21 ton module was first constructed in 1985 and is based on the Mir-2 core module with upgraded avionics and additional capabilities. The module is 43 feet long and 97 feet wide with the solar arrays extended. It has four docking ports, 13 windows, a waste water system that generates oxygen, crews quarters for three, a kitchen, a refrigerator and freezer, a toilet and exercise equipment.

ICM attached to US Control Module (Zarya) (45k)

Interim Control Module

The Interim Control Module (ICM) would have been a modified 210 million dollar version of the previously classified 12.5 ton bus that was originally designed for a shuttle launch. The bus was used to launch ocean surveillance satellites (Naval Ocean Surveillance System) from Titan IV rockets. It would provide the necessary propulsion (10000 pounds of fuel) and attitude control for approximately 12-36 months. Six months of training by the assigned shuttle crew would be needed to support a launch. The other option is to use the ICM to refuel the SM in place of Progress fuel ferries. The ICM would not provide habitation unlike the Service Module design for continual manning by three astronauts/cosmonauts.

Modifications to the NRL designed ICM would include use of a smaller propulsion engine, use of 3 inertial measurement units, utilization of 3-axis stabilization control and an attitude control system designed to maintain the attitude of a changing configuration.

Plans had the ICM delivered by the shuttle and docked to the Zarya module in 2001 as a backup propulsion module. NASA would have to purchase a pressure dome and docking port from Russian to accomplish this. NASA has now decided not to launch the ICM since the Service Module is in place and an adequate supply of Progress resupply vessels exist for at least the next year. NASA has issued a stop work order effective October 30, 2000. It would take an additional two years to see the ICM delivered to the ISS if work were to begin again. The uncompleted ICM will remain in storage.

Further information and pictures of the ICM can be found here .

Additional Links

Graphs of ISS's altitude over a period of time can be found at Heavens-Above. ISS has a maximum altitude limit of 460 km based on the design of the Zvezda module. The normal maximum limit is 425 km to allow Soyuz rendezvous missions and a minimum altitude limit of 278 km based on excessive atmospheric drag.

ISS Status Reports from NASA

The Public Broadcasting Corporation has a good graphical presentation on the ISS.

The revised schedule for station elements of the space station, along with graphics and videos can be found at the new NASA Human Space Flight home page.

Boeing has an information page on the ISS.

NASA's Langley Research Center (LARC) has issued some interesting and informative drawings on the completed ISS. You won't have trouble viewing this object in the evening or morning sky!

Viewing the ISS

STS-88 docked with the Zarya/Unity complex on December 12, 1998 at 12:19 UT near Milwaukee, Wi. Setting f2.0 with ASA 400.
(photo by Robert Feulner)

The ISS complex is in an orbit that was similar to the Mir complex, with an inclination of 51.6 degrees and an altitude ranging from between 361-425 km. It will be visible to observers between latitudes 60N and 60S. It is visible with the naked eye if the observer knows when and where to look with information supplied by Two Line Element sources.

U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) has assigned the designation of the ISS as 25544/98067A. Frequently updated elsets for this object can be found at Alan Pickup's site under the iss.tle link.

Alpha's attitude is being maintained by the gyro attitude control system with the addition of the US Destiny Lab. The large P6 solar arrays are automatically tracking the sun now for optimum output. Reports have Alpha's visual characteristics at around magnitude -2 when fully illuminated (comparable to Jupiter).

Mike Tyrrell and Philip Masding (as reported on SeeSat-L ) provide analysis of pictures taken of the ISS using virtual-reality simulations of the ISS.

Links: to the VSO Home Page, the observing guide itself, observing Mir, observing the shuttle, the Mir-shuttle program, the satellite predictions themselves.