This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

European Space Agency

Press Release

European experiment hardware reaches the International Space Station

16 June 2003
 
Preparations for the Spanish Soyuz mission on the International Space
Station (ISS) in October took another step forward with the docking
of an unmanned Progress M1-10 spacecraft with the International Space
Station, on 11 June at 13:17 Central European Time. 
 
The Progress M1-10 on mission number 11P to the ISS was successfully
launched into orbit on Sunday, 8 June at 12.34 Central European Time
from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The Progress spacecraft acts as a cargo supply vehicle for the ISS.
The Progress M1-10's cargo included European experiment equipment,
which will play a large part in the mission of ESA astronaut Pedro
Duque to the ISS in October this year. Whilst on the ISS astronaut
Duque from Spain will carry out a number of physical science, human
physiology, biology and education experiments. 

The European cargo, which flew in the Progress M1-10 included a major
component of the NANOSLAB experiment, which first flew on the flight
of ESA astronaut Frank De Winne in November 2002 as part of the
Belgian Odissea Mission. This Physical Science experiment has been
modified for the Spanish Soyuz Mission.

NANOSLAB is an experiment concerning zeolites. These are crystal
formations with structured spaces or pores in them. This allows them
to absorb or hold onto other materials such as water. This research
has significance in areas including the petrochemical industry. The
aim of this experiment is to try and create more effective zeolite
crystal structures by mixing different zeolite solutions with a range
of crystal-forming catalysts.
 
Another European experiment, which had major constituents taken to
the ISS by the Progress M1-10 was PROMISS-2. This experiment aims to
understand the fundamental processes, which underly protein
crystallization. 

On the educational side of the Spanish Soyuz mission, the following
experiments have been uploaded to the ISS from the Progress M1-10:

    * APIS
      This is an experiment aiming to show the difference in the
      motion of a body rotating about its centre of gravity when its
      mass is distributed differently. 

    * Thebas
      This is an experiment to test basic principles of mechanics. It
      records the motion of small spheres or liquids in a sealed
      container at the end of a spring-loaded pendulum. 

    * Video-2
      As part of this experiment equipment has been uploaded to the
      ISS to demonstrate Newton's three laws of motion under
      microgravity conditions. This experiment will be recorded, the
      aim of this being to fit in with the basic physics curriculum
      for the 12-18 year age group. 

In addition to the above experiments, a battery pack has been
uploaded to power two further educational experiments (Winograd and
Chondro). These experiments will arrive at the ISS on the two
following flights along with additional experiment equipment for the
Spanish Soyuz Mission. The first flight will be an unmanned cargo
flight of Progress M-48, mission number 12P, which will be launched
on 30 August. The second will be the flight of Soyuz TMA-3, the
spacecraft, which will be taking Pedro Duque to the ISS in October.

Other pieces of European hardware, which were transported in the
Progress M1-10 were a 3D camera and new crew restraint. The 3D camera
will be an invaluable tool in demonstrating the scientific
capabilities of the ISS and in upgrading current virtual reality
tools used in the ESA's Erasmus User Centre for training and
awareness about the ISS and its facilities. 

The new crew restraint is an investigation to improve the current
restraint system used on the ISS. To remain in position, astronauts
use foot restraints while working. However, it is thought that this
causes unnecessary strain on certain small muscle groups. New knee
restraints are going to be tested where astronauts can remain in
position by using larger muscle groups closer to their centre of
gravity.

The above experiments will not be Pedro Duque's only tasks during the
Spanish Soyuz Mission to the ISS. One important mission task that he
is involved in is the replacement of the Soyuz TMA-2 spacecraft, the
ISS lifeboat, which has been at the station since April. This
coincides with the ISS crew exchange. 

Duque will be flight engineer on the Soyuz TMA-3 spacecraft, which
will take him and the ISS Expedition 8 crew to the ISS. He will
return in the Soyuz TMA-2 spacecraft with the Expedition 7 crew (US
astronaut Ed Lu and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko) who are
currently on the ISS.

In preparation for his mission, ESA astronaut Pedro Duque is
currently in training in Star City in Moscow and will become the
sixth European astronaut to visit the International Space Station.

 - END OF FILE -
==========

@Message posted automagically by IMTHINGS POST 1.30
---