in january nineteen ninety two
astronauts from the United States Canada
and Europe joined forces on board the
first international microgravity
laboratory this flight of the space
shuttle Discovery offers a preview of
the worldwide cooperation and research
possible onboard Space Station freedom
experiments are conducted in a wide
range of disciplines for life sciences
astronauts study a type of motion
sickness known as space adaptation
syndrome tests explore the relationship
between body position sensors located in
the eye and inner ear even in the
weightlessness of space where there is
no clear sense of up and down astronauts
feel they're lying on their side in the
pitch or sideways position for material
science crystals growing in zero gravity
offer new advances in high technology
manufacturing this crystal is being
grown as a detector for x-rays and gamma
rays understanding how this crystal
converts light energy to electric
voltages requires the availability of
large high-quality crystals for research
astronauts also test an eyewash device
being designed for use in Space Station
freedom valuable feedback is gained on
the design of the European Space
Agency's bio rap the unit contains a
cooler a warming incubator and the glove
box that contains objects and debris
that otherwise might float away
experiments are conducted on bacterial
fruit flies bone and tissue cells
examining the effects of cosmic
radiation these studies of the
microgravity environment are critical to
understanding its effect on living
organisms
the first international microgravity
laboratory rates of space-based research
is a powerful tool for scientific
investigation
with the Johnson Space Center prime
contractor McDonnell Douglas is
assembling frame members of the
propulsion module development unit each
contact point on the center frame must
be carefully prepared to ensure good
electrical bonding this unit is part of
freedoms propulsion system which
provides thrust for attitude control in
space booster energy to maintain proper
orbit and maneuverability needed for
collision avoidance the assembly proves
the efficiency of modern cad/cam
techniques used to create these parts
computer-aided design and computer-aided
manufacturing are an important
ingredient in maintaining a robust
manufacturing sector in the United
States living and laboratory modules for
Space Station freedom similar to those
used on the first international
microgravity laboratory are the
responsibility of the Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville Alabama
Boeing Company prime contractor is
assembling these units large ring sealed
the connection points of the living and
laboratory modules debris is removed
from the structure in preparation for
mounting the berthing ring once in
proper position the ring is tack welded
to the development unit in preparation
for testing
in the hot drape former area technicians
are fabricating structural members of
the modules this technique shapes
multiple apply layers simultaneously
reducing the labor needed to fabricate
complex designs the graphite epoxy
materials must be heated to an internal
temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit
after cooling the surface release film
is removed the finished product will be
incorporated in one of the modules being
developed for Space Station freedom by
implementing Universal standards for the
payload racks significant savings have
been achieved scientists from around the
world are planning a diversity of
experiments all utilizing one
cost-effective modular structure the
Lewis Research Center in Cleveland Ohio
is responsible for all systems that
generate store and distribute electrical
power prime contractor the Rocketdyne
division of Rockwell International has
begun the transition from design to
fabrication Construction is now underway
on components of the electric power
system these electromagnetic
interference units help shield equipment
from disturbances in space since the
power system is one of the earliest
components needed to operate Space
Station freedom it is among the first
being produced this new circuit tester
useful in a wide variety of other
commercial applications is being used to
automatically test the integrity of
every circuit board one component
approaching final assembly is the
battery box which houses the
rechargeable nickel hydrogen batteries
in preparation for the critical design
review slated in December 1992 the box
is readied for neutral buoyancy testing
in the Johnson Space Center's weightless
environment training facility here in
large underwater tanks astronauts
practice tasks in an environment that
simulates weightlessness
Patrick boxes tested for maneuverability
and accessibility with both power and
hand tools is it directional like a
socket the results are analyzed and
designs revives the best position is
determined for handholds on equipment
also to prevent tools from floating away
in space ideal locations for tie-downs
are identified a remote manipulator
system provided by the Canadian Space
Agency is tested for manual deployment
the participation of Canada Europe and
Japan has enhanced Space Station freedom
the Japanese experiment module consists
of a pressurized shirtsleeve compartment
for living and working a remote
manipulator arm for outside experiments
an exposed facility for astronomical and
her fob servation and to logistics
modules to store and warehouse materials
tester now underway to evaluate the ease
with which the crew can operate inside
the module here a technician occupies a
sophisticated seat that simulates body
posture in orbit and I mark recorder is
mounted on his head the moving mark on
the screen traces I movements across the
workstations panel as the technician is
instructed to perform a variety of tasks
data from these tests will enable
designers to improve the workstations
physical layout tests are also being run
on the remote manipulator system
operated inside the spacecraft to
perform tasks outside this model allows
software engineers to check computer
programs which operate and control the
arm in space video cameras mounted on
the arm help in the evaluation process
these computer generated images simulate
operation of the manipulator arm the
pictures include the control panel two
views from TV cameras that will be
mounted outside the spacecraft and the
view out the window the knowledge and
skills gained in developing this
advanced technology have benefits here
on earth when risky tasks must be
performed in hazardous or toxic
environments sophisticated robots like
these are able to spare human workers
from danger
experiments that are difficult or
impossible to conduct on earth can be
carried out in the vacuum of space the
space station processing facility at the
Kennedy Space Center is where elements
of freedom will arrive for final
assembly and testing cleanroom
environments cranes and video
communication systems allow NASA staff
to perform a wide variety of pre-launch
activities specially designed work
stands will support the hardware while
trials and simulations are run on the
fluid electrical control and monitoring
systems the building is designed to
contain hardware operations facilities
offline laboratories control rooms to
support test activities and areas for
logistics and general support after
components for freedom are assembled and
tested they are transported to the
launch pad for installation and delivery
on board the space shuttle on April 60
1991 groundbreaking ceremonies were held
is going to be located on this side
right over here to your left
construction of the 460 6,000
square-foot facility has involved more
than 90 contractors from 22 states
structural steel was erected in October
of 1991 and the building was topped off
in april of nineteen ninety two early
activities include construction of
footers piers tunnels and underground
plumbing the space station processing
facility aims for completion in 1994
International Cooperation scientific
breakthroughs new benefits Space Station
freedom building tomorrow today