Successful progress launch paves the way for further scientific utilisation of the ISS...( enced by astronauts in space. The facil...)

enced by astronauts in space. The facility has a human shape, consisting of a head and torso. It is made of natural bone and a synthetic material similar to human tissue. Sensors measuring radiation will be placed at various key external and internal positions on the model such as the areas of the stomach, lungs, kidney, colon and eyes. The facility will remain outside the ISS for a year. Matroshka is an ESA payload under the project leadership of DLR, the German Aerospace Centre in Cologne.

This flight is also carrying elements of the rendezvous and docking system of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), the European unmanned ISS supply spacecraft, similar in function - but not in size - to the Russian Progress. It will carry up to three times the cargo of the Progress vehicles, i.e. up to 7500kg.

The ATV-related equipment flown to the ISS consists of the following items:

the videometer target assembly,
laser retroreflectors,
a container for old laser retroreflectors,
two communication antennas,
several cables.

This equipment from Russia and from ESA is required for the rendezvous between the first ATV, called Jules Verne, and the ISS early next year. The videometer, which will be located on the ATV spacecraft, will enable rendezvous operations in orbit to be carried out with a degree of precision never yet attained. This instrument will analyse the laser light emitted by the ATV and reflected back to it by the retroreflectors. These retroreflectors make up part of the videometer target assembly, serving as targets on the docking side of the service module. Two sets of different patterns of retroreflectors will enable the ATV from a distance of 300m onwards - to know its distance from and angular orientation to the ISS precisely.

The two antennas are needed for voice and data communications between the Russian Zvezda Module and the ATV. This sophisticated antenna system made in Russia wil
'"/>

Contact: Franco Bonacina
franco.bonacina@esa.int
33-1-53-69-7155
European Space Agency
29-Jan-2004

Page: 1 2 3 4
Related biology news :

1. Successful Green Solvent Found For Problematic Chemicals
2. University Of Pittsburgh Involved In First Successful Example Of Gene Therapy For Pain Control
3. Successful Hemophilia B Gene Therapy In Dogs May Justify Human Experiments
4. News Backgrounder: Duke Primate Center Successfully Fosters Mysterious Aye-Ayes
5. Successful Specialist Care For Cystic Fibrosis Patients From Childhood To Adulthood
6. New Treatment Successful With Hepatitis C
7. New RNA Repair May Lead To More Successful Gene Therapy
8. NIAID Doctor Successfully Treats Longest Case Of Malaria Infection On Record
9. Chlamydia Testing Of Urine Samples Can Be Successful
10. New molecular link key to cellular proteins involved in cancer progression, other diseases
11. A new protein is discovered to play a key role in cancer progression