CANADA AND THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM: OVERVIEW AND STATUS SINCE IAC 2010

摘要

Since meeting in Prague for the IAC 2010, the Canadian Space Station Program has been busy supporting the final assembly stages of the ISS and continuing preparations for the maintenance and utilization phase of the ISS. This paper focuses on the milestones reached and various activities that have occurred in the past twelve months. The Mobile Servicing System has installed several different new modules onto the space station during the three shuttle flights in the past year, which also included the capture and berthing of the second Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-2). In addition to installing new modules, MSS has also performed a variety of station-keeping activities including supporting the critical task of replacing the NASA Pump module. Checkouts of Dextre's functionality were completed and Dextre was declared fully commissioned preparing the way for future robotic station maintenance activities. On the human spaceflight front, Chris Hadfield is currently training for his six month increment scheduled to begin in November 2012. Chris was also selected as ISS Commander for the second part of his stay on the ISS. Utilization of the ISS resources continued with Canadian participation in several experiments carried out onboard the ISS. This paper provides a summary of the Canadian utilization activities. Now that the space shuttle assembly missions have ended, CSA has continued to expand its capability in utilization and robotic maintenance. Along with other ISS partners, CSA is working towards the goal of supporting space station operations beyond 2015 in order to continue to benefit from this unique space based laboratory.