73 DAY IN THE LIFE: THE MAKING OF A MISSION CHAPTER 4 lines being pressurized (they might be too stiff to move after), but they had to be strong enough not to break when the hoses were pressurized. At this point, the mission had changed a great deal. The plan now included the following: n Launch the orbiter with Node 3 and Cupola n Install Node 3 on the ISS during the first spacewalk n Outfit the vestibule of Node 3 in preparation for activation and ingress n During the second spacewalk, install two pair of the ammonia lines and open one pair to begin cooling and allowing for activating half of the module. As soon as the systems were working, relocate the Cupola from the port end of Node 3 to its nadir side. Perform 3-D imagery analysis to verify radiator clearance. n The next day, move the PMA3 from its temporary location on top (zenith) of Node 2 to the port end of Node 3 n During the third spacewalk, integrate the second ammonia loop, open the shutters on the Cupola, and take photogrammetry to verify the PMA3 will not interfere with the Thermal Radiator Rotary Joint and that the PMM will not interfere with the ammonia lines n Transfer critical items including life support systems n Land the orbiter What’s in a name? In 2009, NASA initiated a novel public outreach project: have the public name Node 3. Each module of the ISS, however, had been given a friendly name by its country of origin (see Introduction) therefore, NASA set up a website and asked the public to submit names for Node 3. The most popular name would be selected. Comedian Stephen Colbert of the Comedy Central show The Colbert Report tried to get his audience to name Node 3 after him. This campaign proved hugely successful and his entry (the “Colbert module”) was at the top. By law, NASA could not name a module after a private citizen or commercial entity, which put the agency in a difficult situation. Colbert did a great job of raising awareness of the mission. To show appreciation for his efforts, NASA sidestepped the issue directly by naming the module Tranquility and coming up with a consolation prize: naming the new treadmill in Node 3 after Colbert. Initially called by the accurate-but-unexciting name of T2, the treadmill was rechristened the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, or COLBERT (Figure 8). It even had an official logo. Figure 8. Tom Marshburn of Expedition 34 exercising on the COLBERT in 2012. The Challenge of the Ammonia Lines The ammonia lines (see Chapter 11) actually turned out to be another major challenge for this flight. The four lines needed to be about 8 m (~25 ft) long—the longest lines on the ISS. In addition, the ammonia could be at a fairly high pressure (3,400 kPa or 500 psi—more than 10 times the pressure in a typical car tire) to ensure enough fluid was passing fast enough to provide an adequate amount of heat-removal capability. Once in place and pressurized, a rigid line
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73 DAY IN THE LIFE: THE MAKING OF A MISSION CHAPTER 4 lines being pressurized (they might be too stiff to move after), but they had to be strong enough not to break when the hoses were pressurized. At this point, the mission had changed a great deal. The plan now included the following: n Launch the orbiter with Node 3 and Cupola n Install Node 3 on the ISS during the first spacewalk n Outfit the vestibule of Node 3 in preparation for activation and ingress n During the second spacewalk, install two pair of the ammonia lines and open one pair to begin cooling and allowing for activating half of the module. As soon as the systems were working, relocate the Cupola from the port end of Node 3 to its nadir side. Perform 3-D imagery analysis to verify radiator clearance. n The next day, move the PMA3 from its temporary location on top (zenith) of Node 2 to the port end of Node 3 n During the third spacewalk, integrate the second ammonia loop, open the shutters on the Cupola, and take photogrammetry to verify the PMA3 will not interfere with the Thermal Radiator Rotary Joint and that the PMM will not interfere with the ammonia lines n Transfer critical items including life support systems n Land the orbiter What’s in a name? In 2009, NASA initiated a novel public outreach project: have the public name Node 3. Each module of the ISS, however, had been given a friendly name by its country of origin (see Introduction) therefore, NASA set up a website and asked the public to submit names for Node 3. The most popular name would be selected. Comedian Stephen Colbert of the Comedy Central show The Colbert Report tried to get his audience to name Node 3 after him. This campaign proved hugely successful and his entry (the “Colbert module”) was at the top. By law, NASA could not name a module after a private citizen or commercial entity, which put the agency in a difficult situation. Colbert did a great job of raising awareness of the mission. To show appreciation for his efforts, NASA sidestepped the issue directly by naming the module Tranquility and coming up with a consolation prize: naming the new treadmill in Node 3 after Colbert. Initially called by the accurate-but-unexciting name of T2, the treadmill was rechristened the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, or COLBERT (Figure 8). It even had an official logo. Figure 8. Tom Marshburn of Expedition 34 exercising on the COLBERT in 2012. The Challenge of the Ammonia Lines The ammonia lines (see Chapter 11) actually turned out to be another major challenge for this flight. The four lines needed to be about 8 m (~25 ft) long—the longest lines on the ISS. In addition, the ammonia could be at a fairly high pressure (3,400 kPa or 500 psi—more than 10 times the pressure in a typical car tire) to ensure enough fluid was passing fast enough to provide an adequate amount of heat-removal capability. Once in place and pressurized, a rigid line

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