Nauka (Russian: Нау́ка; lit. Science), also known as the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM), Многофункциональный лабораторный модуль, or МЛМ, will be a component of the International Space Station funded by the Russian Federal Space Agency and will be the last piece of the Space Station. In the original ISS plans it was to utilize the location of the Docking and Stowage Module. Later the DSM was again put in the plans as Docking and Cargo Module. Currently the MLM is scheduled to dock at the Zvezda nadir location and replace the complex of the canceled Universal Docking Module with two Russian Research Modules.
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First plans for the MLM
In the 1990s, the Russian part of the ISS included several research modules that would be adjunct to Zarya and Zvezda. The structures to be launched changed in the early 2000s, however. In August 2004, it was decided that the MLM would be built from the modified Khrunichev-built Functional Cargo Block (FGB-2), whose construction has been halted at 70-percent complete since the late 1990s. The FGB-2 was originally made as a backup for the original launch of the Zarya module (the first FGB), and as early as 1997 it was planned to be used as the Universal Docking Module (UDM).[1]
There was an alternate, rejected proposal for the MLM from RKK Energia based on the cancelled Commercial Enterprise Module (which was jointly funded by RKK Energia and SPACEHAB).
Work on the MLM and launch date
At the end of 2005 ESA agreed with the Russians that the European Robotic Arm will be launched together with MLM, mated on its surface for a later deployment in space.
In 2004 the Russian Federal Space Agency has said the MLM should be ready for launch in 2007 on a Russian Proton rocket. However since then, the MLM project has been delayed further, first to 2008 and later to 2009. A November 2006 ESA bulletin mentions that RSA was negotiating with the ISS partners to push back the prospective launch date to the end of 2008. As of July 7, 2008 the Consolidated Launch Manifest shows that the module is now expected to launch December 2011.[2]
Usage
The MLM will be used for experiments, docking and cargo. It will also serve as a crew work and rest area. MLM will also be equipped with an attitude control system that can be used as a backup by the ISS. It will be docked onto the Zvezda module nadir docking port. Outfitting equipment launched with the Mini-Research Module 1 by STS-132 in 2010 from NASA will also be used for the MLM, including internal hardware and an experiment airlock to be positioned on one of the side facing ports at the bottom of the module, as well as a spare elbow joint for the European Robotic Arm.
Primary research module
The MLM will be Russia's primary research module as part of the ISS. For some time NASA's official plans still included a second research module in the size of the MLM listed to be "under review", and it was eventually cancelled, leaving the MLM to be the only Russian research module besides the Mini-Research Modules.
It is proposed that the MLM include a small free-flying capsule that can be detached from the station for experiments outside of ISS's microgravity environment.[citation needed]
Specifications
- Length: 13 m / 42.65 feet
- Diameter: 4.11 m / 13.5 feet
- Mass: 20,300 kg
References
- ^ "02.26.97.iss.memo". nasawatch.com. 1997. http://www.nasawatch.com/iss/02.26.97.iss.memo.html. Retrieved July 10. 2008.
- ^ "Consolidated Launch Manifest". nasa.gov. 2008. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
External links
- Description of MLM (English) (Russian) - From the Khrunichev site; has some photos of the incomplete FGB-2
- Новости российского сегмента МКС - Nov. 2004 article (in Russian) discussing the plans for MLM - Warning: set your browser encoding to "Windows Cyrillic" to read this page
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