International Space Station Expedition 32 will be largely dedicated to ISS Utilization meaning lots of science activities for the crew of six Astronauts and Cosmonauts aboard the complex. In addition, Expedition 32 will feature a large amount of visiting vehicle traffic including a Progress Undocking - Re-Docking Sequence, a nominal Progress Docking, the arrival of HTV-3 and the nominal Soyuz Traffic. Also, the crew aboard the orbiting outpost will be busy maintaining ISS Systems and equipment to keep the Spacecraft in perfect operating condition. Two Spacewalks are planned for Expedition 32, one US EVA and a Russian Spacewalk - both dedicated to external equipment maintenance and modifications. Expedition 32 begins with the Undocking of Soyuz TMA-03M (Oleg Kononenko, Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers) on July 1, 2012 and starts out with a crew of three (Gennady Padalka, Joe Acaba and Sergei Revin) until Soyuz TMA-05M docks to ISS (Yuri Malenchenko, Suni Williams and Aki Hoshide) on July 17. Increment 32 is scheduled to end with the Undocking and Landing of Soyuz TMA-04M.
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The Crew Patch
The International Space Station Expedition 32 Crew Patch pays tribute to the significance of the science being conducted aboard ISS for current and future generations. The arch shape of the patch is a symbol of the "doorway" to future space exploration possibilities. The flame in the top-portion of the patch stands for pursuit of knowledge and highlights the importance of education as a key to future human space flight. The astronaut symbol is depicted in the patch circling Earth to acknowledge the work of all Astronauts, past, present and future. The names of each crew member located on the border of the patch are written to honor the various cultures and languages on the mission. The flags of on the patch depict the home countries of the Expedition 32 crew members. Earth is featured as the backdrop of this patch. |
Patch: NASA
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The Crew
The Crew will be a crew of 3 Astronauts and 3 Cosmonauts with experienced Astronauts/Cosmonauts as well as Space Station Rookies. The Expedition 32 Crew is one of the most experienced ISS Crews to date with over 1,300 cumulative days spent in space. Please click the individual crew photos to go to the Crew Member's biography. |
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Expedition Timeline
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Photo: NASA/ESA
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Visiting Vehicles
ISS Expedition 32 will feature a very tight schedule of visiting vehicles. After Soyuz TMA-03M leaves the Station, three visiting vehicles will be docked to the Station, Soyuz TMA-04M, Progress M-15M and Automated Transfer Vehicle 3 that docked with ISS during Expedition 30 earlier in 2012. For up-to-date mission updates, refer to the appropriate mission pages (links below this section).
The Expedition 31 ballet of Visiting Vehicles will kick off with Soyuz TMA-05M launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on July 15 on a two-day journey to link up with ISS to bring Yuri Malenchenko, Suni Williams and Aki Hoshide to the orbiting outpost. Docking is set for July 17 to restore the Station’s Crew to six. The Soyuz will also carry some equipment to the Space Station – mostly time-critical experiment payloads and small items for the Russian Segment as well as personal crew items. |
Photo: NASA
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Photo: NASA
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Shortly
after the docking of the Soyuz Capsule, an H-IIB Rocket will lift off
from Japan to deliver the third H-II Transfer Vehicle to Orbit. Launch
is set for July 21. Also called Kounotori 3, the vehicle will need 6
days to link up with the space station. The spacecraft will approach the
Station to be grappled with the Space Station’s Robotic Arm which will
then berth it to the Node 2 ‘Harmony' Module. The three USOS Crew
Members, Joe Acaba, Suni Williams and Aki Hoshide will be involved in
the capture, berthing and Hatch Opening Operation to make HTV-3 a part
of the Space Station. HTV-3 will carry supplies for NASA, ESA and JAXA
including items needed for daily life aboard ISS as well as experiment
hardware. Also, the HTV features and external payload carrier that will
delivers external payloads such as spare parts and science hardware that
is being removed robotically. HTV-3 will be unberthed on September 6,
2012.
In the short period in between HTV-3 launch and berthing, Progress M-15M will perform an Undocking – Re-Docking Maneuver to test a new Rendezvous and Docking System. |
The Spacecraft will undock from the
Pirs Docking Compartment on July 22 and move away from the Station. The
vehicle will make several phasing maneuvers to increase the distance
between itself and ISS to 400 Kilometers. Once reaching that point, the
vehicle re-initiates a Rendezvous Sequence using its new sensors. These
new KURS Navigation sensors are an improved version of the old suite of rendezvous
sensors that have become hard to manufacture as they use fairly
out-dated hardware. The new system features an improved performance,
reduces weight and also reduces power consumption – making the progress
vehicle more efficient. Future Progress vehicles could use the system as
early as 2013 and 2014. Progress M-15M made its first ISS Docking with
the old system and delivered its cargo to the Station completing its
primary mission objectives. The avionics of the vehicle were then
re-configured by the crew to utilize the new system. The re-docking is
planned to occur on July 24. Just a few days later, on July 30, Progress
M-15M will undock for good and depart the Station setting the stage for
its deorbit burn and destructive re-entry burning up over the Pacific
Ocean loaded with ISS Trash and no-longer-needed items.
Just one day later, a Soyuz Rocket will lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to send Progress M-16M on its way to the Space Station. The vehicle make an automated docking to the Pirs Docking Compartment of the Station with the Russian Crew monitoring its approach ready to take over control of the spacecraft via the TORU System should any problems occur. Progress M-16M will deliver about 2,700 Kilograms of cargo to the Station including about 1,900 Kilograms of dry cargo. The vehicle will deliver fuel, resupply items and experiment material to the orbiting outpost. After cargo is unloaded, the Progress will be loaded with trash and disposed science payloads to burn up during re-entry. Progress M-16M will remain docked throughout Expedition 32 and undock in October 2012.
Just one day later, a Soyuz Rocket will lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to send Progress M-16M on its way to the Space Station. The vehicle make an automated docking to the Pirs Docking Compartment of the Station with the Russian Crew monitoring its approach ready to take over control of the spacecraft via the TORU System should any problems occur. Progress M-16M will deliver about 2,700 Kilograms of cargo to the Station including about 1,900 Kilograms of dry cargo. The vehicle will deliver fuel, resupply items and experiment material to the orbiting outpost. After cargo is unloaded, the Progress will be loaded with trash and disposed science payloads to burn up during re-entry. Progress M-16M will remain docked throughout Expedition 32 and undock in October 2012.
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Automated Transfer Vehicle 3 will depart the Space
Station around September 25 (after the end of Expedition 32 since its Mission was extended during Station Increment 32) to finish its 6-month docked mission. ATV-3 was
launched on March 23, 2012 aboard an Ariane 5 Launcher from the Guiana
Space Center. Edoardo Amaldi, as the vehicle is also known, arrived at
the International Space Station at 22:31 GMT on Wednesday, March 28,
2012. After docking, ATV-3 made its delivery of 6,960 Kilograms of
cargo, including dry cargo, fuel for the Russian Segment, ISS Maneuver
Fuel, pressurized air and oxygen as well as water. ATV-3 Unloading was
basically completed during Expeditions 30 and 31. The spacecraft will be
loaded with trash and other items for a fiery trip back to Earth after
undocking from ISS. The Undocking and retreat will be monitored by
Gennady Padalka and Yuri Malenchenko who will be setting up the
equipment needed for ATV Proximity Operations about a week before the
operation.
Expedition 32 will end with the departure of Soyuz TMA-04M that arrived at ISS on May 14, 2012. The Vehicle will undock from the Poisk Module and bring its three crew members, Gennady Padalka, Joe Acaba and Sergei Revin back to Earth on September 17. |
Photo: NASA
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Progress M-15M: Click Here
Progress M-16M: Click Here
Automated Transfer Vehicle 3: Click Here
H-II Transfer Vehicle 3: Click Here
Soyuz TMA-04M: Click Here
Soyuz TMA-05M: Click here
Progress M-16M: Click Here
Automated Transfer Vehicle 3: Click Here
H-II Transfer Vehicle 3: Click Here
Soyuz TMA-04M: Click Here
Soyuz TMA-05M: Click here
Science Overview
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The Crew aboard the ISS will be completing a variety of Experiments and long term studies. These are part of several fields of science including biology, human research, material science, physics, chemistry and technology as well as education. ISS Science Payloads are controlled and operated by the crew working inside the modules or by the Mission Control Centers around the world including payload operation facilities. The crew is expected to spend more than 35 hours a week on science operations.
Science Operations that are controlled from Earth will continue as planned on Expedition 32. The AMS-2 – Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer – that was delivered on Space Shuttle Mission STS-134 is continuing to provide unprecedented data of Particles that are travelling through space and will continue to operate through Expedition 32. It is the largest and most advanced spectrometer in space and it is gathering information on dark matter, anti matter and cosmic rays. Notable studies that are active during Expedition 32 (among others): The USOS Crew (Acaba, Williams, Hoshide) will be subject to several human research studies. One of those is the Reaction Self Test that is performed several times a week and includes a session in the morning and one just before going to bed. The RST consists of a 5-minute session using a laptop application. The Study evaluates the effects fatigue has on Crew Members aboard ISS in order to create better solutions for sleep cycle shifting during Mission-Critical Periods. Also, USOS Crewmembers will participate in the European Space Agency Studies VO2max and Integrated Cardiovascular that examine the effects long-duration spaceflight has on different functions of the human body. ESA is also operating the Pro-K study that involves a crew member sticking to a high or low salt diet over a several day period and log their diet, take blood and urine samles and analyses and store those samples. In addition to that, the USOS Crewmembers will service several payloads that are used for ground controlled science operations. ESA Integrated Cardiovascular is another Study that is active for Increment 32. The ICV Experiment involves periodic resting Echo Ultrasound-Scan and ambulatory monitoring sessions to evaluate the extent, time course, and clinical significance of cardiac atrophy and identify its mechanisms. Robonaut operations will also continue during Increment 32. Activities will include more checkouts involving functional tests and basic experiment activity to gradually improve knowledge of Robonaut Handling and capabilities before the robotic crew member starts periodic operations to support basic International Space Station Servicing tasks. BASS is another experiment that will be conducted during Expedition 32. Its full name is Burning and Suppression of Solids. Burning and extinction characteristics of various fuels will be evaluated as part of this study. These tests will provide data that will help develop strategies for extinguishing fires in microgravity and on long duration missions. Also, fire detection systems will be improved, both – on Earth and in Space. Crewmembers will document the burning process of the different fuels and several other properties connected to burning solids. The fires will be suppressed by Nitrogen Gas. Many other long term ISS Research projects will continue on Expedition 32 including many human research experiments focused on the effects of long duration flights on the human body. These tests include cardiovascular studies, studies of metabolism properties, etc. For that, the Astronauts will take regular tests (e.g. vision checks, electrocardiography) and give samples (Blood, Saliva, Urine) that will be returned to Earth for analysis. Also, Projects like EarthKAM and AuroraMax as well as CEO (Crew Earth Observation) will be active for Exp 32. Russian Studies will also continue during Expedition 32. These experiments include material science, biology, human research, earth observation and physics&chemistry. One major activity that will be performed by the Russian Crew Members is the KPT-2 Study. Using the BAR Experiment Suite, several properties such as environmental data, vibrations, surface temperature and ultrasound frequencies are measured throughout the Russian Segment of the Space Station. This is done to identify any problem areas present aboard the complex in order to extend Space Station on-orbit lifetime. |
Photo: NASA
Photo: NASA
Photo: NASA
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Image: NASA
Image: NASA
Image: NASA
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One notable
Research Payload that will arrive during Expedition 32, aboard the HTV-3
Vehicle is the Aquatic Habitat which will house small fresh water fish. They
will be monitored for several generations as they grow and adept to the space
environment to understand the changes that occur in these small, model vertebrates.
The Payload includes two transparent aquariums that have been specially
designed for the Microgravity Environment. It includes environmental control
systems as well as camera equipment to monitor the fish. The camera equipment
consists of standard still cameras and infrared imagers. Aquatic Habitat will
start actual science operations in 2013 with a study looking at skeletal
changes of fish grown in microgravity.
A new Earth Observation Payload for the US Segment also arrives aboard HTV-3. The ISS-SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization Payload will further improve Earth Observation techniques in support of environmental management, humanitarian assistance and disaster assessment. The project is managed by NASA and USAID. It will operate from the Window Observation Facility in the Destiny Laboratory. Also in progress during Expedition 32 will be the Russian Earth Observation Procedures called 'Relaxation' and 'Seiner'. Picking up during Expedition 32 is the Advanced Colloids Experiment-1 (ACE-1). “It is the first in a series of microscopic imaging investigations of materials which contain small colloidal particles, which have the specific characteristic of remaining evenly dispersed and distributed within the material. This investigation takes advantage of the unique environment onboard the International Space Station (ISS) in order to separate the effects induced by Earth’s gravity in order to examine flow characteristics and the evolution and ordering effects within these colloidal materials. Engineering, manipulation and the fundamental understanding of materials of this nature potentially enhances our ability to produce, store, and manipulate materials which rely on similar physical properties,” the official NASA experiment description says. The Robotic Refueling Mission that was delivered to the Station in 2011 will also be active during Expedition 32 after completing initial operations during Expeditions 30 and 31. Click here for a full RRM Overview. |
Spacewalks
Photo: NASA
Image: NASA
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Two
Spacewalks are planned for Expedition 32 – One EVA under Russian Supervision
and one US Stage EVA.
The first EVA will be Russian EVA-31 which is scheduled for August 16, 2012 and will be performed by Gennady Padalka and Yuri Malenchenko wearing Orlan Space Suits. The two spacewalkers will exit via the Pirs Airlock. The first task for the duo will be the installation of five protective shields on the Zvezda Module to protect it from MMOD (Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris) puncturing the outer shell of Zvezda. The longest task of the EVA will be the relocation of the Strela 2 Boom from the Pirs Module to the Zarya Module of ISS. Two Strela Cranes are installed on ISS, both need to be moved from DC-1 to other locations because the module will be undocked from ISS to make room for a new Russian Research Module next year. Strela 1 was already relocated during Russian EVA-30. Strela Cranes are used to maneuver large pieces of equipment during space walks. To relocate Strela 2, Strela 1 will be deployed and attached to Strela 2 before it is detached from the Module and moved over to Zarya for Strela 2 securing. The Strela relocation task has turned out to be quite difficult during the most recent EVA and could take up most of the time of the spacewalk depending on how quickly the two Cosmonauts can handle the two booms. Another task of the EVA is the release of a small, spherical, passive satellite. This satellite will be used by the Russians for Tracking Tests using Ground Tracking Stations and for the evaluation of orbital debris and orbital decay studies. The sphere is 53 Centimeters in diameter and has a mass of about 13 Kilograms. The Russian EVA also includes two get ahead tasks, the retrieval of a material science experiment that was exposed to the Space Environment for an extended amount of time and will return to Earth for analysis, and the installation of struts on the Pirs EVA Ladder. |
Image: NASA
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Image: NASA
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The second
Spacewalk of Expedition 32 is the 18th US Stage EVA which will be
conducted by Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide with Joe Acaba acting as the
IV crew member. The Spacewalk is dedicated to exterior maintenance replacing a
partially failed component and to modifications of the US Segment of the
Station. The two Spacewalkers will exit the complex via the Quest Airlock and
start their EVA which has a planned duration of about six and a half hours. The
first and prime task of the Spacewalk is the replacement of Main Bus Switching
Unit 1 – a major electrical component of the Station. The MBSUs are large
switching boxes that distribute power around the station’s electrical system.
There are four MBSUs in use aboard the Space Station. MBSU1 has experienced
problems caused by radiation hits to its memory unit. These problems included
re-sets and loss of telemetry, however, it was still transferring power as
expected giving mission planners time to integrate the replacement task into an
EVA and train it with a crew that was still on Earth at that time since no
quick response or contingency EVA was required. Hoshide and Williams were able
to rehearse the Spacewalk at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory several times to
get up to speed on all the procedures and problems they could experience.
Should MBSU have encountered a complete failure, the crew aboard ISS would be
able to compensate that loss by installing internal power jumpers and switching
all equipment to the other MBSUs, but ISS would be left in a non-fault tolerant
state. Managers decided to get the task done in 2012 to make sure ISS stays in
a safe configuration at all times. The two spacewalkers will remove the
107-Kilogram box from its location on the Truss Segment and retrieve a spare
unit from External Stowage Platform 2. The new piece of hardware will be
installed and Mission Control will perform tests to verify its functionality.
This task will take up most of the time of the two EVA Crew Members - up to 4.5 hours. The
operation will also include robotics as Aki Hoshide takes his place on the
robotic arm for the transfer of the respective MBSUs with Joe Acaba at the
Robotics Work Station inside the Cupola controlling Canadarm2. The second task
of the Spacewalk will be the installation of two power cables. These cables will
be routed from the US Segment to the Zarya Interface and are put in place for
the Russian Multipurpose Laboratory Module set to launch in 2013. One
get-ahead task is planned for the Spacewalk and that is the installation of the
Cover over Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 which is attached to the Harmony Module
of ISS and was used for Shuttle Dockings to the station. With no active
vehicles flying that have the ability to dock with PMAs, the systems are not
required to be accessible, but teams want to keep the hardware in the best
condition possible for future use for different visiting vehicles. The cover
protects the inside of the adapter from sun exposure and temperature changes as
well as space debris. A similar cover was installed over PMA-3 during the
STS-135 Spacewalk.
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Image: NASA
Image: NASA
Photo: NASA
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Another get ahead could be the installation of a 1553 data cable to the Power and Data Grapple Fixture on the Zarya Module to configure it for operations. The fixture was installed during an EVA of Space Shuttle Mission STS-134, but the cable installation task had to deferred from that spacewalk and the STS-135 EVA due to timeline constraints.
The crew aboard the International Space Station underwent extensive training for numerous spacewalk scenarios to prepare for any failure that could require an EVA by the crew. Each crew member is trained for a series of problems that could emerge during their stay aboard the station.
Also, the EMUs (Spacesuits) that are in storage inside the Airlock, are being maintained by the crew to keep them in operating condition and ready for an unplanned EVA - even on very short notice.
The crew aboard the International Space Station underwent extensive training for numerous spacewalk scenarios to prepare for any failure that could require an EVA by the crew. Each crew member is trained for a series of problems that could emerge during their stay aboard the station.
Also, the EMUs (Spacesuits) that are in storage inside the Airlock, are being maintained by the crew to keep them in operating condition and ready for an unplanned EVA - even on very short notice.
