Return To Flight Milestone Provides for Station Resupply, Science

Melissa Mathews
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-1272)

Kylie Clem
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone: 281/483-5111)

Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

RELEASE: 05-74

RETURN TO FLIGHT MILESTONE PROVIDES FOR STATION RESUPPLY, SCIENCE

The module that will deliver food, clothing, spare parts and research
equipment to the International Space Station is being prepared for
the Space Shuttle Return to Flight mission.

The Italian-built Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, Raffaello, is filled
with cargo at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. It will fly on
the Shuttle Discovery (STS-114) mission targeted for launch in May.

Raffaello will carry 12 large containers (racks), to the International
Space Station (ISS). Included in the cargo is the Human Research
Facility (HRF-2) which will expand the ISS capability to support
human life sciences research. A similar facility, HRF-1, has
conducted research since it was installed into the Destiny module in
May 2001. The research includes using an ultrasound unit measuring
bone loss and a gas analyzer system.

"This is a significant milestone for the Station," said Bill
Gerstenmaier, ISS Program Manager. "With Raffaello's supply transport
capabilities, we will be in a better posture onboard Station after
this first Shuttle mission. Raffaello will also deliver a unique
biomedical research capability with the HRF-2. It will help us learn
more about humans living in space."

Returning the Shuttle to flight and completing the ISS are the first
steps in the Vision for Space Exploration, a stepping-stone strategy
toward new exploration goals. Using the ISS to study human endurance,
adaptation in space, and to test new technologies and techniques,
NASA will prepare for the longer journeys to the moon, Mars and
beyond.

Biomedical instrumentation aboard HRF-2 includes a pulmonary function
system for use in conjunction with exercise equipment to obtain
measurements of aerobic capacity and cardiac output, a refrigerated
centrifuge used to separate biological substances of differing
densities, a space linear acceleration mass measurement device to
determine the on-orbit mass of crewmembers, and an upgraded
workstation used for data handling and storage.

Scientific data generated by the HRF will provide insight into how
crewmembers adapt to long-duration spaceflight and will assist in
developing procedures to ensure crew health for longer journeys
through the solar system.

The first of the supply racks was installed in Raffaello at KSC on
March 4, and the HRF-2 rack was installed on March 8. Rack
installation will be completed within the next week.

KSC and NASA's prime contractor for ISS element processing, The Boeing
Company, prepared the racks for installation. The HRF Project is
managed by NASA's Johnson Space Center and implemented by Lockheed
Martin in Houston. Raffaello was built by the Italian Space Agency
for NASA under a cooperative space agreement.

For photos of rack installation on the Internet, visit:

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/index.cfm

For more information about Return to Flight on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight


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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info