ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli focuses on complex mission (Forwarded)

ESA News
http://www.esa.int

14 March 2007

Nespoli focuses on complex mission

Later this year, ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli will serve as Mission
Specialist on the STS-120 mission to the International Space Station.
Together with the rest of the Shuttle crew, Nespoli is training intensively
ahead of this complex ISS assembly mission.

For the 11-day mission, Nespoli joins six NASA astronauts on board Space
Shuttle Atlantis. His flight opportunity arises from the Memorandum of
Understanding between the Italian space agency, ASI, and NASA for the supply
to NASA of three pressurised Multi-Purpose Logistic Modules (MPLM).

As well as exchanging a member of the Station's permanent crew, and the
challenging operation of repositioning a set of solar arrays, the STS-120
crew is responsible for the safe delivery of the Node 2 connecting module --
an important step in the continued construction of the International Space
Station.

The arrival of the cylindrical Node 2 module, which will be attached to the
end of US Destiny laboratory, paves the way for the addition of the European
Columbus laboratory and the Japanese Kibo laboratory later in the year.

The crew started mission specific training for this complex assignment in
August last year. "We train together for some tasks, such as the rendezvous
with the Space Station and operating the robotic arms during the spacewalks.
I am also doing a lot of training with the simulators to be able to do my
tasks according to the required standards," explains Nespoli. "The training
is becoming more and more demanding. I normally start at 7 in the morning
and finish at 7 or 8 o'clock in the evening. It's fairly intense!"

Besides carrying out a joint ESA/ASI programme of scientific experiments, PR
and educational activities, in his role as Mission Specialist, Nespoli will
help with maintaining and handling the on board systems of the spacecraft.

During the inspection of the Shuttle's heat resistant tiles following the
launch, he will be at the controls of the robotic arm. He will also be part
of the team to perform the approach and docking with the Space Station.

Nespoli will coordinate activities from inside the Shuttle during three
spacewalks -- he will direct the spacewalkers, coordinating both with the
ground and with the Shuttle and Station robotic arm operators. As the
mission draws to a close, Nespoli will take part in Shuttle undocking
activities, and for the re-entry he will be sat in the Flight Deck as
Mission Specialist 1.

Nespoli's mission, which will be jointly managed by ESA and ASI, will be his
first visit to space. A member of the European Astronaut Corps since 1998,
he naturally looks forward to finally fulfilling a dream. "I will reach a
goal I have been working on for many many years, so I am looking forward to
experiencing this personally," says Nespoli.

"I am also looking to contribute to the crew and to the mission. To
essentially complete the tasks that have been assigned to us. I feel the
responsibility of bringing Node 2 into orbit. This is a complex task and I
will try to concentrate to be at my best."

Paolo Nespoli presented his mission at a press conference earlier today at
the Italian space agency, ASI, premises in Rome, Italy. STS-120 is scheduled
for launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in the autumn.

Node 2 was developed for NASA under an ESA contract with European industry,
with Alcatel-Alenia Space as the prime contractor. Responsibility for Node 2
development was assigned to the Italian space agency, ASI.

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