ExPRESS Logistics Carrier explained

An EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station (ExPRESS) Logistics Carrier (ELC) is an unpressurized attached payload platform for the International Space Station (ISS) that provides mechanical mounting surfaces, electrical power, and command and data handling services for Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs) as well as science experiments on the ISS. The ELCs were developed primarily at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with support from JSC, KSC, and MSFC. ELC was formerly called "Express Pallet" and is the unpressurized counterpart to the pressurized ExPRESS Rack. An ELC provides scientists with a platform and infrastructure to deploy experiments in the vacuum of space without requiring a separate dedicated Earth-orbiting satellite.

ELCs interface directly with the ISS integrated truss common attach system (CAS).[1] The P3 Truss has two such attach points called Unpressurised Cargo Carrier Attachment System (UCCAS) mechanisms, one facing zenith (space facing) called UCCAS-1, the other facing nadir (earth facing) called UCCAS-2. The S3 Truss has four similar locations called Payload Attachment System (PAS) mechanisms, two facing Zenith (PAS-1 and PAS-2), and two facing Nadir (PAS-3 and PAS-4).

Description

The ELC are four un-pressurized attached payloads, some designed by the Brazilian Space Agency,[2] for the International Space Station (ISS) that provides mechanical mounting surfaces, electrical power, and command and data handling services for science experiments on the ISS. The ELCs have a deck size of about 14 feet by 16 feet and spans the width of the space shuttle's payload bay. They are made of steel, coated with UV paint. Each one is capable of providing scientists with a platform and infrastructure to deploy experiments in the vacuum of space without requiring a separate dedicated Earth-orbiting satellite. Each carrier is capable of carrying 9,800 lbs. to orbit and will also serve as parking fixtures for spare ISS hardware (ORUs) which can be retrieved when needed.[3] Experiments are mounted on ExPRESS payload adapters (ExPA) which are about the same size as the FRAMs that hold ORUs.

Electrical subsystem ExPRESS carrier avionics (ExPCA)

Within the electrical subsystem of the ELC, the ExPRESS carrier avionics (ExPCA) provides electrical power distribution to experiments, and data interfaces to the ISS. Within the ExPCA, the ColdFire-based flight computer, software, and related electronics comprise its "flight controller unit" (FCU). The FCU runs the free open-source real-time operating system (RTOS) RTEMS and provides the computing and communication resources as an ELC Command and Data Handling (C&DH) system with the following major goals:

Manifested on ELC-2 was the first ELC-based payload, Materials for ISS Experiment (MISSE-7).[4] mounted on an ExPA.

ELC launch schedule

ELC-1 and ELC-2 were transported to the International Space Station by on mission STS-129 in November 2009. ELC-4 launched on mission STS-133 Discovery on 24 February 2011 and was installed on the station on 27 February. ELC-3 launched on mission STS-134 Endeavour on 16 May 2011 and was installed on the station on 18 May.

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer occupies the mounting location intended for ELC-5 on the ISS truss.

Launch dateMissionShuttleELC
16 November 2009STS-129 (ISS ULF3)AtlantisELC-1 and ELC-2
24 February 2011STS-133 (ISS ULF5)DiscoveryELC-4
16 May 2011STS-134 (ISS ULF6)EndeavourELC-3

Locations and components

Source:[5]

ELC-1

Module:ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 1
Module Image:Express 1 2.JPG
Module Image Size:250px
Module Image Caption:ELCs 1 & 2 in the cargo bay.
Launch: UTC
Mass:13840lb

ELC-1 is located on the P3 truss at the UCCAS-2 (nadir, earth facing) site. ELC-1 weighs approx. 13,840 lbs.[6] A FRAM is a Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism.

ELC-2

Module:ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 2
Module Image:Express 1 2.JPG
Module Image Size:250px
Module Image Caption:ELCs 1 & 2 in the cargo bay.
Launch: UTC
Mass:13400lb

ELC-2 is located on the S3 truss at the PAS-1 (zenith, space facing) site, alongside AMS-2 at PAS-2. ELC-2 weighs approx. 13,400 lbs.[6]

ELC-3

Module:ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 3
Launch: UTC
Mass:14023lb

ELC-3 is located on the P3 truss at the UCCAS-1 (zenith, space facing) site. ELC-3 weighs 14,023 lbs.[11]

ELC-4

Module:ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 4
Module Image:STS133 ELC-4.jpg
Module Image Size:200px
Module Image Caption:In the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians perform the ELC-4, deck-to-keel mate.
Launch: UTC
Mass:8235lb

ELC-4 is located on the S3 truss at the PAS-4 (nadir, earth facing) site, alongside ESP-3 at PAS-3. ELC-4 weighs 8,235 lbs.[20]

See also

References

General

Notes and References

  1. Book: Johnson Space Center. EXPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC) Development Specification. Revision B. 2006. International Space Station Program. SSP 52055.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20000118084557/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/assembly/elements/ep/index.html NASA.gov
  3. Web site: Goddard SFC ELCs Description. 2011-06-24. 2017-06-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20170612065532/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2009/iss_carriers.html. dead.
  4. Web site: MISSE-7. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081210181244/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/MISSE-7.html. 2008-12-10.
  5. Web site: ISS External Payloads and ORUs . 2024-04-03 . docs.google.com.
  6. Web site: EVA Checklist: STS-129 Flight Supplement. 2011-07-03. 2011-11-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20111129141620/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/404493main_EVA_129_F_E1.pdf. dead.
  7. Web site: AWE . 2023-12-22 . Gunter's Space Page . en.
  8. Web site: Lightning Imaging Sensor Relocated on the International Space Station . 14 May 2023.
  9. Web site: Team . Robert O. Green and the EMIT . Destination Mission . 2022-07-30 . EMIT . en.
  10. Web site: ISS Daily Summary Report – 03/06/15. ISS On-Orbit Status Report. 6 March 2015 . 30 March 2018.
  11. Web site: STS-134 press kit cover print file 3-31-11 . 2013-03-27 . 2018-12-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181226120713/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/538352main_sts134_presskit_508.pdf . dead .
  12. Web site: 3 June 2022 . ISS On-Orbit Status Report - 6/03/2022 . 14 May 2023 . NASA.
  13. Web site: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/engineering/technology/txt_scantestbed.html. }
  14. Web site: SCaN Testbed . Spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov . 2013-03-13 . 2013-03-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120111033004/http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/SpaceOps/CoNNeCT/ . 2012-01-11 .
  15. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/SCAN_Testbed.html
  16. Web site: Archived copy . 2011-07-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110807090941/http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/SpaceOps/CoNNeCT/images/Figure_1.png . 2011-08-07 .
  17. Web site: Robotics and Space Biology Today as Cosmonauts Look to Next Spacewalk – Space Station. blogs.nasa.gov. 13 May 2019 . en-US. 2019-05-14.
  18. Web site: STP-H6 . 2022-07-30 . Gunter's Space Page . en.
  19. Web site: Garcia . Mark . 22 December 2023 . Robotic Arm Releases Cygnus from Station . 22 December 2023 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20231222181215/https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2023/12/22/robotic-arm-releases-cygnus-from-station/ . 22 December 2023 . live .
  20. Web site: EVA Checklist: STS-133 Flight Supplement. 2011-07-03. 2010-11-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20101106141458/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/491387main_STS-133%20Press%20Kit.pdf. dead.
  21. Web site: HYV-2 Presskit.
  22. Web site: NASA.gov . 2011-07-03 . 2012-01-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120111235727/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/566071main_STS-135_Press_Kit.pdf . dead .

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