Rassvet (ISS module)

''Rassvet'' (russian: Рассвет; lit. "first light"), also known as the Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM-1; russian: Малый исследовательский модуль, ) and formerly known as the Docking Cargo Module (DCM), is a component of the International Space Station (ISS). The module's design is similar to the Mir Docking Module launched on STS-74 in 1995. ''Rassvet'' is primarily used for cargo storage and as a docking port for visiting spacecraft. It was flown to the ISS aboard on the STS-132 mission on 14 May 2010, and was connected to the ISS on 18 May 2010. The hatch connecting ''Rassvet'' with the ISS was first opened on 20 May 2010. On 28 June 2010, the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft performed the first docking with the module.

Details

''Rassvet'' was docked to the nadir port of ''Zarya'' with help from the Canadarm2. ''Rassvet'' carried externally attached outfitting equipment from NASA for the ''Nauka'' Multipurpose Laboratory Module Upgrade (MLM-U), a spare elbow joint for the European Robotic Arm (ERA), an ERA portable workpost used during EVAs, heat radiator, internal hardware and ''Nauka''s experiment airlock for launching cubesats. Delivering ''Rassvet'' thus enabled NASA to fulfill its promise to ship 1.4 metric tons to equip the MLM.

''Rassvet'' has two docking units: one to attach to the nadir port of the ''Zarya'' module, and one to provide a docking port for a Soyuz or Progress spacecraft. It implements the role of the Docking and Storage Module from the original ISS design. Russia announced the cancellation of the last of the two planned Russian Research Modules when it announced the plans for ''Rassvet''.

Initial planning

The initial ISS plan included a Docking and Storage Module (DSM). This planned Russian element was intended to provide facilities for stowage and an additional docking port, and would have been launched to the station on a Proton launch vehicle. The DSM would have been mounted to ''Zarya''s nadir (Earth-facing) docking port. It would have been similar in size and shape to the ''Zarya'' module.

The DSM was cancelled due to Russian budgetary constraints for some time, but its design was eventually modified into the Docking and Cargo Module (''Rassvet'') that was to be connected to the same ''Zarya'' location to provide storage space and a docking port. During the cancellation period, it was proposed that a Multi Purpose Module (MPM) called ''Enterprise'' should be docked to ''Zarya'', and later the ''Nauka'' Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) was proposed to be located there as well, but the ''Enterprise'' module has since been cancelled and the ''Nauka'' MLM was docked to ''Zvezda''s nadir port instead.

Purpose

''Rassvet'' was designed as a solution to two problems facing the ISS partners:
* NASA was under contract to carry the MLM outfitting equipment into space.
* The overlapping missions of the Progress, Soyuz, and ATV spacecraft highlighted the need to have four Russian docking ports available on the ISS. The cancellation of both Russian Research Modules meant that the ISS would be left with just three such docking ports after the installation of the Permanent Multipurpose Module in 2011, which made the nadir port of ''Zarya'' unusable.

''Rassvet'' solved both of these issues. NASA did not need to add another payload flight to accommodate the MLM outfitting equipment, as it could attach the hardware to the exterior of MRM-1. The ISS now had four docking ports available on the Russian segment: the aft port of ''Zvezda'', the port of ''Pirs'', later MLM (on the nadir port of ''Zvezda''), the port of MRM-2 (on the zenith port of ''Zvezda''), and the port on MRM-1 (on the nadir port of ''Zarya''). Russia's cancellation of the Research Module thus came to be of less consequence for the ISS program as a whole.

Design and construction

The module was designed and built by S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, from the already-made pressurized hull of the mock-up for dynamic tests of the cancelled Science Power Platform.

On 17 December 2009, an Antonov An-124 carrying the ''Rassvet'' Module and ground process equipment arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Upon unloading, the equipment was delivered to a prelaunch processing facility run by the Astrotech. Energia specialists and technicians continued their work on the processing of the ''Rassvet'' module at the facility, completing stand-alone electrical tests and leak tests of the module and the airlock. They also prepared the airlock and the radiative heat exchanger for installation onto ''Rassvet''. The module was moved to NASA's Space Station Processing Facility on 2 April 2010. After completing the final touches, it was placed into the shuttle payload transporter on 5 April 2010. The payload canister containing the ''Rassvet'' Module arrived at LC-39A on 15 April 2010.

Engineers at Launch Pad 39A preparing Space Shuttle Atlantis had noticed paint peeling from the MRM-1 module. Although the problem was declared to have no impact on the operation of ''Rassvet'', it posed a potential threat of releasing debris on orbit.

Visited spacecraft

''Rassvet'' was connected to nadir port of ''Zarya'' on 18 May 2010.

Gallery

File:STS132 MRM1 Astrotech1.jpg, MRM-1 at the Astrotech Facility
File:STS-132 MRM1 Astrotech March1.jpg, Rassvet module development
File:STS132 Mini-Research Module-1.jpg, Rassvet Module

See also

* ''Poisk'' (ISS module)
* ''Pirs'' (ISS module)

References

External links

* http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dsm.htm
* http://www.russianspaceweb.com/iss_enterprise.html

''Rassvet'' at Astrotech looking NW

''Rassvet'' at Astrotech looking north

''Rassvet'' at Astrotech from above

''Rassvet'' at Astrotech looking SE

{{Orbital launches in 2010

Russian components of the International Space Station
Spacecraft launched in 2010
2010 in Russia