| Kibo's
Extravehicular Activity procedure development test No.2(OPS#2) |
|
 | OPS#2
TEST |
Kibo's Extravehicular Activity (EVA) procedure
development test No. 2 (OPS #2) was conducted at Tsukuba Space Center from the
end of November 2000 to March 6, 2001.
 | What
is OPS#2? | Japanese Experiment Module Kibo will be launched
in three separate flights from 2006 through 2007 and will be assembled by using
a Space Shuttle robot arm and by EVAs.
NASDA will prepare Kibo assembly
EVA procedures, and NASA will brush them up with NASDA's cooperation. The procedures
will include operation procedures such as how to transfer EVA tools, how to remove
the thermal insulation covers used for launching Kibo, and EVA crew translation
procedures and time needed for them.
This test was conducted for assembling
Kibo's Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurized Section (ELM-PS) and Pressurized
Module (PM) to confirm and establish more effective procedures that will be submitted
to NASA.
A life-size mockup of Kibo was installed in the water tank of
the Weightless Environment Test Building, and astronauts and engineers wearing
underwater space suits conducted the test.
Kibo's EVA procedure development
test No. 1 (OPS #1) was conducted from January through February 2000, and EVA
tools transfer procedures, installation of a portable foot restraint on Kibo,
and an assembly simulation were performed.
| Test
activities | During this test, Japanese astronaut Noguchi,
together with NASA astronauts and engineers, performed the tests below following
procedures similar to the assembly operations in space.
The underwater operation
cycle takes up to three hours.
- Confirm how to bring EVA tools to EVA locations.
- Confirm the astronauts' translation route and time needed for each
movement.
- Confirm the location of handrails and handholds that are used to
support astronauts' movement.
- Evaluate the visibility at EVA locations.
- Evaluate the usage of EVA tools.
- Confirm temporary stowage location of tools.
- Confirm coordinated operation with the crew inside.
- Confirm where to wait for the next procedure.
- Confirm time needed for EVA tasks.
| Engineers
from various fields. | The underwater test is conducted by
one astronaut who wears an underwater space suit. Many engineers from various
fields are participating in this test. Support divers help the underwater astronaut.
They help astronauts to move in the water, adjust neutral buoyancy, and take records
of the test. Nearly ten divers work under water simultaneously.
Various
engineers such as a test conductor who controls whole the test and gives instructions
to the astronaut once in a while, a medical crew that manages the health of astronauts
and divers, technicians who adjust and maintain the underwater space suit, weightless
environment facility engineers who manage water quality and water temperature
and operate the air compressor that provides air to the space suit, engineers
who prepare and confirm EVA procedures support the test, and EVA procedures are
established through their cooperation.
Know how of various fields obtained
through the tests will be accumulated and utilized in actually operating Kibo
in several years to come.
| Future
schedule | The EVA procedures developed through this test
will be utilized in Kibo related EVA training procedures that will be held in
the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) in Johnson Space Center.
The third
test will be held early next year. Preparations for the launch of Kibo are being
promoted continuously.
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