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Docking Compartment-1 and 2 The Docking Compartment, also known as Pirs ("Pier") or Docking Module, provides the airlock for the spacewalks from the Russian segment of the International Space Station, ISS. The module features a large hatch, 1 meter in diameter (see photos on this page), allowing spacesuited cosmonauts to exit and return to the station. (NASA developed its own, larger airlock for the US segment of the outpost.) The Russian Docking Compartment also provides a third docking port for the arriving Russian spacecraft. Without Docking Compartment, the Russian manned Soyuz and Progress cargo ships can dock either to the aft port of the Zvezda service module, or to the Earth-facing (nadir) port of the Zarya control module. Two other existing docking ports onboard the Zvezda module (so-called zenith and nadir ports) have the interface designed for larger and heavier modules and it is not compatible with the standard hardware normally installed on the Soyuz spacecraft. With only two regular docking ports available on the Russian segment, the Progress supply ship has to be undocked from the station, every time the new Soyuz spacecraft arrives to the outpost to replace its older predecessor. After the Soyuz exchange is completed the Progress cargo ship has to be either discarded or redocked to the station with the use of the TORU remote-control system operated manually from the inside of the ISS. In 1997, the Progress slammed into the Mir space station during the docking exercise with the use of the TORU remote control -- the accident, which could cost the Mir crew its life. With the Docking Compartment-1, occupying the Earth-facing nadir port of the Zvezda module, the incoming Soyuz spacecraft will be able to dock to the compartment's free Earth-facing port. (see photo) On its way to the station, the Docking Compartment will also serve as a cargo spacecraft, delivering the third space suit and the second Strela deployable boom, which will facilitate EVA work onboard the station. Finally, additional supplies and consumable items needed by the crew at the time of the module's launch will be loaded in the free volume inside the spacecraft. RKK Energia in Korolev originally developed the Docking Compartment as one of the elements of the Mir-2 space station, the Russian successor to Mir. With the merger of the Mir-2 and Freedom projects in 1993, the Docking Compartment became the part of the Russian segment of the ISS. As several other Mir-2 modules, the Docking Compartment is designed to maneuver in orbit and dock with the station with the help of the instrument and propulsion section, PAO, borrowed from the Progress cargo ship. Combined with PAO section, the Docking Compartment-1 fits under standard payload fairing of the Soyuz launcher. The maximum diameter of the module does not exceed 2.2 meters -- standard for the Progress spacecraft. After the Docking Compartment docks to the ISS, the PAO section of the module jettisons to expose the standard docking port on the spacecraft, intended for the Soyuz docking. According to the construction plan of the International Space Station, the Docking Compartment-1 has to be eventually replaced with a much larger Universal Docking Module, UDM. Launched by the Proton rocket, the UDM would provide life-support capabilities for as many as six crewmembers onboard the Russian segment of the ISS. Prior to UDM arrival, the Docking Compartment-1 would be discarded to free the Earth-facing "nadir" port of the Zvezda service module for the UDM. The new Docking Compartment-2, as well as Russia's future science modules, would then be able to dock to multiple ports onboard the UDM. However, the development of the UDM fell far behind schedule, due to severe underfinancing of the Russian segment by the federal government. Changing role During redesign of the Russian segment of the ISS in 2001, RKK Energia decided to use Docking Compartment-1 as an "interface" between simplified NEP platform and the zenith (upward looking) docking port of the Zvezda service module. The construction of the Docking Compartment-2 would be abandoned altogether. To play new role, the Docking Compartment would be equipped with the grappling device for the station's robot arm, which would be used to place the module to its new location prior to the arrival of the FGB-2 to the station. Some minor modifications inside the docking compartment would be required as well. In 2001, the transfer of Docking Compartment from nadir to zenith docking port of the Zvezda service module was expected at the end of 2004. Mission chronology 2001 Jan. 9: RKK Energia started final testing of the Docking Compartment, the next Russian element of the International Space Station, ISS. The module's construction was lagging behind schedule due to financial problems. Although there are still some technical and financial issues to resolve, RKK Energia hopes to ship the module to Baikonur in March or April in preparation for the launch onboard the Soyuz rocket in June 2001. Officially, the launch date is still set for June 1, 2001, however, the manager of the project said on Thursday, it now can't take place before the end of June. RKK Energia still needs $1 million in funding from Russian Aviation and Space Agency, Rosaviacosmos, to purchase subsystems for the orbital tug, which will deliver the Docking Compartment from its initial orbit to the station. This figure does not include the cost of the Soyuz launch vehicle and its payload fairing, which Rosaviacosmos, procures directly from its manufacturer. The Russian federal government approved the budget for the space program, however, Rosaviacosmos is yet to allocate funds for particular projects, RKK Energia officials said. In the meantime, the work on two larger Russian elements for the station remains at a virtual stand still due to lack of funds, RKK Energia managers say. The development of the so-called Science Power Platform, which was expected to carry solar panels, radiators and a robot arm for the Russian segment, is frozen at the initial construction stage. RKK Energia tried to find "non-government" solution to the problem of the Russian segment, by paying for the construction through commercial deals with its Western partners. The scaling down of the elements of the Russian segment was also under consideration. 2001 July 13: The Docking Compartment-1, leaves Moscow for Kazakhstan today in preparation for its launch in September of this year. Late tonight, the new module, known as Docking Compartment-1, or Pirs (Pier), leaves the RKK Energia's manufacturing and testing facility in Korolev, on the northeastern outskirts of Moscow for a journey by rail to its launch site at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Western Kazakhstan. The module is expected to arrive to Baikonur's Site 254 on July 16 for its final processing before its launch, currently scheduled for September 15. According to RKK Energia sources, the Docking Compartment will be used for the "commercial" spacewalk this fall paid for by a Japanese company. The purpose of the spacewalk is yet to be disclosed, however it expected to have an advertising nature. The module's departure for Baikonur coincided with the Shuttle mission to install a larger airlock on the US segment of the station. 2001 July 16: The Docking Compartment arrived to Baikonur. 2001 July 18: The Docking Compartment was installed into a processing facility inside Site 254 in Baikonur. The preparation for a two-week testing of the electrical system of the module was scheduled to start on July 19. 2001 Sept. 15, 03:35 Moscow Time: The Soyuz rocket successfully launched Docking Compartment toward the ISS; (previous launch date: Aug. 25) 2001
Sept. 16: The Docking Compartment-1, dubbed Pirs, docked automatically
to a nadir port on the Zvezda service module at 8:05 p.m. CDT as the station
orbited 250 miles above Mongolia. The 16-foot-long, 8,000-pound module approached the station from below and behind, beginning its automated docking sequence shortly after 5:30 p.m. About 20 minutes later, the station's thrusters moved it to the proper orientation for docking. The station's large solar array wings were positioned to eliminate contamination from the jets on Pirs as it made it final approach. After the probe-and-drogue docking system completed capture of the incoming module and pulled the two spacecraft together, 12 active latching hooks were driven to their closed position, locking the module securely in place. After docking, the Expedition Three crew checked to make sure there was a good seal between the station and its new module, then began to equalize pressure between the two craft prior to the first opening of the hatch to Pirs, which was scheduled later this evening. The aft instrumentation and propulsion system locked onto the docking compartment itself will be jettisoned next month to set the stage for spacewalks by the crew to install and activate key systems for the compartment's future operation. Three
space walks are to be conducted in October and November from Pirs by the
Expedition Three crew - two by Pilot Vladimir Dezhurov and Flight Engineer
Mikhail Tyurin and one by 2001 Sept. 26, 3:36 a.m. Moscow Time: Mission control in Korolev commanded the propulsion and instrument section, PAO, to jettison from the Docking Compartment of the Russian segment of the ISS. The PAO section then fired its engines to deorbit. The manuever freed the nadir (Earth-facing) docking port on the Docking Compartment, which will be used by the ISS-bound Soyuz spacecraft. The PAO section originally served as an orbital tug for the Docking Compartment during it delivery from the intial orbit to the ISS. |
PICTURE GALLERY
A full-scale mockup of the Docking Compartment used for cosmonaut training in Star City can be seen attached to the Zvezda service module. In reality, the module will face Earth, while in orbit. Copyright © 2001 by Anatoly Zak
The Docking Compartment 1 (SO1) with its Progress M SO1 orbital tug is being unloaded from a railway after arrival to Baikonur. Copyright © 2001 by Oleg Urusov
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