Flores, Josua C.

NASA Technical Reports Server

International Space Station: 
Payload Processing and Services 
Joshua C. Flores
NASA/Boeing Intern
University of Notre Dame
August 3, 2007
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20120000519 2019-08-30T18:32:20+00:00Z
Acronyms 
ISS International Space Station 
ISSP International Space Station Program 
SSPF Space Station Processing Facility 
OPF Orbiter Processing Facility 
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
lCD Interface Control Document 
CAD Computer Aided Drawing 
PDGF Power Data Grappling Fixture 
MBSU Main Bus Switching Unit 
SASA S-band Antenna Support Assembly 
JSC Johnson Space Center 
KSC Kennedy Space Center 
OMSRD Operations and Maintenance Requirements and Specifications Document 
LSSP Launch Site Support Plan 
LP Launch Package 
JEM-PM Japanese Experiment Module - Pressurized Module 
JEM-ELM-PS Japanese Experiment Module - Pressurized Section
The International Space Station (ISS), the most complex international scientific 
endeavor in history, is an unprecedented project pushing forth support for the Vision for 
Space Exploration set out by President George W. Bush in 2004. The ISS has proven to 
provide valuable scientific research and breakthroughs. It continues to serve as a leading 
facility for the advancements in technology related to areas such as the development of 
medical practices and procedures for future long term human space travel, and new 
material and engineering technological solutions in support of exploration. 1 
Working as a Boeing Intern and a part of the International Space Station Program 
(ISSP), has proven to be a demanding task that encompasses a variety of scientific and 
engineering areas needed to ensure that such a great venture is completed in a safe, 
effective way. 
Boeing serves as NASA's prime contractor responsible for the design and 
engineering of all United States built elements of the ISS. Upon completion, the U.S. 
elements in orbit on the space station will include three connecting modules, or nodes, a 
laboratory module, truss segments, four solar array modules, three mating adapters, a 
cupola viewing window module, and an upressurized logistics carrier. 2 
Boeing also processes ISS elements provide by the international partners that are 
making this dream a reality. International partner components to date include: a 
Canadian-built robotic arm and mobile servicing system used for on orbit assembly and 
maintenance tasks on the space station, a pressurized European laboratory called 
Columbus and logistics transport vehicles, a Japanese laboratory Module with an attached 
Space Station Science Expedition Eleven Overview Fact Sheet Ed. Brooke Boen. March 17, 2007. NASA/Marshall Space Center 
25 Feb. httpi/www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/newslbackground/factSJeXPl lfacthtml. 
2 Space Exploration: ISS Background. Ed. Ed Mcmi and Tanya Deason-Sharp. Nov. 2006. BoeinglComm.Affairs. 
http://www.boeing.com/defeflSe-SPace/SPace/SPaCeStatiOfl/dOCS/ISS_Overview.Pdf
exposed exterior platform for experiments, and two Russian research modules. Other 
systems Boeing develops and implements include thermal control, life support, guidance, 
power systems.3
Figure 1- ISS Components 
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Before making it to their final resting stop on orbit, all of the ISS components 
make their way through the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) at Kennedy Space 
Center where Boeing workers spends months on end physically integrating all 
experiments, flight hardware, and other payloads needed to prepare the elements for 
launch into orbit. 
Once flight hardware has satisfied all testing requirements, Boeing transports the 
payload to either the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) or the Launch Pad in a large 
payload canister. This payload canister has an interior identical in size and dimensions to 
the Orbiter's payload bay. The payload can be installed horizontally at the OPF or 
vertically at the Launch pad using the pad's Rotating Service Structure. 
Space Exploration: ISS Background. Ed. Ed Memi and Tanya Deason-Sharp. Nov. 2006. Roeing/Comm.Affairs. 
hup://www.being.com/defensespaceJSPaCCJSPaCeStatiOfl1dOCS/1SS_OVeTVieWPdf
Further establishing its commitment to President Bush's Vision, NASA has 
vowed to complete the International Space Station and retire the Space Shuttle fleet in 
2010 to allow for the development and integratipn of the future Constellation program 
that will take Man back to the Moon and on to Mars. 
As a Boeing intern working under Mission Operations and Payload Services in 
the SSPF, it was normal for a daily work schedule to include organizing and participating 
in lCD walk-downs of ISS components such as the PDGF, MBSU, and SASA side wall-
carriers being launched along with the Node-2 U.S. module on STS-120. lCD walk-
downs entail a thorough quality inspection of flight hardware components by both JSC 
and KSC NASA representatives to ensure that elements conform to all engineering 
specifications according to lCD/CAD models prior to installation in the Orbiter. 4 The 
installation of the Harmony Node 2 module will increase the living and working space 
onboard the ISS and allow for the addition of international laboratories from Europe and 
Japan.
There was also a need to constantly update a database of both opened and closed 
processing requirements needed to be completed before an ISS component is certified for 
fmal hatch closure and departure from the SSPF. These requirements are namely derived 
from the Operations and Maintenance Requirements and Specifications Document 
(OMRSD). This document is the single authoritative source for non-drawing 
organizational level operations, maintenance, data and analysis requirements and 
Randall, Maria "Columbus Ground Processing TLMI5." PowerPoint presentation. Slides: 2,4. Kennedy Space Center, Fl. 8 
November 2005.
specifications that are necessary to maintain and verify hardware for flight and 
operational readiness. 
There is enormous risk involved in sending the space shuttle, the most complex 
machine ever built by humankind, into orbit. As a result, Boeing accounts for every 
single tool and item that makes its way in and out of either the Orbiter or any of the ISS 
components to ensure proper processing and protection from contamination or damage. 
Further projects completed through the duration of the internship included creating and 
presenting reports on any misplaced or lost items that failed to make its way out of the 
Orbiter or ISS component. These reports gave a detailed description of the missing item, 
the location where it was lost, the location it is thought to be, any investigations or 
searches related to the item, and any concerns NASA or Boeing think may pose a risk to 
payload or flight safety. 
Another major project completed through the summer involved the integral 
relationships and agreements formed between NASA and its customers needed to 
successfully launch and deploy all ISS payloads. The Launch site Support Plan (LSSP), 
developed by JSC, serves as the primary agreement between KSC and the ISS customer 
for ground processing for a launch package (LP). This document outlines for KSC ground 
processing services for the ISS elements as submitted by the customer and details KSC's 
commitment to support ground processing. The LSSP addresses the launch package 
coordination/planning prior to hardware arrival at the SSPF, transportation on site, pre-
Shuttle Integration activities as KSC beginning at hardware arrival, LP physical 
integration, and post landing activities for both KSC and non-KSC landings. The LSSP 
"Space 5huttle: Operations and Maintenance Requirements and Specifications Document: File I: tntro to OMRSD." 22 March, 
2007. Page: 15.
documents the planning and commitments for KSC to fulfill the ground processing 
requirements for the particular LP and mission. 
A similar document, the KSC Off-Site Operation Plan, was created during the 
internship for the Node 2, Columbus, JEM-PM, and JEM-ELM-PS ISS elements and 
their respected Shuttle missions. These documents are developed to address operational 
requirements for payload elements to be launched on a specific mission. Requirements 
outlined are applicable for contingency locations within the Continental United States 
(CONUS) or at designated non-Continental United States (Non-CONUS) locations. The 
Off-Site Operation Plan serves as a source for mission-specific guidelines for support of 
off-site landing payload operations, planning activities and post-landing operations 
performed by KSC and NASA contractors. Certain requirements, for example, call for 
post landing purges performed to cleanse and rid the Orbiter payload bay of moisture and 
provide guidelines for accessing the Return Complement after landing to remove any 
hazardous or sensitive equipment and payloads. Special support responsibilities or 
services required for a mission also appear in the document for the access, preparation 
and transportation of any post flight Return Complement (RC) payloads from a 
contingency landing site to the KSC launch site via an airline ferry flight. 
As the duration of the internship with Boeing came to a close, it was apparent that 
working within the International Space Station Program through NASA was a 
demanding, detailed task that required tremendous precautions to ensure the readiness 
and safety of all flight hardware. This is needed to make sure every Boeing processed ISS 
element is effectively launched on each mission.


International Space Station: Payload Processing and Services

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