Introduction

Scope

During the Early and Initial Routine Utilisation phases of the International Space Station (ISS), European users will have access to accommodation on one or more NASA EXPRESS Pallets (EPs). The EXPRESS Pallet is a payload accommodation facility located on the Integrated Truss Assembly (ITA) of the International Space Station (ISS). It is attached to the ITA via the Payload Attach Structure (PAS). Each EXPRESS Pallet carries up to six EXPRESS Pallet Adapters (EPAs) on which the individual experiments or facilities are accommodated. ESA will provide three EXPRESS Pallet Adapters for the accommodation of the European instruments on EXPRESS Pallets.

This document describes the currently available information on the EXPRESS Pallet, its subsystems and the relevant aspects of the overall ISS System within which it functions.

Purpose

This document is intended to introduce the various aspects of the EXPRESS Pallet and the EXPRESS Pallet Adapter to the European user. It complements the booklet "INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION - A Guide For European Users" (RD3) with information which is both more detailed and more up to date.

Applicable Documents

AD1 SSP 52000-PAH-EPP.

International Space Station EXPRESS Pallet Payload Accommodations
Handbook (available 1998).¹

( ¹) Information on a working level is available and much is contained herein. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) stresses that all such information is preliminary and there is no commitment that it will not change.

AD2 GPQ-010 ² Issue 1, May 1995 with CN01.

Product Assurance Requirements for ESA Microgravity Projects.

( ²) GPQ documents can be accessed electronically at address http://www.estec.esa.nl/gpqwww/allpdf.html

AD3 GPQ-010-PSA-106, Issue 1.0.

Safety and Materials Requirements for ESA Payloads on ISS (Space Exposed Payloads).

AD4 GPQ-01 0-PSA-107, Issue 1.0.

Reliability and Maintainlability for ESA Payloads on ISS (On-orbit Not Maintainlable).

AD5 PSS-01-401, Issue 2, Nov. 1994.

ESA Fracture Control Requirements

AD6 NASA-MSFC-1249.

Standard NDI Guidelines and Requirements for Fracture Control Programs.

Reference Documents

RD1 SSP 30237, Rev. B, June 1994.

Space Station Electromagnetic Emission and Susceptibility Requirements for EMC

RD2 SSP 50036, Rev A, February 1996.

Microgravity Control Plan.

RD3 ESA SP-1202, Early Opportunities Issue, September 1996.

International Space Station - A Guide for European Users.