Official RSC Energia Press Release on International Space Station Zvezda Service Module Docking

Early this Moscow morning on
the 14th day after the launch the Zvezda Service Module has
successfully docked with Zarya-Unity Modules. Docking to SM
was performed from its transfer compartment to the axial port.
SM docking unit contact took place 04.45 Moscow daylight saving
time when flying over Russian Federation territory in the radio
visibility zone of Russian ground measurement stations.

The Service Module is a key element
of ISS, developed by a broad cooperation of Russian and foreign
enterprises with S.P. Korolev RSC Energia playing the leading
part.

After docking the ~ 52.5 t heavy International
Space Station (ISS) composed of three modules is flying on the
near-earth orbit of a 51.6° inclination, a 380.0 km maximum
altitude and a 351.6 km minimum altitude.

During the autonomous flight of the
Service Module one performed operations on deployment of its
external structural elements, on construction of initial attitude,
carried out corrections of the onboard inertial navigation system
and a two-burn reboost test, afterwards the necessary two- and
single-burn maneuvers were implemented. During the flight one
also performed onboard equipment tests (computer, communication,
guidance, navigation &control (GNC), rendezvous, TV systems),
checked the functioning of onboard systems by telemetry data,
started storage battery cycling, checked solar array efficiency,
carried out a docking mode test.

Within next weeks of docking one will
perform operations on Zvezda-to-Zarya interface leak check,
testing of systems, merging and testing of computer systems
of ISS modules, a Kurs rendezvous equipment test on the Service
module from its service compartment to support preparation of
Progress M1 transport cargo vehicle docking with ISS – Progress
M1 launch is planned for August 6, 2000. Besides, this year
it is proposed to perform two launches of American Shuttle spacecraft
with their docking to ISS, launches of the next Russian Progress
M1 cargo vehicle and a Soyuz TM manned transport spacecraft
with the first ISS host crew consisting of two Russian cosmonauts
V. Gidzenko and S. Krikalev and American astronaut W. Shepherd
who have a lot of space flight experience.

ISS flight control is performed by
S.P. Korolev RSC Energia specialists together with specialists
from M.V. Khrunichev GKNPTs and other enterprises and organizations
within the scope of the Main Operational Control Group (GOGU)
from the Mission Control Center-Moscow (MCC-M) residing in Korolev
near Moscow. Flight Director is pilot-cosmonaut V.A. Soloviev.
ISS flight control is performed in cooperation with specialists
from the U.S. Mission Control Center-Houston.

In MCC-M during performance of the
most critical operations of Zvezda Module rendezvous and docking
with the Zarya-Unity stack were present: Russia’s Manned Program
Technical Director – RAS Academician Yu.P. Semenov, S.P. Korolev
RSC Designer General, Yu.N Koptev, Rosaviacosmos Director General,
A.I. Kiselev, Khrunichev GKNPTs Director General, RAS Academician
N.A. Anfimov, TsNII of Machine-Building Director, Intergovernmental
Commission members, representatives from Rosaviacosmos and NASA,
space agencies of other ISS Partners, managers and specialists
from S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, as well as from many Russian
and foreign enterprises and organizations being involved in
development of Zvezda Service Module systems.

After receiving telemetry information
about docking completion, at MCC-M a briefing for Russian and
foreign mass-media representatives was held.

During the briefing one addressed words
of congratulations to S.P. Korolev RSC Energia and cooperating
agencies for the Zvezda Module, expressed hope that Russia’s
Government would supply in a short time money foreseen for Russian
enterprises to perform work on the ISS program. Without this
money it is impossible to provide a timely manufacturing of
Soyuz TM / Progress M1 spacecraft and next Russian modules for
further implementation of the ISS deployment program in the
year 2001.

The Service Module has been docked
with the Zarya-Unity Orbital Complex.