Photo Report: Russia Prepares MRM Research Modules For Their Trip to The International Space Station
At S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia the works are in full swing, which are aimed to create two new modules, small research modules MRM-1 and MRM-2, for the International Space Station (ISS).
As per NASA’s commitments, MRM-1 is to be delivered to the ISS in May 2010 using the US Shuttle payload bay. At the present time, the works are under way on assembly of flight article MRM-1. Preparations were made for European manipulator ERA elbow element to be installed on MRM-1. In the meantime, modal test phase of full-scale dynamic mockup of the module is nearing completion with the aim to further verify its mathematic model and secure authorization for flight article MRM-1 to be delivered to the station. Works on flight article MRM-1 and its dynamic mockup are being carried out on schedule.
Preparations are made to deliver MRM-2 to the ISS at the year-end of 2009 through use of the Progress cargo space vehicle Instrument-Service Module (ISM) capability. Under the work schedule, the MRM-2 was assembled with this ISM module; factory tests of the assembled dedicated cargo vehicle-module (CVM) are under way.
For reference:
- RSC Energia after S.P. Korolev is the prime contractor of the national rocket and space industry under the human flight space programs, responsible for the development of the ISS Russian Segment, its integration into the station, and operational use, including the development and operation of its Russian modules ("Zvezda", "Pirs", MRM-1, MRM-2 etc.); manufacture, launch and operational use of Soyuz TMA, Progress M space vehicles.
- Structurally, CVM as part of MRM-2 and cargo vehicle ISM is similar to the dedicated CVM "Progress M-SOE1", which in 2001 delivered the Russian docking assembly-module Pirs to the ISS.
