Unity Unity (in translation from English. - "Unity"), or English. Node-1 (translated from the English. - “Node-1”) - the first fully American component of the International Space Station (legally the first American module can be considered the FGB “Zarya” , which was created at the MV Khrunichev Center under the contract with the Boeing company). The component is a sealed connection module, with six docking nodes, called English in English. nodes .
| ISS module | |
| Unity | |
|---|---|
| Unity, Node-1 | |
 Unity module with PMA-1,2 adapters | |
| Launch vehicle | Endeavor |
| Launch | December 4, 1998 |
| Docking | December 6, 1998 |
| Docking place | via PMA ‑ 1 , to FGB Zarya |
| As part of the station | 20 years, 248 days |
| Segment |  American |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 11,612 kg (with PMA1,2) |
| Dimensions | 5.49 x 4.57 m |
| Docking Nodes | 6 |
| Docking Connections | |
| Rear | via PMA ‑ 1 , to FGB Zarya |
| Nadirny | Leonardo |
| Antiaircraft | Z1 |
| Front | Destiny |
| Right | Quest |
| Left | Calm |
The Unity module was launched into orbit on December 4, 1998, as the main cargo of the Endeavor shuttle (ISS 2A assembly mission, STS-88 shuttle mission ).
The connecting module became the basis for all future ISS American modules that were connected to its six docking nodes. Built by Boeing in the workshops of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville , Alabama , Unity was the first of three planned connecting modules of this kind. The length of the module is 5.49 meters, with a diameter of 4.57 meters.
On December 6, 1998, the crew of the Endeavor shuttle connected the Unity module through the PMA-1 adapter tunnel to the previously launched Proton launch vehicle , the Zarya module. At the same time, the Canadarm robotic arm mounted on the Endeavor shuttle was used in docking operations (to remove Unity from the cargo compartment of the shuttle and to drag the Dawn module to the Endeavor + Unity bundle). The final docking of the first two ISS modules was carried out by turning on the engine of the Endeavor spacecraft [1] [2] [3] .
In addition to Dawn, Unity is also already connected or will be connected later: the American laboratory module Destiny ; "Node-3" ( Eng. "Node 3" ); the first truss structure of the ISS “Z1”; a Quest gateway for performing VCS in American spacesuits and a transparent Observation Dome created by the European Space Agency (ESA) under a contract with NASA.
The module also passes critical routes for the transmission of electricity, data, liquids and gases for life support systems. More than 50,000 mechanical devices, 216 pipelines for transferring liquids and gases and 121 internal and external cables using more than nine kilometers of wire are installed in the module. The main material for Unity is aluminum alloys .
Two conical-shaped docking adapters are installed at both ends of the module before it is launched at Endeavor. PMA adapters ( Pressurized Mating Adapter , hermetic junction adapter) allow docking systems used on shuttles and Russian modules to use the gateways and mooring mechanisms of the module. Currently, the Zarya module is constantly connected to PMA-1, PMA-2 was used until the flights were stopped, for docking with shuttles.
The total mass of the module with two conical adapters is 11 612 kg. Computing systems, or multiplexer-demultiplexers ( English MDM ), which served to control and control the Unity module in the early stages of station construction, were mounted on the adapter skin between the Unity and Zarya modules. At the same time, to communicate with the MCC in Houston and reserve the Russian communication system, a module communication system was also used that was capable of transmitting data, supporting audio and low-speed video communications.
The two remaining station connecting modules ( Nodes ) were built by ESA NASA, Alenia Aerospazio in Italy. The second and third modules ( Harmony , Calm ) are slightly longer than the Unity module, about 6.3 meters, and on each, except for six berth ports, additional fastenings for the scientific equipment of the station are mounted (on Unity such there are four mounts, on “Harmony” - eight and sixteen on “Calm”). ESA has built two additional modules in offset with NASA for launching the European Columbus Laboratory Module and other equipment to the ISS.
Notes
- ↑ Government of Canada, Canadian Space Agency, Directions of communications, Information services and new media. Uses for Robotic Arm Technology . Canadian Space Agency website. Date of treatment July 25, 2016.
- ↑ Docking of Unity and Dawn modules . Photo of the docking of Unity and Dawn . ESA .
- ↑ Docking in orbit of the Zarya and Unity modules and the formation of the ISS . www.aviaspace.ru. Date of treatment July 25, 2016.