. 24/7 Space News .
SPACE MEDICINE
International Space Station computer gets a heart transplant
by Staff Writers
Paris (ESA) Dec 20, 2019

The Data Management System (DMS) computers in the Russian Zvezda module were built over 20 years ago by what is now Airbus. Two fault-tolerant computers collect data and provide navigation, communications and operations for the Russian segment.

The Space Station has grown to the size of a football field and space agencies are looking to extend its lifetime until 2030. European-built computers have quietly been keeping this orbital outpost on track and in the right position, running in the background since 2000.

The Data Management System (DMS) computers in the Russian Zvezda module were built over 20 years ago by what is now Airbus. Two fault-tolerant computers collect data and provide navigation, communications and operations for the Russian segment.

These are required for International Space Station operations, and a sudden breakdown could lead to catastrophic consequences. To ensure continuity three units work in parallel with two active and one standby to take over if one fails. A fourth computer is kept as spare that is used as soon as one of the computers in active duty has problems.

Mission-critical upgrade
More fault-tolerant computers were built for a Russian module soon to be launched to the International Space Station, the Multipurpose Laboratory Module. The new computers exhausted the spare parts kept aside for ground repairs and production of new computers.

After years of operations, engineers noticed that most of the failures on ground and on-orbit computers occurred in memory modules on one the printed circuit boards of the computers. Each time, a failed computer was removed, returned to ground for repairs and then re-launched, with a long turn-around and impact on logistics. In addition it soon became clear that this approach was not sustainable due to the lack of parts.

Following extensive technical discussions and testing on Earth, engineers proved that a new printed circuit board, with the same form and function but built using modern and available components, could be the solution.

Teams in Russia and Europe considered upgrading the computer boards directly by an astronaut on the Space Station in weightlessness - the equivalent of open heart surgery on Earth! This was no easy task to demonstrate, considering the computers were not designed for maintenance on orbit and the units were closed with small screws, sometimes even glued in place.

Much like preparing for a spacewalk, engineers and Russian cosmonauts practiced and demonstrated the process on Earth to ensure the operations were feasible and could be performed in space without risk.

Convinced that this approach would work new computer boards were ordered in 2015 and sent to the Space Station in 2018.

Space transplant
Waiting for the new mainboards to reach the Space Station, a failed computer was kept on-orbit. When the new parts and trained astronauts arrived teams decided to use a failed unit as a test case.

In January 2019 the older board was replaced with the new stock. At that time cosmonauts confirmed that the computer had survived the operation but were not yet certain that it was fully fit. Crew time in space is scarce and the teams planned to wait for the next failure before installing the computer that had undergone a heart transplant and fully check it. Last month one of the old computers had problems and so it was removed and replaced with the new unit.

All is now confirmed to be working properly, with great satisfaction to the personnel at RSC-Energia, Airbus and ESA. This solution requires less costly transport to Earth orbit as only the boards need to be swapped instead of the whole units - the repair time is now reduced from six months to a few days.

Future missions
This kind of behind-the-scenes work is the type that does not get much attention unless something goes wrong, but the new approach is needed as humans explore farther into our Solar System, starting on the Gateway, where supplies from Earth are not readily available.

Maintenance on the International Space Station demonstrates the experience and design knowledge needed to support future missions while ensuring more sustainable operations - a win-win situation.


Related Links
Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA
Space Medicine Technology and Systems


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


SPACE MEDICINE
Astrophysics and AI may offer key to early dementia diagnosis
Sussex UK (SPX) Dec 18, 2019
Crucial early diagnosis of dementia in general practice could improve thanks to a computer model designed in a collaboration between Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and astrophysicists at the University of Sussex. Currently, only two-thirds of people with dementia in the UK receive a formal diagnosis, and many receive it late in the disease process, meaning that a large number are missing out on the care that could help them achieve a good quality of life. The team, led by Dr Eliza ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SPACE MEDICINE
Starliner Ready for its Inaugural Flight

NASA's Astronaut Candidates to Graduate with Eye on Artemis Missions

Europe powers up for third and fourth Orion spacecraft

NASA selects informal learning institutions to engage next generation

SPACE MEDICINE
PR GMV's avionics system will be integrated into the MIURA 1 of PLD Space

Arianespace's last mission of the year a complete success

Equipment installation for Angara Launch Pad at Russia's Vostochny to start Sunday

Aerojet Rocketdyne selected to provide solid rocket motor for Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon

SPACE MEDICINE
Developing a technique to study past Martian climate

Scientists map a planet's global wind patterns for the first time, and it's not Earth

Mars 2020 Rover Completes Its First Drive

Mars Express tracks the phases of Phobos

SPACE MEDICINE
China's Xichang set for 20 space launches in 2020

China sends six satellites into orbit with single rocket

China launches satellite service platform

China plans to complete space station construction around 2022: expert

SPACE MEDICINE
Kacific's first satellite in orbit

Iridium Continues GMDSS Readiness with Announcement of Launch Partners

Nilesat-301 satellite to be built by Thales Alenia Space

SpaceChain sends blockchain tech to ISS

SPACE MEDICINE
Capricorn Space and Infostellar cooperate to enable On Demand ground segment services

Shedding light in the dark: radar satellites lead the way

Observing time awarded to prepare for data-rich era in astronomy

Tiny quantum sensors watch materials transform under pressure

SPACE MEDICINE
NYU Abu Dhabi researcher discovers exoplanets can be made less habitable by stars' flares

Breathable atmospheres may be more common in the universe than we first thought

Europe's exoplanet hunter reaches orbit around Earth

Europe's exoplanet hunter blasts off from Earth

SPACE MEDICINE
NASA's Juno navigators enable Jupiter cyclone discovery

The PI's Perspective: What a Year, What a Decade!

Reports of Jupiter's Great Red Spot demise greatly exaggerated

Aquatic rover goes for a drive under the ice









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.