1. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL August 07, 2009 / POIC-MSFC

2. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 2 The MSL Payload  Material Science Laboratory  In NASA First Material Science Research Rack (MSRR-1) in the US Laboratory Module Destiny.  1 Core Facility  Associated support systems MSRR-1 in LAB1O3

3. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 3 The MSL Payload (2)  1 Core Facility: - Process Chamber - Furnace Insert  Associated support systems - Power Supply Unit - Facility Control Unit - VGS/WPP - Gas Supply  Planned Launch Items: - LGF Furnace - SQF Furnace - 2nd Gas Supply Drawer - OSE Power Supply Unit Facility Control Unit Core Facility VGS/WPP Gas Supply

4. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 4 MSL-LGF and Sample Cartridge Assembly (SCA) ©ESA MSL-LGF MSL-LGF SCA

5. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 5 Materials Science in MSRR/MSL – Batch 1 MIcrostructure formation in CASTing of Technical Alloys under diffusive and magnetically controlled convective conditions Columnar to Equiaxed Transition in Solidification Processing ESA MAPs © ACCESS MICAST CETSOL

6. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 6 G = 20K/mm HZ 1-3 = 400°C HZ 4-7 = 800/940 (US)°C free cooldown Experiment Details MICASTCETSOL Batch-1 SCA #4 SCA #3 SCA #1 SCA #2 SCA #5 SCA #4 SCA #3 SCA #1 SCA #2 SCA #5 SCA #6 Documents: ESA-HSF-ESR-MICAST1 (18.03.2009) ESA-HSF-ESR-CETSOL1&3 (18.03.2009) v = 0.02mm/s, -/+ RMF v = 0.04mm/s, -/+ RMF v = 0.06mm/s, -/+ RMF v = 0.08mm/s, -/+ RMF v = 0.10mm/s, -/+ RMF SCA #6 SCA #7 v = 5 → 50µm/s v = 50 → 5µm/s Al-7wt%Si-1wt%Fe Al-7wt%Si G = 10K/mm HZ 1-3 = 560°C HZ 4-7 = 680°C Quenching, no RMF Al-7wt%Si Al-7wt%Si-grain refined v = 0.01mm/s HZ4-7 = 4K/min v = 0.01 → 0.2mm/s HZ4-7 = 4K/min v = 0.01mm/s HZ4-7 = 4K/min v = 0.01 → 0.2mm/s HZ4-7 = 4K/min v = 0.01mm/ HZ4-7 = 4K/min SCAs processed for Commissioning SCAs processed during Inc 21/22 v = 0.01→0.2mm/s HZ4-7=4K/min

7. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 7 MSL-LGF Experiment Process Flow Sequence Nominal Operation tasks: - Start-up Procedure and Checkout - Preparation and Upload of files and tables - Evacuation of chamber - Sample Processing (input from science team !) - Run-down - Exchange of SCA - Replacement of Furnace insert (Batch 2)

8. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 8 SCA processing  Two modes: Test mode (cmd by cmd) or Processing mode (automated sequence according to a sample processing program SPP)  Experiment sequence - Heat-up of furnace in rear position to SCA specific temperature profile - Partial or complete melting of sample material inside the cartridge tube by moving the furnace from rear to front position - Thermal equilibration, temperature adjustment (telescience: realtime ground command, if required) - Directional solidification or crystal growth of the sample material by movement of furnace to the rear side [or temperature decrease] (activation of stimuli as required) - Cool-down

9. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 9 Increment 19/20 activities - Launch of MSL is foreseen in increment 19 / STS-128 in August 2009 - MSL integrated in MSRR-1 Rack - MSRR-1/MSL transportation and installation into Destiny Module - MSRR-1 is transferred and installed by crew - MSRR-1 will take the place of the EXPRESS-Rack 3 in the Destiny Module - LGF Furnace insertion into MSL - MSRR-1 Commissioning: - Performance according to NASA Procedures under POIC responsibility - Tests of the MSRR-1 subsystems interfacing with MSL

10. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 10 - MSL Commissioning with LGF - MSL-LGF conditioning - Sample cartridge assembly run with one MICAST (MICAST #4) and one CETSOL (CETSOL #4) cartridges - Processing of 2 SCAs for CETSOL and 2 SCAs for MICAST (1 for the US PIs) - Defined SCA sequence in Increment 21/22: - CETSOL#3 - MICAST#3 - MICAST#6 (USA) - CETSOL#2 Increment 21/22 Activities MSL-CETSOL PROCESS-CMD MSL-SCA EXCHANGE MSL-CHMBR-LEAKCK CMD MSL-MICAST PROCESS-CMD MSL-SCA EXCHANGE MSL-CHMBR-LEAKCK CMD MSL-CETSOL PROCESS-CMD Wait for 5 days: scientific analysis

11. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 11 -Processing of 3 SCAs for CETSOL and 4 SCAs for MICAST (1 for the US PIs) - Defined SCA sequence in Increment 23/24: - MICAST#2 - CETSOL#1 - MICAST#1 - CETSOL#5 - MICAST#7 (USA) - MICAST #5 - CETSOL#6 Increment 23/24 Activities MSL-CETSOL PROCESS-CMD MSL-SCA EXCHANGE MSL-CHMBR-LEAKCK CMD MSL-MICAST PROCESS-CMD MSL-SCA EXCHANGE MSL-CHMBR-LEAKCK CMD MSL-CETSOL PROCESS-CMD Wait for 5 days: scientific analysis

12. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 12 MSL Batch-1 SCAs Mission Scenario

13. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 13 -MSL Operations Constraints: - A: THE MSL PROCESSING PHASES (MELTING, EQUILIBRIUM, AND SOLIDIFCATION) SHALL NOT BE PERFORMED DURING DOCKING, THRUSTER FIRINGS, OR CEVIS USAGE. - B: THE MSL PROCESSING PHASES (EQUILIBRIUM AND SOLIDIFICATION) SHOULD BE PERFORMED DURING CREW SLEEP. Rationale: The quality of microgravity is important during the MSL processing phases and disturbances could result in science loss. C: A SAMPLE CARTRIDGE SHALL NOT BE RE-PROCESSED ONCE IT HAS REACHED THE MELTING PHASE DURING PROCESSING Rationale: The MSL volume compensation device is qualified for one melting cycle only and cannot be used twice - MSRR/MSL Venting Constraints: MSRR OR MSL VENTING SHALL BEGIN WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF THE BEGINNING OF A DARK PERIOD. A DARK PERIOD MUST LAST AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. Rationale: The SOLAR experiment is located near the ISS VES vent. Any interruption during daylight periods would result in a loss of science. MSRR/MSL Payload Regulations

14. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 14 The Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC)  USOC MUSC: - at DLR Cologne, Germany - Facility Responsible Center for MSL  Ground Models in laboratories: - MSL-LGF SRM for experiment preparation - MSL-EM (TBD) for ground reference experiments  Control room: - Per console position: - TReK workstation (TC/TM) - Internet computers (MCC-H web tools, EHS Portal, e-mail, eRoom, etc.) - iVODS (voice loops)

15. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 15 MSL Ground Segment Overview / MSL Operations Concept Operations - TM (telemetry) /TC (telecommand) to/from MUSC - Real-time Change Requests - File Upload/Download - Telemetry Archiving Operations Preparation - Automated Operations - Planning - Ground Data Services - Command and Data Control - Crew Procedures and Displays - Ground Command Procedures - Flight Rules and Payload Regulations - Safety

16. ESA Payload Operations Overview: MSL 07 August 2009 16 MUSC Point of Contacts for the project MSL-LGF  MSL-LGF Experiments: - Sonja.Steinbach@dlr.de - Thorsten.Enz@dlr.de  MSL-LGF Data and Command and Ground Segment: - Lars.Uffmann@dlr.de - Patrik.Hambloch@dlr.de  MSL-LGF Operations: - Julie.Brisset@dlr.de Julie.Brisset@dlr.de - P.Weiss@dlr.de  MSL-LGF Team Coordinator: - Rainer.Willnecker@dlr.de