Thermal Carrier Facility-3 (TCF-3) - 11.22.16

Summary | Overview | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

ISS Science for Everyone

Science Objectives for Everyone
Thermal Carrier Facility-3 (TCF-3) is a single middeck locker replacement unit useful for protein crystal growth investigations. TCF-3 includes an operating computer which can be programmed to custom timelines for each user.
Science Results for Everyone
Information Pending

The following content was provided by Paul W. Todd, and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.
Facility Details

OpNom:

Facility Manager(s)
Paul W. Todd, Techshot, Greenville, IN, United States

Facility Representative(s)
Information Pending

Developer(s)
Techshot, Incorporated, Greenville, IN, United States

Sponsoring Space Agency
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Sponsoring Organization
Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD)

ISS Expedition Duration


Expeditions Assigned
Information Pending

Previous Missions
TCF-3 has been successfully used by Marshall Space Flight Center as a ground control environment for protein crystallization experiments aboard Space Shuttle and ISS.

Availability
Information Pending

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Facility Description

Facility Overview

  • Thermal Carrier Facility-3 (TCF-3) provides temperature control and is widely applicable because of the adjustable internal structure and its wide thermal control range (4 degrees C - 44 degrees C).
Thermal Carrier Facility-3 (TCF-3) is compatible with Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) racks and can operate automated internal experiment hardware while providing a programmed temperature profile.

TCF-3 is a generic thermal carrier supporting a wide range of temperatures and payload devices. They include computers for controlling internal temperature and humidity. TCF-3 is intentionally versatile, so broad categories of small modifications are already accommodated. Existing computer software is programmable to adapt the carriers to any internal experiment.

TCF-3 fits a single middeck locker on Space Shuttle, ISS and Spacehab racks. Temperature controls are within 0.5 degrees C within a range of -4 degrees C to +40 degrees C. The facility provides and controls power to internal experiments with a programmable computer control for temperature profiles and for any internal experiment supplied by the user.

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Operations

Facility Operations

  • Installs as a single locker in the Space Shuttle middeck, SPACEHAB Rack or EXPRESS Rack on ISS.


  • The inflight operations are automated and require minimal crew interaction.

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Decadal Survey Recommendations

Information Pending

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Results/More Information

Information Pending

Results Publications

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Ground Based Results Publications

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ISS Patents

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Related Publications

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Related Websites

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Imagery