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Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station (EXPRESS) Logistics Carrier (ELC)
10.23.09
Scientists and payload developers can get more information on International Space Station research facilities by contacting the ISS Payloads Office or at 281-244-6187.

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Facility/Payload Overview

Brief Facility Summary

The Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station (EXPRESS) Logistics Carrier (ELC) is a platform designed to support external payloads mounted to the ISS starboard and port trusses with either deep space or Earthward views.

Facility Manager(s)

  • Gene Cook, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

    • Co-Facility Manager(s)

    Information Pending

    Facility Developer

    Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX and Goddard Space Flight Research Center, Greenbelt, MD

    Sponsoring Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    Information Pending

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Facility/Payload Description

    Facility Summary

    • Cargo space onboard the Space Shuttle is a precious commodity, the EXPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC) is capable of carrying up to 12 fully integrated payloads, Orbital Replacement Units and/or first time outfitting cargo to the ISS in the Shuttle cargo bay.


    • Five ELCs are in ISS baseline and will be mounted externally to the ISS on the S3 and P3 trusses through a series of robotic maneuvers that will move it from the Shuttle cargo bay to the attachment sites on ISS.

    Description

    The Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station (EXPRESS) Logistics Carrier (ELC) is designed to be carried in the Space Shuttle cargo bay to the International Space Station (ISS), fully integrated with cargo and/or payloads. Five ELCs will be delivered to ISS before Shuttle retirement (FY 2010); four ELCs are attached to the starboard truss 3 (S3) and one ELC is attached to the port truss 3 (P3). By attaching at the S3/P3 sites, a variety of views such as zenith (deep space) or nadir (Earthward) direction with a combination of ram (forward) or wake (aft) pointing allows for many possible viewing opportunities.

    Each ELC can accommodate 12 Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism (FRAM)-based cargos which includes two payload attached sites with full avionics accommodation. The mass capacity for an ELC is 4,445 kg (9,800 lbs) with a volume of 30 meters cubed. The ISS provides power to the ELCs through two 3kW, 120Vdc feeds at ISS to ELC interface. ELC power distribution module will convert the 120Vdc power to 120Vdc and 28Vdc. Both power voltages will be provided to each payload attached site by separated buses. 120Vdc power will also be provided to other cargo attached site. Upon installation of the ELCs, it may take up to four hours for the power to be connected. At the ISS to ELC interface, there are two types of data ports: the High Rate Data Link (HRDL) and the Low Rate Data Link (LRDL). The HRDL uses fiber optics to provide ISS to ELC communication. At the ELC avionics module to Payload interface there are three data ports: HRDL, LRDL and Medium Rate Data Link (MDRL, Ethernet). For uplink MDRL, Ethernet is used; the ELC avionics module will convert the MDRL signal from HDRL interface and delivered to each payload attached site. The transmission rate between ELC avionics module to each payload attached site is no higher than 10Mbps. For downlink MDRL and HDRL signals, they will be transmitted from payload attached site to ELC avionics module by separated buses. The ELC avionics module will combine these two signals and send to ISS by using HDRL interface. The HDRL downlink service to the ground rate is no higher than 95 Mbps (megabits per second). The LRDL is for a two ways data/command distribution to/from each payload attached site via the ELC avionics module at maximum rate of 1 Mbps. External camera ports are also available for the ELC payloads. There are at least 14 camera port locations along the trusses that can be used for payload observation.

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    Operations

    Facility Operations

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Availability

    Information Pending

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    Related Web Sites

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications

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        Images

        imageArtist representation of the EXPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC) mounted to the port truss (P3) on the International Space Station (ISS). (Image provided by NASA)
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        imageArtist representation of the EXPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC) mounted to the starboard truss (S3) on the International Space Station (ISS). (Image provided by NASA)
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        imageComputer generated image of the completed International Space Station with external workstations. Image courtesy of NASA.
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        Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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