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CIR Status
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Astronaut
Michael Barratt works on the Combustion Integrated Rack
installing new fuel reservoirs and a fiber kit. (9/26/2009) |
September 30, 2009 - The
FCF’s Combustion Integrated
Rack (CIR) had critical resupplies launched and transported to the
ISS on the maiden flight of JAXA’s
HTV-1 Demonstration Flight. The resupply hardware consisting
of new fuel reservoirs, bottles and a fiber kit were within days
removed from the HTV and installed by Astronaut Michael Barratt
into the CIR to continue science operations. The
HTV also transported additional hardware for the Fluids Integrated Rack that
was launched on STS-128 in August and installed by the shuttle astronauts. (Contact:
Robert Corban 433-6642)
August 21, 2009 - MDCA has been installed
into the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) on the ISS and has completed
its calibration testing. Science burns were initiated in April 2009 for
the FLEX set of experiments. As of August 2009, a set of
approximately 20 burns have been performed. Science operations
were suspended while reinstall of boot parameters were required
for the MDCA Avionics Box. Science operations (burns) will
resume following STS-128.
Overview
The Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) features a 100-liter
combustion chamber surrounded by optical and other diagnostic packages
including a gas chromatograph. Experiments are conducted in the chamber
by remote control from the Telescience Support Center (TSC) or the
Principal Investigator's (PI's) home institution. The CIR is the only
rack on ISS dedicated to combustion experimentation.
The CIR provides up to 90% of the required hardware to perform a majority
of future microgravity combustion experiments on board the ISS. The
remaining 10+% of hardware will be provided by the PI hardware development
teams. PI-specific hardware, such as MDCA will be launched separately
from the CIR and integrated with the CIR on orbit. A significant
amount of PI hardware is expected to be reused for follow-on experiments.
* View a Slideshow of
the CIR KSC Integration Activities *
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CIR Rack |
The CIR consists of the following major subsystems
and components: International Standard Payload Rack (ISPR); Passive
Rack Isolation Subsystem (PaRIS); Optics Bench on slides that
tilts out of the ISPR; Combustion Chamber with replaceable windows; Fuel
and Oxidizer Management Assembly (FOMA), including a gas supply package,
exhaust vent system and gas chromatograph; Modular, replaceable
Science Diagnostics; Environmental Control Subsystems, including water
thermal control, air thermal control, fire detection/suppression and
gas interfaces; Electrical Power Subsystem; Avionics Subsystems,
including the CIR main computer (Input/Output Package), image processing
and storage units, FOMA control unit and Station Support Computer; Flight
and Ground Software; Interfaces for replaceable, Experiment-Specific
Equipment.
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CIR
Rack populated |
The CIR design allows different experiment packages
within the combustion chamber to be removed, replaced or upgraded. Modular
diagnostics are mounted on the optics bench and are easily repositioned. Five
standard diagnostic packages, constructed from modular elements, are
planned as initial diagnostic capabilities for the CIR. These
are a High Bit Depth/Multispectral Imaging Package (HiBMs), a High Frame
Rate/High Resolution (HFR/HR) Package, two Low Light Level Camera Packages,
and an Illumination Package.
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CIR
Rack with bench rotated |
The CIR and associated ground systems will offer
the Principal Investigators the opportunity to participate in the conduct
of their experiment on-board the ISS through remote operation and observation. Once
a test point has been completed, the PI can assess the results and provide
information for changes to the test matrix. Ground systems will
also enable scientists to interact with researchers at other locations. |
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CIR Assembly |
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CIR Enviorment
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CIR Integration
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