The 496-day reliability guarantee for the electronic equipment on the Russian Zarya control module of the International Space Station (ISS) ran out on 30 March. Its life will be extended further with a servicing mission performed by Space Shuttle mission STS101, due for launch later on 24 April.
Zarya, launched on 20 November 1998, has been docked with the USA's Unity node module since December 1998, receiving a visit from one Space Shuttle crew last May.
The Russian Zvezda service module was to have been docked to the ISS in March last year, but has been delayed to this July. As a result, the Space Station will not receive its first Expedition Crew until possibly next January.
The Space Shuttle STS101 mission was to have prepared the Zvezda module for work, but, after the delay to the Russian module's launch, it has become a servicing mission, carrying new batteries, fans, air filters, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and other equipment for the Zarya, while checking the Unity module. Another Shuttle mission, STS106, will prepare the Zvezda in August, so a further ISS mission can proceed with its assembly and initial operation.
Source: Flight International
