Zvezda service module with a Progress docked on the right and the Zarya FGB docked on the left. (NASA)

Zvezda Service Module under construction

ISS Zvezda is a Russian service module for the International Space Station. Its name is from the Russian Звезда, meaning 'star'. The module, similar in layout to the core module of the Mir space station, was manufactured by Korolev, launched by a Proton rocket on July 12, 2000, and docked with the ISS on July 26. The basic structural frame was initially built in the mid 1980's and designed to be the core of the Mir 2 space station, which the ISS replaced, and, in fact, was labeled as "Mir-2" for quite some time in the factory. The design lineage of Zvezda extends back to the original Salyut stations. ISS Zvezda (service) module (NASA) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... ISS Zvezda (service) module (NASA) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3000x2028, 4407 KB) Zvezda Service Module under construction (NASA) original description: The Zvezda Service Module, the first Russian contribution and third element to the International Space Station (ISS), is shown under construction in the Krunichev State Research and Production Facility (KhSC... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3000x2028, 4407 KB) Zvezda Service Module under construction (NASA) original description: The Zvezda Service Module, the first Russian contribution and third element to the International Space Station (ISS), is shown under construction in the Krunichev State Research and Production Facility (KhSC... ISS Statistics Crew: 2 As of June 17, 2005 Perigee: 347. ... Mir (Мир, which can mean both world and peace in Russian) was a highly successful Soviet (and later Russian) space station. ... Korolev (in Russian, Королёв), is an industrial city near to Moscow, well-known as the cradle of space exploration. ... The Proton rocket (formal designation: UR-500) is a Russian unmanned space vehicle design first launched in 1965 and still in use as of 2005. ... July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 172 days remaining. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... The Salyut (Russian: Салют, Salute or Firework) program was a series of space stations launched by the Soviet Union in the 1970s. ...

Due to Russian financial problems, Zvezda was launched with no backup and no insurance. Due to this risk, NASA had constructed an Interim Control Module in case it was delayed significantly or destroyed on launch. However, without the Service Module, it would be several more flights before the ISS would be able to support a permanent crew. ISS Interim Control Module (U.S. Navy) The Interim Control Module (ICM) was a NASA constructed module to serve as a temporary tug for the ISS in case the ISS Zvezda service module was destroyed or not launched for an extended period of time. ...

Zvezda is the structural and functional center of the Russian portion of the ISS -- the Russian Orbital Segment and the early core of the station. Zvezda provided early living quarters, a life support system, a communication system, electrical power distribution, a data processing system, a flight control system, and a propulsion system. These quarters and systems are to be supplemented or replaced by future ISS components. ISS is an abbreviation, acronym, or initialism that may refer to: International Service System (previously International Sanitary Systems, among other names) The Industrial Sounding System The International Space Station International Superstar Soccer Internet Security Systems Industry Standard Server In-school suspension In Star Treks Mirror Universes Terran Empire...

Zvezda consists of a cylindrical "Work Compartment" where the crews work and live, a cylindrical "Transfer Chamber" which has one docking port, an unpressurised "Assembly Compartment" surrounding the Transfer Chamber, and a spherical "Transfer Compartment" with three docking ports.

The Transfer Compartment attaches to the Zarya module, and has docking ports intended for the Science Power Platform and the Universal Docking Module. Currently the lower port contains the Russian Docking Compartment and the other is empty. It could be used as an airlock; however, if the hatch failed, it would be impossible to travel to the rest of the station, so this capability has never been used. Zarya module as seen from STS-88 (NASA) Zarya (meaning sunrise), also known as the Functional Cargo Block or the FGB (the Russian Acronym), was the first module launched of the International Space Station. ... ISS Science Power Platform (NASA) The Science Power Platform (SPP) is a Russian element of the International Space Station (ISS) brought up by the Space Shuttle to provide additional power for the ISS as well as roll axis control capability for the orbital facility. ... The Russian-built Universal Docking Module (UDM) is a hub for an additional four modules of the Russian built portion of the International Space Station. ... SO1 Pirs Docking compartment / airlock (NASA) There were two planned Russian element Docking Compartments (DCs) during the assembly sequence to provide egress/ingress capability for Russian-based EVAs and additional docking ports on the International Space Station. ...

The Assembly compartment holds external equipment such as thrusters, antennas, and propellant tanks.

The Transfer Chamber is equipped with automatic docking equipment and is used to service Soyuz and Progress spacecraft.

Zvezda contains sleeping quarters for two astronauts, A NASA-provided treadmill and a bicycle for exercise, toilet and other hygiene facilities, a galley with a refrigerator and freezer. It contains the primary Russian computers for guidance and navigation. It has a total of 14 windows -- three 9-inch diameter windows in the forward Transfer Compartment, a 16-inch in the Working Compartment, a window in each crew compartment, and several more. It also contains the Elektron system that uses condensed humidity and waste water, electrolyzes it, and provides hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is exhausted into space and the oxygen is used for breathing air. The condensed water and the waste water can be used for drinking in an emergency, but ordinarily other fresh water from Earth is used. There are 16 small thrusters and two large thrusters for propulsion and eight batteries for storing power.

The Elektron system has required significant maintenance work, having failed several times and requiring the astronauts to use Solid Fuel Oxygen Generator canisters (commonly called "Oxygen Candles"), which were the cause of a fire on Mir, when it has been broken for extended amounts of time. It also contains the Vozdukh system to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It was criticized for being excessively noisy inside of the Zvezda and, in fact, Astronauts have been observed wearing earplugs inside of it. A chemical oxygen generator is a device that releases oxygen created by a chemical reaction. ... Mir (Мир, which can mean both world and peace in Russian) was a highly successful Soviet (and later Russian) space station. ... Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ...

There have been, at times, a 50 Ruble note, a dollar, and a Euro attached to the wall. When asked to explain them, the astronauts suggested that they were there to ask each other for favors.

Specifications

• Length: 13.1 m
• Maximum Diameter: 4.15 m.
• Total Mass: 19,050 kg.
• Solar array span: 29.72 m
• Electrical System: Solar cells.

A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is a semiconductor device consisting of a large-area p-n junction diode, which, in the presence of sunlight is capable of generating usable electrical energy. ...