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Second flight for ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang

Christer Fuglesang is assigned as Mission Specialist for the STS-128 mission

The STS-128 mission holds some similarities for Fuglesang when compared to his previous mission. When he arrives at the ISS on Space Shuttle Atlantis, he will again be meeting up with an ESA astronaut (Frank De Winne from Belgium) who will be a member of the ISS Expedition Crew. In December 2006, ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter was on the ISS as the first ESA astronaut to be a member of an ISS Expedition Crew and returned with Fuglesang on the return leg of the STS-116 flight.
 
 

	Atlantis will transport a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module in its payload bay

For the STS-128 mission Fuglesang will also undertake two spacewalks as part of his mission responsibilities. The tasks include removing and replacing a materials processing experiment outside ESA’s Columbus module and returning an empty ammonia tank assembly.

The STS-128 Shuttle Atlantis will transport a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) in its payload bay, which will carry science and storage racks to the Station. The Italian MPLMs are pressurised cargo containers that travel in the Shuttle’s cargo bay. Once at the Station the MPLM is transferred by robotic arm from the cargo bay and attached to the ISS as a pressurised module.
 
 

Fuglesang took part in three spacewalks during his first spaceflight

The mission also includes the rotation of an ISS Expedition Crew member. NASA astronaut Nicole Stott who joins the up leg of the Shuttle flight will replace NASA astronaut Timothy Kopra, who returns to Earth with the Shuttle crew.

“This is yet another mission that highlights the increasing profile that Europe has in human spaceflight”, said Simonetta Di Pippo, ESA’s Director of Human Spaceflight. “A mission that Europe can be proud of with a Swedish ESA astronaut helping to transport an Italian cargo module to the Station where a Belgian ESA astronaut will be serving as a member of an Expedition Crew. I am also glad to see that the ISS will have developed a truly international feel, befitting its name, with the six-person ISS Crew being made up of astronauts from four different space agencies: ESA, NASA, Roscosmos and the Canadian Space Agency. I think this is a shining example the great cooperation that ESA has with its international partners that shows the way forward also for the exploration of Moon and Mars.”
 
 

	The STS-128 mission includes a rotation of a member of the ISS Expedition Crew

In addition to Christer Fuglesang, the STS-128 mission crew consists of NASA astronauts Frederick Sturckow who will command Space Shuttle Atlantis, Kevin Ford who will serve as the pilot and mission specialists John Olivas, Patrick Forrester and Jose Hernandez.

Representatives of the media are invited to attend a press conference at the Swedish National Space Board, Solna strandväg 86, Solna Stockholm on Friday 18 July, starting at 11:00. The press conference will be attended by Christer Fuglesang who will present the mission along with the preparations and training. Following the official presentation of Fuglesang’s mission there will be an open Q&A session.
 
 
Further information
 
Rosita Suenson
ESA Communication Office, ESTEC
Phone: +31 652 062 158
E-mail: rosita.suenson@esa.int

Johan Marcopoulos
Swedish National Space Board
Phone: + 46 8 627 64 88
E-mail: johan.marcopoulos@snsb.se
 
 

•	Celsius Mission (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Celsius/index.html)
Related links
•	Christer Fuglesang (http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESAOUUZUMOC_astronauts_0.html)
•	International Space Station (http://www.esa.int/esaHS/iss.html)
•	Swedish National Space Board (http://www.snsb.se)