Main problems of the Russian Orlan-M space suit utilization for EVAs on the ISS

In the recent years the Russian Orlan-M space suits have been improved as applied to their operational requirements for the ISS. A special attention is paid to enhancement of EVA crew efficiency and safety. The paper considers the main problems regarding specific features of the Russian space suit operation in the ISS, and analyses measures on their solution. In particular, the problems associated with the following are considered: enhancement of the anthropometric range for the EVA crewmembers; use of some US EMU elements and unified NASA equipment elements; Orlan-M operation support in the wide range of the ISS thermal conditions; use of Simplified Aid For Extravehicular activity Rescue (SAFER) designed as a self-rescue device, which will be used for an EVA crewmember return in the event that he (she) breaks away inadvertently from the ISS surface. The paper states the main space suit differences with reference to solution of the above problems. The paper presents briefly the design of space suit arms developed for crewmembers with small anthropometric parameters, as well as peculiarities and test results for the gloves with enhanced thermal protection. Measures on further space suit development with the purpose to improve its performances are considered.     

Spaceborne quantitative assessment of dissolved organic carbon fluxes in the Kara Sea

An advanced algorithm for retrieval of phytoplankton chlorophyll (CHL) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations from MERIS images of the Kara Sea is presented. The supply of DOC of terrestrial origin into the Kara Sea is numerically assessed from satellite data on DOC and historical records of river discharge rates. It exceeds the historical in situ values only by 25%. Satellite data on CHL were exploited for calculating the phytoplankton columnar biomass and the total phytoplankton biomass in the Kara Sea. Remote sensing and in situ data were used to calculate the value of the coefficient (K_PH) for calculation from phytoplankton biomass of autochthonous production of DOC. K_PH proved to be 142 ± 8 gC/gPH/month and exhibited only slight interannual variations. The coefficient K_PH was employed for the first time to evaluate the production of autochthonous DOC in the Kara Sea and to correct the value of the allochthonous DOC flux initially retrieved from space across the Kara Sea.