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In the frame of the International Space Station (ISS) development plan, TAS-I was in charge of manufacturing, integrating and testing several manned modules like American USOS MPLMs, Nodes 2, Node 3 and Cupola in addition to the European manned modules Columbus and ATV. Based on the current ISS assembly sequence, Cupola, which is considered a US Governed Furnished Equipment (GFE) of Node 3, will be launched mated to the Node 3 active axial port in the NSTS 20A mission, beginning 2010. After NSTS docking and Node 3/Cupola berthing to N1 Port port, Cupola will be moved and permanently located to the N3 Nadir port to support ISS operations (e.g. Japanese HTV docking maneuvers to N2). Thermal design for Cupola consists of passive protections from launch up to its permanent location and active/passive controls when permanently mated to N3.

In the frame of a collaboration with ASI, NASA and ESA, Alenia Aerospazio is responsible for the design of several pressurized elements of the ISS: MPLM, COF, Cupola, Node 2 and Node 3. For Node 2 and Node 3 a “design synergy“ has therefore been pursued to exploit the gained experience as well as the day by day achieved know-how. Node 2 and Node 3 are pressurized elements of the ISS; they provide passageway among berthed habitable volumes, distribute electrical power and commands, collect and transport thermal energy by rejecting waste heat to ISS radiators. The Node 2 attached elements are the USL, the PMA2, the MPLM, the JEM, the COF, and the CAM. The Node 3 attached elements are the Node 1 (“Unity”), the CRV, the MPLM, the HAB and Cupola. Figure 1 shows the Nodes and the other Alenia developed elements integrated in the ISS.

The ISS resource Node 3 consists of a pressurized module, which provides passageway among habitable elements, distributes electrical energy and commands, collects and distributes thermal energy by rejecting waste heat to ISS radiators. This paper presents an overview of the Node 3 passive and active thermal control design and reports the most significant analysis results to evidence how the thermal and hydraulic requirements are satisfied. The Node 3 is being designed by Alenia Aerospazio following the know-how experienced on the Node 2, COF, MPLM and Cupolas Projects developed in the frame of a collaboration with ASI, NASA and ESA. Fig.1 shows a schematic representation of the ISS docked modules space configuration. The Node 3 TCS has two main sections, the PTCS and the ATCS.