Six Years of Columbus TCS Flight Activity

Abstract

First six years of flight operations give a good chance for reviewing performances and major events faced by the Thermal Control System (TCS) of the European ISS Laboratory. This paper gives a glance to the 2008-2013 timeframe, considering both passive and active thermal control system performances, from the system down to the equipment levels, presenting the main lessons learnt, from the use of mathematical models for operational purposes to the impact of ISS lifetime extension, the development of new equipment and the TCS perspectives for the forthcoming years of on orbit activities.