According to the plans, the launch of the Progress MS-07 cargo (ISS #68P mission) to the International Space Station, with the new interface unit of the TRITEL 3D space dosimetry system on board, developed by our research group with BL-Electronics Ltd. and in cooperation with the Institute of Biomedical Problems, Moscow and the RSC Energia company, is due on 12 October 2017 from Baikonur.
Less than one and a half years ago we were waiting for a similar launch. Unfortunately, at that time, the Progress M-27M cargo spacecraft, launched on 28 April 2015, could not reach its orbit and finally, with its complete cargo, burned in the atmosphere. Hence, we had to remanufacture and perform again the acceptance tests of the interface unit of the TRITEL system, used amongst others for data collection, storage and visualisation. The hardware was handed over to the Russian specialists in May 2017 in Budapest. During the summer, the instrument also passed the acceptance tests in Russia. Now we can keep our fingers crossed for a successful launch and docking to the space station, so that after installation and switch-on of the system the measurement may continue.
The TRITEL Interface Unit during the tests on ground
Attila Hirn
Maintenance of the TRITEL system in the Russian segment of the International Space Station is funded by the Government of Hungary, contract number IKF/694/2017-NFM_SZERZ.