Abstract
The Exposed Facility Flyer Unit (EFFU) was one of the onboard experiment systems of the Space Flyer Unit (SFU). The purpose of EFFU was to obtain positive proof of the design and examine the basic function of the Japanese Experiment Module - Exposed Facility (JEM-EF). JEM-EF is one of the modules to be established to the International Space Station (ISS). On the EFFU, four onboard experiments were performed, Fluid Loop Thermal Control system (cooling system using fluid coolant perfluorocarbon) test to simulate the thermal control system of JEM-EF, experiment for Equipment Exchange Unit to simulate a toggle-link mechanism to hold and release for payloads exchange in the JEM-EF, Micro-gravity Environment Measurement to establish base data for micro-gravity aboard JEM and Materials Exposure Experiment in low Earth orbit environment to evaluate JEM construction materials in an orbit similar to JEM’s. All experiments were successfully completed and provided basic data for the design of space station elements as well as the future satellite. This paper presents major post-flight analyses and their evaluation results obtained from the above four experiments of SFU/EFFU mission.
