A question about the Zvezda module

Factual Questions
1

So, on July 12, the Zvezda habitat module of the International Space Station made it up into orbit safely. I’ve been trying to keep up with this story, and since the TV press couldn’t care less, I’ve been looking around at places like Space.com, NASA, and the CNN Space section. They all report that on July 25 Zvezda is scheduled to “dock” with the station.

How? That’s what no one seems to have an answer for.

Does the module have thrusters? Is there going to be a shuttle launch so that astronauts can oversee the procedure? Will the Russians send a team up? Somebody tell me they aren’t really going to trust in automation, and Russian automation at that, for something this important!

2

Apparently NASA does not trust you with their press releases. I however, am special:

Ray Castillo July 21, 2000
Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/358-4555)

Rob Navias
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
(Phone: 281/483-5111)

RELEASE: N00-32x to TOM BURNETT

COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE PLANNED FOR
SPACE STATION MODULE DOCKING

 NASA TV plans live coverage of the International Space

Station’s automated docking to the Russian Zvezda Service Module on Tuesday, July 25. The addition of Zvezda to the orbiting outpost sets the stage for the beginning of human habitation aboard the Station, which will begin this Fall.

Coverage on NASA TV will begin at 8:00 p.m. EDT with

commentary originating from both the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia, where the docking will be supervised by Russian flight controllers, and the International Space Station Flight Control Room at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX. The actual linkup is scheduled at approximately 8:53 p.m. EDT.

Live television is expected from Zvezda's external black and white camera as the module passes over Russian ground stations shortly before the docking, showing the Station approaching for its linkup with the newest component to the international facility. Zvezda will serve as the first living quarters for astronauts, cosmonauts and other international researchers aboard the International Space Station.

 Shortly after docking, a news conference will be held at the Russian Mission Control Center involving US and Russian flight controllers. The news conference will be broadcast live on NASA TV, with questions from reporters in Korolev only.

 NASA TV can be found on GE-2, Transponder 9C, 85 degrees West longitude, vertical polarization with a frequency of 3880 MHz and audio at 6.8 MHz.

-end-

3

They also said that two cosmonauts are standing by ready to go up in case something goes wrong with the docking. Remember, though, that the Russians have been using semi-automated docking systems for a long time on the Mir station. As I recall, the Progress cargo supply capsule docks without any help from the cosmonauts, though probably with some help from the ground.

4

And yes, the module has thrusters. The absense of the module for the two years it was delayed necessitated the mission to fix the orbit of the station with the Shuttle. From now on, Zvezda will maintain the station’s orbit.