Bartolomeo (CEPHFISS)

Bartolomeo (CEPHFISS) [Airbus]

Bartolomeo, formerly known as CEPHFISS (Commercial External Payload Hosting Facility On ISS), is an external platform mounted on the COF (Columbus) module of the International Space Station. Airbus DS together with its partner TBE (Teledyne Brown Engineering) of Huntsville, AL, USA, developed the external payload platform, capable of hosting multiple external payloads on the ISS. This platform will be installed, serviced and operated in a collaborative public-private utilization scheme with ESA, NASA, and other partners in the ISS program.

To overcome the limitation of the existing external facilities the new Bartolomeo external payload facility is mounted on the forward-facing position of the European Columbus module. The new system will extend the infrastructure and capability of the ISS by 12 additional external sites fitting the expectations of the market.

Bartolomeo brings features to its users which are unique for external platforms:

• Unobstructed view of Earth and space
• Unpressurized and pressurized launch of payloads
• Payload or sample return option
• Active cooling capability
• Easy access through standardized payload interfaces
• Enhanced data downlink budget for its payloads.

The Bartolomeo pallet structure is designed to fit into the available volume of the SpaceX Dragon Trunk for launch and will be attached on orbit to the Columbus Module Starboard Forward Trunnion with two struts to the Port and Keel trunnions. The pallet size allows for the accommodation of 6 FRAM (Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism) Standard Payloads. Two Standard FRAM payload interfaces are available on each of the Zenith and Nadir-facing sides. Two additional FRAM interfaces are accommodated by the FRAM Extension Kit. Due to the size constraints of the Space-X Dragon trunk the FRAM Extension Kit will be launched with but not attached to the Bartolomeo pallet. The FRAM Extension Kit will be installed to the pallet structure via EVA once on orbit in concert with the installation of Bartolomeo on the Columbus Module. In addition to the FRAM capability, the pallet perimeter provides enough space to accommodate 6 JCAP (JEM Camera, Light, Pan and Tilt Assembly Adapter Plate)-based payloads