Technical data

JSC 36381 MARCH 30, 2000
Baseline
3-2
3.1.3 Databases Access and Management
Utilizing the OPS LAN, crewmembers will be able to access database information
from anywhere in the ISS. Database systems supported by the OPS LAN include
IMS and HazMat.
3.1.3.1 IMS
Equipment and material aboard the International Space Station will be cataloged
and stored in Microsoft SQL databases that will reside on the OPS LAN File
Server. The Inventory Management System (IMS) controls placement and use of
Station equipment and parts. The IMS will be a Web-based system using
Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) and Microsoft SQL Server.
Modifications to the IMS database will be downlinked daily to keep the ground
records synchronized. Server database updates can be sent via the OCA.
3.1.3.2 HazMat
The Hazardous Material (HazMat) database lists potentially harmful substances
that may be encountered aboard the ISS. At present, HazMat is a Microsoft
Access application; to conform to S-POCCB standards (see Section 2.7), HazMat
will be hosted on SQL Server.
3.1.4 Crew Mail (E-Mail) Handling
Currently, Microsoft Outlook 98 is installed on SSCs to support crew email
operations on-orbit. The manner in which Space Station crews create, send, and
receive email messages is identical to how email is managed on the ground.
However, since orbiting crews do not have a direct network or Internet link for
sending or receiving email, their messages are temporarily saved to an Outlook-
unique ‘offline’ folder, or *.ost file. An *.ost file exists for each Station crewmember
mail account, based on the crewmember’s network username; i.e., email from or to
William Shepherd is stored in shep.ost file.
These *.ost files are periodically downlinked and uplinked to the crew via the
Station OCA file transfer system. After the downlinked *.ost files are received by the
ground, the OCA operator will log into the same mail accounts that exist on a JSC
mail server. The mail server will synchronize the downlinked *.ost files with the
ground mail accounts. Email being sent by the Station crew and saved in the *.ost
files will be distributed over JSC networks and the Internet during the
synchronization. New email sent to the crew is also saved to the crew *.ost files
during the synchronization with the mail server. The updated *.ost files, with the
new email, are later uplinked to the Station crew on-orbit to be viewed with MS
Outlook.