2004 Report #62 4 p.m. CST, Friday, Nov. 19, 2004
The Expedition 10 crew
eased into the second month of its six-month stay onboard the
International Space Station by working on science experiments and
preparing for the arrival of a new cargo ship.
The Station is now orbiting at an altitude of 222 statute miles,
nearly two miles higher than at the start of the week, following a
Russian ground-commanded reboost of the complex Wednesday using the
engines of the Russian Progress resupply ship docked to the Zvezda
Service Module. While the engine firing to raise the
Station’s altitude lasted the planned duration of 9 minutes
and 9 seconds, the use of fuel from one of the Progress’ two
fuel tanks rather than the fuel tank on Zvezda resulted in a
slightly lower performance of the engines, leaving the Station
slightly below its expected final altitude from the reboost.
While the lower altitude does not impact operation of the
Station, a team of Russian system experts has been set up to
investigate the cause and determine if any action will be required
to compensate for the lower altitude. Options under consideration
include a second reboost early in December or a possible one-day
change in the launch of the next resupply ship, ISS Progress 16,
scheduled to lift off Dec. 23 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakhstan.
Also during the week, Expedition Commander and NASA Science
Officer Leroy Chiao and Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov conducted
science experiments, checked Russian Orlan spacesuits and performed
routine Station housekeeping activities.
On Monday, the crew completed ultrasound scans as part of the
Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity experiment (ADUM).
This experiment, first performed during Expedition 5, is designed
to determine the ability of astronauts in space to conduct exams
using this onboard medical device. If successful, the experiment
may have widespread applications in emergency and rural health care
on Earth.
A second experiment was conducted this week in the Destiny
Laboratory. Known as the Serial Network Flow Monitor (SNFM), the
experiment uses crew-installed software to monitor communications
and analyze the amount of data flowing between payloads. In other
science work, Sharipov collected samples for the PLANT experiment
and participated in two Russian programs: a medical operations test
dubbed HEMATOKRIT that measures red blood cell count and SPRUT, a
study of human body fluids.
Throughout the week, Sharipov also worked on two Russian Orlan
spacesuits. He removed parts from one suit that has exceeded its
lifetime on orbit and will be discarded next month when the ISS
Progress 15 cargo ship is undocked for disposal. He also tested a
new Orlan suit that he will wear during a pair of spacewalks with
Chiao in January and March.
On Tuesday, the crew talked with students at a middle school in
Gaithersburg, Md. The event was held with the Department of
Education to highlight the benefits of international relationships
and cooperation during the fifth annual International Education
Week.
Both crewmembers conducted routine Station maintenance
activities including a cleaning of an atmosphere scrubbing system
electronics box and the experiment rack areas of the Destiny Lab.
Chiao also installed fireport labels and both took part in crew
medical officer skills training. Chiao spent time Friday taking
inventory of U.S. items that also will be disposed in the Progress
resupply ship next month.
The crew wrapped up the week with a ham radio pass with students
in Mare, Italy. Over the weekend, the crew will enjoy some off-duty
time, private family conferences and a few small tasks such as
battery charging and routine housekeeping.
Next Wednesday, the thrusters on the ISS Soyuz 9 return craft
mated to the Pirs Docking Compartment will be test-fired in advance
of the planned undocking of the vehicle by the crew on Nov. 29 for
its redocking to the Zarya module. The brief relocation flight will
free up Pirs for sole use as an airlock for the two spacewalks
early next year.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.16.24)
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