Sun, Jul 11, 2004
Crew focuses on science, spacesuit troubleshooting and
maintenance
Aboard the ISS, Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS Science
Officer Mike Fincke turned their attention to a human science
investigation to better understand the ability to quickly and
remotely transmit medical data to the ground. The application may
also find benefits on Earth, allowing for much quicker injury
diagnosis for patients at remote locations by doctors based at
hospitals.
The advanced ultrasound experiment administered by Padalka on
his "patient" Fincke was conducted through the middle of the week.
It demonstrated that transmission to a flight surgeon could be
accomplished in quick fashion. This bodes well for Earth
applications such as cases where early diagnosis of an accident
victim could be made. Individuals with little training could
transmit information from remote locations to doctors who can
evaluate the data before transportation of the victim to a
hospital. Early diagnosis and treatment through such
telescience could ultimately save lives.
Fincke conducted additional troubleshooting work on the U.S.
spacesuits with help from Mission Control. The Extravehicular
Mobility Units (EMU) have cooling problems, which have tentatively
been traced to pumps inside the suits. These pumps circulate water
through the suit to keep spacewalkers cool or warm. Further work is
planned for the week of July 19 to pinpoint the problem more
precisely. Repair parts for the suits are to be launched aboard the
next Progress supply craft on Aug. 11. The new Progress would dock
with the Station Aug. 14. The Progress now docked to the Station,
ISS Progress 14, will be undocked July 30.
The next spacewalk, using Russian Orlan suits, is planned for
August 3. During the spacewalk, the crew will retrieve science
experiments, install others, and prepare the outside of the Zvezda
module's docking port for next year's planned first flight of the
European Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).
Late in the week, the crew simulated an onboard fire during an
emergency drill and exercised the full contingency plan with flight
controllers in Houston and Moscow. Similar drills are conducted
periodically aboard the complex to maintain the crew's emergency
preparedness.
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