[sarex] Expedition 8 Replaces Parts in Elektron

[Arthur Z Rowe <n1orc@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

    Submitted by Arthur - N1ORC - Amsat #31468


*Expedition 8 Replaces Parts in Elektron 
</spacenews/reports/issreports/2004/iss04-14a.html>*
The Expedition 8 crew spent the week repairing the Elektron oxygen 
generation system and conducting experiments aboard the International 
Space Station. Commander Michael Foale and Flight Engineer Alexander 
Kaleri replaced a liquids unit Thursday and a water flow system Friday.

The Elektron has been suffering from shutdowns that occur after only a 
few minutes of service. Russian flight controllers believe the cause of 
the shutdowns was potassium hydroxide electrolytes -- a byproduct of the 
oxygen generation process -- that created air bubbles in the liquids 
unit. Flight controllers are scheduled to activate the Elektron on 
Saturday.

While the Elektron was offline during the troubleshooting efforts, the 
crew used solid-fuel oxygen generation (SFOG) canisters to create 
oxygen. If the Elektron does not come back online, the SFOG canisters 
and the Quest Airlock </station/assembly/elements/airlock/index.html> 
tanks can supply the ISS with oxygen for several months.

Also on Friday, Foale conducted a leak check of the Destiny Laboratory 
</station/assembly/elements/uslab/index.html>'s Earth observation 
window. The check revealed a leak in one of the window's inner panes. 
The leak poses no threat to ISS operations.

The crew replaced a flex hose a few weeks ago on the window assembly 
that was responsible for a slight pressure decay in late December.

The crew conducted several biomedical experiments and exercised on the 
treadmill, which was overhauled last week.




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