[sarex] ISS STATUS REPORT #04-30

[Arthur Z Rowe <n1orc@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Submitted by Arthur - N1ORC - Amsat #31468

*International Space Station Status Report #04-30*
*3:30 p.m. CDT, Thursday, June 10, 2004*
*Expedition 9 Crew*

The Expedition 9 crew, Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS Science 
Officer Mike Fincke, spent their seventh week aboard the Station 
continuing to prepare for their first spacewalk, now under consideration 
to be conducted June 24.

Managers decided today to reschedule the planning date for the spacewalk 
from June 15 and discussed a possible new planning date of June 24. 
Formal management approval of a new planning date is expected next week. 
The rescheduling will move the activity into a better period of the 
crew's workday, optimize communications coverage and provide additional 
planning time. The time of day to conduct the spacewalk changes each day 
as the times the Station will pass over Russian ground communications 
sites change. The new schedule also allows additional time for ground 
teams to continue the development of the spacewalk procedures. Managers 
plan to review all preparations for the spacewalk at a normal Stage 
Operations Readiness Review planned for June 21.

Padalka and Fincke gathered tools and began work with their spacesuits 
this week to prepare for the spacewalk, which is planned to restore 
power to one of the complex's Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMGs), devices 
that help maintain the Station's orientation as it orbits Earth. During 
the venture outside, the crew is planned to replace a Remote Power 
Control Module, or circuit breaker, that failed April 21, removing power 
from the one CMG. However, two CMGs have remained operating well, safely 
controlling the orientation of the Station. The crew began their work 
this week by charging batteries of the Pistol Grip Tool, a type of 
spacewalking power wrench, and familiarizing themselves with the tool's 
operation as it will be used during the spacewalk. Other activities 
included replacing batteries, filters, helmet lights and other routine 
parts in the Russian Orlan spacesuits that will be used for the 
spacewalk. They also unstowed personal garments such as socks, gloves, 
and cooling garments; sized the spacesuits; and peformed procedures to 
ensure no excess gas is present in the spacesuits' water and gas 
separation systems.

Both crewmembers also participated in cardiovascular evaluation sessions 
on the Russian stationary bicycle aboard the Station. The checks are 
part of standard spacewalk preparations.

Information on the crew's activities aboard the Space Station, future 
launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on 
the Earth, is available on the Internet at:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/

Details on Station science operations can be found on an Internet site 
administered by the Payload Operations Center at NASA's Marshall Space 
Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., at:

http://scipoc.msfc.nasa.gov/

The next ISS status report will be issued on Friday, June 18, or earlier 
if events warrant.



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