[sarex] ISS STATUS REPORT #04-48

[Arthur Z Rowe <n1orc@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Submitted by Arthur - N1ORC - Amsat A/C #31468

*International Space Station Status Report #04-48*
*3 p.m. CDT Friday, Aug. 20, 2004*
*Expedition 9 Crew*

The International Space Station crew focused this week on unloading 2½ 
tons of new equipment and supplies from a cargo craft that arrived 
Saturday.

International Space Station Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS 
Science Officer Mike Fincke unloaded most of the cargo this week. They 
then shifted their attention to cataloguing and stowing the material 
using the Station's computerized, bar code-based Inventory Management 
System. The ISS Progress 15 docked to the aft port of the Zvezda Service 
Module at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, bringing fuel, water, oxygen, air, spare 
parts and other supplies.

Other activities for the crew during the week included a reboost of the 
Station, moving the Station's robotic arm into position for an upcoming 
spacewalk, and continuing science experiments.

On Tuesday, Padalka and Fincke installed a new system in the Progress 
craft that allows the crew to command Progress thruster firings from the 
Zvezda module. The thruster control system was tested and then used in a 
Thursday reboost of the Station that raised its altitude by about 3 
statute miles. The ISS is now in an orbit with a high point of 228.7 
miles and a low point of 215.5 miles.

Another Station reboost is scheduled next week to further raise the 
Station's orbit and prepare for the October arrival of the ISS Soyuz 9 
spacecraft that will bring a new crew to the outpost.

On Thursday, the crew spent about an hour moving the Station's Canadarm2 
into position for its cameras to view the upcoming spacewalk, scheduled 
for Sept. 3. During the spacewalk, the crew will use Russian Orlan 
spacesuits and the Russian airlock to install additional navigation 
equipment in preparation for next year's maiden flight of the European 
Automated Transfer Vehicle supply craft.

A press briefing on the spacewalk, the fourth and final outside 
excursion planned during Expedition 9's stay on the Station, will be 
held at 1 p.m. CDT Aug. 27 at Johnson Space Center, Houston. The 
briefing will be carried on NASA Television. Reporters at participating 
NASA centers will be able to ask questions.

Fincke will spend some time next week continuing to troubleshoot U.S. 
spacesuit cooling system problems. Among the spare parts delivered 
aboard the new Progress craft are new U.S. spacesuit cooling system pumps.

Science activities this week included biomedical crew observations and 
tests, among them a look at bioelectrical activity of the heart and 
audiograms. Crewmembers also worked with a Russian plant growth 
experiment, conducted educational science demonstrations, and performed 
a U.S experiment studying the behavior in weightlessness of fine 
particles suspended in a fluid, similar to the processes that govern 
paints and inks on Earth.

For information on the crew's activities aboard the Space Station, 
future launch dates, as well as a list of opportunities to see the 
Station from anywhere on the Earth, visit:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/

For details on Station science operations provided by the Payload 
Operations Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, 
Ala., visit:

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

NASA Television is available in the continental U.S. on AMC-6, 
Transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 72 degrees west longitude. The 
frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural 
at 6.80 MHz. In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA Television is available on 
AMC-7, Transponder 18C, C-Band, located at 137 degrees west longitude. 
Frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural 
at 6.80 MHz. For information about NASA TV on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

The next ISS status report will be issued on Friday, Aug. 27, or 
earlier, if events warrant.

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