[sarex] ISS SPACEFLIGHT REPORT: SS04-040

[Arthur Z Rowe <n1orc@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Submitted by Arthur N1ORC - Amsat A/C #31468

>Allard Beutel/Melissa Mathews
>Headquarters, Washington              Nov. 19, 2004
>(Phone: 202/358-4769/1272)
>
>INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION STATUS REPORT: SS04-040
>
>     The Expedition 10 crew is easing 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 spacecraft.
>
>The Station is now orbiting at an altitude of 222 statute 
>miles. That's nearly two miles higher than at the start of 
>the week, following a Russian ground-commanded reboost of the 
>complex Wednesday. The boost used the engines of the Russian 
>Progress resupply spacecraft docked to the Zvezda Service 
>Module. The engine firing to raise the Station's altitude 
>lasted the planned duration of nine minutes and nine seconds. 
>However, 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. This left the 
>Station slightly below its expected final altitude from the 
>reboost. 
>
>This lower altitude does not impact operation of the Station. 
>However, a team of Russian system experts has been set up to 
>investigate the cause and determine whether any action will 
>be required to compensate for the lower altitude. Options 
>under consideration include a second reboost early next month 
>or a possible one-day change in the launch of the next 
>Progress resupply spacecraft. The Progress is scheduled to 
>lift off Dec. 23 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
>
>Also during the week, Expedition 11 Commander and NASA 
>Station 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. 
>-more-
>-2-
>
>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 Progress spacecraft now docked to the Station 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 today taking inventory of U.S. items that also 
>will be disposed in the Progress spacecraft 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 housekeeping.
>
>Next Wednesday the thrusters on the Soyuz spacecraft 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.
>
>Information about crew activities on the Space Station, 
>future launch dates and Station sighting opportunities from 
>Earth, is available on the Internet at:
>
>http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/
>
>For information about NASA and other agency missions on the 
>Internet, visit:
>
>http://www.nasa.gov
>
>-end-
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