[sarex] ISS STATUS REPORT #05-2

[Arthur Z Rowe <n1orc@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Submitted by Arthur N1ORC - Amsat A/C #31468

*International Space Station Status Report #05-2*
*4 p.m. CST, Friday, Jan. 14, 2005*
*Expedition 10 Crew*

Midway through a six-month stay on the International Space Station, the 
tenth Expedition crew this week focused on routine maintenance, 
biomedical investigations and assisted with a software upgrade that 
should make life a little easier for ground controllers.

The software work was under way for much of the week, updating more than 
1.5 million lines of code in the onboard command and control computers. 
Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao and Flight Engineer Salizhan 
Sharipov also measured cardiovascular systems and conducted routine 
mid-term physical evaluations.

The software upgrade generally improves the operations of onboard 
computers and, through its updates, decreases the number of workarounds 
or, Station Program Notes (SPNs), ground flight controllers must use by 
about 300.

Sharipov began early preparations of gear that will be used during the 
two crewmembers’ Jan. 26 spacewalk. During the spacewalk, they will 
install a new work platform on the exterior of the Zvezda living 
quarters module, hook up a small robotic experiment and install other 
scientific gear on the Station's exterior. The first of two planned 
spacewalks for Expedition 10, it will be conducted from the Russian 
airlock using Russian spacesuits.

Formal preparations for the spacewalk begin Monday. The 4½ hour 
spacewalk will be broadcast live on NASA Television, beginning at 12 
a.m. CST Jan. 26. The spacewalk is expected to begin about 1:25 a.m. CST.

All Station environmental control and life support systems are operating 
well, including the Elektron oxygen generating unit. Though Saturday is 
planned as an off duty day for the crew, flight controllers plan a 
reboost of the Station’s altitude of about 5 statute miles (8.5 
kilometers) using engines on the attached Progress cargo craft. The 
reboost engine firing will last almost 20 minutes.

For more on NASA, the crew's activities aboard the Space Station, future 
launch dates and Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on the 
Earth, visit: www.nasa.gov

The next International Space Station Status report will be issued 
Friday, Jan. 21, or earlier if events warrant.

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