[sarex] ISS STATUS REPORT #05-4

["ARTHUR Z. ROWE" <N1ORC@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Submitted by Arthur N1ORC - Amsat A/C #31468


*International Space Station Status Report #05-4*
*8 a.m. CST, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005*
*Expedition 10 Crew*

The residents of the International Space Station ventured outside today 
for a 5-hour, 28-minute spacewalk to install a work platform, cables and 
robotic and scientific experiments on the exterior of the Zvezda Service 
Module.

Clad in Russian Orlan spacesuits, Expedition 10 Commander and NASA 
Science Officer Leroy Chiao and Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov left 
the Pirs Docking Compartment airlock at 1:43 a.m. CST and quickly set up 
tools and tethers for their excursion. With no one left inside, Station 
systems were either deactivated or put in autonomous operation for the 
duration of the spacewalk. Hatches were also closed between the U.S. and 
Russian segments of the complex in the unlikely event the crew would not 
have been able to return to the outpost.

The first order of business was the installation of a Universal Work 
Platform at the forward end of the large conical section of Zvezda. Atop 
the platform they mounted a German commercial experiment called Rokviss 
(Robotics Component Verification on ISS).

The Rokviss consists of a small double-jointed manipulator arm, an 
illumination system and a power supply. An antenna for the robotic 
device to receive commands was also installed by Chiao and Sharipov 
along with cabling. At first the antenna did not receive the proper 
power. Chiao and Sharipov returned to the antenna work site and remated 
two electrical connectors. Russian engineers then reported that the 
Rokviss system was operating normally.

The system is designed to be commanded by operators on the ground in 
Germany. It can also be operated by the crew from a workstation inside 
Zvezda. Rokviss will test the ability of lightweight robotic joints to 
operate in the vacuum of space for future assembly work or satellite 
repair and servicing.

Chiao and Sharipov moved a Japanese commercial experiment from one 
bracket on the outside of Zvezda to an adjacent bracket. The experiment, 
first deployed on Station by the Expedition 3 crew in October 2001, 
resembles an open attaché case and is designed to collect data on 
micrometeoroid impacts and the effect of the microgravity environment on 
a number of materials housed on witness plates.

Chiao and Sharipov then moved to another section of Zvezda to inspect 
nearby environmental system vents that are used for the Elektron 
oxygen-generator, the Vozdukh carbon dioxide scrubber and a particle 
contaminant purification device.

Sharipov reported that he saw both a white and brownish residue near the 
Elektron and Vozdukh ports and what appeared to be an oily substance on 
insulation surrounding the ports. Russian specialists added the task to 
the spacewalk a few weeks ago in light of recent technical problems with 
those systems, and will analyze photos taken by Sharipov to see if any 
corrosion or clogging of the vent ports may have contributed to periodic 
problems with those components.

As the spacewalk drew to a close, Chiao and Sharipov installed a Russian 
experiment called Biorisk near the hatch to the Pirs airlock. Biorisk 
consists of several canisters on a bracket that contain microorganisms 
and materials that will collect data on the effect of the space 
environment for ecological analysis back on Earth.

With their work complete, Chiao and Sharipov returned to Pirs and closed 
the hatch at 7:11a.m. CST to complete their spacewalk. After 
repressurizing Pirs, Chiao and Sharipov were scheduled to return to the 
Station, remove their spacesuits, reactivate the ISS systems and open 
the hatches to the U.S. segment. The crew will begin its sleep period 
early this afternoon and enjoy an off-duty day on Thursday.

It was the first spacewalk for Sharipov and Chiao’s fifth. The excursion 
was the 57th in support of ISS assembly and maintenance, the 32nd staged 
from the ISS itself and the 14th from Pirs. A total of 343 hours and 45 
minutes of spacewalking time has been logged in the Station’s lifetime.

Chiao and Sharipov are scheduled to conduct a second spacewalk in late 
March to install additional equipment for the maiden arrival of the 
European Space Agency’s “Jules Verne” Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) 
cargo ship. The unpiloted cargo carrier is targeted for launch late this 
year.

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 on 
Friday, Jan. 28, or earlier if events warrant.

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