[sarex] ISS STATUS REPORT #05-13

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

Submitted by Arthur N1ORC - Amsat A/C #31468

*International Space Station Status Report #05-13*
*3 p.m. CST, Friday, March 11, 2005*
*Expedition 10 Crew*

The International Space Station crew unpacked its newest cargo ship this 
week and prepared to replace a faulty component in the Quest Airlock 
with a new unit delivered on the supply craft.

The Progress cargo craft arrived last week with a 160-day supply of food 
in addition to spare parts and equipment for the Russian environmental 
control system and toilet; cameras that will be used to photograph the 
underside of Space Shuttle Discovery as it approaches for docking; and a 
new heat exchanger for Quest. The replacement of the existing heat 
exchanger is scheduled to be conducted throughout the week next week. 
The job will set the stage to restore use of the Quest Airlock as a base 
for spacewalks using U.S. spacesuits. The heat exchanger provides 
cooling for U.S. spacesuits while they are connected to the airlock.

Expedition 10 Commander and NASA ISS Science Officer Leroy Chiao and 
Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov also conducted some routine periodic 
maintenance and inspection tasks, including strategic placement of sound 
measuring devices that document noise levels. This typically is done 
twice during a crew’s six-month stay aboard the Station.

The second spacewalk for Chiao and Sharipov is scheduled for the early 
morning hours of Monday, March 28. In preparation for that spacewalk, 
Chiao moved the Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm into position for 
optimum camera viewing of the planned work outside. Chiao also conducted 
several arm maneuvers to use the cameras for review of the spacewalk 
worksites.

Sharipov this week set up an experiment gathering measurements of 
radiation. He also worked with another experiment designed to study 
high-efficiency strains of microorganisms for producing petroleum 
biodegradation compounds. Both crewmembers took turns as patient and 
doctor on the Advanced Diagnostic in Ultrasound in Microgravity 
experiment. The experiments studies the use of remote ultrasound 
observation in space to allow doctors on the ground to diagnose medical 
conditions.

The Station's Elektron oxygen-generating system has operated 
intermittently during the past week. Sharipov is scheduled to perform a 
couple of hours of further troubleshooting efforts on the device on 
Saturday. The problem has not impacted the replenishment of oxygen in 
the Station cabin. The Elektron, which converts water into oxygen, is 
one of several methods for replenishing oxygen aboard the Station.

Information about crew activities on the Station, future launch dates 
and Station sighting opportunities from Earth, is available on the 
Internet at:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/

The next International Space Station Status report will be issued on 
Friday, March 18, or earlier if events warrant.

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