[sarex] ISS STATUS REPORT #05-33 - 24 JUNE 2005

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

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*International Space Station Status Report #05-33*
*3:00 p.m. CDT, Friday, June 24, 2005*
*Expedition 11 Crew*

The International Space Station crew spent much of the week unpacking 
and using supplies from the newly docked Progress cargo craft.

The crew members also began preparing the Station for a visit by the 
Space Shuttle on its Return to Flight mission that is targeted to launch 
in a window that opens in less than three weeks.

Expedition 11 Commander Sergei Krikalev completed integrating the 
systems of a new Progress supply ship into those of the Russian section 
of Space Station. Krikalev and Flight Engineer John Phillips also 
unpacked portions of the more than two tons of supplies on the cargo 
craft. The craft docked to the Station Saturday evening.

Along with food, fuel, clothing and new hardware, the Progress contained 
about 80 days worth of oxygen in tanks and solid fuel oxygen generators, 
plus supplies for further repair efforts on the Elektron oxygen 
generation system. The Elektron, one of multiple sources of oxygen 
available on the Station, derives oxygen from water. The system has been 
inoperable for a few months.

This week, Krikalev installed a new supply of electrolyte in the 
Elektron’s liquids unit and a new set of aerosol filters. During initial 
test activation, the unit started up but immediately shut down. After a 
second activation it operated for less than half an hour before shutting 
down once again. Russian specialists at Mission Control Moscow are 
evaluating further troubleshooting. With the Progress oxygen supply and 
other supplies aboard the Station, enough oxygen is available to supply 
the crew for at least the remainder of this year without an operating 
Elektron unit. A new Elektron liquids unit also is planned to be shipped 
to the Station later this year.

The Station’s Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 was opened for the first time 
in four years this week to be used as storage space. The operation is 
part of the effort to prepare for cargo transfer operations during the 
Space Shuttle’s return to the complex. The Return to Flight Space 
Shuttle mission, STS-114, remains on track for launch in a window that 
extends from July 13-31. The Flight Readiness Review for STS-114 is set 
for June 29-30 at the Kennedy Space Center, and will conclude with the 
establishment of a target launch date.

One priority for the mission on Discovery is the delivery of supplies 
and removal of material that has accumulated on the Station since the 
grounding of the Shuttle fleet more than two years ago. The majority of 
that material will be moved on and off of the Station in a pressurized 
cargo module that will be docked to the nadir side of the Unity 
connecting module. This week, the Station crew verified the proper 
operation of the berthing mechanism at that docking port, which had not 
been operated in two and a half years. Phillips also began installation 
of a camera in the window of that docking port that is used to align the 
cargo module when the Shuttle is docked. Phillips halted the camera 
installation, however, when a circuit breaker tripped. Flight 
controllers have postponed his completion of the task pending further 
evaluation.

Information on the crew's activities aboard the Space Station, future 
launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on 
the Earth, is available on the Internet at:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

The next ISS status report will be issued on Friday, July 1, or earlier, 
if events warrant.

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