[sarex] EXP 13 - ISS STATUS REPORT #06-28

[Arthur Rowe <azrowe80@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*International Space Station Status Report #06-28*
*2 p.m. CDT, Friday, June 9, 2006*
*Expedition 13 Crew*

The International Space Station crew wrapped up its week with 
post-spacewalk tasks and began to turn their focus toward the arrival of 
a Progress supply vehicle and preparations for Discovery’s upcoming 
shuttle mission, STS-121.

Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams had a busy 
weekend with closeout tasks and station configurations after the 
spacewalk last week. They finished the cleanup and stowage of the Orlan 
spacesuits and related tools.

The crew members enjoyed light duty days on Monday and Tuesday to rest 
after the extended spacewalk and its follow up activities, but resumed a 
normal work and sleep schedule Wednesday. Another off-duty day for the 
crew is scheduled Monday.

The crew attempted to reactivate the Russian Elektron oxygen-generating 
system this week following the replacement of its external hydrogen vent 
valve during the June 1 spacewalk. After several attempts, the Elektron 
began operating but failed about seven hours later. Vinogradov checked 
the vent lines associated with the refurbishment effort during the 
spacewalk and they appeared to be clear and operating normally.

But another attempt to restart Elektron earlier today proved 
unsuccessful, leading Russian specialists to believe that the problem is 
due to a failed power unit. A spare was located by Vinogradov and will 
be installed on Sunday for another attempt to bring the system back on 
line. The crew has at least a week of oxygen available in the cabin 
atmosphere before it would need to use supplies out of the Progress 21 
cargo ship tanks. The Elektron problem has had no impact on station 
operations and ample alternate supplies of oxygen are available.

This afternoon, the ISS Progress 21 thrusters were used to reboost the 
station by a little less than one mile, placing the complex at the 
correct altitude for the launch and docking of the new ISS Progress 22 
cargo vehicle. Progress 22 is scheduled to launch June 24 from the 
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and will dock to the station on June 
26 at the Pirs Docking Compartment port.

That docking port currently houses the older Progress 20 resupply ship, 
which will be jettisoned on June 19 to make way for the new cargo vehicle.

Other work this week included some final spacewalk tool stowage tasks 
and the reconfiguration of the station’s systems, including the 
communications system in the Russian Zvezda Service Module and the Pirs 
Docking Compartment airlock.

The crew conducted a successful communications test with the Dryden 
Flight Research Center and White Sands Test Facility ground sites and 
performed routine emergency fire drill training. They also inspected 
portable breathing apparatus and fire extinguishers.

Williams participated in two amateur radio sessions, the first with the 
Salt Brook Elementary School in New Providence, N.J., and a second with 
the Scarlett Middle School, a 2004 NASA Explorer School in Ann Arbor, 
Mich. Both crewmembers participated in an in-flight interview with the 
website team associated with the State Department's Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Williams who serves as the station’s science officer, ran a session of 
two colloid experiments – InSpace (Investigating the Structure of 
Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) and BCAT (Binary 
Colloidal Alloy Test). Vinogradov worked with two Russian life science 
experiments – URAGAN, which is a ground and space based system for 
predicting natural and manmade disasters, and DIATOMEA, an ocean 
observations program.

The next station status report will be issued on Friday, June 16, or 
earlier if events warrant. For more about the crew's activities and 
station sighting opportunities, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station
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