ISS Crewmembers Participate in Fire Drill, Science Experiments

Thursday’s work schedule provided Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike Fincke with a wide range of activities aboard the International Space Station. Both crewmembers participated in a mandatory fire drill. It was the second time that Expedition 9 had participated in the drill that is designed to give the crew the most realistic training possible and is supported by the U.S. and Russian mission control centers.

Padalka and Fincke continued to pursue Station science objectives by participating in two biomedical experiments. Inside the Destiny Laboratory Module , they took bone scans with ultrasound equipment in the Station’s Human Research Facility for the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity (ADUM) experiment. ADUM is studying the ability of Station crewmembers to perform advanced ultrasound examinations after using a computer-based training program. This experiment could have widespread applications in emergency and rural health care situations on Earth.

Padalka and Fincke also completed the second part of a Russian biomedical assessment, and Padalka completed a three-day Russian fitness assessment. Both of these experiments are studying changes in the human body during in space.

Also, the crew took more routine air samples, performed the daily exercise regimen and maintained ISS systems.