NASA Space Station Status Report 27 Aug 2004
“Success” is the key word this week aboard the
International Space Station (ISS) as maintenance efforts by
the Expedition 9 crew paid off on several major equipment
items.
NASA ISS Science Officer Mike Fincke performed the most
complex spacesuit repair job ever conducted in flight on a
U.S. spacesuit. He replaced a water pump in the suit’s
cooling system. The four-and-a-half-hour replacement job on
Monday was followed by several hours of tests on Tuesday. The
tests showed the new pump worked perfectly, and engineers on
the ground will now determine whether to declare the
spacesuit usable in the future. If so, the Station would have
a complement of two operational U.S. spacesuits. A third suit
also is aboard but has a cooling problem. A second spare
water pump also is aboard the Station in the event managers
choose to attempt similar maintenance on the third suit.
Flight controllers lauded Fincke’s work, relaying to him that
such efforts provide not only a better understanding for
future Station operations, but also important data for all
future long-duration space travels.
Also on Monday, Fincke replaced major components in one of
the Station’s exercise machines, a resistive exercise device
that uses tension to simulate weights during a workout. He
installed new canisters in the device that are designed to be
twice as durable as the previous canisters used for the
machine. He then checked their operation with a workout,
finding the device in excellent condition. Exercise is vital
for the crew as one method of counteracting the harmful
effects of weightlessness on the body. The spare spacesuit
pumps and exercise canisters were delivered to the Station
aboard the Russian Progress cargo spacecraft that arrived
Aug. 14.
As this week progressed, Fincke and Expedition 9 Commander
Gennady Padalka turned their attention toward their fourth
and final spacewalk, scheduled for next week. During the
Sept. 3 spacewalk, they’ll use Russian spacesuits and exit
the Russian Pirs airlock. Their work outside will include
installing three antennas on the exterior of the Zvezda
living quarters module that will aid the navigation of a new
Station supply spacecraft, called the European Automated
Transfer Vehicle, during its maiden flight scheduled for next
year.
Other tasks include replacement of a pump panel on the Zarya
module that is part of the Russian segment’s cooling system,
installation of guides for spacesuit tethers on Zarya
handrails and the installation of handrail covers near the
Pirs hatch.
This week, Fincke and Padalka reviewed timelines for the
spacewalk, gathered gear and checked the tools they will use.
Next Monday, they’ll power up their Orlan spacesuits to check
their operation as they continue their preparations. The
spacewalk next Friday will begin at 12:50 p.m. EDT and last
about six hours. The activities will be broadcast live on
NASA Television, beginning at 11:30 a.m. EDT.
Other activities this week included a reboost of the Station
Wednesday. Thrusters on the Progress spacecraft increased the
altitude of the orbiting laboratory by an average of about
two-and-a-half statute miles. The reboost moved the Station
closer to the orbital altitude desired for the arrival of a
Soyuz spacecraft and new crew in October. Another reboost is
planned in September to complete the move. The Station’s
current orbit has a high point of about 230 miles and a low
point of about 218 miles.
On Monday and Tuesday, Station cameras operated by flight
controllers recorded video of Typhoon Chaba as it moved
quickly across the Philippine Sea with winds of 165 mph.
Today, Fincke reported taking a still photo of Hurricane
Frances in the Atlantic Ocean as the Station flew above that
storm.
Information about crew activities on the Space Station,
future launch dates and Station sighting opportunities from
Earth, is available on the Internet at:
Details about Station science operations are available on an
Internet site administered by the Payload Operations Center
at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.,
at:
NASA Television is available in the continental U.S. on AMC-
6, Transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 72 degrees west
longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is
vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. In Alaska and
Hawaii, NASA Television is available on AMC-7, Transponder
18C, C-Band, located at 137 degrees west longitude. Frequency
is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is
monaural at 6.80 MHz.
The spacewalk also will be webcast live on the Internet at:
