Soyuz Relocation Preps Continue; Expedition 10 to Have Quiet Thanksgiving

Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao and Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov
continued to prepare for their upcoming relocation of the ISS Soyuz 9
spacecraft. Wednesday’s preparation included a test of the thrusters on the
Soyuz. With the exception of one thruster that did not work properly,
everything went as expected. Experts are analyzing that thruster’s
performance, but it will have no impact on the relocation maneuver or future
Soyuz operations.

Chiao and Sharipov will briefly leave the ISS on Monday to relocate the
spacecraft. Sharipov, who is the crew’s Soyuz commander, will undock the
spacecraft from the Pirs Docking compartment and redock it to a port on the
Zarya Control Module. It will clear Pirs for use during Expedition 10’s
upcoming spacewalks. The Soyuz is slated to undock at 3:29 a.m. CST (0929
GMT) and redock at 4 a.m. CST (1000 GMT). NASA TV will begin its coverage of
the relocation at 3 a.m. CST (0900 GMT).

In other activities Wednesday, Expedition 10 performed routine maintenance
on spacewalk equipment and prepared the ISS Progress 15 for undocking next
month.

Chiao and Sharipov will enjoy an off-duty day for Thanksgiving. The holiday
menu will include packaged smoked turkey.