Space Station Crew Performs Spacesuit Maintenance

The Expedition 7 crew wrapped up another busy week aboard the International Space Station, spending most of the day Friday maintaining one of the onboard spacesuits. The scheduled task included checking for leaks, refilling tanks, cycling valves and checking sensors.

Earlier in the week, Commander Yuri Malenchenko and NASA ISS Science Officer Ed Lu oversaw the arrival of one unpiloted Progress cargo ship and the departure of another.

On Aug. 30, the Progress 12 spacecraft linked up with the Station’s Zvezda Service Module, delivering food, fuel and supplies. Then on Sept. 4, the Progress 11 cargo ship undocked from the International Space Station’s Pirs Docking Compartment. The departing Progress, which was packed with unneeded items, will be commanded to re-enter the atmosphere to burn up over the Pacific Ocean.

Progress 11’s departure sets the stage for the arrival of the next ISS crew. The Expedition 8 crew is scheduled to arrive at the Station in October aboard the Soyuz TMA-3 spacecraft, which will link up with Pirs.