ISS-11 mission chronicle: June
Coverage of Expedition 11’s stay in orbit for June 2005.
1/6
Sergei tested the new Russian segment software via laptop 2 at the Central Command Post computer 2 (KTsP-2, КЦП-2). Version 7.03 has still to be installed on Laptop 1. Sergei spent 3 hours cleaning Group B fan ventilators and grilles. The Vozdukh CO2 remover was reactivated after being shut down for the computer upgrade (the CDRS in the U.S. segment had been activated during that period). John did the daily SOZh life support system maintenance. Sergei inspected his radishes (i.e. the Rasteniya-2 experiment in the Lada-7 greenhouse), and conducted another Uragan Earth-photography session. SFOG/ТГК oxygen candles update: “Two more SFOGs (Russian: TGK) were used today, both successfully. As of tonight, a total of 19 candles of the old set have been decomposed on board since 5/20 (total attempts: 29 [i.e., 10 failures = 34.5% failure rate, instead of expected 20%]). With the actual failure rate, TGKs currently on board last for 25 days. Progress 18 (M-53, arrival 6/18) is m anifested to deliver 42 ‘new’ SFOGs (zero failure rate) plus 110 kg (242 lbs) of O2.”
News & reports links
2/6
Sergei completed the Russian segment software transition, and reconfigured the ventilation in the Soyuz Orbital Segment (BO) after repairing the fan there. Sergei inspected the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 plants experiment and did some Uragan photography, as well as the daily SOZh maintenance.
News & reports links
- 2/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- “Extra-Terrestrial Radio Contact: An educational experience like none other”. “Eighteen high school students from Brigidine College Randwick communicated via radio direct to an astronaut working in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday evening June 2.”
TsUP news:
The ISS crew completely renewed the “electronic brain” of the Station
RIA Novosti, 2 June, 2005.
The ISS crew renewed the software program on the central on-board computer of the International Space Station (ISS).
“First from Mission Control Center into the ISS computers they uploaded the ‘new’ program, and then the Expedition commander Sergei Krikalyov verified, as he worked, after connecting his portable laptop to the central station in the official module,” a NASA representative described to RIA News on Thursday.
“This is the planned operation, which is conducted regularly in proportion to the formulation of the new problems, and as a result TSUP seemingly constantly renews the electronic brain of the ISS,” he refined.
The ISS software on the international Station is improved constantly. It is delivered onboard as disks, which brought by Progress cargo ships, and also via the radio channels from TsUP. A previous “increase in the intellect” of the Station was realized on 21 July of the past year. Then for checking established software on-board computers were switched off by several seconds, and then it is again restarted. “We made the so-called restart,” explained Russian TsUP expert Victor Blagov to RIA News.
“It took a few seconds to reload itself – first we opened from the Earth, and then again included machines; however, first the crew installed the last version of program software, delivered to them on disk on 27 May by the flight of Progress M-49,” said Blagov.
Russian version, Русская версия: Экипаж МКС полностью обновил «электронный мозг» станции.
3/6
Sergei did some outfitting work on the STTS, СТТС, then a couple of experiments, reconfigured Russian Laptop 3 for the software upgrade (which was successful) and completed leak testing on Elektron Liquid Unit #5, which was found to be leaking. He did the weekly inventory management system tagup with specialists at TsUP, and the daily SOZh maintenance, as well as the daily Rasteniya-2 inspection and Uragan photography.
News & reports links
- 3/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- JSC Station Status Report: 3 June.
- Space.com: “Space Station’s Robotic Arm Grapples ISS Under Remote Control”.
4/6
Saturday; off-duty, with 3 hours of uborka (housecleaning). Sergei did the SOZh maintenance, and Diatomeya and Uragan photography sessions (sea and Earth), as well as an EDT experiment session. The crew had their Weekly Planning Conference with the ground.
News & reports links
5/6
Sunday: off-duty. Beginning of week 7. The usual maintenance (John did the SOZh maintenance) and Sergei did more Uragan photography and checked the Rasteniya-2 plants experiment.
News & reports links
6/6
Monday morning Calf Volume Measurement for Sergei & John. Beginning of packing rubbish into the Progress for disposal (continues all this week). Sergei did the SOZh maintenance, then unpacked equipment for his second Russian PZEh-MO-9 Urolux urine test (bet he’s looking forward to that – not). He checked the Rasteniya-2 plants and did some Uragan Earth photography. Propellants were successfully transferred from Progress M-52 to four Zarya FGB overnight, via an automated sequence initiated by TsUP. Elektron update: “The onboard testing on Liquid Unit #5 (BZh-5) over the weekend has confirmed that the unit is indeed leaking nitrogen (N2) pressurization gas, and it has been declared no longer usable. TsUP is planning to have the crew perform more work on the remaining BZh-7 this week (6/9-10) before it can be retested. If the troubleshooting is successful, Elektron reactivation will be attempted after arrival of 18P/M-54 (6/18), which is expected to deliver new filters for the Elektron’s gas lines, but BZh-7 installation and electrolyte servicing will be done pre-18P.”
News & reports links
7/6
Second session of Biochemical Urinalysis for Sergei and John (done once a month). Sergei did more rubbish transfers to the Progress and the daily SOZh maintenance. They had a 20-minute interview with KNXV-TV in Phoenix, Arizona, using the new NASA Television Digital Satellite System. Another Uragan session for Sergei.
News & reports links
- 7/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- Energiya photo-report: June 7, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “The Technical Management meeting took place, which made a decision to fuel Progress M-53 cargo vehicle with propellant components and compressed gases.”
8/6
Blood sampling (MO-10) for Sergei and John first thing this morning. Sergei completed a photographic survey of the thermal blanket covering on the Soyuz TMA. A couple of seams were open between the Descent Module (SA) and Instrumentation/Propulsion Compartment (PAO). Sergei then had more rubbish stowage in the Progress while John did the SOZh maintenance (Progress M-53 to be launched next week, 17/6). Sergei had another Uragan photography session and checked up on the Rasteniya-2 plants. Tomorrow he is to try replacing the Elektron’s Liquid Unit 6 (BZh-6) with the previously-used BZh-7.
(4 more photos in the Expedition 11 Gallery online, at long last.)
News & reports links
- 8/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- Energiya photo-report: June 8, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Progress M-53 filling was completed.”
9/6
Second cardiological test for Sergei (PZEh MO-1). He and John then spent several hours working on the Elektron, replacing the failed BZh-6 Liquid Unit with BZh-7. Sergei then ran a test of the back-up manual TORU docking system between Zvezda and the docked Progress, in preparation for launch next week. The crew had a 20-minute interview with CNN utilizing the NASA TV Digital Satellite system. Sergei requested 6 more hours for Progress rubbish loading.
News & reports links
- 9/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- Energiya photo-report: June 9, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Progress M-53 fuelled with propellant components and compressed gases was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility for final processing operations.”
- CNN: “Station crew: Housing stranded shuttle crew would be stressful”.
10/6
3½ hours of Progress trash stowage allocated today. Sergei tried to transfer KOH electrolyte (potassium hydroxide) from BZh-5 to BZh-7 but for some reason the fluid wouldn’t co-operate, so more troubleshooting needed. Sergei set up equipment for the Plasma-ISS experiment, IMS tagup, Rasteniya-2 plants inspection and Uragan photography. John did the SOZh maintenance.
News & reports links
- 10/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- JSC Station Status Report: 10 June. “The Station commander quietly slipped into second place on the all-time human space endurance list…Krikalyov, on his sixth voyage into space and third long duration mission (one on Mir and two on the ISS), surpassed fellow cosmonaut Valerii Polyakov on the space duration record list. He will become number one in August, passing cosmonaut Sergei Avdeyev (747 days).”
- Energiya photo-report: June 10, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Progress M-53 cargo vehicle was docked with the transfer compartment.”
Novosti Kosmonavtiki № 6 is out, featuring Expedition 11 on the cover, with articles about them and an inflight chronology. (Unfortunately, only 3 articles are online; they stopped putting the whole magazine online from 2004 onwards.)
11/6
Saturday: off-duty, and 3 hours of uborka, housecleaning. John did the SOZh maintenance. Sergei did the monthly recharging of the Motorola-9505 Iridium satellite phone stored in the Soyuz descent module (BO). Both had private family conferences via U.S. segment S-band and Ku-band, and a joint weekly planning conference with the Ground. Sergei did some Uragan and other photography.
News & reports links
- 11/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- Energiya photo-report: June 11, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Designers’ inspection of the Progress M-53 cargo vehicle was completed in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility. Payload shroud roll on to the Progress M-53 spacecraft was performed.”
- Two nice photos of tropical storm Arlene: 08482, 08483.
12/6
Sunday: off-duty, and beginning of Week 8. Sergei completed some Uragan and Diatomeya photography, and inspected the Rasteniya-2 plants-growing experiment.
News & reports links
13/6
Independence Day holiday in Russia (June 12). Final preparations for Progress M-52 undocking. Sergei did some maintenance on the ASU toilet, changing major components, while John did the SOZh maintenance. Uragan photography and Rasteniya-2 plants inspection for Sergei. The latest mechanical failure (nothing dramatic): “Overnight, a primary local digital commutator (LKTs #2V36) in the SM failed, shutting down the Vozdukh CO2 scrubber and the BMP micropurification unit, which both share this commutator. Vozdukh was reactivated in manual mode and is operating properly. BMP remains off, and TsUP/Moscow plans to switch to the backup LKTs in the next few days, which will allow BMP restart. [The LKTs are part of the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system. They receive and transmit (to the local analog commutator, LKA) digitized data coming from different types of digital sensors.”
News & reports links
- 13/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- “NASA announces Space Station status briefing”: media conference.
- “ISS Status Briefing Materials, June 13, 2005”. Various photos of the crew’s activities.
- Energiya photo-report: June 13, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Orbital module of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, containing Progress M-53 spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft processing facility for the general integration with LV.”
14/6
Final packing for Progress M-52 before undocking tomorrow, and hatch closure at 18:15 GMT. John did the SOZh maintenance. Sergei had his two optional tasks of Uragan photography and inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 experiment.
Update on Consumables: As of yesterday (6/13), total oxygen (O2) on orbit is ~227 kg (~136 days). Progress 18, arriving on Saturday (6/18), will deliver an additional 85 days of O2, 96 days of water and 160 days of food. [18P cargo: 110 kg O2, 40 new SFOG candles, 442 L water, 192 total rations of food in 64 food containers (21 US, 43 Russian).]
Update on Elektron: After the initial difficulty of transferring electrolyte (KOH, potassium hydroxide) from Liquid Unit 5 (BZh-5) to BZh-7 reported on 6/10, Sergei made a second attempt on Sunday (6/12), per uplinked ground instructions, and this time completed the transfer of 100-120 milliliter successfully. More KOH will be delivered on Progress-353/18P.
Update on Micropurification System (BMP): After the failure of the primary local digital commutator (LKTs #2V36) in the SM, reported yesterday, the BMP remains off since its telemetry data are questionable. TsUP/Moscow plans to switch to the backup LKTs in the next few days, which will allow BMP restart. [The BMP is similar to the US TCCS (Trace Containment Control System).]
News & reports links
- 14/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- Energiya photo-reports: June 14, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome:
- Photo-report: “A meeting of the Governmental Commission and the Technical Management was held where a decision was made to roll out the launch vehicle carrying Progress M-53 to the launch pad.”
- Photo-report: “The orbital module was integrated with the Soyuz-U launch vehicle in the processing facility.”
- Space.com: “ISS Astronaut Testifies Before Congressional Panel From Orbit”.
15/6
Sergei replaced the condensate water processor’s air/liquid condensate separator unit (BRPK) with a new one. He then changed out one of Zvezda’s eight 800A batteries, replacing failed #6. He collected readings for the monthly Pille-MKS radiation dosimetry experiment, did the daily SOZh maintenance and more Uragan photography and checking-up the Rasteniya-2 plants-growing experiment.
Progress M-52 was to undock at 20:16 GMT. M-53 is to launch on 17/6 at 00:09 GMT (05:19 a.m. at Baikonur).
News & reports links
- 15/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- Energiya photo-report: June 15, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “At 5:00 a.m. Moscow Time, the transporter with the Soyuz-U launch vehicle and the Progress M-53 spacecraft left the Assembly and Testing Facility and arrived to the launch pad for the final pre-launch processing. The Soyuz-U-Progress M-53 system was erected on the launcher. First launch day activities began.”
16/6
2400 days in orbit for Zarya FGB today. Sergei & John did 3 hours of TORU training for the arrival of Progress M-53 and configured the TV subsystem (TVS) so it could download footage of the Progress arrival via U.S. Ku-band. 30 minutes of a Crew Medical Officer drill. M-52 successfully undocked last night at 20:15 GMT and re-entered over the Pacific.
News & reports links
17/6
Rest day for the crew as they had to sleep-shift for the Progress arrival. M-53 launched successfully last night at 23:09 GMT. 3 hours of uborka today (not tomorrow). Sergei worked on a failed Russian laptop and did the daily SOZh maintenance.
News & reports links
- 17/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- JSC Station Status Report: 17 June.
- Energiya photo-report: June 17, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “In accordance with Russian commitments under the International Space Station Project, an Integrated Launch Vehicle Soyuz-U/Progress M-53 was launched from Baikonur launch site at 03:09:33 Moscow Time. The objective of the launch was to deliver, by means of Progress M-53 logistics spacecraft, cargoes to the space station that are needed for continuing its operation in manned mode, crew life support, and replenishing propellant tanks of the propulsion system.”
- AARL Web: “Fall Launch Viewed for ‘SuitSat’ as ARISS-US Delivers Hardware”.
18/6
An irregular day in preparation for Progress arrival. Wake-up as normal at 06:00 GMT, back to bed at 15:00 to 20:30, then work through the night to Sunday from 20:30 to 06:00. As it turned out, Sergei did need to do a manual TORU docking due to a problem in a ground station preventing TsUP from initiating the procedure. Docking was at 00:42 GMT, 19 June (04:42 Moscow Daylight Time), and aside from that glitch, all went well. Proof of the wisdom of back-up procedures! “The Progress is loaded with 180 kg/397 pounds of propellant, 109.7 kg/242 pounds of oxygen and air, 420 kg/926 pounds of water and more than 1361 kg/3000 pounds of spare parts, life support system components and experiment hardware. In addition, the Progress carries 40 new solid-fuel oxygen generating canisters as a supplemental source of oxygen, if required.”
News & reports links
- 18/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- JSC Station Status Report: 18 June.
- MSNBC.com: “Space station crew brings in cargo ship”.
- Space.com: “ISS Commander Manually Docks Cargo Ship at Space Station”.
- Spaceflight Now.com: “Station commander remotely docks supply ship”.
Space station commander Sergei Krikalyov took over manual control of an approaching Russian supply ship this evening and remotely guided the robotic craft to a picture-perfect docking after problems prevented an automatic linkup.
The unmanned Progress supply craft, launched Thursday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, was poised for final approach when a problem on the ground prevented Russian flight controllers from sending commands to initiate the procedure.
Krikalyov, one of the most experienced space fliers in the world, promptly took over manual control using a backup system known as TORU and guided the craft to a linkup at the aft end of the Zvezda command module at 8:42 p.m. EDT (00:42 GMT).
“I would like to congratulate you on the successful docking,” a Russian flight controller radioed the station. “I am proud of you.”
“I tried to do my best. Thank you very much,” Krikalyov replied. “I think it was very helpful to have all the TORU training. Say thank you to my TORU instructor.”
“Yes, he is here, he is getting ready for receiving a medal for this wonderful job.”
19/6
M-53 docked successfully last night, under Sergei’s manual TORU control. The new Energiya president, Nikolai Nikolayevich Sevast’yanov, congratulated him. Soft dock (probe in the docking cone) was at 00:41 GMT; hard dock (latches locked) at 00:50 GMT. Sergei & John then began cargo transfer procedures, to continue for the remainder of the week. They did get some other lifeforms for company – snails! (For the Russian BIO-11 “Statokonia” experiment.)
News & reports links
- 19/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- Energiya photo-report: June 19, 2005 Korolev, Moscow Region. “Russian unmanned logistics spacecraft Progress M-53 launched from Baikonur on June 17, 2005, has docked with the International Space Station after two days of free flight in low Earth orbit. The spacecraft rendezvous with the ISS space station, its fly-around, stationkeeping and approach to the distance of about 120 meters were performed in automated mode, and the final approach was performed in the teleoperator control mode. The spacecraft made its approach to a free axial docking port on the Service Module Zvezda of the ISS. The initial contact occurred at 04:41:32 Moscow Time.”
20/6
Wakeup at the regular 06:00 GMT today, and beginning of Week 9. Fifth session of calf measurement, PZEh-MO-7. Progress unloading was the focus of today. M-53 brought 120 kg of gaseous oxygen and this was used today to refresh the atmosphere, rather than the TGK candles.
News & reports links
21/6
Summer Solstice (winter in Australia!). Focus of today was pressurizing and moving items for stowage into Pressurized Mating Adapter-3. Sergei did BMP, БМП bake-out and SOZh maintenance, a weekly check-up of IP-1, ИП-1 airflow sensors in the Russian segment and exported the Inventory Management System “delta” file (to track where everything is stored) to the IMS database.
News & reports links
22/6
A beautiful full Moon today, if Sergei and John looked out the windows. Hope they took some photos! Progress unloading continued, and PMA-3 was depressurized. Sergei made equipment preparations for Elektron repair work tomorrow. He swapped Russian laptop 3’s hard drive #6137 with #6156 from laptop 1 (which had Windows vers. 07.02 software). Sergei and John did maintenance work on the SRVK-2M, СРВК-2М condensate water recovery system in Zvezda. John did the SOZh maintenance. Sergei consulted the ground regarding his Eye Tracking Device experiment. “Krikalyov was briefed by ground specialists on the conclusions of a panel investigating the failure of the release of the primary parachute riser on the Soyuz-215/9S at touchdown on 4/24. [The most probably cause was an incompletely depressed release command button in the Descent Module, thus not engaging the end contacts, or an incorrect depression due ‘lack of operational skill’ with new Sokol gloves worn by the crew. The button, under its protective guard, allows only room for the index finger and button activation by its first phalange pad.]”
News & reports links
23/6
A small leak was detected from the Node (Unity) into PMA-3 (depressurized). Sergei did some repair work on the Elektron and ran it at 16 amps for 24 minutes before it shut itself down. More repair work tomorrow. Sergei did various more repairs and experiments, including the Plasma-ISS (Bridge-2) experiment. John did the SOZh maintenance.
More photos are up in the Gallery (page 18 on). (Sergei has an uncanny resemblance to a certain Vulcan in that blue skivvy!)
News & reports links
- 23/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- NASA TV image: Sergei unpacking the Progress.
24/6
Soyuz Kazbek seat fit check today, followed by a 1-hour fire drill, the first for the crew. Sergei tried to restart the Elektron again but it refused to. John did the SOZh maintenance. The cabin atmosphere was repressed with 8 mmHg of gaseous oxygen from Progress M-53 tankage (SrPK, СрПК).
News & reports links
25/6
Saturday: off-duty, and the usual 3 hours of uborka, Station cleaning. Sergei did the SOZh maintenance, then had a third run of the Eye Tracking Device experiment. Sergei also has some snails to look after (BIO-11 “Statokonia” experiment) as well as the radishes. He also gathered equipment in preparation for the ESA ATV control panel set-up next week. Sergei and John had the usual teleconferences (weekly planning and with ISS Program Management).
News & reports links
26/6
Off-duty Sunday. Beginning of Week 10. The usual tasks and exercise. The cabin atmosphere was repressed with oxygen from M-53.
News & reports links
From TsUP news:
Week on the ISS (20-26 June)
(Based on the materials of site Spaceflightnow.com)
On the past week the crew of the 11th basic expedition was occupied with unloading and storing more than 2-x of tons of cargo, delivered on the ISS aboard the recently arrived cargo ship Progress M-53. Together with the foodstuffs, the fuel and the new equipment, on the Progress M-53 on the ISS was delivered 80-ti the daily reserve of oxygen in the tanks and the solid-propellant generators, and also spare parts for the Elektron oxygen generator system.
Furthermore, the cosmonauts began the preparation of station for the arrival of first after the loss of Columbia of shuttle Discovery. The possible dates of his start it is located in the range from 13th to 31st July, and 29-30 June in the Kennedy Space Center commission for readiness to takeoff will select the final starting date. The primary task of the flight of Discovery is the delivery onboard the ISS of cargo, and the return to the Earth of equipment and results of the experiments, which was accumulated sufficiently much after more than two years, which passed from the time of last flight of shuttle.
On the past week commander Sergei Krikalyov undertook the attempt to reactivate the Elektron: he replaced electrolyte in the liquid block of system and established the new unit of aerosol filters. Two attempts at starting ended in failure – the Elektron worked less than one-and-a-half hours. The reserves of oxygen existing in this time at the station will be sufficient, at least, prior to the end of this year, even if system Elektron does not work, but in the plans stands the delivery of a new liquid block for the Elektron even before the end of this year.
On this week for the first time in four years was re-opened the entrance into the airtight transition piece PMA-3, which will be used as storage for the cargo delivered in the shuttle. Airtight container-module with the loads delivered on the shuttle will be mated to it. Last week crew verified the work of the docking mechanism PMA-3, and it also began the installation in PMA-3 video camera, which will be used for the unloading from the shuttle and the docking to the station of container-module.
Russian version, Русская версия: Неделя на МКС (20-26 июня).
PY4MAB talks with Sergei Krikalyov
ISS Amateur Radio py4mab writes “Well, is very interesting talk with ham’s and other around the world, but talk with Astronauts abord the International Space Station is great. In this last Sunday (06/26/2005) I talk with Sergei Krikalyov and comemorate my fourth contact with ISS. Thanks to ARISS and thanks again to ISSFANCLUB and to Claudio. Alone I’m never talk with Cosmonauts in Space. Thank you very much.
Mauricio Beraldo PY4MAB
Poços de Caldas MG
Brazil”
27/6
Sergei began installing satellite navigation equipment for the ESA ATV, and then looked for equipment needed for flushing the water condensate remover line (MOK, МОК). John did the SOZh maintenance, and a ham radio session (he seems to be doing all the ham contacts so far). Sergei inspected his radishes (BIO-5 Rasteniya-2).
News & reports links
- 27/6 On-Orbit Status Report.
- New Scientist Space.com: “Space station gets HAL-like computer”. John is testing a voice-operated computer assistant called “Clarissa”, which he installed today.
- SpaceTravel.com: “Expedition 11 Crew Unpack Care Package”.
From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №483:
27/06/2005/11:57 – ISS orbit correction is planned for 30 June
A sequential maneuver for the correction of the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) for the forthcoming launch of the American shuttle will be initiated at 00.18 MSK on 30 June, the representative of Mission Control Center reported on Monday (TSUP). On this reports Interfaks.
According to him, the cosmonauts working in orbit – Sergei Krikalyov and John Phillips – are also prepared for the forthcoming flight of shuttle. “The cosmonauts are packing some things, which be subject to the sending on the shuttle, are checking the docking nodes, and also have carried out a number of the necessary operations for the arrival of the shuttle”, he reported.
Russian version, Русская версия: Корректировка орбиты МКС намечена на 30 июня.
28/6
Shuttle photography practice today for Sergei & John (photographing the Orbiter when it flips over and shows its underside to check for tile damage). Sergei continued his outfitting work of installing a satellite navigation system for the ESA ATV, and installed two new electronic blocks for the STTS, СТТС (telephone/telegraph subsystem) in Zvezda. John did the SOZh maintenance. The crew will have Robotics Arm (SSRMS) practice for the next two days. Also, a reboost of the ISS was to be done by the Progress tomorrow to put the Station in the correct orbit for the 13 July STS-114 launch.
More photos are up in the Gallery (page 20 on).
News & reports links
29/6
Sergei continued working on Zvezda’s condensate water recovery system (SRVK-2M, СРВК-2М) as condensate was not flowing properly from the air conditioners. Sergei tested the communications hardware (satellite navigation system) for the ESA ATV. He prepared equipment for the MBI-15, МБИ-15 “Pilot” experiment. He and John completed part of the SSRMS robotic arm checkout. Sergei did the SOZh maintenance, the daily inspection of the Plants-2 experiment and downloaded image files of Uragan Earth imagery accumulated over several weeks (via U.S. S-band). The reboost was reset for 20:03 GMT to avoid orbital debris.
News & reports links
30/6
Sergei conducted the Russian medical “Pilot” experiment for the second time to test his piloting skills in simulations (John also did the test later). Both crew completed part 3 of the SSRMS/robotic arm pre-launch checkout. Sergei installed a new mass measurement device (IM, ИМ) for the Russian PZEh-MO-8б ПЖ-МО-8 Body Mass Measurement experiment (done once a week). Sergei did the SOZh maintenance; John did weekly TVIS treadmill maintenance. Sergei did more work on the Elektron; a new one will be delivered on Progress M-54. The reboost yesterday was successful, as was the ATV PCE outfitting test (satellite nav equipment for ESA’s ATV) and Sergei’s work on Zvezda’s condensate processing system.