[sarex] ISS STATUS REPORT #06-40

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*International Space Station Status Report #06-40*
*12 p.m. CDT, Friday, Sept. 1, 2006 *
*Expedition 13 Crew*

With the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis delayed, activities for the 
International Space Station crew were replanned.

The crew initially expected to greet Atlantis' crew this week. But the 
shuttle is now set to launch Sept. 6 on mission STS-115 to bring a new 
truss section to the station, complete with a second set of 240-foot 
solar wings. The mission was originally planned to launch Aug. 27. It 
was postponed first to check possible lightning damage and then due to 
Tropical Storm Ernesto. The delay gave Commander Pavel Vinogradov, 
Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams and European 
Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany more time to prepare for 
Atlantis' mission. They packed items that will be returned to Earth and 
reviewed plans for the shuttle flight's three spacewalks. They also 
conducted normal station maintenance, daily exercise sessions and a 
number of scientific experiments.

Williams spent parts of three days this week working with a cosmic 
radiation study called the Anomalous Long-Term Effects in Astronauts' 
Central Nervous Systems. The experiment tracks cosmic radiation while 
monitoring brain activity and recording the subject's visual 
perceptions. Williams spent one orbit, about 90 minutes, floating prone 
with sensor blocks over and beside his head. The experiment's results 
may help develop ways to protect future space fliers from the effects of 
cosmic radiation.

Later in the week, Williams worked with the Capillary Flow Effects 
experiment, studying the dynamics of capillary flow in microgravity. 
Insight gained from the experiment may help in the developments of fluid 
transport systems for future spacecraft. Other work included testing a 
seal the astronauts replaced on an experiment facility called the 
Microgravity Science Glovebox. The glovebox, in the U.S. laboratory 
Destiny, provides a contained environment for experiments involving 
fluid, flame or fumes.

During Atlantis' mission, the station status will be included in shuttle 
mission status reports to be issued twice daily. The next station status 
report will be issued after the STS-115 shuttle mission, or earlier if 
events warrant. For more about the crew's activities and station 
sighting opportunities, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

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