[sarex] ISS STATUS REPORT #07-24

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*International Space Station Status Report #07-24*
*3 p.m. CDT Friday, May 4, 2007*
*Expedition 15 Crew*

Marking the second week working together, the Expedition 15 crew wrapped 
up various maintenance tasks, science experiments and preparations for 
the May 15 arrival of the Progress 25 supply ship.

To prepare for the new unpiloted cargo carrier's arrival, the currently 
docked Progress' engines were used to reboost the station Saturday. The 
move also increases the number of rendezvous opportunities for the 
STS-117 space shuttle mission targeted for next month. Expedition 15 
Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineers Oleg Kotov and Suni 
Williams also removed the docking mechanism from the Progress 24 for 
later use.

The week included work on a wide array of science experiments. Williams 
completed the fifth run of the Elastic Memory Composite Hinge 
experiment. The experiment studies the performance of a new hinge 
composite in space.

Williams also did a test run of a handheld device for rapid detection of 
biological and chemical substances on board the station. This study is 
meant to provide an early warning system to protect the health and 
safety of station crew members. Williams also completed annual 
re-certification of the Microgravity Science Glovebox and performed a 
checkout of the cardiac defibrillator.

Kotov did maintenance work in the Zarya module and tested the circuits 
of a temperature sensor on one of the batteries. He also conducted the 
periodic collection of air readings in the station with the Russian 
Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer system.

Other hardware and maintenance tasks included the replacement of a 
Common Cabin Air Analyzer, sound level monitoring in the Russian Service 
Module and in the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, and charging U.S. spacesuits 
batteries.

Crew members wrapped up the week replacing a heat exchanger in the 
Zvezda Service Module. They also swapped out computers used in the U.S. 
lab racks.

The weekend will consist of mostly off-duty time with routine 
housekeeping, family conferences and a HAM radio session.

For more about the crew's activities and station sighting opportunities, 
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

The next station status report will be issued Friday, May 11, or earlier 
if events warrant.

###


NASA OFFERS  RESOURCES FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II VISIT TO GODDARD

GREENBELT, Md. - Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of 
Edinburgh, will visit NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in 
Greenbelt, Md., on Tuesday, May 8. Goddard is home to the largest 
organization of scientists and engineers in the United States 
dedicated to learning and sharing knowledge of the Earth, sun, solar 
system and universe. 


The main Web site for information updates and images as they become 
available:

http://www.nasa.gov/goddard 

Live television coverage highlights will include a call to crew aboard 
International Space Station, a welcoming event with NASA employees 
and a tree planting ceremony at Goddard's visitor center.

NASA TV will air live coverage from approximately 10 a.m. - Noon EDT. 
Video of the visit will run on the NASA TV media channel (#103) at 
Noon, 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. NASA Television information and real-time 
schedule updates will be available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv  

NASA Television is carried on an MPEG-2 digital signal accessed via 
satellite AMC-6, at 72 degrees west longitude, transponder 17C, 4040 
MHz, vertical polarization. A Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) - 
compliant Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD) with modulation of 
QPSK/DBV, data rate of 36.86 and FEC of 3/4 is needed for reception. 
NASA TV Multichannel Broadcast includes Public Services Channel 
(#101), the Education Channel (#102) and the Media Services Channel 
(#103). 

	
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