[sarex] Crew Prepares for Next Week's Russian Spacewalk

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Crew Prepares for Next Week's Russian Spacewalk*

ISS015-E-08237 --- Fyodor Yurchikhin (left), Oleg Kotov (right) and 
Sunita WilliamsImage above: Fyodor Yurchikhin (left), Oleg Kotov (right) 
and Sunita Williams photographed during a teleconference in the Zvezda 
Service Module. Image credit: NASA
TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html


In preparation for next week's spacewalk, Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin 
collected tools such as tethers, wire ties, bungees, a hammer, cutter, 
scissors, a pry bar and the spacewalk tool caddy. Yurchikhin and Flight 
Engineer Oleg Kotov then assembled the spacewalk tool and equipment 
carryout bundle.

Flight Engineer Sunita Williams held a teleconference with the next 
Expedition 15 crew member, Clayton Anderson, who will replace her in 
June. These exchanges begin the handover process prior to the arrival of 
the next crew.

Each crew member took the periodic hearing test to assess the 
effectiveness of acoustic countermeasures. The test involved 
measurements for each ear over a wide range of frequencies (0.25-10 kHz) 
and sound pressure levels. The baseline test is required not later than 
about two weeks after the start of each new expedition and is then 
generally performed once per month.

The next station reboost is scheduled for May 23 at about 7:30 p.m. EDT, 
using the ISS Progress 25 thrusters. The purpose of the maneuver is to 
position the station for the STS-117 launch in June.

+ Read more about the Progress 25 docking 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition15/exp15_progress25_launch.html>
+ Read more about Expedition 15 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition15/index.html>
+ View crew daily timelines 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/timelines/index.html>