Space Station (ISS) Status 8/26/05

Source: NASA

The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) unloaded cargo delivered last month on the Space Shuttle Discovery. They also prepared for the arrival of more supplies and repaired a key component of the environmental control system.

In the fifth month of their six-month mission, Expedition 11 Commander Sergei Krikalev and NASA Flight Engineer and Science Officer John Phillips finished unpacking cargo bags transferred to the Station's Zarya module from Discovery three weeks ago. All the unpacked items were entered into the Station's computerized inventory system. The crew will also unload bags stowed in the Unity and Zvezda modules.

Today, the crew began loading the Progress resupply craft docked at the aft end of Zvezda with trash and unneeded gear. The spacecraft will undock from the complex at 6:23 a.m. EDT, Sept. 7. It will fire its engines; enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up over the Pacific Ocean.

At 9:08 a.m. EDT, Sept. 8, a new Progress, the 19th to visit the Station, will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Filled with more than 2.5 tons of food, fuel, oxygen, water and spare parts, the spacecraft will automatically dock to the ISS at 10:50 a.m. EDT, Sept. 10. The docking will be broadcast live on NASA TV.

A new liquids unit for the Russian Elektron oxygen-generation system, which failed several months ago, will be on board the Progress. The liquids unit circulates water through the Elektron, separating it through electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is vented over board and the oxygen is circulated into the Station's atmosphere for breathing.

While Elektron has been inactive, oxygen from the Progress tanks was used to repressurize cabin atmosphere. Multiple sources of oxygen, with ample supplies, are available for use by the crew.

On Tuesday, Krikalev repaired the Vozdukh carbon dioxide removal system by replacing a faulty valve. Vozdukh shut down late last week, prompting the temporary use of another air-scrubbing system, the U.S. Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly in the Destiny Laboratory.

Also on Tuesday, Krikalev and Phillips discussed life and work aboard the Station with students gathered at the Cincinnati Museum Center in Ohio. The educational event was broadcast to schools in the Ohio Valley.

On Wednesday, Phillips replaced a failed laptop computer used to house inventory and information about the Station's medical supplies. The computer experienced problems three weeks ago during Discovery's visit.

The Expedition 11 crew also spent 90 minutes Wednesday practicing emergency procedures during an exercise that simulated the rapid depressurization of the Station's cabin. Rehearsals of this nature are conducted periodically to maintain proficiency for the crew and flight controllers.

In addition to exercise and routine maintenance, the crew stowed spacewalking tools used last week during their excursion outside the Pirs Docking Compartment to retrieve experiments and hardware. The spacewalk was the only one planned for Expedition 11.