Space Station (ISS) Status 9/2/05

Source: NASA

The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) completed 20 weeks in space, focused on an upcoming cargo ship exchange and computer software transition.

Expedition 11 Commander Sergei Krikalev and NASA Flight Engineer and Science Officer John Phillips packed the docked ISS Progress 18 supply ship with items no longer needed on the Station. The unpiloted cargo craft undocks from the Zvezda module at 6:23 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Sept. 7. The Progress will burn up in Earth's atmosphere above the Pacific Ocean.

A new supply ship, ISS Progress 19, launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 9:08 a.m. EDT, Thursday, Sept. 8 and docks at 10:50 a.m. EDT, Sept. 10. It will deliver approximately 5,000 pounds of food, water, fuel, clothing and other supplies. It will also deliver a new liquids unit for the Elektron, a primary oxygen-generating system, and spare parts for the Vozdukh carbon dioxide removal system.

Krikalev and Phillips prepared new laptop computers for a software upgrade. They also conducted a routine rehearsal of emergency procedures, simulating an emergency departure from the Station in the Soyuz. The crew members also checked out new blood pressure and electrocardiograph equipment delivered by the Space Shuttle last month.

On Monday, Phillips conducted an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting for a series celebrating the bicentennial of the exploration of the American West. Phillips talked about the similarities and differences of space exploration and the journey of Lewis and Clark.