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Soyuz TMA-12

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AKA: Eridanus; ISS EO-17; ISS-16S. Launched: 2008-04-08. Returned: 2008-10-24. Number crew: 2 . Duration: 198.68 days.

Mission plan was as follows:

• Launch of two EO-17 crewmembers (Russian cosmonauts S.A. Volkov and O.D. Kononenko) and EP-14 third-seat (South Korean Yi So-yeon) aboard the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft on Flight ISS-16S
• Docking of Soyuz TMA-12 to the ISS Pirs Docking Compartment
• Implementation of the Korea Astronaut Program (KAP) onboard the ISS during the EP-14 mission
• Operational support for Soyuz TMA-11 loading and undocking from FGB Zarya. Soyuz TMA-11 would return the EO-16 crew and Korean EP-14 astronaut to earth.
• Operational support for Space Shuttle docking on Flight STS-124/ISS-1J.
• Replacement of the EO-16 NASA crewmember (Reisman) with the NASA EO-17 crewmember (Chamitoff) via the STS-124 Space Shuttle.
• Soyuz TMA-12 relocation from the DC Pirs to FGB Zarya docking port
• Operational support for the Progress M-64 docking to the Pirs Docking Compartment Pirs and its unloading
• Loading and undocking of ATV-1 from the SM Instrument Compartment;
• Operational support for the Progress M-01M docking to SM IC
• Operational support for Progress M-64 loading and undocking from DC Pirs
• Operational support for the Progress M-65 docking to Docking Compartment Pirs and its unloading
• Operational support for Space Shuttle docking on Flight STS-126/ULF-2 (this was delayed to the EO-18 mission due to NASA delays in shuttle launch).
• Rotation of one EO-17 NASA crewmember on the STS-126 Space Shuttle (Magnus replacing Chamitoff; this was delayed to the EO-18 flight)
• Performance of one ISS Russian Segment extravehicular activity (EVA)
• Performance of reboost operations using ATV-1 thrusters
• Maintenance of the station
• Performance of the science and application research program and experiments (Relaksatsia, Uragan, Vsplesk, Profilaktika, Sonocard, Pilot, Dykhanie, Pnevmocard, BIMS, Biorisk, Plasmida, Regeneratsia, Matroshka-R, Diatomeya, Lactolen, ARIL, OCHB, Biotrek, Conjugatsia, Biodegradatsia, Bioemulsiya, Zhenshen-2, Antigen, Plasma Crystal, Identifikatsiya, Bar, Ekon, Plasma-MKS, Plasma-Progress, Ten'-Mayak, BTN-Neutron, MATI-75), as well as contract-based commercial activities (GTS-2, NOA)
• Support for arrival of the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft and handover to the EO-18. Soyuz TMA-13 would also bring the EP-15 space tourist (R Garriott).
• Return of the EO-17 crewmembers and the EP-15 tourist aboard Soyuz TMA-12

Family: Manned spaceflight. People: Kononenko, Skripochka, Surayev, Volkov, Sergey. Spacecraft: Soyuz TMA. More at: 7894.

• Soyuz TMA-12 - . Call Sign: Eridanus. Crew: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey, Yi Soyeon. Return Crew: Garriott, Richard, Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Payload: Soyuz TMA s/n 222. Mass: 7,200 kg (15,800 lb). Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Garriott, Richard, Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey, Yi Soyeon. Agency: RKA. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz TMA. Duration: 198.54 days. Decay Date: 2008-04-19 08:29:00 . USAF Sat Cat: 32756 . COSPAR: 2008-015A. Apogee: 343 km (213 mi). Perigee: 336 km (208 mi). Inclination: 51.6000 deg. Period: 91.30 min.

  Launched the EO-17 long-duration crew to replace the EO-16 crew. The commander was the son of cosmonaut Aleksandr Volkov. Also aboard was Oleg Kononenko (no relation to the 1970's Buran pilot of the same name) and Korean astronaut Yi Soyeon. Soyuz TMA-12 docked at the Pirs module of the International Space Station on 2008 Apr 10 at 12:57 GMT on 10 April. Volkov and Kononenko stayed aboard as the EO-17 long duration crew. Yi returned to earth with the EO-16 crew aboard Soyuz TMA-11. Soyuz TMA-12 undocked on 24 October at 00:16 GMT with the EO-17 crew of Kononenko and Volkov, plus space tourist Richard Garriott, aboard. They landed safely at 03:37 GMT.

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/09/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Soyuz TMA-12/16S, with Expedition 17 crewmembers CDR Sergei Alexandrovich Volkov (CDR) and Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko (FE-1), plus Korean SFP (Spaceflight Participant) So-Yeon Yi, 14th Visiting Crewmember (VC) to spend time on the station, continues to catch up with the ISS for the docking tomorrow morning at ~9:02am EDT.

  (FD1 activities yesterday included the first two maneuver burns, DV1 (10:57am) & DV2 (11:50am), both with the SKD main engine. FD2 activities, started yesterday afternoon with Soyuz crew wakeup at ~4:05pm on Orbit 12, include systems & crew health status reports to TsUP, preparation of the Soyuz Habitation Module (SA) workspace, building attitude for and executing the DV3 burn, placing Soyuz back in its sun-spinning "barbecue" mode (ISK), and swapping CO2 absorption cartridges (LiOH) in the BO. Afterwards, the crewmembers will put on their Sokol suits and PKO biomed harnesses, transfer to the SA, activate its air purification system (SOA) and close the hatch to the Descent Module (BO). After activation of the active Kurs-A system on Soyuz and of the passive Kurs-P on the Service Module (SM), with a short Kurs-A/P test and several additional adjustment burns during automated rendezvous, station fly-around to align with the DC1 Docking Compartment will begin tomorrow at ~8:37am at ~400m range, followed by station keeping at ~160m (~8:46am) and docking at the DC1 port at ~9:02am. Volkov & Kononenko will replace Expedition 16 CDR Whitson & FE-1 Malenchenko. FE-2 Dr. Garrett Reisman remains on the station, joining Expedition 17 until early June when he is replaced by U.S. Astronaut Gregory E. Chamitoff on STS-124/1J. So-Yeon Yi, the 30-year old biotechnologist student from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology) and South Korea's first astronaut, will return with Peggy & Yuri on 4/19 in Soyuz TMA-11/15S.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/10/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  The ISS crew's work/sleep cycle shifted this morning, from wakeup at 2:00am to 5:00am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 9:30pm, from 5:30pm).

  Work period will shift again tomorrow (6:20am -5:50pm) and on 4/12 (2:10am -5:40pm).

  
  Yest kasaniya! Soyuz TMA-12/16S docked smoothly at the DC1 port at 8:57am EDT, five minutes ahead of time, with Expedition 17 crewmembers CDR Sergei Volkov and FE-1 Oleg Kononenko, plus Korean SFP (Spaceflight Participant) So-Yeon Yi, 14th Visiting Crewmember (VC). After about 1.5 hrs spent in Soyuz on pre-transfer activities, the crew opened hatches, followed by crew transfer, the traditional joyful welcome event and the installation of the BZV QD (quick disconnect) clamps by Volkov and Kononenko at ~12:10pm. (After successful "kasaniya" (contact), automatic "sborka" (closing of Soyuz & DC1 port hooks & latches) took place shortly thereafter (~9:07am) while ISS was in free drift. Attitude control authority had been handed over to the Russian MCS (Motion Control System) at ~5:25am and was returned to US CMG control at ~10:05am. For the 16S docking, Russian thrusters were disabled during Soyuz volume pressurization and clamp installation; they were afterwards returned to active attitude control (~12:30pm). Before hatch opening, the crew performed leak checks of the Soyuz modules and the Soyuz/ISS interface vestibule. They then doffed their Sokol suits and set them up for drying (~1:05pm), deactivated the Atmosphere Purification Unit (BOA) in the Descent Module (SA), replaced the Soyuz ECLSS LiOH cartridges, equalized Soyuz/ISS pressures, and put the spacecraft into conservation mode on ISS integrated power.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/11/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Day 2 of joint E16/E17 operations.

  The crew's work/sleep cycle shifted again, from yesterday's wakeup at 5:00am to 6:20am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:50pm, from 9:30pm). Work period will shift again tomorrow (to 2:20am -5:50pm).

  Aboard ISS, the E16/E17 crew rotation/handover period went underway with full activity schedules for all six residents involved.

  CDR-17 Sergei Volkov and FE-1-16 Yuri Malenchenko conducted a communications test between the two docked Soyuz vehicles (15S/16S), checking out comm systems both via hard-line mode (MBS) and S-band, and VHF mode on two channels, including the ground (TsUP-Moscow). (The test was also intended to provide multi-segment comm procedure training. Systems were reconfigured to nominal mode afterwards.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/13/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Day 4 of joint E16/E17 operations by CDR-16 Peggy Whitson, FE-1-16 Yuri Malenchenko, FE-2-17 Garrett Reisman, CDR-17 Sergei Volkov, FE-1-17 Oleg Kononenko and SFP/VC14 So-Yeon Yi.

  Sunday. Ahead: Week 26 of Increment 16.

  The crew's work/sleep cycle again was adjusted slightly, from yesterday's wakeup at 2:20am to 2:10am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:40pm). Tomorrow, work period will be adjusted by 5 min (to 2:15am -5:45pm).

  Aboard ISS, the E16/E17 crew rotation/handover period went underway with full activity schedules for all six residents involved. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko had several hours crewtime between them for dedicated CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities. In addition, there are 'generic' handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/14/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Day 5 of joint E16/E17 operations by CDR-16 Peggy Whitson, FE-1-16 Yuri Malenchenko, FE-2-17 Garrett Reisman, CDR-17 Sergei Volkov, FE-1-17 Oleg Kononenko and SFP/VC14 So-Yeon Yi.

  Underway: Week 26 of Increment 16.

  The crew's work/sleep cycle again was adjusted slightly, from yesterday's wakeup at 2:10am to 2:15am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:45pm). Tomorrow, work period will again be adjusted by 5 min (to 2:20am -5:50pm).

  Aboard ISS, the E16/E17 crew rotation/handover period went underway with full activity schedules for all six residents involved. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko had several hours crewtime between them for dedicated CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities. In addition, there are 'generic' handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/15/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Kotov, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-10, Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Day 6 of joint E16/E17 operations by CDR-16 Peggy Whitson, FE-1-16 Yuri Malenchenko, FE-2-17 Garrett Reisman, CDR-17 Sergei Volkov, FE-1-17 Oleg Kononenko and SFP/VC14 So-Yeon Yi.

  Day 188 in space for Peggy & Yuri.

  The crew's work/sleep cycle again was adjusted slightly, from yesterday's wakeup at 2:15am to 2:20am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:50pm). Tomorrow, work period will again be adjusted by 5 min (to 2:15am -5:45pm).

  Aboard ISS, crew rotation/handover activities continued for all six residents involved. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko had several hours scheduled between them for dedicated ('functional') CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities; in addition, there are 'generic' handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/16/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Day 7 of joint E16/E17 operations by CDR-16 Peggy Whitson, FE-1-16 Yuri Malenchenko, FE-2-17 Garrett Reisman, CDR-17 Sergei Volkov, FE-1-17 Oleg Kononenko and SFP/VC14 So-Yeon Yi.

  Day 189 in space for Peggy & Yuri.

  The crew's work/sleep cycle again was adjusted slightly, from yesterday's wakeup at 2:20am to 2:15am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:45pm). Tomorrow, work period will be adjusted again (to 2:00am -12:00pm).

  Aboard ISS, crew rotation/handover activities continued for all six residents involved. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko had several hours scheduled between them for dedicated ('functional') CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities; in addition, there are 'generic' handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/18/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Day 9 of joint E16/E17 operations by CDR-16 Peggy Whitson, FE-1-16 Yuri Malenchenko, FE-2-17 Garrett Reisman, CDR-17 Sergei Volkov, FE-1-17 Oleg Kononenko and SFP/VC14 So-Yeon Yi.

  Day 191 in space for Peggy & Yuri.

  Last day before Soyuz 15S undocking, with the ISS crew on an irregular wake/sleep cycle:

  Sleep: 1:00am - 12:30pm EDT;
  Wake-up: 12:30pm - 4:45am (4/19); E16 departs @ 1:06am
  Sleep time for E17: 4:45am - 2:00am (4/20)

  The E16/E17 crew rotation/handover period is running down. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko are completing their joined crewtime for dedicated ("functional") CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities plus "generic" handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/20/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Drew, Kononenko, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Ahead: Week 1 of Increment 17 (with CDR Sergei Volkov, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko, FE-2 Garrett Reisman).

  Crew wake/sleep cycle has 'normalized', Today's wakeup - 2:00am, sleeptime - 5:30pm EDT.

  First activity this morning for FE-2 Reisman was to start on his FD30 (Flight Day 30) session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository. Reisman completed the all-day session, collecting urine samples for 24 hrs (to continue through tomorrow morning) and blood samples (for Serum & Heparin). (Garrett performed self-phlebotomy, i.e., drew his blood samples (from an arm vein) which were first allowed to coagulate in the Repository, then spun in the HRF2 RC (Human Research Facility 2/Refrigerated Centrifuge) and finally placed in MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). The RC was later powered off after a temperature reset to limit wear on the compressor, and cleaned. Background: NUTRITION is the most comprehensive in-flight study done by NASA to date of human physiologic changes during long-duration space flight; this includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage, nutritional assessments, and hormonal changes. The Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile currently required on all U.S. Astronauts collects blood and urine samples preflight and postflight. NUTRITION expands this protocol by also capturing in-flight samples and an additional postflight sample. Furthermore, additional measurements are included for samples from all sessions, including additional markers of bone metabolism, vitamin status, and hormone and oxidative stressor tests. The results will be used to better understand the impact of countermeasures (exercise and pharmaceuticals) on nutritional status and nutrient requirements. The Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile (MR016L), first started on two Mir crewmembers and then on all ISS US crews, nominally consists of two pre-flight and one post-flight analysis of nutritional status, as well as an in-flight assessment of dietary intake using the FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire). The current NUTRITION project has expanded MR016L testing in three ways: Addition of in-flight blood & urine collection (made possible by MELFI), normative markers of nutritional assessment, and a return session plus 30-day (R+30) session to allow evaluation of post-flight nutrition and implications for rehabilitation.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/21/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124. Underway: Week 1 of Increment 17 (with CDR Sergei Volkov, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko, FE-2 Garrett Reisman).. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/22/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  FE-1 Kononenko performed major periodic replacements on the SM(Service Module)'s ASU toilet facility, changing out replaceable parts with new components, such as a sensor unit (A8A-9060), two receptacles (PR and MP), four hoses, a T-connector, an elbow fitting, an indicator, a filter insert (F-V), and the pretreat container (E-K) with its hose.

  All old parts were discarded as trash. The KTO waste container is being kept for ~7 days. The activity was supported by ground specialist tagup. (E-K contains five liters of pre-treat solution, i.e., a mix of H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), CrO3 (chromium oxide, for oxidation and purple color), and H2O (water). The pre-treat liquid is mixed with water in a dispenser (DKiV) and used for toilet flushing.)

  In the US Lab, after inspecting, activating & configuring the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) facility, FE-2 Reisman initiated a new series of vacuum draws on the sample chamber by opening the vent and vacuum valves in preparation for CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2) experiment ops on 4/24. After configuring the EMCS for water reservoir replacement, Reisman then replaced the water reservoirs on both rotors and set EMCS switches to allow ground commanding of the facility. The setup was photo documented. (CSLM-2 examines the kinetics of competitive particle growth within a liquid matrix. During this process, small particles shrink by losing atoms to larger particles, causing the larger particles to grow (coarsen) within a liquid lead/tin matrix. This study defined the mechanisms and rates of coarsening that govern the manufacture with metals from turbine blades to dental amalgam fillings.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/24/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Before breakfast and exercise, CDR Volkov and FE-1 Kononenko completed their first session with the periodic Russian MedOps test "Hematokrit" (MO-10), which measures the red cell count of the blood, with FE-2 Reisman acting as CMO (Crew Medical Officer, Russian: Examiner).

  (The blood samples were drawn from a finger with a perforator lancet, then centrifuged in two microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit's minicentrifuge, and its hematocrit value was read off the tubes with a magnifying glass. It is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go down over time. After the exam, the data were saved in the IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer), and Kononenko stowed the equipment.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/27/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12. Sunday - crew off duty.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/28/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Underway: Week 2 of Increment 17.

  First thing in the morning, FE-2 Garrett Reisman worked in the JLP (Japanese Experiment Module Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section), performing the periodical status & shell temperature check from the MKAM (Minimum Keep-Alive Monitor) panel and calling down the temperatures via S-band.

  Later Reisman continued his support of the CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2) experiment in the activated MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) facility, initiating another evacuation sequence in preparation for final experiment operations scheduled Wednesday (4/30). (Evacuation activities consisted in closing vacuum vent valves, checking for acceptable humidity levels, and opening the SPU (Sample Processing Unit) water valve to initiate unattended vacuum prep, followed later by closing the SPU water valve, checking again for humidity levels in the sample chamber, and opening the vent valve and vacuum valve to initiate a vacuum draw on the sample chamber. The steps were later repeated for another SPU. CSLM-2 examines the kinetics of competitive particle growth within a liquid matrix. During this process, small particles shrink by losing atoms to larger particles, causing the larger particles to grow (coarsen) within a liquid lead/tin matrix. This study defined the mechanisms and rates of coarsening that govern the manufacture with metals from turbine blades to dental amalgam fillings.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 04/30/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Upon wake-up, FE-1 Kononenko terminated his first MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session, started last night, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground.

  At ~5:20pm EDT, just before sleep time, CDR Volkov will start his first overnight MBI-12 session. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/01/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Russian holiday: Spring and Labor Day.

  Also: Labor Day in Europe.

  Upon wake-up, CDR Volkov terminated his first MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session, started last night, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/02/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  CDR Sergey Volkov conducted the periodic auditing and restocking of the Russian SSVP (Docking and Internal Transfer System) accessory kits, located in the Soyuz BO (Orbital Compartment), FGB GA (Pressurized Adapter), FGB PGO (Instrumentation Cargo Compartment), Service Module PrK (SM Transfer Compartment), and DC1 (Docking Compartment).

  (Support equipment in the SSVP kits includes handles, caps, screwdrivers, extenders, quick-disconnect clamps, wrenches, etc.)

  FE-1 Oleg Kononenko serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated tonight at ~5:15pm EDT. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. Filter bed 1 was regenerated yesterday. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after last Tuesday's (4/29) Freon-218 spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/03/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Saturday - half-day off for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Reisman.

  To provide cooling for the ground-commanded activation of the U.S. CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly), FE-2 Reisman begun his workday by connecting the regular ITCS LTL (Internal Thermal Control System/Low Temperature Loop) coolant jumper connection to the LAB1D6 rack. (CDRA activation took place at 4:00am-5:15am EDT. The CDRA will operate over the weekend. Deactivation will occur when ppCO2 drops to 2.5 mmHG. Deactivation will be Sunday evening or early Monday morning.)

  The crew conducted the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough house cleaning. ("Uborka", normally done on Saturdays, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the Service Module (SM) dining table, other frequently touched surfaces and surfaces where trash is collected, as well as the FE's sleep station with a standard cleaning solution; also, fan screens and grilles are cleaned to avoid temperature rises. Special cleaning is also done every 90 days on the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) bacteria filters in the Lab. Additionally, as part of the weekly cleaning, Malenchenko performs an inspection of structural elements, cables and instruments behind SM panels for moisture.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/04/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Sunday - crew off duty.

  Ahead: Week 3 of Increment 17.

  Flight Engineer Kononenko conducted the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables and the weekly collection of the toilet flush (SP) counter and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP. (Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists of replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers, replacement of an EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine container, replacement of the KOV EDV at the SKV-2 air conditioner for the Elektron-intended water, and processing U.S. condensate water as it becomes available in a filled CWC from the Lab humidifier.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/05/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Reisman, Tani, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Underway: Week 3 of Increment 17.

  >>>Today 47 years ago (1961), the first U.S. Astronaut, Navy Commander Alan 'Big Al' Shepard Jr., launched into a suborbital flight of 15 minutes duration, reaching an altitude of 116 miles. This restored faith in the U.S. space program only 23 days after the Soviet space program launched Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit around the planet.<<<

  FE-2 Reisman supported the Japanese CW/RW (Cell Wall/Resist Wall) experiment in the MSG EMCS (Microgravity Science Glovebox/European Modular Cultivation System), removing and relocating EC1 (Experiment Container 1) and EC2 on Rotor A and Rotor B. (CW/RW operates in the EMCS facility in eight special ECs (Experiment Containers) which Garrett recently (3/30) installed on the centrifuges of the facility. The EMCS rack contains two rotating centrifuges, Rotor A & Rotor B, which can support a wide range of small plant & animal experiments under partial gravity conditions.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/07/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  FE-1 Kononenko completed the periodic servicing of the active Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System) by starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system.

  The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~4:55pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 (Khladon) spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/24, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

  CDR Volkov continued the current outfitting of the FGB with new stowage enclosures delivered by the ATV1 (Automated Transfer Vehicle 1), built in Russia to provide more efficient stowage spaces behind FGB panels and improve airflow/circulation. (Today's outfitting involved two more containers transferred in pieces from ATV stowage and their installation in the FGB zones 26 (panel 416) & 23B (panel 414), with bonding straps used for 23B.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/08/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Hint: watch tonight's 'The Colbert Report' on Comedy Central, at 11:30pm EDT! Before breakfast, CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Reisman began their workday with the periodic session of the Russian biomedical routine assessments PZEh-MO-7/Calf Volume Measurement (second for CDR and FE-1, third for FE-2.

  (Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures.)

  The FE-1 serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated tonight at ~5:15pm EDT. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. Filter bed 1 was regenerated yesterday. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/29, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/11/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16. Sunday - crew off duty.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/12/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Anderson, Clayton, Fossum, Garan, Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Underway: Week 4 of Increment 17.

  From the US voluntary 'job jar' task list, after wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Reisman downloaded the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data from his Actiwatch to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop. (To monitor his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Garrett wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout this week, for the last time. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.) Additional Details: here....

• Progress M-64 - . Payload: Progress M s/n 364. Mass: 7,056 kg (15,555 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: RKA. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned logistics spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Progress M. Duration: 137.02 days. Decay Date: 2008-09-08 . USAF Sat Cat: 32847 . COSPAR: 2008-023A. Apogee: 343 km (213 mi). Perigee: 336 km (208 mi). Inclination: 51.6000 deg. Period: 91.30 min.

  Unmanned space station resupply mission. Docked with the International Space Station at the Zarya port on 16 May. Undocked on 1 September at 19:47 GMT. It then flew for a week in independent orbit, carrying out the Plazma-Progress experiment. On 8 September at 20:47 GMT it was deorbited to destruction over the Pacific Ocean.

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/17/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Saturday - light duty day for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Reisman.

  Due to last night's extended duty after the Progress 29P arrival (5:39pm EDT), the crew had an additional 3.5 hrs sleep time this morning, i.e., wakeup - 5:30am EDT; sleep time tonight is back at the regular 5:30pm.

  For the ongoing US Sleep study, currently on his voluntary 'job jar' task list, FE-2 Garrett Reisman downloaded the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data after wakeup and before breakfast from his Actiwatch to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop. (To monitor his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, the Flight Engineer wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout this week, for the last time. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/18/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16. Sunday - crew off duty.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/19/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124. Crew off-duty day. Underway: Week 5 of Increment 17.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/20/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  CDR Volkov and FE-1 Kononenko had several hours between them for Progress 29P unloading and cargo transfers, while logging movements in the IMS (Inventory Management System).

  FE-2 Reisman meanwhile spent 2.5 hrs in the US Airlock (A/L) completing the previously initiated EVA tool configuration in preparation for the STS-124/1J spacewalks.

  Later, Reisman used the G1 video camcorder to take documentary footage of the EVA tools in their final configuration and the current state of the A/L, including mini workstations and contents of the ORU bags to be used, for review by EVA specialists on the ground.

  With the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) powered up and the VDS (Video Distribution Subsystem) configured by ground commanding, the FE-2 conducted the pre-launch checkout of the RWS (Robotics Workstations). Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/21/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Reisman, Tani, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Oleg Kononenko initiated the transfer of the potable water supplies brought up by Progress M-64 to the Service Module (SM)'s Rodnik water tanks (BV1, BV2).

  Later, the pumping equipment was dismantled and the activities were closed out. (After hooking up the plumbing connecting the 29P water tanks with the SM Rodnik tankage, the water was transferred at first in self-flow (under its own tank pressure), then using a compressor pump via a GZhS gas/liquid separator, to remove air bubbles in the water. The subsequent filling of the empty Progress tanks with urine will be scheduled later.)

  After CDR Volkov prepared the auditory test equipment, he, FE-1 Kononenko & FE-2 Reisman took the periodic O-OHA (on-orbit hearing assessment) test, a 30-min. NASA environmental health systems examination to assess the efficacy of acoustic countermeasures, using a special MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) laptop application. It was the second session for the three crewmembers. (The O-OHA audiography test involves minimum audibility measurements for each ear over a wide range of frequencies (0.25-10 kHz) and sound pressure levels, with the crewmembers using individual-specific Prophonics earphones, Bose ANC headsets and the SLM (sound level meter). To conduct the testing, the experimenter is supported by special EarQ software on the MEC, featuring an up/down-arrow-operated slider for each test frequency that the crewmember moves to the lowest sound pressure level at which the tone can still be heard. The baseline test is required not later than about Flight Day 14 for each new Expedition and is then generally performed once per month. Note: There have been temporary hearing deficits documented on some U.S. and Russian crewmembers, all of which recovered to pre-mission levels.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/22/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  CDR Volkov conducted the periodic servicing of the active Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System) by starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system.

  The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~5:15pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 (Khladon) spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/24, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

  Volkov & Kononenko spent another 2 hrs working jointly on cargo transfers & stowage from Progress 29P, tracking the moves in the IMS (Inventory Management System). Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/23/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Before breakfast, CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Reisman began their workday with the periodic session of the Russian biomedical routine assessments PZEh-MO-7/Calf Volume Measurement and PZEh-MO-8/Body Mass Measurement (second for CDR and FE-1, third for FE-2), using the IM mass measurement device which Oleg Kononenko afterwards broke down for stowage.

  (Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM "scales" measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember's mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/25/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Sunday - crew off duty.

  Ahead: Week 6 of Increment 17.

  The CDR conducted the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including the weekly collection of the toilet flush (SP) counter and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP. (Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.)

  Sergey also gathered weekly data on Total Operating Time & 'On' durations of the Russian POTOK-150MK (150 micron) air filter unit of the SM's SOGS air revitalization subsystem for reporting to TsUP. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/28/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Kotov, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-10, Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  For the long-term Russian sleep study, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko terminated his third MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session upon wake-up by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground.

  CDR Sergey Volkov in turn will start his third overnight MBI-12 session tonight. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/29/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan, Ham, Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Upon wake-up, CDR Sergey Volkov terminated his third MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session for the long-term Russian sleep study, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground.

  (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/30/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Drew, Fossum, Garan, Ham, Hoshide, Kelly, Mark, Kononenko, Nyberg, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  FE-2 Reisman conducted 'Week 6' sampling of potable water for chemical and microbial analysis from the SVO-ZV tap and two SRV-K taps, the latter after preliminary heating of the water (four heating cycles) and flushing.

  (Garrett collected three 450 mL samples (for postflight microbial analysis) and two 750 mL samples (for postflight chemical analysis) from each of three ports (SRV-K hot, SRV-K warm, SVO-ZV) for return on STS-124/1J. The small amounts of water used for flushing the equipment were later reclaimed from the flush bag.)

  CDR Volkov serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated tonight at ~5:15pm EDT. Filter bed #1 was regenerated yesterday. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/31/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan, Hoshide, Kelly, Mark, Kononenko, Love, Nyberg, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Saturday - a light-duty but long day for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Reisman.

  STS-124/Discovery (ISS-1J) lifted off right on time (5:02pm EDT) with all systems performing nominally, for ISS rendezvous on Monday (6/2), to dock at ~1:54pm EDT. At launch, the ISS was off Halifax/Canada, at 42.8 deg N Lat, 57.6 deg W Long. The Orbiter is carrying the seven-member crew of CDR Mark Kelly, PLT Ken Ham, MS1 Karen Nyberg, MS2 Ron Garan, MS3 Mike Fossum, MS4 Akihiko Hoshide & MS5 Greg Chamitoff. Chamitoff will replace ISS Flight Engineer 2 Garrett Reisman who returns on 6/14 (nominal) with STS-124. STS-124 is the 123rd space shuttle flight, the 35th flight for Discovery, the 26th flight to the station and the third Shuttle flight in 2008. Its primary payload, the largest so far, is the 32,000-lbs, 36.7-ft long JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) with its RMS (Remote Manipulator System). We are off to another great mission! (The eighth crewmember on board is a stow-away: Buzz Lightyear.) Additional Details: here....

• STS-124 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Chamitoff, Fossum, Garan, Ham, Hoshide, Kelly, Mark, Nyberg. Payload: Discovery F34 / Kibo PM / ISS-1J. Mass: 119,190 kg (262,760 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Chamitoff, Fossum, Garan, Ham, Hoshide, Kelly, Mark, Nyberg. Agency: NASA. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124, STS-124 ISS EO-17. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 13.76 days. Decay Date: 2008-06-14 . USAF Sat Cat: 32960 . COSPAR: 2008-027A. Apogee: 351 km (218 mi). Perigee: 338 km (210 mi). Inclination: 51.6000 deg. Period: 91.40 min.

  Discovery delivered to the International Space Station the Kibo Pressurized Module, the primary element of the Japanese portion of the station. Half an earth away from jettison of external tank ET-128, a 76 m/s OMS-2 burn at 21:40 GMT put the Shuttle in its low-altitude chase lorbit. Discovery docked at the PMA-2 port of the station at 18:03 GMT on 2 June. Using the shuttle and station's robotic arms, with assistance from spacewalking astronauts, the Kibo module was attached to the station's Harmony module at 23:01 GMT on 4 June. The previously-delivered Japanese Logistics Module was transferred from Harmony to Kibo on 6 June at 20:04 GMT. The Shuttle undocked from the station on 11 June at GMT and landed on 14 June at 15:15 GMT at the Kennedy Space Center.

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/01/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan, Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Sunday - a busy pre-docking day for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Reisman.

  Ahead: Week 7 of Increment 17.

  Aboard ISS, the shifted wake/sleep cycle began this morning at 6:32am EDT, with sleep time tonight at 10:02pm. (Setting the crew up for tomorrow's docking.)

  STS-124/Discovery (ISS-1J) continues its catch-up flight for the FD3 docking at ~1:54pm, to begin ISS Stage 1J. (Catch-up rate ~480 nmi. per revolution of ~91.5 min.). (Hatch opening expected at ~3:10pm, followed by Safety Briefing (~4:02pm), Soyuz seat liner transfer (for the Reisman/Chamitoff exchange), and preparations for the first spacewalk, EVA-1, by EV1 Fossum & EV2 Garan on 6/3, preceded by their overnight Campout tomorrow night in the Airlock (A/L) for denitrogenation/pre-breathe. Objectives of the nominal 14-day mission: Delivering & installing the JAXA Kibo laboratory, delivering new ISS-17 crewmember Greg Chamitoff, bringing Garrett Reisman back home and conducting a total of three EVAs. Landing will nominally be at KSC on FD15 (6/14) at ~11:02am EDT. OMS Anomaly: During ascent, the left OMS (Orbital Maneuvering System) secondary TVC (Thrust Vector Control) positions failed to null in both pitch and yaw, most likely due to a failure in its (independent) power supply. Left OMS is now parked, aligned through EOM CG (End-of-Mission Center-of-Gravity). Remaining on-orbit OMS burns will be single-engine using right OMS only. The deorbit burn will be dual-engine using the (active) primary TVC of the left OMS.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/02/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan, Ham, Hoshide, Kelly, Mark, Kononenko, Nyberg, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Underway: Week 7 of Increment 17.

  Flight Day 3 (FD3) of STS-124/1J. ISS crew work cycle today: wake 6:32am EDT; sleep 10:02pm.

  STS-124/Discovery docked smoothly at the PMA-2 (Pressurized Mating Adapter-2) port at 2:03pm EDT, nine minutes behind timeline, in darkness (orbital sunset ~1:23pm), after successfully completing the RPM (R-Bar Pitch Maneuver) in daylight at ~1:08pm and arriving at +V-Bar (straight in front of ISS) at ~1:11pm. The station now hosts ten occupants again as Mission 1J is underway. (The combined crew is comprised of ISS CDR Volkov, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko, FE-2 Garrett Reisman, STS CDR Mark Kelly, PLT Ken Ham, MS1 Karen Nyberg, MS2 Ron Garan, MS3 Mike Fossum, MS4 Akihiko Hoshide (Japan), and MS5/FE-2-17 Greg Chamitoff who replaces Reisman as FE-2, as the latter returns on Discovery as MS-5.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/03/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan, Hoshide, Kononenko, Love, Nyberg, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Flight Day 4 (FD4) of STS-124/1J.

  ISS crew work cycle remains unchanged: wake 6:32am EDT; sleep 10:02pm. Welcome to Expedition 17, Greg Chamitoff!

  Mission 1J's EVA-1 was completed successfully by Mike Fossum & Ron Garan in 6h 48min, accomplishing all its objectives. (During the spacewalk, Fossum (EV1) & Garan (EV2) -

  released an SRMS (Shuttle Remote Manipulator System) elbow camera launch lock,
  supported the transfer of the OBSS (Orbiter Boom Sensor System) from ISS to Shuttle RMS (~1:45pm),
  checked out MCAS RTL (Mobile Servicing System Common Attach System/Ready-to-Latch) operation (in preparation for ULF-2),
  prepared Node-2 port ACBM (Active Common Berthing Mechanism) for the installation of the JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) laboratory,
  opened Node-2 the nadir hatch window cover (in preparation for ULF-2),
  prepared the JPM for installation, i.e., disconnected/stowed an LTA (Launch-to-Activation) cable, removed Passive CBM contamination covers, and released the JPM forward window launch lock (~4:10pm)
  inspected the 'Datum A' surface of the Starboard SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint),
  performed a Stbd SARJ cleaning test using a scraper, wipes and a special grease, and
  re-installed the Stbd SARJ TBA-5 (Trundle Bearing Assembly #5) ~4:42pm.
  Official start time of the spacewalk was 12:22pm EDT, about 50 minutes behind the timeline (due to an issue with Fossum's 'Snoopy' comm cap), and it ended at 7:10pm. Total EVA duration (PET = Phase Elapsed Time) was 6h 48min. It was the 109th spacewalk for ISS assembly & maintenance and the 81st from the station (59 from Quest, 22 from Pirs, plus 28 from Shuttle) totaling 499h 35min, the first for Expedition 17 and the 10th so far this year. After today's EVA, a total of 139 spacewalkers (107 NASA astronauts, 21 Russians, and 11 astronauts representing Japan-1, Canada-4, France-1, Germany-2 and Sweden-3) have logged a total of 687h 57min outside the station on building, outfitting and servicing. It was the 131st spacewalk involving U.S. astronauts. Today was also the 43rd anniversary of the first US EVA, by Ed White on Gemini 4 (June 3, 1965).) Additional Details: here....

• EVA STS-124-1 - . Crew: Fossum, Garan. EVA Duration: 0.28 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-124. Transferred the OBSS back to the shuttle. Prepared the Japanese Kibo module for installation. Replaced a bearing assembly on the failed starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint..

• EVA STS-124-2 - . Crew: Fossum, Garan. EVA Duration: 0.30 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-124. Continued installation work on the Kibo module and began replacment of the starboard nitrogen tank assembly..

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/05/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan, Hoshide, Kelly, Mark, Kononenko, Nyberg, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Flight Day 6 (FD6) of STS-124/1J.

  ISS crew work cycle remains unchanged: wake 6:32am EDT; sleep 10:02pm.

  Crew activities aboard the ISS today centered on three major areas: (1) The second 1J spacewalk, (2) activation of the JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) Kibo, and (3) preparations for tomorrow's relocation of the JLP (Japanese Logistics Pressurized Module).

  Mission 1J's EVA-2 was completed successfully by Mike Fossum & Ron Garan in 7h 11min, accomplishing all its objectives. (During the spacewalk, Fossum (EV1) & Garan (EV2) - Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/06/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan, Hoshide, Kelly, Mark, Kononenko, Morgan, Nyberg, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Flight Day 7 (FD7) of STS-124/1J.

  ISS crew work cycle shift begins with an earlier sleeptime: wake 6:32am EDT; sleep 9:32pm (Shuttle crew remaining at 10:02pm).

  Crew activities aboard the ISS today centered on three major areas: (1) JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Module) relocation, (2) JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) Kibo outfitting, and (3) start of JEM RMS (Robotic Manipulator System) activation & checkout.

  JLP was successfully installed at its final location on the Kibo JPM at 4:04pm EDT. (After JLP/Node-2 vestibule demating and depressurization, MS1 Nyberg and FE-2-17 Chamitoff used the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) to grapple, unberth, transfer and reberth the JLPon Kibo's overhead port (1st stage capture 3:54pm, SSRMS wrist limped 3:58pm, 2nd stage capture with all 16 bolts 4:04pm). Karen, Greg & Aki Hoshide then latched the JPM overhead hatch via ratchet & crank handle, pressurized the connecting vestibule partially and initiated the standard vestibule gross leak check, later configuring the gear for the usual overnight fine leak check. After the installation, ISS attitude was maneuvered to the new TEA (Torque Equilibrium Attitude) which the addition of the JLP has changed. JLP was delivered on orbit by STS-123/Endeavour and docked at the Node-2 zenith port on 3/14.) Additional Details: here....

• EVA STS-124-3 - . Crew: Fossum, Garan. EVA Duration: 0.27 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-124. Finished outfitting the Kibo module and nitrogen tank replacement..

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/08/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Garan, Hoshide, Kelly, Mark, Kononenko, Nyberg, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Sunday -- Flight Day 9 (FD9) of STS-124/1J.

  Ahead: Week 8 of Increment 17.

  ISS crew work cycle shifted another 30 min. to the left: wake-up 5:32am EDT; sleep 8:32pm (Shuttle crew 30 min later: 9:02pm).

  Crew activities aboard the ISS centered on three major areas: (1) Spacewalk #3 (EVA-3), (2) more JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Module) outfitting, and (3) sample collections from Kibo air & surfaces plus Node-2 ITCS coolant.

  Mission 1J's EVA-3 was completed successfully by Mike Fossum & Ron Garan in 6h 33min, accomplishing all its objectives.
  (During the spacewalk, Fossum (EV1) & Garan (EV2) - Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/09/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fossum, Ham, Hoshide, Kelly, Mark, Kononenko, Nyberg, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Flight Day 10 (FD10) of STS-124/1J.

  Underway: Week 8 of Increment 17.

  ISS crew work cycle shifted another 30 min. to the left: wake-up 5:02am EDT; sleep 8:02pm (Shuttle crew 30 min later: 8:32pm).

  Crew activities aboard the ISS addressed five major areas: (1) IWIS Dedicated Thruster Firing, (2) JEM RMS Final Deployment, (3) R&R; of two A/L BCMs (Airlock Battery Charger Modules), (4) JLP/JPM vestibule final outfitting plus JLP ingress, (5) crew media conference & photo.

  For the biomed experiment INTEGRATED IMMUNE (Validating Procedures for Monitoring Crew member Immune Function), FE-2 Reisman collected a 'wet' saliva sample before breakfast while FE-2-17 Chamitoff collected his first dry saliva samples, five times during the day. (IMMUNE protocol requires the collection to occur first thing post-sleep, before eating, drinking and brushing teeth, and all samples are stored at ambient temperature. Along with NUTRITION (Nutritional Status Assessment), INTEGRATED IMMUNE samples & analyzes participant's blood, urine, and saliva before, during and after flight for changes related to functions like bone metabolism, oxidative damage and immune function to develop and validate an immune monitoring strategy consistent with operational flight requirements and constraints. The strategy uses both long and short duration crewmembers as study subjects. The saliva is collected in two forms, dry and liquid. The dry samples are collected at intervals during the collection day using a specialized book that contains filter paper. The liquid saliva collections require that the crewmember soak a piece of cotton inside their mouth and place it in a salivette bag; there are four of the liquid collections during docked operations.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/10/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Drew, Ham, Hoshide, Kelly, Mark, Kononenko, Nyberg, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Flight Day 11 (FD11) of STS-124/1J.

  JAXA/Japan to IMMT: 'Arigato Gozaimasu! This flight was 100% successful for the Kibo elements. Thank you to everyone involved for the excellent support in preparation and execution of this mission!'

  ISS crew work cycle (now including Greg Chamitoff) shifted another 30 min. to the left: wake-up 4:32am EDT; sleep 7:32pm (Shuttle crew 30 min later: 8:02pm, now including Garrett Reisman).

  Crew activities aboard the ISS stack addressed five major areas: (1) Waste water dump from the Orbiter, (2) installation of JEM RMS Backup drive system, (3) PAO event, (4) Crew Sayonara, (5) hatches closing & ODS leak check. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/12/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  First day alone for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff.

  Off-duty day for the crew (except for necessary maintenance and voluntary tasks).

  
  Russian Holiday: Russia Day, established by Boris Yeltsin to celebrate national unity after the Russian parliament in 1990 formally declared its sovereignty.

  ISS crew sleep cycle returned to the nominal schedule of 2:00am - 5:30pm EDT.

  Upon wake-up, Sergey Volkov terminated his 4th MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session for the long-term Russian sleep study, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/13/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Before breakfast, CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff began their workday with the periodic session of the Russian biomedical routine assessment PZEh-MO-7/Calf Volume Measurement (third for CDR and FE-1, first for FE-2).

  (Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures.)

  The FE-1 performed the periodic service of the active Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System) by starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~4:30pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. The BMP's regeneration cycle is normally done every 20 days.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/15/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12. Sunday -- off-duty for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/16/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Today 45 years ago (June 16, 1963), Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova became the first woman to orbit the earth.

  Launched on Vostok 6, Mayor General Tereshkova (Codename Chaika, 'Seagull'), 26 years old at that time, orbited the earth 48 times in 2d 22h 50m. Underway: Week 9 of Increment 17.

  FE-2 Chamitoff ended his FD15 session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository, his first, by collecting a final urine sample upon wakeup for storage in the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). The sampling kit was then stowed away. Greg's next NUTRITION activity will be the FD30 session. (The current NUTRITION project is the most comprehensive in-flight study done by NASA to date of human physiologic changes during long-duration space flight. It includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage, nutritional assessments, and hormonal changes, expanding the previous Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile (MR016L) testing in three ways: Addition of in-flight blood & urine collection (made possible by MELFI), normative markers of nutritional assessment, and a return session plus 30-day (R+30) session to allow evaluation of post-flight nutrition and implications for rehabilitation.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/17/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Major focus for CDR Volkov and FE-1 Kononenko today was on Orlan spacesuit activities in the DC1 'Pirs' Docking Compartment, to extend for the next several days.

  And preparing spacewalk hardware for the EVA-20 on 7/10 and prior simulation exercises.
  After configuring the DC1 communications system for their presence, Sergey & Oleg -

  Readied and checked out replaceable components (OTA) and auxiliary gear for their particular Orlan "skafandr" suits (i.e., portable primary & reserve O2 tanks (BK-3), storage batteries (825M3), LiOH canisters (PL-9), moisture collectors, liquid cooling garments (KVO), comm headsets (ShL-10), gloves (GP-10K), thermal comfort undergarments (BK-10), socks, diapers, filters for feedwater lines (FOR), Orlan CO2 measurement units (IK), degassing pump unit (BOS), etc.),
  Configured & tested the EVA support panels (POV) in the DC1 and SM PkhO (Service Module Transfer Compartment) (to be used for leak checks and valve tests on the Orlan suits, their BSS interface units & the hatch KVDs (pressure equalization valves)),
  Activated & inspected their spacesuits plus a third Orlan for training/testing (Orlan #27 (red stripe) for Volkov, #26 (blue stripe) for Kononenko, #25 for testing & training),
  Terminated the charging on the 825M3 battery pack started yesterday,
  Activated the training Orlan #25 and equipped it with the BRTA-25 telemetry system,
  Installed the 825M3 battery pack in the #25 backpack, and
  Reset the DC1 comm system to its regular configuration.
  In the U.S. 'Quest' Airlock, FE-2 Chamitoff - Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/18/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14.

  Today 25 years ago (June 18, 1983), Sally K. Ride became the first US woman to orbit the Earth.

  Launched on STS-7/Challenger, 32 years old at that time, she and her crew (CDR Bob Crippen) spent 6d 2h 23m in space.

  Before breakfast & first exercise, Volkov, Kononenko and Chamitoff completed a full session with the Russian crew health monitoring program's medical assessment MO-9/Biochemical Urinalysis. Afterwards, the FE-1 closed out and stowed the Urolux hardware. (MO-9 is conducted every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs) and is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for U.S. crewmembers for IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) evaluation as part of the "PHS/Without Blood Labs" exam. The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus Urolux developed originally for the Mir program. Afterwards, the data are entered in the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer)'s special IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program).) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/19/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Small sleep cycle shift: The crew goes to sleep half an hour earlier tonight for a 30-min earlier wakeup tomorrow morning in support of the Orlan training exercise, enabling suit telemetry over RGS (Russian Groundsites).

  Volkov & Kononenko completed the two-hour Part 2 of their second onboard 'Profilaktika' (MBI-8, 'Countermeasures') series of preventive health maintenance fitness testing on the treadmill, assisting each other in turn. (Today's fitness test was performed on the TVIS in unmotorized (idle) mode, with free choice of speeds within the range permitted. The test investigates the action mechanism and efficiency of various countermeasures (currently VELO and TVIS) aimed at preventing locomotor system disorders in weightlessness. The test differs from the normal TVIS session by the use of the TEEM-100 gas analyzer (via a mask equipped with a pneumotachometer sensor), measurement of blood lactate level and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test. The lactate blood samples were taken twice at the end of the session, using the ACCUSPORT analyzer and REFLOTRON-4 accessories. Results were entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data were transferred to the RSE-Med laptop, also on a tape cassette (Cardiocassette-2000), and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/20/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Tani, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-120 ISS EO-16.

  Crew wake-up was half an hour earlier (1:30am EDT) for the Orlan training exercise, enabling suit telemetry over RGS (Russian Groundsites).

  Sleep time tonight will be back at regular time (5:30pm).

  In the DC1 'Pirs', the CDR & FE-1 continued preparations for the EVA-20 on 7/10-11, with the DC1 comm links configured for their presence. Activities by Volkov & Kononenko today focused on

  Functional testing of the Russian BETA-08 ECG (electrocardiogram) lead cable belts, worn under the Orlan-M suits, using the Gamma-1M medical complex from the PKO medical exam panel,
  Transmission tests, after setting up the Orlan 'Tranzit' communications links via the suits' BRTA radio telemetry units, with the ground via RGS VHF, for spacesuit voice, telemetry & biomedical parameters; followed by
  Restoring nominal communications setup in the DC1, and
  Configuring the backup Orlan #25 for stowage mode, leaving Orlans #26 (FE-1) & #27 (CDR) ready for use on the upcoming spacewalk.
  In the U.S. 'Quest' Airlock, FE-2 Chamitoff continued post-1J EVA activities, terminating the 13-hr discharge process on the last 16-volt EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) battery in the BCM-3 (Battery Charger Module 3) from yesterday. (BCM-4 is currently nonfunctional. The discharge process, originally handled manually by a crewmember, is an automated procedure controlled from an A31p SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop with a special DOS application.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/21/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Simonyi, Volkov, Sergey, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-10 ISS EP-12, Soyuz TMA-12, STS-122, STS-123.

  Saturday - lightened-duty day for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff.

  Today is Kononenko's 44th birthday.

  
  Happy Birthday, Oleg Dmitriyevich!

  Volkov & Kononenko completed a review of flight procedures plus the standard 3-hr. training drill for a Soyuz TMA-12/16S relocation from the DC1 Docking Module to the FGB nadir port, supported by ground specialists via tagup on S-band/VHF-audio. (Should 'Pirs' fail to repressurize after ingress of the two spacewalkers on 7/11, a relocation of the Soyuz, docked to the DC1 nadir port with FE-2 Chamitoff already safely locked out in the 16S Descent Module, would become necessary. In addition, for the relocation the three crewmembers and the spacecraft will have to be prepared for a return to Earth in the event of a no-docking contingency, and the station has to be configured for uncrewed operation (for which intense planning is underway at NASA, ESA, and TsUP-Moscow). Today's 3-hr. OBT (on-board training) included Soyuz procedures and data analysis for ascent/descent, orbital flight and relocation as contained in RODF (Russian Operations Data File) books, tag-up with instructor, OBT simulator work on the RSK1 laptop, etc. It is assumed that Soyuz activation would be performed on 7/11 over RGS (Russian Groundsite) on DO13 (Daily Orbit 13), closure of hatch on DO15, undocking from DC1 on DO2 (~5:28pm EDT on 7/11), flyaround (~5:34pm) and redocking at FGB at ~5:56pm (DO2).) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/22/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Simonyi, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-10 ISS EP-12, Soyuz TMA-12, STS-124. Sunday -- off-duty for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/23/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Nyberg, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-124.

  Underway: Week 10 of Increment 17.

  CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff began their workday before breakfast with the periodic session of the Russian biomedical routine assessments PZEh-MO-7/Calf Volume Measurement & PZEh-MO-8/Body Mass Measurement (fourth for CDR & FE-1, second for FE-2), using the IM mass measurement device which Sergey Volkov broke down afterwards for stowage. (Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM "scales" measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember's mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/24/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Tani, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Before breakfast and exercise, all crewmembers completed a 10-min session with the periodic Russian MedOps test "Hematokrit" (MO-10), which measures the red cell count of the blood, with CDR Volkov acting as CMO (Crew Medical Officer, Russian: Examiner).

  It was the second session for Volkov & Kononenko, the first for Chamitoff. (The blood samples were drawn from a finger with a perforator lancet, then centrifuged in two microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit's minicentrifuge, and its hematocrit value was read off the tubes with a magnifying glass. It is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go down over time. After the exam, the data were saved in the IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer), and Kononenko stowed the equipment.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/25/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-122, STS-124.

  Crew sleep cycle shift: After wake-up at the regular 2:00am EDT this morning, the crew will begin their sleeptime at 2:30pm.

  Three hours earlier than usual, followed by a late-night wakeup at 11:00pm, to adjust the planned Orlan-suited dry-run & Soyuz ingress training for live VHF telemetry/comm visibility over RGS (Russian Groundsites). Tomorrow's sleep period begins at 3:30pm and extends to the regular 2:00am on 6/27 (Friday). The crew will then have half the day off to recover from the sleep shift.

  Upon wake-up, FE-1 Kononenko terminated his fifth MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session, started last night, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/26/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Nyberg, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-122, STS-124.

  Today at ~9:55am EDT, the ISS (specifically its FGB module) completed 55,000 orbits of the Earth, having covered a distance of 2.

  2 billion kilometers (1.45 billion st.miles) in 3506 days. The 19,300 kg (42,600 lbs) Zarya ('Dawn') was launched on a Russian/Khrunichev Proton from Baikonur over 9.5 years ago (11/20/98) as the first element of the multi-national space station.<<<<

  Current sleep cycle: Crew wakeup last night: 11:00pm EDT; sleeptime today: 3:30pm. Wakeup tomorrow: back at 2:00am, for a half-duty day.

  Crew activities focused on a thorough Orlan systems checkout and suited exercise in preparation for the EVA-20a on 7/10. The successful Orlan-suited dry run demonstrated that in the case of a contingency situation during the spacewalk, the crew would be able to ingress the Soyuz module while still in their Orlan suits. The activities were recorded on VTR (Video Tape Recorder) by camcorder equipment set up by FE-2 Chamitoff. (Plans for live TV downlink during the run had to be scrapped because a necessary drag-through cable could not be located in time.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/27/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Nyberg, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-122.

  Half-day rest for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff.

  Crew Sleep Cycle Adjustments: Crew wake/sleep cycle today is back on normal (2:00am-5:30pm) but will shift forward again starting tomorrow morning, by 3.5 hrs, throughout next week for the Orlan EVA on 7/10: wakeup - 5:30am, sleep - 9:00pm EDT.

  Oleg Kononenko started his workday by taking the periodic readings of potentially harmful atmospheric contaminants in the SM (Service Module), using the CMS (Countermeasure System), a component of the GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer suite, which uses preprogrammed microchips to measure H2CO (Formaldehyde, methanal), CO (Carbon Monoxide) and NH3 (Ammonia), taking one measurement per microchip. Today's measurements also looked for O3 (Ozone), C6H6 (Benzene) and NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide), using special chips. (CMS is a subsystem of the Russian SKDS Pressure Control & Atmosphere Monitoring System.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/28/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Saturday - off duty for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff.

  Crew Sleep Cycle Adjustments: Crew wake/sleep cycle today shifted 3.5 hrs to the right for the next days: wakeup - 5:30am, sleep - 9:00pm EDT.

  Upon wake-up, Sergey Volkov terminated his fifth MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session for the long-term Russian sleep study, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/29/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Sunday -- off-duty for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff.

  Ahead: Week 11 of Increment 17.

  Crew Sleep Cycle: Wake/sleep cycle currently remains shifted to the right (5:30am - 9:00pm EDT).

  The FE-1 performed the periodic service of the active Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System) by starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed 1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~8:30pm EDT. Bed 2 regeneration follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. The BMP's regeneration cycle, normally done every 20 days, is currently performed four times more frequently to remove any lingering Freon-218 from the cabin atmosphere (last time: 6/19&20).) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 06/30/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Underway: Week 11 of Increment 17.

  Crew Sleep Cycle: Wake/sleep cycle remains right-shifted (5:30am - 9:00pm EDT).

  After readying the equipment for the US PHS (Periodic Health Status) w/Blood Labs exam, FE-2 Chamitoff underwent the clinical evaluation as subject, using the PCBA(Portable Clinical Blood Analyzer), assisted by CDR Volkov as CMO (Crew Medical Officer) for the blood draw. The second part of PHS, Subjective Clinical Evaluation, was performed afterwards. All data were then logged on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) and the hardware stowed. (The PHS exam, with PCBA analysis and clinical evaluation, is guided by special software (IFEP, In-Flight Examination Program) on the MEC laptop. While PCBA analyzes total blood composition, the blood's hematocrit is particularly measured by the Russian MO-10 protocol.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 07/01/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Today 46 years ago (7/1/62), Cape Canaveral, FL was established as NASA's Launch Operations Center, under its first director, Dr. Kurt Debus.

  Crew Sleep Cycle: Wake/sleep cycle remains right-shifted (5:30am - 9:00pm EDT).

  As part of the crew's regular morning inspection tour, FE-1 Kononenko began his workday with the routine checkup of DC1 (Docking Compartment) circuit breakers and fuses. (The monthly checkup in the 'Pirs' module looks at AZS circuit breakers on the BVP Amp Switch Panel (they should all be On) and the LEDs (light-emitting diodes) of 14 fuses in fuse panels BPP-30 & BPP-36.)

  After resetting STTS communication/telemetry links for their stay in the DC1, Volkov & Kononenko continued preparations for the Orlan EVA-20A on 7/10. Today's focus, supported by ground specialist tagup, dealt with - Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 07/02/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Crew Sleep Cycle: Wake/sleep cycle remains right-shifted (5:30am - 9:00pm EDT).

  Continuing preparations for the two upcoming Russian Orlan EVAs, CDR Volkov & FE-1 Kononenko today focused on the second spacewalk, EVA-20, starting out with a three-hour review of familiarization material, watching a training video, and studying the preliminary EVA timeline (details, see below).

  Later, Volkov gathered equipment and tools for EVA-20, going by an uplinked search list and supported by ground specialist tagup. (Besides two well-stocked tool kits, EVA-20 equipment includes the new VSPLESK ('Burst) science payload, a container for the BIORISK-MSN payload and a mounting platform.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 07/03/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Love, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Crew Sleep Cycle: Wake/sleep cycle remains right-shifted (5:30am - 9:00pm EDT).

  Continuing preparations for the two upcoming Orlan EVAs, CDR Volkov & FE-2 Chamitoff began their day with a 3-hr. training session in Soyuz TMA-12 to familiarize Gregory with spacecraft ops during his isolation in the Descent Module (SA) during the EVAs. (With Sergey supervising, Gregory's hands-on training focused on equipment familiarization, working with Soyuz communications facilities, monitoring & interfacing with the Soyuz Neptun-ME console displays & controls, reviewing his tasks during his stay in the SA, assisting the CDR & FE-1 with leak checking, pressure equalization between Orbital Module (BO) and SA, BO/SA hatch opening, Orlan suit doffing if required, etc.) Additional Details: here....

• EVA ISS EO-17-1 - . Crew: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. EVA Duration: 0.26 days. Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Inspected the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft in an attempt to determine the reason for the failure of the service module to separate on earlier missions, removed a pyrotechnic bolt from the struts connecting the service and reentry modules of the Soyuz for examination on earth, and installed a docking target for the future Russian Multipurpose Research Module.

• EVA ISS EO-17-2 - . Crew: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. EVA Duration: 0.25 days. Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Kononenko, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12. Installed a docking target on the Zvezda service module and the Vsplesk experiment. Straightened a ham radio antenna and retrieved a Biorisk cannister..

• ISS EO-17: Expedition 17 Crew Docks with Space Station - . Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12.

  Commander Sergei Alexandrovich Volkov and cosmonaut Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko of the 17th International Space Station crew docked their Soyuz TMA-12 with the orbiting laboratory's Pirs Docking Compartment at 8:57 a.m. EDT Thursday, marking the beginning of their six-month stay aboard. Additional Details: here....

• Progress M-65 - . Payload: Progress M s/n 365. Mass: 7,100 kg (15,600 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: RKA. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned logistics spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz TMA-12, STS-124 ISS EO-17. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Progress M. Duration: 88.00 days. Decay Date: 2008-12-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 33340 . COSPAR: 2008-043A. Apogee: 357 km (221 mi). Perigee: 348 km (216 mi). Inclination: 51.6000 deg. Period: 91.60 min.

  Docking with the ISS at the Zvezda module was delayed due to NASA Houston operations being curtailed during Hurricane Ike. The resupply spacecraft finally docked at 18:43 GMT on 27 September. It undocked at 16:20 GMT on 14 November, but then flew independently in orbit until 7 December in order to conduct continue ionospheric experiments.