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STS-122

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AKA: Atlantis; ISS-1E; STS-127A. Launched: 2008-02-07. Returned: 2008-02-20. Number crew: 6 . Duration: 12.77 days.

Delivered to the ISS and installed the Columbus European Laboratory Module and the Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure - Non-Deployable (MPESS-ND). Flight originally planned as STS-127 for June 2005 prior to the Columbia disaster, although no crew had been named prior to the tragedy.

ISS flight 1E's primary mission was the long-delayed delivery and installation of the European Columbus module. The shuttle entered an initial 58 km x 230 km orbit at 19:54 GMT. The OMS-2 circularization burn at 20:23 GMT put it into a 215 km x 233 km chase orbit. Atlantis docked with the PMA-2 port of the ISS at 17:17 GMT on 9 February. Eyharts was dropped off at the station, Tani, already aboard the ISS, returned to Earth on Atlantis. Atlantis undocked from the ISS on 20 February at 09:24 GMT; began its deorbit burn at 12:59; and landed at the Kennedy Space Center at 14:07.

Family: Manned spaceflight. People: Schlegel, Poindexter, Walheim, Melvin, Frick, Love. Country: USA. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral. Agency: NASA. More at: 7940.

• ISS On-Orbit Status 11/15/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Malenchenko and Whitson undertook the standard 30-min Shuttle RPM (R-bar Pitch Maneuver) skill training.

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging and completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Peggy and Dan wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by them as well as their patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 11/17/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  After setting up the video camera gear for covering their CEVIS cycle ergometer workout, Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani activated the OUM-PFE (Oxygen Uptake Measurement - Periodic Fitness Evaluation) equipment at the HRF-2 (Human Research Facility 2) rack, including the HRF PFM/PAM (Pulmonary Function Module/Photoacoustic Analyzer Module), Mixing Bag System and GDS (Gas Delivery System). Both crewmembers then completed the evaluation protocol, wearing HRMs (Heart Rate Monitors), with each one in turn acting as subject and operator, obtaining measurements on themselves on the CEVIS cycle ergometer. (The operations were documented with photo and video. Later, Peggy and Dan updated the evaluation protocol, deactivated & stowed the gear, including photo/video equipment, and powered down the OUM-PFE laptop. Purpose of OUM-PFE is to measure aerobic capacity during exercise within 14 days after arrival on ISS, and once monthly during routine PFEs. The data allows exercise physiologists & flight doctors to assess the crew's health & fitness and to provide data for modifying & updating crew-specific exercise regimes. PFE-OUM is a collaborative effort between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency).) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 11/19/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Underway: Week 5 of Increment 16.

  Before breakfast, CDR Peggy Whitson & FE-2 Dan Tani accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging, completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Peggy and Dan wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by them as well as their patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, currently as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 11/20/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122.

  Today 9 years ago, at Baikonur/Kazakhstan a Proton-K rocket, Flight 1A/R, launched the Khrunichev-built FGB (Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok) Control Module 'Zarya' (Dawn), the first ISS element

  Crew sleep cycle: 1:00am - 4:30pm EST.

  EVA-11 'Bravo' was completed fully successfully in 7 hrs 16 min, accomplishing all objectives plus several get-ahead tasks. During the spacewalk, CDR Peggy Whitson (EV1) and FE-2 Dan Tani (EV2), supported by FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko as intravehicular (IV) crewmember, connected and configured one half of the Node-2 fluid, power, and cooling jumpers. The other half will be done on EVA-12 'Charlie' on 11/24 (Saturday).
  Specifically, the spacewalkers - Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 11/21/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Reisman, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-123.

  FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko started his workday with Part 1 of a software test of the Russian data telemetry system's MKO multiplex exchange channel, via BSR-TM payload data telemetry and the 4PrNP-6 data gathering application of the BITS2-12 Onboard Telemetry Measurement System.

  (The test, using the RSS2 laptop, consisted of switching from the regular 128-byte TM frame to a 206-byte format, for the ground to run tests overnight from RGS (Russian Ground Sites). Tomorrow, in part 2 the FE-1 will reconfigure the BSR-TM back to 128-byte format.)

  Afterwards, Malenchenko recorded the post-EVA radiation readings from the Russian EMU-worn plus one background 'Pille-MKS' dosimeters in a log table for subsequent downlink to the ground.

  Starting preparations of their next spacewalk, EVA-12 'Charlie' on 11/24 (Saturday), CDR Whitson and FE-2 Tani - Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 11/22/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Happy Thanksgiving on Earth and in Heaven (and in between)!

  CDR Whitson & FE-1 Malenchenko started off on today's light-duty schedule with another standard 30-min Shuttle RPM (R-bar Pitch Maneuver) skill training, Peggy's third, Yuri's fourth, using DCS-760 digital still cameras with 400 & 800mm lenses at Service Module (SM) windows 6 & 8 to take imagery of documented EO (Earth Observation) targets facing the velocity vector (in flight direction). Afterwards, Peggy downlinked the obtained images to the ground for analysis, to be discussed at a subsequent tagup. (The skill training prepares crewmembers for the bottomside mapping of the Orbiter at the arrival of STS-122/1E in December. During the RPM at ~600 ft from the station, the ISS crew will have only ~90 seconds for taking high-resolution digital photographs of all tile areas and door seals on the Atlantis from SM windows 6 & 8, to be downlinked for launch debris assessment. Thus, time available for the shooting will be very limited, requiring great coordination between the two headset-equipped photographers and the Shuttle.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 11/23/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-123.

  FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko performed Part 2 of the ground-controlled test of the Russian data telemetry system's MKO multiplex exchange channel, using BSR-TM payload data telemetry (TM) and the 4PrNP-6 data gathering application of the BITS2-12 Onboard Telemetry Measurement System.

  (The test, controlled from the RSS2 laptop, began 11/21 with Yuri switching from the regular 128-byte TM frame to a 206-byte format, for TsUP to run tests from RGS (Russian Ground Sites). Today, in Part 2 as per plan the FE-1 returned the BSR-TM to the nominal 128-byte format.)

  Malenchenko also transferred measurements & imagery from the ESA/RSC-Energia experiment ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS) to OCA for subsequent downlink to the ground, after yesterday's first repositioning of the spectrometer. (ALTCRISS uses the AST spectrometer to monitor space radiation in the Russian segment (RS).) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 11/24/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Saturday -- Stage EVA day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko, FE-2 Tani.

  Node-2 Harmony is ready to accept Columbus!

  EVA-12 'Charlie' was completed fully successfully in 7 hrs 4 min, accomplishing all objectives & get-ahead tasks.
  As a consequence, Node-2 Harmony was fully activated by the ground, one day earlier than originally planned, enabling interior activations by the crew tomorrow.

  During the spacewalk, CDR Peggy Whitson (EV1) and FE-2 Dan Tani (EV2), supported by FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko as intravehicular (IV) crewmember, connected and configured the second half of the Node-2 fluid, power, and cooling jumpers (the first half was accomplished on EVA-11 'Bravo' on 11/20).
  Specifically, the spacewalkers - Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 11/26/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.

  ff-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani. Underway: Week 6 of Increment 16. Having passed the Day 30 mark in her flight, CDR-16 Whitson began her second session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository, for which she had to forego exercising and food intake for eight hours. (After collecting an initial urine sample, Whitson, assisted by Dan Tani, followed it with phlebotomy, i.e., drawing blood samples (from an arm vein) which she first allowed to coagulate in the Repository, then spun in the HRF RC (Human Research Facility/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 (see RC troubleshooting, below). The equipment was then stowed. NUTRITION activities today included the required 24-hour data urine collection by Whitson, by securing samples during the day, all stored immediately in MELFI. 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 inflight 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 expands 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 11/29/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122.

  Upon wakeup, FE-1 Malenchenko terminated his third MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session 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 11/30/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kotov, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Yurchikhin. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-10, STS-122, STS-123.

  As is standard for new Expeditions, the two Flight Engineers, Malenchenko and Tani, performed the periodic 3-hr. routine health checkout on the RS (Russian segment)'s STTS telephone/telegraph subsystem.

  This includes inspection and audio function checks of all comm panels (PA) in and between the Service Module (SM), FGB and Docking Compartment (DC1), VHF receiver tests, and an audit of headsets. (The "Voskhod-M" STTS enables telephone communications between the SM, FGB, DC1 and U.S. segment (USOS), and also with users on the ground over VHF channels selected by an operator at an SM comm panel, via STTS antennas on the SM's outside. There are six comm panels in the SM with pushbuttons for accessing any of three audio channels, plus an intercom channel. Other modes of the STTS include telegraphy (teletype), EVA voice, emergency alarms, Packet/Email, and TORU docking support. Last time done 4/15/07 by Yurchikhin & Kotov.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/01/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kotov, Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-10, STS-122.

  Saturday. FE-1 Malenchenko continued preparations for operating the Russian/German TEKh-20 Plasma Crystal-3 Plus (PK-3+) experiment payload.

  (After yesterday's hardware setup, leak checking of the electronics box and evacuation of the vacuum work chamber (ZB) with the turbopump, the CDR conducted more testing and calibration, uploaded new software from a USB stick to the payload laptop, checked out the software installation and verified the readiness of the experiment. After additional leak checking on the work chamber during the day, Yuri will deactivate the turbopump tonight at ~4:25pm EST. The experiment is performed on plasma, i.e., fine particles charged and excited by HF (high frequency) radio power inside the evacuated work chamber. Main objective is to obtain a homogeneous plasma dust cloud at various pressures and particle quantities with or without superimposition of an LF (low frequency) harmonic electrical field. The experiment is conducted in automated mode. PK-3+ has more advanced hardware and software than the previously used Russian PKE-Nefedov payload.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/02/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Sunday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani.

  Ahead: Week 7 of Increment 16.

  FE-1 Malenchenko supported his first experiment session with the Russian TEKh-20 Plasma Crystal-3+ (Plazmennyi-Kristall/PK-3+) payload by activating the turbopump in the Service Module (SM)'s Transfer Compartment (PkhO) for keeping the vacuum chamber (ZB) in the SM Work Compartment (RO) evacuated. The turbopump will be deactivated tonight at ~4:25pm EST. (Main objective of PK-3 is to study dust plasma wave propagation and dispersion ratio at a specified power of HF discharge, pressure, and a varied number of particles.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/03/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122.

  Underway: Week 7 of Increment 16.

  FE-1 Malenchenko continued his support of his first experiment session with the Russian TEKh-20 Plasma Crystal-3+ (Plazmennyi-Kristall/PK-3+) payload by activating the turbopump in the Service Module (SM)'s Transfer Compartment (PkhO) for keeping the vacuum chamber (ZB) in the SM Work Compartment (RO) evacuated. The turbopump will be deactivated tonight at ~4:25pm EST. (Main objective of PK-3 is to study dust plasma wave propagation and dispersion ratio at a specified power of HF discharge, pressure, and a varied number of particles.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/04/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Drew, Kotov, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-10, Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  FE-1 Malenchenko supported the Russian TEKh-20 Plazmennyi-Kristall/PK-3+ (Plasma Crystal-3+) experiment on its fifth day.

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging, completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/05/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  FE-1 Malenchenko supported the Russian TEKh-20 Plazmennyi-Kristall/PK-3+ (Plasma Crystal-3+) experiment on its sixth day.

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging, completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/06/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Today's launch of STS-122/Atlantis on Mission ISS-1E was postponed due to failure indications of two (of four) engine cut-off sensors in the Liquid Hydrogen tank during early-morning tanking operations.

  The next liftoff opportunity is tomorrow, Friday, at 4:09pm EST.

  Aboard the space station, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software after wakeup and before breakfast, for data logging, completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/07/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  After yesterday's launch scrub for STS-122/Atlantis/Mission ISS-1E due to failure indications of two (of four) engine cut-off sensors in the LH2 tank, the Shuttle is now in a 48-hour turnaround to protect for launch no earlier than Saturday, at 3:43pm EST.

  Aboard the space station, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software after wakeup and before breakfast, for data logging, completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/08/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  The delayed launch of STS-122/Atlantis/Mission ISS-1E has tentatively been rescheduled for tomorrow, Sunday (12/9) at 3:21pm EST, assuming no major problems turn up in engineering reviews taking place today. Weather forecast for 12/9 predicts an 80 percent chance of good weather.

  Aboard the space station, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software after wakeup and before breakfast, for data logging, completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/09/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122. Sunday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/13/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Malenchenko and Whitson, assisting each other in turn, conducted a session with the biomedical protocol KARDIO-ODNT (MBI-5) in the "Chibis" garment.

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging and completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/15/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging and completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/16/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Sunday - EVA preparation day 1 for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani.

  Ahead: Week 9 of Increment 16.

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging and completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/18/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  EVA-13 by CDR Peggy Whitson and FE-2 Dan Tani was completed successfully in 6h 56m, accomplishing its objectives.

  During the spacewalk, Tani (EV1) & Whitson (EV2), supported by FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko as intravehicular (IV) crewmember, inspected the Stbd (right-side) 1A BGA (Beta Gimbal Assembly) and BMRMM (Bearing Motor Roll Ring Module), followed by a detailed investigation and photo documentation of the Stbd SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint).
  Specifically, the spacewalkers -

  Found no obvious signs of external damage on cables or hardware of the BGA & BMRMM that might have caused the repeated tripping of circuit breakers (RPCs/Remote Power Controllers), making it more likely that the issue is internal to the hardware or its electrical system;
  Entered into the S5 truss to disconnect some wiring to allow the ground to perform diagnostic continuity tests, and later reconnected the cables;
  Temporarily removed 22 protective MLI (Multi-Layer Insulation) covers to inspect the SARJ, its two DLAs (Drive Lock Assemblies), and its 12 TBAs (Trundle Bearing Assemblies), reattaching the covers afterwards,
  Found most metal shavings around TBA-4 and TBA-5, i.e., metallic, magnetic contamination on the main gear bearing's outboard angled race ring as well as pitting and abrasions on the ring but no obvious damage on the inboard race ring or on the gear teeth themselves. DLA (Drive Lock Assembly) #2 appeared especially 'ugly', i.e., filled with contamination, and, according to the spacewalkers, the further away from the DLA, the less contamination was observed;
  Took photographs, measured the depth of surface pits with a special probe and collected debris samples; and
  Deinstalled and removed TBA-5 from its housing under cover #20, using a PGT (Pistol Grip Tool), then brought it inside in a bag for eventual return to Earth aboard STS-122/Atlantis (SARJ can function OK on only 11 TBAs).
  (Official start time of the spacewalk was 4:50am EST, 70 minutes ahead of the timeline, ending at 11:46am. Total EVA duration (PET = Phase Elapsed Time) was 6h 56min. It was the 100th spacewalk for ISS assembly & maintenance and the 72nd from the station (28 from Shuttle, 50 from Quest, 22 from Pirs) totaling 436h 3m, and the 4th for Expedition 16 (totaling 28h 11m. During the spacewalk, her fifth, Peggy Whitson set a new record of aggregated EVA time by a woman (of 32h 36m) when she exceeded the 29h 18m held by Sunita Williams. After today's EVA, a total of 121 spacewalkers (90 NASA astronauts, 21 Russians, and ten astronauts representing Japan-1, Canada-4, France-1, Germany-1 and Sweden-3) have logged a total of 624h 25m outside the station on building, outfitting and servicing. It was also the 122nd spacewalk by U.S. astronauts. The 100th EVA dedicated to ISS assembly & maintenance originally was to have been conducted by Rex Walheim & Hans Schlegel of the delayed STS-122/1E mission.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/19/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Today at ~5:30am EST, the ISS, specifically its FGB module, completed 52,000 orbits of the Earth, having covered a distance of 2.

  billion kilometers (1.37 billion st.miles) in 3316 days. The 19,300 kg (42,600 lbs) Zarya ('Dawn') was launched on a Russian/Khrunichev Proton from Baikonur over nine years ago (11/20/1998) as the first element of the multi-national space station.<<<<

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging and completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/20/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  In preparation for the arrival of Progress M-62/27P on 12/26 (~3:25am EST), FE-1 Malenchenko and CDR Whitson successfully conducted the standard 3-hr. training course on the TORU teleoperated control system.

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging and completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/22/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  Happy 46th Birthday, Yuri Ivanovich!

  Last night, Progress M-61/26P successfully undocked from the ISS at 10:59pm EST (hook opening command: 10:57pm). The separation appeared smooth with no vibrations noted. Downlinked video from the cargo vehicle showed that the docking ring surface was nominal. The first separation burn was performed at 11:03pm and a second separation burn followed at 11:09pm. The spacecraft initially moved aft of the station, then forward, overtaking the ISS on a lower (faster) orbit. 26P will remain in orbit in free flight for 3-4 weeks, continuing to phase out in front of the ISS (about 40 km per orbit) as part of a Russian Earth observation experiment. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/27/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Before breakfast and first exercise, Whitson, Malenchenko and Tani completed a full session with the Russian crew health monitoring program's medical assessment MO-9/Biochemical Urinalysis.

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging and completing questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 12/28/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  CDR Whitson and FE-2 Tani began the day with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment's session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink.

  (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.)

  Upon wakeup, FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko 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 12/29/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gorie, Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  Whitson and Tani began the day with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment's session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/05/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  CDR Whitson & FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/08/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  CDR Whitson and FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink.

  (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.)

  Working in the DC1 Docking Compartment, FE-1 Malenchenko, later joined by CDR Whitson, started a three-day maintenance activity on three Russian Orlan-M spacesuits (#25, #26, #27), first initiating discharge of 825M3 Orlan battery pack #1, then scrubbing and degassing the Orlan water loops, followed by the coolant loops in the DC1 and SM PkhO (Service Module Transfer Compartment) BSS Orlan Interface Units. (Functional inspection & checkout of the suits and their spare parts, including bladder leak tests, are scheduled tomorrow & Thursday.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/10/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-123.

  CDR Whitson and FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink.

  (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.)

  Upon wakeup, FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko terminated his seventh 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 01/11/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  CDR Whitson and FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink.

  (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.)

  At ~3:10am EST, the FE-2 activated the VDS MPC (Video Distribution System/Multi-Purpose Converter) with its four downlinks to allow the ground to conduct HDTV (high-definition TV) playback and downlink operations. Later (~11:30am), the MPC was powered off again. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/12/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122.

  All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani except for housekeeping and voluntary work. "CDR Whitson & FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmembers ' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew 's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/14/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Underway: Week 13 of Increment 16.

  CDR Whitson & FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/15/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Anderson, Clayton, Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  CDR Whitson and FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink.

  (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary "job jar" task list.)

  FE-1 Malenchenko serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), 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 ~2:20pm EST. 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.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/18/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122.

  CDR Whitson and FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink.

  (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.)

  Also before breakfast, Peggy Whitson, Yuri Malenchenko and Dan Tani performed the periodic Russian biomedical routine assessments PZEh-MO-7/Calf Volume Measurement and PZEh-MO-8/Body Mass Measurement (6th for CDR & FE-1, 5th for FE-2), using the IM mass measurement device which Malenchenko 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 01/19/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  CDR Whitson & FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/20/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122. Sunday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/21/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday. Underway: Week 14 of Increment 16.

  CDR Whitson & FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/23/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Anderson, Clayton, Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  CDR Whitson and FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink.

  (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.)

  Peggy Whitson continued her work with the InSPACE-2 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment in the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), today conducting runs #23 and #24, then powering down the payload and switching the MSG to standby. (After activation of MSG plus InSPACE & InSPACE-2 equipment, Peggy checked on alignment & focusing of MSG video cam #2, repositioned the sample vial, changed out video recorder tapes and later deactivated InSPACE & MSG. InSPACE, conducted last in June 2006 by Jeff Williams on Increment 13, obtains basic data on magnetorheological fluids, i.e., a new class of "smart materials" that can be used to improve or develop new brake systems, seat suspensions robotics, clutches, airplane landing gear, and vibration damper systems. The dispersed particles are contained in CAs (Coil Assemblies) in the MSG that subject them to electric fields of certain strength and frequencies.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/26/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  FE-1 Malenchenko finished Part 2 of his first stress test plus saliva and blood sampling of the ESA/Russian biomed experiment 'IMMUNO' (Neuroendocrine & Immune Responses in Humans During & After Long Term Stay at ISS), today completing remaining urine sample collections. Specimens were then stowed in a special urine containment bag (blood samples were secured yesterday in the MELFI {Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS} in cold packs). (IMMUNO is a 24-hr. test of human immune system changes, with the objective to investigate immune neuro-endocrine reactions in the space environment by studying samples of saliva, blood and urine using collection kits and the biomedical (MBI) protection kit. Also included are entries in a fluid/medications intact log, and a stress-test questionnaire to be filled out by the subject at begin and end of the first day.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/29/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-124. FE-1 Malenchenko set up the pumping equipment and initiated (later closed out) the periodic transfer of urine from five EDV-U containers in the SM (Service Module) to the Rodnik BV2 tank of Progress M-62/27P.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 01/31/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Light duty day today for the crew following yesterday's successful EVA.

  >>>>Today 50 years ago, the U.S. launched its first Earth satellite, Explorer 1, on a Redstone/Jupiter rocket built by the Wernher von Braun team for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA). The satellite, developed by JPL and equipped with radiation sensors by Dr. James Van Allen, discovered the Van Allen Radiation Belts of Earth.<<<<

  FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/01/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Happy Birthday, Dan!

  FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink.

  (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.)

  Before breakfast, CDR Whitson completed her 120-Day NUTRITION/w Repository session (blood collection only). Whitson also set up NUTRITION w/Repository hardware for the 24-hour urine sample collections that will begin tomorrow morning and end Sunday morning. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/02/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  >>>Yesterday, NASA observed the annual Day of Remembrance honoring those members of the NASA Family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. This memorial event honors the families and crews of Columbia STS-107, Challenger STS 51-L, and Apollo 1, as well as all the astronauts who have sacrificed their lives for this nation. <<<

  FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/05/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  With the usual dependability, Progress M-63/28P launched nominally this morning at Baikonur at 8:02am EST.

  Ascent was nominal, all appendages (antennae and solar arrays) deployed nominally and the vehicle reached orbital insertion at 8:12am. 28P is scheduled to dock to the ISS on 2/7 (Thursday) at 9:38am. Congrats, Baikonur!

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani completed his daily access of the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/06/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kotov, Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-10, Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Progress M-63/28P is continuing its 3-day flight to the ISS for docking tomorrow morning (2/7) at ~9:38am EST at the DC1 nadir port.

  After wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Dan Tani completed his daily access of the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/07/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  The crew's work/sleep cycle was shifted preparatory to Atlantis 1E arriva, to 3:30am-8:30pm.

  Yest kasaniye! Progress M-63 (28P), approaching from below the station, docked flawlessly at the DC1 Docking Compartment nadir port at 9:38am EST, followed by docking probe retraction and hook closure ('sborka') after motion damp-out, while the ISS was in LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal) attitude. All Progress systems operated nominally from Automated Rendezvous start. (Launched on 2/5 (8:02am EST), the 28P resupply drone delivered about 2.5 tons of cargo for the ISS crews, including propellants for the Russian thrusters, fresh water, oxygen, food, spare parts, repair gear, life support and science experiment hardware.) Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #01 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Seven years to the day after the first laboratory was launched to the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle Atlantis roared into space this afternoon with the second, the European Space Agency's Columbus lab.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 - . Call Sign: Atlantis. Crew: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Walheim. Payload: Atlantis F29 / Columbus. Mass: 117,850 kg (259,810 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Walheim. Agency: NASA. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Duration: 12.77 days. Decay Date: 2008-02-20 14:07:00 . USAF Sat Cat: 32486 . COSPAR: 2008-005A. Apogee: 343 km (213 mi). Perigee: 329 km (204 mi). Inclination: 51.6000 deg. Period: 91.20 min.

  ISS flight 1E's primary mission was the long-delayed delivery and installation of the European Columbus module. The shuttle entered an initial 58 km x 230 km orbit at 19:54 GMT. The OMS-2 circularization burn at 20:23 GMT put it into a 215 km x 233 km chase orbit. Atlantis docked with the PMA-2 port of the ISS at 17:17 GMT on 9 February. Eyharts was dropped off at the station, Tani, already aboard the ISS, returned to Earth on Atlantis. Atlantis undocked from the ISS on 20 February at 09:24 GMT; began its deorbit burn at 12:59; and landed at the Kennedy Space Center at 14:07.

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/08/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Anderson, Clayton, Eyharts, Malenchenko, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

  Dan Tani's 109th day in space.

  The crew's work/sleep cycle was shifted once more in preparation for Atlantis 1E arrival, to 5:00am-8:15pm.

  STS-122/Atlantis continues its catch-up flight for tomorrow's FD3 ISS docking at ~12:25pm EDT, to begin ISS Stage 1E. (Catch-up rate ~480 nmi. per revolution of ~92 min.). (Hatch opening: expected at ~1:35pm, followed by: Safety Briefing, OBSS (Orbiter Boom Sensor System) handoff from SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) to SRMS (Shuttle RMS) at ~4:30pm, Soyuz seat liner transfer (for the Tani/Anderson exchange), and preparations for the first spacewalk, EVA-1, by EV1 Walheim & EV2 Schlegel, on 2/10, preceded by their overnight Campout tomorrow night in the Airlock (A/L) for denitrogenation/pre-breathe. Objectives of the nominal 11-day mission: Delivering & installing the Columbus module, delivering new ISS-16 crewmember L�(c)opold Eyharts & bringing Dan Tani back home, and conducting a total of three EVAs. Landing will nominally take place at KSC on FD10 (2/18) at ~9:59am EST.) Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #02 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The seven member crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis has begun its first full day in space on an 11-day mission that delivers the newest research module, the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory, to the International Space Station.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The seven-member crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis is ready for tomorrow's rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station, planned for 11:25 a.m. CST.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/09/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16.

  All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.

  aturday = Docking Day. Happy Birthday, Peggy Whitson!

  STS-122/Atlantis docked smoothly at the PMA-2 (Pressurized Mating Adapter-2) port at 12:17pm EST, eight minutes ahead of time, after successfully completing the RPM (R-Bar Pitch Maneuver) at 11:32am. The station now hosts ten occupants again as Mission 1E is underway. (The combined crew is comprised of ISS CDR Peggy Whitson, FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko, FE-2 Dan Tani, STS CDR Steve Frick, PLT Alan Poindexter, MS1 Leland Melvin, MS2 Rex Walheim, MS3 Hans Schlegel, MS4 Stanley Love, and MS5 L�(c)opold Eyharts who replaces Dan Tani as FE-2, while the latter returns on the Atlantis as MS-5.) Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #05 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Space shuttle Atlantis delivered the European Space Agency's Columbus science laboratory to the International Space Station today, but the actual installation of the module will be delayed by one day.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #04 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Malenchenko, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson, Williams, Dave. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The International Space Station's newest scientific laboratory, the European Space Agency's Columbus research module, is just hours from completing its journey to the station.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Poindexter, Schlegel, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Atlantis' crew spent the day performing a detailed inspection of the shuttle's thermal blanket over the right Orbital Maneuvering System pod as well as preparing for tomorrow's spacewalk.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: Maenner - . Flight: STS-122. "Maenner" by German musician Herbert Groenemeyer for astronaut Hans Schlegel. �Maenner� translated is �Men.� Groenemeyer is also known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Werner in Wolfgang Petersen�s movie Das Boot..

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #06 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Schlegel, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The seven-member crew of Atlantis will spend today preparing for the mission's first spacewalk on Monday and take a closer look at a small tear on a thermal blanket over the shuttle's right Orbital Maneuvering System pod.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Installation and activation of the European Space Agency's science laboratory highlights the day as the crews of space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station prepare for the first of three spacewalks.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #09 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Love, Melvin, Tani, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. After an almost eight-hour spacewalk by astronauts Stanley Love and Rex Walheim, the Columbus module officially became a part of the International Space Station.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: Fly Like An Eagle - . Flight: STS-122. "Fly Like An Eagle" � written by Steve Miller, was played for Mission Specialist Leland Melvin on the day he will use the station�s robotic arm to lift the Columbus research module from Atlantis� payload bay..

• EVA STS-122-1 - . Crew: Love, Walheim. EVA Duration: 0.33 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122. The crew assisted in the installation of the Columbus module to the station, removed a grapple fixture from the payload bay, and installed it on Columbus..

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #10 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. With the Columbus module safely installed, outfitting of the European Space Agency's new laboratory can begin.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #11 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Schlegel, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Astronauts took their work inside the European Space Agency's new Columbus laboratory today.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: Dream Come True - . Flight: STS-122. "Dream Come True" by Jim Brickman, was played for Mission Specialist Rex Walheim. "Doing a spacewalk certainly is a dream come true," Walheim radioed down to Mission Control..

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: Oysters and Pearls - . Flight: STS-122. "Oysters and Pearls" by Jimmy Buffett, was played for Pilot Alan Poindexter..

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #12 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Poindexter, Schlegel, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. By the end of the day, the International Space Station should have a new nitrogen tank assembly.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #13 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Schlegel, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The second spacewalk of the STS-122 mission was completed today by astronauts Rex Walheim and Hans Schlegel.. Additional Details: here....

• EVA STS-122-2 - . Crew: Schlegel, Walheim. EVA Duration: 0.29 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Schlegel, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122. The astronauts replaced a nitrogen tank assembly on the P1 truss..

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: Consider Yourself at Home. - . Flight: STS-122. "Consider Yourself at Home." The song, which is from the musical Oliver!, was played for Mission Specialist Stanley Love. "That's a wonderful song, thanks so much for sending it," said Love, 42..

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #15 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The crew of Atlantis, along with the Expedition 16 crew aboard the International Space Station, spent the day preparing for tomorrow's third and final spacewalk and talking with the media.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #14 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. After a busy day of spacewalking on Wednesday, the space shuttle Atlantis and International Space Station crews have a light day ahead of them, with off-duty time, interviews and preparations for Friday.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/15/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-123.

  Mission 1E Flight Day 9 (FD9).

  ISS crew goes to sleep one hour earlier than yesterday: 3:45am - 6:15pm, Shuttle crew half an hour later. 3:45am - 6:45pm.

  Mission 1E's EVA-3 was completed successfully by Rex Walheim & Stan Love in 7h 25m, accomplishing all its objectives and get-aheads.
  (During the spacewalk, Walheim (EV1) & Love (EV3) transferred the European SOLAR (Solar Monitoring Observatory) and the EuTEF (European Technology Exposure Facility) to the COL EPF (Columbus Orbital Laboratory External Payload Facility), retrieved the failed CMG (Control Moment Gyro) for stowage in the Shuttle PLB for return, installed COL worksite interface fixtures and handrails, inspected a suspected sharp-edged MMOD impact site on an Airlock (A/L) handrail (#508), and inspected, photographed and took samples from the failed starboard SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint) race ring and covers not yet inspected before. Official start time of the spacewalk was 8:07am EST, about 28 min ahead of timeline, and it ended at 3:32pm. Total EVA duration (PET = Phase Elapsed Time) was 7h 25min. It was the 104th spacewalk for ISS assembly & maintenance and the 76th from the station (28 from Shuttle, 54 from Quest, 22 from Pirs) totaling 465h 21min, and the 8th for Expedition 16 (totaling 57h 29min). After today's EVA, a total of 129 spacewalkers (97 NASA astronauts, 21 Russians, and 11 astronauts representing Japan-1, Canada-4, France-1, Germany-2 and Sweden-3) have logged a total of 653h 43min outside the station on building, outfitting and servicing. It was also the 126th spacewalk involving U.S. astronauts.) Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #16 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Schlegel, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The seven-member crew of space shuttle Atlantis is just one spacewalk away from finishing the installation of the new Columbus research module and its exterior experiment facilities.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: Marmor Stein und Eisen Bricht. - . Flight: STS-122. "Marmor Stein und Eisen Bricht." The song�s title translates as �Marble Breaks and Iron Bends.� It was played for Mission Specialist Hans Schlegel, a European Space Agency astronaut from Germany..

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #17 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Astronauts Rex Walheim and Stan Love today spent seven hours and 25 minutes completing the third and final spacewalk of the STS-122 mission. Walheim and Love worked to transfer the first of two external experiment facilities -an observatory used to monito. Additional Details: here....

• EVA STS-122-3 - . Crew: Love, Walheim. EVA Duration: 0.31 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122. The astronauts installed experiments on the exterior of the Columbus module and moved a failed ISS Control Moment Gyro to the payload bay of Atlantis for return to earth..

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/16/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123.

  Mission 1E Flight Day 10 (FD10). Saturday - half-day off for the combined ISS and Shuttle crew except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  Wake/sleep cycle shifted back again to prepare for 2/18 undocking: 3:15am - 5:15pm EST, Shuttle crew: 3:15am - 5:45pm.

  More crewtime was applied to COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) rack configuration, activation & operation, led by CDR Peggy Whitson and FE-2-16 Leo Eyharts. (In particular, Whitson focused on readying the EDR (European Drawer Rack), gathering equipment, outfitting the rack, installing PCDF EU (Protein Crystalization Diagnostic Facility Electronic Unit) coolant water and data connections, setting up the laptop, verifying its software load & activating it, checking out the EDR RFI (Rack Fire Indicator), and checking out the functionalities of the rack's various subsystems.) Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: I Believe I Can Fly - . Flight: STS-122. "I Believe I Can Fly" performed by Yolanda Adams and Kenny G and played for Mission Specialist Leland Melvin..

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #19 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Outfitting of the International Space Station Columbus module experiment racks continued today with all 10 crew members working to complete the activation and initialization of the newest addition to the station.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #18 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Johnson, Gregory H, Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The 10 crew members aboard the International Space Station/space shuttle Atlantis complex today will continue with the outfitting of the new Columbus research module, give the station a reboost to get it ready for its next visitors and spend some time tal. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/17/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Malenchenko, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16.

  Sunday --- Mission 1E Flight Day 11 (FD11).

  Dan Tani's 118th day in space (116 aboard ISS). Ahead: Week 18 of Increment 16.

  Wake/sleep cycle shifted further back to prepare for 2/18 undocking: 1:45am - 4:15pm EST (incl. Eyharts), Shuttle crew: 1:45am - 4:45pm (incl. Tani).

  CDR Peggy Whitson performed her final INTEGRATED IMMUNE blood collection, assisted by MS1 Leland Melvin, right before hatch closure. FE-2 Dan Tani will continue his saliva collections, both liquid and dry, and blood collections aboard the Atlantis all the way home FE-2-16 Leo Eyharts transferred his and Peggy's saliva return pouches and blood sleeves as well as Dan's saliva collection kit to the Shuttle for return. (Background: IMMUNE assessment, integrated with the Russian IMMUNO, is a 24-hr. test of human immune system changes, with the objective to investigate immune neuro-endocrine reactions in the space environment by studying samples of saliva, blood and urine using collection kits and the biomedical (MBI) protection kit, 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. The on-orbit blood samples are collected right before undocking and returned on the Shuttle so that analysis can occur with 48 hours of the sampling. This allows assays that quantify the function of different types white blood cells and other active components of the immune system. For cold storage, samples are secured in the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). Also included are entries in a fluid/medications intact log, and a stress-test questionnaire to be filled out by the subject at begin and end. Urine is collected during a 24-hour period, conventionally divided into two twelve-hour phases: morning-evening and evening-morning.) Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: Hail Thee, Harvey Mudd, - . Flight: STS-122. "Hail Thee, Harvey Mudd," the Harvey Mudd College anthem written by Amy Lewkowicz for Mission Specialist Stan Love. Love is a 1987 graduate of the Claremont, Calif., private math, science and engineering college..

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #21 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Tani. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The ten spaceflight crew members parted ways to their respective spacecraft today. After farewells were said, hatches between the space shuttle Atlantis and International Space Station were closed at 12:03 p.m. CST.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #20 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Love, Tani. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The seven-member crew of Atlantis will complete the final cargo transfers, wrap up their part in the installation and activation of the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory, and then bid farewell to the Expedition 16 crew this morning.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/18/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson, Williams, Dave, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16.

  Underway: Week 18 of Increment 16, with a new FE-2, L�(c)opold (Leo) Eyharts who has replaced Dan Tani.

  US Holiday (President's Day).

  STS-122/Atlantis and ISS are flying in separate orbits again (Flight Day 12 for STS-122/1E)

  After final preparations on both sides of the hatches (closed yesterday on ISS side at 1:03pm EST), Atlantis this morning undocked smoothly at 4:27am from PMA-2 (Pressurized Mating Adapter 2), after a total docked time of 11d 13h 42m. (For undocking, the station was turned from -XVV through ~180 deg to +XVV ZLV (+x-axis in velocity vector, z-axis in local vertical) at ~3:30am, put briefly on free drift for the undocking, and then maneuvered to 1E Stage attitude of +XVV TEA attitude at 5:06am.) See picture from Atlantis flight deck, below. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #23 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Poindexter, Tani. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Space shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station at 3:24 a.m. CST after nine days of joint operations.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #22 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Poindexter, Tani. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Space shuttle Atlantis is set to undock from the International Space Station at 3:27 a.m. after nine days of joint operations carrying the seven-member crew that successfully commissioned the European Space Agency's new Columbus science laboratory.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: Over the Rainbow - . Flight: STS-122. "Over the Rainbow" What a Wonderful World,� sung by Hawaiian- Japanese vocalist Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #25 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Frick, Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. After a check of all of the systems they will use for a return to Earth, Atlantis' seven-member crew packed up today in preparation for landing Wednesday.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: Always Look on the Bright Side - . Flight: STS-122. "Always Look on the Bright Side" played for.

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #24 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Frick, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Atlantis' seven-member crew will complete the final preparations today for their return home, wrapping up their 13-day mission with a scheduled early Wednesday morning landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 - Wakeup Song: Hail to the Spirit of Liberty - . Flight: STS-122. "Hail to the Spirit of Liberty" by John Philip Sousa, for Pilot Alan Poindexter..

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #27 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Frick, Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member crew landed on Runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center at 8:07 a.m. CST today, completing a 13-day journey of more than 5,296,842 miles. Atlantis touched down at exactly 8:07:10 a.m. with the nose gear touching do. Additional Details: here....

• STS-122 MCC Status Report #26 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Frick, Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16. The seven astronauts on space shuttle Atlantis are only hours away from a landing in Florida that will conclude a successful 13-day mission that delivered the European Space Agency's science laboratory Columbus to the International Space Station.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/20/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-123.

  Wake/sleep cycle for the crew remains at 1:00am-4:30pm EST.

  STS-122/Atlantis returned to Earth this morning after 12d 18h 22min in space, touching down at KSC on the first landing opportunity at 9:07am EST, after 202 orbits & 5.3 million miles. During the perfectly executed ISS 1E mission, its seven-member crew conducted three EVAs, delivered and installed the European Columbus laboratory, brought up new Expedition 16 crewmember L�(c)opold Eyharts and returned his predecessor Dan Tani who spent 121 days in space (116 on board the station). It was the 121st flight of a Space Shuttle, the 24th Shuttle mission to visit the station and the 29th for Atlantis. Welcome back, Atlantis! Next up: STS-123/Endeavour/1J/A on March 11 with the Kibo laboratory module - Japan/JAXA's BIG day. Additional Details: here....

• Landing of STS-122 - . Return Crew: Frick, Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Frick, Love, Melvin, Poindexter, Schlegel, Tani, Walheim. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122.

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/23/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Love, Malenchenko, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Eyharts except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  The crew performed the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough station cleaning. ("Uborka", usually 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 CDR'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.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/24/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Love, Malenchenko, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16.

  Sunday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Eyharts.

  Ahead: Week 19 of Increment 16.

  For today's Voluntary Science program, Peggy Whitson continued her work with the InSPACE-2 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment in the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), conducting runs #31, #32 and #33 to investigate low frequency behavior (0.66 Hz) at the highest particle concentration MR (magnetorheological) fluid, exchanging video tapes after each run, then removing the vial assembly and finally powering the MSG down. (InSPACE obtains basic data on MR fluids, i.e., a new class of "smart materials" that can be used to improve or develop new brake systems, seat suspensions robotics, clutches, airplane landing gear, and vibration damper systems. The colloidal (dispersed) particles are contained in CAs (Coil Assemblies) in the MSG that subject them to electric fields at certain strength and frequencies. The desired strong dipolar interaction between the small colloidal particles can be achieved in micro-G simply with an external magnetic field being turned on and off. On the ground, the flow properties (rheology) of many materials, especially those making up consumer products like detergents, fabric softeners, toothpaste and paints, are similarly controlled, though not by magnetic fields but by adding a polymer. It now appears, for example, that new formulations of fabric softeners may perform better in space than on earth.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/25/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Drew, Eyharts, Love, Malenchenko, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16.

  Russian Holiday: 'Defender of the Fatherland Day' (Dyen' zaschitnika Otechestva),- also: Men's Day (Dyen' Muzhchin).

  Underway: Week 19 of Increment 16.

  Before breakfast, having reached the FD15 (Flight Day 15) mark in his flight, FE-2 Eyharts undertook his first session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository, today limited to two blood draws (for Serum & Heparin). (Acting as operator and CMO (Crew Medical Officer), Peggy Whitson performed phlebotomy on Leo, i.e., drew blood samples (from an arm vein) which were first allowed to coagulate in the Repository, then spun in the HRF RC (Human Research Facility/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 inflight 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 expands 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 02/27/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Behnken, Doi, Eyharts, Foreman, Gorie, Johnson, Gregory H, Linnehan, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Upon wakeup, FE--2 Eyharts performed the last sampling of his first session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository, collecting a final urine sample for storage in the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS).

  The sampling kit was then stowed away. Leo's next NUTRITION/Repository activity will be his Flight Day 30 (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 02/28/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Behnken, Doi, Eyharts, Foreman, Gorie, Johnson, Gregory H, Linnehan, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  For the purpose of testing the main TORU (Teleoperator Control System) receiver on Progress M-63/28P, FE-1 Malenchenko and CDR Whitson worked with ground specialists via VHF on DO3 (Daily Orbit 3) in the standard vehicle-to-vehicle TORU checkout between the Service Module (SM) and the docked Progress 28P.

  Progress thrusters (DPO) were inhibited and not involved. (Crew activities focused on TORU activation, inputting commands via the RUO Rotational Hand Controller and close-out ops. TORU lets an SM-based crewmember perform the approach and docking of automated Progress vehicles in case of failure of the automated KURS system. Receiving a video image of the approaching ISS, as seen from a Progress-mounted docking television camera ('Klest'), on a color monitor ('Simvol-Ts', i.e. 'symbol center') which also displays an overlay of rendezvous data from the onboard digital computer, the crewmember steers the Progress to mechanical contact by means of two hand controllers, one for rotation (RUO), the other for translation (RUD), on adjustable armrests. The controller-generated commands are transmitted from the SM's TORU control panel to the Progress via VHF radio. In addition to the Simvol-Ts color monitor, range, range rate (approach velocity) and relative angular position data are displayed on the 'Klest-M' video monitor (VKU) which starts picking up signals from Progress when it is still approximately 7 km away. TORU is monitored in real time from TsUP over Russian ground sites (RGS) and via Ku-band from Houston, but its control cannot be taken over from the ground.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 02/29/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Linnehan, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Today is February's fifth Friday, because of its 29 Leap Year days; the last time February had 5 Fridays was in 1980 and next time will be in 2036.

  Before breakfast and exercise, FE-2 Eyharts performed his first PHS (Periodic Health Status) w/Blood Labs examination. CDR Whitson assisted in drawing blood and using the U.S. PCBA(Portable Clinical Blood Analyzer). The second part of PHS, Subjective Clinical Evaluation, was performed later in the day. (The PHS exam, with PCBA analysis and clinical evaluation, is guided by special software (IFEP, In-Flight Examination Program) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer). 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 03/01/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Love, Malenchenko, Simonyi, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16.

  Saturday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Eyharts except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

  The crew completed the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough station cleaning. ("Uborka", usually 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 CDR'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.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 03/04/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Behnken, Eyharts, Foreman, Love, Malenchenko, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-124.

  In the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), FE-2 Leo Eyharts had an hour allotted to perform troubleshooting on a structural element which earlier (2/17) had prevented installation of a K-BAR (Knee-Brace Assembly Replacement) capture mechanism on the overhead F2 rack, as required for relocating of the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) and EXPRESS Rack 3 (ER3).

  (Today's troubleshooting dealt with repair and cleaning of a threaded hole on a standoff element for the right K-BAR capture fitting. The FE-2 used a vacuum cleaner to remove FOD (Foreign Object Debris) plus safety goggles, rubber gloves and a surgical mask for his protection.)

  Leo also continued COL commissioning, today unlocking (but not completely removing) the AVM (Anti-Vibration Mount) locking bolts of the module's ISFA (Intermodular Ventilation Supply Fan Assembly) and IRFA (Intermodular Ventilation Return Fan Assembly). (The two fan assemblies are located at opposite sidewalls of the module, both behind cover panels.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 03/05/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Behnken, Eyharts, Foreman, Love, Malenchenko, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-124.

  In the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), FE-2 Leo Eyharts had an hour allotted to perform troubleshooting on a structural element which earlier (2/17) had prevented installation of a K-BAR (Knee-Brace Assembly Replacement) capture mechanism on the overhead F2 rack, as required for relocating of the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) and EXPRESS Rack 3 (ER3).

  (Today's troubleshooting dealt with repair and cleaning of a threaded hole on a standoff element for the right K-BAR capture fitting. The FE-2 used a vacuum cleaner to remove FOD (Foreign Object Debris) plus safety goggles, rubber gloves and a surgical mask for his protection.)

  Leo also continued COL commissioning, today unlocking (but not completely removing) the AVM (Anti-Vibration Mount) locking bolts of the module's ISFA (Intermodular Ventilation Supply Fan Assembly) and IRFA (Intermodular Ventilation Return Fan Assembly). (The two fan assemblies are located at opposite sidewalls of the module, both behind cover panels.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 03/07/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Behnken, Eyharts, Foreman, Linnehan, Malenchenko, Reisman, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Upon wake-up, FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko terminated his MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session (his 11th), 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 03/09/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Malenchenko, Simonyi, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123.

  Sunday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Eyharts.

  Ahead: Week 21 of Increment 16.

  After a flawless, precise on-time launch last night at 11:03:04 pm EST at Kourou/French Guiana, ATV1 Jules Verne is on its way to the ISS. (Currently entering a period of test and orbit raising maneuvers, the European automated freighter will start 'loitering' on 3/19 about 1200 miles ahead of ISS (which at that time is busy with STS-123/1J/A), then will begin maneuvering at 3/27, conduct checkout Demos toward an IMMT Go/No Go decision on 4/2, and Docking on 4/3 (start Final Approach: ~6:10am EDT, contact SM aft port: ~10:20am.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 03/11/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Behnken, Eyharts, Foreman, Gorie, Johnson, Gregory H, Linnehan, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  Crew wake/sleep cycle today: wake-up 2:00am; sleep 12:00noon (4-hr 'nap'); wake-up 4:00pm - 6:30am (tomorrow).

  STS-123/Endeavour (ISS-1J/A) lifted off spectacularly in darkness early this morning right on time (2:28am EDT) with all systems performing nominally, for rendezvous with ISS tomorrow (3/12, Wednesday) and docking at approximately 11:25pm EDT. The Orbiter is carrying the seven-member crew of Commander Dominic L. Gorie, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson and Mission Specialists Richard M. Linnehan, Robert L. Behnken, Michael J. Foreman, Takao Doi and Garrett E. Reisman. Reisman will replace L�(c)opold Eyharts as ISS Flight Engineer 2, who returns on 3/26 (nominal) with STS-123. STS-123 is the 122nd space shuttle flight, the 21st flight for Endeavour, the 25th flight to the station and the second of six Shuttle flights planned for 2008 (including the Hubble Service Mission 4). Its primary payloads are the 18,490-lbs Japanese Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurized Section (ELM-PS or JLP) and the 3,400-lbs Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) 'Dextre'. We are off to another great mission! Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 03/17/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Behnken, Doi, Eyharts, Linnehan, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  1J/A Flight Day 7/8 (FD7/8). Underway: Week 22 of Increment 16.

  Crew sleep cycle today: Sleep 6:00am -2:30pm; wake 2:30pm -6:00am tomorrow.

  After wake-up yesterday at ~3:30pm, CDR Peggy Whitson completed another session with the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink, as suggested on her discretionary 'job jar' task list. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Peggy wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 03/21/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Behnken, Doi, Eyharts, Foreman, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  STS-123-1J/A Flight Day (FD) 11/12.

  Crew sleep/wake cycle today: Sleep 5:00am -1:30pm; wake 1:30pm -4:00am tomorrow.

  EVA-4 was completed successfully by Bob Behnken & Mike Foreman in 6h 24m, accomplishing most of its objectives.
  During the spacewalk, Behnken (EV1) & Foreman (EV2) -

  Demonstrated an on-orbit heat shield repair technique using the T-RAD (Tile Repair Ablator Dispenser) to demonstrate an Orbiter tile repair DTO (Development Test Objective) in space. (The spacewalkers tested STA-54, a pink putty-like material consisting of two compounds that are mixed together in a pressure-driven applicator gun just before they exit the nozzle. With Foreman working the applicator, the test was completed nominally, and the test samples were stowed in the TSA (Tool Stowage Assembly in the Orbiter PLB (Payload Bay) for return and analysis; results looked good);
  Removed RPCM (Remote Power Controller Module) S02B-D on the S0 truss and replaced it with a new unit. (Since the RPCM controls CMG-2 (Control Moment Gyroscope #2), circuitry had to be powered down and the CMG-2 removed from the steering law beforehand. After the successful R&R;, the spacewalkers attempted several times to reconfigure the Z1 patch panel, a pre-requisite for powering the new RPCM, but were unable to do so due to tough-to-reach connectors which could not be unmated. The patch panel reconfiguration currently remains incomplete, but there are no impacts to current operations);
  Inspected the Z1 truss toolbox for MMOD (Micrometeoroid/Orbital Debris) damage and noticed several 'pits'. (Video imagery will be assessed by specialists);
  Released Node-2 Port ACBM (Active Common Berthing Mechanism) launch locks in preparation for berthing the JEM (Japanese Experiment Module) module 'Kibo' on Flight 1J next May;
  Removed the remaining SPDM OTCM-2 (Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator/ORU Tool Changeout Mechanism #2) thermal covers, reconfigured some of the wrist blankets and flaps, and inspected the Shoulder Roll joint of SPDM Arm #2 for possible MLI (Multi-Layered Insulation) interference. None was seen. (WVS (Wireless Video System) helmet cam video was also obtained for ground analysis.)
  Additionally, two get-ahead tasks were completed: Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 03/22/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Behnken, Eyharts, Foreman, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16.

  STS-123-1J/A Flight Day (FD) 12/13.

  Crew sleep/wake cycle today: Sleep 4:00am -12:30pm; wake 12:30pm -4:00am tomorrow. HAPPY EASTER WEEKEND!

  After wakeup yesterday (~1:30pm EDT) and before breakfast, CDR Peggy Whitson completed another session with the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop, as suggested on her discretionary 'job jar' task list. (To monitor the crewmember's sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Peggy wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 03/23/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Behnken, Eyharts, Foreman, Johnson, Gregory H, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Sunday - J/A Flight Day (FD) 13/14.

  Ahead: Week 23 of Increment 16. HAPPY EASTER! Congratulations, Shuttle & ISS crews: Five EVAs in a row, all successful. What a great Easter gift!

  >>>>Today at ~7:43am EDT, the ISS, specifically its FGB module, completed 53,500 orbits of the Earth, having covered a distance of 2.25 billion kilometers (1.4 billion st.miles) in 3411 days. The 19,300 kg (42,600 lbs) Zarya ('Dawn') was launched on a Russian/Khrunichev Proton from Baikonur over nine years ago (11/20/1998) as the first element of the multi-national space station.<<<< Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 03/27/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eyharts, Malenchenko, Reisman, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-122, STS-122 ISS EO-16, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Welcome back, Endeavour!

  STS-123/Endeavour returned to Earth last night after 15d 18h 11m in space, the longest Shuttle mission to ISS so far, touching down at KSC on the second opportunity at 8:39pm EDT, after 250 orbits & 6.6 million miles (first opportunity waived off due to cloud layer). (During the perfectly executed ISS 1J/AE mission, its seven-member crew conducted a record five EVAs, delivered & installed the JAXA JLP (Japanese Experiment Module Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section) and the Canadian SPDM Dextre, brought up new Expedition 16 crewmember Garrett Reisman and returned his predecessor Leopold Eyharts who spent 48 days in space (44 aboard the station). It was the 122nd flight of a Space Shuttle, the 25th Shuttle mission to visit the station, the 21st for Endeavour and the second of six Shuttle missions planned for 2008. Next up: STS-124/Discovery/1J on 5/25 with JAXA's JEM Pressurized Module 'Kibo', racks & the JEM RMS.) Additional Details: here....

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

  After yesterday's successful ATV1 docking, CDR Whitson and FE-1 Malenchenko today performed first ingress of the European cargo carrier by executing a number of prescribed steps.

  This included conducting a 30-min OBT (Onboard Training) procedures review for Docked ATV Operations,
  Completing a one-hour leak check of the SM PrK (Service Module Transfer Compartment)/ATV vestibule interface,
  Preparing the necessary equipment for the first ingress (including GSC (Grab Sample Container), IPD-CO air sampler for CO (Carbon Monoxide), AK-1M air sampler, a manual sampling pump, goggles, a dusk mask, an A-2 air scrubber filter, etc.)
  Donning the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) i.e.,safety goggles, dust mask) (keeping PPE on until after ATV closeout operations and egress),
  Opening the hatches for partial ingress (~6:20am EDT),
  Installing the QD BZV (quick disconnect screw clamps) of the SSVP docking & internal transfer mechanism to rigidize the coupling,
  Taking copious air samples from the ATV interior, and
  Starting the air scrubber, equipped with an FPP electronic/EMI interference filter, to run for about 8h 20m with hatches closed.
  For the second ingress, scheduled tomorrow (Saturday, 4/5, at ~4:00am EDT), the air scrubbing in the ATV will make the PPE unnecessary. ATV1 will then be readily accessible to the crew for nominal operations. Also scheduled for tomorrow is an ATV thruster test. 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 04/14/08 - . 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 04/20/08 - . 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 04/22/08 - . 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 04/30/08 - . 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 05/05/08 - . 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 05/08/08 - . 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 05/13/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Anderson, Clayton, Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-122, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  From the US voluntary 'job jar' task list, after wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Reisman downloaded the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and 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.)

  CDR Volkov 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 ~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.) Additional Details: here....

• ISS On-Orbit Status 05/15/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-122, STS-123, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124.

  Progress M-64/29P launched nominally yesterday at Baikonur at 4:22:56pm EDT, when ISS was leading with 152 deg phase angle.

  Ascent was nominal, all appendages (antennae & solar arrays) deployed nominally, and the vehicle reached orbital insertion at 4:31:41pm. Corrective maneuvers DV1 & DV2 were conducted as per plan at 8:12:27pm (delta-V 22.62 m/s) and 8:50:36pm (23.71 m/s). 29P is scheduled to dock to the ISS FGB nadir port tomorrow evening (5/16) at 5:37pm. Congratulations, Baikonur! (The cargo ship will deliver more than 2.3 tons of various supplies to the ISS, including oxygen, water and food supplies, propellant, a new Sokol KV-2 spacesuit, consumables, scientific hardware and equipment. The spacecraft was injected into a reference near-earth elliptical orbit with 51.65 � inclination, min/max altitudes of 193.9/245.9 km and 88.57 min revolution. Onboard systems are operating as designed as the 'chase' is on.) 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 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....

• 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 06/25/08 - . 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....