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ISS-11 mission chronicle: September

Coverage of Expedition 11’s stay in orbit for September 2005 – their last full month in orbit.

1/9

“At this morning’s IMMT (ISS Mission Management Team) meeting, our Russian partners expressed sincere condolences and sympathy to the victims of Hurricane Katrina on behalf of RSC-Energiya and Russia and offered assistance.” As well as the regular morning inspection after arising, Sergei also did the monthly inspection of circuit breakers and fuses inside Pirs. He then performed Day 2 of the “Profilaktika” preventative health maintenance fitness tests (this replaced his normal exercise session for today). He and John continued loading rubbish into Progress M-53 in preparation for its undocking next week. Sergei did the daily SOZh, СОЖ Russian life support system maintenance. One of Sergei’s tasks: “Also on his voluntary ‘time available’ task list for today or tomorrow was a checkout of a new A31p laptop, identified as RSE1, for the visiting VC9 crewmember Gregory Olsen. [The checkout was to verify functionality of power supply, laptop lid LEDs, text creation with WordP ad, and opening/reading of a CD and a floppy disk. Afterwards, the RSE1 was to be stowed in the VC9’s sleep Station and the IOMS updated.]”

Upcoming Events (all times EDT):

  • 09/07/05 – Progress M-53/18P undocking (6:23 a.m.)
  • 09/08/05 – Progress M-54/19P launch (9:08 a.m.)
  • 09/10/05 – Progress M-54/19P docking (10:49 a.m.).

19P is manifested to deliver to the ISS the following cargo: 800 kg propellants; 110 kg gas (oxygen/air, thanks to 14 additional gas tanks installed by RSC-Energiya externally for an extra delivery capability of 60 kg O2); 300 kg water; 1230 kg dry cargo, comprising 139 Russian cargo items (including a new Elektron-VM Liquid Unit and 16 SFOG candles) and 83 NASA items (including two IBM 760XD laptops).

  • 09/30/05 – Soyuz TMA-7/11S launch (~11:54 p.m.)
  • 10/03/05 – Soyuz TMA-7/11S docking (~1:20 a.m.)
  • 10/11/05 – Soyuz TMA-6/10S landing (~9:06 p.m.)
  • 10/18/05 – ISS Reboost
  • 11/18/05 – Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
  • 12/21/05 – Progress M-55/20P launch
  • 12/23/05 – Progress M-55/20P docking.

News & reports links

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №497:

01/09/2005/09:46 – On the ISS is carried out training actions in case of decompression

The ISS crew – Sergei Krikalyov and John Phillips – conducted on Tuesday planned training on the organization of urgent descent to the Earth in case of an emergency, which includes finalizing the algorithm of the behavior of cosmonauts in the case of creating the real threat for their life. For this case is provided special evacuation on the rescue spacecraft Soyuz, which is always docked to the Station.

The degree of risk with decompression is different – from the minimum, like the micro-leakage of air through the sealer of illuminator, which already occurred on ISS, to a serious contingency situation, which occurred at the Russian Station Mir, when a Progress cargo ship collided with it.

In the case of detection by the crew of the Station of leakage it is necessary, first of all, to report about this to the Earth. Then it is necessary to insulate the section, where pressure decreases, with the aid of the special instrument to determine the place of leakage, to pump in oxygen and to track further situation, following indications from TSUP, reports RIA News.

Russian version, Русская версия: На МКС проведена тренировка действий на случай разгермецизации.

2/9

News & reports links

Energiya photo-report: 09/02/2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Progress M-54 cargo vehicle was docked with the transfer compartment.”

3/9

Saturday: off-duty and the usual 3 hours of uborka, уборка, housework. Sergei did the SOZh maintenance. He and John reviewed uplinked procedures for next week’s 6-monthly maintenance of the TVIS treadmill (over 2 days). Sergei had several items scheduled for his “time available” task list, including a session of the “Diatomeya” ocean observations program. At 14:00 GMT was the weekly planning conference with both Flight Control centers.

News & reports links

  • 3/9 On-Orbit Status Report.
  • Energiya photo-report: 09/03/2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Designers’ inspection of the Progress M-54 cargo vehicle was completed in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility. Payload shroud roll on to the Progress M-54 spacecraft was performed.”

4/9

Sunday: off-duty; beginning of Week 20. Sergei did the periodic checkup behind Panel 139 in Zvezda, and the daily SOZh maintenance. He checked up on the “Rasteniya-2” plants experiment, and did another “Diatomeya” ocean photography session. At 09:30 GMT he had a Private Family Conference scheduled (via S-band/audio and Ku-band/NetMeeting video).

News & reports links

5/9

PZEh-MO-7 and MO-8 biomedical assessments this morning. Sergei removed electronics equipment from Progress M-53 to be recycled and completed final preparations for the 8/9 undocking. Sergei did the SOZh maintenance and various tasks. Three greetings downlinked: for actor Kirill Yurievich Lavrov’s 80th birthday; for the upcoming 40th Annual K.E. Tsiolkovsky Research Seminar/Readings at Kaluga; and for the opening of the International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Conference from Russia, Europe, and Africa.

News & reports links

6/9

Final preparations for the undocking of M-53 tomorrow, and closure of hatches. Sergei gave the Motorola-9505 Iridium satellite phone (stored in the TMA-6 Descent Module) its monthly recharging. Sergei performed troubleshooting maintenance on Communications Panel 1 (PA-1) in Zvezda (space-to-ground comm line 1), his weekly Inventory Management System tagup with specialists at TsUP/Moscow, and the daily SOZh maintenance, as well as some Uragan Earth-imaging photography.

News & reports links

  • 6/9 On-Orbit Status Report.
  • Energiya photo-report: 09/06/2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “At 5:00 a.m. Moscow Time, the transporter with the Soyuz-U launch vehicle and the Progress M-54 spacecraft left the Assembly and Testing Facility and arrived to the launch pad for the final pre-launch processing. The Soyuz-U-Progress M-54 system was erected on the launcher. First launch day activities began.”

7/9

Progress M-53 undocked at 10:26 GMT, did its deorbit burn at 13:26 and burned up in the atmosphere at 14:13. Sergei took digital photos from Zvezda window #26, and “also used the event for conducting a test of the Klest KL-154 television camera with video recording on the LIV experimental video complex (EVK) in the SM (which uses SECAM format).” Today’s other main focus was beginning the 2-day 6-monthly overhaul of the TVIS treadmill. Sergei had the usual small tasks to do, including the daily SOZh maintenance.

News & reports links

7/9 On-Orbit Status Report.

8/9

Progress M-54 launched perfectly at 13:07 UTC. Cabin air analysis day for Sergei and John, as well as the remaining TVIS treadmill maintenance session. Sergei did the daily SOZh maintenance and some fire alarm maintenance in Pirs.

News & reports links

9/9

For the Progress docking tomorrow, Sergei and John did the standard 3-hour TORU teleoperator system simulator training (which provides a manual backup to the automated docking). Sergei configured the communications systems for covering the docking, then did the SOZh maintenance, as well as various small tasks (Uragan Earth photography, etc.). Weekly teleconference at 13:50 GMT with TsUP and Houston lead flight directors, then with the JSC Astronaut Office (Kent Rominger) at 15:25 GMT.

News & reports links

9/9 On-Orbit Status Report.

10/9

News & reports links

11/9

Sunday, but no rest day due to yesterday’s arrival of M-54 (rest day tomorrow). Beginning of Week 21. All the fun of unpacking the Progress and seeing what surprise “goodies” are inside. John did the SOZh maintenance while Sergei completed several regular tasks (including “Uragan” [hurricane] Earth-imaging and “Diatomeya” ocean observations).

Sergei responded in writing to emailed and uplinked questions of an Italian journalist, Patrizia Giongo, for the renowned weekly science magazine Newton. [“Which planet would you like to visit and would you accept to hibernate in order to get there, considering the long trip?”] – Newton magazine link (in Italian).

News & reports links

11/9 On-Orbit Status Report.

12/9

Crew wakeup at the usual 06:00 GMT. Sergei initiated the regeneration cycle on absorbent bed #1 of the Russian harmful impurities removal system (BMP, БМП) and did the SOZh maintenace and associated tasks. At 14:10 GMT the crew had their weekly planning conference with the Ground. “In the SM Sergei participated in a conference with TsUP/Moscow and the Russian scientific research ship Cosmonaut Viktor Patsaev (KVP) via VHF radio on Daily Orbit 3 (DO3). [A comm test between SM, Soyuz-216/10S and the KVP on VHF-2 (very high frequency #2) channel and the Soyuz SA-2 link was performed back in May (5/20) by Krikalyov.]” Also, computer software upgrades this week: ““The first day of the three-day transitioning of the onboard PCS (Portable Computer System) A31p laptops to the new R9 software version was successfully completed by the ground, without crew involvement. Tomorrow, crew support will be required.”

News & reports links

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №499:

12/09/2005/17:29 – To ISS crew gave the output

Working from April at the International Space Station Sergei Krikalyov and John Phillips in Monday rested today instead of Saturday, when they assumed in orbit the cargo ship Progress. As reported the official representative of Moscow Mission Control Center (TSUP) Valerii lyndin, “to the crew they today gave leave, and on Tuesday after dinner they will begin to unload the Progress M-54, which successfully was docked to ISS on Saturday.”

The “truck” delivered to the Station approximately 2.5 tons of different cargo, necessary for the subsistence of the ISS: fuel, water, oxygen, products and different equipment. Furthermore, with the aid of the Progress, at the Station they renewed the set of the Penguin loading suits, which make it possible “to drive away” the excess growth of cosmonauts after a prolonged stay in weightlessness. Food products, and also clothing, films and another “spiritual food” loaded onboard the “truck” are intended mainly for the reliefs of Krikalyov and Phillips – Valerii Tokarev and William McArthur – who must arrive in orbit on 3 October. Today they, together with the third space tourist Gregory Olsen, who will return to the Earth together with Krikalyov and Phillips, complete the two-day examination training at Zvyozdnii Gorodok (Star City). An interdepartmental commission will affirm the results of the examinations of crew ISS-12 and their understudies on Tuesday. ITAR-TASS reports about this.

Russian version, Русская версия: Экипажу МКС дали выходной.

13/9

Sergei continued working in Progress M-54, integrating its systems into the Russian Segment, and he and John later continued cargo transfers. He did the SOZh maintenance. “At ~11:05 GMT, Krikalyov downlinked a PAO message of greetings and congratulations to the attendees of the RMA Award Ceremony, to be held by MTV Russia on 9/21 on Vassilievski Drive near the Kremlin. [The ceremony will be attended by the best foreign and domestic performers, and the awards will be presented by representatives of the Russian elite of writers, musicians, athletes, and other prominent figures. Sergei’s videotaped downlink will congratulate the winners in five categories, from a list of names uplinked yesterday.]”

News & reports links

13/9 On-Orbit Status Report.

14/9

Progress cargo unloading continued. Sergei dismantled the Matryoshka payload system in preparation for its return to Earth. Sergei began “bake-out” (regeneration) of the #2 adsorbent bed of the BMP harmful impurities removal system, and did the SOZh maintenance. Tomorrow he attempts to reactivate the Elektron after installing the BZh-8 Liquid Unit. (Wish him luck!)

News & reports links

15/9

Sergei and John at last began the repair of the Elektron today! They installed Liquid Unit #8 (BZh-8), but the planned activation was postponed until Monday 19/9 due to non-availability of Molniya satellite coverage. Sergei removed and replaced the SRV-K2M, СРВ-К2М condensate water processor’s BRPK, БРПК liquid/air separator which had reached its service life limit (450 liters min.). Sergei also completed Russian water and condensate quality sampling with the KAV, КАВ water sampler, and did the SOZh maintenance.

News & reports links

15/9 On-Orbit Status Report.

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №500:

15/09/2005/11:07 – The ISS crew will not be protected from the magnetic storm

For the present crew of the International Space Station (ISS) – Sergei Krikalyov and John Phillips – no special measures will be provided for additional protection from the 9-scale-number magnetic storm approaching the Earth, caused by a solar flare, transfers RIA News. The official representative of Mission Control Center (TSUP) in Moscow, Korolev – Valerii Lyndin – reported this on Thursday.

Russian version, Русская версия: Экипаж МКС не будет защищаться от магнитной бури.

16/9

Sergei performed another change-out of Zvezda’s condensate water processor (SRV-K2M) system, today replacing the BKV water conditioning unit’s purification column (BKBKV) with a new spare. He did some air sampling and collected monthly readings for the “Pille-MKS” radiation dosimetry experiment in the Russian segment, as well as the daily SOZh maintenance. Progress cargo unloading continued. At 15:30 GMT the crew had their 11th weekly conference with the TsUP and Houston Lead Flight Directors, via U.S. S-band/audio.

News & reports links

19/9

Week 22 underway. The Elektron was reactivated this morning and so far has been running normally (fingers crossed!). Sergei & John performed another session of the periodic Russian biomedical assessments PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement). Sergei later had his second orthostatic (hemodynamic) endurance assessment session with the Russian Chibis suit (Russian MO-4). Some minor maintenance tasks for the crew; they also began to prepare their equipment for the return to Earth on 11 October. Sergei did the SOZh maintenance, and set up equipment for his second session with the European “Neurocog” experiment, conducted tomorrow.

News & reports links

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №501:

19/09/2005/16:17 – The ISS crew began “to pack trunks”

The crew of the International Space Station began “to pack trunks” and to prepare for their return to the Earth. “Working in orbit from April, Sergei Krikalyov and John Phillips today begin the preparation of equipment and personal effects for their return to Earth,” said Valerii Lyndin, the official representative of Moscow Mission Control Center (TSUP).

The cosmonauts must pack their things into special containers and secure these in the Soyuz TMA ship attached to the Station, on which the crew must return to the Earth on 11 October. From today the daily regime of the crew has changed. “The regime of the work of cosmonauts was reduced by 1 hour, in which Krikalyov and Phillips will now carry out additional physical exercises,” described Valerii Bogomolov, the deputy director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems Russian Academy of Science.

In particular, according to him, Krikalyov, the ISS-11 commander, “must run twice a day, mastering the necessary habits for the return to the Earth.” A specific routine of preparation for the descent is already developed for the crew, which the cosmonauts will begin to carry out in three weeks to the landing, Bogomolov explained. At present Krikalyov and Phillips “are in good physical shape,” the TSUP medical group noted.

The reliefs of the ISS-11 crew – Valerii Tokarev and William MacArthur – on the eve of the launch in Baikonur, where for them one must “fit” ship Soyuz TMA. On it the crew ISS-12 must leave for orbit on 1 October. Together with Tokarev and MacArthur on ISS with the 10-day mission of visit will fly the third space tourist, Gregory Olsen. The docking of the Soyuz with the Station is planned for the 3 October. ITAR-TASS reports about this.

Russian version, Русская версия: Экипаж МКС начал «паковать чемоданы».

20/9

Sergei collected a fluid sample from the SRVK-2M condensate water processor. He conducted his second session with the European “Neurocog” experiment. Later, in Zvezda he removed two bolts and a cross section element from behind the closeout panel 425 in the SM and repaired a damaged section of isolation in the cable network (BKS, БКС) from the condensate water processor control panel (PURV-K, ПУРВ-К). Both Sergei and John continued to ready their equipment and personal effects for return to Earth on 11/10. John did the SOZh maintenance, while Sergei was to do some photography for Russia’s Environmental Safety Agency (ECON).

News & reports links

20/9 On-Orbit Status Report.

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №501:

20/09/2005/15:37 – The Elektron works in the normal mode

The fitness for work of the Elektron oxygen regeneration system in the Russian segment of International Space Station is restored. Station commander Sergei Krikalyov installed a new liquid block (BZH) in the Elektron, delivered to orbit by the cargo ship Progress M-54, and from 19 September the system functions in the normal mode. The press-service of the Moscow Mission Control Center reports about this.

Russian version, Русская версия: «Электрон» работает в штатном режиме.

From TsUP:

Elektron works in the normal mode

20 September 2005, the MCC-M Press-Service.

The fitness for work of the Elektron oxygen regeneration system in the Russian segment of the International Space Station is restored. ISS commander Sergei Krikalyov installed in the Elektron a new liquid block (BZH), delivered in orbit by the Progress M-54 cargo ship, and from 19 September the system functions in the normal mode.

Troubles in the functioning of the Elektron were noted by specialists even in the past year, when the system refused airtight block BZH, which contains electrolyzer for the decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen. Several times cosmonauts produced its replacement, but the system of the regeneration of oxygen on board the Station worked unstably and periodically it went out of order.

On the ISS there are three regular systems of the guarantee of cosmonauts with oxygen. Besides Elektron, these are the solid-propellant generators of oxygen (the so-called oxygen cartridges), which release oxygen as a result of chemical reaction, and also the reserves of oxygen in the tanks, which are delivered to the station by Progress cargo ships.

Russian version, Русская версия: «Электрон» работает в штатном режиме.

21/9

Houston MCC shut down at 19:00 GMT because of the threat from Hurricane Rita, moving ISS monitoring to the Houston Support Group at TsUP in Moscow. Day 2 of renal (kidney) stone experiment session, which involved the not-fun task of the crew collecting urine samples throughout the day. Sergei continued obtaining water samples from the Russian segment for return to Earth on TMA-6. He and John conducted their second fit check of the Kazbek-U seats in the Soyuz. John did the SOZh maintenance.

News & reports links

21/9 On-Orbit Status Report.

22/9

Note: no On-Orbit Reports for a few days because of pesky Hurricane Rita (MCC Houston has been evacuated).

News & reports links

23/9

News & reports links

Energiya photo-report: September 23, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Fueling of the Soyuz TMA-7 transport spacecraft with propellants and compressed gases is under way.”

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №502:

23/09/2005/10:43 – The ISS cosmonauts begin to prepare their bodies for Terrestrial gravity

Today Sergei Krikalyov and John Phillips conduct the first training in the Chibis (“Lapwing”) pneumo-vacuum suit, in which is created the flow of the blood to the lower part of the body due to a drop in the barometric pressure and thus it imitates the Earth’s gravity, reported the official representative of Moscow Mission Control Center Valerii Lyndin to ITAR- TASS.

The cosmonauts began the three-week stage of the physical training, which makes it possible to be better prepared for the forthcoming landing on 11 October,” explained Valerii Bogomolov, deputy director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems RAN (Russian Academy of science).

The final cycle includes, in particular, twice-daily training on the treadmill and the cancellation of exercises on the veloergometer (stationary bicycle).

“In the final stage of flight crews in the required order carry out a series of trainings in the Chibis, where is achieved the effect of terrestrial gravity by the creation of negative pressure on the lower part of the body,” described the leader of the TSUP medical group, Irina Alferova, to an ITAR-TASS correspondent.

According to her, during three weeks the cosmonauts “stand” in the airtight adaptation 4 times on 20 minutes, and during the preceding two days before the descent to the Earth the sessions of “artificial gravity” increase to 55 minutes.

In this case the physicians continuously measure the frequency of pulse and the arterial pressure of cosmonauts, noted Alferova.

“For half a year’s stay in weightlessness the muscles atrophy; therefore the bodies of cosmonauts must be previously prepared for the adaptation to the terrestrial conditions,” emphasized the leader of the TSUP medical group. Besides training in the Chibis, in the two weeks to the return home the ISS crews begin to assume special food additives, and directly to the day of descent – salt solutions in order to avoid the dehydration of their bodies during landing, added Alferova.

Russian version, Русская версия: Космонавты МКС начали готовить свои организмы к земной гравитации.

23/09/2005/10:38 – The crew of Basic Expedition 11 on the ISS carries out scientific studies and experiments

The duration of Basic Expedition 11 on ISS will be 175 days. In this time it is planned for the crew to conduct 39 experiments: from them – 35 experiments during the work of the previous expeditions and 4 experiments are new. Of interest from the point of view of applied science: a study of natural resources and ecological monitoring, geophysical and biomedical studies, and also the study of the problem of space power systems and engine installations.

In addition to this is restored the fitness for work of the Elektron oxygen regeneration system in the Russian segment of the International Space Station. spaceship commander Sergei Krikalyov installed in the Elektron a new liquid block (BZh, БЖ), delivered in orbit by the cargo ship Progress M-54, and from19 September the system functions in the normal mode.

Until today in the job schedule of the Expedition 11 crew conducting the completely new “SVS” experiment – the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis in space. Crew will transfer from TKG in the Service Module necessary equipment and will install it. Further – 4 sessions of experiment on the synthesis of inorganic materials and final procedures.

– the Roskosmos press-service.

Russian version, Русская версия: Экипаж 11 основной экспедиции на МКС проводит научные исследования и эксперименты.

From RIA Novosti:

ISS-11 crew to spend 175 days in space

16:27 | 23/09/2005

MOSCOW, September 23 (RIA Novosti) – Expedition 11 crewmembers aboard the International Space Station will have spent 175 days in space by the time they complete their mission October 11, Russia’s Federal Space Agency said Friday.

Agency spokesman Konstantin Kreidenko said that since boarding the station in April, crew Commander Sergei Krikalyov and NASA Science Officer and Flight Engineer John Phillips have conducted 39 experiments, including in ecology, geophysics, biomedicine and power engineering, and have repaired an oxygen regenerating system.

The Expedition 12 crew, comprised of Russian cosmonaut Valeri Tokarev and NASA astronaut William McArthur, heads for the ISS aboard a Soyuz rocket on October 1 (September 30, GET). Space tourist Gregory Olsen will fly to the ISS together with the Expedition 12 crew and return with members of Expedition 11.

Russian version, Русская версия: Длительность 11-й основной экспедиции на МКС составит 175 суток.

24/9

News & reports links

25/9

News & reports links

Energiya photo-report: September 25, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Designers’ inspection of the Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft was completed. Payload shroud roll on to the spacecraft was performed.”

26/9

Hurricane Rita passed with only minor damage to Houston MCC, so transition is continuing back to control from there. Launch of TMA-7 is set for 1 October at 15:54 UTC. After breakfast Sergei Krikalyov began his first session of the standard 24-hour recording of his ECG (electrocardiogram) under the Russian MedOps MO-2 protocol. He & John later worked in the Soyuz TMA-6 vehicle, dismantling the Kurs-A rendezvous and approach radar system of its SUDN motion control & navigation system and removing it from the crew transport ship, a three-hour job. These valuable components will be returned to Earth for reuse. They also took their third periodic on-orbit hearing assessment test. Sergei continued water sampling.

News & reports links

26/9 On-Orbit Status Report.

27/9

Week 23 underway for the crew. Early in the morning, before breakfast and first exercise, CDR Sergei Krikalyov and FE/SO Dr. John Phillips completed their fifth session with the Russian crew health-monitoring program’s medical assessment MO-9/Biochemical Urinalysis. Krikalyov completed his current session of the scheduled 24-hour recording of his ECG (electrocardiogram) under the Russian MedOps MO-2 protocol. The crew set up equipment for a session in the lower-body negative-pressure Chibis suit, and also familiarized themselves with Visiting Crewmember Greg Olsen’s planned science program (Sergei is assigned 5 hours to assist him). John did the SOZh maintenance. “At ~13:05 GMT, Sergei participated in an interactive PAO interview session with Tatyana Dragnysh, deputy editor of the glossy Russian journal Rossiysky Kosmos. [Rossiysky Kosmos is a full-color magazine, to be issued every two months starting in October 2005. It is supported by the Russian Federal Space Agency (FKA), the ‘Restart’ publishing firm, and several other enterprises, including TsNIIMash. The first issue will contain official Roskosmos articles, an interview with FKA Chief A. Perminov, CDR Krikalyov’s interview and much information about the history of cosmonautics, analytical articles, rare photos and important interviews.]”

News & reports links

  • 27/9 On-Orbit Status Report.
  • Energiya photo-reports:
    • September 27, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “The Soyuz TMA-7 prime and backup crews inspected the transport spacecraft in its launch configuration in the Assembly and Testing Facility. Additionally the crews had a consultation on the kits of equipment that are to be delivered to and returned from orbit on-board Soyuz TMA spacecraft.”
    • September 27, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome “Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft was transported from the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility to the Launch Vehicle Assembly and Testing Facility for integration.”

28/9

Sergei completed two pre-return medical tests (MBI-4, МБИ-4 & MBI-8). He set up work stations for Greg Olsen’s experiments in the Russian segment. He worked on the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment and conducted a health check and downlink of noise level readings with the “Shumomer”, «Шумомер» sound level meter. He and John cleaned gunk out of the U.S. segment modules’ (Unity & Destiny) ventilation ducts & filters. “At ~20:20 GMT, the CDR set up the Russian TV equipment and then downlinked a joint a 20-min. message of greetings to the Presidium (Viktor G. Shevchenko) and members of the Security, Defense, and Law Enforcement Academy in Moscow.”

News & reports links

28/9 On-Orbit Status Report.

JAXA: Astronaut Soichi Noguchi Press Conference. “You can sense that someone is actually living in the Service Module. It is not just a spaceship or a place to set up equipment for experiments. It’s a place for human habitation. They have a dining table, and the STS-114 crew was invited over several times for meals. All nine of us got around the table and spent time talking. There is a private room for the Expedition Crew. The room was decorated with photos of cosmonaut Krikalyov’s family, his daughter and letters. It had a tiny window and you could see the Earth through it. It was like visiting someone’s home.”

29/9

Sergei & John supported a TsUP checkout of the TMA-6 SUD motion control system. Sergei performed Part 2 of his second onboard Profilaktika (MBI-8) preventive health maintenance fitness test, then set up equipment for and conducted the Pilot (MBI-15) flying simulation biomedical test. “At ~12:50 GMT, the CDR downlinked a video message with greetings to the participants of the opening ceremony of Space Week in Korea on 10/4, partly in Korean. [An Nyong Ha Sae Yo! Chook Ha Nam Ni Da! Hello! Congratulations or best wishes. The ISS crew welcomes the people of Korea to the space community and wishes for the success of this year’s 2005 World Space Week Festival.] The crew also sent down an address of greetings to students on the opening of the First Conference for Educational Science and its contest Experiment in Space. [The conference will open on 10/7 at the Moscow Palace for creative work of the youth and is partly sponsored by RSC-Energiya. The best projects resulting from the contest will be recommend ed for implementation in space.]” RSC Energiya reported the ISS Russian segment ready to receive Expedition 12.

News & reports links

30/9

Sergei did the regular early morning inspection after awakening, followed by the monthly inspection of fuses and circuit-breakers in Pirs. He performed part 3 of the MBI-8 Profilaktika (“countermeasures”) fitness assessment series. He and John conducted the periodic air sampling in the cabin. Sergei replenished the Elektron’s water supply, used for electrolyis (separating oxygen and water). They did fit checks of their Kentavr anti-g suit garments, worn during descent. Sergei did the daily SOZh maintenace and Inventory Management System delta/update file. He and John were scheduled for their 12th weekly conference with TsUP and Houston Lead Flight Directors. The crew will sleep-shift for the Soyuz docking and transition period.

News & reports links

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