May 4, 2007
Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749
John Ira Petty
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
STATUS REPORT: SS07-24
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION STATUS REPORT: SS07-24
HOUSTON - Marking the second week working together, the Expedition 15
crew wrapped up a week of various maintenance tasks, science
experiments and preparations for the May 15 arrival of the Progress
25 supply ship.
To prepare for the new unpiloted cargo carrier’s arrival, the
currently docked Progress’ engines were used to reboost the station
Saturday. The move increases the number of rendezvous opportunities
for the STS-117 space shuttle mission targeted for next month.
Expedition 15 Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineers Oleg
Kotov and Suni Williams also removed the docking mechanism from the
Progress 24 for later use.
The week included work on a wide array of science experiments.
Williams completed the fifth run of the Elastic Memory Composite
Hinge experiment. The experiment studies the performance of a new
hinge composite in space.
Williams also did a test run of a handheld device for rapid detection
of biological and chemical substances on board the station. This
study is meant to provide an early warning system to protect the
health and safety of station crew members. Williams also completed
annual re-certification of the Microgravity Science Glovebox and
performed a checkout of the cardiac defibrillator.
Kotov did maintenance work in the Zarya module and tested the circuits
of a temperature sensor on one of the batteries. He also conducted
the periodic collection of air readings in the station with the
Russian Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer system.
Other hardware and maintenance tasks included the replacement of a
Common Cabin Air Analyzer, sound level monitoring in the Russian
Service Module and in the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, and charging U.S.
spacesuits batteries.
Crew members wrapped up the week replacing a heat exchanger in the
Zvezda Service Module. They also swapped out computers used in the
U.S. lab racks.
The weekend will consist of mostly off-duty time with routine
housekeeping, family conferences and a HAM radio session.
For more about the crew’s activities and station sighting
opportunities, visit:
-end-