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CX2SA > ISS 20.05.06 03:34l 87 Lines 4180 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 3763_CX2SA
Read: DO9ST GUEST OE7FMI
Subj: ISS STATUS REPORT #06-25
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.LAV.URY.SA
To : ISS@WW
SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468
*International Space Station Status Report #06-25*
*3:30 p.m. CDT, Friday, May 19, 2006*
*Expedition 13 Crew*
In space this week, a satellite flew within a satellite. International
Space Station Flight Engineer Jeff Williams "piloted" a unique
spacecraft in three dimensions for the first time around the pressurized
Destiny module. The demonstration tested the basics of formation flight
and autonomous docking that could be useful in multiple spacecraft
formation flying in the future.
That test flight culminated a week of experiment activity, maintenance,
spacewalk preparations and packing of equipment slated for return to
Earth aboard Space Shuttle Discovery following its next mission to the
station. The shuttle's launch is targeted for July.
Along with Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, Williams oversaw
activities through the 50th day of their planned 180-day voyage aboard
the station focusing on laboratory science experiments in the
microgravity science glovebox. That facility hosted the final sample for
the Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation experiment. This
experiment uses a transparent modeling material to study how bubbles
form and migrate during liquid solidification. This is important to
understanding the formation of flaws in molten metals as they solidify.
Much of the attention, however, focused on a new experiment flying for
the first time on the station called Synchronized Position Hold, Engage,
Re-orient Experimental Satellites, also known as SPHERES.
Williams, also NASA's station science officer, performed a series of
test flights with the first of what eventually will be a constellation
of three small free-flying satellites designed to demonstrate the basics
of formation flight and autonomous docking.
For the first tests, only one satellite and two beacons - one mounted
and one hand-held - were used. The satellite is eight inches in diameter
and has a mass of about seven pounds. It also contains internal
avionics, software and communications systems and is maneuvered using
compressed carbon dioxide gas thrusters.
Performed autonomously in Destiny, the first test flight consisted of a
series of 10-15 pre-planned maneuvers each lasting up to 10 minutes.
After Williams selected and loaded the appropriate software on the
laptop, the satellite began its pre-programmed maneuvers to test
attitude control, station keeping, re-targeting, collision avoidance and
fuel balancing.
This technology is of interest in designing constellation and array
spacecraft configurations and also could be used for free-flying robotic
assistants, capable of helping astronauts on future spacewalks.
NASA's payload operations team at the agency's Marshall Space Flight
Center, Huntsville, Ala., coordinates U.S. science activities on the
station.
On the maintenance front, Vinogradov this week reconfigured ventilation
lines associated with the Elektron oxygen generating system in the
Zvezda module in preparation for a June 1 spacewalk. One of the
spacewalk tasks will be to install a new external hydrogen vent line for
the Elektron. Oxygen is being provided via storage tanks in the Progress
supply vehicle. The Elektron will remain deactivated until after the
spacewalk.
Early in the week, the carbon dioxide removal system, known as Vozdukh,
in the Russian segment malfunctioned. Flight controllers activated the
carbon dioxide removal system in Destiny until troubleshooting restored
Vozdukh's operation. Both units will run in tandem until next week when
a new gas analyzer is installed in Vozdukh.
On Thursday, the crew talked with school students in Wisconsin's Winter
School District about life in space and experiments aboard the station.
The next station status report will be issued on Friday, May 26, or
earlier if events warrant. For more about the crew's activities and
station sighting opportunities, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
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