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CX2SA > ISS 03.12.06 00:13l 75 Lines 3489 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 18425-CX2SA
Read: GUEST OE7FMI
Subj: ISS STATUS REPORT #06-52
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DK0WUE<7M3TJZ<F6KMO<HR1FBB<CX2SA
Sent: 061202/2209Z @:CX2SA.LAV.URY.SA #:18425 [Minas] FBB7.00e $:18425-CX2SA
From: CX2SA@CX2SA.LAV.URY.SA
To : ISS@WW
SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A./C #31468
*International Space Station Status Report #06-52*
*3:30 p.m. CST, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006*
*Expedition 14 Crew*
HOUSTON - The International Space Station crew has been preparing for
the planned arrival next week of the Space Shuttle Discovery on a
complex mission to rewire the station's electrical system.
Shuttle Discovery is due to launch at 8:35 p.m. CST Thursday, Dec. 7 on
mission STS-116. In addition to work that will bring power online at the
station from solar arrays delivered to the complex in September,
Discovery also will bring a new crew member to the outpost.
Expedition 14 Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and flight engineers Mikhail
Tyurin and Thomas Reiter reviewed the STS-116 mission plans this week.
They prepared the station's Quest airlock, spacesuits and tools for
three spacewalks planned for the shuttle mission. The crew packed
equipment that will return to Earth aboard the shuttle, including
Reiter's personal items since he will get a ride home aboard Discovery.
STS-116 astronaut Sunita Williams will replace him as an Expedition 14
flight engineer.
Flight controllers worked on two problems aboard the station this week,
neither of which is expected to affect Discovery's launch or mission.
An attempted reboost of the space station's altitude was cut short
Wednesday. Russian flight controllers suspect that sensitive software
detected a slight shift in the orientation of the station as the
thrusters were fired. The change in orientation is believed to be
normal, but it is new for the station due to the changes in its mass and
balance resulting from the addition of the new solar arrays and truss
segment in September.
The Progress cargo craft's thrusters fired for 3 minutes, 16 seconds
before automatically shutting off. They had planned to fire for 18
minutes, 22 seconds. Russian controllers plan to complete the reboost
Monday with a 21-minute firing of the Progress thrusters and a software
adjustment. The reboost next Monday, planned for around 3:35 p.m. CST,
will optimize Discovery's rendezvous with the station.
Flight controllers are analyzing a problem that occurred during testing
of a new software package used to detect and solve problems with the
station's giant Solar Alpha Rotary Joint. The joint is used to rotate
the new solar arrays, allowing them to track the sun. The new software
is designed to automatically realign the teeth of the joint's gears
should they become misaligned, rather than requiring controllers to send
commands for the realignment.
However, while running through a test of the software on Tuesday, a
remote power controller, or station circuit breaker, opened. The circuit
breaker was successfully reset on Thursday. Extensive analysis and
troubleshooting appears to indicate there is no problem with any
equipment aboard the station. Work continues, however, to refine the new
software.
Unless events warrant, the next station update will be included in
status reports for the STS-116 mission beginning on Thursday, Dec. 7
after Discovery's launch. For more about the crew's activities and
station sighting opportunities, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
----
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