Expedition 12 Heads Home, New Crew in Charge of Station


Image above: Expedition 12 is in the Soyuz spacecraft backdropped by the Earth moments after undocking for their return home. Photo Credit: NASA TV

Expedition 12 has left the International Space Station after six-months and is returning to Earth. Commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev undocked their Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft at 4:28 p.m. EDT. Brazil’s first astronaut Marcos Pontes, who arrived at the station with Expedition 13, is now headed home with Expedition 12. They are scheduled to land in Kazakhstan at 7:48 p.m.

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams are now the sole residents aboard the space station. A third crewmember, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter, is scheduled to join Expedition 13 no earlier than July aboard Space Shuttle Discovery.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Station Crew Undocks, Heads Back to Earth

Commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev, the 12th crew of the International Space Station, undocked in their Soyuz spacecraft from the orbiting laboratory at 4:28 p.m. EDT Saturday and headed for a landing in the steppes of Kazakhstan at 7:48 p.m.


Image above: Expedition 12 is in the Soyuz spacecraft backdropped by the Earth moments after undocking for their return home. Photo Credit: NASA TV

With them was Marcos Pontes, the first Brazilian astronaut, who flew to the space station with the Expedition 13 crew and spent about eight days doing experiments. He was aboard under a contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos).

McArthur and Tokarev will spend several weeks in Star City, near Moscow, for debriefing and medical examinations.

They launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan last Sept. 30 and docked with the station Oct. 3. During their increment they performed two spacewalks, continued station maintenance and did scientific experiments.

Before closing the last of the Soyuz-station hatches at 1:23 p.m. Saturday, McArthur and Tokarev said farewell to the Expedition 13 crew, Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Science Officer Jeffrey Williams. That crew launched with Pontes from Baikonur March 29 at 9:30 p.m. EST.

Back on the space station, the E13 crew began the solo portion of its six-month increment.

Vinogradov is a veteran of a 198-day mission aboard the Russian space station Mir, where he did five spacewalks. Williams, an Army colonel, flew on STS-101 in May 2000. He did one spacewalk during that flight to the station.

Joining them during their stay on the station will be Thomas Reiter, a European Space Agency astronaut from Germany, also flying under a Roscosmos contract. He is scheduled to come to the station on Discovery's STS-121 mission, set for no earlier than July.

Reiter is to be the first non-Russian, non-U.S. long-duration crewmember on station. He will bring the station crew back to three for the first time since May 2003, in the wake of the Columbia accident.

Source: NASA - Space Station - Expeditions

Expedition 12 Lands in Kazakhstan

Expedition 12 has returned to Earth and landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan. The Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft touched down at 7:48 p.m. EDT. Returning with Commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev was Brazil’s first astronaut, Marcos Pontes, who arrived at the station with Expedition 13 on April 1.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Fascinating. another great thread

Preperations are underway for the 24th April Launch of the Progress M-56 supply craft to the International Space Station (ISS). Confusingly NASA uses a different numbering system to the Russians and refers to the spacecraft as Progress-21.

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April 13, 2006. Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The Technical Management meeting which made a decision to fuel Progress M-56 cargo vehicle with propellant components and compressed gases.

Progress M-56 cargo vehicle balancing and weighing:

Picture credits: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Source: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia - News

Expedition 13 Under Way

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams got in their first full working day alone aboard the International Space Station Tuesday. They did maintenance activities, talked with two news organizations and participants in a children's aerospace conference in Russia, and completed their regular 2½ hours of daily exercise. They also continued their familiarization with the station. After their March 30 launch and April 1 docking, they spent about eight days on handover activities with their Expedition 12 predecessors, then had off-duty days Sunday and Monday.


Image above: Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur waits
onboard a helicopter before transferring to an airplane for a flight back
to Moscow from Kustanay, Kazakhstan. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Expedition 12's Commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev remain in Star City, Russia, near Moscow. They are undergoing debriefing and physical rehabilitation after almost 190 days in space before their Saturday landing in Kazakhstan. With them is Marcos Pontes, Brazil's first astronaut. He launched with Expedition 13 and returned with Expedition 12 after performing a series of scientific experiments. Expedition 12 is scheduled to return to NASA's Johnson Space Center later this month.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Expedition 13 Completes First Full Week


Image above: Newly arrived Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams
checks out the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams got in their first full working day alone aboard the International Space Station Tuesday. They did maintenance activities, talked with two news organizations and participants in a children's aerospace conference in Russia, and completed their regular 2½ hours of daily exercise. They also continued their familiarization with the station. After their March 30 launch and April 1 docking, they spent about eight days on handover activities with their Expedition 12 predecessors, then had off-duty days Sunday and Monday.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Hmm..you have a major interest in space exploration, don't you?

What gave you that idea.

April 18, 2006. Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Progress M-56 transport cargo vehicle was docked with the transfer compartment in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility.

Picture credits: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Source: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia - News

Station Reboost Scheduled for Wednesday


Image above: Newly arrived Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams
checks out the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams, now into their second full work week alone aboard the orbital outpost, are continuing with station familiarization, routine maintenance and medical data collection. On Monday, the crew set up and activated EarthKAM for its first photographic data takes of the new increment.

The station's Zvezda Service Module engines will be fired Wednesday at 3:49 p.m. EDT for 10 seconds to boost the station to the correct altitude to dock with the ISS Progress 21 cargo craft. The Progress, carrying 2½ tons of fuel, oxygen and supplies, will launch next Monday and dock with the station on Wednesday, April 26.

Source: NASA - Space Station

April 19, 2006. Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Designers inspection of the Progress M-56 cargo vehicle was completed in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility.

Payload shroud roll on to the Progress M-56 spacecraft was performed.

Picture credits: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Source: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia - News

Expedition 13 in Second Week of Mission


Image above: Newly arrived Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams
checks out the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams, now into their second full work week alone aboard the orbital outpost, are continuing with station familiarization, routine maintenance and medical data collection. On Monday, the crew set up and activated EarthKAM for its first photographic data takes of the new increment.

Wednesday's scheduled reboost of the station using the Zvezda Service Module engine did not occur. Neither engine fired, and the maneuver was aborted. Russian engineers are investigating. Since the reboost was primarily intended as a test of the engines and would have raised the station's altitude by approximately 1/3 of a statute mile, the planned docking of the ISS Progress 21 cargo craft is not affected. The Progress, carrying 2½ tons of fuel, oxygen and supplies, will launch next Monday and dock with the station on Wednesday, April 26.

Source: NASA - Space Station

April 20, 2006. Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Orbital module of the Soyuz launch vehicle, containing Progress M-56 spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft processing facility for the general integration with LV.

Picture credits: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Source: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia - News

April 21, 2006. Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The orbital module was integrated with the Soyuz launch vehicle in the processing facility.

Picture credits: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Source: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia - News

Expedition 13 Prepares for Progress Docking


Image above: Newly arrived Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams
checks out the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams this week focused on experiments, maintenance and preparations for the arrival of two and a half tons of food, supplies and equipment. The crew completed the first of three sessions with the Renal Stone experiment, set up and activated cameras for the EarthKAM experiment and operated the Capillary Flow Experiment.

The Expedition 13 crew also spent several hours practicing the use of a manual docking system for next week's arrival of the ISS Progress 21 cargo vehicle. The computer-based training will ensure they're ready to take control of the Progress if the automated system does not work properly. The 21st Progress to visit the station is scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12:03 p.m. EDT Monday, and dock with the space station at 1:40 p.m. Wednesday. NASA TV will provide live coverage of the docking beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Source: NASA - Space Station

April 22, 2006. Baikonur Cosmodrome.

At 5:00 a.m. Moscow Time, the transporter with the Soyuz-U launch vehicle and the Progress M-56 spacecraft left the Assembly and Testing Facility and arrived to the launch pad for the final pre-launch processing. The Soyuz-U - Progress M-56 system was erected on the launcher. First launch day activities began.

(Continued below..)

(...Continued from above)

Picture credits: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Source: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia - News

Unpiloted Progress Bringing Life to Space Station

A new Progress will launch toward the International Space Station April 24. The unpiloted cargo carrier will have some life forms aboard.

The 21st Progress to visit the station will bring some small crustaceans for a Russian scientific experiment called Aquarium. That experiment looks at stability of closed ecological systems in microgravity. It could provide information useful for lengthy human spaceflights.

All in all, the Progress will have just over 2½ tons of equipment and supplies on board. Included in its 5,040 pounds of cargo will be more than 1,900 pounds of propellant, just over 100 pounds of air and oxygen, 661 pounds of water and almost 2,360 pounds of dry cargo.


Image above: An unpiloted ISS Progress cargo craft
approaches the station.
Credit: NASA

Its sister cargo carrier and predecessor at the station, Progress 20, will remain at the station until mid-June. P20, with its load of trash and surplus equipment from the station, will be deorbited and burn after entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

P21 is to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12:03 p.m. EDT Monday. Docking to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module is scheduled for April 26 at 1:40 p.m. NASA Television will cover the docking live, beginning at 1 p.m.

The Progress is similar in appearance and some design elements to the Soyuz spacecraft, which brings three crewmembers to the station, serves as a lifeboat while they are there and returns them to Earth. The aft module, the instrumentation and propulsion module, is nearly identical.

But the second of the three Progress sections is a refueling module, and the third, uppermost as the Progress sits on the launch pad, is a cargo module. On the Soyuz, the descent module, where the crew is seated on launch and which returns them to Earth, is the middle module and the third is called the orbital module.

Source: NASA - Space Station - Expeditions

----------------------------------

Note: Progress 20 (P20) & Progress 21 (P21) are NASA's designations for these craft. The Russians refer to them as Progress M55 & Progress M56.

I rather wish NASA would adopt the Russian designations as Progress 20 & Progress 21 were cargo craft sent to the Salyut-7 space station in April & May 1984 respectively.

Expedition 13 Prepares for Progress Visit


Image above: Newly arrived Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams
checks out the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA

The 21st Progress to visit the station launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12:03 p.m. EDT Monday. The new cargo craft is scheduled to dock with the space station at 1:40 p.m. Wednesday. Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams are readying the International Space Station for the arrival of two and a half tons of food, supplies and equipment. NASA TV will provide live coverage of the docking beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Source: NASA - Space Station

The Starsem press release is reproduced below:

Success of the 1707th launch of Soyuz

Evry, April 24, 2006

The 1707th flight of a Soyuz launch vehicle was performed Monday, April 24, 2006 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 10:03 p.m. Baikonur time (6:03 p.m., in Paris).

Starsem, Arianespace and their Russian partners report that the Progress spacecraft was accurately placed on the target orbit for another mission to the ISS.

This was the second Soyuz family mission in 2006. The next Starsem flight will be accomplished for the European Eumetsat Organization, launching the MetOp, the first European system in polar orbit dedicated to meteorology and climate observation.

With the introduction of the Soyuz at the Guiana Space Center (CSG), this famed Russian launch vehicle becomes an integral part of the European launcher fleet, together with the heavy-lift Ariane 5 and the lightweight Vega. To be offered exclusively by Arianespace to the commercial market, the Soyuz at CSG is Europe's reference medium-class launch vehicle for governmental and commercial missions.

Starsem is the Soyuz Company, bringing together all key players involved in the production, operation and international commercial marketing of the world's most versatile launch vehicle. Shareholders in Starsem are Arianespace, EADS, the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Samara Space Center.

The Starsem manifest for Soyuz missions currently includes contracted launches for the European Space Agency, Eumetsat, MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd and Globalstar LLC.

Source: Starsem Press Release

April 24, 2006. Baikonur Cosmodrome.

According to the Russian Party liabilities under the International Space Station project the Progress M-56 transport cargo vehicle was launched from Baikonur launch site at 20:03:25 Moscow time

Picture credits: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Source: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia - News

Resupply Ship Docks to Space Station


Image above: The Progress 21 resupply ship is moments away from
docking with the International Space Station. The Zvezda Service
Module's solar array is clearly visible in this image captured from a
station video camera.
Credit: NASA

The Progress 21 resupply space ship has arrived at the International Space Station. The Russian cargo craft docked to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module at 1:41 p.m. EDT on Wednesday. The new cargo ship brings with it science gear, propellant, air, oxygen, water and other cargo.

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams were on standby as they watched the automatic docking of the new Progress. An older Progress 20 resupply space ship remains docked to the Russian side of the station. In mid-June, the older Progress is due to leave the orbiting research complex and burn up as it enters the Earth’s atmosphere.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Progress With Equipment, Supplies Docks at Station

A new unpiloted Progress cargo carrier docked at the International Space Station at 1:41 p.m. EDT Wednesday.

The 21st Progress to visit the station has just over 2½ tons of equipment and supplies on board. Included in its 5,040 pounds of cargo are more than 1,900 pounds of propellant, just over 100 pounds of air and oxygen, 661 pounds of water and almost 2,360 pounds of dry cargo.


Image to right: The International Space Station as seen
from a video camera on the approaching Progress 21
spacecraft.
Credit: NASA TV

The new Progress also has on board some small crustaceans for a Russian scientific experiment called Aquarium. That experiment looks at stability of closed ecological systems in microgravity. It could provide information useful for lengthy human spaceflights.

Progress 21 docked at the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module. Station crewmembers, Expedition 13 commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams, will open the new arrival's hatch later today. While they might sample some of the fresh food aboard the Progress, they will begin unloading the Progress on Thursday.

Its sister cargo carrier and predecessor at the station, Progress 20, will remain at the Pirs Docking Compartment until mid-June. P20, with its load of trash and surplus equipment from the station, will be deorbited and burn after entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

P21 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday at 12:03 p.m. EDT, 10:03 p.m. Baikonur time.


Image to left: The solar arrays of the newly arrived
Progress 21 spacecraft are behind the solar arrays of the
Zvezda Service Module. The Progress docked to the aft
port of the Zvezda.
Credit: NASA TV

The Progress is similar in appearance and some design elements to the Soyuz spacecraft, which brings three crewmembers to the station, serves as a lifeboat while they are there and returns them to Earth. The aft module, the instrumentation and propulsion module, is nearly identical.

But the second of the three Progress sections is a refueling module, and the third, uppermost as the Progress sits on the launch pad, is a cargo module. On the Soyuz, the descent module, where the crew is seated on launch and which returns them to Earth, is the middle module and the third is called the orbital module.

Source: NASA - Space Station - Expeditions

OFICCIAL PRESS RELEASE
about transport cargo vehicle Progress M-56 docking to the
International Space Station

April 26, 2006. Korolev, Moscow Region.

Russian cargo vehicle Progress M-56 launched on April 24, 2006 from Baikonur cosmodrome after an autonomous two-day flight in near-earth orbit docked to the International Space Station (ISS).
The vehicle rendezvous with the ISS Orbital Complex, fly-around and docking were performed in the automatic mode. The vehicle approached a free axial docking port of Russian Service Module Zvezda. At 21:41:31 Moscow time the vehicle came into contact with the docking port.
The ISS Expedition 13 crew (ISS-13) consisting of Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov (commander, test engineer of RSC Energia) and American astronaut Jeffry Williams (ISS-13 flight engineer, NASA) monitored the rendezvous and docking processes onboard the station.
The ISS Orbital Complex of about 192 t performs a near-orbit flight with the followingparameters: maximum altitude of 363.2 km, minimum altitude of 337.2 km, period of revolution of 91.3 min.
The vehicles and Station modules onboard systems operate in a design mode.
The final flight operations during the vehicle rendezvous and docking to the station were conducted under control of N.N. Sevastiyanov, President, General Designer of RSC Energia, General Director for manned space complexes and Technical Manager for flight tests, who worked at the Mission Control Center in Moscow (MCC-M).
During these operations MCC-M was attended by V.A. Grin, co-chairmen of the State Board, representatives of Roscosmos, NASA, ESA, S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, allied enterprises and organizations participating in the manufacturing, processing and launch of the Progress vehicles, as well as control of the ISS RS.
The ISS Russian Segment flight control is provided by Lead Operational Control Team of MCC-M, Korolev, Moscow region. The flight is directed by V.A. Soloviev, Vice-President, Deputy General Designer of RSC Energia. The control is performed in interaction with the US Mission Control Center in Houston (MCC-H).
Upon completion of the docking, N.N. Sevastyanov, President of RSC Energia, and Flight Director V.A. Soloviev answered the questions of journalists of the Russian and foreign information agencies pointing out the cargo vehicle docking features and perspectives of ISS program work progress, development of the new generation Russian transport space system with manned space vehicle Clipper and inter-orbital tug Parom.

For reference:
Progress M-56 delivered ~ 2.6 tons of various cargoes to the station. Among them 870 kg of fuel are within the propulsion system refuelling tanks, 46.5 kg of gases are in oxygen supply equipment bottles, 1009.4 kg of cargoes are within the pressurized module. The last includes potable water, food, medical equipment, personal hygiene means, equipment for American Segment (253.3 kg), onboard systems and science research, means of individual and fire protection, flight-data files, parcels for the crew.
The Russian Segment of ISS is made up of Functional Cargo Module Zarya, Service Module Zvezda, docking module Pirs, transport vehicles Soyuz TMA-8, Progress M-56.
The US On-Orbit Segment is made up of Modules Unity and Destiny, airlock Quest and a multi-link truss structure with deployed solar arrays.

Picture credits: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Source: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia - News

Crew Unpacks New Progress, Prepares for Reboost


Image above: The Progress 21 resupply ship is moments away from
docking with the International Space Station. The Zvezda Service
Module's solar array is clearly visible in this image captured from a
station video camera.
Credit: NASA

Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams have begun unloading supplies from the new Progress 21. The Russian cargo craft docked to the station Wednesday, April 26. An older Progress vehicle continues to supply the station with air as needed. That Progress is being loaded with trash and readied for undocking in mid-June to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

The station is scheduled for an engine firing, or reboost, which will raise its orbit on Thursday, May 4.

Source: NASA - Space Station

The press release is reproduced below:

May 2, 2006

Joe Pally
Headquarters, Washington
(202) 358-7239

Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(281) 483-5111

RELEASE: 06-209

NASA Announces 14th International Space Station Crew

NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Sunita Williams and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin have been named as the 14th crew of the International Space Station. Expedition 14 is scheduled to begin this fall.

Lopez-Alegria, a veteran of three space flights, will command Expedition 14 and serve as the NASA station science officer for the six-month mission. He and Tyurin, a veteran station crew member from Expedition 3, are in training to launch aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in September 2006. Tyurin will serve as flight engineer and Soyuz commander.

Williams will join Expedition 14 in progress and serve as a flight engineer, after traveling to the station on space shuttle mission STS-116. This will be Williams's first space flight.

Selected as an astronaut in 1992, Lopez-Alegria flew his first shuttle mission, STS-73, in 1995 and later visited the station on shuttle missions STS-92 in 2000 and STS-113 in 2002, conducting five spacewalks during the station assembly complex. He has logged more than 42 days in space, including 34 hours spacewalking. Lopez-Alegria is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and received a Master of Science degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Williams was selected as an astronaut in 1998. She also is a graduate of the Naval Academy and received a Master of Science degree from the Florida Institute of Technology. Williams was designated a Naval aviator in 1989 and graduated from the Naval Test Pilot School in 1993. She has logged more than 2,770 flight hours in 30 different types of aircraft. At NASA, Williams has served as a liaison in Moscow supporting Expedition 1 and has supported station robotics work.

Tyurin was selected as a cosmonaut in 1993 and was a flight engineer aboard the station for Expedition 3 in 2001. He has spent 125 days in space. Tyurin is a graduate of the Moscow Aviation Institute.

Astronaut Peggy Whitson is the backup commander for Expedition 14. Astronaut Clay Anderson is backup flight engineer. Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko is the backup Soyuz commander and flight engineer.

For information about Expedition 14, the International Space Station and its missions, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home

- end -

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source: NASA Press Release 06-209

Crew Unpacks New Progress, Prepares for Reboost


Image above: The Progress 21 resupply ship is moments away from
docking with the International Space Station. The Zvezda Service
Module's solar array is clearly visible in this image captured from a
station video camera.
Credit: NASA

Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams continue unloading supplies from the new Progress 21. The Russian cargo craft docked to the station Wednesday, April 26. An older Progress vehicle continues to supply the station with air as needed. That Progress is being loaded with trash and readied for undocking in mid-June to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

The station is scheduled for an engine firing, or reboost, which will raise its orbit on Thursday, May 4.

NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Sunita Williams and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin have been named as the 14th crew of the International Space Station. Expedition 14 is scheduled to begin this fall.

Source: NASA - Space Station

ISS013-E-10099 (26 April 2006) --- Backdropped by Earth’s horizon and airglow, an unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the International Space Station. The Progress 21 resupply craft launched at 11:03 a.m. (CDT) on April 24, 2006 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to deliver 2.5 tons of food, water, fuel, oxygen, spare parts and other supplies to the Expedition 13 crewmembers onboard the station. Progress docked to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module at 12:41 p.m. (CDT) on April 26 as the spacecraft and the station flew approximately 219 miles above a point near Greece.




ISS013-E-10106 (26 April 2006) --- Backdropped by a blue and white Earth, an unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the International Space Station. The Progress 21 resupply craft launched at 11:03 a.m. (CDT) on April 24, 2006 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to deliver 2.5 tons of food, water, fuel, oxygen, spare parts and other supplies to the Expedition 13 crewmembers onboard the station. Progress docked to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module at 12:41 p.m. (CDT) on April 26 as the spacecraft and the station flew approximately 219 miles above a point near Greece.

Source: NASA - Human Space Flight Gallery - ISS - Crew 13

Crew Works on Experiments, Station Completes Reboost


Image above: Commander Pavel Vinogradov uses a communication
system while working with equipment in the Zvezda Service Module of
the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA

Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams are working on various experiments inside the International Space Station. Both crewmembers also participated in an interactive televised educational event Thursday morning at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center with NASA Explorer Schools.

Engines of the Progress cargo craft were fired early Thursday, raising the station's altitude about 1.6 miles.

NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Sunita Williams and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin have been named as the 14th crew of the International Space Station. Expedition 14 is scheduled to begin this fall.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Crew Conducts Maintenance, Unpacks Supplies


Image above: Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams prepares to
take photographs of the Earth from a window in the space station's
Zvezda Service Module.
Credit: NASA

Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams resumed work aboard their orbital home this week after a weekend of light duty. The crew performed maintenance on equipment for pre-breathing pure oxygen during spacewalk preparations and resumed unpacking supplies from the Progress cargo craft that docked with the station on April 26. Tuesday was another off-duty day for the crew to celebrate Victory Day, a Russian national holiday.

The engines of the Progress cargo craft were fired last Thursday, raising the station's altitude about 1.7 miles.

NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Sunita Williams and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin have been named as the 14th crew of the International Space Station. Expedition 14 is scheduled to begin this fall.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Crew Conducts Maintenance, Unpacks Supplies


Image above: Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams prepares to
take photographs of the Earth from a window in the space station's
Zvezda Service Module.
Credit: NASA

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams focused this week on science experiments, maintenance tasks and unpacking cargo on the International Space Station.

Williams began the second of three sessions Wednesday with an experiment that studies bubbling that occurs in weightlessness as liquids cool and solidify. On Thursday, Williams practiced with the station's robotic arm, conducting a video survey of the site of a future spacewalk.

Vinogradov turned off the Elektron oxygen-generating system last weekend so Russian flight controllers could analyze a small nitrogen leak in the unit. The Elektron will remain deactivated until after a June 1 spacewalk. Meanwhile, oxygen from tanks in the ISS Progress 20 cargo vehicle is being added to the station's cabin.

NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Sunita Williams and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin have been named as the 14th crew of the International Space Station. Expedition 14 is scheduled to begin this fall.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Crew Continues Experiments, Prepares for Spacewalk


Image above: Astronaut Jeff Williams conducts the first run of the Pore
Formation and Mobility Investigation in the Microgravity Science Glovebox.
Credit: NASA

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams continued working with the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) facility, which includes the Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation experiment.

The crew also began reviewing procedures today for the upcoming spacewalk scheduled for June 1.

NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Sunita Williams and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin have been named as the 14th crew of the International Space Station. Expedition 14 is scheduled to begin this fall.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Station Crew Works Toward Spacewalk, Shuttle Arrival


Image above: Astronaut Jeff Williams conducts the first run of the Pore
Formation and Mobility Investigation in the Microgravity Science Glovebox.
Credit: NASA

International Space Station astronauts spent a busy Wednesday preparing for the arrival of the space shuttle Discovery and working on components of the Russian oxygen-generating Elektron in preparation for a June 1 spacewalk.

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov spent several hours routing a line that dumps hydrogen overboard. The Elektron breaks down water into oxygen for use in the station and vents hydrogen into space.

During the spacewalk, they will install a new vent on the outside of the Zvezda service module. The line Vinogradov worked on leads to the interior opening of that vent.

Meanwhile, NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams spent several hours packing material and experiment results for transport home on Discovery. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch on the STS-121 mission no earlier than July 1.

On Thursday crewmembers will review procedures and gather equipment for the spacewalk. Williams also will spend an hour working with the SPHERES experiment. The experiment involves small satellites preprogrammed to perform specific maneuvers, in this case inside the station.

Source: NASA - Space Station

May the Force Be With Them

If there are bowling-ball size satellites flying in formation inside the International Space Station, where's Luke Skywalker?

What may sound like a scene straight from a "Star Wars" movie is actually an experiment that will test how well spacecraft can fly in formation and then rendezvous and dock without the aid of a human pilot.


Image above: Expedition 8 Commander Michael Foale
holds the SPHERES Beacon / Beacon Tester.
Credit: NASA

Astronaut Jeff Williams won’t need the Force or a lightsaber May 18 when he unveils the first of three free-flying nano-satellites and releases it for a test flight inside the U.S. Destiny Lab.

Developing autonomous formation flying and docking control algorithms is an important step in making future space missions possible. Today, the ability to coordinate and synchronize multiple unmanned spacecraft in tightly controlled spaces can only be done through the magic of movies. But, SPHERES could someday make it a reality.

SPHERES stands for Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Re-orient Experiment. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Space Systems Laboratory in Cambridge, Mass., developed the experiment to test formation flying and multi-spacecraft control algorithms for the Air Force and NASA.

The first SPHERES satellite arrived aboard the 21 Progress vehicle on April 26.

Each satellite is about 8 inches in diameter, weighs about 7 pounds, and has its own internal avionics, software, and communications systems. They are powered by two AA batteries and will use carbon dioxide gas thrusters to maneuver through the Destiny Lab.

As the satellites fly through the station, they will communicate with each other and an ISS laptop through a wireless link.


Image above: The SPHERES Beacon / Beacon Tester
floats in the Unity node of the space station.
Credit: NASA

During Expedition 8 and 9, ISS crewmembers performed tests without the satellite to evaluate the ultra-sound and infrared beacons the satellites will use to determine their position.

During Expedition 13, Williams will initiate and monitor a series of test flights in which the satellite performs 10 to 15 pre-planned maneuvers, each lasting 5 to 10 minutes.

Between test flights, Mission Control and the MIT ground team will evaluate the satellite’s flying performance and make any needed software modifications. It will be tested for attitude control, station keeping, re-targeting, collision avoidance and fuel balancing algorithms. A simple Velcro docking system will be used to test its rendezvous and docking capability.

Williams also may manually fly the satellite using keyboard commands issued from a laptop.

The lessons learned from this experiment could also be used to develop free-flying robotic assistants capable of helping astronauts on future spacewalks.

The second satellite is scheduled to launch to the station on STS-121 in July 2006. The third will be launched on STS-116. Three will also remain on the ground for testing.

Source: NASA - Space Station - Expeditions

STS-121 Payload Carries Breath of Fresh Air

A device roughly the size of a refrigerator could allow larger crews than ever to live on the International Space Station, increasing research that benefits life on Earth and supports future exploration.

The new Oxygen Generation System (OGS) can provide 12 pounds of oxygen during a normal day aboard the station, enough to support six crew members -- double the size of the largest crews in the past. Space Shuttle Discovery will carry the system to the station during the STS-121 mission, set to launch in July from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.


Image above: At NASA's Kennedy Space Center,
the new Oxygen Generation System is moved
into the Space Station Processing Facility after
being removed from its shipping container in
January 2006.
Image credit: NASA/KSC

When circumstances call for more oxygen -- for example, if additional people are aboard during a space shuttle mission or crew exchange, or if oxygen is lost through experiments or airlock depressurization -- the system could provide an extra eight pounds of oxygen per day, bringing the total maximum output to 20 pounds.

Like the Elektron system currently used on the station, the OGS relies on a process called electrolysis, in which water is split into oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen is released into the station atmosphere, and the hydrogen then is discarded into space. The OGS offers a higher oxygen production capacity than Elektron and will provide important backup capability for supplying oxygen to the station crews.

Initially, the OGS will use water carried up to the station from Earth. Ultimately, the device will draw water from the Water Recovery System which will be launched and operational before the first six-person crew arrives in 2009. Together, they will form a "closed-loop" regenerative life-support system in which wastewater generated on the station will be recycled and used as a source of additional drinking water and to supply water to the OGS.


Image above: NASA astronaut Peggy A. Whitson, Expedition Five
flight engineer, works with the Advanced Astroculture soybean plant
growth experiment in the Destiny laboratory on the International Space
Station in July 2002. The new Oxygen Generation System to be
delivered during the STS-121 mission can help make up oxygen lost
through such experiments.
Image credit: NASA/JSC

"Once complete, the regenerative life-support system will sustain additional crew members onboard that can conduct more scientific research," explained Mike Suffredini, station program manager. "It also will give us experience operating and sustaining a closed-loop life support system similar to that necessary for future human spaceflight missions farther from Earth."

During the STS-121 mission, astronauts will move the OGS from the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo into the U.S. laboratory module, Destiny. The new system could be up and running as early as spring 2007, supplying a new breath of fresh air to explorers living and working in orbit.

Anna Heiney
NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center

Source: NASA - Space Station - Behind The Scenes

Station Crew Works Toward Spacewalk, Shuttle Arrival


Image above: Astronaut Jeff Williams conducts the first run of the Pore
Formation and Mobility Investigation in the Microgravity Science Glovebox.
Credit: NASA

Flight Engineer and Science Officer Jeff Williams "piloted" a unique spacecraft in three dimensions for the first time around the pressurized Destiny module. The experiment is called SPHERES - Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Re-orient Experimental Satellites. For the first tests only one satellite and two beacons were used. The first test flight consisted of a series of 10 - 15 pre-planned maneuvers each lasting up to 10 minutes.

Jeff Williams continued packing material and experiment results for transport home on the space shuttle Discovery. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch on the STS-121 mission no earlier than July 1.

Experiments, maintenance and spacewalk preparations continued this week. The spacewalk is scheduled for June 1. This week the crew also talked with school students in Wisconsin.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Crew Prepares for June 1 Spacewalk


Image above: Astronaut Jeff Williams conducts the first run of the Pore
Formation and Mobility Investigation in the Microgravity Science Glovebox.
Credit: NASA

Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams have shifted their schedule in preparation for their first spacewalk on June 1. They will begin their sleep shift at 11:30 p.m. EDT and wake up at 8 a.m. from now until May 31. Vinogradov and Williams will also continue to set up equipment and review their activities with spacewalk specialists on the ground.

Jeff Williams, who is also the crew's science officer, continued testing a miniature satellite inside the station over the weekend. The experiment is called SPHERES or Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Crew Prepares for June 1 Spacewalk


Image above: This picture of Washington, D.C. was taken from the
International Space Station by an Expedition 13 crewmember.
Credit: NASA

Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams have shifted their schedule in preparation for their first spacewalk on June 1. They will begin their sleep shift at 11:30 p.m. EDT and wake up at 8 a.m. from now until May 31. Vinogradov and Williams will also continue to set up equipment and review their activities with spacewalk specialists on the ground.

Jeff Williams, who is also the crew's science officer, continued testing a miniature satellite inside the station over the weekend. The experiment is called SPHERES or Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Crew Readies Spacesuits and Gear for Spacewalk


Image above: Cleveland Volcano erupts on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
Credit: NASA

Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams are setting up the two Russian Orlan spacesuits they will wear for their first spacewalk on June 1. They completed recharging the batteries that will power the spacesuits and installed U.S. lights on their helmets. They are also setting up hardware, communications and life support gear.

As the International Space Station orbited the Earth, Williams photographed Cleveland Volcano erupting on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Repairs, Experiments Focus of June 1 Spacewalk

Repair of a vent for the International Space Station's oxygen-producing Elektron unit, retrieval of experiment results and replacement of a camera on the orbiting laboratory's main truss are among activities scheduled for a 5-hour, 37-minute spacewalk June 1.


Image above: Computer-generated artist’s rendering of
the International Space Station. This angle shows the
port side view of the orbiting complex.
Credit: NASA

Station commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams are scheduled to leave the airlock of the Pirs Docking Compartment at 6:40 p.m. EDT. They will wear Russian Orlan spacesuits.

Vinogradov is designated lead spacewalker, or EV1. With Williams, EV2, he will move out of the airlock and to the Strela hand-operated crane. The crewmembers will use it to move about the station's Russian segment.

Repair of the Elektron vent is the first task. Because of a problem with that vent, Vinogradov had to reroute Elektron's hydrogen vent line to a vent also used by the Vozdukh carbon dioxide removal system. This repair will enable them to re-establish the original vent line.

The Elektron breaks down water into its components, hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is used in the station and the hydrogen is vented overboard. The repair, involving installation of a nozzle on the neck of a valve, should take about 35 minutes, followed by 10 minutes to photograph the area.

Next Vinogradov and Williams will remove a plate from the Kromka experiment and then a Biorisk experiment container for return to the inside of the station. Kromka looks at contamination from thruster jet firings and devices to protect the station's exterior from them. Biorisk studies the effect of spaceflight on microorganisms.

Vinogradov then will remove slack in a cable of an antenna on the Zvezda Service Module designed for docking of the unpiloted European Automated Transfer Vehicle, scheduled for its first launch next year. Meanwhile, Williams will retrieve a contamination monitoring device from Zvezda.

The spacewalk's final and longest major task is replacement of a malfunctioning camera on the Mobile Base System, which moves the Canadarm2 robotic arm along the rails on the station's main truss. Both spacewalkers will work on that job, scheduled to take an hour and 25 minutes.

Vinogradov and Williams will secure the Strela before re-entering Pirs to conclude the spacewalk.

Source: NASA - Space Station - Expeditions

Good stuff!

Quick Question for anyone. On a previous Space walk a crystalline like substance was seen on and around the Hydrogen vent from the Elektron. Have they discovered what it was and is the valve extension an attempt to eliminate the problem?

Crew Prepares for Spacewalk; NASA TV Will Cover


Image above: Cleveland Volcano erupts on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
Credit: NASA

Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeffrey Williams continue preparations for the June 1 spacewalk. The crew climbed into their Orlan spacesuits for their “dry run” exercise Tuesday, testing their mobility and checking out the suits’ systems. Thursday's spacewalk will be Vinogradov’s sixth and Williams' second. At 5:30 p.m. EDT on June 1, NASA TV will begin spacewalk coverage.

+ Watch NASA TV

As the International Space Station orbited the Earth, Williams photographed Cleveland Volcano erupting on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Crew Begins Spacewalk


Image above: The Expedition 13 crew conducts a spacewalk.
Credit: NASA TV

International Space Station Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams have left the airlock of the Pirs Docking Compartment for a spacewalk focusing on repairs and retrieval of scientific experiments. Today's spacewalk is Vinogradov’s sixth and Williams' second.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Crew Begins Spacewalk


Image above: Flight Engineer Jeff Williams (lower right) and Commander
Pavel Vinogradov work with the Strela hand-operated crane.
Credit: NASA TV

International Space Station Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams have left the airlock of the Pirs Docking Compartment for a spacewalk focusing on repairs and retrieval of scientific experiments. Today's spacewalk is Vinogradov’s sixth and Williams' second.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Crew Completes Successful Spacewalk


Image above: Flight Engineer Jeff Williams (lower right) and Commander
Pavel Vinogradov work with the Strela hand-operated crane.
Credit: NASA TV

International Space Station Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams re-entered the airlock of the Pirs docking compartment early Friday after a successful 6-hour, 31-minute spacewalk. Repair of a vent for the station's oxygen-producing Elektron unit, retrieval of experiment results and replacement of a camera on the orbiting laboratory's rail car system were among tasks completed during the first of two spacewalks planned for Expedition 13.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Station Crew Winds Up Successful Spacewalk

International Space Station Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams re-entered the airlock of the Pirs docking compartment Friday at 1:19 a.m. EDT after a successful spacewalk focusing on repairs and retrieval of scientific experiments.


Image above: Flight Engineer Jeff Williams (lower right) and
Commander Pavel Vinogradov work outside the Pirs docking
compartment.
Credit: NASA TV

Repair of a vent for the station's oxygen-producing Elektron unit, retrieval of experiment results and replacement of a camera on the orbiting laboratory's rail car system were among tasks completed during their 6-hour, 31-minute spacewalk.

Wearing Russian Orlan spacesuits, they moved from Pirs to the Strela hand-operated crane, and used it to move about the station's Russian segment.

The Elektron vent repair was the first task. Because of a problem with that vent, Vinogradov had to reroute Elektron's hydrogen vent line to a vent also used by the Vozdukh carbon dioxide removal system. This repair enabled them to re-establish the vent line.


Image above: Jeff Williams (lower left) and Pavel Vinogradov
work with the Strela hand-operated crane.
Credit: NASA TV

The Elektron breaks down water into its components, hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is used in the station and the hydrogen is vented overboard. The repair, involving installation of a nozzle on the neck of a valve, was followed by a few minutes to photograph the area.

Next Vinogradov removed a plate from the Kromka experiment. Kromka looks at contamination from thruster jet firings and devices to protect the station's exterior from them. While he was doing that, Williams removed a Biorisk experiment container from Pirs for return to the inside of the station. Biorisk studies the effect of spaceflight on microorganisms.

Vinogradov then removed slack in a cable of an antenna on the Zvezda Service Module. The antenna is designed for docking of the unpiloted European Automated Transfer Vehicle, scheduled for its first launch next year. Meanwhile, Williams retrieved another contamination-monitoring device from Zvezda.


Image above: Jeff Williams (upper left) assists Pavel Vinogradov
with a task during their spacewalk.
Credit: NASA TV

The spacewalk's final and longest major task was replacement of a malfunctioning camera on the Mobile Base System, which moves the Canadarm2 robotic arm along the rails on the station's main truss. Both spacewalkers worked on that job. With the crew a little behind its schedule, maximum time for the spacewalk was extended so the task could be completed.

Vinogradov and Williams secured the Strela before re-entering Pirs to conclude the spacewalk. It was the sixth spacewalk for Vinogradov and the second for Williams.

Source: NASA - Space Station - Expeditions

Elektron Back Online, Station Ready for Reboost


Image Image above: Flight Engineer Jeff Williams works on a spacesuit
in the Zvezda Service Module of the space station.
Credit: NASA

The Elektron, a Russian oxygen generator, is back online after being shut down for repairs. The Elektron generates oxygen from water and vents the hydrogen byproduct overboard. During a June 1 spacewalk, Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov redirected a vent line that dumps hydrogen outside the International Space Station.

The station will raise its altitude on Friday. The nearly three-minute reboost ensures the orbiting laboratory will be at the proper orientation for rendezvous and docking with visiting spacecraft. The station is set for upcoming dockings with a Progress 22 cargo spacecraft on June 24 and Space Shuttle Discovery in early July.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Station Ready for Reboost, Elektron Shuts Down Again


Image Image above: Flight Engineer Jeff Williams works on a spacesuit
in the Zvezda Service Module of the space station.
Credit: NASA

The Elektron shut down again after repairs returned the Russian oxygen generator to service. The Elektron generates oxygen from water and vents the hydrogen byproduct overboard. During a June 1 spacewalk, Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov redirected a vent line that dumps hydrogen outside the International Space Station. A docked Progress spacecraft can also provide oxygen for the station crew.

The station will raise its altitude on Friday. The nearly three-minute reboost ensures the orbiting laboratory will be at the proper orientation for rendezvous and docking with visiting spacecraft. The station is set for upcoming dockings with a Progress 22 cargo spacecraft on June 24 and Space Shuttle Discovery in early July.

Source: NASA - Space Station