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ISS Crew Members take First Look Inside Cygnus after Hatch Opening
September 29, 2013The first Cygnus to fly to ISS, named in honor of former Astronaut and Orbital Sciences executive G. David Low, has been opened for business as the crew of the International Space Station opened its hatch on Monday. Cygnus is now set for a three-week docked mission during which cargo operations are completed by the crew members.
>>>Mission Updates |
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First Cygnus arrives at Space Station after clean Rendezvous & Capture
September 29, 2013The first Cygnus Spacecraft has arrived at the International Space Station - being captured by Canadarm2 after a clean rendezvous on Sunday to start its visit to ISS to deliver 700 Kilograms of supplies to the Station.
Canadarm2, flown by Luca Parmitano, grappled the Cygnus spacecraft at 11:00 UTC after it had completed a series of eight crucial demonstration objectives that were part of the vehicle's test flight requirements. >>>Mission Updates |
Photo: NASA TV
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Cygnus approved for next Rendezvous Attempt with ISS on Sunday
September 27, 2013NASA has approved the Cygnus spacecraft for a re-rendezvous with the International Space Station following an extended free flight to allow teams to solve a GPS data discrepancy issue that was observed during the first rendezvous attempt.
>>>Mission Updates |
Image: NASA
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Photo: NASA
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Soyuz TMA-10M docks to ISS on Time - Boosts Expedition 37 Crew to Six
September 26, 2013Soyuz TMA-10M has successfully delivered three International Space Station residents to the orbiting complex Wednesday night following a flawless launch, rendezvous and docking. The Space Station crew has now been restored to six for a few busy weeks as part of ISS Expedition 37.
Soyuz TMA-10M was launched atop a Soyuz FG rocket at 20:58 UTC on Wednesday and the launch vehicle delivered the spacecraft to orbit less than nine minutes after blasting off from Baikonur. Soyuz TMA-10M then executed a clean four-orbit rendezvous that culminated in the docking of the spacecraft to the Station's Poisk module at 2:45 UTC. Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineers Sergey Ryazansky & Mike Hopkins have now arrived at their home in space for the next six months, beginning a busy mission. >>>Mission Updates >>>Launch to Docking Videos |
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Soyuz set for Express Rendezvous with ISS after picture-perfect Launch
September 25, 2013
Lighting up the night skies above the Baikour Cosmodrome and the steppes of Kazakhstan, a Soyuz rocket carrying three International Space Station crew members made a thundering blastoff Wednesday night to start the journey to the orbiting outpost. The Soyuz FG Rocket carrying Soyuz TMA-10M & Oleg Kotov, Sergey Ryazansky and Mike Hopkins blasted off on Wednesday at 20:58 UTC. Ascent was flawless and the Soyuz was delivered to its desired orbit.
The three crew members are now set for an overnight Rendezvous and Docking with the International Space Station using the faster four-orbit rendezvous technique instead of the two-day link-up that was used for all missions until Soyuz TMA-08M earlier this year. Soyuz TMA-10M is set for docking with the Poisk Module at 2:48 UTC Thursday morning. >>>Mission Updates |
Photo: NASA
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ISS Operations - September 24, 2013
Cygnus Ops after aborted Rendezvous:
Experiments:
Maintenance/Servicing:
Other Activities:
- Robotic Arm reposition to Orb-D1 Park Position to move LEE out of Velocity Vector
Experiments:
- Three INSPACE-3 runs [“Purpose of the InSPACE micro-G investigations is to obtain fundamental data of the complex properties of an exciting class of smart materials termed magnetorheological (MR) fluids. MR fluids are suspensions of small (micron-sized) superparamagnetic particles in a nonmagnetic medium. These controllable fluids can quickly transition into a nearly solidlike state when exposed to a magnetic field and return to their original liquid state when the magnetic field is removed. Their relative stiffness can be controlled by controlling the strength of the magnetic field. Due to the rapid-response interface that they provide between mechanical components and electronic controls, MR fluids can be used to improve or develop new brake systems, seat suspensions, robotics, clutches, airplane landing gear, and vibration damping systems." (Source: NASA)]
- BCAT-C1 Sample Setup [BCAT-C1 = Binary Colloidal Alloy Test C1; “BCAT-C1 will probe three-phase separation kinetics and the competition between phase separation and crystallization in colloid polymer mixtures. This regime remains virtually uncharacterized in any type of material including molecular fluids or complex mixtures. BCAT-C1 takes advantage of a substantial opportunity to fill a gap in the knowledge of these fundamental processes. By examining the kinetics in seven samples of different composition, we intend to show that significant quantitative differences in kinetics occur even though the resulting phases are similar,” the official experiment description notes.]
- KPT-10 - Kulonovskiy Kristall (Coulomb Crystal) Experiment Session [The KPT-10 telescience study examines “dynamic and structural characteristics of the Coulomb systems formed by charged dispersed diamagnetic macroparticles in a magnetic field (trap), investigating the following processes onboard the ISS RS (Russian Segment): condensed dust media, Coulomb crystals, and formation of Coulomb liquids due to charged macroparticles,” the NASA experiment overview notes.]
Maintenance/Servicing:
- Nominal Inspections/Servicing Tasks (Morning Inspection, Caution & Warning Panel Check, Sozh System Maintenance) (Russian Crew)
- Extravehicular Mobility Unit Hard Upper Torso Water Line Vent Tube Assembly (WLVTA) Remove and Replace
- JEM Mesh Cover-Return Grille Cleaning
- ExPRESS-3 Rack Isolation System - Ground Strap Remove and Replace
- JEM Common Gas Support Equipment Gas Supply Start
- IP-1 Airflow Sensor Position & Performance verification
Other Activities:
- Space-to-Ground Voice Checks with Baikonur
- PAO Event
- Cygnus Cargo Pre-Pack
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Cause of Cygnus GPS Data Problem uncovered - Rendezvous NET Saturday
September 23, 2013After Sunday's aborted Cygnus Rendezvous, Orbital Sciences Mission Controllers were hard at work understanding and resolving a software problem that was found to be the root cause of the observed data issue. However, the next rendezvous attempt was postponed until No Earlier Than Saturday to deconflict ISS Visiting Vehicles Traffic and take pressure off an otherwise filled crew and Mission Control timeline.
>>>Mission Updates |
Image: Orbital Sciences
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Soyuz rolled to Baikonur Launch Pad for Liftoff on Wednesday
September 23, 2013A Soyuz FG rocket carrying the Soyuz TMA-10M Spacecraft has been rolled out to the Launch Pad at Site 1/5 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Monday to begin final preparations for launch on Wednesday at 20:58 UTC. Soyuz TMA-10M is set for a four-orbit launch-to-docking mission to bring the Expedition 37/38 crew members Oleg Kotov, Sergey Ryazansky and Mike Hopkins to the International Space Station.
>>>Mission Updates |
ISS Operations - September 23, 2013
Cygnus Ops after aborted Rendezvous (see Mission Updates)
Experiments:
Maintenance/Servicing:
Experiments:
- SKIN B Experiment Ops (Parmitano) [SKIN B is a German Aerospace Center Payload that studies the the influence of microgravity on human skin. Crew members will complete at least eight experiment sessions during their flight. SKIN B measures skin moisture, water loss and studies physiological properties with a close-up imager. Skin elasticity, capillary blood flow and deep skin structure will be studied pre- and post-flight. On previous missions, it has been determined that the skin experiences a number of effects during long-duration space flights that resemble the aging process, but just in an accelerated form.]
- Three INSPACE-3 runs [“Purpose of the InSPACE micro-G investigations is to obtain fundamental data of the complex properties of an exciting class of smart materials termed magnetorheological (MR) fluids. MR fluids are suspensions of small (micron-sized) superparamagnetic particles in a nonmagnetic medium. These controllable fluids can quickly transition into a nearly solidlike state when exposed to a magnetic field and return to their original liquid state when the magnetic field is removed. Their relative stiffness can be controlled by controlling the strength of the magnetic field. Due to the rapid-response interface that they provide between mechanical components and electronic controls, MR fluids can be used to improve or develop new brake systems, seat suspensions, robotics, clutches, airplane landing gear, and vibration damping systems." (Source: NASA)]
- KPT-10 - Kulonovskiy Kristall (Coulomb Crystal) Experiment Session [The KPT-10 telescience study examines “dynamic and structural characteristics of the Coulomb systems formed by charged dispersed diamagnetic macroparticles in a magnetic field (trap), investigating the following processes onboard the ISS RS (Russian Segment): condensed dust media, Coulomb crystals, and formation of Coulomb liquids due to charged macroparticles,” the NASA experiment overview notes.]
- ENERGY Experiment Hardware Collection
Maintenance/Servicing:
- Nominal Inspections/Servicing Tasks (Morning Inspection, Caution & Warning Panel Check, Sozh System Maintenance) (Russian Crew)
- Node-3 - Bacteria Filter Remove&Replace
- Prox-link Antenna Feeder Standing Wave Factor Measurement
- MERLIN Desiccant Removal
- Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Inspection
- Waste & Hygiene Compartment Urine Tank Replacement
- Electron lines leak check
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Cygnus Rendezvous Aborted due to GPS Navigation Problem
September 22, 2013The rendezvous of the Cygnus Spacecraft with the International Space Station was called off on Sunday when the spacecraft encountered problems with its navigation system. The rendezvous abort occurred early in the process when Cygnus was still more than 15 Kilometers from ISS. Pending resolution of the issue, NASA and Orbital Sciences plan the second rendezvous attempt on Tuesday.
>>>Mission Updates |
Photo: NASA TV
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Image: NASA TV
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Cygnus ready for Rendezvous with Space Station on Sunday
September 21, 2013Orbital Sciences' Cygnus spacecraft was declared ready for its Rendezvous and Approach to the International Space Station. NASA managers reviewed the vehicle's performance in orbit and the results of the first two in-orbit demonstrations and gave the go-ahead for the rendezvous on Sunday as originally planned. Capture by the Space Station's robotic arm is planned at 11:25 UTC, barring any delays which are quite common during test flights.
>>>Mission Updates |
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Cygnus completes initial Orbital Maneuvers ahead of Rendezvous with ISS
September 20, 2013Following its spectacular launch from Wallops on Wednesday, Orbital Sciences' Cygnus Spacecraft has started orbital operations and also completed its first demonstrations on its test flight to the International Space Station.
>>>Mission Updates |
Image: Orbital Sciences
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ISS Operations - September 20, 2013
Crew Half Duty Day in preparation for Cygnus Ops on Sunday
Cygnus Arrival Preparations:
Experiments:
Maintenance/Servicing:
Cygnus Arrival Preparations:
- Robotic Ops - Onboard Training Session
- Capture Point Hold Runs
- Procedures Review
Experiments:
- Pro-K – Urine Spot Test, Diet Logging, Sample Processing and stowage [The full name of this study is Dietary Intake Can Predict and Protect against Changes in Bone Metabolism during Spaceflight and Recovery. It involves crew members sticking to a low salt or high salt diet for five days, logging their food intake, collecting and analysing urine and blood samples and preparing samples for analysis on the ground.]
- Diaspon - Setup & 2nd Experiment Run [Diaspon looks at nano-particle migration and capture achieved by very small thermal gradients with special focus on particles in the size range of 2nm to 1 micron. Data provided by Diaspon will help study combustion-generated pollution and the identification of atmospheric contaminants on-board ISS.]
- Human Research Facility Sampling Ops - Blood & Urine sampling & sample processing
- KPT-10 - Kulonovskiy Kristall (Coulomb Crystal) Experiment Session [The KPT-10 telescience study examines “dynamic and structural characteristics of the Coulomb systems formed by charged dispersed diamagnetic macroparticles in a magnetic field (trap), investigating the following processes onboard the ISS RS (Russian Segment): condensed dust media, Coulomb crystals, and formation of Coulomb liquids due to charged macroparticles,” the NASA experiment overview notes.]
- Makita Battery Charging
Maintenance/Servicing:
- Nominal Inspections/Servicing Tasks (Morning Inspection, Caution & Warning Panel Check, Sozh System Maintenance) (Russian Crew)
- Progress M-20M KURS-A Cable Removal
- Fan Screen Cleaning inside Soyuz TMA-09M
- Air Duct Cleaning in MRM-2
- ARED Cylinder Evacuation & Guide Install
ISS Operations - September 19, 2013
Photo: NASA
Photo: NASA
Photo: NASA
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Cygnus Status:
Cygnus Arrival Preparations:
Experiments:
Other Activities:
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ISS Operations - September 18, 2013
Cygnus Status:
Cygnus Arrival Preparations:
Experiments:
Maintenance/Servicing:
Other Activities:
- Cygnus was launched atop an Antares launch vehicle at 14:58 UTC
- Orbital Insertion ten minutes after liftoff was nominal
- Solar Array Deployment was as expected
- Propulsion System pressurization and priming was successful
- Three-Axis Control was established
- TDRSS Comm issue was noted amd MCC-D put a temporary workaround inm place while troubleshooting
- First DV burn: TIG:20:07 UTC, dT: 7min, dV: 34m/s
- First Demo Objectives: Free Drift & Active Abort early Thursday UTC
Cygnus Arrival Preparations:
- Robotics Onboard Training
- External Camera Setup
- Cargo Transfer Operations Review
- Cargo Transfer Conference
Experiments:
- Ocular Health – Fundoscope Exams [OH is a new human physiology study. Its full name is Prospective Observational Study of Ocular Health in ISS Crews. "The Prospective Observational Study of Ocular Health in ISS Crews (Ocular Health) protocol aims to systematically gather physiological data to characterize the Risk of Microgravity-Induced Visual Impairment/Intracranial Pressure on crewmembers assigned to a 6 month ISS increment," the NASA experiment overview said. It is known that some (not all) astronauts in orbit experience changes in visual acuity (visual clarity) and intraocular pressure as a result of fluid shifts within the body as it is subjected to microgravity. About 20% is astronauts flying to ISS have reported these kinds of changes. Test subjects will undergo pre-flight, flight and post-flight testing of their eyes using a variety of techniques.]
- Pro-K – Urine Spot Test, Diet Logging, Sample Processing and stowage [The full name of this study is Dietary Intake Can Predict and Protect against Changes in Bone Metabolism during Spaceflight and Recovery. It involves crew members sticking to a low salt or high salt diet for five days, logging their food intake, collecting and analysing urine and blood samples and preparing samples for analysis on the ground.]
- Uragan Equipment Setup
- MATRYOSHKA-R. Lulin-5 Sensor Readings [Matryoshka-R consists of a number of radiation dosimeters that are set up inside the space station to assess radiation exposure of the crew relative to ISS position in its orbit and shielding provided by the modules.]
- Air Sampling
Maintenance/Servicing:
- Columbus Module Air Loop Unmanned Configuration Test by ground teams
- Nominal Inspections/Servicing Tasks (Morning Inspection, Caution & Warning Panel Check, Sozh System Maintenance) (Russian Crew)
- Prepare Plume Impingement and Deposit Monitoring Unit (БКДО) Hardware and Accessories for Disposal on ATV4
- Solar Array Maximum Output Test via ground
Other Activities:
- Emergency Onboard Training - Rapid Depress & Ammonia Leak Simulation with ground specialists and all three crew members
- Nominal Exercise
Photo: Orbital Sciences
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Cygnus En-Route to Space Station after successful Antares Launch
September 18, 2013The first Cygnus Spacecraft to fly is on its way to the International Space Station after being launched on Wednesday. The Orbital Sciences Antares Rocket carrying Cygnus lifted off from Pad 0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility at 14:58 UTC. Antares performed a flawless ten-minute ascent into Low Earth Orbit, delivering Cygnus to its desired trajectory to begin its ambitious demonstration mission to the Space Station.
>>>Mission Updates |
ISS Operations - September 17, 2013
Cygnus Arrival Preparations:
Experiments:
Maintenance/Servicing:
Other Activities:
- Canadarm2 Offset Grapple Training using the SSRMS and the PMM Grapple Fixture to simulate misaligned approaches
- Cargo Info Review
Experiments:
- ACE-1 - Sample Preparation and Mixing Sample: 9/10 [Continuing operations that started during Expedition 32, the Advanced Colloids Experiment-1 (ACE-1) will be performing a series of microscopic imaging investigations of materials which contain small colloidal particles. These materials have the specific characteristic of remaining evenly dispersed and distributed within the material. Performing these types of experiments aboard the Space Station in Zero Gravity allows scientists to separate the effects induced by Earth’s gravity in order to examine flow characteristics and the evolution and ordering effects within these colloidal materials. Results from this study will be used for a number of applications on Earth. ACE uses a Light Microscopy Module to monitor colloidal activity.]
- Ocular Health – Blood Pressure Measurements, Tonometry Measurements & Health Maintenance Vision Checks in conjunction with OH [OH is a new human physiology study. Its full name is Prospective Observational Study of Ocular Health in ISS Crews. "The Prospective Observational Study of Ocular Health in ISS Crews (Ocular Health) protocol aims to systematically gather physiological data to characterize the Risk of Microgravity-Induced Visual Impairment/Intracranial Pressure on crewmembers assigned to a 6 month ISS increment," the NASA experiment overview said. It is known that some (not all) astronauts in orbit experience changes in visual acuity (visual clarity) and intraocular pressure as a result of fluid shifts within the body as it is subjected to microgravity. About 20% is astronauts flying to ISS have reported these kinds of changes. Test subjects will undergo pre-flight, flight and post-flight testing of their eyes using a variety of techniques.]
- Pro-K – Urine Spot Test, Diet Logging, Sample Processing and stowage [The full name of this study is Dietary Intake Can Predict and Protect against Changes in Bone Metabolism during Spaceflight and Recovery. It involves crew members sticking to a low salt or high salt diet for five days, logging their food intake, collecting and analysing urine and blood samples and preparing samples for analysis on the ground.]
- BCAT-C1 Image Transfer and Camera Intervalometer Set [BCAT-C1 = Binary Colloidal Alloy Test C1; “BCAT-C1 will probe three-phase separation kinetics and the competition between phase separation and crystallization in colloid polymer mixtures. This regime remains virtually uncharacterized in any type of material including molecular fluids or complex mixtures. BCAT-C1 takes advantage of a substantial opportunity to fill a gap in the knowledge of these fundamental processes. By examining the kinetics in seven samples of different composition, we intend to show that significant quantitative differences in kinetics occur even though the resulting phases are similar,” the official experiment description notes.]
- KPT-10 - Kulonovskiy Kristall (Coulomb Crystal) Experiment Session [The KPT-10 telescience study examines “dynamic and structural characteristics of the Coulomb systems formed by charged dispersed diamagnetic macroparticles in a magnetic field (trap), investigating the following processes onboard the ISS RS (Russian Segment): condensed dust media, Coulomb crystals, and formation of Coulomb liquids due to charged macroparticles,” the NASA experiment overview notes.]
- WinSCAT Experiment Ops [MedOps WINSCAT (Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows) is a computer based psychological evaluation that investigates concentration, verbal working memory, attention, short-term memory, spatial processing, and math skill of humans exposed to microgravity for extended periods of time.]
Maintenance/Servicing:
- Nominal Inspections/Servicing Tasks (Morning Inspection, Caution & Warning Panel Check, Sozh System Maintenance) (Russian Crew)
- DALNOST Data Exchange Test
- VOZDUKH [АВК] emergency valves maintenance closure
- Regenerative ECLSS (RGN) Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
Other Activities:
- HAM Radio Session
- Soyuz TMA-09M Onboard Training: Descent Simulation in response to Soyuz TMA-08M Software trouble
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Antares Declared ready to Launch Cygnus Demonstration Mission to ISS
September 17, 2013Orbital Sciences has received final authorization to press into Antares launch operations on Wednesday to begin the first Cygnus mission to the International Space Station. Antares is set for launch during a 15-minute launch window opening at 14:50 UTC on Wednesday.
>>>Mission Updates |
Photo: NASA/Bill Ingalls
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ISS Operations - September 16, 2013
Cygnus Arrival Preparations:
Experiments:
Maintenance/Servicing:
Other Activities:
- Node 2 Centerline Berthing Camera Installation & Checkouts
- Node 2 Nadir Common Berthing Mechanism Checkout
- Robotics On-Board Training
- Vestibule Outfitting Equipment collection
Experiments:
- Resist Tubule (Mechanisms of Gravity Resistance in Plants From Signal Transformation and Transduction to Response) - Plant Experiment Unit (PEU) setup in Cell Biology Experiment Unit (CBEF) for 32 days of growth.
- Pro-K – Urine Spot Test, Diet Logging, Sample Processing and stowage [The full name of this study is Dietary Intake Can Predict and Protect against Changes in Bone Metabolism during Spaceflight and Recovery. It involves crew members sticking to a low salt or high salt diet for five days, logging their food intake, collecting and analysing urine and blood samples and preparing samples for analysis on the ground.]
- Reaction Self Test (Nyberg, Parmitano) [RST is performed twice a day, in the morning and after the day's operations are complete, consisting of a short 5-minute simulation using a laptop computer to assess the effect fatigue has on crew members undergoing long-duration space flight.]
- ISS O2/CO2 Sampling
- KPT-10 - Kulonovskiy Kristall (Coulomb Crystal) Experiment Equipment Setup and Experiment Session [The KPT-10 telescience study examines “dynamic and structural characteristics of the Coulomb systems formed by charged dispersed diamagnetic macroparticles in a magnetic field (trap), investigating the following processes onboard the ISS RS (Russian Segment): condensed dust media, Coulomb crystals, and formation of Coulomb liquids due to charged macroparticles,” the NASA experiment overview notes.]
- WinSCAT Experiment Ops [MedOps WINSCAT (Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows) is a computer based psychological evaluation that investigates concentration, verbal working memory, attention, short-term memory, spatial processing, and math skill of humans exposed to microgravity for extended periods of time.]
- ISERV Manual Pointing Experiment Ops [The SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV) was designed to assess an automated data acquisition process. ISERV will further improve Earth Observation techniques in support of environmental management, humanitarian assistance and disaster assessment. The project is managed by NASA and USAID. It operates from the Window Observation Facility in the Destiny Laboratory.]
Maintenance/Servicing:
- Makita Battery Charging
- Nominal Inspections/Servicing Tasks (Morning Inspection, Caution & Warning Panel Check, Sozh System Maintenance) (Russian Crew)
- High Definition Video Camera Assembly 1 Switch to SD Mode
Other Activities:
- Emergency Mask Replacement In Flight Maintenance (IFM) and Training
- ATV-4 Thruster Test - Engineering Assessment of T-402 Thruster
- HAM Radio Session
- PAO Event
Photo: RSC Energia
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Next Soyuz Crew begins Final Launch Preparations
September 16, 2013The crew of International Space Station Expedition 37/38 has begun final preparations for launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome to get ready for liftoff aboard their Soyuz TMA-10M Spacecraft on September 25, 2013.
The Soyuz TMA-10M crew of Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineers Sergey Ryazansky and Michael Hopkins arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Friday to start final launch preparations. >>>Mission Updates |
ISS Operations - September 13, 2013
Cygnus Arrival Preparations:
Experiments:
Maintenance/Servicing:
Other Activities:
- JEM Proximity Communications System Checkout
- Robotic Arm Activation & End Effector Checkout & Brake and Joint Diagnostic Protocol
- SSRMS video survey
- Rendezvous & Berthing Review
- Robotics Training Session
Experiments:
- Four INSPACE-3 runs [“Purpose of the InSPACE micro-G investigations is to obtain fundamental data of the complex properties of an exciting class of smart materials termed magnetorheological (MR) fluids. MR fluids are suspensions of small (micron-sized) superparamagnetic particles in a nonmagnetic medium. These controllable fluids can quickly transition into a nearly solidlike state when exposed to a magnetic field and return to their original liquid state when the magnetic field is removed. Their relative stiffness can be controlled by controlling the strength of the magnetic field. Due to the rapid-response interface that they provide between mechanical components and electronic controls, MR fluids can be used to improve or develop new brake systems, seat suspensions, robotics, clutches, airplane landing gear, and vibration damping systems." (Source: NASA)]
- Reaction Self Test [RST is performed twice a day, in the morning and after the day's operations are complete, consisting of a short 5-minute simulation using a laptop computer to assess the effect fatigue has on crew members undergoing long-duration space flight.]
- ISS Air Sampling for Return to Earth
- Space Headache Questionnaire
- OBSTANOVKA – Data Download [Obstanovka (=Environment) features external hardware including a set of magnetometers, wave sensors, potential probes, plasma discharge stimulators, an electron spectrograph and other components to study space weather. Obstanovka will study electromagnetic fields and plasma-wave processes occurring in the ISS Near Surface Zone to examine plasma component factors in near-Earth space. "The problems concerning the interaction of such super-large body as the International Space Station (ISS) with space plasma are of the top-priority importance for both technological and scientific experiments aboard the ISS," the RSC Energia Experiment Overview document said.]
Maintenance/Servicing:
- Node 3 Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Mass Spectrometer Remove and Replace
- Nominal Inspections/Servicing Tasks (Morning Inspection, Caution & Warning Panel Check, Sozh System Maintenance) (Russian Crew)
- BMP Harmful Impurities Removal System Cartridge Bakeout
- Identification – Micro-Accelerometer Data Download [The Identification Payload records structural dynamics data inside the individual modules of the Russian Segment to provide structural data to improve spacecraft design.]
- Atmosphere Revitalization System Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) HV01 Valve Open
- IP-1 Airflow Sensor Position and Performance Verification
Other Activities:
- Nominal Exercise
ISS Operations - September 12, 2013
Experiments:
Maintenance/Servicing:
Other Activities:
- Four INSPACE-3 runs [“Purpose of the InSPACE micro-G investigations is to obtain fundamental data of the complex properties of an exciting class of smart materials termed magnetorheological (MR) fluids. MR fluids are suspensions of small (micron-sized) superparamagnetic particles in a nonmagnetic medium. These controllable fluids can quickly transition into a nearly solidlike state when exposed to a magnetic field and return to their original liquid state when the magnetic field is removed. Their relative stiffness can be controlled by controlling the strength of the magnetic field. Due to the rapid-response interface that they provide between mechanical components and electronic controls, MR fluids can be used to improve or develop new brake systems, seat suspensions, robotics, clutches, airplane landing gear, and vibration damping systems." (Source: NASA)]
- Reaction Self Test [RST is performed twice a day, in the morning and after the day's operations are complete, consisting of a short 5-minute simulation using a laptop computer to assess the effect fatigue has on crew members undergoing long-duration space flight.]
- Food Frequency Questionnaire
- MATRYOSHKA-R. Installation of protective screen in starboard crew cabin [Matryoshka-R consists of a number of radiation dosimeters that are set up inside the space station to assess radiation exposure of the crew relative to ISS position in its orbit and shielding provided by the modules.]
Maintenance/Servicing:
- Nominal Inspections/Servicing Tasks (Morning Inspection, Caution & Warning Panel Check, Sozh System Maintenance) (Russian Crew)
- In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Crew Quarters (CQ) Cleaning
- BMP Harmful Impurities Removal System Cartridge Bakeout
- USOS Window Shutter Close
Other Activities:
- Cygnus Return Pre-Pack
- HAM Radio Session
- ISS Repressurization using ATV-4 Air
- PAO Hardware Setup
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Antares & Cygnus ready for Rollout to Launch Pad
September 11, 2013
Orbital Sciences is pressing ahead with final preparations for the Orb-D Demonstration Flight of the Antares Launch Vehicle and Cygnus Spacecraft to the International Space Station. Launch is planned for September 17, 2013 at 15:16 UTC – the opening of a 15-minute launch window. >>>Mission Updates |
Photo: NASA
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Photo: Roscosmos
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Trio of ISS Crew Members returns to Earth aboard Soyuz Spacecraft
September 11, 2013
Three International Space Station Crew Members returned to Earth on Wednesday, completing a six-month flight. Soyuz TMA-08M and its three crew members, Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineers Aleksandr Misurkin and Chris Cassidy, made a flawless undocking, deorbit and landing Tuesday night to put an end to an eventful 166-day mission.
Soyuz TMA-08M and its crew undocked from the Poisk Module of the Station at 23:35 UTC on Tuesday, beginning a two-and-a-half-hour free flight to get ready for the Deorbit Burn that placed the vehicle on a trajectory to re-enter the atmosphere. Re-Entry was normal and the Soyuz made a parachute assisted landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan on Wednesday morning at 2:58 UTC. >>>Mission Updates |
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