On November 20, the Microgravity Science Glovebox in the
Destiny Laboratory experienced a loss of power. At the time
researchers were processing a sample that is part of the Pore Formation
and Mobility Investigation (PFMI). Subsequent attempts to re-power
the glovebox were unsuccessful. A series of troubleshooting
procedures was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the NASA
payload controllers and performed in sequence by ISS Science Officer
Astronaut Peggy Whitson aboard ISS. This systematic process allowed
engineers to narrow the problem to a power distribution and conversion
(PDC) box that provides electrical power to the facility. The box
was removed from the glovebox facility on November 23 and further
on-orbit troubleshooting is being planned.
Science activities this week aboard the International Space Station
focused on transferring new Expedition Six experiments to the orbiting
lab and stowing completed Expedition Five payloads aboard the Space
Shuttle.
“The arrival of the Space Shuttle at the Station marks the beginning
of the third year of science aboard the orbiting research laboratory,”
Lead Increment Scientist Vic Cooley said. “To date, NASA has
conducted more than 90,000 hours of scientific research there. We
will continue to add to that total with 18 new or continuing experiments
during the four-month mission of the Expedition Six crew.”
New experiments and other payload equipment scheduled for transfer
this week included:
- The Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from
Colloidal Emulsions (InSPACE) experiment, designed to obtain basic
data on magnetorheological fluids - a new class of "smart materials"
that can be used to improve or develop new brake systems, seat
suspensions, robotics, clutches, airplane landing gear, and vibration
damper systems.;
- The Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures-2 (CSLM-2)
experiment, designed to investigate the interaction of small and large
particles in a mixture that can have an effect on the strength of
materials ranging from turbine blades to dental fillings and
porcelain;
- The Foot/Ground Reaction Forces During Space Flight
experiment to characterize the load on the lower body and muscle
activity in crewmembers while working on the Station;
- The new Protein Crystal Growth Single-locker Thermal Enclosure
System (PCG-STES) Unit 10 for growing biological materials that
could contribute to insights in medicine, agriculture and other
fields;
- New samples for the Zeolite Crystal Growth (ZCG)
experiment, which has applications in chemical processes, and
electronic device manufacturing. The goal for Expedition Six is
to study mixing procedures in microgravity using clear sample
containers.
Experiments and other payload equipment scheduled for transfer from
the Space Station to the Shuttle for return are:
- The Protein Crystal Growth Single Thermal Enclosure
System (PCG-STES) Unit 7;
- The Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (PGBA),
containing Arabidopsis plants for analysis;
- The ARCTIC 2 freezer, being returned for repairs;
Last week and again on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of this week, the
crew collected background radiation readings on the EVA Radiation
Monitoring (EVARM) experiment. The experiment consists of
dosimeter badges worn by astronauts in the cooling undergarments of
their spacesuits during spacewalks. Measurements taken inside the
Station will be compared to radiation readings recorded after
spacewalks. The EVARM badges will be worn next on the STS-113
Shuttle mission to the Space Station scheduled for November 26.
EVARM is the first experiment to measure radiation received by specific
parts of the body, including the eyes, internal organs and skin.
The Space Station crew used a Space Shuttle launch delay last week to
get ahead on upgrading the science capability of the Destiny
laboratory. Whitson and Commander Valery Korzun on November 19
installed the Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS) in EXPRESS Rack
3. ARIS installation was previously scheduled for early
2003. ARIS is a vibration-dampening system to protect delicate
microgravity experiments from tiny vibrations caused by crew movement,
operating equipment, etc. EXPRESS Rack 2 was the first rack to be
equipped with the vibration dampener. EXPRESS Racks and EXPRESS
derivatives are used to house experiments and provide them with
connections for power, data, fluids and other utilities.
The crew completed and stowed the Earth Knowledge Acquired by
Middle School Students (EarthKAM) experiment after several days of
operations last week. EarthKAM allows students around the country
to send commands via the Internet to a camera mounted in a window of the
Station and take pictures of geographical or manmade features for
various classroom studies. The automated EarthKAM system collected
about 866 images using a 400-mm lens and 130 images with an 800 mm
lens. Ten schools participated in last week’s operations.
On November 21, Whitson and Korzun, conducted the Pulmonary
Function in Flight (PuFF) experiment. PuFF includes five lung
function tests for each crewmember. The focus is on measuring
changes in the evenness of gas exchange in the lungs and detecting
changes in respiratory muscle strength caused by long periods in the
absence of gravity. The results will help maintain crew health
during long space missions.
Also on November 21, selected members of the crew participated in the
Crew Interactions research program. The experiment consists
of a computer-based survey of roughly 70 questions. Scientists
hope to identify and characterize interpersonal and cultural factors
that could affect the performance of the crew, as well as ground support
personnel also participating in the
survey.
The Payload Operations Center at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
in Huntsville, Ala., manages all science research experiment operations
aboard the International Space Station. The center is also home
for coordination of the mission-planning work of a variety of
international sources, all science payload deliveries and retrieval, and
payload training and payload safety programs for the Station crew and
all ground personnel.
