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More Details for 2008-01-14

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Underway: Week 13 of Increment 16.

CDR Whitson & FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink. (To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.)

FE-1 Malenchenko worked several hours on a major rewiring task, restringing, installing and connecting cabling for the Russian RBO-3-3 Matryoshka-R radiation monitoring suite, before closing out the outfitting job.

After the RBO installations, Malenchenko supported the ground's activation of the Elektron O2 generator at 32 amps by monitoring the external temperature of its secondary purification unit (BD) for the first 10 minutes of operations to ensure that there is no overheating. (During nominal operations a gas analyzer is utilized to detect hydrogen (H2) in the O2 line (which could cause overheating) but is not included in the control algorithm until 10 minutes after Elektron startup.)

For upcoming experiments with the U.S. Ultrasound payload, the CDR set up and powered on the HRF1 (Human Research Facility1) rack drawers, VTR (Video Tape Recorder), and Ultrasound front panel.

Closing down the BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-3) science payload, FE-2 Tani mixed (homogenized) samples #1 through #6, then took documentary photographs of each sample with a digital camera system, controlled by the EarthKAM software, shut down the laptop, stowed the BCAT-3 sample module and stowed the remaining equipment.

CDR Whitson continued her work with the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) and the InSPACE-2 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment, today conducting runs #10 and #11, exchange video tapes and finally powering the MSG down. (After activation of MSG and InSPACE & InSPACE-2 equipment, Peggy checked on alignment & focusing of MSG video cam #1, switched the magnetic field between runs, changed out the video recorder tape, turned off InSPACE & MSG and stowed the equipment. InSPACE, conducted last in June 2006 by Jeff Williams on Increment 13, obtains basic data on magnetorheological fluids, i.e., 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 dispersed particles are contained in CAs (Coil Assemblies) in the MSG that subject them to electric fields of certain strength and frequencies.)

Dan Tani had 2 hrs set aside for a detailed inspection of the spare Bearing Motor Roll Ring Module (BMRRM) that he and Peggy retrieved from PMA-3 (Pressurized Mating Adapter 3) on 1/2/08, preparatory to the upcoming R&R EVA-14.

Yuri spent 1h 30m on the TVIS treadmill for the periodic Russian PZE-MO-3 test for physical fitness evaluation, his first, using the TVIS in unmotorized mode and wearing the Kardiokassette KK-2000 belt with three chest electrodes. (The fitness test, controlled from the RSE-Med laptop, yields ECG (electrocardiogram) readings to the KK-2000 data storage device, later to be downlinked via U.S. OCA. Before the run, the KK-2000 was synchronized with the computer date/time readings. For the ECG, the crewmembers worked out on the treadmill, first walking 3 min. up to 3.5 km/h, then running at a medium pace of 6.5 km/h, followed by the maximum pace not exceeding 10 km/h, then walking again at gradually decreasing pace.)

In preparation for a microbial air sampling session scheduled tomorrow, the FE-1 unstowed the MedOps SZM-MO-21 ECOSFERA equipment and initiated charging on the Ecosphere power pack (BP). (The equipment, consisting of an air sampler set, a charger, power supply unit, and incubation tray for Petri dishes, determines microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.)

Later, Yuri completed today's routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the Service Module (SM), including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables.

Malenchenko also conducted the daily 20-min. IMS (Inventory Management System) maintenance, updating/editing its standard 'delta file' including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Continuing the current round of monthly preventive maintenance of RS (Russian Segment) ventilation systems, the FE-2 inspected and cleaned the 'Group B' (B1 & B2) fan grills in the SM.

Malenchenko terminated the charging of the PD-150P DVCAM DSR videocam battery and cleaned up.

At 11:00am EST, Peggy and Dan participated in the periodic VHF-1 emergency communications check over NASA's VHF (Very High Frequency) stations, today at the Dryden (11:00-11:07am) and White Sands VHF sites (11:02-11:09am), talking with Houston/Capcom, MSFC/PAYCOM (Payload Operation & Integration Center Communicator) and Moscow/GLAVNI (TsUP Capcom) in the normal fashion via VHF radio from a handheld microphone and any of the U.S. segment ATUs (audio terminal units). (Purpose of the test is to verify signal reception and link integrity, and to ensure minimum required link margin during emergency (no TDRS) and special events (such as a Soyuz relocation).)

The crewmembers performed their regular 2.5-hr physical workout program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-2, FE-1/MO-3), RED (CDR, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).

Afterwards, Peggy copied the exercise data file to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) laptop for downlink, including the daily wristband HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) data of the workouts on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

No CEO photo targets uplinked for today.