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More Details for 2008-03-02

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Sunday -- off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Eyharts.

Ahead: Week 20 of Increment 16.

For today's Voluntary Science program, Peggy Whitson continued her work with the InSPACE-2 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment in the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), conducting another three runs (#38, #39 and #40) to investigate higher-frequency behavior (2 Hz for #38 & #39, 5Hz for #40) at different current levels for the MR (magnetorheological) fluid with no vial change, exchanging video tapes after each run, then removing the vial assembly and finally powering the MSG down. (InSPACE obtains basic data on MR 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 colloidal (dispersed) particles are contained in CAs (Coil Assemblies) in the MSG that subject them to electric fields at certain strength and frequencies. The desired strong dipolar interaction between the small colloidal particles can be achieved in micro-G simply with an external magnetic field being turned on and off. On the ground, the flow properties (rheology) of many materials, especially those making up consumer products like detergents, fabric softeners, toothpaste and paints, are similarly controlled, though not by magnetic fields but by adding a polymer. It now appears, for example, that new formulations of fabric softeners may perform better in space than on earth.)

FE-1 Malenchenko completed the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the Service Module (SM), including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables plus the weekly collection of the toilet flush counter (SPK-U) and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP/Moscow. (Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists of replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers, replacement of an EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine container, replacement of the KOV EDV for the Elektron-intended water, and processing U.S. condensate water as it becomes available in a filled CWC (Contingency Water Container) from the Lab humidifier. Weekly SOZh reports (on Sundays) to TsUP/Moscow deal with number & dates of water and urine containers, counter readings of water consumption & urine collection, plus data and total operating time of the Russian POTOK-150MK (150 micron) air filter unit of the SOGS air revitalization subsystem.)

After Houston flight controllers deactivated the CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) early this morning (4:00am-9:00am EST) and cooling was no longer required, CDR Whitson disconnected the ITCS LTL QD (Internal Thermal Control System/Low Temperature Loop/Quick Disconnect) jumper to the CDRA rack (LAB1D6).

Working from the Russian voluntary 'time permitting' task list, Yuri Malenchenko -

Completed his eighth run of the Russian DZZ-2 "Diatomeya" ocean observations program (using the NIKON F-5 digital still camera with 80-200 mm lens and the SONY PD-150P camcorder at medium zoom Yuri focused on phytoplankton field blooming in early March in the sub-arctic front of the Atlantic and bioproductive processes intensifying at this time of year in the Indian Ocean due to restructuring of the monsoon circulation; also of interest were associated oceanic phenomena (cloud pattern, water surface dynamics) in the target areas, today in the Indian Ocean were the Oman coastal area and the areas west of Australia, and in the Atlantic Ocean the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Western Sahara offshore area);
Conducted the regular daily checkup on the Japanese experiment GCF-JAXA (Granada Crystallization Facility) in the Russian TBU incubator, maintained at +20 degC, including a temperature check on its ART (automatic temperature recorder), and
Performed the daily monitoring, picture-taking and downloading for the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 ("Plants-2") experiment which researches growth and development of plants (peas) under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-12 greenhouse from IBMP (Institute of Bio-Medical Problems, Russian: IMBP).
At ~3:45am, the FE-1 participated in today's Presidential Election in the Russian Federation with a personal downlink at ~3:45am EST as a Crew Choice event via RGS (Russian Ground Site) VHF.

Eyharts and Whitson had their weekly PFCs (Private Family Conferences) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on the SSC-10 laptop), Leo at ~10:45am EST, Peggy at ~12:12pm

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

No CEO photo targets uplinked for today.