Shargin

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14 October 2004 03:06 GMT. Landing Date: 2004-10-24 00:36:00 PM. Flight Time: 9.90 days. Alternate Name: Soyuz TMA-5. Other Name: ISS-9S. Flight Up: Soyuz TMA-5. Flight Back: Soyuz TMA-4. Crew: Shargin. Program: ISS. Russian cosmonaut sent for a ten day mission aboard the ISS while the EO-9/EO-10 long duration crews handed duties over to each other.

• 2004 Sep 24 - International Space Station Status Report #04-53 

  With less than a month remaining in their stay aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA Science Officer Mike Fincke are preparing the orbiting complex for its next residents. The crew's work this week included taking inventory, performing maintenance on exercise equipment and continued troubleshooting of the onboard oxygen generator.

  Roskosmos, the Russian Federal Space Agency, announced this week the next Station crew will launch at 11:17 p.m. CDT Oct. 10 aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. The Expedition 10 crew commander is Leroy Chiao and Salizhan Sharipov is flight engineer. Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin will accompany them for launch and spend about a week aboard the Station. Padalka, Fincke and Shargin will return to Earth Oct. 19.

  This week, Padalka and Fincke performed routine maintenance work on the station's treadmill, a job done every six months. The treadmill provides cardiovascular training.

  Additional troubleshooting work continued on the Elektron oxygen-generating unit. It produces breathing oxygen from wastewater. Sporadic operations of the unit led the Russian flight control team to believe contamination was preventing proper pressurization in a hydrogen line. Padalka cleaned the line. Further work is planned this weekend. As oxygen is generated from water by the unit, hydrogen is dumped overboard.

  While the Elektron work continued, the Station's atmosphere was repressurized twice this week using oxygen from tanks on the Progress supply craft docked to the Station. If needed, many months' supply of oxygen is available for the crew even without the use of the Elektron. Oxygen is available on the Station in Progress tanks, Station tanks and oxygen-generating canisters.

  The crew also continued to prepare for its trip home by taking food and hardware inventory. They also began stowing cargo containers and personal items for the return trip.

• 2004 Oct 1 - International Space Station Status Report #04-54 

  The International Space Station crew made steady progress with maintenance work this week, restoring an oxygen generator to partial operation and replacing a cabin air monitoring system.

  Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike Fincke also began packing for the trip home. The Russian Federal Space Agency announced that launch of the next Station crew, Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao and Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov, is scheduled for 10:06 p.m. CDT Oct. 13. NASA and Russian Station managers met today to review preparations for that mission in a Flight Readiness Review and found everything in order.

  Aboard the ISS Soyuz 9 spacecraft with Chiao and Sharipov will be Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin. The trio will dock with the Station at 11:24 p.m. CDT Oct. 15. Padalka, Fincke and Shargin will return to Earth in the ISS Soyuz 8 spacecraft with a landing in Kazakhstan at 7:32 p.m. CDT Oct. 23. Chiao and Sharipov will remain aboard the Station for six months.

  Padalka and Fincke continued troubleshooting the Elektron oxygen generator this week. It has operated intermittently during the past few weeks. The system creates breathing oxygen from water, venting hydrogen overboard from the Station in the process. With plans provided by Russian ground controllers, the crew hooked the system's hydrogen venting line up to a different overboard valve in the Station's Zvezda module. The valve is one that is normally used as part of an atmospheric contaminant control system.

  Hooked up to the new vent valve, the Elektron has operated well during several day-long test runs. Meanwhile, the crew continued periodic cleaning of filters in the vent valve normally used by the Elektron, attempting to remove what are believed to be potassium hydroxide particles clogging the system.

  Fincke replaced a U.S. air monitoring system in the Destiny Laboratory this week, restoring that system to full operation. Called the Major Constituents Analyzer, the equipment had previously only been operating periodically. Now, with the installation of a new Mass Spectrometer Unit that was delivered to the Station aboard the last Progress cargo craft, the system is operated continuously.

  In other work this week, U.S. flight controllers completed a checkout of a Thermal Radiator Rotary Joint, a joint on the Station's exterior that allows radiators to be swiveled to dissipate heat as efficiently as possible. The joints are not needed until more solar arrays are added to the Station after the Space Shuttle has resumed flights.

  On Monday, beginning at 9:40 a.m. CDT, Padalka and Fincke will field questions from media representatives at NASA Headquarters, the Johnson Space Center and the Kennedy Space Center during an inflight news conference.

  Science activities this week included several sessions by Fincke working with an investigation of soldering in space. Fincke soldered several samples of materials onboard the Station while ground investigators watched and provided real-time insights. The study is aimed at increasing the understanding of soldering capabilities in weightlessness, potentially to allow such equipment to be used for inflight electronics repairs on the Station and future spacecraft.

  The crew also continued photographing observations of interesting geologic, environmental and other sites on Earth.

• 2004 Oct 8 - International Space Station Status Report #04-55 

  As the end of its mission approaches, the Expedition 9 crew aboard the International Space Station prepared for the trip home by wrapping up science experiments and continuing maintenance operations of the vehicle. After spending six months onboard, the crew will greet its first visitors one week from today.

  Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike Fincke suited up in their entry spacesuits and slid into the ISS Soyuz 8 (TMA-4) spacecraft docked to the Station to check for a good fit. Meanwhile, Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, Expedition 10 Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov and Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin also conducted an inspection and fit check of their ISS Soyuz 9 (TMA-5) spacecraft at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

  The trio is scheduled to launch from Baikonur at 10:06 p.m. CDT Oct. 13. Their Soyuz will dock with the Station at 11:24 p.m. CDT Oct. 15. Padalka, Fincke and Shargin will land in Kazakhstan at 7:32 p.m. CDT Oct. 23.

  In preparation for the next crew's arrival, Fincke inspected the U.S. carbon dioxide removal system so that it can be activated in addition to the Russian system. During the docked mission it will remove the additional carbon dioxide with more people onboard. He also worked with the flight control team to discuss improvements to procedures for future routine maintenance work on the system.

  Fincke also continued work on the U.S. spacesuits to restore cooling operations in two of the three suits. Fincke recently restored cooling in one of the suits and started the same procedures on the other by replacing a gas trap and pump inlet filter in the internal cooling system this week. He will work with Chiao during the docked mission to perform a procedure to replace a rotor pump, which is what ultimately restored cooling in the first suit. Next week, the third, fully operational, suit will be hooked up and used to flush water lines in the Quest Airlock in advance of the final repair work.

  In other activities, Fincke installed a new cycle ergometer control panel that arrived on the last Progress spacecraft and collected potable water samples for in-flight analysis. They also completed a final bone scan using ultrasound equipment. The experiment, called Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity, simulates and tests procedures for telemedicine situations similar to those in rural areas on Earth. The information can also be used to analyze the changes in bone structure as a result of lengthy stays in microgravity.

• 2004 Oct 13 - International Space Station Status Report #04-56 

  The tenth crew of the International Space Station rocketed into space tonight, beginning a six-month mission.

  The ISS Soyuz 9 spacecraft carried Station Expedition 10 Commander and NASA Science Officer Leroy Chiao and Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov to orbit along with Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin.

  The Soyuz launched at 10:06 p.m. CDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. At the time, the Station was flying in a northeasterly direction about 230 miles above Africa. With Sharipov at the controls, the Soyuz is on course to catch up and dock with the Station at 11:25 p.m. CDT Friday, Oct. 15.

  The hatches between the arriving Soyuz 9 spacecraft and the Station will be opened at about 2:25 a.m. CDT Saturday. Live NASA Television coverage of the docking and hatch opening will begin at 10:30 p.m. CDT Friday.

  Chiao and Sharipov will stay aboard the Station until April, while Shargin will spend eight days onboard conducting science experiments. Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka, Flight Engineer and Science Officer Mike Fincke and Shargin will undock from the Station and return to Earth Oct. 23.

• 2004 Oct 16 - International Space Station Status Report #04-57 

  A 10th crew has arrived at the International Space Station to begin a six-month stay.

  Soyuz Commander Salizhan Sharipov smoothly guided his Soyuz craft to a linkup with the Station's Pirs Docking Compartment at 11:16 p.m. CDT Friday. Sharipov took over manual control of the Soyuz' flight part way through the approach when problems were experienced with an automated docking system.The docking proceeded flawlessly under Sharipov's control.

  Sharipov, Expedition 10 Commander and NASA Science Officer Leroy Chiao and Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on Thursday. The docking occurred about 225 statute miles above western Russia.

  Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Mike Fincke watched from the Station, photographing the Soyuz as it approached. After leak checks, hatches were opened at 2:13 a.m. CDT, and Padalka and Fincke greeted their first visitors since April.

  The ISS Soyuz 8 craft that has been at the Station since April will serve as the return vehicle for Padalka, Fincke and Shargin. Shargin will spend eight days aboard Station conducting science experiments. Today marked the 180th day in space for Padalka and Fincke and their 178th on the complex. Padalka and Fincke will hand over Station operations to Chiao and Sharipov, depart the Station and land in north central Kazakhstan with Shargin on Oct. 23.

  The new Soyuz will be relocated from Pirs to the Zarya module docking port by Chiao and Sharipov in November.

  Watching the activities at the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev were NASA Deputy Administrator Fred Gregory, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Space Shuttle Michael Kostelnik, and ISS Program Manager William Gerstenmaier.

  Over the next week, Chiao and Sharipov will familiarize themselves with Station systems and stowed equipment, conduct robotics training with the Canadarm2 robot arm, and receive detailed briefings on scientific payloads. Sharipov and Padalka will perform maintenance work on the oxygen-generating Elektron system, using spare parts carried aboard the new Soyuz. Chiao and Fincke are planned to repair the cooling system of a second U.S. spacesuit.

• 2004 Oct 23 - International Space Station Status Report #04-58 

  After traveling more than 78 million miles aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Mike Fincke returned to Earth today.

  Returning with them was Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin, who had spent eight days aboard the orbiting complex conducting research.

  After a flawless descent by the ISS Soyuz 8 spacecraft, Padalka, Fincke and Shargin landed on target in north-central Kazakhstan, about 43 miles (70 kilometers) northeast of the town of Arkalyk, at 7:36 p.m. CDT. Recovery forces arrived at the site within minutes of the touchdown.

  Padalka and Fincke spent 187 days, 21 hours and 17 minutes in space. They launched on April 18, on the same Soyuz spacecraft that brought them home. For six months, the pair maintained systems and conducted scientific research onboard the Station.

  Fincke's return also is his first opportunity to meet his four-month-old daughter, Tarali Paulina, born June 18 while he was in space. The crew's families are expected to greet them upon their arrival at Star City, Russia, a few hours after landing. Padalka and Fincke will remain in Star City for several weeks of post-flight debriefings and medical exams before returning to Houston in mid-November.

  Among their accomplishments on the Station was an unprecedented spacewalking repair, using Russian spacesuits and gear to replace a U.S. circuit breaker, restoring power to a U.S. gyroscope. Fincke also performed some of the most complex U.S. spacesuit repairs ever accomplished in orbit, replacing water pumps in the suits' cooling systems, equipment not designed for in-flight repairs. They completed a total of four spacewalks, including sorties that prepared the Station for the arrival of a new European cargo ship next year.

  Aboard the Station, the Expedition 10 crew, Commander and NASA Station Science Officer Leroy Chiao and Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov, are beginning a six-month mission that will include two spacewalks and preparations for the return of Space Shuttle flights. Expedition 10 is scheduled to return to Earth on April 25, 2005.

  Chiao and Sharipov will have light duty for the next three days as they rest after completing a busy handover period. For the past week, they have been learning about Station operations from the two men who called the ship home since April. Padalka and Fincke briefed Chiao and Sharipov on day-to-day operations and gave them hands-on opportunities at Station maintenance: Sharipov joined Padalka in completing repairs to the Elektron oxygen-generating system, and Chiao helped Fincke with the maintenance on the U.S. spacesuits. During his time aboard, Shargin completed a program of scientific experiments.

• 2004 Oct 24 - Landing of Soyuz TMA-4 

  At 1814 GMT on October 23 Padalka, Fincke and guest cosmonaut Shargin (delivered for a one week mission aboard Soyuz TMA-5), entered Soyuz TMA-4 and closed the hatches leaving Chiao and Sharipov as the EO-10 station crew. Soyuz TMA-4 undocked at 21:08 GMT and made a small separation burn at 21:11 GMT. At 23:42 GMT the deorbit burn lowered the orbit from 353 x 366 km to -23 x 355 km. The descent module separated at 00:08 GMT on October 24, with a landing at 50.47 deg N / 67.12 deg E near Arkalyk at 00:36 GMT.

• 2004 Oct 29 - International Space Station Status Report #04-59 

  The latest crewmembers to live and work aboard the International Space Station took a brief break early this week following handover from their departing colleagues, then began in earnest to acclimate themselves to their new home and orbiting laboratory.

  Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao and Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov activated one experiment, the Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle Schools (EarthKAM), participated in several ongoing medical studies related to lengthy stays in microgravity and performed routine maintenance tasks. Their six-month mission will include two spacewalks and preparations for the resumption of Space Shuttle flights, and end with a scheduled return to Earth on April 25, 2005.

  Early in the week, the pair received word from Mission Control that the Elektron oxygen generation system's telemetry readings were normal and that the device had been approved for around-the-clock operation. Elektron had been used only when the crew was awake until Sharipov and departing Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka were able to install several replacement parts during joint crew operations.

  The return to normal operations came after engineers in Russia used the new hardware to verify that the Elekton was successfully separating oxygen and hydrogen atoms from recycled water after the repairs, and Mission Management Team members reviewed and validated the recommendation on Monday. A software adjustment was uplinked by Russian flight controllers on Tuesday to implement the decision.

  Later in the week, Chiao and Sharipov received on-board training in emergency departure procedures and equipment, as well as window inspection techniques. These training sessions were in addition to an hour a day reserved for general familiarization with Space Station systems and procedures; something afforded each new crew as it settles in.

  Chiao took time Wednesday for his first solo interviews aboard the Station, answering questions about his plans to vote by secure electronic mail in upcoming local, state and national elections. He spoke with reporters from ABC and CNN.

  Meanwhile, Expedition 9 Science Officer and Flight Engineer Mike Fincke, Padalka and Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin returned to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, where they began rehabilitation and debriefings. Padalka and Fincke will remain in Star City for several weeks of post-flight debriefings and medical exams before returning to Houston in mid-November.

• 2004 Nov 6 - International Space Station Status Report #04-60 

  Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao and Cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov picked up the pace of scientific, maintenance and familiarization activities aboard the International Space Station this week.

  A highlight of the week's scientific activities was work with an advanced diagnostic method that could be important to medical care of future crewmembers on long spaceflights. It also could improve medical care in remote areas and emergency medical care on Earth.

  The crew devoted considerable time on Thursday and Friday to the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity (ADUM) experiment. The experiment looks at whether crewmembers can perform advanced ultrasound examinations after undergoing computer-based training. Data is sent as the scan is done in space to physicians on the ground, who use it in making a diagnosis.

  Chiao, who also is NASA ISS science officer, used Sharipov as an ADUM subject on Thursday, and Sharipov did test scans on Chiao on Friday.

  Both crewmembers participated in an emergency medical drill Thursday, looking at procedures and use of Crew Health Care Systems equipment. Later that day Sharipov relocated the Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC) within the U.S. laboratory Destiny. The device continuously records radiation readings. It is moved periodically to provide information from throughout the Station.

  Chiao worked with the Binary Colloidal Alloy Test (BCAT). It looks at long-term behavior of colloids, particles suspended in liquids like ink, paint and milk, in microgravity. Results should help determine what types of colloids should be studied by future station crews. Chiao spent a little over two hours on BCAT Monday, and worked periodically with the experiment later in the week.

  Crewmembers continued their regular exercise sessions and Station maintenance chores. Activities included replacement of smoke detectors in the Zarya module. On Thursday Sharipov spent about an hour and a half checking the continuity of cables on the European Space Agency/Russian Global Timing System. GTS broadcasts time signals downward for global time synchronization. It has had occasional problems recently.

  On Tuesday, Election Day, Chiao talked with reporters from Fox News and Associated Press. The conversations focused on Chiao having become the first person in space to vote in a U.S. presidential election when he cast his ballot by e-mail Oct. 31.

  Next Monday Chiao and Sharipov will carry out proficiency training in operating the Space Station robotic arm, Canadarm2. To practice their work with the arm, the crew will maneuver the arm to provide camera views of an area of interest on the U.S. Lab module's exterior debris shielding. The area may be a shadow or possibly a dent in the shielding. The area has been observed in previous imagery taken during a Space Shuttle flight several years ago. On Friday the crew will operate the arm again to position its cameras in a prime viewing location for the relocation of the Soyuz by the crew later this month.

  Meanwhile, Expedition 9 NASA Science Officer Mike Fincke and Commander Gennady Padalka are at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. They are conducting debriefings and rehabilitation as they readapt to Earth's gravity. They are scheduled to return to Houston later this month.