Kononenko O D Credit - www.spacefacts.de

Personal: Male. Born in Chardzhou, Turkmenia, Russia.

Astronaut Career

Astronaut Group: Energia Engineer Group 14 Supplemental - 1999. Active Entered space service: 11 February 1996. Number of Flights: 1.00. Total Time: 183.00 days.

Official NASA Biography

NAME: Oleg Dmitievich Kononenko
Test Cosmonaut of RKK ENERGIA

PERSONAL DATA: Born June 21, 1964, in Chardzhow, Turkmenia (part of the USSR till 1991). Married to the former Tatiana Mikhailovna Yurieva. Oleg enjoys books, and sport games. His mother, Taisia Stepanovna Kononenko, resides in Chardzhow, Turkmenistan. His father, Dmitry Ivanovich Kononenko, died in 1993.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Chardzhow High School, Turkmenia in 1981. Graduated from Kharkov Aviation Institute (KhAI) in 1988 as a mechanical engineer/aircraft engine specialist. While at KhAI he attended the Moscow State Postgraduate courses for managers, engineers and scientists and was qualified as a patent specialist/inventor. In 1989 he graduated from the Kaliningrad Refresher Courses for managers (Moscow Region). In 1990 Oleg Kononenko graduated from the Postgraduate Courses of the Kuibyshev Aviation Institute (Samara) where he specialized in automation of control systems design.

SPECIAL HONORS: Best young specialist of the Samara Central Design Bureau (1991).

EXPERIENCE: From 1981 to 1982 Oleg Kononenko worked at the Chardzhov aviation logistics enterprise as a technician. After graduation from the Kharkov Aviation Institute he worked at the Central Design Bureau in Samara as an engineer, design engineer and leading design engineer. His responsibilities included design and development of aircraft power supply systems.

In 1996 Oleg Kononenko was selected as a test cosmonaut candidate to the Cosmonaut Corps of the Samara Central Design Bureau.

From June 1996 to March 1998 he attended basic training and in March 1998 was qualified for flight assignment as a test cosmonaut.

Since October 1998 he has attended test cosmonaut advanced training for a space flight to the ISS.

In January 1999 he was assigned to the RKK ENERGIA Cosmonaut Corps as a test cosmonaut.

In December 2001 Oleg Kononenko was assigned as a flight engineer of the Taxi-3 back up crew.

JANUARY 2002

• 8 April 2008 Flight: ISS EO-17. Flight Up: Soyuz TMA-12. Flight Back: Soyuz TMA-12. Flight Time: 183.00 days.

5 January 1999 - Energia Engineer Cosmonaut Training Group 14 Supplemental selected..

Separations from second & third stage were nominal. Orbit was attained at L+ 8:45 min at an altitude of ~202 km (perigee ~189.6 km/apogee ~230.1 km, downrange ~520 km, velocity ~7.50 km/s). Antennas and solar arrays deployed nominally at orbit insertion. 16S has a planned two-day rendezvous profile, to aim for docking on Thursday, 4/10. (At orbit insertion, Soyuz unfolded two solar arrays, four Kurs antennas, one TORU/Rassvet-M antenna and one telemetry antenna. Later, the crew activated antenna heaters, set the maneuver mode, turned on the RKO orbit radio tracking system, started leak checks, etc. Two orbit adjustment burns of ~5 min duration each were executed this morning, DV1 (~25.55 m/s) at ~10:57am, DV2 (~14.27 m/s) at ~11:50am, both with the SKD main engine. After the two-day "chase", supported by several more midcourse burns, 16S will dock at the DC1 Docking Compartment on 4/10 at ~9:02am EDT.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/08/08.

(FD1 activities yesterday included the first two maneuver burns, DV1 (10:57am) & DV2 (11:50am), both with the SKD main engine. FD2 activities, started yesterday afternoon with Soyuz crew wakeup at ~4:05pm on Orbit 12, include systems & crew health status reports to TsUP, preparation of the Soyuz Habitation Module (SA) workspace, building attitude for and executing the DV3 burn, placing Soyuz back in its sun-spinning "barbecue" mode (ISK), and swapping CO2 absorption cartridges (LiOH) in the BO. Afterwards, the crewmembers will put on their Sokol suits and PKO biomed harnesses, transfer to the SA, activate its air purification system (SOA) and close the hatch to the Descent Module (BO). After activation of the active Kurs-A system on Soyuz and of the passive Kurs-P on the Service Module (SM), with a short Kurs-A/P test and several additional adjustment burns during automated rendezvous, station fly-around to align with the DC1 Docking Compartment will begin tomorrow at ~8:37am at ~400m range, followed by station keeping at ~160m (~8:46am) and docking at the DC1 port at ~9:02am. Volkov & Kononenko will replace Expedition 16 CDR Whitson & FE-1 Malenchenko. FE-2 Dr. Garrett Reisman remains on the station, joining Expedition 17 until early June when he is replaced by U.S. Astronaut Gregory E. Chamitoff on STS-124/1J. So-Yeon Yi, the 30-year old biotechnologist student from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology) and South Korea's first astronaut, will return with Peggy & Yuri on 4/19 in Soyuz TMA-11/15S.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/09/08.

Work period will shift again tomorrow (6:20am -5:50pm) and on 4/12 (2:10am -5:40pm).

Yest kasaniya! Soyuz TMA-12/16S docked smoothly at the DC1 port at 8:57am EDT, five minutes ahead of time, with Expedition 17 crewmembers CDR Sergei Volkov and FE-1 Oleg Kononenko, plus Korean SFP (Spaceflight Participant) So-Yeon Yi, 14th Visiting Crewmember (VC). After about 1.5 hrs spent in Soyuz on pre-transfer activities, the crew opened hatches, followed by crew transfer, the traditional joyful welcome event and the installation of the BZV QD (quick disconnect) clamps by Volkov and Kononenko at ~12:10pm. (After successful "kasaniya" (contact), automatic "sborka" (closing of Soyuz & DC1 port hooks & latches) took place shortly thereafter (~9:07am) while ISS was in free drift. Attitude control authority had been handed over to the Russian MCS (Motion Control System) at ~5:25am and was returned to US CMG control at ~10:05am. For the 16S docking, Russian thrusters were disabled during Soyuz volume pressurization and clamp installation; they were afterwards returned to active attitude control (~12:30pm). Before hatch opening, the crew performed leak checks of the Soyuz modules and the Soyuz/ISS interface vestibule. They then doffed their Sokol suits and set them up for drying (~1:05pm), deactivated the Atmosphere Purification Unit (BOA) in the Descent Module (SA), replaced the Soyuz ECLSS LiOH cartridges, equalized Soyuz/ISS pressures, and put the spacecraft into conservation mode on ISS integrated power.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/10/08.

The crew's work/sleep cycle shifted again, from yesterday's wakeup at 5:00am to 6:20am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:50pm, from 9:30pm). Work period will shift again tomorrow (to 2:20am -5:50pm).

Aboard ISS, the E16/E17 crew rotation/handover period went underway with full activity schedules for all six residents involved.

CDR-17 Sergei Volkov and FE-1-16 Yuri Malenchenko conducted a communications test between the two docked Soyuz vehicles (15S/16S), checking out comm systems both via hard-line mode (MBS) and S-band, and VHF mode on two channels, including the ground (TsUP-Moscow). (The test was also intended to provide multi-segment comm procedure training. Systems were reconfigured to nominal mode afterwards.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/11/08.

Today Russia observes Denj Kosmonavtov (Cosmonauts Day) and the world Yuri's Night -- celebrating Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin's pioneering flight into space 47 years ago. And NASA is observing the 27th anniversary of STS-1, the first Space Shuttle mission to orbit. (Yuri was accepted into the cosmonaut unit in 1960, at age 26. After his historic 108-min. flight around the Earth in 'Vostok 1', which ended with a parachute ejection at 7 km altitude over a farm field near the city of Engels in Saratov Oblast (province), he was promoted to unit leader. Seven years later, on March 27, 1968, Yuri died with a flight instructor in a fighter jet crash. Chief Designer of the thusly inaugurated Soviet human space program was Sergey Pavlovich Korolev. Exactly 20 years later, John Young and Bob Crippen took the Columbia into space for a test mission lasting 2 days 6 hours 20 minutes 52 seconds.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/12/08.

Sunday. Ahead: Week 26 of Increment 16.

The crew's work/sleep cycle again was adjusted slightly, from yesterday's wakeup at 2:20am to 2:10am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:40pm). Tomorrow, work period will be adjusted by 5 min (to 2:15am -5:45pm).

Aboard ISS, the E16/E17 crew rotation/handover period went underway with full activity schedules for all six residents involved. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko had several hours crewtime between them for dedicated CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities. In addition, there are 'generic' handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/13/08.

Underway: Week 26 of Increment 16.

The crew's work/sleep cycle again was adjusted slightly, from yesterday's wakeup at 2:10am to 2:15am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:45pm). Tomorrow, work period will again be adjusted by 5 min (to 2:20am -5:50pm).

Aboard ISS, the E16/E17 crew rotation/handover period went underway with full activity schedules for all six residents involved. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko had several hours crewtime between them for dedicated CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities. In addition, there are 'generic' handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/14/08.

Day 188 in space for Peggy & Yuri.

The crew's work/sleep cycle again was adjusted slightly, from yesterday's wakeup at 2:15am to 2:20am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:50pm). Tomorrow, work period will again be adjusted by 5 min (to 2:15am -5:45pm).

Aboard ISS, crew rotation/handover activities continued for all six residents involved. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko had several hours scheduled between them for dedicated ('functional') CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities; in addition, there are 'generic' handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/15/08.

Day 189 in space for Peggy & Yuri.

The crew's work/sleep cycle again was adjusted slightly, from yesterday's wakeup at 2:20am to 2:15am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:45pm). Tomorrow, work period will be adjusted again (to 2:00am -12:00pm).

Aboard ISS, crew rotation/handover activities continued for all six residents involved. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko had several hours scheduled between them for dedicated ('functional') CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities; in addition, there are 'generic' handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/16/08.

Day 190 in space for Peggy & Yuri.
Yesterday, Peggy Whitson set a new US endurance record of 374 days for the longest cumulative time spent in space, held before by Mike Foale (heading the list: Sergei Krikalev with 803 days).

With undocking time on 4/19 approaching, the ISS crew went on an irregular sleep/wake cycle:

Wake #1 this morning: 2:00am - 10:00am EDT;
'Nap': 10:00am - 2:00pm
Wake #2: 2:00pm - 1:00am (4/18)
Tomorrow:

Sleep: 1:00am - 12:30pm
Wake for E16/E17: 12:30pm - 4:45am (4/19) - E16 departs @ 1:06am
Saturday:

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/17/08.

Day 191 in space for Peggy & Yuri.

Last day before Soyuz 15S undocking, with the ISS crew on an irregular wake/sleep cycle:

Sleep: 1:00am - 12:30pm EDT;
Wake-up: 12:30pm - 4:45am (4/19); E16 departs @ 1:06am
Sleep time for E17: 4:45am - 2:00am (4/20)

The E16/E17 crew rotation/handover period is running down. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko are completing their joined crewtime for dedicated ("functional") CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities plus "generic" handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/18/08.

Expedition 17 Crew: CDR Sergei Volkov, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko, FE-2 Garrett Reisman. "Yest posadka! (We have Landing!) Welcome back home, Yuri Malenchenko, Peggy Whitson and So-Yeon Yi! After 192 days in space (190 docked to ISS), Soyuz TMA-11/15S, carrying two-thirds of the Expedition 16 crew plus the South-Korean SFP, landed successfully this morning at ~4:30am EDT in the steppes of Kazakhstan, with the crew in excellent condition. The landing in Kazakhstan was approximately 450 km west of the prime landing area in the 'ballistic mode' zone. (The 15S undocking sequence was initiated on 4/19 with the command to open the Soyuz hooks at 1:03 am EDT. 15S separated from ISS at 1:06 am using the docking system springs. Three minutes after initial separation an automatic separation burn was performed by the Soyuz vehicle. A 4 min 18 sec de-orbit burn was initiated at 3:40 am EDT. During descent, the 15S vehicle guidance system down-moded to a ballistic entry mode. The satisfactory condition of the crew was confirmed by 15S CDR Yuri Malenchenko when he made contact with TsUP-Moscow via the 15S Iridium satellite phone. Russian SAR (Search & Rescue) helicopters from the ballistic staging area, including a NASA crew surgeon, reached the crew approximately 30 minutes after landing, and reported the crew to be in good health. The crew was transported to Kustenai, Kazakhstan via helicopter and departed for Star City, arriving at approximately 1:00pm EDT, where they were received by a welcoming NASA delegation headed by Christopher Scolese, Michael Ryschkewitsch, and William Gerstenmaier. Post-flight analysis of data from the descent module systems will be conducted after the module is returned to Moscow.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/19/08.

Crew wake/sleep cycle has 'normalized', Today's wakeup - 2:00am, sleeptime - 5:30pm EDT.

First activity this morning for FE-2 Reisman was to start on his FD30 (Flight Day 30) session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository. Reisman completed the all-day session, collecting urine samples for 24 hrs (to continue through tomorrow morning) and blood samples (for Serum & Heparin). (Garrett performed self-phlebotomy, i.e., drew his blood samples (from an arm vein) which were first allowed to coagulate in the Repository, then spun in the HRF2 RC (Human Research Facility 2/Refrigerated Centrifuge) and finally placed in MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). The RC was later powered off after a temperature reset to limit wear on the compressor, and cleaned. Background: NUTRITION is the most comprehensive in-flight study done by NASA to date of human physiologic changes during long-duration space flight; this includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage, nutritional assessments, and hormonal changes. The Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile currently required on all U.S. Astronauts collects blood and urine samples preflight and postflight. NUTRITION expands this protocol by also capturing in-flight samples and an additional postflight sample. Furthermore, additional measurements are included for samples from all sessions, including additional markers of bone metabolism, vitamin status, and hormone and oxidative stressor tests. The results will be used to better understand the impact of countermeasures (exercise and pharmaceuticals) on nutritional status and nutrient requirements. The Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile (MR016L), first started on two Mir crewmembers and then on all ISS US crews, nominally consists of two pre-flight and one post-flight analysis of nutritional status, as well as an in-flight assessment of dietary intake using the FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire). The current NUTRITION project has expanded MR016L testing in three ways: Addition of in-flight blood & urine collection (made possible by MELFI), normative markers of nutritional assessment, and a return session plus 30-day (R+30) session to allow evaluation of post-flight nutrition and implications for rehabilitation.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/20/08.

The crew enjoyed a full rest day.

Having passed Day 30 of his flight, FE-2 Reisman ended his latest session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository by collecting a final urine sample upon wakeup for storage in the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). The sampling kit was then stowed away. (The current NUTRITION project is the most comprehensive in-flight study done by NASA to date of human physiologic changes during long-duration space flight. It includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage, nutritional assessments, and hormonal changes, expanding the previous Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile (MR016L) testing in three ways: Addition of in-flight blood & urine collection (made possible by MELFI), normative markers of nutritional assessment, and a return session plus 30-day (R+30) session to allow evaluation of post-flight nutrition and implications for rehabilitation.)

In the JLP (Japanese Experiment Module Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section), Garrett Reisman performed the periodic checkup on JLP status and shell temperatures by using the MKAM (Minimum Keep Alive Monitor), then called down the results of the temperature check via S-band.

CDR Volkov conducted the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the Service Module (SM), including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables.

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 TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1, FE-2), RED resistive exercise device (FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1).

Afterwards, Garrett downloaded the crew's exercise data file to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as 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).

At ~1:45pm EDT, FE-2 Reisman powered up the SM's amateur radio equipment (Kenwood VHF transceiver with manual frequency selection, headset, and power supply) and at 1:50pm conducted a ham radio exchange with children at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida. (Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida, is one of 8 hospitals under the Orlando Regional Healthcare umbrella and addresses the unique medical needs of children in the Central Florida area, including a level one trauma center. The children who participated in this contact are patients at the hospital. It was an exciting surprise and enriching experience that made their hospital stay a memorable event. Questions to Garrett were uplinked beforehand. 'What kind of food do you eat, and is it good?'; 'How long can you stay out on a spacewalk?'; 'What experiments are you doing in space?'; 'What duties are yours on the Space Station?'; 'How do you communicate with your family?'; 'What do you do if you get sick in space?'; 'What can you see on Earth from Space?'; 'How long will the Space Station last?'; 'What skills do I need to be an astronaut?'; 'What is your favorite thing to do on the Space Station?')

ATV Reboost Test: The single-burn reboost firing test of the ATV 'Jules Verne' overnight at 12:10am-1:52am was conducted successfully. Burn duration was 4m 33s, with a delta-V of 1.04 m/s (3.41 ft/sec). Mean altitude gain was ~1.49 km. The purpose of the reboost was to test the ATV main engines prior to the scheduled reboost on 4/25 (Friday). ISS attitude control authority was handed over to the Russian MCS (Motion Control System) thrusters at ~12:00am and returned to US momentum management at ~2:47am.

CEO photo target uplinked for today was Central Asia dust event (Dynamic event. A major dust event is taking place in the Takla Mayan Desert of western China. This desert basin is often much hazier than surrounding areas due to blowing dust. Images were to include the mountainous margins of the basin so that researchers can gauge the altitude of the top of dusty air mass. The Takla Mayan is one of the dustiest places on Earth, with its dust frequently falling on Beijing and Japan).

All old parts were discarded as trash. The KTO waste container is being kept for ~7 days. The activity was supported by ground specialist tagup. (E-K contains five liters of pre-treat solution, i.e., a mix of H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), CrO3 (chromium oxide, for oxidation and purple color), and H2O (water). The pre-treat liquid is mixed with water in a dispenser (DKiV) and used for toilet flushing.)

In the US Lab, after inspecting, activating & configuring the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) facility, FE-2 Reisman initiated a new series of vacuum draws on the sample chamber by opening the vent and vacuum valves in preparation for CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2) experiment ops on 4/24. After configuring the EMCS for water reservoir replacement, Reisman then replaced the water reservoirs on both rotors and set EMCS switches to allow ground commanding of the facility. The setup was photo documented. (CSLM-2 examines the kinetics of competitive particle growth within a liquid matrix. During this process, small particles shrink by losing atoms to larger particles, causing the larger particles to grow (coarsen) within a liquid lead/tin matrix. This study defined the mechanisms and rates of coarsening that govern the manufacture with metals from turbine blades to dental amalgam fillings.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/22/08.

(Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM "scales" measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember's mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/23/08.

(The blood samples were drawn from a finger with a perforator lancet, then centrifuged in two microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit's minicentrifuge, and its hematocrit value was read off the tubes with a magnifying glass. It is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go down over time. After the exam, the data were saved in the IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer), and Kononenko stowed the equipment.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/24/08.

MSG was later powered down from its A31p laptop (~8:30am EDT). (CSLM-2 examines the kinetics (e.g., growth rate) of 'competing' particles within a liquid matrix. During this process, small particles shrink by giving up atoms to larger particles, causing the larger particles of tin, suspended in a liquid comprised of molten lead/tin alloy ('matrix'), to grow in size ('coarsen'). This study defines the mechanisms and rates of coarsening that govern the manufacture with metals from turbine blades to dental amalgam fillings.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/25/08.

The crew performed the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough station cleaning. ("Uborka", usually done on Saturdays, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the Service Module (SM) dining table, other frequently touched surfaces and surfaces where trash is collected, as well as the FE's sleep station with a standard cleaning solution; also, fan screens and grilles are cleaned to avoid temperature rises. Special cleaning is also done every 90 days on the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) bacteria filters in the Lab.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/26/08.

Ahead: Week 2 of Increment 17.

Russian Holiday:

Orthodox Easter (Pravoslavnaya Paskha)
(always 1st Sunday after 1st full moon).

At ~5:23am EDT, CDR Volkov & FE-1 Kononenko conducted a teleconference via VHF with Patriarch Alexis II of the Russian Orthodox Church who extended best wishes on the occasion of today's Easter celebration.

The CDR 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 and today also number & dates of water & urine containers, counter readings of water consumption (SPK-U, SVO) & urine collection, plus data and total operating time of the Russian POTOK-150MK (150 micron) air filter unit of the SOGS air revitalization subsystem.

Working from the Russian voluntary 'time permitting' task list, the FE-1 performed Part 2 of the latest Russian "Uragan" (hurricane) earth-imaging session, using the Nikon D2X digital camera with 300-800 mm telephoto lens. (Targets uplinked for today were Ugra National Park, the Tien-Shan mountains with glaciers to the east of lake Issyk-Kul, the Volga-Akhtubinsk alluvial plain (overall hydrological situation), and oil spills on the Caspian Sea).

Also as a discretionary task, Oleg Kononenko conducted his first 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 HDV (high-definition) video camcorder, Oleg focused on color bloom patterns in the ocean, highly pronounced cloud cover anomalies, swirls, wakes of subsurface waves, water level drop, smoothing lanes in wave fields. Target zones in the Atlantic Ocean were the coastal area of Canada, the English Channel, the Newfoundland Island coastline and the West Sahara offshore areas.)

For Sergey Volkov, the 'time permitting' job list today suggested more KPT-3 observations and aerial photography for Russia's Environmental Safety Agency (ECON) using the Nikon D2X digital camera with SIGMA 300-800mm telephoto lens.

The crew 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), RED resistive exercise device (FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1).

No CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today.

First thing in the morning, FE-2 Garrett Reisman worked in the JLP (Japanese Experiment Module Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section), performing the periodical status & shell temperature check from the MKAM (Minimum Keep-Alive Monitor) panel and calling down the temperatures via S-band.

Later Reisman continued his support of the CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2) experiment in the activated MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) facility, initiating another evacuation sequence in preparation for final experiment operations scheduled Wednesday (4/30). (Evacuation activities consisted in closing vacuum vent valves, checking for acceptable humidity levels, and opening the SPU (Sample Processing Unit) water valve to initiate unattended vacuum prep, followed later by closing the SPU water valve, checking again for humidity levels in the sample chamber, and opening the vent valve and vacuum valve to initiate a vacuum draw on the sample chamber. The steps were later repeated for another SPU. CSLM-2 examines the kinetics of competitive particle growth within a liquid matrix. During this process, small particles shrink by losing atoms to larger particles, causing the larger particles to grow (coarsen) within a liquid lead/tin matrix. This study defined the mechanisms and rates of coarsening that govern the manufacture with metals from turbine blades to dental amalgam fillings.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/28/08.

The separation & reconnection of hydraulic lines required several leak checks during the IFM. The activities were supported by tagup with ground specialists via S-band and photo documented. (The SKV-2 shut down yesterday morning due to high temperature, but the compressor R&R had already been scheduled for some time.)

With the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry system's still disconnected at the SKV-2 and the Elektron ST-64 current stabilizer (BD-SU control mode remaining active), FE-1 Kononenko replaced the ST-64 with a spare unit to check out the latter's operability. Later, Sergey & Oleg reconnected the BITS2-12, and the Elektron was restarted in 32A mode by the ground, with Kononenko monitoring the external temperature of its secondary purification unit (BD) for the first 10 minutes of operations to ensure that there was no overheating. The activities were supported by tagup with ground specialists via S-band. (When the FE-1 disconnected the BITS2-12 telemetry connector at the ST-64, an 'SM Elektron Catastrophic Failure' alarm alerted the crew but was quickly identified by TsUP-Moscow as having been generated by erratic data caused by the cable disconnection. The message was unexpected since it had not annunciated previously in ground tests of the R&R.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/29/08.

At ~5:20pm EDT, just before sleep time, CDR Volkov will start his first overnight MBI-12 session. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 04/30/08.

Also: Labor Day in Europe.

Upon wake-up, CDR Volkov terminated his first MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session, started last night, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/01/08.

(Support equipment in the SSVP kits includes handles, caps, screwdrivers, extenders, quick-disconnect clamps, wrenches, etc.)

FE-1 Oleg Kononenko serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated tonight at ~5:15pm EDT. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. Filter bed 1 was regenerated yesterday. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after last Tuesday's (4/29) Freon-218 spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/02/08.

To provide cooling for the ground-commanded activation of the U.S. CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly), FE-2 Reisman begun his workday by connecting the regular ITCS LTL (Internal Thermal Control System/Low Temperature Loop) coolant jumper connection to the LAB1D6 rack. (CDRA activation took place at 4:00am-5:15am EDT. The CDRA will operate over the weekend. Deactivation will occur when ppCO2 drops to 2.5 mmHG. Deactivation will be Sunday evening or early Monday morning.)

The crew conducted the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough house cleaning. ("Uborka", normally done on Saturdays, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the Service Module (SM) dining table, other frequently touched surfaces and surfaces where trash is collected, as well as the FE's sleep station with a standard cleaning solution; also, fan screens and grilles are cleaned to avoid temperature rises. Special cleaning is also done every 90 days on the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) bacteria filters in the Lab. Additionally, as part of the weekly cleaning, Malenchenko performs an inspection of structural elements, cables and instruments behind SM panels for moisture.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/03/08.

Ahead: Week 3 of Increment 17.

Flight Engineer Kononenko conducted the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables and the weekly collection of the toilet flush (SP) counter and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP. (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 at the SKV-2 air conditioner for the Elektron-intended water, and processing U.S. condensate water as it becomes available in a filled CWC from the Lab humidifier.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/04/08.

>>>Today 47 years ago (1961), the first U.S. Astronaut, Navy Commander Alan 'Big Al' Shepard Jr., launched into a suborbital flight of 15 minutes duration, reaching an altitude of 116 miles. This restored faith in the U.S. space program only 23 days after the Soviet space program launched Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit around the planet.<<<

FE-2 Reisman supported the Japanese CW/RW (Cell Wall/Resist Wall) experiment in the MSG EMCS (Microgravity Science Glovebox/European Modular Cultivation System), removing and relocating EC1 (Experiment Container 1) and EC2 on Rotor A and Rotor B. (CW/RW operates in the EMCS facility in eight special ECs (Experiment Containers) which Garrett recently (3/30) installed on the centrifuges of the facility. The EMCS rack contains two rotating centrifuges, Rotor A & Rotor B, which can support a wide range of small plant & animal experiments under partial gravity conditions.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/05/08.

(Today's measurements were taken with the AU-1, Kelvin-Video, Iva-6A & TTM-2 instruments near welds along SM (Service Module) structural rings and near the shell ring in the FGB for subsequent downlinking via BSR-TM channel. At the FGB pressurized shell ring, the two cosmonauts also inspected structural elements, equipment, and cable bundles for moisture, mold, or evidence of corrosion. The BAR-RM data are being used for experimenting with ISS leak detection based on environmental data anomalies (temperature, humidity, and ultrasound emissions) at possible leak locations, in order to develop a procedure for detecting air leakage from ISS modules. The payload uses a remote infrared thermometer (Kelvin-Video), a thermohygrometer (Iva-6A), a heat-loss anemometer/thermometer (TTM-2), an ultrasound analyzer (AU-1), and a leak detector (UT2-03) to determine physical background signs of loss of ISS pressure integrity which could be indicative of leaks in the working compartments of the station. Measurements are taken in specific zones in SM PkhO, FGB and DC1, both with lights, fans & ASU pump turned on and off.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/06/08.

The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~4:55pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 (Khladon) spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/24, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

CDR Volkov continued the current outfitting of the FGB with new stowage enclosures delivered by the ATV1 (Automated Transfer Vehicle 1), built in Russia to provide more efficient stowage spaces behind FGB panels and improve airflow/circulation. (Today's outfitting involved two more containers transferred in pieces from ATV stowage and their installation in the FGB zones 26 (panel 416) & 23B (panel 414), with bonding straps used for 23B.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/07/08.

(Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures.)

The FE-1 serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated tonight at ~5:15pm EDT. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. Filter bed 1 was regenerated yesterday. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/29, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/08/08.

FE-2 Reisman began the day with the periodic (monthly) CSA-CP (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products) maintenance/checkout, today changing out the battery on the prime unit. (The CSA-CP is a passive cabin atmosphere monitor that provides quick response capability during a combustion event (fire). Its collected data are stored on a logger. After replacing the battery with a new one (#1119), Garrett zero-calibrated the instrument (to eliminate drift in the combustion sensors), then redeployed the prime unit at the SM (Service Module) Central Post.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/09/08.

The crew performed the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough station cleaning. ("Uborka", usually done on Saturdays, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the Service Module (SM) dining table, other frequently touched surfaces and surfaces where trash is collected, as well as the FE's sleep station with a standard cleaning solution; also, fan screens and grilles are cleaned to avoid temperature rises. Special cleaning is also done every 90 days on the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) bacteria filters in the Lab.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/10/08.

Ahead: Week 4 of Increment 17.

CDR Volkov conducted the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the Service Module (SM), including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables, the weekly collection of the toilet flush (SP) counter and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP and today also the periodic cleaning of the pre-filter of the POTOK air filtration system. (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, and processing U.S. condensate water as it becomes available in a filled CWC from the Lab humidifier.)

FE-2 Reisman performed the periodic offloading of the Lab CCAA (Common Cabin Air Assembly) dehumidifier's condensate tank, filling a CWC (Contingency Water Container, #1062) with the collected water slated for processing. No samples were required. (Transferred quantity is determined by allowing tank and CWC equalize with each other. Tank quantity stabilizes at a value higher than the neutral point.)

Garrett Reisman also unstowed and set up the PFE-OUM (PFE-Oxygen Uptake Measurement) equipment on the HRF-2 (Human Research Facility 2) rack, including the HRF PFM/PAM (Pulmonary Function Module/Photoacoustic Analyzer Module), Mixing Bag System and GDS (Gas Delivery System), for his second PFE-OUM protocol session tomorrow. (The PFE-OUM experiment, using the CEVIS ergometer for workout, demonstrates the capability of crewmembers to perform periodic fitness evaluations with continuous oxygen consumption measurements within 14 days after arrival on ISS, and once monthly during routine PFEs. Once the capability of the pulmonary function system (PFS) to perform PFEs is verified, crewmembers will be able to integrate their monthly PFE with oxygen consumption measurements to fulfill the requirement for cardiovascular fitness evaluations during long-duration space flight.)

The crew conducted 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), RED resistive exerciser (CDR, FE-1 FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1). (The RED, as an anaerobic muscle exerciser, allows a variety of routines: squat, heel raises, bent-over rowing, abdominal crunches, deadlift, bench presses, upright rowing, etc. For Sergey & Oleg, who are using RED three times a week, each session features four different routines which vary from day to day to target different muscle groups.)

Working off the discretionary 'time permitting' task list, Sergey Volkov completed another EKON KPT-3 session, making observations and taking aerial photography of environmental conditions for Russia's Environmental Safety Agency (EKON) using the Nikon D2X digital camera with SIGMA 300-800mm telephoto lens.

Also from the suggestions list, Kononenko performed a session of the Russian GFI-8 "Uragan" (hurricane) earth-imaging program, using the D2X to take telephotos of the Chaiten volcano eruption in Chile and of the Kuril Islands in nadir.

A third job on the discretionary task list was Oleg's second 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 from SM windows 7 & 8 to record color bloom patterns in the ocean, sudden changes in cloud cover pattern, swirls, wakes of subsurface waves (sections of parallel bands), water level drop, and smoothing lanes in wave fields. (Targets today in the North Atlantic were the Newfoundland Island coastline, West Saharan offshore areas, US coastal area, Amazon river runoff and offshore area of Brazil.)

At ~1:25pm EDT, Reisman had for his weekly PFC (Private Family Conference) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop). (Main topic for today's phone chat undoubtedly was Mother's Day.)

Tonight, Garrett will start his last required overnight run with the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight), consisting of data logging on the HRF-1 laptop within 15 minutes of awakening for 7 consecutive days, as carried for him on the voluntary 'job jar' task list. Any additional SLEEP logging after fulfilling the required week's readings will be appreciated by the PI (Principal Investigator). (To allow ground study of his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Garrett wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition.)

No CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today.

From the US voluntary 'job jar' task list, after wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Reisman downloaded the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data from his Actiwatch to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop. (To monitor his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Garrett wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout this week, for the last time. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/12/08.

(To monitor his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Garrett wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout this week, for the last time. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.)

CDR Volkov completed the periodic servicing of the active Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System) by starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~5:15pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 (Khladon) spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/24, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/13/08.

(To monitor his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, the Flight Engineer wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout this week, for the last time. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.)

For the Russian Sleep study, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko terminated his second MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session upon wake-up by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. CDR Sergey Volkov in turn will start his second overnight MBI-12 session tonight. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/14/08.

Ascent was nominal, all appendages (antennae & solar arrays) deployed nominally, and the vehicle reached orbital insertion at 4:31:41pm. Corrective maneuvers DV1 & DV2 were conducted as per plan at 8:12:27pm (delta-V 22.62 m/s) and 8:50:36pm (23.71 m/s). 29P is scheduled to dock to the ISS FGB nadir port tomorrow evening (5/16) at 5:37pm. Congratulations, Baikonur! (The cargo ship will deliver more than 2.3 tons of various supplies to the ISS, including oxygen, water and food supplies, propellant, a new Sokol KV-2 spacesuit, consumables, scientific hardware and equipment. The spacecraft was injected into a reference near-earth elliptical orbit with 51.65 ° inclination, min/max altitudes of 193.9/245.9 km and 88.57 min revolution. Onboard systems are operating as designed as the 'chase' is on.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/15/08.

All Progress systems operated nominally from Automated Rendezvous start. (Launched on 5/14 (4:22:56pm EDT), the 29P resupply drone delivered about 2.5 tons (4657 lbs) of cargo for the ISS crews, including propellants (~770 lbs) for the Russian thrusters, fresh water (~925 lbs), oxygen and air (~100 lbs), food, and dry cargo (~2850 lbs), i.e., spare parts, repair gear, life support and science experiment hardware.)

Since the time of docking was the crew's regular bedtime, their work/sleep cycle was shifted this morning by 3.5 hrs, i.e., wakeup - 5:30am EDT, sleep - 9:00pm. (Tomorrow: Wakeup - 5:30am; sleep back at 5:30pm)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/16/08.

Due to last night's extended duty after the Progress 29P arrival (5:39pm EDT), the crew had an additional 3.5 hrs sleep time this morning, i.e., wakeup - 5:30am EDT; sleep time tonight is back at the regular 5:30pm.

For the ongoing US Sleep study, currently on his voluntary 'job jar' task list, FE-2 Garrett Reisman downloaded the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data after wakeup and before breakfast from his Actiwatch to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop. (To monitor his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, the Flight Engineer wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout this week, for the last time. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/17/08.

Ahead: Week 5 of Increment 17.

Crew wake/sleep cycle is back on the regular 2:00am - 5:30pm EDT period.

The crew performed the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough station cleaning. ("Uborka", usually done on Saturdays, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the Service Module (SM) dining table, other frequently touched surfaces and surfaces where trash is collected, as well as the FE's sleep station with a standard cleaning solution; also, fan screens and grilles are cleaned to avoid temperature rises. Special cleaning is also done every 90 days on the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) bacteria filters in the Lab.)

As part of the house cleaning, CDR Volkov conducted the weekly collection of the toilet flush (SP) counter and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP and today also the periodic cleaning of the pre-filter of the POTOK air filtration system. The crew also performed regular maintenance inspection & cleaning on fan grilles in the FGB (FS5 & FS6, TsV2), SM (VPkhO & VPrK), DC1 (V3) and in the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory).

FE-2 Reisman ended his FD60 session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository, his second, by collecting a final urine sample upon wakeup for storage in the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). The sampling kit was then stowed away. (The current NUTRITION project is the most comprehensive in-flight study done by NASA to date of human physiologic changes during long-duration space flight. It includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage, nutritional assessments, and hormonal changes, expanding the previous Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile (MR016L) testing in three ways: Addition of in-flight blood & urine collection (made possible by MELFI), normative markers of nutritional assessment, and a return session plus 30-day (R+30) session to allow evaluation of post-flight nutrition and implications for rehabilitation.)

FE-1 Kononenko serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), terminating the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system and starting the process on bed #2. The regen process will be terminated tonight at ~4:55pm EDT. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours. Filter bed #1 was regenerated overnight. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/29, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

The crew conducted 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-1, FE-2), RED resistive exerciser (FE-1 FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR). (The RED, as an anaerobic muscle exerciser, allows a variety of routines: squat, heel raises, bent-over rowing, abdominal crunches, deadlift, bench presses, upright rowing, etc. For Sergey & Oleg, who are using RED three times a week, each session features four different routines which vary from day to day to target different muscle groups.)

At ~6:35am EDT, the ISS crew linked up with the Lead Flight Director at JSC/MCC-H via S-band/audio to conduct their first weekly tagup. (S/G-2 (Space-to-Ground 2) phone patch via SSC-10 (Station Support Computer 10)).

At ~9:15am, the crewmembers held their regular WPC (Weekly Planning Conference) with the ground, discussing next week's "Look-Ahead Plan" (prepared jointly by MCC-H and TsUP/Moscow timeline planners) via S-band/audio, reviewing the monthly calendar, upcoming activities, and any concerns about future on-orbit events.

The CDR and FE-1 had their weekly PFC (Private Family Conference) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop), Sergey at ~7:00am, Oleg at ~8:20am.

No

In the JLP (Japanese Experiment Module Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section), FE-2 Reisman performed the periodical status and shell temperature check from the MKAM (Minimum Keep-Alive Monitor).

The crew jointly reviewed the Robotics pre-launch checkout activities ahead, including the updated DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) software uplinked for tomorrow's scheduled SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) operations and the procedures for starting up the DOUG. (Tomorrow (5/20) Reisman will check out both RWS (Robotics Workstations), as during the 1 JA prelaunch checkouts. Afterwards, the CDR and FE-2 also have some DOUG setup time and then maneuver the SSRMS into an ATV survey position using a Joint OCAS (Operator Commanded Auto Sequence) to look at two areas for possible MLI (Multi-Layered Insulation) damage. After the survey, the SSRMS will be maneuvered to grapple the MBS PDGF-3 (Mobile Base System/Power & Data Grapple Fixture 3), followed by a base change by ground commanding to prepare for the next day. On 5/21, the crew will release the other end of the arm at the Node-2 PDGF and maneuver to the 1J Docking position. DOUG is a special application running on the MSS (Mobile Service System) RWS laptops that provides a graphical birdseye-view image of the external station configuration and the SSRMS arm, showing its real-time location and configuration on a laptop during its operation.)

The FE-2 also set up the video configuration for the Robotics ops by putting in place the necessary cable hook-up of the UOP DCP (utility outlet panel/display & control panel) power bypass cable at the CUP RWS (Cupola Robotic Work Station).

In preparation for the STS-124 spacewalks, Garrett initiated recharge procedures on REBA (Rechargeable EVA Battery Assemblies), HL (Helmet Light), PGT (Pistol Grip Tool), and EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) batteries in the US Airlock. (This is the first of two recharges that will be required to prepare all batteries for flight, including three contingency batteries for return on STS-124.)

Kononenko completed the routine maintenance of the SM's SOZh/ECLSS system, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables. (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, and processing U.S. condensate water as it becomes available in a filled CWC from the Lab humidifier.)

The crew conducted 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), RED resistive exercise device (FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1).

Afterwards, Reisman transferred the crew's exercise data file to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as 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).

At ~5:30am EDT, Sergey Volkov & Oleg Kononenko downlinked a PAO TV message of greetings to the participants of the joint conference 'Space for Mankind' of the International Astronautics Academy (IAA) and the K. E. Tsiolkovsky Russian Cosmonautics Academy in Korolev near Moscow, to be replayed at the conference opening on 5/21. (' €¦The ISS is a place where human achievements in space exploration for the past 50 years have special appreciation. Scientific experiments and practical results obtained in this field have already produced significant impact on the development of the world civilization and on life on Earth and will be doing so in the future €¦.We are proud to note that such a representative conference is taking place in Korolev, the birth place of practical cosmonautics, a place where MCC-M is located, which along with Houston and other centers, controls and operates the ISS; Korolev also is the home base of Energia corporation, whose Soyuz vehicles are used for ISS crew rotations €¦')

At ~5:30am EDT, the crew conducted a telephone conference radio exchange with the editor of the Russian COSMOS Magazine, Yekaterina Timofeyevna Beloglazova

At ~4:10pm EDT, Garrett is scheduled for his weekly PFC (Private Family Conference) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop).

US Condensate Processing Update: Troubleshooting continued on Lane 3 of the SRVK. The failure of the separator unit was confirmed; to be replaced next week. Teams are working on procedure for pumping US condensate into ATV tanks. ISS will have condensate tanks empty prior to 1J if possible without the water dump. ATV to check whether they can support prep tasks for pumping of US condensate into ATV tanks as early as May 22.

No (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today.

FE-2 Reisman meanwhile spent 2.5 hrs in the US Airlock (A/L) completing the previously initiated EVA tool configuration in preparation for the STS-124/1J spacewalks.

Later, Reisman used the G1 video camcorder to take documentary footage of the EVA tools in their final configuration and the current state of the A/L, including mini workstations and contents of the ORU bags to be used, for review by EVA specialists on the ground.

With the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) powered up and the VDS (Video Distribution Subsystem) configured by ground commanding, the FE-2 conducted the pre-launch checkout of the RWS (Robotics Workstations).

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/20/08.

Later, the pumping equipment was dismantled and the activities were closed out. (After hooking up the plumbing connecting the 29P water tanks with the SM Rodnik tankage, the water was transferred at first in self-flow (under its own tank pressure), then using a compressor pump via a GZhS gas/liquid separator, to remove air bubbles in the water. The subsequent filling of the empty Progress tanks with urine will be scheduled later.)

After CDR Volkov prepared the auditory test equipment, he, FE-1 Kononenko & FE-2 Reisman took the periodic O-OHA (on-orbit hearing assessment) test, a 30-min. NASA environmental health systems examination to assess the efficacy of acoustic countermeasures, using a special MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) laptop application. It was the second session for the three crewmembers. (The O-OHA audiography test involves minimum audibility measurements for each ear over a wide range of frequencies (0.25-10 kHz) and sound pressure levels, with the crewmembers using individual-specific Prophonics earphones, Bose ANC headsets and the SLM (sound level meter). To conduct the testing, the experimenter is supported by special EarQ software on the MEC, featuring an up/down-arrow-operated slider for each test frequency that the crewmember moves to the lowest sound pressure level at which the tone can still be heard. The baseline test is required not later than about Flight Day 14 for each new Expedition and is then generally performed once per month. Note: There have been temporary hearing deficits documented on some U.S. and Russian crewmembers, all of which recovered to pre-mission levels.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/21/08.

The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~5:15pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 (Khladon) spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/24, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

Volkov & Kononenko spent another 2 hrs working jointly on cargo transfers & stowage from Progress 29P, tracking the moves in the IMS (Inventory Management System).

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/22/08.

(Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM "scales" measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember's mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/23/08.

The crew performed the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough station cleaning. ("Uborka", usually done on Saturdays, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the Service Module (SM) dining table, other frequently touched surfaces and surfaces where trash is collected, as well as the FE's sleep station with a standard cleaning solution; also, fan screens and grilles are cleaned to avoid temperature rises. Special cleaning is also done every 90 days on the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) bacteria filters in the Lab.)

The crew also performed regular maintenance inspection & cleaning on fan grilles in the FGB (FS5 & FS6, TsV2), SM (VPkhO & VPrK), DC1 (V3) and in the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) for ESA.

Additionally, CDR Volkov conducted the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables, the weekly collection of the toilet flush (SP) counter and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP and today also the periodic cleaning of the pre-filter of the POTOK air filtration system. (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, and processing U.S. condensate water as it becomes available in a filled CWC from the Lab humidifier.)

At ~10:05am EDT, the crewmembers held their regular WPC (Weekly Planning Conference) with the ground, discussing next week's "Look-Ahead Plan" (prepared jointly by MCC-H and TsUP/Moscow timeline planners) via S-band/audio, reviewing the monthly calendar, upcoming activities, and any concerns about future on-orbit events.

The three crewmembers conducted 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), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-1, FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1).

Afterwards, Garrett transferred the crew's exercise data file to the MEC for downlink, as well as 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).

The Russian crewmembers had their weekly PFCs (Private Family Conferences) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop), Oleg at ~7:25am, Sergey at ~8:30am.

At ~3:00am, Oleg Kononenko held a telephone conference with Conference with Vladimir Stepanovich Krivtsov, the President of Kharkov Aviation Institute. Oleg is a KhAI alumnus. (Every year at the end of May KhAI alumni, employees of enterprises and organizations of Russia, Ukraine, and other countries, also KhAI faculty and students, are celebrating a holiday, the Khai Day, which takes place on 5/24.)

At ~11:30am, the crew downlinked two PAO TV messages of greetings, one for veteran cosmonaut V. I. Tereshkova, the other for the 10th International Festival Childhood without Borders. (The city of Yaroslavl is getting ready for the 45th anniversary celebration of the first female-cosmonaut flight into space. The Vostok-6 space vehicle with Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova on board was launched into near-Earth orbit on June 16, 1963. The flight continued for almost three days. At the same time with Vostok-6, Vostok-5 with Valery Bykovski was on orbit as well. The International festival 'Childhood without Borders' is held in Moscow on an annual basis. This festival is an open forum to demonstrate abilities and creativity of children, children's organizations and groups, and adults working with children to support their creative forces and initiative. On the eve of 6/1, the International Children's Day, children and adults from various regions of Russia and abroad get together in Moscow to demonstrate a need for a constructive dialog regarding the present and the future for children and young adults.)

New items on the discretionary task lists for Garrett, Sergey and Oleg for today were unpacking of 29P US cargo & CHeCS rack audit/survey by Reisman, and another EKON earth observation session for Volkov.

Ahead: Week 6 of Increment 17.

FE-2 Garrett Reisman worked on the EDR (European Drawer Rack) in the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), installing a restraint on the EDR seat track for the PCDF EU (Protein Crystallization Diagnostic Facility Electronic Unit). Later, the PCDF EU was activated by the ground with crew support.

Afterwards, Reisman performed the periodical status and shell temperature check In the JLP (Japanese Experiment Module Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section) from the MKAM (Minimum Keep-Alive Monitor).

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/26/08.

Later, Reisman deactivated the COL EDR (European Drawer Rack) and PCDF EU (Protein Crystallization Diagnostic Facility Electronic Unit), concluding with some close-up imaging using the COL's VCA1 (Video Camera Assembly 1).

In preparation for the subsequent VSPLESK installation (which required turning off the BITS2-12 Onboard Telemetry Measurement System), FE-1 Kononenko supported TsUP-Moscow in deactivating the Elektron O2 generator. As part of the standard deactivation process the Elektron was purged with N2 (nitrogen), controlled from laptop. (Elektron will be reactivated on 5/29.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/27/08.

CDR Sergey Volkov in turn will start his third overnight MBI-12 session tonight. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/28/08.

(SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/29/08.

(Garrett collected three 450 mL samples (for postflight microbial analysis) and two 750 mL samples (for postflight chemical analysis) from each of three ports (SRV-K hot, SRV-K warm, SVO-ZV) for return on STS-124/1J. The small amounts of water used for flushing the equipment were later reclaimed from the flush bag.)

CDR Volkov serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated tonight at ~5:15pm EDT. Filter bed #1 was regenerated yesterday. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/30/08.

STS-124/Discovery (ISS-1J) lifted off right on time (5:02pm EDT) with all systems performing nominally, for ISS rendezvous on Monday (6/2), to dock at ~1:54pm EDT. At launch, the ISS was off Halifax/Canada, at 42.8 deg N Lat, 57.6 deg W Long. The Orbiter is carrying the seven-member crew of CDR Mark Kelly, PLT Ken Ham, MS1 Karen Nyberg, MS2 Ron Garan, MS3 Mike Fossum, MS4 Akihiko Hoshide & MS5 Greg Chamitoff. Chamitoff will replace ISS Flight Engineer 2 Garrett Reisman who returns on 6/14 (nominal) with STS-124. STS-124 is the 123rd space shuttle flight, the 35th flight for Discovery, the 26th flight to the station and the third Shuttle flight in 2008. Its primary payload, the largest so far, is the 32,000-lbs, 36.7-ft long JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) with its RMS (Remote Manipulator System). We are off to another great mission! (The eighth crewmember on board is a stow-away: Buzz Lightyear.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 05/31/08.

Ahead: Week 7 of Increment 17.

Aboard ISS, the shifted wake/sleep cycle began this morning at 6:32am EDT, with sleep time tonight at 10:02pm. (Setting the crew up for tomorrow's docking.)

STS-124/Discovery (ISS-1J) continues its catch-up flight for the FD3 docking at ~1:54pm, to begin ISS Stage 1J. (Catch-up rate ~480 nmi. per revolution of ~91.5 min.). (Hatch opening expected at ~3:10pm, followed by Safety Briefing (~4:02pm), Soyuz seat liner transfer (for the Reisman/Chamitoff exchange), and preparations for the first spacewalk, EVA-1, by EV1 Fossum & EV2 Garan on 6/3, preceded by their overnight Campout tomorrow night in the Airlock (A/L) for denitrogenation/pre-breathe. Objectives of the nominal 14-day mission: Delivering & installing the JAXA Kibo laboratory, delivering new ISS-17 crewmember Greg Chamitoff, bringing Garrett Reisman back home and conducting a total of three EVAs. Landing will nominally be at KSC on FD15 (6/14) at ~11:02am EDT. OMS Anomaly: During ascent, the left OMS (Orbital Maneuvering System) secondary TVC (Thrust Vector Control) positions failed to null in both pitch and yaw, most likely due to a failure in its (independent) power supply. Left OMS is now parked, aligned through EOM CG (End-of-Mission Center-of-Gravity). Remaining on-orbit OMS burns will be single-engine using right OMS only. The deorbit burn will be dual-engine using the (active) primary TVC of the left OMS.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/01/08.

Flight Day 3 (FD3) of STS-124/1J. ISS crew work cycle today: wake 6:32am EDT; sleep 10:02pm.

STS-124/Discovery docked smoothly at the PMA-2 (Pressurized Mating Adapter-2) port at 2:03pm EDT, nine minutes behind timeline, in darkness (orbital sunset ~1:23pm), after successfully completing the RPM (R-Bar Pitch Maneuver) in daylight at ~1:08pm and arriving at +V-Bar (straight in front of ISS) at ~1:11pm. The station now hosts ten occupants again as Mission 1J is underway. (The combined crew is comprised of ISS CDR Volkov, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko, FE-2 Garrett Reisman, STS CDR Mark Kelly, PLT Ken Ham, MS1 Karen Nyberg, MS2 Ron Garan, MS3 Mike Fossum, MS4 Akihiko Hoshide (Japan), and MS5/FE-2-17 Greg Chamitoff who replaces Reisman as FE-2, as the latter returns on Discovery as MS-5.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/02/08.

ISS crew work cycle remains unchanged: wake 6:32am EDT; sleep 10:02pm. Welcome to Expedition 17, Greg Chamitoff!

Mission 1J's EVA-1 was completed successfully by Mike Fossum & Ron Garan in 6h 48min, accomplishing all its objectives. (During the spacewalk, Fossum (EV1) & Garan (EV2) -

released an SRMS (Shuttle Remote Manipulator System) elbow camera launch lock,
supported the transfer of the OBSS (Orbiter Boom Sensor System) from ISS to Shuttle RMS (~1:45pm),
checked out MCAS RTL (Mobile Servicing System Common Attach System/Ready-to-Latch) operation (in preparation for ULF-2),
prepared Node-2 port ACBM (Active Common Berthing Mechanism) for the installation of the JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) laboratory,
opened Node-2 the nadir hatch window cover (in preparation for ULF-2),
prepared the JPM for installation, i.e., disconnected/stowed an LTA (Launch-to-Activation) cable, removed Passive CBM contamination covers, and released the JPM forward window launch lock (~4:10pm)
inspected the 'Datum A' surface of the Starboard SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint),
performed a Stbd SARJ cleaning test using a scraper, wipes and a special grease, and
re-installed the Stbd SARJ TBA-5 (Trundle Bearing Assembly #5) ~4:42pm.
Official start time of the spacewalk was 12:22pm EDT, about 50 minutes behind the timeline (due to an issue with Fossum's 'Snoopy' comm cap), and it ended at 7:10pm. Total EVA duration (PET = Phase Elapsed Time) was 6h 48min. It was the 109th spacewalk for ISS assembly & maintenance and the 81st from the station (59 from Quest, 22 from Pirs, plus 28 from Shuttle) totaling 499h 35min, the first for Expedition 17 and the 10th so far this year. After today's EVA, a total of 139 spacewalkers (107 NASA astronauts, 21 Russians, and 11 astronauts representing Japan-1, Canada-4, France-1, Germany-2 and Sweden-3) have logged a total of 687h 57min outside the station on building, outfitting and servicing. It was the 131st spacewalk involving U.S. astronauts. Today was also the 43rd anniversary of the first US EVA, by Ed White on Gemini 4 (June 3, 1965).)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/03/08.

ISS crew work cycle remains unchanged: wake 6:32am EDT; sleep 10:02pm.

Arigato Gozaimasu! Congratulations, JAXA! There is Hope in space! At ~5:09pm EDT, the JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) of the JEM 'Kibo' laboratory complex was opened and ingressed by Aki Hoshide and Karen Nyberg for the first time, joined later by the rest of the crew who clearly enjoyed the voluminous super laboratory. (Kibo is permanently attached at the Node-2 (Harmony) portside hatch since last night.)

FE-1 Oleg Kononenko performed the periodic (currently daily) checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS (Russian Segment) hatchways, including the DC1-to-Soyuz tunnel, and the FGB-to-Node passageway. (This is especially important when the ventilation/circulation system has to cope with a larger crew on board, currently ten persons, and one of the two Russian SKV air conditioners off (SKV-1).)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/04/08.

ISS crew work cycle remains unchanged: wake 6:32am EDT; sleep 10:02pm.

Crew activities aboard the ISS today centered on three major areas: (1) The second 1J spacewalk, (2) activation of the JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) Kibo, and (3) preparations for tomorrow's relocation of the JLP (Japanese Logistics Pressurized Module).

Mission 1J's EVA-2 was completed successfully by Mike Fossum & Ron Garan in 7h 11min, accomplishing all its objectives. (During the spacewalk, Fossum (EV1) & Garan (EV2) -

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/05/08.

ISS crew work cycle shift begins with an earlier sleeptime: wake 6:32am EDT; sleep 9:32pm (Shuttle crew remaining at 10:02pm).

Crew activities aboard the ISS today centered on three major areas: (1) JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Module) relocation, (2) JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) Kibo outfitting, and (3) start of JEM RMS (Robotic Manipulator System) activation & checkout.

JLP was successfully installed at its final location on the Kibo JPM at 4:04pm EDT. (After JLP/Node-2 vestibule demating and depressurization, MS1 Nyberg and FE-2-17 Chamitoff used the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) to grapple, unberth, transfer and reberth the JLPon Kibo's overhead port (1st stage capture 3:54pm, SSRMS wrist limped 3:58pm, 2nd stage capture with all 16 bolts 4:04pm). Karen, Greg & Aki Hoshide then latched the JPM overhead hatch via ratchet & crank handle, pressurized the connecting vestibule partially and initiated the standard vestibule gross leak check, later configuring the gear for the usual overnight fine leak check. After the installation, ISS attitude was maneuvered to the new TEA (Torque Equilibrium Attitude) which the addition of the JLP has changed. JLP was delivered on orbit by STS-123/Endeavour and docked at the Node-2 zenith port on 3/14.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/06/08.

ISS crew work cycle shifted another 30 min to the left: wake-up 6:02am EDT; sleep 9:02pm (Shuttle crew 30 min later: 9:32pm).

Crew activities aboard the ISS centered on three major areas: (1) Initial deployment of JEM RMS (Japanese Experiment Module Robotic Manipulator System) activation & checkout, (2) JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Module) post-relocation outfitting (Part 1), (3) Preparations for EVA-3 & EV1/EV2 Campout.

Before breakfast, FE-2 Reisman & FE-2-17 Chamitoff collected a 'wet' saliva sample (the third for Greg) for the biomed experiment INTEGRATED IMMUNE (Validating Procedures for Monitoring Crew member Immune Function). (IMMUNE protocol requires the collection to occur first thing post-sleep, before eating, drinking and brushing teeth, and all samples are stored at ambient temperature. Along with NUTRITION (Nutritional Status Assessment), INTEGRATED IMMUNE samples & analyzes participant's blood, urine, and saliva before, during and after flight for changes related to functions like bone metabolism, oxidative damage and immune function to develop and validate an immune monitoring strategy consistent with operational flight requirements and constraints. The strategy uses both long and short duration crewmembers as study subjects. The saliva is collected in two forms, dry and liquid. The dry samples are collected at intervals during the collection day using a specialized book that contains filter paper. The liquid saliva collections require that the crewmember soak a piece of cotton inside their mouth and place it in a salivette bag; there are four of the liquid collections during docked operations.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/07/08.

Ahead: Week 8 of Increment 17.

ISS crew work cycle shifted another 30 min. to the left: wake-up 5:32am EDT; sleep 8:32pm (Shuttle crew 30 min later: 9:02pm).

Crew activities aboard the ISS centered on three major areas: (1) Spacewalk #3 (EVA-3), (2) more JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Module) outfitting, and (3) sample collections from Kibo air & surfaces plus Node-2 ITCS coolant.

Mission 1J's EVA-3 was completed successfully by Mike Fossum & Ron Garan in 6h 33min, accomplishing all its objectives.
(During the spacewalk, Fossum (EV1) & Garan (EV2) -

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/08/08.

Underway: Week 8 of Increment 17.

ISS crew work cycle shifted another 30 min. to the left: wake-up 5:02am EDT; sleep 8:02pm (Shuttle crew 30 min later: 8:32pm).

Crew activities aboard the ISS addressed five major areas: (1) IWIS Dedicated Thruster Firing, (2) JEM RMS Final Deployment, (3) R&R of two A/L BCMs (Airlock Battery Charger Modules), (4) JLP/JPM vestibule final outfitting plus JLP ingress, (5) crew media conference & photo.

For the biomed experiment INTEGRATED IMMUNE (Validating Procedures for Monitoring Crew member Immune Function), FE-2 Reisman collected a 'wet' saliva sample before breakfast while FE-2-17 Chamitoff collected his first dry saliva samples, five times during the day. (IMMUNE protocol requires the collection to occur first thing post-sleep, before eating, drinking and brushing teeth, and all samples are stored at ambient temperature. Along with NUTRITION (Nutritional Status Assessment), INTEGRATED IMMUNE samples & analyzes participant's blood, urine, and saliva before, during and after flight for changes related to functions like bone metabolism, oxidative damage and immune function to develop and validate an immune monitoring strategy consistent with operational flight requirements and constraints. The strategy uses both long and short duration crewmembers as study subjects. The saliva is collected in two forms, dry and liquid. The dry samples are collected at intervals during the collection day using a specialized book that contains filter paper. The liquid saliva collections require that the crewmember soak a piece of cotton inside their mouth and place it in a salivette bag; there are four of the liquid collections during docked operations.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/09/08.

JAXA/Japan to IMMT: 'Arigato Gozaimasu! This flight was 100% successful for the Kibo elements. Thank you to everyone involved for the excellent support in preparation and execution of this mission!'

ISS crew work cycle (now including Greg Chamitoff) shifted another 30 min. to the left: wake-up 4:32am EDT; sleep 7:32pm (Shuttle crew 30 min later: 8:02pm, now including Garrett Reisman).

Crew activities aboard the ISS stack addressed five major areas: (1) Waste water dump from the Orbiter, (2) installation of JEM RMS Backup drive system, (3) PAO event, (4) Crew Sayonara, (5) hatches closing & ODS leak check.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/10/08.

ISS crew wake-up shifted another 30 min. to the left (4:00am EDT), and CDR Sergey Volkov, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko and FE-2 Gregory (Taz) Chamitoff will go to bed two hours earlier tonight (~5:30pm) to move their circadian cycle back to the nominal schedule.

For the Russian Sleep study, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko terminated his fourth MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session upon wake-up by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. CDR Sergey Volkov in turn will start his fourth overnight MBI-12 data take tonight. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/11/08.

Off-duty day for the crew (except for necessary maintenance and voluntary tasks).

Russian Holiday: Russia Day, established by Boris Yeltsin to celebrate national unity after the Russian parliament in 1990 formally declared its sovereignty.

ISS crew sleep cycle returned to the nominal schedule of 2:00am - 5:30pm EDT.

Upon wake-up, Sergey Volkov terminated his 4th MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session for the long-term Russian sleep study, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/12/08.

(Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures.)

The FE-1 performed the periodic service of the active Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System) by starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~4:30pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. The BMP's regeneration cycle is normally done every 20 days.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/13/08.

STS-124/Discovery returned to Earth this morning after 13d 18h 13min in space, touching down at KSC on the first landing opportunity at 11:15am EDT, after 217 orbits & 5.7 million miles. (During the ISS 1J mission, executed with stellar perfection, its seven-member crew conducted three EVAs, delivered & installed the JEM (Japanese Experiment Module) Kibo with its RMS (Robotic Maneuvering System), brought up new Expedition 17 crewmember Gregory Chamitoff and returned his predecessor Garrett Reisman who spent 95d 8h 47m in space (with ~89d on board ISS). It was the 123rd flight of a Space Shuttle, the 26th Shuttle mission to visit the station, the 35th for Discovery and the 69th landing at KSC. Welcome back, Discovery! Next up: STS-125/Atlantis on 10/8, on Service Mission 4 (SM4) to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/14/08.

Ahead: Week 9 of Increment 17.

First activity this morning for Gregory Chamitoff was to start on his Flight Day 15 session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository. This is an all-day session, the first for Greg, of collecting urine samples several times for 24 hrs, to continue through first void tomorrow morning.

Oleg Kononenko conducted the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the Service Module (SM), including the weekly collection of the toilet flush (SP) counter and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP-Moscow. (Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.)

The FE-1 also gathered weekly data on Total Operating Time & 'On' durations of the Russian POTOK-150MK (150 micron) air filter unit of the SM's SOGS air revitalization subsystem for reporting to TsUP.

For Sergey Volkov, today's Russian discretionary task list held one job - continuing the GFI-8 "Uragan" (hurricane) earth-imaging session begun two days ago, using the D2X digital camera with the F800 telephoto lens. (Uplinked target areas were the forest cover on mountain slopes on the north shore of Lake Sevan, drilling platforms near the western shores & on the eastern shores of the Caspian Sea, the coastal strip of the Aral Sea (overlapping frames), the Katun river valley in nadir & to the right of track, the Eastern shores of Lake Teletsk, the forest condition in the Sayan mountains, the northern shore of Lake Baikal, wooded areas in Greece, the Danube river valley all the way to the estuary, scenic photography of the Crimea from different points on orbit, the Kerch Strait, the Don river valley, conditions of the Volga-Akhtubinsk flood plain during water reservoir releases, drill well fields along & to the south of Ural river, general views of the Pyrenees, of the Alps and the Carpathian mountains from various points on orbit, the Oka river and Don river valleys, and the valley of any other river between Don and Volga.)

Also working from the 'if time permits' task list, the CDR conducted another run, his fifth, of the Russian DZZ-2 "Diatomeya" ocean observations program, using the NIKON-F5 DCS still camera and the HDV (high-definition) video camcorder from SM window 8 for ~20 min to record high production water areas for obtaining data on color field composition in dynamic regions of the ocean and in near-estuary areas of large rivers, plus the current cloud cover above these waters, its rating, and special forms of cloud formation. (Target zones today were in the Atlantic Ocean (Cape Hatteras & English Channel).)

For the FE-1, a discretionary task list job was another session for Russia's Environmental Safety Agency (EKON), making observations and taking KPT-3 aerial photography of environmental conditions of water contamination in the Kerch Strait using the Nikon D2X with the SIGMA 300-800mm telephoto lens.

At ~5:00pm EDT, Greg Chamitoff is scheduled for his weekly PFC (Private Family Conference) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop).

The three crewmembers conducted 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-1, FE-2), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-1, FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1).

No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today.

Launched on Vostok 6, Mayor General Tereshkova (Codename Chaika, 'Seagull'), 26 years old at that time, orbited the earth 48 times in 2d 22h 50m. Underway: Week 9 of Increment 17.

FE-2 Chamitoff ended his FD15 session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository, his first, by collecting a final urine sample upon wakeup for storage in the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). The sampling kit was then stowed away. Greg's next NUTRITION activity will be the FD30 session. (The current NUTRITION project is the most comprehensive in-flight study done by NASA to date of human physiologic changes during long-duration space flight. It includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage, nutritional assessments, and hormonal changes, expanding the previous Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile (MR016L) testing in three ways: Addition of in-flight blood & urine collection (made possible by MELFI), normative markers of nutritional assessment, and a return session plus 30-day (R+30) session to allow evaluation of post-flight nutrition and implications for rehabilitation.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/16/08.

And preparing spacewalk hardware for the EVA-20 on 7/10 and prior simulation exercises.
After configuring the DC1 communications system for their presence, Sergey & Oleg -

Readied and checked out replaceable components (OTA) and auxiliary gear for their particular Orlan "skafandr" suits (i.e., portable primary & reserve O2 tanks (BK-3), storage batteries (825M3), LiOH canisters (PL-9), moisture collectors, liquid cooling garments (KVO), comm headsets (ShL-10), gloves (GP-10K), thermal comfort undergarments (BK-10), socks, diapers, filters for feedwater lines (FOR), Orlan CO2 measurement units (IK), degassing pump unit (BOS), etc.),
Configured & tested the EVA support panels (POV) in the DC1 and SM PkhO (Service Module Transfer Compartment) (to be used for leak checks and valve tests on the Orlan suits, their BSS interface units & the hatch KVDs (pressure equalization valves)),
Activated & inspected their spacesuits plus a third Orlan for training/testing (Orlan #27 (red stripe) for Volkov, #26 (blue stripe) for Kononenko, #25 for testing & training),
Terminated the charging on the 825M3 battery pack started yesterday,
Activated the training Orlan #25 and equipped it with the BRTA-25 telemetry system,
Installed the 825M3 battery pack in the #25 backpack, and
Reset the DC1 comm system to its regular configuration.
In the U.S. 'Quest' Airlock, FE-2 Chamitoff -

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/17/08.

Launched on STS-7/Challenger, 32 years old at that time, she and her crew (CDR Bob Crippen) spent 6d 2h 23m in space.

Before breakfast & first exercise, Volkov, Kononenko and Chamitoff completed a full session with the Russian crew health monitoring program's medical assessment MO-9/Biochemical Urinalysis. Afterwards, the FE-1 closed out and stowed the Urolux hardware. (MO-9 is conducted every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs) and is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for U.S. crewmembers for IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) evaluation as part of the "PHS/Without Blood Labs" exam. The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus Urolux developed originally for the Mir program. Afterwards, the data are entered in the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer)'s special IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program).)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/18/08.

Volkov & Kononenko completed the two-hour Part 2 of their second onboard 'Profilaktika' (MBI-8, 'Countermeasures') series of preventive health maintenance fitness testing on the treadmill, assisting each other in turn. (Today's fitness test was performed on the TVIS in unmotorized (idle) mode, with free choice of speeds within the range permitted. The test investigates the action mechanism and efficiency of various countermeasures (currently VELO and TVIS) aimed at preventing locomotor system disorders in weightlessness. The test differs from the normal TVIS session by the use of the TEEM-100 gas analyzer (via a mask equipped with a pneumotachometer sensor), measurement of blood lactate level and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test. The lactate blood samples were taken twice at the end of the session, using the ACCUSPORT analyzer and REFLOTRON-4 accessories. Results were entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data were transferred to the RSE-Med laptop, also on a tape cassette (Cardiocassette-2000), and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/19/08.

Sleep time tonight will be back at regular time (5:30pm).

In the DC1 'Pirs', the CDR & FE-1 continued preparations for the EVA-20 on 7/10-11, with the DC1 comm links configured for their presence. Activities by Volkov & Kononenko today focused on

Functional testing of the Russian BETA-08 ECG (electrocardiogram) lead cable belts, worn under the Orlan-M suits, using the Gamma-1M medical complex from the PKO medical exam panel,
Transmission tests, after setting up the Orlan 'Tranzit' communications links via the suits' BRTA radio telemetry units, with the ground via RGS VHF, for spacesuit voice, telemetry & biomedical parameters; followed by
Restoring nominal communications setup in the DC1, and
Configuring the backup Orlan #25 for stowage mode, leaving Orlans #26 (FE-1) & #27 (CDR) ready for use on the upcoming spacewalk.
In the U.S. 'Quest' Airlock, FE-2 Chamitoff continued post-1J EVA activities, terminating the 13-hr discharge process on the last 16-volt EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) battery in the BCM-3 (Battery Charger Module 3) from yesterday. (BCM-4 is currently nonfunctional. The discharge process, originally handled manually by a crewmember, is an automated procedure controlled from an A31p SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop with a special DOS application.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/20/08.

Today is Kononenko's 44th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Oleg Dmitriyevich!

Volkov & Kononenko completed a review of flight procedures plus the standard 3-hr. training drill for a Soyuz TMA-12/16S relocation from the DC1 Docking Module to the FGB nadir port, supported by ground specialists via tagup on S-band/VHF-audio. (Should 'Pirs' fail to repressurize after ingress of the two spacewalkers on 7/11, a relocation of the Soyuz, docked to the DC1 nadir port with FE-2 Chamitoff already safely locked out in the 16S Descent Module, would become necessary. In addition, for the relocation the three crewmembers and the spacecraft will have to be prepared for a return to Earth in the event of a no-docking contingency, and the station has to be configured for uncrewed operation (for which intense planning is underway at NASA, ESA, and TsUP-Moscow). Today's 3-hr. OBT (on-board training) included Soyuz procedures and data analysis for ascent/descent, orbital flight and relocation as contained in RODF (Russian Operations Data File) books, tag-up with instructor, OBT simulator work on the RSK1 laptop, etc. It is assumed that Soyuz activation would be performed on 7/11 over RGS (Russian Groundsite) on DO13 (Daily Orbit 13), closure of hatch on DO15, undocking from DC1 on DO2 (~5:28pm EDT on 7/11), flyaround (~5:34pm) and redocking at FGB at ~5:56pm (DO2).)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/21/08.

Ahead: Week 10 of Increment 17.

Sergey Volkov conducted the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the Service Module (SM), including the weekly collection of the toilet flush (SP) counter and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP-Moscow. (Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.)

The CDR also gathered weekly data on Total Operating Time & 'On' durations of the Russian POTOK-150MK (150 micron) air filter unit of the SM's SOGS air revitalization subsystem for reporting to TsUP.

For some power switching by the PRO (Payload Rack Officer) at POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center) on the ER4 (EXPRESS Rack 4) via ground commanding, FE-2 Chamitoff stopped sampling mode on the ANITA (Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air) payload, exited the software and powered down the laptop. Later, the procedures were reversed and ANITA powered up again with re-launched software. (ANITA will be returned on STS-126/ULF-2.)

Gregory also deinstalled the UOP DCP (Utility Outlet Panel/Display & Control Panel) bypass power cable to the VTR (Video Tape Recorder) at the Lab RWS (Robotics Work Station), now no longer required for a while.

At ~4:45am EDT, Kononenko powered up the SM's amateur radio equipment (Kenwood VHF transceiver with manual frequency selection, headset, and power supply) and at 4:50am conducted a ham radio exchange with representatives of the Kursk State Technical University who are participating in the Slavic Commonwealth Forum at the Dagomys (a giant resort complex/hotel near the Black Sea town of Sochi). (Oleg was asked to take a few photos showing how he operated the ham radio and the equipment itself with cables going to the RSK-2 laptop, for downlink to TsUP-Moscow.)

The three crewmembers conducted 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-1, FE-2), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-1, FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1).

At ~1:15pm, Greg Chamitoff had his weekly PFC (Private Family Conference) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop).

Working off his suggested 'time permitting' task list, CDR Volkov continued the session of the Russian GFI-8 "Uragan" (hurricane) earth-imaging program begun yesterday, using the NIKON D2X still camera and the Japanese HDV (High Definition) video camera provided by SFP Charles Simonyi. (Uploaded targets were wooded areas in the Orenburg steppe, the Yasnyi Cosmodrome in nadir, the Irtysh river valley, video of the northern part of Taiwan, the confluence of the Desna and Seym rivers, Ugra National Park, the steppe 100 km south of Voronezh, one of the Chernozem river valleys, Yuri Gagarin's landing site, the Aral Sea, glaciers on the northern slopes of Kirghiz range to the west from lake Issyk-Kul, Tibet and Himalaya, remediation of the Soviet Army weaponry range to the south of Berlin, vestiges of flooding in Stavropol, floods in Volga-Aktyubinsk alluvial plain (photos downlinked in real time via BSRTM channel), and oil deposits in Kazakhstan.)

Also working from the discretionary task list, the CDR conducted another run, his sixth, of the Russian DZZ-2 "Diatomeya" ocean observations program, using the NIKON-F5 DCS still camera and the HDV (high-definition) video camcorder from SM window 8 for ~20 min to record high production water areas for obtaining data on color field composition in dynamic regions of the ocean and in near-estuary areas of large rivers, plus the current cloud cover above these waters, its rating, and special forms of cloud formation. (Target zones today in the North Atlantic were waters off Newfoundland Island, the Bay of Biscay and West Saharan offshore areas.)

For the FE-1, a discretionary task list job was another session for Russia's Environmental Safety Agency (EKON), making observations and taking KPT-3 aerial photography of environmental conditions of the Baikonur Cosmodrome using the Nikon D2X with the SIGMA 300-800mm telephoto lens.

Still remaining on the voluntary task list item for Kononenko & Volkov today was an audit of expired Expedition 16 food rations, with repacking & preparation of food packages for disposal on the ATV. (To clear storage space for cargo items delivered on Progress M-64/29P.)

No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today.

CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff began their workday before breakfast with the periodic session of the Russian biomedical routine assessments PZEh-MO-7/Calf Volume Measurement & PZEh-MO-8/Body Mass Measurement (fourth for CDR & FE-1, second for FE-2), using the IM mass measurement device which Sergey Volkov broke down afterwards for stowage. (Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM "scales" measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember's mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/23/08.

It was the second session for Volkov & Kononenko, the first for Chamitoff. (The blood samples were drawn from a finger with a perforator lancet, then centrifuged in two microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit's minicentrifuge, and its hematocrit value was read off the tubes with a magnifying glass. It is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go down over time. After the exam, the data were saved in the IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer), and Kononenko stowed the equipment.)

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 06/24/08.

Three hours earlier than usual, followed by a late-night wakeup at 11:00pm, to adjust the planned Orlan-suited dry-run & Soyuz ingress training for live VHF telemetry/comm visibility over RGS (Russian Groundsites). Tomorrow's sleep period begins at 3:30pm and extends to the regular 2:00am on 6/27 (Friday). The crew will then have half the day off to recover from the sleep shift.

Upon wake-up, FE-1 Kononenko terminated his fifth MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session, started last night, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the fea