(NASA) – The International Space Station’s Expedition 18 crew prepared for the upcoming Progress docking, as well as the next shuttle flight to the station, Wednesday. The crew also worked on a number of experiments and routine maintenance.
Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov tested the television communication systems for the docking of the ISS Progress 32 (P32) cargo craft scheduled for Friday at 2:19 a.m. EST.
Image above: Flight Engineer Sandy Magnus pre-packs items in the Destiny laboratory for return to Earth. Credit: NASA TV
Flight controllers in Russia also prepared the station for the P32 docking by restarting the commanding telemetry paths in the Zvezda service module, providing a prime and backup commanding capability for the Kurs automated rendezvous system.
The P32 continues its trip to the station with more than 2.4 tons of oxygen, air, propellant and other supplies and equipment aboard. It launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday at 12:49 a.m.
Flight Engineer Sandy Magnus pre-packed items to be sent back to Earth aboard space shuttle Discovery during the STS-119 mission. Liftoff for STS-119 is currently scheduled for no earlier than Feb. 22.
Lonchakov also performed the periodic replacement of components for the toilet in the Zvezda service module.
Fincke worked with the Sodium Loading in Microgravity (SOLO) experiment. SOLO studies the mechanisms of fluid and salt retention in the body during long-duration space flight.
The crew also sent commemorative greetings for Russia’s upcoming birthday celebration for Yuri Gagarin, the first man to fly in space. He would have been 75 years old on March 9.
09:07 am
01:52 am
Gabitasoft Interactive. All Rights Reserved.