November 2006 - Sarex (INACTIVE)

EXP 14 REPORT #SS06-48
by Arthur Rowe 03 Nov '06

03 Nov '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 International Space Station Status Report: SS06-048 Repair of an oxygen generator, robotic arm operations and cargo unpacking were the top priorities aboard the International Space Station this week. On Monday, Expedition 14 Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin installed new valves and cables to repair the Elektron oxygen-generation unit which shut down in mid-September. Tyurin re-activated it after installing the new parts, and the Elektron is supplying oxygen for the cabin atmosphere. The crew unpacked most of the items from the recently arrived Russian Progress cargo ship including the Elektron parts, fresh food and other systems hardware. The rest will be unpacked as needed and as time permits. Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria worked on robotics proficiency tasks throughout the week. At the start of the week, ground controllers relocated the Mobile Transporter to a different worksite on the station's truss. On Wednesday, Lopez-Alegria maneuvered the Canadarm2 robotic arm over to the transporter and its operating base from the arm's normal home base on the Destiny Lab. The free end of the arm was photographed to help robotics specialists as they evaluate an issue that can cause snares to misalign inside the arm's end effector. On Thursday, Lopez-Alegria connected the free end of the arm to another grapple fixture on the Mobile Base System and released the opposite end. Friday, the Mobile Transporter was moved by ground controllers to the outermost worksite on the port truss. It will provide support there for the Canadarm2 operations during the next shuttle assembly mission, STS-116. Next week Lopez-Alegria will check out the robotic system for the shuttle flight, which will bring and install a new truss spacer segment to the station. Lopez-Alegria set up and activated cameras for a session of the Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students, or EarthKAM experiment. The middle school students study the Earth, then control a special digital camera mounted on the space station to photograph coastlines, mountain ranges and other geographic items from the unique vantage point of space. At the University of California at San Diego, an undergraduate student team manages the image requests and posts the photographs on the Internet for the public and participating classrooms around the world to view. More than 107 schools from 10 countries participated in this session. The second sample of seeds for the Analysis of a Novel Sensory Mechanism in Root Phototropism was harvested and frozen in the Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer, a cold storage unit that maintains experiment samples at temperatures of -80 C, -26 C, or 4 C throughout a mission. Flight Engineer Thomas Reiter worked with the experiment, which will increase the understanding of the different systems plants use to determine the direction their roots and shoots should grow and which genes are responsible for successful plant growth. Reiter also continued work on a suite of European Space Agency science experiments. One such experiment, called CARD, is helping scientists examine the relationship between salt intake and the cardiovascular system when exposed to the microgravity environment. Crewmembers typically experience reduced blood pressure in microgravity. To help them readjust to gravity on Earth, they take salt tablets just before returning, which temporarily increases the blood volume. CARD is looking at the effects of ingesting occasional salt supplements throughout the long duration mission. This experiment's results could also help improve treatment of patients on Earth with heart failure. The crew began gathering tools for a Nov. 22 spacewalk by Tyurin and Lopez-Alegria in Russian Orlan suits from the Pirs Docking Compartment. They will replace and retrieve several science experiments from the hull of the Zvezda Service Module. Tyurin also plans to hit a golf ball from a bracket on Pirs as part of a Russian commercial activity. The next station status report will be issued Nov. 9. For more information about the crew's activities and station sighting opportunities, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html>

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JEFF WILLIAMS TO BE INTERVIEWED
by Arthur Rowe 03 Nov '06

03 Nov '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 NASA NEWS Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-4769 James Hartsfield Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 Nov. 3, 2006 Newly Returned Station Astronaut Available for Interviews NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, back from six months on the International Space Station, will be available for satellite interviews from 6:15 to 8:30 a.m. EST Thursday, Nov. 9. To participate, media should contact NASA's Johnson Space Center newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. EST Wednesday, Nov. 8. Williams was on the station during the return to assembly mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis in September, and was also on board during the Return to Flight mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery in July. Williams is a native of Winter, Wis., and an Army colonel. He returned to Earth Sept. 28, landing in Kazakhstan along with Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Spaceflight Participant Anousheh Ansari. In addition to Williams' stay on the station as a flight engineer, he flew in May 2000 aboard space shuttle mission STS-101. During his career, he has spent more than 193 days in space, including 19 hours doing three spacewalks. As a member of the station's 13th crew, Williams performed a variety of maintenance work and research. He conducted two spacewalks, one using a Russian spacesuit and another using a U.S. spacesuit. His stay included the arrival of two shuttle missions, the addition of a second set of huge solar arrays to the complex and the restoration of a three-person crew aboard the station. For William's biography, visit: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/williamsj.html For International Space Station information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station For information about the Expedition 13 crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition13/index.ht… The interviews and b-roll of Expedition 13 crew activities will be carried live on the NASA TV analog satellite, AMC-6, Transponder 5C at 72 degrees west longitude, vertical polarization. The frequency is 3800 MHz, with audio at 6.8 MHz. The b-roll airs from 5:45 to 6:15 a.m. EST Nov. 9. For NASA TV digital downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-11-03 04:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 02 Nov '06

02 Nov '06

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-11-03 04:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: During Expedition 14, ARISS expects to have one ARISS school contact per month rather than approximately one per week. It is also anticipated that there many not be many general contacts. Total number of ARISS school contacts is 255. QSL information may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, RS0ISS ***************************************************************************** The schedule page has been updated as of 2006-11-03 04:30 UTC. Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2006-09-27 02:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio… tf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf ***************************************************************************** There has been a rumor that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band. There is no HF radio equipment on board and available yet. The HF antenna is mounted. Sometimes WA3NAN will retransmit shuttle audio. ***************************************************************************** Expedition 13/14 on orbit: Thomas Reiter DF4TR Expedition 14 on orbit: Michael Lopez-Alegria KE5GTK Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT Expedition 14 future: Sunita Williams, KD5PLB ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery Rolls to Vehicle Assembly Building
by Arthur Rowe 02 Nov '06

02 Nov '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Nov. 1, 2006 > Katherine Trinidad > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-3749 > > Jessica Rye > Kennedy Space Center, Fla. > 321-867-2468 > > > > NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY ROLLS TO VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING > > NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery completed one milestone and is nearing > another as workers prepare the orbiter for a December 7th launch to the > International Space Station. > > On Tuesday night, drivers moved Discovery from the shuttle processing > facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space > Center in Florida. Discovery, perched on top of the giant, 76-wheel > orbiter transporter system, began moving out of the facility at 9:23 > p.m. EST. > > In the assembly building, technicians attached Discovery to its > propulsion elements, an external fuel tank and twin solid rocket > boosters. Following those operations, final integration, preparations > and closeouts began in preparation for flight. > > Discovery's next milestone is the 4.2-mile trip to Launch Pad 39B in > preparation for its mission, designated STS-116. During the 11-day > mission, the shuttle's seven astronauts will rewire the station to > bring online new power supplies generated by solar arrays installed > in September. > > NASA TV will provide live coverage of Discovery's move to the launch > pad beginning Tuesday at 7 a.m. EST. For NASA TV downlink, streaming > video and scheduling information, visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/ntv > > For more information on the STS-116 mission and crew, visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle > > > > >

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-11-01 23:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 01 Nov '06

01 Nov '06

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-11-01 23:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: During Expedition 14, ARISS expects to have one ARISS school contact per month rather than approximately one per week. It is also anticipated that there many not be many general contacts. Total number of ARISS school contacts is 255. QSL information may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, RS0ISS ***************************************************************************** The schedule page has been updated as of 2006-11-01 23:30 UTC. Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2006-09-27 02:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio… tf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf ***************************************************************************** There has been a rumor that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band. There is no HF radio equipment on board and available yet. The HF antenna is mounted. Sometimes WA3NAN will retransmit shuttle audio. ***************************************************************************** Expedition 13/14 on orbit: Thomas Reiter DF4TR Expedition 14 on orbit: Michael Lopez-Alegria KE5GTK Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT Expedition 14 future: Sunita Williams, KD5PLB ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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A heck of a story re: ISS from ARRL (via N1ORC)
by Roger Kolakowski 01 Nov '06

01 Nov '06

ARISS "Contingency Network" Impresses NASA When Russian flight controllers encountered difficulties during a recent International Space Station cargo rocket docking, NASA called on a special -- although little-known -- Amateur Radio team to stand by if needed. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Ops Team "ISS Ham Contingency Network" volunteers around the world immediately swung into action. Within 15 minutes of receiving the call from Johnson Space Center, Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, reported the ISS Ham Contingency Network was ready to provide any necessary communication support. "The ARISS teamwork was very effective," ARISS Secretary-Treasurer Rosalie White, K1STO said. "Its members learned a great deal, and they impressed NASA with how quickly the system was brought up." During the October 26 Progress docking, NASA says, Russian flight controllers were unable to confirm whether an automated antenna on the rocket had retracted as commanded. If still extended, the antenna could interfere with the final latching of the supply ship to the ISS. To avoid disturbing the softly docked cargo ship and to aid the crew with docking maneuvers, the ISS orientation was allowed to drift freely. During free-drift mode, however, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) -- which handles communication between the crew and Mission Control in Houston -- can be lost. That's because the station's solar arrays may not directly face the sun, causing a drop in onboard power. Awakened at 2 AM, ARISS Australian team member Tony Hutchison, VK5ZAI, put out a blind call on VHF to the ISS crew, although no answer was needed at that point. Others available to cover later passes included Gerald Klatzko, ZS6BTD, in South Africa; Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, at ON4ISS in Belgium; Dick Flagg, AH6NM, and Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN, at Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu; and Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, and Mark Steiner, K3MS, at the Goddard Space Flight Center's WA3NAN. Each of these Earth stations has a track record of being able to sustain reliable communication with the ISS. The call-up marked the first time that NASA had asked for such Amateur Radio assistance since the initial crew came aboard the ISS in November 2000. Ransom says that by remaining available to ensure solid communication while Mission Control staff dealt with the docking issue, the ISS Ham Contingency Network provided Mission Control with an additional layer of security. Once the antenna retraction problem had been resolved, the contingency network was able to stand down, ARISS said, but NASA's request and the ensuing ham radio activity did serve as a valuable drill. NASA says Expedition 14 Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, and flight engineers Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT, and Thomas Reiter, DF4TR, opened the hatch to the supply ship last Friday to unload supplies. The Progress carried food, fuel, oxygen and air, clothing, experiment hardware and spare parts, as well as personal items from the crew's families. The new Progress joins the Progress 22 supply ship that arrived at the ISS in June.

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