SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*International Space Station Status Report #07-24* *3 p.m. CDT Friday, May 4, 2007* *Expedition 15 Crew*

Marking the second week working together, the Expedition 15 crew wrapped up various maintenance tasks, science experiments and preparations for the May 15 arrival of the Progress 25 supply ship.

To prepare for the new unpiloted cargo carrier's arrival, the currently docked Progress' engines were used to reboost the station Saturday. The move also increases the number of rendezvous opportunities for the STS-117 space shuttle mission targeted for next month. Expedition 15 Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineers Oleg Kotov and Suni Williams also removed the docking mechanism from the Progress 24 for later use.

The week included work on a wide array of science experiments. Williams completed the fifth run of the Elastic Memory Composite Hinge experiment. The experiment studies the performance of a new hinge composite in space.

Williams also did a test run of a handheld device for rapid detection of biological and chemical substances on board the station. This study is meant to provide an early warning system to protect the health and safety of station crew members. Williams also completed annual re-certification of the Microgravity Science Glovebox and performed a checkout of the cardiac defibrillator.

Kotov did maintenance work in the Zarya module and tested the circuits of a temperature sensor on one of the batteries. He also conducted the periodic collection of air readings in the station with the Russian Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer system.

Other hardware and maintenance tasks included the replacement of a Common Cabin Air Analyzer, sound level monitoring in the Russian Service Module and in the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, and charging U.S. spacesuits batteries.

Crew members wrapped up the week replacing a heat exchanger in the Zvezda Service Module. They also swapped out computers used in the U.S. lab racks.

The weekend will consist of mostly off-duty time with routine housekeeping, family conferences and a HAM radio session.

For more about the crew's activities and station sighting opportunities, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

The next station status report will be issued Friday, May 11, or earlier if events warrant.

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NASA OFFERS RESOURCES FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II VISIT TO GODDARD

GREENBELT, Md. - Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will visit NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., on Tuesday, May 8. Goddard is home to the largest organization of scientists and engineers in the United States dedicated to learning and sharing knowledge of the Earth, sun, solar system and universe.

The main Web site for information updates and images as they become available:

http://www.nasa.gov/goddard

Live television coverage highlights will include a call to crew aboard International Space Station, a welcoming event with NASA employees and a tree planting ceremony at Goddard's visitor center.

NASA TV will air live coverage from approximately 10 a.m. - Noon EDT. Video of the visit will run on the NASA TV media channel (#103) at Noon, 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. NASA Television information and real-time schedule updates will be available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

NASA Television is carried on an MPEG-2 digital signal accessed via satellite AMC-6, at 72 degrees west longitude, transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical polarization. A Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) - compliant Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD) with modulation of QPSK/DBV, data rate of 36.86 and FEC of 3/4 is needed for reception. NASA TV Multichannel Broadcast includes Public Services Channel (#101), the Education Channel (#102) and the Media Services Channel (#103).

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