In some ways, the ongoing fissure eruption at Holuhraun lava field in Iceland is an ideal one. Unlike the lava pushing through the Hawaiian village of Pahoa, Holuhraun’s lava is nowhere near any towns or villages. And the eruption has had little effect on air traffic–unlike the Eyjafjallajokull eruption in 2010–because Holuhraun has produced little of the […]
3D Printing in Zero-G: Wilmore completed a review of the 3D printing in Zero-G payload overview and procedures in preparation for next week’s scheduled activity. The 3D printing in Zero–G technology demonstration experiment aims to validate extrusion-based additive manufacturing technology’s ability to function in a micro-gravity environment. Seedling Growth-2 Experiment: Wilmore performed the second of …
The three orbiting Expedition 42 crew members are wrapping up the work week with science, cargo transfers and maintenance. Meanwhile, another crew is on the ground awaiting its launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Commander Barry Wilmore worked in the Kibo laboratory checking out the lab module’s robotic arm. He was also in the …
The International Space Station is currently occupied by a trio of Expedition 42 crew members consisting of Commander Barry Wilmore and Flight Engineers Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova. They are waiting for three more crew members, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Flight Engineers Terry Virts and Samantha Cristoforetti, who are counting down to a launch …
Radi-N2 Neutron Field Study (Radi-N2): Wilmore retrieved eight bubble detectors from deployed locations in the US Lab and delivered them to the Russian crew who will process all detectors in the Bubble Reader. The objective of this investigation is to better characterize the ISS neutron environment and define the risk posed to the crewmembers’ health …
This year’s Leonids meteor shower peaks on the morning of Nov. 18. If forecasters are correct, the shower should produce a mild but pretty sprinkling of meteors. The waning crescent moon will not substantially interfere with viewing the Leonid shower. “We’re predicting 10 to 15 meteors per hour,” says Bill Cooke of the Meteoroid Environment …
Predetermined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) for Object #39372: After evaluating the latest tracking information on object #39372 (Yaogan 12 Debris), the Flight Control Team decided to perform a PDAM at 6:20am CST this morning in order to clear the object. Today’s maneuver will not impact the Soyuz 41S 4-orbit rendezvous scheduled for November 23rd. Cell …
The International Space Station’s “Georges Lemaitre” Automated Transfer Vehicle fired its engines for 3 minutes, 25 seconds at 6:35 a.m. Central time today in a Pre-Determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) to move well away from a small piece of debris from a spent Chinese satellite (Yaogan 12) launched in November 2011. The maneuver, which was …
Human Research Program (HRP) Saliva Collection: Wilmore performed a salivary collection and inserted the sample into MELFI. These sample collections were in support of participation in the HRP experiments: Biochem Profile, Repository, and Cardio Ox. Zebrafish Muscle Post Operations: Wilmore disassembled the Aquatic Habitat (AQH) from within the Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Work Volume …
What is now the Expedition 42 crew is enjoying a pure off duty day today following the departure of Maxim Suraev, Reid Wiseman and Alexander Gerst, who landed at 10:58 p.m. EST Sunday night in their Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft northeast of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan. The trio is returning to their respective homes. The current crew on the …
