New Status: Binary Colloidal Alloy Test (BCAT) Operations: Flight Engineer (FE)-5 Parmitano performed homogenization and took pictures of the ten Slow Growth Sample Module and mixed the contents of samples 1 – 10. The samples were then restowed. FE-3 Cassidy homogenized and installed BCAT-3 Sample 5. This sample had a larger bubble that broke up …
New Status: Marangoni-UVP2 Removal: Flight Engineer (FE)-3 Cassidy removed the processed Spatio-temporal Flow Structure in Marangoni Convection (Marangoni-UVP2) from the Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF) in advance of the installation of the next Marangoni experiment series. He then proceeded to change out the lamps inside the FPEF and configure for tomorrow’s installation of the Marangoni …
New Status: Robonaut Tele-operations: Flight Engineer (FE)-6 Nyberg, in cooperation with the Robonaut Principal Investigator (PI), performed Robonaut Tele-operations today. Nyberg activated Robonaut and the Robonaut Tele-operation System (RTS) which consists of 3D visor, vest and gloves. These hardware items worn by the operator contain specialized sensors capable of detecting the motion of the operator …
New Status: 34 Soyuz Emergency Drill: CDR Vinogradov, FE-2 Misurkin, and FE-3 Cassidy participated in Soyuz Descent emergency drill covering the following procedures: Crew responsibilities within the Soyuz Descent operations Communication Soyuz activation Hatch operations and leak checks Suit donning and suit leak checks Descent Module (CA) and Orbital Module (БО) hatch closure and leak …
Comedian Stephen Wright has a one-liner that he used to deploy in his stand-up routines: “Every so often, I like to stick my head out of the window, look up, and smile for a satellite picture.” This weekend, the entire planet is being encouraged to take that chance at least twice. The Cassini spacecraft — […]
New Status: Multi-Purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Microscope Setup: FE-6 Nyberg assembled the Fluorescence Microscope for installation in the MSPR. This configuration, along with the leak checks that the crew performed in June are in preparation for the Aniso Tubule experiment launching on HTV-4 in August. Aniso Tubule will investigate the role of cortical microtubules …
New Status: Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Mobility Unit (EMU) S/N 3011 Troubleshooting: FE-5 Parmitano performed a subset of the Airlock deconfiguration procedure following yesterday’s EVA by cleaning and stowing the prebreathe masks and returning the emergency books to their nominal location. He then began troubleshooting the EMU he wore yesterday during the EVA. Preliminary results of …
The American Meteor Society has received over 80 reports from the public about a bright fireball seen on July 13, 2013 at 04:16:18 UTC (corresponding to July 13, 2013 at 00:16:18 EDT). Fireball sightings range from Georgia and South Carolina up through Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky, with most coming from North Carolina. The NASA …
New Status: USOS Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #23: Flight Engineer (FE)-3 Cassidy (EV-1) and FE-5 Parmitano (EV-2) completed a 1 hour 32 minute EVA with FE-6 Nyberg IVA support. The crew successfully performed the Z1-YJumper install Part 2 and the FGB PDGF 1553 cable final connections. The MLM Ethernet cable was secured to a Node 1 …
Each month, Earth Observatory offers up a puzzling satellite image here on Earth Matters. The eighteenth puzzler is above. Your challenge is to use the comments section to tell us what part of the world we are looking at, when the image was acquired, and why the scene is interesting. How to answer. Your answer […]
