Mir Mission Status Reports
Mir-22 - Week of August 30, 1996
Mir-21/Mir-22 Status Report #22
Mission Control Center--Korolyov
Friday, August 30, 1996As astronaut Shannon Lucid's two Mir-21 crew mates -- Commander Yuri Onufriyenko and Flight Engineer Yury Usachev, near the end of more than a half-year stay on Mir, Lucid is nearing an all-time record for the length of time a female has spent in space on a single flight.
After 194 days in space, Onufriyenko and Usachev are shceduled to undock their Soyuz capsule early Monday and will return to Earth along with French Researcher Claudie Andre-Deshays, who has spent two weeks in orbit, Lucid will remain on Mir, awaiting the arrival of Atlantis, which is now scheduled to launch on Sept. 14. Today is Lucid's 161st day in orbit, and she will set a new record for the length of time spent in space by a female -- previously 169 days spent aboard Mir by Cosmonaut Elena Kondakova -- on Sept. 7.
With Monday's departure of Onufriyenko and Usachev, the Mir-22 cosmonaut crew --Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri -- will be in charge of Mir. Korzun and Kaleri were launched with Deshays on Aug. 17.
Atlantis will carry Astronaut John Blaha to Mir to relieve Lucid. This week, Lucid wrapped up some of her experiment work aboard Mir, packed bags for her upcoming departure and continued an inventory of the station's research supplies in preparation for Blaha's arrival.
Lucid completed work with the Queens University Experiment in Liquid Diffusion (QUELD), a furnace that studies processing samples of semi-conductor materials in weightlessness. During her mission, more than 40 QUELD experiment runs were completed. The QUELD equipment is now stowed. Also this week, Lucid preserved the first samples of dwarf wheat plants from the Greenhouse experiment for study by scientists after the mission. The dwarf wheat crop, planted early August in a Russian-designed growth chamber, may continue to grow for as long as three months on the station, with samples of plants periodically preserved for study. The experiment studies how plants grow in weightlessness, information that one day may be used on future spacecraft.
Lucid is packing a total of 16 bags of gear, experiment samples and stored data to be transferred to Atlantis with her during her return to Earth. In addition, she is performing a detailed inventory of U.S. scientific equipment and supplies on Mir in preparation for her handover of experiment duties to Blaha.
Major activities planned for next week aboard Mir include the undocking of Soyuz TM-23 and the Mir-21 crew from Mir at about 11:20 p.m. CDT on Sunday, Sept 1, the landing of Soyuz TM-23 at about 2:45 a.m. CDT on Monday, Sept 2, the redocking of the Progress 232 cargo spacecraft with Mir at about 4:30 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, Sept 3, and an interview of Lucid by WISH-TV, Indianapolis, at approximately 9 a.m. CDT on Thursday, Sept 5.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
Mir
Increment
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Mir-22 - Week of September 6, 1996
NASA-2/Mir-22 Status Report - 1
Mission Control Center -- Korolev
September 6, 1996U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid continued to wrap up six months of research aboard the Mir Space Station this week, and a new set of research work is underway by the Mir-22 cosmonauts in anticipation of the arrival of astronaut John Blaha later this month.
Tomorrow Lucid will surpass the single space flight duration record for a woman of 169 days, a record set in 1995 aboard Mir by cosmonaut Elena Kondakova. This week, Lucid continued packing equipment, data and experiment samples for the trip home aboard the space shuttle Atlantis during the upcoming STS-79 mission and performed final research tasks. Meanwhile, her Mir-22 crew mates -- Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri -- began several experiments they will participate in as part of their time in orbit with Blaha, who will be the third American to conduct scientific studies on the Russian space outpost.
Lucid has packed 17 bags of gear for transfer to Atlantis once it has docked to Mir and is completing a thorough inventory of the station's science equipment. She performed a ninth and final data gathering session for the Anticipatory Postural Activity (POSA) investigation, a medical study that examines how an astronauts' posture changes in weightlessness. Lucid also is monitoring the growth of a crop of more than 60 dwarf wheat plants aboard the station as part of the Greenhouse experiment. The plants, now about five inches tall, have been growing for about a month and are being studied to gather data that may one day be used in the design of plant-growth areas on future spacecraft.
Korzun and Kaleri were scheduled to complete a series of questionnaires during the early phase of their six month mission as part of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging experiment. The investigation uses MRI analysis of different regions of the body before and after a space flight and asks the cosmonauts to record perceived physical changes during flight to study the effects of weightlessness on the musculoskeletal system. The two cosmonauts, along with Mir ground controllers, also completed questionnaires this week as part of a study of flight crew and ground interaction during a long-duration space mission. NASA personnel stationed at the Russian Mission Control Center will fill out similar questionnaires once Blaha begins his stay on Mir.
On Monday, Sept. 2, Lucid's former crew mates -- Mir-21 Commander Yuri Onufriyenko and Flight Engineer Yury Usachev as well as French Researcher Claudie Andre-Deshays, departed Mir and safely landed in their Soyuz TM-23 spacecraft in Central Asia. Onufriyenko and Usachev completed 194 days in space, while Andre-Deshays wrapped up a 16-day research flight for the French space agency, CNES. A day later, on Tuesday, the unmanned Progress cargo spacecraft, which had undocked from Mir to be put into a parking orbit for two weeks, successfully redocked with the station to place Mir in the final configuration it will be in when Atlantis' astronauts arrive in less than two weeks to pick up Lucid.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of September 13, 1996
NASA-2/Mir-22 Status Report - 2
Mission Control Center -- Korolev
September 13, 1996Ready for her ride back to Earth, U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid completed all of her planned research work aboard the Mir Space Station, performing her final scientific experiments today as her attention turned to the planned arrival of the Shuttle Atlantis next week.
Lucid's final research work prepared, or "fixed" several samples of dwarf wheat plants that have been growing aboard Mir, storing them for later study by scientists on the ground. The crop of dwarf wheat has been growing in the space station's Russian- developed Greenhouse facility for more than a month, and the plants are almost eight inches tall. This is the second set of plant samples Lucid has cultivated on orbit. Astronaut John Blaha, who will arrive aboard Atlantis next week to relieve Lucid, will continue the investigation during his four-month stay on Mir. Some of the plants may continue to grow for as long as three months. The study examines how plants, which may one day be an integral part of a future spacecraft's life support systems, grow in weightlessness.
During her six-month stay aboard Mir, Lucid gathered science data above and beyond the volume originally planned for her mission. She completed additional work in several investigations, including studies of how weightlessness affects an astronaut's posture, coordination and muscles, an experiment involving the processing of metal samples using high temperatures in weightlessness and observations and photography of hundreds of sites on Earth for ecological, geological and environmental studies. She completed all of her planned investigations in dozens of experiments crossing eight scientific disciplines.
Lucid now is focused on preparations for the arrival of Atlantis next week and her return home. The countdown for Atlantis' launch early Monday began on time right at 11 PM Central time last night. Lucid has filled about 20 bags with experiment equipment and data to be transferred to Atlantis for scientists on Earth. The data is in the form of computer discs, optical discs, videotapes and film as well as air, water and biological samples and materials processing experiment samples. Some equipment that will not be used during Blaha's mission is also being returned along with other gear.
Also this week, Lucid, Mir-22 Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri briefly reviewed preparations for the arrival of Atlantis with Blaha and the STS-79 crew in Houston via a special videconferencing linkup.
If Atlantis launches on time at 3:54 AM Central time Monday, the Shuttle will dock to the Mir for the fourth time at 10:17 PM Central time Wednesday night to begin five days of joint operations between the nine Shuttle-Mir crewmembers. An on-time landing of Atlantis on September 26 will mark the end of a 188-day mission in space for Lucid, a U.S. record.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of September 27, 1996
NASA-2/Mir-22 Status Report
Mission Control Center -- Korolev
September 27, 1996Picking up where Shannon Lucid left, U.S. astronaut John Blaha began his work with a host of scientific experiments onboard the Russian Space Station Mir..
Blaha, who officially became a member of the Mir crew on Sept. 19, is continuing many of the investigations which comprise the NASA-Mir Science Program, a joint program designed to conduct research related to long-duration space travel using both countries' resources and personnel. Research will be conducted in six disciplines -- Advanced Technology, Earth Sciences, International Space Station Risk Mitigation, Fundamental Biology, Human Life Sciences and Microgravity Sciences.
One of the first activities for Blaha, which actually began shortly after Atlantis undocked from Mir, was to initiate the Biotechnology System activities. The BTS uses a rotating vessel to suspend cells in a low gravity, stationary environment, allowing them to grow and develop. The Mir-22 experiment will use mammalian cartilage cells to investigate long-term on-orbit cell growth in the microgravity environment of space. At various times during his mission, Blaha will sample and analyze cellular environment for post-flight analysis and will record the progress of the experiment on video.
Blaha also fixed several more plants from the "Svet" Greenhouse Experiment. - - These dwarf wheat plants will allow investigators to study the effects of space on plant growth, reproduction and metabolism as well as chemical and structural changes. Blaha reported that the heads of the plants are maturing.
In the area of Human Life Sciences, Blaha took several measurements that will allow researchers to assess the changes in muscles mass during the course of his stay on Mir. The measurements will be compared to those taken before and after his mission to help quantify the extent of the changes and assess how quickly the body returns to its pre-flight condition after return to Earth.
Next week, Blaha will begin some new microgravity science experiments. The Binary Colloidal Alloy Tests experiments offer researchers an opportunity to study the long-term behavior of crystal alloys made from two separate materials. The crystals that Blaha will process next week are designed for rapid growth and will be processed for about 26 hours. Another set will be allowed to grow for about 90 days.
Blaha is scheduled to remain aboard Mir until January along with his crewmates, Mir-22 Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of October 4, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report
Mission Control Center -- Korolev
October 4, 1996U.S. astronaut John Blaha spent the week on Russia's Mir Space Station, continuing to collect data on a variety of experiments in the diverse portfolio of investigations assigned to him.
Blaha concluded work with samples of the Binary Colloidal Alloy Tests (BCAT). The goal of the BCAT experiment is to grow crystals of two materials together over an extended time using a number of colloidal samples in a variety of concentrations. This week's samples were rapid growth samples which were allowed to grow for only 26 hours. Blaha started another sample at week's end,which is a slow growth sample. It is scheduled to grow for 90 days undisturbed in a Priroda module locker.
Also this week, Blaha collected samples of the microbial environment around Mir, including the air, water, spacecraft surfaces and samples from the Mir crew members' skin. This research is aimed at understanding the microbial ecology of Mir including bacterial, fungi and some viruses.
Routine operations continued with the BioTechnology System (BTS) with sample collection and replacement of growth media. BTS investigates cell attachment patterns and interactions among single cell cultures and varied cell cultures, the role of cells in forming functional tissue and other areas of interest.
On Monday, Blaha will collect and fix (preserve with formaldehyde) samples of dwarf wheat from the Greenhouse experiment and prepared them for eventual return to Earth. Greenhouse is a set of experiments to study the effect of space flight on plant development. Plants may play a critical role in sustaining human life on future long space flights.
Also next week, Blaha will be observing and photographing samples from the Diffusion-Controlled Crystallization Apparatus for Microgravity (DCAM). The DCAM slowly grows protein crystals under a semi-permeable membrane to produce samples which are compared to Earth-grown ones. Protein crystals are used in basic biological research, pharmacology and drug development. Space-grown crystals are larger and purer with fewer defects.
Blaha has now settled into a scientific research routine on the Mir, itemizing and storing items from transfer bags which were transferred to the Mir from the shuttle Atlantis on the STS-79 mission.
Next Wednesday, Blaha and his Mir-22 crewmates, Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight EngineerAlexander Kaleri, will participate in a NASA exercise program with the Metabolic Gas Analyzer System (MGAS), measuring individuals' metabolic responses to exercise and how they change overtime in orbit.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of October 11, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report
Mission Control Center -- Korolev
October 11, 1996U.S. astronaut John Blaha spent the week on Russia's Mir Space Station, continuing to collect data on a variety of experiments in the diverse portfolio of investigations assigned to him.
Blaha concluded work with samples of the Binary Colloidal Alloy Tests (BCAT). The goal of the BCAT experiment is to grow crystals of two materials together over an extended time using a number of colloidal samples in a variety of concentrations. This week's samples were rapid growth samples which were allowed to grow for only 26 hours. Blaha started another sample at week's end,which is a slow growth sample. It is scheduled to grow for 90 days undisturbed in a Priroda module locker.
Also this week, Blaha collected samples of the microbial environment around Mir, including the air, water, spacecraft surfaces and samples from the Mir crew members' skin. This research is aimed at understanding the microbial ecology of Mir including bacterial, fungi and some viruses.
Routine operations continued with the BioTechnology System (BTS) with sample collection and replacement of growth media. BTS investigates cell attachment patterns and interactions among single cell cultures and varied cell cultures, the role of cells in forming functional tissue and other areas of interest.
On Monday, Blaha will collect and fix (preserve with formaldehyde) samples of dwarf wheat from the Greenhouse experiment and prepared them for eventual return to Earth. Greenhouse is a set of experiments to study the effect of space flight on plant development. Plants may play a critical role in sustaining human life on future long space flights.
Also next week, Blaha will be observing and photographing samples from the Diffusion-Controlled Crystallization Apparatus for Microgravity (DCAM). The DCAM slowly grows protein crystals under a semi-permeable membrane to produce samples which are compared to Earth-grown ones. Protein crystals are used in basic biological research, pharmacology and drug development. Space-grown crystals are larger and purer with fewer defects.
Blaha has now settled into a scientific research routine on the Mir, itemizing and storing items from transfer bags which were transferred to the Mir from the shuttle Atlantis on the STS-79 mission.
Next Wednesday, Blaha and his Mir-22 crewmates, Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight EngineerAlexander Kaleri, will participate in a NASA exercise program with the Metabolic Gas Analyzer System (MGAS), measuring individuals' metabolic responses to exercise and how they change overtime in orbit.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of October 18, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report-6
Mission Control Korolev
October 18, 1996U.S. astronaut John Blaha began his second month aboard the Russian Mir Space Station, continuing his data collection and sample processing work under the NASA-Mir science program.
Blaha completed the incubation of the microbial samples taken from crewmembers and surfaces in the Mir last week. Samples taken from the air, water, spacecraft surfaces and from the skin of the cosmonauts are being analyzed for bacteria, fungi and possible viruses.
Also this week, Blaha performed the monthly photography of samples for the Diffusion- Controlled Crystallization Apparatus for Microgravity (DCAM). The DCAM slowly grows protein crystals under a semi-permeable membrane to produce samples which are compared to samples grown on Earth. Protein crystals are used in basic biological research, pharmacology and drug development.
Scientists working in the Russian mission control center quizzed Mir-22 Commander Valeri Korzun, Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri and Blaha this week on their interaction with one another and with ground controllers. Researchers are interested in observing any changes that occur in interpersonal relationships during long duration space missions.
The cosmonauts also spent time working on the Metabolic Gas Analyzer System experiment. All three crew members participated in exercise sessions on the U.S. exercise bicycle, while hooked to equipment which measures their expired breath through a metabolic analyzer.
Activities next week on the Mir will feature more work with the PAS --passive accelerometer system -- which Blaha will use to observe the motion of a small metallic ball as it travels down a narrow cylinder, giving researchers information on the amount of residual gravity present on the Mir.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of October 25, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report-7
Mission Control Korolev
October 25, 1996Work continued apace aboard Russia's Mir Space Station this week as U.S. astronaut John Blaha pressed ahead with numerous experiments, taking time out for a brief orbital press conference, his first since joining the Mir-22 crew over a month ago.
Blaha joined his crewmates, Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri in a news conference with U.S. reporters Thursday. When asked what he missed most about being away from Earth for such an extended period, Blaha put his family at the top of the list and said he didn't miss the pull of gravity at all. He commented at length on the usefulness of an orbiting space station and complimented his Russian cosmonaut colleagues for their hard work.
Reporters also asked Blaha whether he would be able to vote in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections Nov. 5. Although Blaha didn't know it at the time, officials in the U.S. are working with Texas state election officials to try to arrange for the astronaut to cast his ballot electronically.
Blaha was interviewed on Tuesday by radio station WAZY in West Lafayette, Indiana, home of his alma mater, Purdue University. His daughter, who is a student at the university, sent greetings to her father via a taped message during the interview.
Highlights of experiment work this week included the downloading of monthly data from the Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter experiment, a radiation monitoring test, along with the changeout of samples in the Biotechnology Systems (BTS) cartilage growth experiment. BTS studies cell attachment patterns and interactions in microgravity.
Scientific research next week will feature more work with the Passive Accelerometer System, (PAS), in which Blaha will observe the motions of a small metallic ball as it travels down a narrow cylinder, offering researchers information on the amount of residual gravity at the Mir's altitude of 240 statute miles. That test also was performed Monday and Friday of this week.
Blaha became a Mir crew member September 19, trading places with astronaut Shannon Lucid who completed a U.S.-record 188 days in orbit. Blaha is scheduled to remain aboard Mir until mid-January when he will be replaced by astronaut Jerry Linenger during the STS-81 mission, the fifth docking of Space Shuttle Atlantis to the Russian outpost.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of November 1, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report-8
Mission Control Korolev
November 1, 1996U.S. astronaut John Blaha, completing six weeks aboard Russia's Mir Space Station, had an interactive video conference Thursday with members of the STS-81 space shuttle crew who were visiting the Russian mission control center in Korolev. STS-81 is the flight that will bring up astronaut Jerry Linenger to replace Blaha in January. The two-way video conference also was an opportunity for a brief "Halloween party" as ground support personnel donned makeshift costumes, bringing reminders of life at home to Blaha, who was launched to the Mir aboard Atlantis on September 19.
Scientific investigations on the Mir continued this week with the Passive Accelerometer System (PAS), a small metal ball inside a tube which attempts to measure minute residual gravity at space station altitudes. Data collection with this experiment will continue in the coming week.
Thursday, Blaha ran a malfunction procedure on the Biotechnology Systems (BTS) cartilage growth experiment. BTS studies cell attachment patterns and interactions in microgravity. The experiment developed a problem with an air bubble in the liquid growth medium and difficulty with the computer-controlled pump. Blaha replaced the growth medium and reset the computer. The system appeared to be operating properly at week's end. This experiment has so far shown increased metabolic activity in the cells, indicating a higher growth rate in space than in the control samples on the ground.
Scientists and mission planners supporting the current flight of Blaha and his crewmates, Mir-22 Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, have been busily planning November's experiment activity.
Onboard Mir, crew members this week spend time placing various structural measurement devices around the station, including accelerometers and strain gauges, and running connecting cables to hook them to a central monitoring device. This work is part of the Mir Structural Dynamics Experiment (MiSDE) which studies the structural dynamics of the Mir station. Understanding large, complex space structures will contribute to successful operation of the International Space Station, due for its first element launch in a little over one year.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of November 8, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report-9
Mission Control Korolev
November 8, 1996U. S. Astronaut John Blaha, completing seven weeks aboard Russia's space station Mir, had a busy week working on variety of U. S. experiments.
On Wednesday, Blaha and his Russian cosmonaut crewmates, Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, conducted the monthly microbial sampling of the air surfaces, water supply and themselves. The purpose of this experiment is to monitor, identify and quantify bacteria present in space craft systems. Today they performed the first of two planned assessments of the bacteria samples they collected on Wednesday.
Blaha continued to Perform routine Earth observations and photography this week. The purpose of this activity is to monitor changes on the Earth's surface from space, and to photograph events such as hurricanes, plankton blooms, and volcanic eruptions.
The Biotechnology Systems (BTS) cartilage growth experiment experienced another problem this week. It may be related to the amount of air that has appeared in the growth medium similar to what occurred last week. The experiment is in a safe mode right now. The cells are still growing satisfactorily and the NASA Houston specialists are developing procedures to resolve the problem.
The Russians celebrated the anniversary of the 1917 Socialist Revolution on November 7 and 8. However, work continued aboard Mir with no impact to U. S. science experiments.
Next week the crew will conduct the second inflight experiment to collect urine and saliva for a metabolic study related to protein metabolism and kidney stone risk. This done routinely within 14 days of a planned undocking of a Russian or American spacecraft so that the excess urine can be properly disposed. The next Progress launch is scheduled for November 20 and the current Progress attached to Mir will be undocked on November 21 in advance of the new Progress docking November 22.
Also, next week there will be the second inflight session of the three-man U. S. exercise experiment. In addition, the wheat plants that are growing in the greenhouse may be harvested as early as November 15.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of November 15, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report-10
Mission Control Korolev
November 15, 1996This week on Mir, U.S Astronaut John Blaha continued his work with the greenhouse wheat experiment and biotechnology Systems (BTS) cartilage growth experiment. The wheat should be harvested in December. Blaha discussed the progress of these and other investigations in an interview Nov. 12 with WNAX Radio in Yankton, South Dakota. He also talked with KTVT in Fort Worth, Texas wishing the Dallas Cowboy a successful season.
Troubleshooting to correct a malfunction on the BTS cartilage growth experiment continued. It is believed that the normal clamping and unclamping used to supply the cells with routine nutrients has unexpectedly caused a kink in one of the hoses. Approval of an inflight maintenance procedure to move the clamp to another position on the hose early next week is being negotiated. It is anticipated that by moving the clamp, the nutrients will be able to flow to the cells. The BTS studies cell growth in a three-dimensional zero- g environment instead of the 2-dimensitional petri dish on Earth.
On Monday, the crew completed the analysis of the bacteria samples they collected last week during the monthly microbial sampling of the air, surfaces, water supply, and themselves.
Early this week, the crew collected urine and saliva for a metabolic study relating protein metabolism and kidney stone risk. This is done routinely with 14 days of a planned undocking of a Russian or American spacecraft so that the excess urine can be properly disposed.
The accelerometer heads have been mounted and their associated cables routed to support the Mir Structural Dynamics Experiment (MiSDE). This experiment will be activated in the near future to collect data on the structural stability of Mir during normal operations and future Space Shuttle and Progress dockings and undockings.
The second inflight session of the three-man U.S. exercise experiment was conducted this week. The goals of this experiments are to evaluate how skeletal muscle characteristics and performance adapt to microgravity during long-duration space flight and to determine the length of the readaptation period upon return to Earth. Skeletal muscle characteristics, stiffness, and performance are measured before, during the after space flight with a muscle tone measuring device known as a myotonometer. The crewmembers are instrumented with sensors that measure the degree of muscle stimulation an work output during cycle exercise.
The monthly photographs of the crystals in the Diffusion-Controlled Crystallization Apparatus for Microgravity (DCAM) were taken on Monday. this experiment examines how crystal grown in space differ form crystals formed in gravitational environment.
Upcoming activities includes the launch of the Progress on November 20 at 2:20 a.m. local Moscow time and docking with Mir on November 22 at 3:53 a.m. local Moscow time. The resident Progress will undock on November 21.
Also, next week the Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS) will be activated during the Progress docking and undocking. SAMS measures microgravity disturbances the could affect data obtained form science experiments. In addition, the Gas Analyzing System of Metabolism and Physiology (GASMAP) facility will be checked out and the Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC) will be downloaded.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of November 22, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report-11
Mission Control Korolev
November 25, 1996NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report #11 Mission Control Korolev November 25, 1996
A Russian Progress resupply spacecraft was successfully launched from Baikonur on November 20th at 2:20 a.m. local Moscow time and docked with the Mir Space Station on November 22. The Progress spacecraft brought supplies to U.S. Astronaut John Blaha and Russian Cosmonauts Valeri Korzun and Alexander Kaleri. The supplies included Christmas gifts from Blaha's family, New Year's gifts for Korzun and Kaleri, fresh fruit, clothing, and equipment.
U.S. Astronaut Shannon Lucid, who set the record for the longest space mission for a female astronaut onboard Mir earlier this year, visited Russia last week. She met with U.S. astronauts training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and Russian Mission Control Center officials. While Lucid was in Moscow, she also made presentations to U.S. Embassy employees and American students.
Last week, Blaha infused nutrients to feed the cells in the Biotechnology Systems (BTS) cartilage growth experiment. An inflight maintenance procedure to fix the kinked hose that is used to supply the cells' nutrients was performed on Monday. The normal clamping and unclamping used to supply the cells with routine nutrients unexpectedly caused a kink in one of the hoses. Blaha will move the clamp to another position on the hose which should permit the flow of nutrients to the cells.
All three crewmembers performed the Human Life Sciences Skeletal Muscle Evaluation experiment on the ergometer using the Metabolic Gas Analyzer System (MGAS) and Belt-Pack Amplifier System (BPAS) to record gas exchange and muscle performance. This was the second time this experiment has been performed.
The seventh run of the Passive Accelerometer (PAS) was performed with the Mir in a gravity gradient orientation. There are three more runs needed for the completion of this experiment. The PAS is used to measure low-level accelerations caused by atmospheric drag. Many microgravity experiments and processes are sensitive to low- level accelerations so it is important to identify these accelerations and how often they occur.
This week's activities include the BTS inflight maintenance procedure and scientific investigations including the Passive Accelerometer System (PAS), the Mir Structural Dynamics Experiment (MiSDE) and the Canadian Microgravity Isolation Mount (MIM) experiment.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of December 6, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report-12
Mission Control Korolev
December 6, 1996The first week of December aboard the Mir Space Station began with a six-hour spacewalk on Monday. The main purpose was to complete connected of the Cooperative Solar Array (CSA) to provide more electrical power to the station. Prior to the spacewalk, only half of the CSA was connected and providing power to the Kvant-I module, and the plan was to hook up the other half of the CSA to the Core Module where and older solar array was originally connected. Russian Cosmonauts Valeri Korzun and Alexander Kaleri successfully laid the 22-meter cable outside the space station from the CSA to the connector on the Core module. Because of safety considerations, ground controllers wanted to verify the configuration of interior connections before the crew completes the hookup during a spacewalk scheduled for December 9. When fully operational, the CSA will bring Mir's power capacity to 24 kilowatts.
After routing the cable, the two Cosmonauts removed the Ferma 2 boom from the side to the Sofora boom and placed it on the end of the Ferma 3 boom. The Ferma 2 boom was relocated to move some equipment on the end of the boom as far away from the station atmosphere as possible, and to allay concerns that, in it's original location, the Ferma 2 might have impeded the rotation of the Antares antenna.
During the spacewalk, U.S. Astronaut Col. John Blaha assisted the Cosmonauts in donning their spacesuits and remained inside the monitor Mir systems. He also videotaped the spacewalk through the Mir Core Module window. After the spacewalk, the crew reported that the Ham radio was not working and may have been damaged during the spacewalk. Blaha had used the shortwave radio to talk to his family and friends as well as to Ham operator around the world, who have been notified via e-mail that the system is not operational.
On Tuesday, the crew processed a media sample on the Biotechnology Systems (BTS) cartilage growth experiment. Then, using a new procedure developed last week to replenish the media to the cells, Blaha did a direct feed of approximately 100 ml of media to the cells into the bioreactor. Sample processing will be performed after the infusion of a complete bag of media, about every eight days.
On Friday, Blaha was scheduled to harvested the first wheat crop grown in the Greenhouse this mission, and then start the second planting from seed harvested in space. This experiment is helping to better understand the biological changes which take place in microgravity. In the future, plants grown in special zero-g greenhouse could help purify air and water and provide a source of fresh food during long space flights.
Other activities during the week included a Mir Structural Dynamics Experiment (MSDE) facility checkout and data take performed with support of the Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS). Structural stability and modular movement data was recorded during a "Night-to-Day" transition period. Also, the crew performed a verification run of the Canadian Space Agency Microgravity Isolation Mount (MIM) experiment.
Upcoming events include the spacewalk on Monday, December 9, by Korzun and Kaleri, who will complete the CSA Hookup and install a new Kurs antenna on the docking module on the Kristal Module. This new antenna will assist with automated rendezvous and docking of the Progress and Soyuz spacecraft.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of December 13, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report-13
Mission Control Korolev
December 13, 1996In a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk on Monday, Mir-22 Cosmonauts Valery Korun and Alexander Kaleri installed a new docking antenna and completed the connection of the Cooperative Solar Array (CSA) to the Core Module of the Mir Space Station. While his Russian crewmates were on their spacewalk, U.S. Astronaut Col. John Blaha remained inside to monitor Mir systems and videotape the Cosmonauts through the Mir Core Module window.
The first task for the crew was installation of the KURS (Course) system Antenna to the Docking Module. The KURS system is used for long-range rendezvous operations with Progress and Soyuz spacecraft as they approach the station for docking. Following a successful installation of the antenna and its module-mounted bracket, the Cosmonauts completed the cable connection of the CSA to the Core Module, which significantly boosted the power available to the station.
During the spacewalk, the Cosmonauts found that the Mir's ham radio antenna system, which had become inoperable following last week's spacewalk, had a loose connection which they fixed before returning inside. Shortly afterward, Blaha used the short-wave radio to receive ham radio conversations over Brazil, and he initiated conversations over Madrid.
On Thursday Blaha was interviewed by reporters about the progress of his mission on the Mir. He was asked about the wheat crop experiment which he harvested from the greenhouse experiment on December 6 and described the scientific process which led to learning how to successfully grow a crop from seed to seed for the first time. Blaha pointed out that such space-based experiments could help scientists make improvements to agriculture on Earth. He explained that in space the near absence of gravity means there is one less thing affecting the way plants grow, thus allowing for a more controlled experiment. Scientists can study other factors such as light, temperature and nutrients in order to learn how each of those elements influence plants without the presence of gravity.
Blaha, who who is completing three months in space, also discussed his thoughts with the holidays approaching and how he feels about his mission to date. He said that the high point in the mission was the arrival of the Progress resupply ship which brought a number of items needed onboard Mir as well as personal items for the crew. Items aboard Progress vehicle included clean clothes, books, movies, tapes of football games and Christmas gifts from his family which he will wait until Christmas to open.
The crew also had a full schedule of science experiments this week. Blaha harvested the first wheat crop growth in the greenhouse experiment, and using seeds from this harvest, started a second planting for the upcoming flight of Astronaut Jerry Linenger on Mir. At first, temperature readings higher than 25 degrees Celsius were reported in the Krystall Module which is higher than they should be for proper seed germination. Russian flight controllers sent commands to drop the temperature in the end of the Krystall module where the greenhouse experiment is located and temperatures returned to the proper levels.
Daily direct media feeding to the cartilage cells in the Biotechnology Systems (BTS) cartilage growth experiment are continuing. Blaha performed a media sample processing on Saturday with the Portable Clinical Blood Analyzer, and daily visual inspections of the growth of bovine cartilage cells (CART) in the BTS.
The Human Life Science Humoral Immunity experiment began Wednesday with an injection of antigen, followed by medical conferences, photography of the injection site, and six days of blood and saliva sampling over a four week period.
Other activities during the week included monitoring of the Materials in Devices as Superconductors (MIDAS) experiment; air sampling of the Mir core module was performed Tuesday with the Solid Sorbent Air Sampler (SSAS) and a Grab Sample container (GSC).
All of the Mir systems are functioning normally as the space complex orbits at an attitude of 235 statute miles.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of December 20, 1996
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report-14
Mission Control Korolev
December 19, 1996The cosmonauts aboard the Mir Space Station performed housekeeping and maintenance activities this week and held a press conference as they continued their scientific research. As of today, Russian Cosmonauts Valeri Korzun and Alexander Kareri have been in space aboard Mir for 125 days and U.S. astronaut John Blaha for 95 days.
On Thursday the crew answered a number of questions on subjects ranging from how are plans for the holidays, to the status of the International Space Station project, to their daily exercise regiment. Their Christmas dinner will consist of a special meal combing American and Russian cuisine, and some Italian food as well. Also, there will be an exchange of gifts from home to be opened, which were brought to the Mir on the Progress resupply spacecraft in mid November. The crew will also observe the Russian Christmas on January 7. Commander Korzun, displayed a small decorated tree held in a spacesuit gloves during the press conference.
Science activities this week included the monitoring of the BioTechnology System (BTS), including the visual inspection of the growth of bovine cartilage cells, as well as sampling of the media in the BTS. Additionally, the crew performed a direct feed of the growth media to the cartilage cells and sampling of the media in the BTS, visual inspection of the facility and growth of wheat plants in the Greenhouse, monitoring of Materials in Devices as Superconductors (MIDAS) experiment, and preparation of experiment files and e-mail telemetry to Mission Control, Korolev using a special laptop computer.
The BioTechnology System is a facility which will be used throughout joint U.S. - Russian flights to grow tissues in microgravity. On this mission, bovine, or cow cartilage is being grown. By growing cartilage in microgravity, researchers will obtain a better three-dimensional model which they can compare to cells grown on the Earth, helping to determine how cells grow in different environments. Researchers say this kind of research, not possible because of the gravity on Earth, eventually may lead to development of new drugs or medical procedures.
Air being drawn into the Greenhouse, where the second "crop" of wheat plants as being grown on Mir during this mission, returned to normal temperatures, approximately 25 degrees Celsius, and will be monitored daily for fluctuations which could affect plant growth. The sprouts which were planted on December 6, were around 12 centimeters in height, showing somewhat rapid growth rate. According to science team members, this experiment is proceeding well.
A Mir Structural Dynamics Experiment (MiSDE) studying the night to day transition vibrations of Mir was performed. Several more sessions measuring the vibrations of Mir during exercise, and the docking and undocking of Space Shuttles are planned.
Next week's activities will include Earth observations, daily checks and direct feed of the BioTechnology Systems (BTS) cartilage growth experiment and the broadcast of a holiday message for America on Christmas Eve. On December 25 the crewmembers will open gifts and prepare their special Christmas dinner.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of January 3, 1997
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report
Mission Control Center, Korolev
January 10, 1997Saying his mission has been very successful in building international cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, Astronaut John Blaha continued to prepare for his return to Earth later this month, stowing equipment and scientific samples that will be transferred to the Space Shuttle Atlantis when it docks with Mir next week. The Mir cosmonauts' activities this week also included housekeeping and maintenance, science investigations and payload hardware maintenance.
Blaha has packed 14 bags of gear that will be transferred to the Space Shuttle, with at least one more to be packed after the completion of scientific research.
In an interview Blaha said his work with his Russian crewmates, Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, will help pave the way for cooperation among the multinational crews of the International Space Station.
Blaha cited the Greenhouse experiment, in which the astronauts are growing and harvesting wheat, as important life science research essential for conducting long duration space flights. Blaha also said he hoped the ham radio conversations he had held with schoolchildren will inspire young people to enter careers in scientific and technical fields.
In Mir's science program, daily direct media feeding to the cartilage cells in the BioTechnology System (BTS) and monitoring of the facility is continuing.
Blaha and his crewmates continued to monitor the Greenhouse experiment, and reported a normal temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) being maintained for the wheat plants.
The crew collected samples of microbe population from the water, air, surfaces, and themselves. The samples will be returned on Atlantis for analysis and comparison to other samples that have been taken regularly during the NASA-Mir mission.
Other science activities included the completion of Kansas "Interactions" questionnaire, checking the commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)) Facility, and preparation of experiment files and e-mail telemetry to the Russian Mission Control Center using a special laptop computer. The GASMAP instrument, which analyzes respiratory gases from crew exhalations and in Mir's ambient atmosphere, also received a partial checkout. If Atlantis launches on Sunday morning, it will dock to the Mir at 9:53 p.m. CST on Tuesday (6:53 a.m. Moscow time Wednesday).
Blaha will become a shuttle crewmember a few hours later, changing places with astronaut Jerry Linenger, who will begin his 4 month stay on the Mir.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of January 10, 1997
NASA-3/Mir-22 Status Report
Mission Control Center, Korolev
January 10, 1997Saying his mission has been very successful in building international cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, Astronaut John Blaha continued to prepare for his return to Earth later this month, stowing equipment and scientific samples that will be transferred to the Space Shuttle Atlantis when it docks with Mir next week. The Mir cosmonauts' activities this week also included housekeeping and maintenance, science investigations and payload hardware maintenance.
Blaha has packed 14 bags of gear that will be transferred to the Space Shuttle, with at least one more to be packed after the completion of scientific research.
In an interview Blaha said his work with his Russian crewmates, Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, will help pave the way for cooperation among the multinational crews of the International Space Station.
Blaha cited the Greenhouse experiment, in which the astronauts are growing and harvesting wheat, as important life science research essential for conducting long duration space flights. Blaha also said he hoped the ham radio conversations he had held with schoolchildren will inspire young people to enter careers in scientific and technical fields.
In Mir's science program, daily direct media feeding to the cartilage cells in the BioTechnology System (BTS) and monitoring of the facility is continuing.
Blaha and his crewmates continued to monitor the Greenhouse experiment, and reported a normal temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) being maintained for the wheat plants.
The crew collected samples of microbe population from the water, air, surfaces, and themselves. The samples will be returned on Atlantis for analysis and comparison to other samples that have been taken regularly during the NASA-Mir mission.
Other science activities included the completion of Kansas "Interactions" questionnaire, checking the commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)) Facility, and preparation of experiment files and e-mail telemetry to the Russian Mission Control Center using a special laptop computer. The GASMAP instrument, which analyzes respiratory gases from crew exhalations and in Mir's ambient atmosphere, also received a partial checkout. If Atlantis launches on Sunday morning, it will dock to the Mir at 9:53 p.m. CST on Tuesday (6:53 a.m. Moscow time Wednesday).
Blaha will become a shuttle crewmember a few hours later, changing places with astronaut Jerry Linenger, who will begin his 4 month stay on the Mir.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of January 24, 1997
NASA-4/Mir-22 Status Report
Mission Control Center, Korolev
January 24, 1997Astronaut Jerry Linenger began his work this week aboard Mir, settling in with his Russian crewmates, Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri. After the Space Shuttle Atlantis undocked from Mir on Monday, the Mir astronauts took a day off to relax and unpack some of the material transferred from Atlantis. Linenger told flight controllers that unpacking his many boxes of gear was like opening Christmas presents.
Linenger has created quarters for himself in the Spektr module. On Wednesday, the triathlete began his regular exercise regimen, which includes two hours each day of running on a treadmill and riding on a stationary bicycle.
Linenger began work with some of the life sciences and medical investigations he will be busy with during his stay on the orbiting facility. He also replaced radiation dosimeters that went back to Earth on Atlantis with new instruments that will continue measurements of radiation aboard Mir.
Linenger and some of his former STS-81 crewmates took samples from Mir's air, water and physical surfaces to check for microbes. The samples were returned to Earth on the Shuttle and will be compared to other samples taken periodically through the mission.
The final harvest of wheat from the Greenhouse experiment occurred Jan. 17 during the docked phase. The equipment was then dismantled and stowed.
Two instruments--the Mir Structural Dynamics Experiment and the Space Accelerations Measurement System--took measurements during the docking mission to help flight engineers better understand the dynamics of the 400,000-ton spacecraft created by the docking of the Shuttle and Mir.
Next week's activities will include initial activation of a biotechnology system, Earth observations and a private family conference.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of February 7, 1997
NASA-4/Mir-22 Status Report -- #20
Mission Control Center -- Korolev
Friday, February 7, 1997In preparation for the arrival of the Mir-23 cosmonauts next Wednesday, U. S. astronaut Jerry Linenger and his two Russian crewmates aboard Mir entered their Soyuz capsule, undocked it from the Russian Space Station and redocked it to the Kvant I docking port today. The 27-minute maneuver was undertaken to make room for Mir-23 Commander Vasily Tsibliev, Flight Engineer Aleksandr Lazutkin and German researcher Reinhold Ewald, who are scheduled for launch on Monday to the Mir. They will dock to the Mir on Wednesday, at the docking port opposite the Soyuz capsule currently attached to Mir to begin a handover period from their Mir-22 counterparts and to support 3-weeks of research by Ewald. The undocking took place at 10:25 a.m. CST. The redocking occurred at 10:52 a.m. CST.
Meanwhile, Linenger, along with Mir-22 Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, completed another week of science activities in a variety of disciplines.
The Microgravity Liquid Metal Diffusion (LMD) experiment continues to progress in smooth fashion. Sample #1 was completed on January 27, and sample #2 was initiated on February 3. This experiment, which evaluates material dynamics in space, uses the Microgravity Isolation Mount (MIM) as an isolation platform from vibrations incurred because of crew activity on the Mir. The Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS) also was activated to support this experiment.
A microbiological assessment of the Mir Station was initiated on January 30. Samples were taken from the air, water, Mir surfaces and the crew itself. Follow-up assessments of the cultures were completed earlier this week.
The Microgravity Glovebox was activated and evaluated early this week, prior to the first experiment during this flight to use the facility. The Angular Liquid Bridge (ALB) experiment is designed to study the behavior of fluids under conditions of microgravity. Several sessions of this experiment were successfully completed on February 4 and 5. The remainder of the ALB investigation will be completed next week.
The first session of the Orientation experiment was completed on February 5. This neurosciences experiment uses French hardward in a series of psychophsical tests that address the role of gravity in defining, calibrating, and aligning different sensory and motor reference frames. The hardware will be used several times during Linenger's 4-month mission.
Science activities planned for next week include materials science sampling, the final run of the ALB and an additional session of the Orientation experiment. Next week also will include a private family conference for the crew and two interviews with reporters.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of February 14, 1997
NASA-4/Mir-22/Mir-23 Status Report-21
Mission Control Center -- Korolev
Friday, February 14, 1997U.S. astronaut Jerry Linenger and his two Russian crewmates aboard the Mir Space Station were joined Wednesday two new Russian crewmates and a German cosmonaut who were launched on Monday, February 10. Mir-23 Commander Vasili Tsibliyev and Flight Engineer Aleksandr Lazutkin will replace Mir-22 Commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, who are scheduled to return to Earth in their Soyuz spacecraft on March 2. Joining Korzun and Kaleri for their return to Earth will be German Researcher Reinhold Ewald, who accompanied Tsibliyev and Lazutkin to Mir for 3 weeks of research representing DARA, the German Space Agency.
The six men aboard Mir are joined in space by seven astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, which was launched from Kennedy Space Center in the early morning hours of February 11. The 13 people in Earth-orbit ties a record for the most humans in space at one time.
In addition to activities related to the arrival of the Mir-23 crew, the Mir-22 crew remained busy with a variety of science experiments.
The Microgravity Liquid Metal Diffusion (LMD) experiment continues to progress in normal fashion. This experiment, which evaluates material dynamics in space, uses the Microgravity Isolation Mount (MIM) as an isolation platform from vibration aboard the Mir. The Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS) also was activated to support this experiment.
The Mir atmosphere was sampled shortly after the arrival of the Mir-23 crew with both the Solid Sorbent Air Sampler and the Grab Air Sampler. The SAMS was also activated to capture the disturbance to the Mir environment caused by the docking of the Soyuz capsule carrying the Mir-23 crew.
The Angular Liquid Bridge (ALB) experiment, which was carried out in the Microgravity Glovebox, was completed successfully on February 6. The ALB experiment is designed to study equilibrium fluid behavior under conditions of microgravity.
The Orientation experiment which uses the French Cognilab hardware, was completed on February 7. This neurosciences experiment consists of two different protocols. The entire experiment will be conducted several times during Linenger's 4-month tour on the Mir.
Photography of the Protein Crystal Growth experiment completed this week, while the Gas Analysis System hardware was evaluated on Tuesday. The hardware is checked out every month.
On Tuesday, Linenger was interviewed by CNN and by the Discovery Channel of Canada to discuss the progress of his research mission.
Activities planned for next week include Earth observations, completion of backpain questionnaires by the Mir crew, LMD data analysis and downlink, and a sleep experiment. Next week also will feature a news conference for U.S. reporters involving with all six crewmembers.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |
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Mir-22 - Week of February 21, 1997
NASA-4/Mir Status Report #22
Mission Control Center--Korolev
Friday, February 21, 1997U.S. astronaut Jerry Linenger, along with his Mir-22 and Mir-23 crewmates and a German researcher, completed another week of science activities on the Mir Space Station. Mir-23 Commander Vasily Tsibliev and Flight Engineer Aleksandr Lazutkin will replace Mir-22 commander Valeri Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, who are scheduled to return to Earth in their Soyuz spacecraft on March 2. Joining Korzun and Kaleri on their return to Earth will be DARA astronaut Reinhold Ewald, who accompanied Tsibliev and Lazutkin to the Mir in their Soyuz capsule earlier this month.
The crew continued science operations in fundamental biology, microgravity science and Earth observation.
The first thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) processing for the fundamental biology radiation dosimetry investigation was performed February 13. This experiment uses TLDs to characterize the Mir radiation environment. Processing of the TLDs will continue at regularly scheduled intervals.
The Mir-23 crewmembers completed daily Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) backpain questionnaires. The newly arrived cosmonauts continued this activity for the first 10 days after reaching Mir. Linenger evaluated the fundamental biology discipline's Standard Interface Glovebox on February 13. This unit, a technology demonstration for this increment, will undergo several functional checkouts. The glovebox will be used during the SEEDS experiment for plant fixations and seed preparation.
Linenger initiated the human life sciences sleep investigation last Monday. This experiment will examine immune system alterations in relation to sleep in microgravity. It should provide long-term data on the physiology and behavior of human sleep under conditions of prolonged microgravity. The entire experiment will be conducted at scheduled intervals during Linenger's flight by both the NASA and Mir crews.
The Biotechnology System (BTS) hardware activation and functional evaluation was performed on February 17. Some problems which hindered previous attempts were solved, allowing a successful evaluation and activation of the BTS hardware.
On February 18, the Optical Properties Monitor (OPM) cable checkout was performed. The OPM will be deployed during a spacewalk by Linenger and Tsibliev in late March. It will collect data about the effects of exposure to the space environment outside Mir on certain materials for about 9 months. The OPM will retrieved by other spacewalking cosmonaut.
The weekly Kansas "Interactions" questionnaire, which profiles mood states and interpersonal group environments, was competed as scheduled on February 19. This activity is scheduled for both the NASA and MIR crews every Wednesday throughout Linenger's 4-month mission.
Activities planned for next week include completion of MRI backpain questionnaires by the Mir crew, Earth observations, the sleep experiment, formaldehyde monitoring, and a BTS Facility check.
| 8/30/96 | 9/6/96 | 9/13/96 | 9/27/96 | 10/4/96 | 10/11/96 | 10/18/96 |
| 10/25/96 | 11/1/96 |11/8/96 | 11/15/96 | 11/22/96 | 12/6/96 | 12/13/96 | 12/20/96 | 1/3/97 |
| 1/10/97 | 1/24/97 | 2/7/97 | 2/14/97 | 2/21/97 |