Chris Edelen
Another good day in space
Busy day of cargo transfer
50% complete on MPLM cargo transfer
Running ahead of schedule
Atlantis mid deck cargo is 50% complete
It’s a controlled chaos
Great assistance from the Russians today and JAXA
Mike went into PMA 3 today, and retrieved an old piece of hardware, a resistive exercise device (early weight lifting device)
It’s being moved in the MPLM for return, this will free up a lot of storage space, this was added due to the extra day being added
Ron spent several hours work on the station toilet, replaced several components that were giving noises and vibrations
The toilet is now working fine; the shuttle crew can use it if they need to
No problems with the space suits
Resumed the UPA today, its working well
Moved over some UPA filter assemblies
Got a new spare wireless EVA transceiver assembly
Transferred a distillation assembly for the UPA
Lots of food and clothes
Tomorrow
US and Russian crew get half a day of
Transfer in the morning, Russians replacing a gyro scope on there treadmill
Questions
Q: Talk about going from an EVA to cargo transfer?
A: It’s all in the life of an astronaut.
Q: How much will you have to enforce the time off tomorrow?
A: They’ve been working so hard too take advantage of some downtime. Don’t expect any problem getting them to take some time off.
Q: What work did you do on the UPA?
A: It was all ground commanded activity. 10 days ago, we had a leak in part of the toilet (pump sep motor) in the process of changing the part some air got into the UPA. So we’ve been carefully using the UPA to avoid over stressing it. There was a smell reported that we believe is associated with the air coming out. No reports of a smell today.
Q: Are you having a virtual dinner with the crew tomorrow?
A: I hope we get some downlink
Q: Thoughts on what the non profit organisation selected today to run the lab will mean?
A: We used to fly a payload specialist to operate payloads. Not aware of any plans to do this on ISS but it could be done. We’re moving from a resupply phase to a utilisation phase where we do lots of science. This announcement heralds the beginning of that phase.
Q: Talk about the centre disk cover install in PMA3? (Philip!)
A: Want to make sure the items inside don’t shift into the hatch mechanism
Q: What do you mean by being 50% complete with cargo transfer?
A: Unloading the MPLM takes about 1/3 of the hours. Reloading takes 2/3 hours. In terms of hours we are 50% complete.
Q: Do you feel like your on target to accomplish what you want within the time you have?
A: If we didn’t have the extra day we wouldn’t be ahead of schedule and couldn’t have had Ron work on the toilet, that took 4 hours.
Q: Any problems finding place to store the cargo brought up?
A: Yes it’s been a huge challenge. Discovery brought up another MPLM that’s a permanent storage basement. Even with this all of its racks storage space will be full and 14/16 will have cargo on the front. Many other places on station have more cargo stored on it that expected. One reason were bulking up is due the shuttle retirement and being dependent on commercial companies.
Q: How long will these supplies keep you going?
A: If we had just this flight we couldn’t make it through 2012. With the progresses and Soyuz’s we can get through 2012. HTV and ATV give us additional margin.
Q: How big was the exercise machine Mike moved?
A: Approx 10 cubic feet. 10 small suitcases.
Q: Anything done differently to try and get rid of the smell from the UPA?
A: We just let it sit for a day, engineers looking at data don’t see any abnormal indications. Don’t know if theres any gas still in the system, so the smell may come back.
How epic is that!
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How epic is that!
