ISS - International Space Station patch / NASA - ROBONAUT (R-2) patch.
Dec. 19, 2011
The Expedition 30 crew members onboard the International Space Station stayed busy with an array of science and maintenance tasks while their counterparts on the ground relaxed ahead of a Dec. 21 launch.
Commander Dan Burbank worked with the long-running Integrated Cardiovascular experiment which studies cardiac atrophy, or heart shrinkage, that occurs during missions in space. He also set up gear that monitors radiation to understand its effects on the central nervous system for the ALTEA experiment (Anomalous Long Term Effects in Astronauts’ Central Nervous System).
After a fault message prevented tests on Robonaut 2 Thursday, ground controllers resolved the issue to proceed with its ongoing checkout. Burbank resumed work Friday with the first humanoid robot in space checking its joints and pressure sensors.
Image above: Commander Dan Burbank works with Robonaut 2 to test its joints and pressure sensors. Credit: NASA TV.
Robonaut 2 - A Dream Realized
The commander also performed some plumbing work inside the Waste and Hygiene Compartment. He wore a mask, goggles and gloves to avoid noxious treatment chemicals while removing a urine receptacle and filter.
Flight Engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin worked on several experiments throughout Friday, familiarized themselves with medical emergency procedures and maintained Russian systems.
ISS - International Space Station (Credit: NASA - STS-128)
Shkaplerov copied data acquired for the Sonocard experiment to a medical laptop computer. Sonocard studies contactless methods for monitoring a crew member’s health. He also studied how events such as vehicle dockings and reboosts affect the physical structure of the Russian side of the station for the Identification experiment.
Ivanishin worked on cargo transfers from the ISS Progress 45 resupply ship while updating the inventory management system. He also cleaned vents and air ducts.
All three crew members brushed up on their medical emergency response skills. They conducted a drill to familiarize themselves with medical gear locations and practiced communication and coordination skills.
Robonaut 2 - a dexterous, humanoid astronaut helper
New Expedition 30 Flight Engineers Oleg Kononenko, Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers relaxed Friday in their crew quarters at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Kazakhstan. Their launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-03M is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 8:16 a.m. EST.
Read more about Expedition 30: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition30/index.html
Send a holiday postcard to the station crew: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/postcard/
Read more about the Dragon flight: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-413_SpaceX_ISS_Flight.html
Images, Video, Text, Credit: NASA / JPL / GM / NASA TV / Youtube.
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