Blogs

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 …

39 Soyuz (39S) Undock and Landing: Expedition 41 Suraev, Wiseman, and Gerst undocked from the ISS today at 6:31pm CST and landed in Kazakhstan northern landing zone at 9:58pm CST. The crew’s return completes 165 days in space with 2,640 orbits of the Earth.  The 39S undock began Expedition 42 under the command of Samokutyaev, …

Expedition 41 Flight Engineers Reid Wiseman of NASA, Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency and Commander Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) landed their Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft in Kazakhstan at 10:58 p.m. EST. The trio arrived at the International Space Station on May 29, and spent more than five months conducting …

Expedition 41 crew members Reid Wiseman of NASA, Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency and Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), are headed back to Earth following the 4-minute, 41-second Soyuz TMA-13M deorbit burn completed at 10:09 p.m. EST. The three sections of the Soyuz spacecraft will pyrotechnically separate …

After spending 165 days aboard the International Space Station, Reid Wiseman, Alexander Gerst and Maxim Suraev undocked from the station’s Rassvet module at 7:31 p.m. EST to begin their voyage home. Suraev, the Soyuz commander, is at the controls of the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft. They will perform a separation burn to increase the distance from …