ISS Expedition 18 Mission Updates

by Space.com, staff

Date: 28 January 2010 Time: 01:51 PM ET

Space Station Crew to Host Visiting Shuttle
14 March 2009 10:23 a.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are preparing their orbital laboratory to host seven visiting astronauts aboard NASA?s shuttle Discovery.

Click here for SPACE.com?s live mission coverage during Discovery?s STS-119 mission.

Discovery is slated to launch on March 15 to deliver a new pair of U.S. solar arrays and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who will replace NASA astronaut Sandra Magnus as a member of the space station?s Expedition 18 crew.

Magnus will return to Earth aboard Discovery. Wakata will stay aboard until his replacement arrives on a subsequent NASA shuttle in June. Station commander Michael Fincke ? who turns 42 years old today ? and flight engineer Yury Lonchakov will land on April 7 aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Click here for SPACE.com?s live mission coverage during Discovery?s STS-119 mission.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast the joint Expedition 18-STS-119 mission live on NASA TV during launch and the flight. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.

Station Crew Finishes Spacewalk
10 March 2009 5:23 p.m. EDT

Astronauts Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov have officially ended their spacewalk outside the International Space Station after closing the outer hatch of the outpost?s Russian-built Pirs airlock.

The spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and ended at 5:11 p.m. EDT (2111 GMT).

Total spacewalking time: 4 hours, 49 minutes.

Fincke and Lonchakov installed the new EXPOSE-R experiment, readjusted a Russian materials exposure experiment and trimmed away some loose straps outside the station. The also conducted a photo survey of the outpost?s exterior.

The spacewalk was the sixth career spacewalk for Fincke, who now has about 26 hours and 12 minutes of spacewalking time. It was the second spacewalk for Lonchakov, who has 10 hours and 27 minutes.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

A wrap up of today?s spacewalk will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage shortly.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.

Station Astronauts Shut Airlock Hatch
10 March 2009 5:13 p.m. EDT

Astronauts Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov are nearing the end of their spacewalk outside the International Space Station and have closed the exterior hatch of the outpost?s Russian-built Pirs airlock.

?Okay space, goodbye now,? said Fincke, who wrapped up his sixth career spacewalk.

?Rather, see you later,? added Lonchakov, finishing his second spacewalk. Today?s spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and was slated to run about six hours in duration, but the astronauts finished their work in just over four hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

A wrap up of today?s spacewalk will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage shortly.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Head Back to Airlock
10 March 2009 4:33 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov are preparing to head back to the International Space Station after completing all of their main chores for today.

The astronauts are examining their Russian-built Orlan spacesuit and will retrieve a protective cover from the EXPOSE-R exposure experiment, which they successfully installed earlier in today?s spacewalk. After a few final photography tasks, they are expected to reenter the station?s Russian Pirs airlock to end today?s spacewalk.

Earlier, Fincke and Lonchakov installed the new EXPOSE-R experiment, readjusted a Russian materials exposure experiment and trimmed away some loose straps outside the station. Today?s spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and was slated to run about six hours in duration, though Fincke and Lonchakov have consistently been ahead of schedule.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Snap More ISS Photos
10 March 2009 4:05 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov are completing their photo inspection of the International Space Station?s Russian segment as they prepare to wrap up their orbital work.

The inspection is one of the final tasks for today?s spacewalk, which began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and was due to run about six hours.

Earlier, Fincke and Lonchakov installed the new EXPOSE-R experiment, readjusted a Russian materials exposure experiment and trimmed away some loose straps outside the station.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers to Wrap Up Work
10 March 2009 3:35 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov are nearing the end of their work outside the International Space Station after completing all of their chores for today?s excursion.

Working well ahead of their schedule, the astronauts are expected to head back to the station?s Russian-built Pirs docking compartment - which doubles as an airlock.

Russian flight controllers are planning to move a set of solar arrays to give the astronauts a clear path back to the airlock. There?s a chance Fincke may have lightly brushed one of the Russian segment solar arrays while working outside, though flight controllers have not confirmed it, NASA officials said.

Fincke and Lonchakov installed the new EXPOSE-R experiment, readjusted a Russian materials exposure experiment, trimmed away some loose straps outside the station and are wrapping up a photo survey of the outpost?s Russian segment.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and is due to run about six hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Snap ISS Photos
10 March 2009 3:09 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov are in the middle of a photo shoot outside the International Space Station to build a panoramic view of the outpost?s Russian segment. Engineers will analyze the photos on Earth to update their records on the station?s condition.

The astronauts have paused in their work as the station flies over the Earth?s night side. Russian flight controllers advised the spacewalkers to rest.

?We?ll just start telling jokes,? Fincke said. ?Look at that beautiful sunset.?

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and is due to run about six hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Set for Other Tasks
10 March 2009 2:43 p.m. EDT

With their main task complete, spacewalkers Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov are moving on to other chores.

The astronauts will reposition a Russian materials exposure experiment and take a photo survey of some 28 targets outside the station?s Russian-built segment. They?re currently wrapping up work on the station?s new EXPOSE-R instrument, a joint European-Russian exposure experiment that they installed earlier today.

The spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and is now slated to run about six hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Successfully Install Experiment
10 March 2009 2:07 p.m. EDT

After a short break, spacewalkers Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov have successfully installed a joint European-Russian experiment that will expose a variety of seeds, microbes and other organic material to the harsh space environment.

The astronauts plugged into the EXPOSE-R experiment, with flight controllers on Earth reporting they were receiving telemetry from the instrument. An internal cabling issue inside the spaces station blocked telemetry during the experiment?s initial installation in a December spacewalk.

?That?s it, we?re done,? Lonchakov said. ?Everything is very good.?

The EXPOSE-R installation was the main task of today?s spacewalk. Other chores include a photo survey o the space station and the repositioning of a micrometeoroid debris monitoring experiment.

The spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and is now slated to run about six hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.

Spacewalkers to Install New Experiment
10 March 2009 1:15 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov have finished hacking away six loose straps near a docking port outside the International Space Station to make sure they don?t interfere with arriving and departing spacecraft. They?re now preparing to install a joint European-Russian experiment.

The astronauts used sharp cutters to shorten the loose straps, taking great care to not slice their own spacesuits or let any of the cut straps drift out of their grasp. They will now prepare to install the EXPOSE-R experiment, which will expose plant seeds, microbes and other organic materials to the space environment for 18 months.

Today?s spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and is slated to last five hours and 20 minutes.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Cut Away Station Straps
10 March 2009 12:47 p.m. EDT

With their spacewalk under way, astronauts Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov have slashed away some loose straps outside the International Space Station, taking great care not to cut their own spacesuits with sharp knives.

The two astronauts cut six loose straps from the exterior of the station?s Russian segment to make sure they don?t interfere with equipment in the future. They are moving ahead with a laundry list of chores for today?s spacewalk, which began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 and is due to run more than five hours.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Begin Spacewalk at Station
10 March 2009 12:26 p.m. EDT

Astronauts Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov have officially begun today?s spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

The spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT), with Fincke opening the station?s Russian-built Pirs airlock hatch as the station flew about 220 miles (354 km) above Earth.

?Terrific, the hatch is open,? Fincke said.

The spacewalk was slated to run about 5 hours and 20 minutes. They astronauts will install a European-Russian experiment and perform a series of other maintenance tasks.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Prepare to Begin Spacewalk
10 March 2009 12:14 p.m. EDT

International Space Station commander Michael Fincke and flight engineer Yury Lonchakov are running ahead of schedule for their spacewalk today and are awaiting word to open the outer hatch of the outpost?s Russian-built Pirs airlock.

The spacewalk was slated to begin at 12:20 p.m. EDT (1620 GMT) and run about 5 hours and 20 minutes. They astronauts will install a European-Russian experiment and perform a series of other maintenance tasks.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Station Astronauts Gear Up for Spacewalk
10 March 2009 11:33 a.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are less than an hour from the planned start of their spacewalk today outside the orbiting laboratory.

Station commander Michael Fincke and flight engineer Yury Lonchakov are due to step outside the station at about 12:20 p.m. EDT (1620 GMT) to install a stubborn European experiment and wrap several other chores leftover from a previous spacewalk. The astronauts will be wearing bulky Russian Orlan spacesuits. Lonchakov will lead the spacewalk.

Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s 5-hour, 20-minute spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Russian Cargo Ship Docks at Space Station
13 February 2009 2:22 a.m. EST

The unmanned Russian space freighter Progress 32 has successfully docked at the International Space Station. The two spacecraft met as they flew 215 miles above southwestern China near the border of Mongolia.

?Contact!? reported station flight engineer Yury Lonchakov as the Progress 32 docked.

The spacecraft is hauling about 2.5 tons of cargo toward the space station and is due to dock at 2:19 a.m. EST (0719 GMT).

A wrap up of today's docking at the space station will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage shortly.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast Expedition 18?s Progress 32 docking live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.

Russian Cargo Ship Prepares to Dock at Space Station
13 February 2009 2:07 a.m. EST

The unmanned Russian space freighter Progress 32 has positioned itself below its Earth-facing berth on the space station?s Pirs docking compartment in preparation for today?s planned docking.

Cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov has reported a smooth approach, and has so far not had to take control of the spacecraft via a console inside the station as he had to during the arrival of the lat cargo ship, Progress 31.

The spacecraft is hauling about 2.5 tons of cargo toward the space station and is due to dock at 2:19 a.m. EST (0719 GMT).

-- Tariq Malik

Russian Cargo Ship Flies Around Space Station
13 February 2009 1:57 a.m. EST

The unmanned Russian space freighter Progress 32 has begun a short flyaround of the International Space Station to align itself with a docking port on the station?s Earth-facing Pirs docking compartment.

All continues to go well with today?s docking and cameras aboard the station and progress 32 are returning clear images of each other.

The spacecraft is hauling about 2.5 tons of cargo toward the space station and is due to dock at 2:19 a.m. EST (0719 GMT).

-- Tariq Malik

New Cargo Ship Closes in On Space Station
13 February 2009 1:44 a.m. EST

The unmanned Russian space freighter Progress 32 is drawing ever closer to the International Space Station to end a three-day supply run for the outpost?s astronaut crew.

The spacecraft is about 6 kilometers from the space station and closing. In about 16 minutes, it is due to perform a short fly around to position itself for a docking at the Earth-facing Pirs docking compartment.

The spacecraft is hauling about 2.5 tons of cargo toward the space station and is due to dock at 2:19 a.m. EST (0719 GMT).

-- Tariq Malik

Unmanned Cargo Ship Nears Space Station
13 February 2009 1:30 a.m. EST

The unmanned Russian space freighter Progress 32 is closing in on the International Space Station after a three-day trip to deliver new supplies to the outpost?s astronaut crew.

The spacecraft is hauling about 2.5 tons of cargo toward the space station and is due to dock at 2:19 a.m. EST (0719 GMT).

-- Tariq Malik

New Space Freighter to Dock at Station
13 February 2009 12:00 a.m. EST

The Russian space freighter Progress 32 is due to dock at the International Space Station today at 2:19 a.m. EST (0719 GMT).

NASA will provide live coverage of the docking on NASA TV beginning at 1:30 a.m. EST (0630 GMT). Updates on this morning?s automated space station docking will be posted here.

Click here for a link to SPACE.com?s live NASA TV.

Click here for a look at the most recent space station mission story.

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