ISS expedition 6

Mission emblem

Mission dates

Mission:

ISS expedition 6

Crew:

3

Rescue ships:

Soyuz TMA-1

Space station:

ISS

Start:

November 25, 2002, 21:59 UTC

Started by:

Coupling of STS-113

The End:

May 3, 2003, 10:43 PM UTC

Ended by:

Decoupling from Soyuz TMA-1

Duration:

159d 0h 44min

Number of EVAs :

2

Total length of the EVAs:

13h 17m

Team photo

(from left) Donald Pettit, Kenneth Bowersox and Nikolai Budarin

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Previous
mission:
ISS expedition 5

Next
mission:
ISS expedition 7

ISS Expedition 6 is the mission name for the sixth long-term crew of the International Space Station . The crew lived and worked on board the ISS from November 25, 2002 to May 3, 2003.

team

Kenneth Duane Bowersox (5th space flight), ISS commander November 29, 2002 to May 3, 2003 ( NASA / USA )
Nikolai Michailowitsch Budarin (3rd space flight), flight engineer ( Roskosmos / Russia )
Donald Roy Pettit (1st space flight), flight engineer (NASA / USA)

Substitute team

Salischan Schakirowitsch Sharipow , Commander (Roskosmos / Russia)
Edward Michael Fincke , flight engineer (NASA / USA)

Donald Alan Thomas was originally nominated for the ISS expedition. Four months before the start he had to be replaced by Pettit for medical reasons.

Mission description

The work program of the sixth permanent crew comprised 19 new or ongoing experiments by NASA as well as a large number of investigations under Russian direction, in which European and Japanese research institutes or companies were also involved. A total of 47 experiments were planned, most of which had already been started on previous missions.

The experiment Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions (InSPACE) was new at the ISS . For the first time, data on the behavior of magnetic particles in magnetorheological fluids were collected in weightlessness . Such liquids are completely new. By applying external magnetic fields, they permit silent and almost instantaneous movements in mechanical systems. The main subject of the investigations was the effects of rapidly changing magnetic fields on the distribution of the magnetic particles. Magnetically controllable fluids could in the future be used in braking, clutch and damping systems or in robotics . The second new experiment examined the coarsening of particles in various materials, commonly known as fatigue. If particles of different sizes are present in a compound, the smaller particles give off atoms to the larger ones. This reduces the strength of the material. This is the case, for example, with turbine blades. But such effects are also known from everyday life, for example with the condensation of droplets from water vapor in the atmosphere (cloud formation). In the Coarsening in Solid Liquid Mixtures 2 (CSLM 2) experiment , the kinetics of growing zinc particles in a lead-zinc matrix was investigated under microgravity. Both experiments were carried out in the Microgravity Science Glovebox and could therefore only be activated after it was repaired.

Kenneth Bowersox participated in the Foot / Ground Reaction Forces During Space Flight (FOOT) experiment throughout the mission . Changes in bones and muscles in the lower part of the body and in the legs were measured. During the day, the astronaut wore special pants (LEPS - Lower Extremity Monitoring Suit), in which twenty carefully placed sensors are housed, as well as a sensor bandage on one upper arm. The sensors were used to measure the electrical muscle activity, flexion angles at the hips, knees and ankles as well as the pressure of the feet and transferred them to a memory via cables built into the suit (max. 14 hours). The additional armband made it possible to compare the loads on arms and legs. Measurements of the strength of bones and muscles were also taken before and after the space flight on Earth.

The sample container 10 was used for PCG-STES (Protein Crystal Growth - Single Thermal Enclosure System). It contained 81 different chambers in which individual experiments with different proteins took place. The end product of the approximately four-month crystallization phase are extremely large, pure and low-defect crystals, which are particularly suitable for analysis using neutron diffraction. This time albumin , apoferritin , ferritin , glucose isomerase , glucocerebrosidase and cytochrome P450 were among the substances used. A new sample container was also used in the Zeolite Crystal Growth Experiment (ZCG). Of particular interest to the researchers is the suitability of the honeycomb-like hollow crystals for storing hydrogen , an energy carrier of the future.

A whole series of interesting investigations were also carried out by the sixth ISS crew. In the Rastenija 2 experiment , lettuce plants were grown in the LADA greenhouse. Lettuce could be an important supplier of vitamins in space. Here, too, the influence of weightlessness on the growth and development of plants is of interest. The functionality of the greenhouse, the resistance and the adaptation to the extraordinary conditions in space (microgravity, radiation) and the ethylene concentration in the Russian segment of the ISS are also examined. As part of the Biopsy experiment , tissue was removed from the calf muscles of the space travelers before and after the flight. This allows muscle changes to be determined more precisely through a longer stay in weightlessness. At Mobility , tests were carried out to find out how physical training should be designed during space flight in order to make it easier to readjust to gravity. Most of the work was done with the treadmill. About 90% of all adults carry the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in their body. It usually stays inactive. In weightlessness, however, it often reactivates and can lead to impairments. The aim is to find out the mechanism of this reactivation via blood and urine samples . Biorisk and Biodegradatsija examined the influence of space on the viability of bacteria and fungi. On the one hand, bacterial and fungal colonies accumulate in inaccessible places and can cause long-term material damage there. On the other hand, they are a natural part of our environment and often indispensable. The researchers are interested in the influence of solar activity on modifications and mutations as well as the development of resistance and aggressiveness. At the same time, however, it should also be assessed to what extent useful bacteria remain viable after a longer stay in space. At Pulse, the autonomous regulation of the cardiorespiratory system during longer stays in weightlessness was researched. For this purpose, the electrocardiogram , sphygmogram (pulse rate), pneumotachogram (respiratory rate), pump volume and tidal volume were recorded. Another experiment was used to test the multifunctional device complex Skorpion for the automatic recording of the most important environmental parameters in the station. These include acceleration values, electromagnetic fields, radiation values and climatic conditions (temperature, air pressure, air composition, air humidity). The experiment Platan is attached outboard . The apparatus was in use for several months and is supposed to record slow iron cores of solar or galactic origin with energies of 30 to 200 MeV as well as microparticles in the vicinity of the station. The continued experiments also included studying changes in pulmonary functions (PuFF - Pulmonary Functions in Flight ), filling out questionnaires on cooperation within the crew and with the ground crew (Crew Interaction), and observing natural and man-made phenomena on earth and in the earth's atmosphere (Crew Earth Observation, Uragan, Molnija SM, EarthKAM), the measurement of radiation exposure inside and outside the station (EVA Radiation Monitoring, BraDoz), the detection of minimal accelerations caused by movements of space travelers, orbit maneuvers or couplings (MAMS, SAMS, IZGIB), studies on the increased risk of kidney stones (Renal Stone) as well as on muscle and bone loss during long stays in space (Bone Loss, Profilaktika), the analysis of engine exhaust gases and the dynamics of particles in the engine nozzles (Relaksatsija, Kromka) , the investigation of changes in the Mun draum (Paradont), checking the efficiency of drugs (Farma), recording changes in cardiac activity during exercise (Kardio-ODNT), developing predictions for radiation exposure (Prognoz), documenting bioproductive zones in the world's oceans (Diatomeja), the Estimation of the expected erosion of the station's outer skin (meteoroid), measurement of the various orbit parameters of the station (Tenzor, Vector T), determination of long-term changes in the shape of the station (Priviazka), measurement of magnetic interferences within the station and their influence on ongoing experiments (Iskazhenije), the testing of a commercial, global time system (GTS) or the registration of particle impacts and their effects on various test materials (HPAC, SEED, MISSE).

In the first few weeks, the three space travelers were primarily occupied with checking ongoing experiments, carrying out regular maintenance work and storing new materials in an orderly manner. In addition, another repair attempt on the oxygen generator was electron in the module Zvezda made. The first medical examinations as part of the FOOT, Renal Stone, PuFF and GASMAP experiments were carried out in early December. Blood and urine samples were taken and lung volume and function (gas exchange) were measured. As part of the earth exploration, volcanoes in Mexico and Guatemala , island regions ( Cuba , Hawaii , Bounty Island , Mali ), coral reefs off the Yucatan , air pollution from large cities and dust clouds over African desert areas were observed and photographed. On December 17th, work began on the Zeolite Crystal Growth experiment . In addition, several training units were completed with the station manipulator. In the Human Research Facility , a hard drive was exchanged and the software was brought up to date. In addition, the use of a new, faster data recorder was prepared (HCOR - High-Rate Communications Outage Recorder). If the station has no radio contact with a ground station or a relay satellite, the data generated during this time are temporarily stored on this recorder. By bumping into the walls, the space travelers caused short-term disturbances of the microgravity, the values of which were recorded with various measuring devices. Budarin worked on a plant growth experiment in the LADA greenhouse and on the reconfiguration of the automatic radar and coupling system Kurs . Shortly before Christmas, the station was moved into a position for three days with the starboard side pointing in the direction of flight. This should cool down some areas of the station. After all, everyday life in space was embellished by Christmas and the New Year.

Work continued even after the Columbia disaster . The supply was ensured by the unmanned transport spaceship Progress -M 47, which docked at the Zvezda module on February 4. However, it was decided to reduce the next permanent crew of the station by one person, so that some space remains in the spaceship for cargo.

The sixth permanent crew of the International Space Station landed in the Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft on May 4th in the Kazakh steppe. The actual landing point was missed by around 460 kilometers for an unexplained cause. Otherwise the landing took place without complications. It is possible that design-related changes to the previous version of Soyuz spaceships were not correctly taken into account. Soyuz-TMA allows smaller and larger people to be transported than before. In addition, the computer technology was completely modernized.

Space operations

The sixth ISS expedition carried out a total of two spacecraft missions during the mission. In total, the team was outside the station for 13 hours and 17 minutes.