Astronaut Leroy Chiao's Space Blog

Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao this week extended his reach beyond the confines of the pressurized compartments of the International Space Station as he and Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov near the one month mark in space since launch Oct. 14.

As is the case with every Station crew, practice sessions with the stations 58-foot robotic arm Canadarm2 are scheduled early in the increment to exercise the arm and provide practical training for astronauts. Monday, Chiao, in the Destiny Laboratory, used the arm to provide engineers in the Mission Evaluation Room of Mission Control video of a protective panel on the outside the module. A possible indentation was seen there in imagery from the most recent Space Shuttle mission to the Station in November 2002 (STS-113/11A).

Chiao positioned the arm so that cameras could zoom in on the area. The video helped engineers determine that the indentation was not caused by a micrometeoroid or debris strike. The flat spot on the lab shield appeared to be similar to flattened areas seen in shields on the Unity module.

Engineering analysis of the imagery showed these flat spots can occur on the forward and aft triangles of the shields possibly as the result of temperature changes. The shields' protective function and fit is not affected.

Earlier today, Chiao again took command of the robot arm and moved it into position to allow its cameras to view the relocation of the crew's Soyuz spacecraft, a...

Astronaut Leroy Chiao's Space Blog

Hi Lia,

Wow, great!! Congratulations on the play, that is so cool!

A few days after arriving on the International Space Station, I decided to have some Chinese food. I had spent the last two months in Russia without Asian food. And, after 2-1/2 days in the Soyuz, eating cold, canned rations and a week of adjusting to life on the station and kicking the last crew out the door, I finally had time to prepare a proper meal. This is sweet and sour pork, over pre-cooked rice. On the ground it would have tased pretty mediocre. But, I had gotten to the point where food with any Asian hint to it at all tastes great!

Leroy

Excerpts of NASA'S Report about the International Space Station
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 16:13:11 -0600
Report #66
4 p.m. CST, Friday, Dec. 10, 2004
Mission Control Center, Houston

International Space Station crewmembers this week continued research and maintenance activities and prepared for arrival of the next Progress cargo craft.

On Wednesday, Station managers reviewed preparations for the upcoming launch of the unpiloted Russian ISS Progress 16 resupply ship from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They confirmed that work is progressing well for the scheduled liftoff at 4:19 p.m. CST Dec. 23.

The spacecraft will bring 2 tons of food, fuel, clothing and other supplies to the complex. Almost 70 food containers have been added to the crafts manifest to replenish onboard supplies. Progress 16 is scheduled to arrive at the...

Astronaut Leroy Chiao's Space Blog-postcard of Bolivia

This is an interesting shot of a glacier flowing into a lake partially brightened by sunglint. It was fairly cloudy on that orbit over South America, but I caught this through the clouds. Using sunglint is a very effective technique for illuminating sub-surface features in water. But, it also can be used to create a dramatic effect which is aesthetically pleasing. Note the visible rivers in this photo, especially the one on the right side of the lake. Under normal lighting, these would have been very difficult to see.

Click here for AsianConnections' exclusive interview with Leroy while in training at Star City, Russia.

Information on the crew's activities aboard ISS, future launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on the Earth, is available on the Internet at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/

U.S. Astronaut Leroy Chiao's blog and all NASA updates at AsianConnections.com are monitored by AC Editor Lia Chang

Astronaut Leroy Chiao's Space Blog- postcard of Malaysia

This is the town of Lutong (left) and the Baram river on the border of Malaysia (below the river) and Brunei. The mud from the Batam flows into the ocean and acts as a dye, revealing the currents and flow patterns. Note how the mud diffuses gradually on the left side, but that there is a well-defined boundary on the right side.

Click here for AsianConnections' exclusive interview with Leroy while in training at Star City, Russia.

Information on the crew's activities aboard ISS, future launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on the Earth, is available on the Internet at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/

U.S. Astronaut Leroy Chiao's blog and all NASA updates at AsianConnections.com are monitored by AC Editor Lia Chang

Astronaut Leroy Chiao's Space Blog- postcard of the Patagonian Glaciers

This is one of my favorite shots. We generally think of South America as very warm, but in fact, the southern area is very close to the Antarctic continent. Icebergs can frequently be observed in the area and there many glaciers can be seen. This photo shows glacial feeds flowing into a lake in southern Chile. The conditions were exceptionally clear, allowing good definition of the mountain and glacier features.

Bolivia

Click here for AsianConnections' exclusive interview with Leroy while in training at Star City, Russia.

Information on the crew's activities aboard ISS, future launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on the Earth, is available on the Internet at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/

U.S. Astronaut Leroy Chiao's blog and all NASA updates at AsianConnections.com are monitored by AC Editor Lia Chang