While the Expedition 38 crew of the International Space Station tackles a variety of biological research and maintenance activities Wednesday, an unpiloted Russian cargo craft is approaching the complex for a “flyby” to test upgraded rendezvous equipment. The ISS Progress 53 resupply vehicle, which launched Monday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, will make its closest approach at 4:53 p.m. EST during a “flyby” to test upgraded Kurs automated rendezvous equipment. The Progress will fly to within a mile of the complex, providing Russian flight controllers with valuable data on the revamped Kurs system that will be integrated into advanced Progress and piloted Soyuz vehicles in the future. During the “flyby,” Commander Oleg Kotov will monitor the Kurs data from a laptop computer aboard the complex. Once it passes the station, the Progress will be commanded to fly above and behind the outpost over the next 48 hours, setting it up for a final rendezvous and docking to the aft port of the Zvezda service module Friday at 5:28 p.m. NASA Television will provide live coverage of the docking beginning at 4:45 p.m. Progress 53 is loaded with 2.9 tons of food, fuel and supplies for the station crew, including 1,763 pounds of propellant, 48 pounds of oxygen, 57 pounds of air, 925 pounds of water and 3,119 pounds of spare parts, experiment hardware and holiday gifts. nasa.gov/content/russian-cargo-craft-to-approach-station-for-test/
Posted on: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 21:00:42 +0000