STS-91 Space Radiation Environment Measurement Program -TOP-

NASA Space Shuttle Discovery for mission STS-91 landed at Kennedy Space Center on June 12, 2:00 p.m. EDT. NASDA conducted the Space Radiation Environment Monitoring Experiment aboard STS-91.

Discovery

Flight Day 11 (June 12 CDT)

- Shuttle Status -
Space Shuttle Discovery landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on June 12, 2:00 p.m. EDT. Discovery's flight duration was 9 days, 19 hours and 53 minutes while Discovery went around the earth 155 times.
Astronaut Andy Thomas returned to Earth after 141 days in space, 130 of which were served as a crewmember aboard Mir.

- Tasks after landing -
By June 12, 21:50 EDT, specimens used for RRMD in the Spacehab module was handed over to NASDA from the Spacehab Corporation.

Flight Day 10 (June 11 CDT)

- Status of Japanese Experiments -
Radiation dose monitoring experiments using Human Body Phantom was finished on June 11,1:01 p.m. CDT. Real time radiation monitoring experiment using Real-time Radiation Monitoring Device (RRMD) was finished on June 11,1:36 p.m. CDT. This marked the conclusion of Japanese experiments planned for this mission.

- Shuttle Status -
Getting ready for the reentry scheduled on June 12,1:00 p.m. CDT, Discovery's crew members stowed used items and conducted check out routine for the system equipment. Weather conditions are reported favorable in the landing area in Florida.

Flight Day 9 (June 10 CDT)

- Status of Japanese Experiments -
Real time data monitoring using Real-time Radiation Monitoring Device(RRMD) is being performed in good condition. Radiation monitoring using the Human Body Phantom is also being performed as scheduled.
"Gene and protein expression analyses in the cell exposed to space radiation" experiment which is a retry experiment from STS-89 (using yeast) was finished at June 10,2:06 p.m. CDT.

- Shuttle Status -
Today, Mission Specialist Franklin Chang-Diaz, who is now experiencing his sixth flight, broke the previous record for time spent aboardthe space@shuttle, as he passed the mark of 1,211 hours (50 days) set by astronaut Jeff@Hoffman over the course of five missions.
Today, a verification test of a new navigation system using GPS data was successfully conducted. In the future, this system is ultimately intended to replace the Shuttle's tactical navigation aids used during landing.
The crew of STS-91 are now getting ready for reentry scheduled on June 12, 1:03 p.m. CDT.

crew members enjoyed
some time off

Flight Day 8 (June 9 CDT)

- Status of Japanese Experiments -
Real time data monitoring using Real-time Radiation Monitoring Device(RRMD) is being performed in good condition. Radiation monitoring using the Human Body Phantom is also being performed as scheduled.
"Effect of microgravity on damaged DNA recovery" experiment was finished on June 9, 3:30 p.m. "Gene and protein expression analyses in the cell exposed to space radiation" experiment, which is a retry experiment from STS-89 (using yeast) is being continued by extending the scheduled time period.

- Shuttle Status -
Having finished four days of docked flight with Mir, the Orbiter Space Vision System (OSVS) in the Shuttle was tested. The SVS equipment will be used during the assembly of the International Space Station to provide astronauts operating the Shuttle's mechanical arm with precise alignment information as station components are brought together. Experiment using the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) which observes dark matter is being continued.
In the afternoon, the crew members enjoyed some time off from their hard work .

Undocking

Flight Day 7 (June 8 CDT)

- Status of Japanese Experiments -
Real time data monitoring using Real-time Radiation Monitoring Device(RRMD) is being performed in good condition. Radiation monitoring using the Human Body Phantom is also being performed as scheduled.
"Effect of microgravity on damaged DNA recovery" experiment is being continued.
"Gene and protein expression analyses in the cell exposed to space radiation" experiment which is a retry experiment from STS-89 (using yeast) is also being conducted.

- Shuttle Status -
At 11:01 a.m. CDT the Space Shuttle Discovery undocked from Mir. This undocking officially terminates the Shuttle-Mir docking flights which have been performed for three years as part of the phase I of the International Space Station (ISS) program. US astronauts stayed in Mir for a total of more 970 days. The lessons learned in this program will be reflected to the construction and operations of the ISS.
Discovery undocked from Mir with astronaut Andrew Thomas aboard,who had been staying in since this January. After undocking, the shuttle backed away from the Mir until it reached a distance of approximately 240 feet away, and keeping this distance, the shuttle went around the Mir. Then green tracer gas was released into the depressurized Spektr module, in an effort to find out where the breach is located in the hull of the Spektr. However, no leak source was seen by Discovery's crew.

Flight Day 6 (June 7 CDT)

Dameged Spektr module
(September, 1997)

Flight Day 5 (June 6 CDT)

- Status of Japanese Experiments -
Real time data monitoring using Real-time Radiation Monitoring Device (RRMD) is being performed in good condition. Radiation monitoring using the Human Body Phantom is also being performed as scheduled.
"Effect of microgravity on damaged DNA recovery" experiment is being continued. "Measurement of mutation rate under microgravity environment" experiment was finished approximately at June 6, 9:06 a.m. CDT.
"Gene and protein expression analyses in the cell exposed to space radiation" experiment which is a retry experiment from STS-89 (using yeast) was initiated at June 6, 2:06 p.m. CDT. Ground reference experiments for those which use bio-specimen are being conducted at NASA Johnson Space Center.

- Shuttle Status -
Cargo and drinking water is being transferred between Mir and the Shuttle as the two spacecrafs fly in orbit in a docked position. Scientific experiments are being conducted in the Spacehab. Today a revised version of the robot arm was tested to evaluate new electronics and software technology for use on the upcoming assembly missions for the International Space Station.
Today in Mir, a leak test was conducted in an effort to detect holes in the Spektr module. A green colored gas was released into the depressurized Spektr module which collided with the Progress resupply vehicle last year. The crew reported that they could not find any signs of gas leak. This test will be conducted again on flight day seven after the Shuttle undocks from Mir.

Human Body
Phantom

Flight Day 4 (June 5 CDT)

- Status of Japanese Experiments -
Real time data monitoring using Real-time Radiation Monitoring Device (RRMD) is being performed in a good condition. Radiation monitoring using the Human Body Phantom is also being performed as scheduled
The RRMD experiment session using detector unit Type II has concluded, and is now conducted using Type III. Monitoring is continued without any problem.
"Research on the effect of space environment against DNA recovery" experiment being continued. "Measurement of mutation rate under microgravity environment" experiment which is a retry experiment from STS-89 has been initiated today, June 5, 7:06 a.m. CDT. The video image of material observation of this experiment is being recorded by a data recorder, since video image down-link is not available due to malfunction of the Shuttle's Ku-band communication system.

- Shuttle Status -
Supply goods are being transferred between Mir and the Shuttle while the two spacecrafts are docked together. Scientific experiments are conducted in the Spacehab.
The Shuttle's Ku-band malfunction which is disturbing video image transmission to the ground has been investigated. It was reported that the malfunction originates from a part of the Shuttle exterior where it is inaccessible from astronauts. Video images from the Shuttle are still not available.
The data from AMS (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer), one of the primary missions of this flight to observe dark matter, is being recorded by a data recorder aboard the Shuttle, since data transmission function from the Shuttle is not available due to the malfunction of Shuttle Ku-band system. The AMS is planned to be used aboard the International Space Station.

The two crews
aboard Mir

Flight Day 3 (June 4 CDT)

- Status of Japanese Experiments -
Data acquisition from the Real-time Radiation Monitoring Device (RRMD) is being conducted without any problem. Radiation monitoring using the Human Body Phantom is also being performed as scheduled. The [Effect of microgravity on damaged DNA recovery] experiment which has started yesterday using radiation resistant bacteria was finished at June 4, 3:48 p.m. CDT. Another experiment, [Research on the effect of space environment against DNA recovery] was initiated.

- Shuttle Status -
The Space Shuttle Discovery successfully docked with the Russian Mir Space Station today at June 4, 11:58 p.m. CDT. The Shuttle and Mir will orbit the Earth for four days docked to each other.
Due to a malfunction in Discovery's Ku-band communication system, video images are currently being down-linked from Mir instead of the Shuttle.

Mir

Flight Day 2 (June 3 CDT)

- Status of Japanese Experiments -
The Real-time Radiation Monitoring (RRMD) Device was activated at June 3, 3:51 p.m. CDT. Data is being received in a perfect manner.
Crew have set the Human Body Phantom in side the Spacehab, and radiation monitoring has started at June 3, 6:11 p.m. "Research on the effect of space environment against DNA recovery" has started June 3, 4:12 p.m. CDT.

- Shuttle Status -
Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-91)is gradually adjusting its orbit to prepare for the docking with the Russian space station Mir scheduled tomorrow.
After liftoff, flight controllers noted a problem in Discovery's KU-band communications system, a system that uses a dish-shaped antenna aboard the Shuttle to provide high-rate communications, including television and large volume of experiment data, to the ground. In order to cover this situation a modification was applied to S-band communication system, being used to Shuttle system data and other data communication, to allow it to handle additional data. The cause of this malfunction is under investigation.
Data from the Japanese RRMD equipment is not being transmitted by KU-band, so no effect is estimated.

Launch of Discovery

Flight Day 1 (June 2 CDT)

- Shuttle Status -
The Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-91) was launched at 5:06 p.m. CDT, June 2, 1998 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
A series of precursor missions aimed to mitigate the risks of the construction and the operations of the International Space Station (ISS) is being conducted by docking the Space Shuttle with the Russian space station Mir on the same orbit as the ISS. The STS-91 mission will be the final mission in a series of the nine flights.

Shuttle Status Before Launch

Package weight check
prior to hand over
to NASA

June 1 EDT
- Preparation Status of Japanese Experiments -
The ground reference experiment for "Measurement of Mutation Rate Under Microgravity Environment" is now being conducted. A Ground reference experiment is conducted to compare its results with those acquired aboard the Space Shuttle. Containers of materials to be loaded on the Shuttle have been handed over to NASA.

- Shuttle Status -
Launch preparation is proceeding as scheduled. Preparation for loading liquid oxygen and hydrogen to the fuel cells is being processed. The loading will begin at 5 p.m. and will complete by midnight. The trouble shooting for a computer aboard Mir has successfully completed.

Experiment materials
ready for hand over
to NASA

May 31 EDT
- Preparation Status of Japanese Experiments -
Prior to the hand-over of the Bio-specimen to NASA, the container was checked and number of items were confirmed. The delivery is scheduled to complete at 10:00 a.m. EDT, June 1.

May 30 EDT
- Shuttle Status -
Launch count down has been started from May 30 (EDT) with all pre-launch tasks on schedule. The contingency space suits have been installed into the orbiter's airlock. Main engine cover has been closed, and final thruster system check is being conducted.
The crew has arrived at Kennedy Space Center from Houston and is conducting final checkout.

May 28 EDT
- Preparation Status of Japanese Experiments -
Bio-specimens for Japanese experiments are scheduled to be loaded in the mid-deck of the Space Shuttle on the 1st of June (EDT). Today, NASDA operations team set up the equipment to be used to prepare loading the bio-specimen on board the Shuttle, and also reviewed the preparation of the ground comparison experiments.

May 27 EDT
- Preparation Status of Japanese Experiments -
Today from Japan, bio-specimen and other equipment to be boarded on the Space Shuttle were brought into NASA Kennedy Space Center where the Space Shuttle will be launched from, and NASDA's operation team started the preparation activities for the launch scheduled on June 3.

Last Updated : June 15, 1998