International Space Updates, June 2009

Russia is testing a new spacesuit; NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter back to work; and NASA prepares for shuttle Endeavour launch on Saturday

Two astronauts working onboard the International Space Station (ISS) have tested new Russian spacesuit prototypes during a scheduled five-hour mission. Russian media sources indicate NASA astronaut Michael Barratt and Russian Commander Gennady Padalka tested the Russian-made Orlan-MK space suits while installing several new pieces of equipment.

Astronauts testing the new spacesuit (Source: NASA)

The Orlan-MK first made its way to the ISS last September, and has integrated life support monitors, warning system, and LCD screens built directly into the suit. The suits will be tested in space aboard the ISS again later this week, when spacewalking astronauts continue work on an ISS module.

Even though it unexpectedly went into safe mode last week, the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the craft rebooted its computer on June 3, and is just now getting back to scanning the Red Planet's surface.

It's possible the computer reboot was caused when a solar particle or cosmic ray hit it as it examined Mars. Since arriving at Mars in 2006, the Reconnaissance Orbiter has returned more images and information about the Red Planet than every other NASA-led Mars mission ever.

"The June 3 rebooting resembled a Feb. 23 event on the spacecraft," NASA said in a press statement. ""Engineers are re-investigating possible root causes for both events. The new investigation includes reconsidering the likelihood of erroneous voltage readings resulting from cosmic rays or solar particles hitting an electronic component."

The countdown for the scheduled shuttle Endeavour launch to the ISS on Saturday has officially started, with a 90 percent chance of good launch weather on Saturday morning. Originally serving as a rescue shuttle in case shuttle Atlantis ran into problems repairing the Hubble Space Telescope, Endeavour will go to the ISS to help participating space nations move one step closer to finishing construction.

Along with ferrying food and supplies for the now six-man ISS crew, parts for the Kibo Japanese space lab will also be installed. NASA is trying to complete construction of the ISS prior to 2010, when the current fleet of shuttles is scheduled to be retired by the U.S. space agency.