"They handled over 4.5 tonnes of cargoes brought in by three Russian space trucks Progress. But they did extra vehicular activities only once", RIA Novosti was told at the Mission Control Centre, located near Moscow.
During the 183 days of their prospective stay in the ISS, their orbital relief crew of Gennadi Padalka of Russia and Michael Fincke of the United States will have to offload two Progress shiploads. And do three, not two as earlier planned, spacewalks. "During their last spacewalk the crewmen may have to repair the failed gyroscope of American make", the centre's spokesman added.
"Unlike in the Russian Mir orbital station, the ISS gyroscopes are mounted outside, on the outboard metal truss of the American Unity module. A spacewalk will be a must", he explained.
Only two of the four American-made devices ensuring the ISS precise orbital orientation are now working as designed. So far, the ISS will rely for flight correction on the Russian orientation engines sitting in the Russian service module. Such corrections take much fuel.
