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Mars rover cake
NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe is presented with a commemorative birthday cake marking the one-year anniversary of the Mars rover Spirit's landing. (1min 21sec file)
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Rover news briefing
On the one-year anniversary of Spirit's landing on Mars, mission officials hold a status news conference on the twin exploration rovers to discuss the latest findings and future plans for the craft. (31min 20sec file)
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NASA chief speech
During celebrations marking the Mars rover milestone on Jan. 3, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe gave this speech at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. (10min 20sec file)
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The Mars rover story
Storyteller Syd Lieberman presents "Twelve Wheels on Mars" that describes the adventure to build, launch and explore with the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity. (54min 57sec file)
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Delta 4-Heavy launch
The Boeing Delta 4-Heavy rocket is launched from Cape Canaveral on its demonstration flight. (4min 35sec file)
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Onboard the Heavy
An onboard camera records the launch of Boeing's Delta 4-Heavy rocket from liftoff through separation of the outer boosters. (4min 40sec file)
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Station crew troubleshoots oxygen generator problem
BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION
Posted: January 4, 2005

The Elektron oxygen generator aboard the international space station shut down New Year's Day and after three unsuccessful attempts to flush air bubbles from the device, the station astronauts were forced to tap into oxygen reserves aboard a Russian supply ship today, NASA officials said.


The International Space Station. Credit: NASA
 
Additional troubleshooting is expected, but it is not yet known what might be needed to clear air bubbles from the oxygen generator and return it to service. As of today, Expedition 10 commander Leroy Chiao and flight engineer Salizhan Sharipov had enough reserves for at least 57 days of normal operations, not counting additional oxygen in tanks attached to the U.S. Quest airlock module.

The reserves are in the form of so-called "candles," which produce oxygen as a by-product of combustion, and air brought up in the Progress 16P vehicle that docked to the station Christmas Day. Enough air for 15 days of operation is available in the Progress tanks while the candles can provide an additional 42 days of air.

The next Progress supply ship is scheduled to dock with the space station March 2, within a day or two of when the crew would need to tap into the Quest air supply if the Elektron cannot be fixed. The Progress will carry additional oxygen, as usual, and, depending on the results of additional Elektron troubleshooting, spare parts for the oxygen generator.

The Elektron suffered a similar malfunction in late August. The Expedition 9 crew was able to restore the unit to service after extensive troubleshooting and installation of an external pump assembly. Additional components, shipped up on a Progress, also were installed to complete the repair.

While the Expedition 10 crew is not in any immediate danger or threat of evacuation, this issue bears watching in the days and weeks ahead.