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STS-107
Report #13 
Monday, January 27, 2003 -- 5:30 P.M. CST 
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas 

Some experiments have run their course aboard the Space Shuttle
Columbia, but there is more in store as STS-107 science continues
around the clock in the Spacehab Research Double Module. 

The Structures of Flame Balls experiment, looking at ways of improving 
engine combustion efficiency, was shut down after a total of 39 tests 
using 15 different fuel mixtures. A total of 55 flame balls were 
ignited, including the weakest and leanest flames ever burned. The 
longest-lived flame burned in space for 81 minutes, part of a total 
burn time for all flames of 6 1 /4 hours. Oscillating (shrinking and 
growing) flame balls, which had been predicted theoretically, were 
observed for the first time. 

The Mechanics of Granular Materials test, looking for ways to better
understand and deal with soil movement associated with earthquakes,
completed its 10th and final run. The Microbial Physiology Flight
Experiment expended its eighth and final set of samples looking at
yeast and bacteria growth in microgravity. The Canadian-developed
Osteoporosis in Orbit also completed its operations. 

The Red team, or day shift - Commander Rick Husband, Mission
Specialists Kalpana Chawla and Laurel Clark and Israel Space Agency
Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon - took time out from microgravity
experimentation about 11:30 a.m. CST to chat with the other three
spacefarers on orbit - Commander Ken Bowersox, NASA ISS Science
Officer Don Pettit and Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin. At the time,
the space station was some 240 miles above Southern Russia while the
shuttle was over northern Brazil. 

The Expedition Six crew aboard the station concentrated on loading new 
software on the EXPRESS experiment racks, working with Russian and 
American experiments and preparing the old Progress for its undocking 
this week to make room for a new supply craft, scheduled to launch 
Feb. 2 from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Khazakstan and dock with the 
station Feb. 4. 

After a 2:39 p.m. CST wake-up to the sounds of "Slow Boat to Rio" by
Earl Klugh, the Blue team of astronauts - Payload Commander Michael
Anderson, Mission Specialist Dave Brown and Pilot Willie McCool was
scheduled to enjoy half a day of rest before resuming research
activities concentrating on the Mediterranean Israeli Dust Experiment, 
which yesterday captured its first observations of dust over the 
Atlantic. Scientists with the Israel Space Agency reported that 
preliminary data looks promising. 

The next STS-107 status report will be issued Tuesday afternoon, or as 
events warrant. 

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