STS-107
Report #04 
Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 5:00 p.m. CST 
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas 
 
Space shuttle Columbia's astronauts pointed two Israeli cameras over the Atlantic 
and the Mediterranean today in search of small dust particles that might impact 
the weather and began experiments in human life sciences in the third day of the 
STS-107 scientific research flight. 

Red Team members Commander Rick Husband, Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla and 
Laurel Clark and Israeli Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon were awakened at 4:39 a.m. 
CST. Following a handover with their Blue Team counterparts, they took over for 
Pilot Willie McCool and Mission Specialists Dave Brown and Mike Anderson, who began 
an eight-hour sleep period at 9:39 a.m. CST. 

Specific experiment highlights today included:

�   A radiometric camera and a video camera were aimed at the Atlantic and the 
    Mediterranean as part of the Mediterranean Israeli Dust Experiment. Although 
    no dust was detected due to heavy cloud coverage, initial analysis showed that 
    the two cameras are working well, supplying high-quality images. The cloud 
    patterns imaged by the cameras showed remarkable details. The intent of the 
    experiment is to help researchers better understand how dust particles in the 
    atmosphere affect climate.

�   An experiment that looks at the movement of calcium through the body to further 
    understanding of bone loss in space began. Astronauts took oral calcium tracers 
    that will be monitored over the course of the mission to examine how calcium 
    metabolism changes in an astronaut's body during spaceflight. 

�   In the physical sciences, the second run of the Mechanics of Granular Materials 
    was completed. The objective of the experiment is to improve and enhance science 
    and technology in many disciplines including earthquake engineering and soil 
    mechanics. Results may lead to answers concerning the consequences of earthquakes, 
    such as damage to soils and foundations.  

Shortly after 2 p.m. CST, Red Team members took time out from their experiment 
schedule to talk with reporters from CNN, CBS News and Fox News Channel. Asked 
about the importance of the flight to Israel, Ramon commented that he views the 
mission as an "opening for great science for our nation."

The Blue Team will be awakened at 5:39 p.m. CST to continue work on the more than 
80 experiments aboard Columbia. Scheduled activities include initiation of experiments 
in the Combustion Module. It will be used to conduct three experiments that examine 
soot formation, lean combustion and fire suppression.

All systems aboard Columbia continue to function well.

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 6 Commander Ken Bowersox, 
Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin and NASA ISS Science Officer Don Pettit observed 
a milestone today as they presided over the final run of the Zeolite Crystal Growth 
experiment in the Destiny Lab. Experiment results may contribute to the technology 
used to make gasoline, products for the chemical industry and commercial film 
products.

The Expedition crew conducted a weekly planning conference with flight controllers 
in Houston and downlinked video of maintenance work performed this past week. 
Crewmembers have a light schedule of duties this weekend before resuming their full 
schedule of activities on Monday.