NASA reports to ANS that flight controllers in Houston and Moscow

continue to verify the health of all systems aboard the International

Space Station through routine commanding from the ground.



Battery cycling of the five usable storage units inside the Zarya module

was completed this past week as controllers prepare for the next round

of deep cycling. The deep cycling of each battery takes about five days.



The early communications system inside the Unity module continues to

operate normally. Every week or two, commands are issued to switch

between the right and left low gain antennas to ensure their health.



Other weekly checks included measuring and refining the spin rate of

the complex, which is oriented with Unity pointed at the Earth. The slow

spin maintains even temperatures on all systems and minimizes

propellant usage.



All other systems are in excellent shape as ISS orbits at an

altitude of 242 by 225 statute miles. Since the launch of Zarya last

November, ISS has completed more than 5,594 orbits.



Space Station viewing opportunities worldwide are available on the

Internet at:



        http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/