By Remote Control, No Less.

The International Space Station has gained the use of a new tool this week as remote control tests for the station's robotic arm were completed Friday. The robotics officer operated the 60-foot-long Canadarm2 robotic arm from ground control while the station crew monitored the experiment.

The station crew would normally control the arm using a workstation in the Destiny Laboratory, but these tests have opened the capability to use the arm from the ground if needed in the future.(2002 File photo)

The crew continued to work with the faulty Elektron oxygen generation unit. Commander Sergei Krikalev tightened a valve in the unit, attempted to pressurize the system and checked for leakage. Unfortunately, the system still doesn't work.

The crew is breathing oxygen generated by the two solid fuel oxygen generation canisters that they activate each day. The station has "plentiful" supplies for now, with more scheduled to arrive later this month. Spare parts for the Elektron should arrive later this year also.

John Phillips studied the forces involved as fluids of different thicknesses are mixed. The Miscible Fluids in Microgravity (MFMG) investigation studies how fluids dissolve and what role is played by surface tension in that process. The experiment could be useful for many processes and experiments, possibly leading to the growth of protein crystals for medical research.

The crew will start cleaning up next week, packing trash and surplus equipment into the Progress supply ship that is currently docked to the station. On June 15th, the supply ship will be undocked and sent off to a fiery demise in the atmosphere.

ISS Progress 18 is scheduled to launch on June 16th and dock on June 18th.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/station