ISS Crew Concludes Its Work With Two Science Investigations<br /><br />Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike<br />Fincke are in the final weeks of their stay aboard the International Space<br />Station. On Thursday, they wrapped up their scheduled work with two U.S.<br />Station science experiments.<br /><br />They completed their third and final diet logging session with the Effect of<br />Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle (Biopsy) experiment. This<br />experiment seeks to establish the basis for reductions in limb muscle size,<br />force and power at the cellular level that are induced by microgravity and<br />determine how long it takes for microgravity to affect skeletal muscles.<br />This would allow predictions to be made regarding muscle changes that may<br />occur on a roundtrip flight to Mars.<br /><br />The crewmembers also had a follow-up analysis meeting with scientists on the<br />ground for the Advanced Ultrasound in Microgravity (ADUM) experiment. They<br />held their final session of ADUM on Tuesday during which they conducted<br />successful bone scans. ADUM seeks to better understand the ability to<br />quickly and remotely transmit medical data to the ground. The application<br />may also find benefits on Earth, allowing for much quicker injury diagnosis<br />for patients at remote locations by doctors based at hospitals.<br /><br />Padalka also worked with a Russian biomedical experiment "Pilot." This<br />experiment tests the piloting skills in microgravity.<br /><br />The duo also continued to prepare for their Oct. 23 departure from the<br />Station.<br /><br />Before they return to Earth, Padalka and Fincke will welcome Expedition 10<br />Commander Leroy Chiao and Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov aboard the ISS.<br />Expedition 10 is scheduled to launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan<br />at 10:06 p.m. CDT Oct. 13 (0306 GMT Oct. 14) and arrive at the Station at<br />11:24 p.m. CDT Oct. 15 (0424 GMT Oct. 16) to begin a six-month stay at the<br />orbital outpost. Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin will<br />travel to the Station with Expedition 10 and return to Earth with Expedition<br />9