NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 22 November 2004
SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2004) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Underway: Week 5 of Increment 10.
After morning inspection, before breakfast and first exercise, FE Salizhan Sharipov and CDR/SO Leroy Chiao completed their second session with the Russian crew health-monitoring program’s medical assessment MO-9/Biochemical Urinalysis. The FE stowed the hardware afterwards. [MO-9 is conducted regularly every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs) and is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for US crewmembers for IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) evaluation as part of the “PHS/Without Blood Labs” exam. The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus Urolux developed originally for the Mir program. Afterwards, the data were entered in the medical equipment computer (MEC)’s special IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program).]
Also before starting their regular workday, both crewmembers performed their third session of the periodic Russian biomedical assessments PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement) and PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement). [Sharipov set up the BMM mass-measuring device, which uses calibrated springs to determine the subject’s mass in weightless space, and stowed it away after the tests. Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the ISOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures.]
|
Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
Having set up the MBI-8 “Profilaktika” equipment yesterday, Salizhan today performed his first round of the Russian preventive health maintenance fitness test series, starting with the VELO stationary bike ergometer. [There will be two more tests, one with the NS-1 Load Trainer tomorrow, the other with the TVIS treadmill on 11/24. Test procedure is identical to the Russian MO-5 assessment, but in addition to the nominal procedure, it calls for the use of the TEEM-100M gas analyzer, measurement of the lactate level in the subject’s blood with the AccuSport device, and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test. Results are entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data are transferred to the borrowed U.S. SSC6 IBM 760XD laptop, also on a tape cassette (Cardiocassette-2000), and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm. The lactate levels were called down to specialists standing by at TsUP.]
Chiao performed the periodic cleaning of the VTR-1 (Video Tape Recorder #1) tape heads, after the ground remotely activated the machine to enable the cleaning. It was subsequently deactivated again. [VTR head cleaning is required after 250 hours operational (power-on) time. It is done sparingly to prevent unnecessary wear on the heads.]
Afterwards, Leroy completed the periodic one-hour task of inspecting and cleaning hatch seals and hatch plate sealing surfaces in the U.S. segment (USOS), working on six hatches, viz.: Node (forward, aft & starboard), Lab (aft), and Airlock, in support of regular ACS (atmospheric control system) maintenance. [Hatch seals are lubricated with Braycote-601, which is also deposited on the sealing surfaces. Dust and particles (FOD, foreign object debris) can stick to the lubricant and to both seals and sealing surfaces. These are regularly inspected with a magnifying glass for FOD, nicks, burrs, cuts or gouges that would impair a proper seal, and are cleaned, as required, with brushes, dry wipes and Kapton tape. (Last time done: 8/30).]
The FE performed troubleshooting on the failed SKV-1 air conditioner, which has been down since 11/6. In attempting to identify the machine’s failed component (condensate evacuation pump, condensate evacuation line, or heat exchanger unit), Salizhan used a manual pump to transfer condensate from SKV-1 to the CBK condensate collection container between activation cycles of the regular NOK-1 condensate pump. More troubleshooting is scheduled for Day 2. [Normally each SKV is activated at least once a month to keep the internal lines lubricated. SKV-1 was turned on for that purpose on 11/4. On 11/6 TsUP noticed from an increase in cabin humidity that SKV-1 was not producing any water. It was confirmed that all downstream valves were properly configured.]
Sharipov was scheduled to perform the periodic cleaning of the Kodak DCS760 digital still camera that is used for the Uragan and Diatomeya earth observation programs and other onboard experiments.
EVA battery maintenance/reconditioning in the Airlock is continuing with no issues so far. Today the CDR terminated charging of the NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) batteries, reconfigured the SSC laptop for discharge and initiated the battery discharging.
Leroy then conducted an inventory/audit of the onboard SSE (space station eyewash) equipment, to bring it up to date. [This includes a bag for catching the waste water and disinfectant wipes in the towel/napkin pantry. During Inc. 9, the SSE was found with a full waste water bag. To return it to functionality, information on the plumbing and bag is required.]
The CDR also completed an inventory & stowage audit of hygiene equipment, inspecting existing bags with hygiene contents and consolidating them into as few bags as possible.
The FE meanwhile attended to the daily routine maintenance of the SOZh environmental control & life support systems in the SM and prepared the daily “delta” file for updating the IMS (inventory management system) databases. [Instructions were uplinked to Salizhan for facilitating his computerized searches for specific items in the laptop-resident IMS database.]
Sharipov again spent time on transferring waste to Progress-350/15P, based on an updated stowage breakdown from TsUP, listing items to be stowed or not to be stowed.
At ~10:45am EST, ISS attitude control was handed over to the Russian segment (RS) for the subsequent installation of a software patch (“Identity Quaternion”) on the two GNC MDMs (guidance, navigation & control multiplexer/demultiplexers). The patch will be removed later, after CCS (command & control system) upgrade with R4 software (see below). [For the loading, the backup GNC2 was reinitialized and recovered, leaving only the primary GNC1 in operation. Once the backup MDM was loaded and configured, attitude control was turned over to the RS. The GNC MDMs were then be swapped and the new backup was loaded with the patch, while the new primary was reconfigured to regain attitude control from the RS, at ~1:45pm. The crew was provided with a contingency procedure to help restore communications with MCC-H in the event that an unexpected primary GNC failure occurred during the patch load when there is no back-up GNC MDM.]
A step-up of the two C&C (command & control) MDMs to the new R4 load and of PCS (portable computer system) laptops to the R8 load (for supporting the CCS R4 step-up) is in preparation for the near future.
Continuity checks of CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) cable connections, which became necessary when its utility outlet panel #4 (UOP4) tested OK, have exonerated the bike of the RPCM trip on 11/11. CEVIS is now available for use again, plugged in UOP5.
The next charging of the Motorola-9505 Iridium satellite phone, now standard equipment on Soyuz DMs (descent modules), is scheduled tomorrow. [The Russian-proposed new procedure for the monthly recharging has been approved by safety officials of both sides with an NCR (Non-Compliance Report) valid for the particular satphone in question, i.e., for the remainder of this Increment. It is no longer required to double-contain the phone in two CTBs (crew transfer bags) for recharging its lithium-ion battery. During the procedure, the phone will be left in its fluoroplastic bag with open flap.]
Update on Soyuz 9S relocation: The Soyuz TMA-5 relocation to the FGB nadir port next Monday (11/29) will be preceded by a hot-fire thruster test on Wednesday (11/24, ~6:30am EST) while still attached to the DC1 docking compartment. A Russian request for using the U.S. IWIS (internal wireless instrumentation system) to collect structural dynamics data during the test is being processed. Also under study is a Russia-proposed second brief test firing of thrusters #17 & #18 during the actual transposition flyover at a minimal safe distance from the ISS. Purpose: to help diagnose the cause of the docking anomaly on 10/16 due to failure of the #18 thruster, which has been narrowed to either a software problem or a thruster problem. The two new braking thrusters, #27 & #28, have performed nominally.
Update on reboost underperformance: The Russian Commission looking into the 11/17 reboost underburn has unanimously determined that both onboard hardware and software involved in the maneuver were not at fault, and that the underperformance was caused by human error. Whether an additional reboost is needed to make up for the delta-V deficit, with a commensurate slip in Progress 16P launch, still needs to be determined by a joint ballistics team. [It appears that a new onboard computer setting controlling fuel flow, installed about a month ago, should have been inhibited for the reboost maneuver, but the single command to do so was left out of the uplinked command sequence.]
Leroy Chiao’s recent rack stowage consolidation in Lab and Node, intended to reduce the amount of stowed items while optimizing stowage volumes and locations, recovered 8.5 CTB equivalent of wasted space.
No CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets today.
CEO images can be viewed at these websites:
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at:
To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 10 crew visit:
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-9/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.
Expedition 10 Flight Crew Plans can be found at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines/
Previous NASA ISS On-orbit Status Reports can be found here. Previous NASA Space Station Status Reports can be found here. Previous NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Reports can be found here. A collection of all of these reports and other materials relating to Return to Flight for the Space Shuttle fleet can be found here.
Upcoming Key Events:
- Soyuz hot-fire thrusters test — 11/24 (~6:30am EST);
- Soyuz relocation DC1-FGB — 11/29;
- Progress 15P undocking & destructive reentry — 12/22;
- Progress 16P launch — 12/23;
- Progress 16B docking — 12/25 (GMT);
- EVA-12 — January 05 (1/27?).
|
|
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:02am EST [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 357.6 km
- Apogee height — 360.6 km
- Perigee height — 354.7 km
- Period — 91.69 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0004359
- Solar Beta Angle — -12.6 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.70
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 100 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 34317
ISS Altitude History
Apogee height — Mean Altitude — Perigee height
For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html. In addition, information on International Space Station sighting opportunities can be found at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ on NASA’s Human Spaceflight website. The current location of the International Space Station can be found at http://science.nasa.gov/temp/StationLoc.html at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Additional satellite tracking resources can be found at http://www.spaceref.com/iss/tracking.html.
