NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 23 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.
CDR Leroy Chiao started the day by performing his second general MedOps PFE (periodic fitness evaluation), a 1.5-hr. procedure that checks up on blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) during programmed exercise on the CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) in the Lab. Readings were taken with the BP/ECG (blood pressure/electrocardiograph) and the HRM (heart rate monitor) watch with its radio transmitter, with Sharipov assisting his crewmate as Crew Medical Officer (CMO). [BP/ECG provides automated noninvasive systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements while also monitoring and displaying accurate heart rates on a continual basis at rest and during exercise.]
For FE Salizhan Sharipov, it was Day 2 of the three-part MBI-8 “Profilaktika” (preventive health maintenance) fitness test series started yesterday for his first time, today using the NS-01 load trainer on the VELO cycle ergometer, keeping a log and supported by tag-up with medical support personnel at TsUP/Moscow. The CDR was available to assist as necessary. [This Russian fitness test consists of four types of exercise, viz., neck tilting (back/forward), simultaneous forearm flexing, trunk extension, and trunk flexes. Each type of exercise consists of a series of 15 motions repeated two times. Load levels are selected by the ground and do not change from test to test. Total duration of the test is 13 min. Gas analysis, subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels, and blood test for lactate and Creatine Kinase levels are also performed as a part of this test, using the TEEM-100M gas analyzer, AccuSport analyzer, and Reflotron-IV blood analyzer.]
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Supported by Chiao, EVA battery maintenance/reconditioning in the Airlock continued with no issues so far. After reconfiguring the SSC laptop for running the automated discharge procedure with its special DOS application, Leroy initiated the discharge of the two REBAs (rechargeable EVA battery assemblies) in the battery chargers (BCs) #3 and #4. He also installed the first (of three) PGT (pistol grip tool) batteries in the PGT for discharge, expected to take between 4-5 hours. [On 11/19, one of the four EHIP (EMU helmet interchangeable portable) light batteries, #1038, was found to be incompatible with BC2 channel 2, as has been encountered twice before for this battery. Its recharge in a different BC slot worked nominally. The incompatibility is probably simply a fit/tolerance issue.]
Starting another round of the periodic preventive maintenance of RS (Russian segment) ventilation systems, the FE spent ~50 min. in the DC1 docking module to clean the VD1 & VD2 air duct filters, replace the PF1 & PF2 dust collector cartridges and clean the V1 & V2 fans and screens.
Later in the day, Sharipov moved to the Functional Cargo Block (FGB) for a 1.5-hr task of accessing and cleaning the VT7 fan screens of the three SOTR (thermal control system) gas-liquid heat exchangers (GZhT4), without VT7 power-down.
CDR Chiao cleaned the filter of the autonomous PCG-STES010 (Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System) payload in the Lab. [For the PCG-STES, today is the 727th day of continuous powered operation onboard the ISS, which is unprecedented for this experiment hardware. Its previous run time onboard Mir did not exceed 200 days. Nominally, PCG-STES010 powered operations are expected to continue while plans are finalized for its return on STS-114 next year.]
The FE retrieved the Motorola-9505 Iridium satellite phone from its location in the Soyuz TMA-5 descent module (DM) for its monthly recharging of the lithium-ion battery and started the 30-min. process. The charging was monitored as it took place, and upon completion Salizhan placed the phone inside its SSSP Iridium kit and stowed it back in the DM’s operational data files (ODF) container. [The Russian-proposed new procedure for the monthly recharging was jointly approved by safety officials with an NCR (Non-Compliance Report) valid for the particular satphone in question, i.e., for the remainder of this Increment, according to which it is no longer necessary to double-contain the phone in two CTBs (crew transfer bags) for recharging its lithium-ion battery. During the procedure, the phone is left in its fluoroplastic bag with open flap.]
Leroy spent another 1.5 hours to finish up on the fire port labeling that he started on 11/21, when he completed about half of the installation task in the allotted time. [The CDRA (carbon dioxide removal assembly) filter cleaning originally scheduled for today was postponed to allow for this activity.]
For Sharipov, it was Day 2 of his troubleshooting on the failed SKV-1 air conditioner, which has been down since 11/6. Purpose of the activity is to identify which of the machine’s components (condensate evacuation pump, condensate evacuation line, heat exchanger unit) has failed. For the troubleshooting, 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. [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 worked at the Service Module (SM) Central Post, conducting a functional test of its VKU-2 video control monitor, with TV system and LIV camera activated by the SPP automated daily timeline sequencer via command radio link, but not involving a TV downlink. [The test was supported by tagup with ground specialists via VHF/S-band.]
The FE also 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.
To update the onboard Warning Books with revised U.S. MCS (motion control system) procedures, Leroy printed out three uplinked pages for new emergency steps in case of loss of CMG attitude control and inserted them in the two books.
Later, Chiao completed another inventory and stowage audit, this time of available vent closeout panels. [Objective: to locate and verify a Ziploc bag containing four of the panels.]
Preparatory to the upcoming Soyuz 9S relocation next Monday, Leroy conducted a VHF (very-high frequency) comm check with the CONUS NASA ground stations at White Sands (WSC) and Wallops (WLP) during a pass at 2:16pm and 2:31pm EST, respectively. [VHF comm on two channels are usually supporting Russian assets in the SM and Soyuz during Soyuz free-flight operations.]
After his workout on the CEVIS during this morning’s PFE, Chiao completed his daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on RED (resistive exercise device) and TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation & stabilization), while this morning’s NS-1 exercise for the MBI-8 protocol took care of Salizhan’s daily workout.
Afterwards, Chiao attended to the daily transfer of TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC (medical equipment computer) and also performed the monthly maintenance of the treadmill. [This consists mainly of an inspection of the Russian and US tie-down harnesses for any damage.]
At ~10:15am, the crew participated in a 20-min. live/interactive PAO event of two interviews with media from the San Francisco Bay Area, Leroy’s home place, one with Tri Valley Magazine (Marcia Parker), the other with Diablo Magazine (Peter Crooks).
Update on GNC MDM upload: The “Identity Quaternion” patch was successfully loaded on both GNC MDMs (guidance, navigation & control computers) yesterday. GN&C-2 was loaded first and then configured to Primary mode. GN&C-1 was loaded and brought back up to the Wait state in preparation for uplinking additional PPLs (pre-positioned loads) after which it will remain as backup.
Update on Soyuz 9S thruster tests: There will be two tests of Soyuz 9 thrusters, one tomorrow morning while docked, the other next Monday (11/29) during the relocation flight from DC1 to FGB: Tomorrow’s motion control system (MCS) test, to be conducted at 6:30am with the ISS in free drift for ~20 min., is the standard “Test #2” that is always performed prior to Soyuz relocation or undocking/descent in order to verify thruster health. All thrusters are activated by the crew for no more than one second, one axis at a time, using the translational and rotational hand controllers. Because TMA-5 is the first Soyuz with two additional forward-facing (braking) thrusters (27, 28), there will be two successive braking thruster tests, first on 17 & 18, then on 27 & 28. The second hot-fire test, on 11/29, is motivated by the anomalous approach &docking of Soyuz 9S on 10/16, which required manual control takeover by Soyuz CDR Sharipov after an autopilot-commanded abort burn by all four forward-pointing DPO approach & attitude control thrusters (17, 18, 27, 28). Since the problem was due to offnominal (intermittent) operation of thruster 18, the test, at a distance from the ISS of ~30 m over RGS (Russian ground stations), will be only on DPO 17 & 18, for five seconds, using the translational hand controller.
Update on Soyuz 9S relocation: Relocation preparations will begin on Sunday, 11/28, with a 7.5-hr. sleep cycle shift, from 4:30pm EST to 9:00am, followed by wakeup at 5:45pm. After U.S. segment (USOS) hatch closing at ~7:15pm, the crew will spent 4.5 hrs. preparing the RS for unmanned operation (e.g., shutting down systems that cannot be remote-controlled), then egress into the Soyuz at midnight, with DC1 hatch closing at ~12:15am (Monday morning). Undocking is scheduled for 4:32am EST, DPO17/18 thruster test at ~4:54am and docking at the FGB nadir port at 5:00am, five minutes before local sunset. In case of an off-nominal situation with delayed docking, for any minor problems the crew could dock a little late, having covered docking in darkness in their training. For a major problem, it is expected that the Soyuz would coast in free flight for 24 hours rather than stationkeep for one orbit (90 minutes), which would use up significantly more Soyuz propellants than coming back next day.
Update on recovered stowage space: As reported yesterday, Leroy Chiao’s recent rack stowage consolidation in Lab and Node, intended to reduce the amount of stowed items while optimizing stowage volumes & locations, recovered 8.5 CTB (crew transfer bag) equivalent of wasted space. In more “civil” terms, this equates to almost 16 cubic feet (1 CTBE = 1.86 cu.ft.)
Today’s CEO photo targets, no longer limited in the current LVLH attitude, were Hyderabad, India (this overpass provided an opportunity for high-resolution photography of this megacity. Some haze from atmospheric pollution may have been present. Mapping swaths from the urban-rural fringe through the city center are useful for tracking urban growth and fine-scale urban morphology), Muglad Basin fans, SW Sudan (weather was predicted to be excellent for detailed mapping of this oil-bearing megafan complex. Mapping swaths across the fans are particularly useful for delineating individual fan boundaries), Patagonian Glaciers, S. America (weather was predicted to be mostly clear for high-resolution mapping of glaciers to the left of track. The smaller glaciers located on the western side of the mountains are of particular interest as not much imagery of this portion of the ice fields exists), and Internal waves, Bahamas (large breaks in cloud cover are predicted over the Bahamas for internal wave photography. Looking to the right of track for the sunglint point).
CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the 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 (4:32am);
- Progress 15P undocking & destructive reentry — 12/22;
- Progress 16P launch — 12/23;
- Progress 16B docking — 12/25 (GMT);
- EVA-12 — January 05 (1/27?).
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ISS Location NOW |
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 4:09am EST [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 357.5 km
- Apogee height — 360.5 km
- Perigee height — 354.5 km
- Period — 91.69 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.000445
- Solar Beta Angle — -17.4 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.70
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 120 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 34332
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.
