NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 9 December 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.
Before breakfast and exercise, FE Salizhan Sharipov completed his fourth session with the periodic Russian MedOps test “Gematokrit” (MO-10), measuring red cell count of the blood. [The blood samples were drawn from a finger with a perforator lancet, then centrifuged in two microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit’s minicentrifuge, and its hematocrit value was read off the tubes with a magnifying glass. It is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go down over time. After the exam, the data were saved in the IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer), and Sharipov stowed the equipment.]
Afterwards the crew also completed the blood analysis part of the standard IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) assessment, taking turns at assisting as CMO (Crew Medical Officer) and being the examined subject, using the U.S. PCBA (portable clinical blood analyzer). Clinical evaluation of the PHS protocol followed, and the third part of PHS, subjective evaluation by each crewmember, was performed later in the day. Afterwards, Leroy Chiao completed IFEP data entry for both of them and stowed the hardware. [The PHS exam, with PCBA analysis and clinical evaluation, is guided by special software (IFEP, in-flight examination program) on the medical equipment computer (MEC). While PCBA analyzes total blood composition, the blood’s red blood cell content (hematocrit) is measured by the complementary Russian MO-10 protocol.]
Sharipov deactivated the Elektron O2 generator, without purge, and checked on the proper valve positions, before turning on the BMP harmful contaminants filtration unit.
|
Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
Afterwards, Salizhan spent extensive time on the laying and installation of new cable trunks for the SUBA (onboard equipment control system) for improved automation of the system. Later, the Elektron was reactivated in 20 amps mode. [The SUBA controls, monitors, and diagnoses Service Module (SM) systems status. It operates using sensor output signals and command radio link SM functional outputs, onboard computer system (BVS) units, SM control panels, and system relay outputs. Its software resides in the SM central computer (TsVM) and terminal computer (TVM).]
The Science Officer continued his support of the ongoing ER3 ARIS hardware (EXPRESS Rack #3/Active Rack Isolation System) checkout. After removing the protective alignment guides, he observed the Position Control Stability Tests, first with ARIS ground-commanded to position hold mode for one second, later for 25 sec. The guides were subsequently reassembled and installed. [Background: Designed to attenuate external vibration disturbances of payload racks, ARIS is quite different from traditional shock absorbers by working with active feedback control. This is done with accelerometers to measure vibration disturbances, an electronic unit to process the data, eight actuators with pushrods for applying compensatory (counteracting) forces against the framework of the station in response to signals from the *electronic unit that are calculated to “counteract” the disturbances measured by the accelerometers, and microgravity rack barriers ( snubbers ) that prevent accidental disturbance of the active ARIS rack. Before regular operation, ARIS is being checked out and calibrated this week by the ground in order to fine-tune the multiple-component system.]
Leroy performed battery service/maintenance on two CDMKs (carbon dioxide monitoring kits), removing and replacing their 9V alkaline batteries. CDMK #1009 was deployed and CDMK #1011 restowed after battery change-out.
Chiao conducted the periodic verification of IMV (intermodular ventilation) airflow between the U.S. (USOS) and Russian segment (RS) using the Velocicalc meter. He also took CO2 readings with the CDMK #1009. [There is no direct measurement of airflow except as reflected by differences in atmosphere partial pressures measured between the RS and USOS. ppCO2 (CO2 partial pressure) is a good yardstick since an increasing ppCO2 in the Lab not reflected in the SM indicates that Vozdukh is not receiving the air from the Lab at an efficient rate. Periodic air flow degradation checks support establishing a most effective fan cleaning schedule.]
In the interest of continued station clean-up, the CDR gathered and prepared obsolete items from past increments for disposal. [Ground specialists have reviewed crew preference items that have been left on ISS in the past and have identified some items for common trash.]
FE Sharipov took the monthly sensor readings of the Pille-MKS radiation dosimetry experiment that has ten sensors placed at various locations in the Russian segment (port cabin window, starboard cabin window, ASU toilet facility, control panel, etc.). [Pille dosage values are called down or downlinked via Regul Paket/Email or OCA. (Last time done: 11/8).]
Leroy worked on the UOP4 (utility outlet panel #4) in the Lab, troubleshooting the hardware connections in place during the RPC (remote power controller) trip on 11/11 with resistance/continuity measurements (similar to what he did on CEVIS on 11/22).
Salizhan completed today s routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh life support system (including replacement of ASU toilet facility inserts) and prepared the regular IMS (inventory management system) delta file for export/import to the IMS databases.
The CDR updated the Photo/TV-Spec Book with uplinked ODF (operations data files) pages to turn it from a specialized to a more generic instructions book. [Replacing table of contents and removing EK (EarthKam) and Microbial Analysis specifications as well as film allocations.]
At ~12:15pm EST, Leroy conducted a 10-min. ham radio session with students and guests at Manordale Public School, Ottawa, Canada. [The school is located in the heart of the City of Ottawa, the Canadian capital. Manordale was recognized in the Guinness World Book of Records for making snow angels simultaneously with six other schools within the school district . Astronauts are encouraged to look closely during the winter months for any snow angels in sight. For the ham session today, the wife of the Prime Minister of Canada, Sheila Martin, was scheduled to be in attendance as an observer.]
The crew performed their daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill, RED exerciser, CEVIS cycle and VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer. Salizhan’s daily protocol currently prescribes a 1.5-hr structured set on the treadmill (today: Day 2 of a new set) and one hour on VELO.
Afterwards, Leroy transferred the daily TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC (medical equipment computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.
On the U.S. segment (USOS), the SIGI1 (space integrated GPS/inertial navigation system #1) is down because of a failed receiver/processor. Analysis is underway. Good state vector (velocity, position, time) data continue to be received from SIGI2 and Russian sources. Also, Russian attitude sources remain available, plus attitude propagation from SIGI1 with Russian updates.
Yesterday s crew inspection of the General Luminaire Assemblies (GLA) situation in the USOS has shown that two LHAs (Lamp Housing Assemblies) are failed in the Lab, plus two more LHAs and one BBA (Baseplate Ballast Assembly) in the Node. There are no spares left on board, and remedial action has to await arrival of Progress 16P.
To utilize all of the oxygen left in storage aboard Progress 15P (8 kg), the Elektron will be shut down on 12/14 for subsequent cabin air represses. Elektron will then be turned back on immediately before undocking of 15P on 12/22.
TsUP/Moscow continues investigating the failed SKV1 air conditioner. SKV2 is working nominally.
Update on thruster 18 failure on Soyuz 9S: Engineers in Russia confirmed that the failure of the DPO18 thruster on 9S was due to a mechanical problem with the thruster, and not the software. During 9S docking on 10/16, the autopilot automatically performed an abort burn because of excessive closing speed. The hot fire test on 11/24 showed that the thruster did not look nominal. RSC-Energia engineers have indicated that two pieces of evidence point to a mechanical failure: flow meters show imbalance in the fuel ratio as the fuel appears to burning rich in oxygen; and the plume is visible for all of the entire test, indicating incomplete combustion. An official report from RSA is forthcoming.
Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, no longer limited in the current LVLH attitude, were Shanghai, Yangtze Delta, China (Shanghai s downtown lies up the estuary of the Yangtze River on the south bank. It may require two 180-mm lens images to capture the full extent of this major city. The Yangtze River mouth is another formal CEO target. Images of engineering works along the shorelines are requested, as these begin to materially affect the water flow and sedimentation in the estuary. Looking right for Shanghai and the delta. Also, a smog event is building. Oblique views right, with some landmarks, such as the coastline, are of great interest. Flow lines in the smog show source points and transport directions. Chinese smog has been sensed in Alaska and even in northern California. Taiwan is also a major regional source of smog: the island and its smog streamers may be visible off track right ~5 degrees), Lahore, Pakistan (looking a touch right for this city), and Muglad Basin fans, SW Sudan (broad handheld images have now been acquired of this remote region. The ground therefore requested a mapping swath of more detailed images [overlapping] along track, just left of nadir, for 2 minutes. The interest in this area is that the modern landforms and processes documented by the crew [all new to earth science] are probably exact analogs of the conditions under which sediments directly below, were laid down. These buried sediments, millions of years old and thousands of feet below, host large hydrocarbon deposits. Understanding the modern analogs should help predict underground patterns).
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-10/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:
- Progress 15P undocking & destructive reentry — 12/22 (Eastern);
- Progress 16P launch — 12/23 (5:19pm EST);
- Progress 16P docking — 12/25 (7:10pm EST);
- EVA-12 — 1/25/05;
- Progress 16P undocking & destructive reentry — 2/27/05;
- Progress 17P launch — 2/28/05.
- EVA-13 — 3/25/05;
- Soyuz 9S undock — 4/25/05 (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS).
|
ISS Location NOW |
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 5:58am EST [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 355.6 km
- Apogee height — 358.5 km
- Perigee height — 352.6 km
- Period — 91.65 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.000436
- Solar Beta Angle — -69.6 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 120 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 34585
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.
