NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 11 January 2005

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. >>>Today eight years ago, Dr. Chiao performed two spacewalks from STS-72/Endeavour to work with the Japanese-launched OAST-Flyer. designed to demonstrate tools & hardware and evaluate techniques to be used in ISS assembly. In completing this mission, Chiao logged a total of 214 hours and 41 seconds in space, including 12 hours and 57 minutes EVA time, travelling 3.7 million miles in 142 orbits and becoming the first Asian-American and ethnic Chinese to perform a spacewalk. Congratulations, Leroy, on this great milestone of spaceflight history!<<<

Before breakfast, CDR/SO Chiao performed the 24-hr. data registration of the acoustic dosimeters (two body-worn and one static) deployed yesterday. Readings will again be taken tonight before sleep time, after which Leroy will deactivate and stow the dosimeters. [Before turning the dosimeters back on again, their batteries were changed out. The dosimeters were then statically deployed for approximately 12 hrs in specified locations.]

After shutting off the Elektron O2 generator temporarily to deactivate VD-SU control mode, FE Salizhan Sharipov worked on the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry system, replacing the redundant string A’s PZU (Rom) in the TA968MA central processor subsystem unit. Later, the Elektron was powered on again after reactivation of VD-SU mode.

In the Lab module, Chiao powered up the HRF GASMAP (Human Research Facility/Gas Analyzer System for Metabolic Analysis Physiology) and its laptop for the regular functional checkout of the GASMAP system, which is a little more comprehensive than the two sessions performed by Leroy so far. [After unstowing, cabling and powering up the gear, Chiao was supported by ground tagup in the functional check procedure. Afterwards, GASMAP was deactivated with its HRF PC and the collected files added to the downlink package.]

The FE worked on the Stage 2 installation of new cables for the SUBA (onboard equipment control system) for improved automation of the system, which he had laid out on 12/9/04. [The SUBA controls, monitors, and diagnoses 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).]

Chiao conducted another installment of the extensive periodic noise level measurements program throughout the station, using the US sound level meter (SLM) in the cabin for a 2-hr. acoustic survey. The recorded data were later transferred to the medical equipment computer (MEC). [These acoustic measurements are obtained once every two months at 46 locations in the Lab (13), Node (4), Airlock (3), FGB (7), SM (11) and DC-1 (3) modules. The survey also includes five crew preference locations taken at their perceived loudest locations in the station. The SLM gives instantaneous noise levels and their frequency spectra, which are transferred to the MEC laptop via an RS232 cable and later downlinked with regular CHeCS (crew health care systems) data dump or via OCA. ]

The CDR also performed an inspection of the Lab window, taking digital photographs of the panes with the Kodak 760 DCS (digital camera system).

Leroy did the routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, today including the weekly inspection of the BRPK air/liquid condensate separator apparatus. He also prepared the regular IMS (inventory management system) delta file for export/import to the IMS databases.

The crew broke out and set up the equipment for tomorrow’s scheduled Russian PZE MO-9 “Urolux” biochemical urine test and U.S. PHS(Periodic Health Status)/Without Blood Labs exam, a clinical evaluation of both crewmembers, each one acting first as CMO (crew medical officer) and then being the examined subject.

For another microbial air sampling run with the Russian MedOps SZM-MO-21 experiment Ecosphera, planned for tomorrow, Salizhan prepared the equipment by charging the Ecosphera battery and activating the Cryogem-03 refrigerator. [The equipment, consisting of an air sampler set, a charger, power supply unit, and incubation tray for Petri dishes, determines microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.]

The P6 4B1 battery reconditioning is coming to an end. The ground is finishing the last charging cycle for the 4B1 BCDU/Battery set, which began yesterday at 2:24pm EST. Once fully charged, it will be placed back into the nominal configuration and begin to support loads.

At 8:34am this morning, the ISS maneuvered from biased sun-pointing XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane) to earth-oriented LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal).

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in ram), were Tsunami damage, Indonesia (Dynamic Event. Patchy clouds were predicted for this region. The northernmost tip of Sumatra suffered significant flooding, damage, and loss of life from the recent tsunami. Looking to the left of track along the tip of the island for regions of standing water inland, flattened vegetation, and discolored water offshore [due to sediment outwash from flooding], Tsunami damage, Phuket, Thailand (Dynamic Event. Weather is predicted to be clearing over this portion of the Malaysian Peninsula. The region of interest is centered at the westward-pointing “elbow” of the peninsula to the left of track. Visible effects of the tsunami may include discolored water along the shoreline due to outwash, standing water inland, and recently exposed regions of bare and disturbed soil. Imagery of the coastline will be useful for mapping geomorphic and hydrologic change resulting from the tsunami), and Tsunami damage, Somalia (Dynamic Event. Variable cumulus cloud cover is predicted over easternmost Somalia. Coastal Somalia experienced significant flooding from the recent tsunami. Looking to the left track at the tip of the Horn of Africa for standing water inland and discolored water offshore resulting from sediment outwash).

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:

• http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
• http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
• http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/AstronautPhotography/

See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at:

• http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/

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:

• ISS reboost (delta-V: 4 m/s) — 1/15/05;
• EVA-12 — 1/26/05 (Eastern)
• Progress 16P undocking & destructive reentry — 2/27/05;
• Progress 17P launch — 2/28/05.
• EVA-13 — 3/25/05;
• Soyuz 10 S launch — 4/15/05;
• Soyuz 9S undock — 4/25/05 (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS).

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.