NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 9 March 2005

SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2005) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. International Women’s Day, celebrated by the United Nations and an official holiday in Russia. This year’s theme: “Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future.”

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.]

FE Sharipov transferred the Russian BTKh-12 “Bioekologiya” payload from Progress 17 to the Service Module (SM) and installed it. Later, he took digital pictures of the setup for downlink to TsUP/Moscow via OCA. [Bioekologiya’s objective is to obtain high-efficiency strains of microorganisms for future production of petroleum biodegradant preparations, organophosphorous substances, plant protection growth aids, and exopolysaccharides used within the petroleum industry.]

Leroy Chiao deployed two passive FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) sampling assemblies in the Lab (below CEVIS) and SM (most forward handrail), to catch any atmospheric formaldehyde on a collector substrate for subsequent laboratory analysis. (Last time done: 2/9). [The regular periodic surface and air sampling is scheduled for tomorrow.]

Salizhan Sharipov transferred and installed new assemblies of the Russian radiobiology experiment RBO-2 “Bradoz” in the SM, taking Nikon D1 photographs of the six units. [Bradoz was developed by Moscow’s IBMP (Institute of Bio-Medical Problems) to detect integral absorbed doses of ionizing radiation using thermoluminescent detectors. It also uses plastic track detectors for recording fluxes and spectra of linear energy transfers of heavy charged particles, and utilizes biological objects to detect radiation damage to the genetic system. Purpose of this research is to develop radiobiological dosimetry methods for more accurate assessment of biologically significant radiation dose commitments for humans during long-term space flight. Space radiation, even in small doses, can damage not only the somatic but also generative tissues in the human body, making it crucial to quantitatively assess the genetic damage caused by space radiation. The experiment consists of six assemblies, five Bradoz-1 kits and one Bradoz-2 unit. They include thermoluminescent dosimeters made of lithium fluoride crystals, R-39-type plastic track detectors made of tissue-equivalent plastic, and packets with biological samples of dry seeds of higher plants.]

The crew continued Progress 17 unloading and cargo transfer activities, for which several hours were again set aside today. [Updated US & Russian cargo lists are being used in conjunction with the IMS (Inventory Management System)-based transfer and stowage operations, which uses a computerized barcode reader system.]

The FE conducted the routine daily maintenance of the SOZh environment control & life support system in the SM, while the CDR prepared the regular IMS “delta” file for the daily automated export/import to the three IMS databases on the ground.

The crew performed their regular daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS, RED exerciser, CEVIS cycle and VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer. [Salizhan’s daily protocol currently prescribes a four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill and one hour on VELO (today: Day 3 of a new set).]

Leroy then 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.

Working off the voluntary Russian task list, Salizhan performed the regular daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment, which researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-5 greenhouse. The maintenance includes topping off the experiment’s water container as required.

Leroy set up the SM’s amateur radio equipment, and at 10:10am EST the crew engaged in a ham radio exchange with students at Rains High School, Emory, TX. [Rains High School, a county school located in one of the smallest counties in Texas, is comprised of mostly low-income students who get little opportunity to participate in enriching programs. The opportunity to talk with the astronauts on the ISS exposes them to a world that exists beyond the boundaries of Rains County. Questions to the crew were uplinked beforehand, and experience shows that the exchange with Leroy and Salizhan will be used as jumping off points for further discussion and research.]

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 Patagonian Glaciers, S. America (generally clear weather was predicted over the Patagonian Andes, providing an opportunity for a southward-looking panorama of the range. The crew had a view down the central portion of the Andes [to the right of track] that they were to capture in one or two frames. Regional panoramas help establish context for more detailed photographs of the mountains and glaciers), and Internal Waves, New Zealand (clear weather was predicted over North and South Islands for internal wave photography. Looking to the left of track between the two islands for the sunglint point. The narrow channel between the islands may create interesting wave patterns).

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:

• EVA-13 — 3/25 (could slip to 3/28);
• Soyuz TMA-6 (10S) launch — 4/15 with Expedition 11 (CDR Sergei Krikalev, FE/SO John Phillips);
• Soyuz TMA-5 (9S) undocking — 4/25 with Exp. 10 crew (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS);
• LF1 (STS-114) — NET 5/12;
• Progress M-53 (18P) launch — 6/10;
• ULF1.1 (STS-121) — NET 7/10;
• Progress M-54 (19P) launch — 8/24;
• Soyuz TMA-7 (11S) launch — 9/27.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:29am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 357.2 km
• Apogee height — 360.1 km
• Perigee height — 354.4 km
• Period — 91.69 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0004243
• Solar Beta Angle — 42.3 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.70
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 80 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 35985

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.