NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 15 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. “You guys rock!!!” (Flight Control to ISS crew after a highly successful SPCU R&R).

Following station inspection and morning hygiene, before breakfast and first exercise, CDR/SO Leroy Chiao and FE Salizhan Sharipov performed another session of the periodic Russian biomedical assessments PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement) and PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement). The FE set up the MO-8 “scales” equipment and later broke it down and stowed it away. [Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG 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. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless (but not massless), the Russian “scales” (IM) measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember’s mass is calculated by the computer and displayed].

Sharipov performed the second part of the three-part MBI-8 “Profilaktika” (preventive health maintenance) fitness test series started yesterday for his second 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. Day 3, on the TVIS treadmill, will conclude the assessment tomorrow. [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.]

The crew received resounding kudos from an “extremely pleased” EVA ground team on yesterday’s successful heat exchanger (HX) replacement at the EMU SPCU (Service & Performance Checkout Unit) in the Joint Airlock (A/L) and the subsequent equally successful leak checks of the new Gamah fittings and QDs (quick disconnects). Today, Chiao completed the remaining wrap-up & closeout tasks. [These included turning on his PFA (Portable Fan Assembly), installing new insulation panels around the HX (to prevent condensation, corrosion & potential mildew), rotating the A/C CA (cabin air) rack back up, unplugging PFA and vacuum cleaner, stowing the equipment (with IMS logging) and assisting the ground in activating the A/L CCAA (common cabin air assembly) air conditioner. Disassembly & stowage of the FSS (Fluid Servicer System) will be a separate task.]

Salizhan installed a KAV water sampler on the SRV-K2M condensate water processor, part of the Service Module (SM) environment control & life support system (ECLSS), for sampling humidity/condensate produced by the processor. During the day, he collected three atmospheric condensate samples in empty drink bags for return to the ground.

Leroy performed the daily routine inspection of the SOZh life support system and transferred condensate collected in the Lab from a CWC (collapsible water container) to an EDV container for subsequent electrolysis in the Elektron O2 generator.

Preparatory to the upcoming transfer of fresh water from the Progress 17 cargo vehicle, Sharipov worked on the SM’s water supply system, compressing the bladder of the Rodnik BV1 water storage tank with a pump for leak checking. The task was supported by subsequent tagup with ground specialists. [There are two spherical Rodnik tanks, consisting of a hard shell with a soft membrane (bladder) composed of elastic fluoroplastic, used for expelling water from the tank by compressed air pumped into the tank volume surrounding the bladder.]

Working off the voluntary Russian task list, the FE prepared the regular IMS (inventory management system) delta file for export/import to the IMS databases.

Still open on Salizhan’s task list are a brief inventory/audit of onboard equipment for recording ASN-M (satellite navigation system) data to Laptop 3 by ESA cosmonaut Roberto Vittori during his upcoming VC8 visit, and an audit of available wipes intended exclusively for cleaning rubber seals on module hatches.

The CDR performed his daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill and RED exerciser, while this morning’s VELO/NS-1 exercise for the MBI-8 protocol took care of Salizhan’s daily workout.

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.

Chiao also completed the weekly TVIS maintenance, which generally checks the condition of the SPDs (subject positioning devices) and records timer data (time & date). [For running on the treadmill (motor-powered or passive), the crewmember wears a special harness with bungees that are hooked into the strut-like SPDs, one left, one right, to keep him centered and minimize the force transferred to the station during exercise, while keeping his feet in contact with the running surface.]

At ~1:05pm EST, the crew engaged in another educational/PAO event, fielding questions from approximately 500 K-8 students, educators and guests at Saint Mark’s School, San Rafael, CA, with Leroy Chiao’s niece Julia Smith among the students. [“What do you like most about being in space?”; “Do you believe in space aliens?”]

A new list of “Saturday Science” options for Dr. Chiao was uplinked for his selection later tonight. [The options for 3/19 are MFMG (Miscible Fluids in Micro Gravity) thermal test 3 (of 4), BCSS-FDI (Biotechnology Cell Science Stowage-Fluid Dynamics Investigation) Tissue Culture Module (TCM) fluid supplementation, and FMVM (Fluid Merging Viscosity Measurement) experiment ops.]

Yesterday, MCC-H completed the final gimbal angle for the CMG (control moment gyroscope) thermal characterization for the XPOP period. The same procedure will pick up after the maneuver to LVLH XVV attitude tomorrow (3/16). [There is no crew impact and minimal ground commanding required for the CMG exercise.]

Reconditioning of P6 battery set 2B2 is progressing as planned. This morning, the set has finished a 72-hour discharge and is now being charged to 103 amp-hrs. Its capacity test is currently planned for 3/28. [Nickel hydrogen batteries can develop and display memory loss resulting in a temporary loss of capacity that should be periodically erased by cycling all material via fully discharging and charging cells (reconditioning). The battery reconditioning takes approximately one week to complete and is followed by a 16-hour capacity test. Reconditioning of the next battery set, 2B3, is targeted for April. The third set, 2B1, will then follow in early June, after LF-1.]

Yesterday, the SM PCS (portable computer system, shell #6065) failed. Its HDD (hard disk drive), #6133, was replaced with HDD #6065 from stowage. The anomaly is under analysis. [Both HDDs have the latest software drop (vers. R8.003P1).]

Update on Elektron: Troubleshooting by the crew on the failed O2 generator is planned to begin tomorrow, 3/16, with a test to measure water resistance (pressure) on the hydrogen and oxygen lines. Pending the results of this test, the Elektron may be activated afterwards. Additional troubleshooting options will be addressed following the EVA-13, which is still scheduled for 3/28.

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 Ganges River Delta, southeast Asia (weather was predicted to be clear over the Ganges Delta. Looking to either side of track to capture general oblique views of the delta mouth and river channels. These wide-field images provide useful context for higher resolution photography), and Internal Waves, Bahamas (weather was predicted to be mostly clear over eastern Cuba for internal wave photography. Looking to the left of track along the northern coastline of the island for the sunglint point. If viewing conditions were optimal, the 400 mm lens could be used to capture more detail of the wave structure. Overlapping frames and inclusion of shoreline features [to provide geographic reference] are particularly important if the 400 mm lens is used).

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:

• Reboost — 3/25 (5:00am EST; ~1.65 m/s);
• EVA-13 — 3/28;
• Soyuz TMA-6 (10S) launch — 4/15 with Expedition 11 (CDR Sergei Krikalev, FE/SO John Phillips & VC8 cosmonaut Roberto Vittori/ESA-Italy;
• Soyuz TMA-6 docking – 4/17;
• Soyuz TMA-5 (9S) undocking — 4/25 with Exp. 10 crew (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS) and VC8 cosmonaut Vittori;
• 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, 6:06am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 356.3 km
• Apogee height — 358.8 km
• Perigee height — 353.8 km
• Period — 91.67 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.65 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0003761
• Solar Beta Angle — 18.6 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 140 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 36094

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.