NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 25 May 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.

CDR Krikalev completed his first session of the MO-5 MedOps protocol of cardiovascular evaluation during graded exercises on the VELO cycle ergometer, assisted by John Phillips as Crew Medical Officer. [The assessment uses the Gamma-1 ECG equipment with biomed harness, skin electrodes and a blood pressure and rheoplethysmograph cuff wired to the cycle ergometer’s instrumentation panels. For the graded exercise, Krikalev worked the pedals after a prescribed program at load settings of 125, 150, and 175 watts for three minutes each. All measurements were recorded and telemetered during Daily Orbit 3 to TsUP, where a specialist controlled the workout via VHF tagup.]

The CDR worked on the installation and connections of a network channel controller box (KSK A24), an electronic device of the Service Module (SM)’s computer system (BVS) which Salizhan Sharipov had mounted behind panel 130 on 4/1. A tagup with ground specialists supported the installation. [The task required the removal and later reinstallation of a ventilation fan (VPO12) behind the panel.]

Meanwhile, FE/SO Phillips configured the SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop in the US Airlock for another session of EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) battery maintenance and then initiated the auto charge/discharge cycle on two EMU batteries (#2047 & #2048), letting the automated DOS-based control application on the laptop run the procedure.

In the Lab, the Science Officer set up and installed the scopemeter and payload hardware for the final run of the FMVM (Fluid Merging Viscosity Measurement) experiment in the MWA CS (Maintenance Work Area Containment System), a portable workbench with a tabletop measuring 36 by 25 inches. He then performed steps to observe and measure coalescing fluid (honey) droplets from two syringes (D-1, D-2), taking video of the calibration and coalescence for each syringe. Afterwards, the FMVM equipment was disassembled and stowed. [FMVM is investigating a novel method for measuring fluid viscosity in zero-G by studying how two droplets merge together. On Earth, gravity distorts liquid spheres, and drops are too heavy to be supported by strings. In the ISS’s microgravity environment, drop distortion should not occur and the drops can be held on strings. To verify this technique as an accurate viscosity measurement method, the FMVM experiment uses fluids with known viscosities: honey, corn syrup, glycerin and silicone oil. The crewmember releases two drops from a syringe onto strings and records digital images of the drops as they coalesce to form one drop. The initial diameters of the drops will be measured.]

With only the continuously running machinery (Vozdukh, SKV, SM ventilation fans) as background noise, Sergei Krikalev used the Russian sound level meter (SLM) to take noise readings in the SM starboard crew quarters, with door closed. A second acoustic measurement session is scheduled on Friday (5/27) after the installation of a sound muffler on the VV1RO fan in the crew “kayuta”, both with door closed and open. SLM data are transferred to the US MEC (medical equipment computer) for downlinking via OCA. The activity was supported by specialist tagup. [Installation of the muffler is scheduled tomorrow, and the SLM activity is intended to determine its efficacy.]

Phillips worked in the Lab on the ITCS MTL (Internal Thermal Control System/Moderate Temperature Loop), transferring excess water (11%) accumulated in the MTL pump (87% full) to the “underfull” LTL (Low Temperature Loop) pump accumulator (69%), using manual valve manipulation. The ITCS was then reconfigured and transitioned to single LTL ops. Preparations for the activity were remote-performed by the ground. [The intent of this management activity is to forestall unplanned FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery) response due a high water level in the MTL pump accumulator (trip point 94%).]

John also conducted the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, including its ASU toilet system, and Sergei prepared the regular IMS “delta” file for export/import to the IMS databases.

Working off his voluntary “job jar” task list, Sergei conducted another session with the “Uragan” (hurricane) earth-imaging program, focusing the Nikon D1X No. 3 digital camera with 800-mm lens on targets called out on an uplinked list. [Today’s targets included a 40-50 km forest strip along the eastern) bank of the Angara River from Lake Baikal to Irkutsk, panoramic shots of Baikal, the cities of Chita, Shilka and Nerchinsk, the Amur River Valley (Russian side), the Russian mainland coast and both Sakhalin Island coasts, Armenia, the Caspian and Aral Seas, Lake Teletskoye, the conditions around Tyva and Buriatia, etc.]

Both crewmembers conducted their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill (CDR), CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE), RED resistive machine and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer. [TVIS could not be scheduled for John today due to conflicts with other activities in the SM but will again be timelined on Friday. Sergei’s daily protocol prescribes a four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 2 of a new set).]

Afterwards, the FE transferred the exercise data files to the MEC for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data of his workout on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.

Sergei reconfigured the Russian telephone/telegraph subsystem (STTS) from the backup computer string to the primary string. [The “Voskhod-M” STTS enables telephone communications between the SM, FGB, DC1 Docking Compartment and U.S. segment (USOS), and also with users on the ground over VHF channels selected by an operator at an SM comm panel, via STTS antennas on the SM’s outside. There are six comm panels in the SM with pushbuttons for accessing any of three audio channels, plus an intercom channel. Other modes of the STTS include telegraphy (Teletype), EVA voice, emergency alarms, Packet/Email, and TORU docking support.]

Later, at ~3:10pm, the crew had a comm pass scheduled over NASA VHF (very high frequency) sites at Dryden and White Sands for a VHF proficiency exercise, talking with Houston/Capcom, MSFC/POIC and Moscow/Glavni (TsUP Capcom) in the normal fashion via VHF radio from a handheld microphone and any of the U.S. segment ATUs (audio terminal units).

At 9:20am, John and Sergei configured the TV hardware for an interactive 20-minute TV interview event, starting at 9:40am, with ABC News (Lisa Stark). [This was the first in-flight event utilizing the new NASA Television Digital Satellite System. Due to the signal encoding and decoding required, the new digital satellite system has a 5-second audio delay between ISS and ground reception, and vice versa.]

The Russian SRV-K water processing system, which contains the BRPK air/condensate separator, is currently not processing SKV air conditioner condensate, probably due to a connector (F3) clogged with sediment. Next steps are under consideration. [In the previous occurrence, F3 was replaced.]

John Phillips’ search for missing CDRA (carbon dioxide removal assembly) valves yesterday was successful. The two valves were found and stowed with two other like units. [These valves are needed in the event of multiple valve failures on CDRA during the Shuttle-docked timeframe when CDRA will be activated.]

John’s vacuum-cleaning efforts on the two Lab VTRs (video tape recorders) on 5/23 were successful. Both VTRs are functional again, and VTR-1 currently is prime, with VTR-2 powered off.

Sergei Krikalev’s software work with the SM computer system yesterday was successful. [Images and files of the new SM version 7.03 images were uploaded to SM Central Post computers 1 & 2 (KTsP-1, KTsP-2, for the TVM Terminal & TsVM Central Computer systems as well as four US-21 matching units) and Laptop 2 (LT2). KTsP-2 and LT2 were then converted to Vers. 7.03. All activities were nominal and the majority of activities related to this software upgrade will be performed next week.]

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Internal waves, E & W Florida coasts (on this pass the most useful glint views were on the Gulf side from just NW of Tampa Bay to just south of Cedar Key. Looking just right of track and trying to keep reference landmarks in the views), Georgia Coastal Ecosystems (immediately after the glint opportunity in the northeastern Gulf, the crew was to begin mapping the Georgia coastal wetlands from just N of Jacksonville to just N of Savannah. Glint was not required here, only a good near nadir mapping of this LTER site [Long Term Environmental Research, see 5/14 Status report]), Konza Prairie, Kansas (this LTER site in eastern Kansas is distinguished by being less agriculturally developed. Less favorable soil conditions have allowed a grassier prairie to persist in this area. Trying for a nadir mapping of the area from the Arkansas River near Wichita Kansas to the Missouri River just S of Kansas City), and Yellowstone NP, Wyoming (weather was marginal this pass due to the likelihood of afternoon thunderstorm development. However, light was good and the crew should have been able to get some context views to the left of track for future reference. Best landmark was Yellowstone Lake).

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 11 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-11/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 11 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.

• ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 5:57am EDT [= epoch]):
• Mean altitude — 352.9 km
• Apogee height — 356.6 km
• Perigee height — 349.1 km
• Period — 91.60 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.65 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0005608
• Solar Beta Angle — -16.3 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 70 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 37209

Some Increment 11 Main Events (not final):

• Progress M-52 (17P) undock — 6/16;
• Progress M-53 (18P) launch — 6/17 (dock 6/19);
• Reboost — ~6/22 (delta-V 1.5 m/s);
• LF-1/STS-114 launch — 7/13 (8-day window opens);
• Soyuz TMA-6 (10S) relocate (from DC-1 to FGB) — ~8/16;
• ULF1.1/STS-121 launch — NET 9/9 (8-day window opens);
• 12A/STS-115 launch — NET 2/16/06;
• 12A.1/STS-116 launch — NET 4/23/06;
• 13A/STS-117 launch — NET 5/18/06.

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.