NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 29 June 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 continued his work on the Service Module (SM) s condensate water recovery system (SRVK-2M) which had run into a problem with condensate flow from the air conditioners (SKV1 & SKV2). Sergei set up for the IFM (in-flight maintenance) and then flushed the condensate line (MOK), a transparent plastic hose from the SKVs via the two NOK condensate pumps to the SBK condensate collector.  [Purpose: to restore flow of condensate collected by the air conditioning systems through the K27 connector in the MOK which had been bypassed earlier. The effort was supported by tagup with ground specialists via S-band. A previous attempt on 6/22 had to be aborted when missing equipment could not be located in the time allotted.]

After the ground had opened the LNS (Lab Nitrogen System) valve for the following calibration session, Phillips set up the video equipment and began today’s FOOT experiment (Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight), his third data collection session, by donning the specially instrumented LEMS (lower extremity monitoring suit) pants garment and performing electromyography (EMG) calibration (i.e., electric muscle currents recording) on the right arm and leg. With the N2 valve closed again, the FE/SO conducted the data collection session during the course of the day, including special pedaling on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (a first). After ~8.5 hours of activity, the equipment was stowed again.  [The LEMS pants are black Lycra biking tights with 20 electrodes and shoes fitted with insoles that measure impact forces on the bottom of the foot for the 12-hr session. After the calibration, John completed a typical on-orbit day while his reaction forces against the ISS structure were recorded passively on 14 channels to determine how much stress his legs and feet endure. This provides better understanding of the bone loss and muscle mass loss experienced by astronauts in zero-G (recent studies have shown that as much as 1.58% per month of bone mineral is lost from the proximal femur during 4- to 14-month flights and that greater than 20% of knee-extensor strength is lost in 60- to 80-day flights). The experiment, by the biomedical engineering department at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, was also conducted previously by Mike Foale and Ken Bowersox.]

Sergei Krikalev had one more backup opportunity reserved for testing the newly installed PCE (Proximity Communications Equipment, Russian: MBRL) hardware of the ASN-M satellite navigation system for the European ATV Jules Verne , scheduled to arrive at the ISS next year. The work was supported by specialist tagup via S-band. [After yesterday s installation and cable stringing, TsUP/Moscow performed a test of the PCE via S-band to verify that all cable connections made earlier were nominal. The test was described as successful. The Proximity Link ISS S-Band Transponders 1 & 2 were activated and deactivated in the carrier wave (CW) mode. A test of the ATV control panel was completed nominally and a downlink of video was provided by the crew. The test hardware includes a PCE Z0000 electronics monoblock for the space-to-space radio, its connections with the intricate onboard cable network (BKS), the antenna feeder system, and the higher-level BITS2-12 onboard telemetry system. These checkouts are followed by two detailed ground tests, one yesterday, the other today after the reboost maneuver. These detailed checkouts require a special attitude due to the location of PCE antennas (WAL3/Low Gain 3 & WAS2/Medium Gain 2), in a special LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal) attitude to ensure the coverage of ESA s Maspalomas (MAS, Canary Islands) and Villafranca (VIL, near Madrid) ground sites which are close to the antenna field of visibility. MAS and VIL are controlled from the ESOC center in Darmstadt, Germany.]

The CDR unstowed and prepared equipment assembly and work area for the Russian biomedical “Pilot” experiment (MBI-15), which requires a worktable, ankle restraint system and control handles for testing piloting skill. The experiment will be conducted by Sergei and John tomorrow.  [The test subjects will perform three flight control modes (fixed, slow and fast free-flyer), each one five times, after checkout and calibration of the control handles. Results will then be reported to the ground.]

The crew conducted part of the Robotics/SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) pre-LF1 checkout (C/O) operations. After a review of the latest version of the laptop-based DOUG application (Dynamic Operational Ubiquitous Graphics), they successfully performed the first and second part of the LF-1 pre-launch C/O of the MSS (Mobile Service System) which will play a critical part in the LF-1 docked mission. [Today s objective was to maneuver the SSRMS from the MBS PDGF-3 (Mobile Base System Power & Data Grapple Fixture #3) pre-grapple position to grapple MBS PDGF-1. Part 2 involved releasing the Lab PDGF with the other end of the inchworm-like arm and backing off the grapple fixture to a pre-grapple position, followed by a C/O of the Cupola RWS. In Part 3, scheduled for tomorrow, John will regrapple the Lab PDGF, perform a base change, release MBS PDGF-1 and maneuver the SSRMS to the orbiter docking viewing position for LF-1 arrival, very similar to the LF-1 Flight Day 5 (FD5) operations.]

Sergei also completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh) and prepared the regular IMS (Inventory Management System) delta file for export/import to the IMS databases.

Both crewmembers conducted their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, CEVIS cycle ergometer (today with special FOOT pedals for Phillips, see above), RED resistive machine and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer.  [Sergei s daily protocol prescribes a strict four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 1 of a new set).]

Afterwards, the FE transferred the exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data of the workouts on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

John s troubleshooting on the CBCS (Centerline Berthing Camera System) equipment yesterday was eminently successful, and the CBCS stands ready for MPLM Raffaello docking.  [Resistance testing with the volt/amp scopemeter on the CBCS UOP (Utility Outlet Panel) 120V power supply cable and on the Ku-band power supply determined that the latter was failed due to a short circuit. The power supply was removed, tagged, stowed and replaced with the power supply of the MACE II (Middeck Active Control Experiment 2), after its power cable was tested successfully with the UOP (these power supplies are interchangeable). With the new configuration the CBCS String 1 checked out OK, fulfilling the CBCS launch commit criteria for LF-1.]   

Working off his time available task list, Sergei conducted the regular daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment, including filling its water canister for the Lada-7 greenhouse as required.

Also suggested by the task list was a sequenced U.S. OCA (Orbital Communications Adapter)/S-band downlinking of image files of the Russian Uragan earth observation program accumulated in the last few weeks.

Update on Reboost: Tonight s planned translational station reboost maneuver using 18P propulsion was moved forward by 15 minutes (to 4:03pm EDT) to avoid a potential post-maneuver conjunction conflict with orbital debris (a PAM-D boost module), which would have violated an applicable Flight Rule (B4-4).  [The planned delta-V of 1.3 m/s is smaller than originally considered (2.3 m/s) since an additional reboost is tentatively planned on 7/6, dependent on LF-1 launch. The change in reboost TIG (time of ignition) did not adversely affect any subsystem.] 

The reboost will be followed by an ISS attitude change as required for the ATV PCE ground test (see above).

The Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for the upcoming ISS Mission LF-1 (STS-114/Discovery) is being held today and tomorrow at JSC/Houston. Planned launch

date is 9/13.

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 High Central Andean Glaciers (panoramas looking left at the Andes were requested. The Andes are believed to have been uplifted to their present great altitude in very recent geologic time. Clusters of volcanoes with their capping glaciers are the subject of interest), Andean dust (Dynamic event. Winter is the season for dust plumes blowing off the high Andes desert eastward. Crew was to shoot any they could see, left or right of track. Any image will constitute another data point in a multi-year study. The high Andes is unappreciated as a Southern Hemisphere dust source by the scientific community), and Coral reefs, American Samoa (the ISS passed directly across the middle of the island chain. The reefs surrounding the islands have yet to be mapped for the global mapping effort, to which handheld imagery has become a significant contributor).

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, 6:52am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 349.8 km
• Apogee height — 352.6 km
• Perigee height — 347.1 km
• Period — 91.53 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0004035
• Solar Beta Angle — 71.9 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.73
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 35
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 37761

Some Increment 11 Main Events (not final):

• Reboost — 6/29 (4:18pm, delta-V 1.3 m/s);
• LF-1/STS-114 launch — 7/13 (18-day window opens);
• LF-1/STS-114 dock — 7/15 (adding 110,713 kg to ISS mass);
• LF-1/STS-114 undock — 7/23;
• Soyuz TMA-6/10S relocate (from DC-1 to FGB) — ~8/16;
• Progress M-54/19P launch — TBD;
• Progress M-53/18P undock — TBD;
• ULF1.1/STS-121 launch — NET 9/9 (launch window opens);
• ULF1.1/STS-121 dock — 9/11;
• ULF1.1/STS-121 undock — 9/19;
• Soyuz TMA-7/11S launch — 9/27;
• Soyuz TMA-7/11S dock — 9/29;
• 12A/STS-115 launch — NET 2/16/06;
• Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocate (from DC-1 to FGB) — ~10/15;
• 12A.1/STS-116 launch — NET 4/23/06;
• 13A/STS-117 launch — NET 7/13/06.

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.