NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 30 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.

For the second time in this Increment, CDR Krikalev conducted the Russian biomedical “Pilot” experiment (MBI-15), which requires a worktable, ankle restraint system and control handles for testing piloting skill in “flying” simulations on a laptop under stopwatch control, with support by ground specialist tagup. Later in the day, FE/SO Phillips also performed the test, his second. Afterwards Sergei deactivated, disassembled and stowed the Pilot-P gear. [The test subjects performed three flight control modes (fixed, slow and fast free-flyer), each one five times, after checkout and calibration of the control handles. Results were later reported to the ground.]

Both crewmembers performed Part 3 of the LF-1 MSS (Mobile Service System) pre-launch checkout with the operation of both RWS (Robotic Workstations), the MBS (Mobile Base System) and SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) Prime strings. [Today, John “walked” the arm back, by regrappling the Lab PDGF (Power & Data Grapple Fixture), performing a base change, releasing MBS PDGF-1 and maneuvering the SSRMS to the Orbiter docking viewing position for LF-1 arrival, very similar to the planned LF-1 Flight Day 5 (FD5) operations. The Robotics flight control team also enabled I/O (Input/Output) with the MT LTUs (Mobile Transporter Load Transfer Units) to facilitate temperature monitoring of that hardware during the upcoming attitude maneuvers.]

Following the SSRMS checkout, the crew performed a video survey of the MLI (multilayer insulation) covering on Soyuz 10 in the transition area between the Descent Module (SA) and Orbital Compartment (BO) in order to identify any MLI peelings. Ground teams will be reviewing the imagery.

Later, cleaning up from the Robotics checkout activities, the FE disconnected and removed the UOP DCP (utility outlet panel/display & control panel) bypass power cable at the Lab RWS that supported video camera ops.

Phillips also worked several hours in the Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok (FGB) on a new round of monthly preventive maintenance on Russian segment (RS) air ventilation systems, cleaning the mesh screens of the FGB’s central ventilation fans (TsV1 & TsV2), with the fans running (in earlier years they were first turned off by the ground). He also removed and replaced Zarya’s four dust collector filters PS1 & PS2 and PF1 & PF2. Moving then to the “Pirs” docking compartment, John cleaned the DC1’s V1 & V2 fans and screens.

The CDR installed a new mass measurement device (IM) for the Russian PZEh-MO-8 (Body Mass Measurement) experiment in the Service Module (SM), dismantling the old unit for disposal. [For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM “scales”, connected by a matching unit (US) to the computer, measures 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 crewmembers mass is calculated by the computer and displayed].

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.

Phillips conducted the weekly maintenance on the TVIS treadmill, primarily checking the condition of the SPDs (subject positioning devices) and recording time & date values. [The roller bearings under the treadmill belt have reached the end of their projected life. Since a new treadmill assembly will arrive on LF-1/STS-114, engineers have decided not to replace the roller bearings (which would require ~12 crew hours) but have instructed the crew instead to include a 5-minute check on the belt each week until the new hardware can be installed.]

Krikalev performed more work on the defunct Elektron oxygen generator by purging the BGL-5188 gas analyzers in the O2 and H2 lines with N2 using the BPA nitrogen purge assembly, after first deactivating (and later reactivating) the BMP micropurification unit’s automatic control. [While recovery of Liquid Unit #7 (BZh-7) is still an option pursued by Russian specialists (despite its small, but acceptable, nitrogen leak), the two previous units (BZh-6, BZh-5) are considered failed. Progress 18 has brought 110 kg (242 lb) of O2, which is currently being used daily to maintain proper ppO2. Progress 19 will deliver fresh O2 and a new Elektron system. Without 19P (but with LF-1) on-orbit O2 supplies would still last well into January 2006.]

Still carried on Sergei’s “time available” task list is a sequenced downlinking via U.S. OCA (Orbital Communications Adapter)/S-band of image files of the Russian “Uragan” earth observation program accumulated in the last few weeks.

Both crewmembers conducted their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, CEVIS cycle ergometer, 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 2 of a new set). John’s RED exercise was videotaped, a standard 60-day requirement for exercise hardware. After completion of the RED session, the video equipment was torn down.]

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).

Update on Reboost: Yesterday’s small translational burn (in flight direction) was performed nominally, but at ~4:03pm EDT, i.e. 15 minutes earlier than originally scheduled to avoid a post-burn conjunction conflict with orbital debris. Delta-V achieved was 1.3 m/s, as planned, yielding an increase in mean altitude of 2.3 km (1.2 nm). [A second translation reboost on 7/6 of ~1.8 m/s is kept in the plan as placeholder for supporting July 14 & July 16 launches as backup opportunities after a slipped 7/13 launch attempt, if desired.]

Update on Russian Condensate: Krikalev’s work yesterday on the SM condensate processing system was entirely successful. [The CDR flushed the MOK condensate removal line with an external pump to restore flow of condensate collected by the SKV air conditioners through the K27 connector. Nominal connections to the SRVK condensate water processor were reestablished and the gas filter replaced. SRVK activation was expected for today after the gas filter has soaked overnight.]

Update on ATV PCE Outfitting: After the reboost last night, TsUP/Moscow successfully performed the planned test of the newly installed PCE (Proximity Communications Equipment) system for the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) system using the WAS2 (Medium Gain 2) and WAL3 (Low Gain 3) antennas on the SM. [The system was activated in the carrier wave (CW) mode and transmitted a beacon to ESA ground stations in Europe (Maspalomas/MAS & Villafranca/VIL). The results of the test were nominal although ground controllers noted that the signals through some of the antennae differed from the predicted values (less or greater).]

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 Nullarbor Plain, S Australia (Dynamic event. Looking left along the arid, treeless coast of the Great Australian Bight. Low lighting may have enhanced visibility of the numerous large depressions [many of which are cave entrances] in the Florida-like limestone plain), Lake Eyre, S Australia (Dynamic event. This is a long-term environmental site. Looking a touch left for the lake bottom, where patterns of wetting change continuously [note relatively low illumination]), and Andean dust, Bolivia (Dynamic event. The strong Westerlies, infamous in Patagonia, shift north during southern winter and affect the high central Andes above 13,000 feet. Requested was documentation of any dust plumes the crew may have seen emanating from the high desert. Prior handheld imagery has been the only source of data in advancing the critical research question of source zones for airborne soil nutrient in the Amazon basin).

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, 7:17am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 352.2 km
• Apogee height — 353.3 km
• Perigee height — 351.1 km
• Period — 91.58 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0001618
• Solar Beta Angle — 74.1 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
• Mean altitude gain in last 24 hours — 2350 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 37777

Some Increment 11 Main Events (not final):

• 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.