NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 8 July 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.

As tried out on 7/6, CDR Sergei Krikalev today conducted his first operational session with the European Neurocog experiment, after disconnecting the EGE-2 laptop from the new BSR-TM Regul interface unit (part of the Russian radio control & communications system) and reconfiguring the laptop. Activities featured virtual rotation in free floating and fixed position corridor passages while recording EEG (electroencephalography). The session was videotaped and supported by tagup with ground specialists. FE/SO Phillips assisted as required. [Krikalev was equipped with the Halley head electrodes. After doing the virtual turns/corridor episodes in fixed state (subject strapped down) and free-floating in zero-G (head secured in tube mask with Velcro strap) as called for by the Neurocog protocol, he downloaded the EEG data to a PCMCIA memory card for subsequent downlink via OCA/S-Band, and dismantled the equipment. The BSR-TM was then reconnected to the EGE-2.]

John Phillips had close to three hours reserved for the collection of potable water samples for chemistry/microbiology analysis on the ground from the SRV-K Warm, SRV-Hot, and SVO-ZV sections of the SM SOZh (Service Module environment control & life support system) water supply system, to be returned on LF-1 to Houston.

Sergei performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM SOZh, including its toilet system (ASU), while John prepared the IMS (inventory management system) delta file for automated export/import top the three IMS databases.

Using the nitrogen purge assembly (BPA), Krikalev set up the Elektron O2 generator for a leak check in the line between the hydrogen valve (ZLV) and the electric hydrogen vacuum vent valve (ZLVK) by pressurizing the installed Liquid Unit (BZh) with nominal N2 pressure. Another pressure gauge (BID) reading will be taken tomorrow, after 24 hours.

In the US Airlock (A/L), Phillips terminated the ongoing charging process on the EVA EMU batteries to check voltage and ampere values, then reinitiated the charging process due to expected NiMH battery passivation problems.  [Two charge sessions are required to complete all needed storage units, with the second session to start on tomorrow. With LF-1 arriving next week (7/15), supporting the three scheduled Shuttle-based EVAs (in Shuttle EMUs) requires fully charged EVA batteries, some for actual use and others for backup. This includes the EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) batteries and the NiMH (nickel metal hydride) batteries for the PGT (pistol grip tool), REBA (rechargeable EVA battery assembly) and EMU Helmet Lights.]

The FE filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his tenth, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC (medical equipment computer) software.  [On the MEC, John is using his personalized file that reflects the food flown for his Increment. The FFQ records amounts consumed during the past week of such food items as beverages, cereals, grains, eggs, breads, snacks, sweets, fruit, beans, soup, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, chicken, sauces & spreads, and vitamins. IBMP (Institute of Biomedical Problems)-recommended average daily caloric value of the crew s food intake is 2200-2300 cal. If larger quantities of juices and fruits are taken into account, the value can go to 2400-2500 cal.]

Both crewmembers conducted their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, RED resistive machine, and VELO cycle 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).]

Afterwards, John 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).

The crew also completed the monthly CEVIS vibration isolator inspection. The CHeCS (Crew Health Care Systems) ground team reviewed the crew photos and stated that the CEVIS wire ropes are unchanged from the last inspection.

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

The crew conducted a teleconference with MCC-H photo specialists to discuss results of the recent RPM (Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver) onboard training and yesterday s blank test shots with the available DCS (digital camera system) cameras.  [During the pre-dock RPM by STS-114/Discovery at ~600 ft from the station on 7/15, the two crewmembers will have ~90 sec for taking high-resolution digital photographs of all tile areas and door seals, to be downlinked for launch debris assessment. The crew will be wearing headsets on extension cables for communicating during the maneuver. The skill training had the crewmembers using the 400mm and 800mm tele-lenses, shooting out of SM windows 6 & 8 facing the FGB.]

At ~11:00am EDT, John and Sergei engaged in a televised news conference with media representatives gathered at participating NASA Centers.  [This was another 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, for which the crew is prepared.]

At ~3:15pm EDT, the crew is scheduled for their seventh regular (nominally weekly) teleconference with the Lead Flight Director at MCC-H and TsUP/Moscow via S-band/audio, with phone patch between Houston and Moscow.

Because yesterday’s activities to gather EVA tools and pre-pack bags in the Airlock (A/L) for use and return on Flight LF-1 took longer than planned due to on-orbit stowage impacts, the task to configure the crew lock (C/L) for LF-1 was deferred and will now be conducted as an addition to the discretionary job jar task list or possibly by the LF-1 crew.  [The crew noted that roughly 12 CTBEs (Cargo Transfer Bag Equivalents) are stowed on Lab1P4 rack front, the maximum that can be accommodated without crowding the RWS (Robotic Work Station) and the CEVIS.]

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 N Mariana Islands & Guam (weather was predicted to be clear over the Marianas to the left of track. High resolution nadir photography helps to track changes to island morphology and the status of reef health), Manila, Philippines (looking to the right of track for the urban center of Manila near the southern end of the large island of Luzon. Overlapping frames oriented along track [SW to NE] are useful for mosaicing and land cover analysis), Mt. Kilimanjaro, Kenya (the crew had an excellent opportunity for nadir photography of the summit glaciers of Kilimanjaro. These glaciers are predicted to vanish by the middle of the century. Frequent photography of the summit aids in monitoring the status of these glaciers and seasonal snowfall), Aswan Airport, Egypt (for this initial pass, the target was acquired under nadir viewing conditions through the science window to minimize image obliquity. The 800mm lens and manual focus were to be used to take the sharpest possible image. The crew photographer was to record the GMT day and time of the lab window session. This target has been screened by CEO operations personnel for Flight Rule Constraints, clear weather conditions, crew awake periods, and favorable illumination parameters (i.e. close to local solar noon). The crew was to report the target acquisition status using the normal daily CEO Crew Comments method), and Glacial features, North Libya (weather was predicted to be clear for photography of ancient glacial outwash channels recognized in the region. These channels have been exposed by erosion and are recognizable as sinuous features on the landscape. Overlapping nadir frames along track will be used to map the locations of the channel features).

Note on CEO: The Aswan Airport image will be used to document degradation of the Lab window caused by the window s scratch pane. The photograph will be compared to imagery taken from the SM window of the same ground target and similar viewing conditions to determine the amount of degradation, which is expected to appear as blurred feature edges and/or areas of soft focus in the image.

Note on Hurricane Dennis: The crew was notified that it looks like Hurricane Dennis is staying away from both KSC and JSC, which is good news for the STS-114 launch. The Florida panhandle and Huntsville probably feel a little differently about the predicted ground track.

 
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, 11:24am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 354.8 km
• Apogee height — 357.5 km
• Perigee height — 352.1 km
• Period — 91.64 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0003958
• Solar Beta Angle — 49.3 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 16 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 37905

Some Increment 11 Main Events (not final):

• LF-1/STS-114 launch — 7/13 (3:51pm EDT) 18-day window opens;
• LF-1/STS-114 dock — 7/15 (12:26pm EDT), adding 110,713 kg to ISS mass;
• LF-1/STS-114 undock — 7/23 (9:23am EDT);
• LF-1/STS-114 landing @ KSC — 7/25 (11:01am EDT);
• 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.