NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 August 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.
Before breakfast and exercise, CDR Sergei Krikalev and FE/SO John Phillips completed their fourth session with the Russian crew health monitoring program’s medical assessment “Biochemical Urinalysis” (MO-9). Afterwards, the CDR stowed the hardware. [MO-9 is conducted regularly every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs) and is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for US crewmembers for IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) evaluation as part of the “PHS/Without Blood Labs” exam. The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus Urolux developed originally for the Mir program. Afterwards, the data are entered in the medical equipment computer (MEC)’s special IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program).]
|
Shuttle |
The crew continued their preparations of next week’s EVA-14. Going by an uplinked list of spacewalk equipment and tools, Sergei and John tagged up with ground specialists and gathered the necessary items in the DC-1 “Pirs” docking compartment. [EVA-14 objectives are: (1) Removal of panel #3 of the Japanese/JAXA MPAC & SEED experiment on the SM exterior; (2) removal of the Russian “Matryoshka” radiation measurement “human torso” from the SM hull and transfer to the DC-1 EVA hatch; (3) removal of the SKK-3 replaceable cassette container on the SM cylindrical section (AO) for return to the ground; (4) installation of the new SKK-5 sample plate in place of SKK-3; (5) relocation of the deployed SKK-4 materials sample plate on its handrail at the SM AO end cone; (6) removal of the MSN “Biorisk” experiment #1 from its location on the DC-1 for return to Earth; (7) installation of an additional TV camera at the SM aft end to assist in ATM prox ops; and (8) removal of a Russian/US Strela 2 adapter from the EFGF (electrical flight grapple fixture) on the FGB module and its installation on the FRGF (flight releasable grapple fixture) on the PMA-3 (pressurized mating adapter #3).]
EVA preparations today also included readying payload gear to be installed outside, such as the SKK-5, the backup TV camera to assist in the eventual approach & docking of the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle), and the EVA tool carrier. In addition, communications links from DC-1 were configured as required. The activities were assisted by tagup with specialists and videotaped for ground inspection, using US assets.
FE Phillips prepared the U.S. Nikon F5 still (film) camera for use during the EVA, equipping it with a new thermal blanket in lieu of the old blanket with failed Velcro.
CDR Krikalev reset the Service Module’s Pressure Control and Atmosphere Monitoring System (SM SKDS) with a fresh calibration coefficient for CO (carbon monoxide) obtained from the newly installed Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer (GANK-4M).
Time again for the monthly recharging of the Motorola-9505 Iridium satellite phone. Sergei retrieved it from its location in the Soyuz TMA-6/10S descent module (BO) and initiated the recharging of its lithium-ion battery, a 30-min. process. The charging was monitored every 10-15 minutes as it took place, and upon completion Krikalev returned the phone inside its SSSP Iridium kit and stowed it back in the BO’s operational data files (ODF) container. [The satphone accompanies returning ISS crews on Soyuz reentry and landing for contingency communications with SAR (Search-and-Rescue) personnel after touchdown. The Russian-developed procedure for the monthly recharging has been approved jointly by safety officials. During the procedure, the phone is left in its fluoroplastic bag with open flap.]
Working on the HRF (Human Research Facility) rack, John Phillips conducted the periodic checkout of the MedOps cardiac defibrillator. (Last time done: 6/13). [This periodic routine task is scheduled as soon as possible from Expedition start and every 60 days thereafter. For the checkout, the defib is connected to the 120V outlet, equipped with its battery (currently #1010) and then allowed to charge, for about five seconds, to a preset energy level (e.g., 100 joules). After the button-triggered discharge, a console indicator signals success or failure of the test. The pacing signal is downlinked via S-band for 2 min. The HRF is powered down afterwards.]
The CDR performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, including the ASU toilet system, and prepared the IMS “delta” file for automated export/import to the three IMS databases.
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 3 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).
At ~2:55pm EDT, the crew downlinked a TV message of greetings via S- & Ku-Band to the visitors of the MAKS-2005 Airspace Show in Russia, open from August 16 through August 21. The downlink also included the video footage taken of today’s EVA equipment preparations.
Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude not limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Tropical Storm Irene (DYNAMIC EVENT: Tropical Storm Irene is gathering strength to the SE of Bermuda. The crew should have had a near-nadir pass over this relatively small storm system. Using the short lens for context and oblique views with longer lens setting for details of any interesting cloud or banding structure), Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (ISS had a near-nadir, midday pass over this target area as the station approached from the NW. Using the long lens settings for detailed mapping of the areas north, west, and south of Yellowstone Lake), and Shortgrass Steppe, Colorado (this pass should have been be prior to the afternoon clouds and thunderstorms expected for this region. As ISS tracked out over the plains north of Cheyenne, the crew was to begin detailed mapping southeastward for a few seconds past the South Platte River.
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:
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, 7:01am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 354.3 km
- Apogee height — 355.0 km
- Perigee height — 353.6 km
- Period — 91.63 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.000105
- Solar Beta Angle — -8.3 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 83 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 38422
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.
