NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 19 September 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. Underway: Week 22 for Increment 11.
The Elektron O2 generator, equipped with the newly installed BZh-8 Liquid Unit, was activated this morning and has been running nominally since ~9:30am EDT on the backup micropump.
Following station inspection and morning hygiene, before breakfast and first exercise, CDR Krikalev and FE/SO Phillips performed another session of the periodic Russian biomedical assessments PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement), using the newly installed mass measurement device (IM), later breaking it down for stowage. [Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM “scales” measure 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 crewmember’s mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.]
|
Shuttle |
Later in the day, Sergei Krikalev had his second orthostatic (hemodynamic) endurance assessment session with the Russian Chibis suit, conducting the MedOps MO-4 exercise protocol in the below-the-waist reduced-pressure device (ODNT, US: LBNP). John Phillips assisted his commander as CMO, and the one-hour session was supported by tagup with a ground specialist via VHF. [The Chibis provided gravity-simulating stress to the body’s cardiovascular/circulatory system for evaluation of Krikalev’s orthostatic tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry reflex) after 12 weeks in zero-G.]
The CDR collected the standard fluid sample from the SRVK-2M condensate water processor in the Service Module (SM), then closed out the KAV sampling configuration again.
The crew took microbial samples from panel surfaces in the Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok (FGB). The samples were then stored for return on Soyuz 9.
Also in the FGB, Krikalev removed and replaced two dust filters, PS1 & PS2.
John performed the regular monthly maintenance of the TVIS treadmill, mainly consisting of an inspection of the Russian and US tie-down harnesses for any damage.
The crewmembers also completed their portions of the weekly treadmill maintenance, i.e., inspecting their SLD (subject loading device) harnesses and checking the condition of the SPDs (subject positioning devices) and roller bearings, as well as recording time & date values.
John worked on the SchRED (Schwinn Resistive Exercise Device), replacing its pulley cables (which is done after every 53,515 cycles). Afterwards, the FE performed the load calibration of the RED Flexpack canisters, which is required after cable replacements. [The calibration of the Schwinn RED cans re-establishes the relationship of specific load settings with a specific number of pulls per setting, followed by recording of the load values measured with a calibration tool and steel handles from the on-orbit calibration kit.]
Sergei set up the Halley electrode equipment and the EGE-2 laptop for his second session with the European “Neurocog” experiment, to be conducted tomorrow. [By researching the integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive cues in the perception of body position in space, Neurocog studies how humans perceive space, what role the sensory information of sight, balance, motion and position plays in this, and how human perception is affected by weightlessness.]
Both crewmembers started the longer-term task of surveying and organizing their equipment in preparation for their return to Earth on 10/11.
Sergei did the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), while John prepared the regular daily IMS “delta”/update file for automated export/import to the three IMS databases (at MCC-H, TsUP, and Baikonur).
Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, RED resistive machine and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer, with John’s PFE session on the CEVIS accounting for his workout today. [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, 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 RED workouts, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).
Working off his discretionary “time permitting” task list, the CDR was to perform 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 working from the task list, Krikalev will use the Nikon D1 (800mm-lens) to take areal KPT-3 photography for Russia’s Environmental Safety Agency (ECON) of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. [KPT-3 photography is a continuing earth observing experiment for ECON.]
A third job on Sergei’s task list is a functionality checkout of the EGE-2 laptop, used for Russian experiments such as the Neurocog tomorrow (see above).
No CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets uplinked today.
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 Location NOW |
Upcoming Events (all times EDT):
- 09/30/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S launch (~11:54pm)
- 10/03/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S docking (~1:20am)
- 10/11/05 — Soyuz TMA-6/10S landing (~9:06pm)
- 10/18/05 – ISS Reboost
- 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
- 12/21/05 – Progress M-55/20P launch
- 12/23/05 — Progress M-55/20P docking.
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.
