NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 14 October 2005

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All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. 

CDR/SO McArthur and FE Tokarev again had one hour each set aside on today’s schedule for ISS familiarization and adaptation, to help in adjusting to their new surroundings and activities.   [This “free” session has become a valuable standard requirement for new station occupants for the first two weeks.]

For regular monthly maintenance on the two active CSA-CPs (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products) in the US segment, Bill McArthur performed a “zero” calibration of the units, after changing out the batteries in the prime unit (#1021) and backup (#1020) units.   [CSA-CPs take readings for O2 (oxygen), CO (carbon monoxide), HCN (hydrogen cyanide), and HCl (hydrogen chloride).  (Done last: 9/11).]

Afterwards, Bill also conducted the weekly spot check on the two new CSA-CPs from Progress 19 by measuring the state of their decontamination and comparing them with the active (prime and backup) CSA-CPs.

In support of the subsequent periodic (monthly) functional closure test of a spare emergency vacuum valve (AVK) for the Vozdukh CO2 removal system, TsUP/Moscow deactivated the SKV-2 air conditioner, then powered down the BITS2-12 onboard systems telemetry and shut off VD-SU control mode.  Afterwards, FE Tokarev performed the test.   [The AVKs are critical because they close the Vozdukh’s vacuum access lines in the event of a malfunction in the regular vacuum valves (BVK) or a depressurization in the Vozdukh valve panel (BOA).  Access to vacuum is required to vent carbon dioxide (CO2) during the regeneration of the absorbent cartridges (PP).  During nominal operation, the AVK valves remain open.]

The Elektron O2 generator is off after it failed last evening.  ppO2 (oxygen partial pressure) levels currently are comfortably within Flight Rule limits and are expected to reach the low limit in about 8 days.  The Elektron was purged with N2 (nitrogen) and is ready for activation on Monday in 16 amp mode.

Valery Tokarev replaced the ZU-S Orlan battery-charging unit with a new one and subsequently used it to start a maintenance discharge on one of the 825M3 Orlan backpack batteries.  To allow ground monitoring of the procedure, which will be terminated tomorrow, BITS2-12 onboard telemetry system and VD-SU mode were first activated again.

Bill McArthur temporarily removed remaining access-obstructing equipment from the Node, and then replaced two RPCMs (Remote Power Controller Modules, N1RS1 & N13B).  Afterwards, the gear was to be moved back to its original stowage location.  The replacements went nominally, and telemetry from the WETA (Wireless Video System External Transceiver Assembly) indicated it is now operating as expected and is ready to support USOS EVA#4 on 11/7.   [The new RPCMs were checked out functionally last night and approved for installation by MCC-H.]

The Science Officer conducted a computer-based training session to review the new PFS (Pulmonary Function System) in preparation for the PFS checkout activity planned for 10/18 (Tuesday).   [There are two lessons for the PuFF (Pulmonary Function in Flight) experiment, a hardware lesson and an operations lesson.  PuFF is a human life sciences investigation into the effects of EVA and long-term exposure to microgravity on human lungs and their respiratory function.  Each session includes a number of lung function tests, which involve breathing only cabin air.  The test measures changes in the evenness of gas exchange in the lungs, and attempts to detect changes in respiratory muscle strength.  Unevenness of gas exchange is a hallmark of virtually every pulmonary disease, and gas exchange can be temporarily disrupted by the filtration by the lungs of nitrogen bubbles in the bloodstream.  Staying in microgravity for long periods of time may cause changes in respiratory muscle strength.  The experiment uses equipment in the HRF-2 (Human Research Facility #2) located in the U.S. Lab, such as GASMAP (gas analyzer system for metabolic analysis of physiology) and special software.  Data are stored on the HRF laptop for subsequent transmittal to the ground.]

Tokarev set up the equipment for another NOA (Nitric Oxide Analyzer) session in the DC-1 docking compartment and then conducted the weekly test.   [Purpose of the new ESA VC9 payload ESANO1, consisting of the “Platon” analyzer and its power supply, is to monitor expired nitric oxide (NO) to detect signs of airway inflammation and indications of venous gas emboli (bubbles) that may be caused by inhalation of pollutants on the ISS and increased risk of decompression sickness.  The experiment sessions are being conducted once a week, with two NO measurements in the exhaled air (after rinsing out with Rodnik water) taken in each session through a bacterial filter.  Today’s second measurement ops (the first was performed by Valery and Sergei Krikalev on 10/6) were recorded in the Platon log and supported by ground specialist tagup via S-band.]

The FE also reactivated the Sputnik-SM Kenwood D700 amateur radio station in the Service Module (SM, panel 221), which had been turned off for the 10S undocking.  [The equipment is regularly used for the ARISS (Amateur Radio on International Space Station) program.]

Valery Ivanovich, a Colonel in the Russian Air Force, set up the biomedical “Pilot” experiment (MBI-15), which requires a table, ankle restraint system and control handles for testing piloting skill in “flying” simulations on a laptop (LT 2) under stopwatch control.  He then conducted the experiment for the first time this Increment, supported by tagup with ground specialists.  Later, the Pilot-P gear was deactivated, disassembled and stowed.   [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 reported to the ground.]

In the DC1 docking compartment, the FE completed the periodic cleaning (dust, etc) of the B3 ventilation fan screen.

At ~7:00am, Tokarev conducted the weekly IMS (Inventory Management System) tagup with specialists at TsUP/Moscow, discussing open issues concerning identification of equipment and storage locations for the IMS databases, via S-band.   [Today’s topics included location of some VC9 items, such as SCN (Space Cup Noodle) payload elements, CDs with ODFs (Operations Data Files), a hard drive, etc.]

The FE also performed the daily routine maintenance of the SOZh environmental control system, including the ASU toilet facilities, while McArthur prepared the IMS “delta” files for updating the IMS databases.

With the Elektron still off, Tokarev also completed the periodic filling of the Elektron’s de-ionized water container (KOV) with “technical” water from a U.S. CWC (collapsible water container) and EDV container (#768).

The crew completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill, RED resistive machine and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer.   [As with Sergei before him, Valery’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 4 of the first set).]

Later, Bill transferred the TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data of his CEVIS and RED workouts, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).   [For the E12 entries, special procedures are used to establish their accounts.  Their data transfers will become regular after the imminent installation of new, personalized software on the MEC, during which MEC will be upgraded from the IBM 760XD to an A31p ThinkPad.]

At 3:05pm EDT, the crew downlinked three scripted audio/video messages of general ISS greetings on S-band & Ku-band.  [One downlink was a generic ISS message for use as NASA TV promo “tease”, the second a general NASA Visitors Centers greeting by the Expedition 12 crew, of considerable value to Public Affairs and educational outreach programs at all NASA Centers, and the third a message of greeting to kick off the National AAS (American Astronautical Society) Conference in Houston on November 15-16, under the theme “Building Bridges to Exploration: The Role of the International Space Station”.]

At ~4:15pm, the crew had their first regular (nominally weekly) teleconference with the Lead Flight Director at MCC-H and TsUP/Moscow via S-band/audio, with a phone patch between Houston and Moscow.

Bill McArthur was thanked for yesterday’s extensive support of the EarthKAM (EK) activity, in trying to establish a sharper focus for its camera.  So far, over 678 images have been downlinked, and “the students are very excited with the results”.  The current EK session will end tomorrow.

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 the Stardust Site (lighting conditions provided an opportunity for sunglint illumination of water bodies in the Stardust mission landing area.  Looking to the left and slightly ahead of track for the sunglint point.  Overlapping frames along track are most useful when using the 400 mm lens), Sevilleta Wildlife Area, New Mexico (the Sevilleta wildlife area is part of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network of research sites.  This site contains desert, grassland, montane, and riparian ecosystems. Documenting vegetation and soil changes over time are a major data requirement and overlapping nadir frames along track were requested), Beni River dynamics,Bolivia (this overpass took ISS to the Andean mountain front and the headwaters of the Beni River.  Looking for a large meandering channel originating from the mountains to the west of track.  Popcorn cumulus clouds may have formed by the time of the overflight; if heavy cloud cover was present ,photography of this site was not encouraged), and Patagonian Glaciers, South America (weather was predicted to be clear over the northern Patagonian ice fields.  Images of the smaller glaciers on the mountain peaks and upper slopes are useful for tracking ice advances and retreats due to climate change.  The eastern slopes of the mountains had superior illumination conditions for photography).

To date, over 177,000 of CEO images have been taken in the first five years of the ISS.

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 12 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-12/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 12 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, 7:37am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 347.1 km
• Apogee height — 348.3 km
• Perigee height — 346.0 km
• Period — 91.48 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0001759
• Solar Beta Angle — 1.2 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 8 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 39445

Upcoming Events (all times EDT):

• 10/18/05 — ISS Reboost (two burns, 11m 40s each, to set up phasing for Progress 20P launch circularize;)
• 10/27/05 – EVA-04 Dry Run
• 11/07/05 — EVA-4 (U.S.)
• 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
• 12/20/05 – Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry
• 12/21/05 – Progress M-55/20P launch
• 12/23/05 — Progress M-55/20P docking
• 01/09/06 — 100 days for Expedition 12.

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.