NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 26 October 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.

FE Tokarev performed Part 3 of his first onboard ?Profilaktika? (MBI-8) preventive health maintenance fitness test series. Today he used the TVIS treadmill, keeping a log and supported by tag-up with medical support personnel at TsUP/Moscow. [Today?s Russian fitness test was performed on the treadmill in unmotorized (idle) mode, with free choice of speeds within the range permitted. The test differs from the normal TVIS session by the use of the TEEM-100 gas analyzer, measurement of blood lactate level and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test. The lactate blood samples were taken twice at the end of the session, using the ACCUSPORT analyzer and REFLOTRON-4 accessories. Results were entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data were transferred to the Laptop 3, also on a tape cassette (Cardiocassette-2000), and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm. Results were also called down to specialists standing by at Ts! UP.]

In further preparation for the 11/7 spacewalk (EVA-4), CDR McArthur first set up the video equipment in the Airlock (A/L) to record the ensuing EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) work, and then reviewed the spread-out hardware and written procedures for the donning & doffing of the spacesuits. An EVA tagup with ground specialists followed at ~12:45pm EDT. The actual EVA dry run in the EMUs is scheduled for tomorrow, along with preparatory and debriefing tagups.

Also in the A/L, CDR McArthur terminated the charging of the EVA batteries in the BSA (battery stowage assembly), and the crew prepared the A/L?s crewlock compartment for tomorrow?s dry-run activities.

CDR/SO Bill McArthur deployed two passive FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) sampling assemblies in the Lab (below CEVIS) and Service Module (SM, most forward handrail), to catch any atmospheric formaldehyde on a collector substrate for subsequent analysis.

The crew conducted the periodic routine air sampling in the cabin. [McArthur first took air samples in the Lab and SM with the Dual Sorbent Tube (DST), using the Russian AK-1M/Draeger tube pump instead of the broken DST pump, and then with a GSC (grab sample container) at the center of the SM. FE Tokarev used the AK-1M adsorber to sample the air in the SM and FGB and also for checking for leaked-out Freon. Additionally, to check for CO (carbon monoxide), he took samples in the SM with the IPD-CO Draeger tubes sampler.]

Continuing his work on the SM CP (Central Post) station, where he replaced the hard disk of the onboard equipment control system (SUBA)?s Laptop 1 yesterday (which failed during Expedition 11) with a new hard drive (#6059), FE Tokarev performed troubleshooting on the laptop. [The new hard drive was ?ghosted? for the BVS Version 7.03 software, configured with the proper partitions and Windows structure. Besides Laptop 1, Laptop 2 is activated at the CP, connected to the KTsP-2 (Central Post Computer #2).]

Bill completed the routine SOZh/ECLSS maintenance in the SM, including the weekly routine checkup of the IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS (Russian segment) hatchways and FGB-to-Node tunnel. Later, Valery updated/edited the regular IMS (Inventory Management System) delta file for its automated export/import to the three IMS databases (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

At ~8:10am EDT, the crew successfully reactivated the Elektron O2 generator in 32 amp mode. When the machine switched over to the backup pump soon thereafter, Russian specialists had the crew remove a failure flag. The Elektron is currently operating on backup pump on 32 amp current.

McArthur set up the video equipment in the SM for filming his and Tokarev?s following workout on the TVIS treadmill, for biomechanical evaluation of the individual crewmembers and assessment of the hardware status by ground engineers.

The CDR completed his regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill and RED resistive machine. Valery?s exercise was accounted for by his MBI-8 ?Profilaktika? workout on the treadmill this morning.

Afterwards, Bill 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 CEVIS and RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

The reboost test, on four thrusters on manifold #2 of Progress 19?s DPO propulsion system, is scheduled for later this afternoon at 4:12pm EDT, for a 5-min burn generating ~0.25 m/s delta-V. [For the test, ISS attitude control authority was handed over to the Russian MCS (motion control system) and thrusters at 1:10pm, to be returned to U.S. CMG (Control Moment Gyros) at 5:45pm. Attitude remains in XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane) until 11/6, when it will change to LVLH XVV (local vertical local horizontal/x-axis in velocity vector) for the EVA next day.]

Next Saturday (10/29) will be a special day for Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev: it?s his birthday. [The Russian Air Force Colonel was born on October 29, 1952, in Kap-Yar in the Astrakhan Province in Russia. He is married, with two children, a daughter and a son.]

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 Lake Poopo, Bolivia (looking to the right of track for the Lake and salars [enclosed basins, usually with very high albedo due to salt crusts] to the south. Water level in the Lake responds quickly to changes in seasonal precipitation and can be used to monitor regional climate change).

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, 7:28am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 346.5 km
• Apogee height — 347.3 km
• Perigee height — 345.6 km
• Period — 91.47 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0001225
• Solar Beta Angle — 38.3 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 100 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 39634

Upcoming Events (all dates Eastern):

• 10/26/05 — Test Reboost (four Progress 19 thrusters on manifold #2; 0.25 m/s delta-V)
• 10/27/05 — EVA-04 Dry Run
• 10/28/05 — EVA-4 Delta-SORR @ JSC (Stage Operations Readiness Review)
• 11/02/05 — 5th Anniversary of permanent ISS occupancy
• 11/07/05 — EVA-4 (U.S.; hatch open ~9:30am; hatch closing ~3pm EDT)
• 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.