NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 16 November 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.    

The crew continued preparations for the Soyuz TMA-7 relocation early on Friday morning (11/18), required to freeing the Pirs docking compartment (DC1) for the Russian EVA-15 next month.   [Hatch closure between spacecraft and DC1 is scheduled tomorrow night at 11:25pm EST, followed by leak checking at 11:45pm.  Physical separation of Soyuz from the ISS occurs at 3:45am (11/18) on Daily Orbit 1 (DO1), pushed by spring force with ~0.12 m/s delta-V.  After the translation to the FGB nadir port, final approach starts at ~4:13am, with docking at ~4:20am.  Crew ingress in the Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok is expected at ~6:15am EST.]

The crew conducted a review of the relocation flight procedures and completed a 3-hr. training drill for the mission, supported by ground specialists via tagup on S-band/VHF-audio.  The training was declared successful by TsUP/Moscow.   [The on-board training (OBT) included Soyuz procedures analysis, relocation data analysis, tag-up with instructor, and OBT simulator work.]

Work also continued on the Progress 19 cargo ship, to prepare it for the eventuality that it may have to be undocked by TsUP via remote control in the unlikely event of an aborted Soyuz redocking on Friday morning. FE Tokarev activated vehicle systems (to enable direct Progress ground-commanding), then dismantled the air duct in the hatchway between Progress and the SM PkhO (Service Module transfer compartment). 

Afterwards, Valery removed the threaded quick-disconnect (QD) screw clamps of the SSVP docking & internal transfer system in the hatchway between the Progress and the SM aft end, which rigidize the mating surfaces.  The interface was visually inspected and video-recorded with the U.S. DVCAM to make sure that there is no damage to the cords, snap hooks or rings on the latches and to the slots for the clamps in the SSVP’s internal flanges.  The videotape was downlinked via U.S. Ku- & S-band later in the day (1:20pm EST).

Finally, Tokarev closed the hatches between Progress and SM, followed by depressurization of the SM-to-Progress vestibule for the purpose of leak checking.  The SM thrusters, which had been inhibited prior to the QD clamps removal, were then re-enabled.   [During the leak check TsUP cycled the depressurization valve, but after re-closure telemetry indicated that it was still open.  The valve was again cycled and the “close” indication confirmed.  The leak check of the Progress-to-SM interface proved successful valve closure.  If the relocation is completed successfully as expected, all the aforementioned steps will be reversed, to restore accessibility and connectivity of the Progress, which is not to be undocked for to another month.]

Later, the FE deactivated the TEKh-25 payload hardware in the Russian segment (RS), consisting of the Skorpio and Spika-S experiments. [Skorpio’s objective is to monitor environmental radiation parameters with dosimeters inside station compartments at various places and to characterize environmental conditions for conducting scientific and technical experiments.  To operate, Skorpio requires about 6 W of energy.  The Spika-S payload investigates the influence of the space environment, primarily radiation, on selected commercial electronic “next-generation” components. Early Spika experiments on the Mir space station go back as far as 1992.  Its electronics unit, located in the SM working compartment (panel 417), uses about 7 W power, running either in Acquisition or Monitoring mode, and storing its data on a PCMCIA (portable computer memory card international adapter) card.]

Tokarev set up for his seventh NOA (Nitric Oxide Analyzer) session in the DC1 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) in the subject’s exhaled air 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 measurement ops were recorded in the Platon log and supported by ground specialist tagup via S-band.  To prevent skewing measurements, Valery (and Bill if applicable) has been requested to avoid food items containing nitrites and nitrates (such as in processed meat, assorted vegetables, stewed cabbage, etc.) from their diet for 24 hours before the weekly experiment.]

The CDR redeployed the U.S. RAM (Radiation Area Monitor) dosimeters from Increment 11 in the ISS.

Afterwards, Bill conducted the weekly audit/inventory of the available CWCs and their contents, to keep track of onboard water supplies. [Updated “cue cards” based on Bill’s water calldowns are sent up every other week.]

McArthur also filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his second, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) software.   [On the MEC, the CDR 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/Moscow (Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian: IMBP – Institute of Medico-Biological 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.]

The CDR conducted routine maintenance on the new CSA-CP (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products) units (#1012, #1017) which took over duties as prime and backup units.  The older CSA-CPs #1020 and #1021 were stowed for return.   [The #1012 prime unit also will receive a new battery, and both units will be zero-calibrated.]

McArthur did the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU). He also updated/edited the regular IMS (Inventory Management System) delta file for its automated export/import to the three IMS databases (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, RED resistive exerciser and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer.   [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 1 of the first set).]

Afterwards, McArthur transferred the TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data of the RED workout, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

At ~2:00pm EST, the crew used the Sputnik-SM Kenwood D700 amateur radio station in the SM to conduct a 10-min. ham radio session with students at Hermann Middle School in Hermann, Missouri.

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 Muglad Basin fans, SW Sudan (ISS had a near nadir pass over the large westward loop of the White Nile River. Using a short lens to map the area west of the loop beginning to the SW and continuing northward), Tunis, Tunisia (weather may have been marginal at the time of this pass, but otherwise the crew had a fine nadir pass with midday lighting over the Tunisian Capital.  This port city is located on a large bay on the northern coast.  Trying to map the entire city in half a dozen frames), Phoenix, AZ (ISS had an excellent nadir pass over this sprawling metropolitan area in midday sun.  Using the long lens settings and try to map the urbanized areas), and Internal waves, Northern New Zealand (as the station tracked northeastward over the Tasman Sea, the crew was to look right of track for the northwestern tip of North Island and the small Three Kings Islands group.  Here were requested views of the sun glint enhancement of potential internal wave features).

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, 4:34am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 352.4 km
• Apogee height — 358.0 km
• Perigee height — 346.8 km
• Period — 91.59 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008267
• Solar Beta Angle — -34.1 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 104 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 39963

Upcoming Events (all dates Eastern):

• 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port; sep @ 3:45am EST)
• 12/07/05 — EVA-15 (Russian; under review)
• 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.