NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 January 2006

SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2006) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.

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

FE Valery Tokarev made preparations for charging the battery of the Russian MO-21 Ecosfera air sampler and activating the Cryogem incubation gear that he will use for the microbial analysis on air samples to be collected tomorrow for incubation in the MO-21 equipment.  [MO-21 determines microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.]

CDR McArthur completed the monthly PEP (portable emergency provisions) safety inspection. (Last time done: 12/12/05). [The IMS (Inventory Management System)-supported inspection involves verification that PFEs (portable fire extinguishers), PBAs (portable breathing apparatus), QDMAs (quick-don mask assemblies) and EHTKs (extension hose/tee kits) are free of damage to ensure their functionality, and to track shelf life/life cycles on the hardware. There are a total of 5 PBAs in the U.S. segment (USOS). There is one EHTK, in the Lab.]

The FE prepared the Russian/German TEKh-20 Plasma Crystal-3 (PK-3) Plus science experiment for operation, including setting up and installing the PK-3 hardware  [Preparatory activities included connecting the payload to the BRI (Russian segment OpsLAN/Ethernet SmartSwitch) computer, loading BRI and PK-3 with new control software from a compact disk on the ISS Wiener laptop, and replacing the BRI s network configuration file and updating the BSPN payload server by replacing its hard disk drive.]

Afterwards, Tokarev ran a test procedure on the PK-3, conducting a leak check on the vacuum work chamber (ZB) before continuing with its full evacuation.  [ZB evacuation in the Service Module Work Compartment (SM RO) is performed with a special turbopump in the SM Transfer Compartment (SM PkhO). The turbopump was to be turned off tonight after repeated post-evacuation leak checks. The experiment will be performed in automated mode on plasma, i.e., fine particles charged and excited by HF (high frequency) radio power inside the evacuated work chamber. Main objective is to study dust plasma crystallization processes at a specified power of HF discharge, pressure, and a varied number of particles with subsequent reduction of HF discharge power, then to observe melting of the structures formed earlier.]

CDR McArthur conducted the weekly audit/inventory of the available CWCs (collapsible water containers) 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.]

Valery Tokarev started the newly installed Russian BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment in the SM, having replaced its root module, charged the water canister, loaded new software and ran a hardware test.  [Rasteniya-2 researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-8 greenhouse. During its operation, the experiment requires regular daily maintenance of the experiment involving monitoring of seedling growth, humidity measurements, moistening of the substrate if necessary, and photo/video recording.]

The ground-commanded BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test) activity continued, taking time-lapse photography of BCAT sample 6 at the MWA (Maintenance Work Area) via EarthKAM camera and SSC-7 laptop. Later in the day, CDR/SO McArthur conducted a check of the alignment and focus of the camera on the sample and position of flash. The imaging is to continue for 21 days (until 1/26).

At the HRF-2 (Human Research Facility 2), McArthur took documentary photography of the broken PFS TFM (Pulmonary Function System/Turbine Flow Meter) insert and the TFM with the spare inset.

Later, Bill also photographed the used and unused pill pallets of the U.S. Renal Stone experiment from Increments 11 and 12 for the record.

After reviewing procedures, gathering materials and preparing the camcorder setup, the Science Officer videotaped a demonstration of safety procedures used in the US Lab for his fifth EPO (Educational Payloads Operations) session.  [As in the past, the EPO camcorder footage is slated to be put to good use in NASA educational products, on websites, in schools, on TV, etc.]

In preparation for his fourth data collection session with the FOOT (Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight) experiment, scheduled for tomorrow, McArthur assembled the equipment in the Lab, including preparations for the EMG (electromyography) calibration with camcorder/video recording, which is to precede the day-long ops.  [The CDR has borrowed an STEA (Seat Track Equipment Anchor) from the Airlock, to be returned upon completion of this week s FOOT activities.]  

As new standard early-morning task, Valery checked the operation of the Japanese experiment GCF-JAXA (Granada Crystallization Facility) in the Russian TBU incubator, maintained at 20 degC, including a temperature check on its ART (automatic temperature recorder), for subsequent calldown.  [This daily monitoring/temp checking, carried on the Russian voluntary “time available” task list, will continue until 4/30.]

McArthur filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his eleventh, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) software.  [On the MEC, Bill 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.]

Later, the CDR performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), and he updated/edited the standard IMS (Inventory Management System) delta file , including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Bill also completed the standard weekly maintenance on the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation & Stabilization) in the SM, primarily checking the condition of the SPDs (Subject Positioning Devices) and recording time & date values.

Both crewmembers worked out in 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 in unmotorized mode and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 1 of the first set).]

Afterwards, McArthur 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.

At ~6:00am EST, Bill McArthur supported a 17-min. interactive educational event via Ku-band video and S-Band audio with Hiroshima Kokutaiji Senior High School in Hiroshima, Japan, sponsored by the Japanese space agency JAXA.  [The event was requested by JAXA, in order to further the goal of JAXA to foster student interest bin space and to motivate students to become active in space research and development. The event was also live on digital NASA TV (which requires an audio delay of up to 4 seconds between Bill s answer and the next question).]

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 Hyderabad, India. (Predominantly clear skies were predicted over this Indian megacity. A nadir mapping swath along track was requested to capture land cover/land use transitions along the urban-rural fringe of the metropolitan area), and Caracas, Venezuela (some high clouds may have been present over this important South American port city. Conditions were otherwise favorable for mapping of the urban-rural fringe of the city. Overlapping nadir frames along track for track position – are useful for land use/land cover classification and change detection analysis.)

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.

Events Ahead (all dates Eastern; tentative):

• 02/02/06 — Russian EVA-15
• 03/03/06 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry
• 03/22/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S launch (Exp. 13 + Marcus Pontes/Brazil)
• 03/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S docking (DC1)
• 04/01/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S undocking & return (Exp. 12 + Marcus Pontes)
• 04/06/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S relocation (DC1 to FGB nadir port)
• 04/09/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking & reentry
• 04/10/06 — Progress M-56/21P launch
• 04/12/06 — Progress M-56/21P docking
• 06/28/06 — Progress M-57/22P launch
• 06/30/06 — Progress M-57/22P docking
• 09/12/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking & reentry
• 09/13/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch
• 09/15/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking
• 09/23/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking & reentry
• 09/28/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S relocation (DC1 to FGB nadir port)
• 10/18/06 — Progress M-58/23P launch
• 10/20/06 — Progress M-58/23P docking
• 12/19/06 — Progress M-57/22P undocking & reentry
• 12/20/06 — Progress M-59/24P launch
• 12/22/06 — Progress M-59/24P 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.