NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 20 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. 

Preparations for the Orlan EVA-15 (now moved by one day to 2/3) continued, with both crewmembers performing the mandatory Russian pre-EVA MedOps procedure MO-6 (hand-cycle ergometry) in the Service Module (SM), supported by tagup with ground specialists who are to clear them for spacewalking.  [Because Cosmonauts in previous Russian programs have shown noticeable decrease in arm muscle tone, TsUP/IBMP (MCC-Moscow/Institute of Biomedical Problems) physical fitness experts have made the handgrip/arm tolerance test analysis (hand ergometry) a standard pre-Orlan EVA requirement. For MO-6, the subject dons the ECG (electrocardiogram) biomed harness, attaches three skin electrodes and plugs the harness into the PKO medical exam panel on the cycle ergometer. The other crewmember assists. The 30-min exercise itself starts after 10 seconds of complete rest, by manually rotating the cycle’s pedals, set at 150 W, backwards until “complete exhaustion”.]

FE Tokarev set up for his 16th NOA (Nitric Oxide Analyzer) session in the DC1 Docking Compartment and then conducted the weekly test, afterwards dumping the measurements from the RSE laptop to the ground via the BSR-TM telemetry channel.  [Purpose of the 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 has to prepare for the session by excluding food items containing nitrites and nitrates (such as in processed meat, assorted vegetables, stewed cabbage, etc.) from his diet for 24 hours before the weekly experiment.]

In the Russian segment (RS), Tokarev took the weekly cabin air data with the GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer system of the SM SOGS, which tests particularly for NH3 (ammonia) and HCl (hydrogen chloride).

Meanwhile, CDR McArthur collected the periodic (weekly) reading of the cabin air’s current carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the SM and Lab, using the U.S. CDMK (CO2 Monitoring Kit, #1015), to be called down for use in trending analyses, along with its battery status, taken after pump start-up.

Due to somewhat elevated MCA (Major Constituent Analyzer) CO2 readings (SM: 2.4 mmHg; Lab: 3.5 mmHg), MCC-H yesterday activated the U.S. CDRA (CO2 Removal Assembly), to reduce the overall CO2 levels in the ISS. The plan was to keep CDRA operational until today and continue to monitor the ppCO2 (CO2 partial pressure).

Valery Tokarev continued cleaning out the DC1 airlock and the SM s Transfer Compartment (PkhO) for the EVA-15. [This included deactivating the Cryogem-03 temperature-controlled incubator and moving it to the SM. The cargo items, mostly science payloads, are temporarily being transferred to the SM and FGB.]

Bill McArthur had two hours reserved for configuring the EVA tools to be used during the spacewalk on 2/3.

The Science Officer also continued his work on the PromISS-4 (Protein Crystal Growth Monitoring by Digital Holographic Microscope #4) experiment, today changing the tape on the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) video system.  [Tape exchanges vary due to record times throughout the 15 day running period of the experiment.]

For EVA-15, Valery Tokarev terminated the charging cycle on the third 825í3 battery pack for the Orlan-M spacesuits. Afterwards, he relocated the three 825í3 battery packs and kit with BSS-4 hose bundle to the DC1.

Also for the spacewalk, McArthur, in the U.S. Airlock, terminated the charge/discharge maintenance cycle for the second of two BSA EMU (Battery Stowage Assembly Extravehicular Mobility Unit) battery packs.

Working jointly with ground engineers, the FE supported powering up the Elektron oxygen generator, with the usual nitrogen (N2) purge of the BZh Liquid Unit. The electrolysis machine had been off since 1/17 to allow regeneration of the two BMP Harmful Impurities Removal system filter beds.

The refresh of the cabin atmosphere with gaseous O2 from Progress 19 storage postponed from yesterday was performed today.

McArthur filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his twelfth, 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.]

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

At ~3:25am EST, Valery held 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.

The FE also performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), while the CDR updated/edited the standard IMS delta file , including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (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 in unmotorized mode and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 3 of the first set).]

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

At ~2:30pm, Bill and Valery will conduct their eighth regular (nominally weekly) tagup with the Lead Flight Director at MCC-H and TsUP/Moscow via S-band/audio, with a phone patch between Houston and Moscow.

Working off his discretionary time available task list, Tokarev performed his regular inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-8 (“Plants-2”) experiment which researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions. [The experimental seeds are planted between wicks in a root tray, with environmental control powered on. Regular daily maintenance of the experiment involves monitoring of seedling growth, humidity measurements, moistening of the substrate if necessary, and photo/video recording.]

Valery also 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).  [This daily monitoring/temp checking, carried on the Russian voluntary “time available” task list, will continue until 4/30.]

A third job on his task list continues to be downloading system data/log files from the Russian payload server (BSPN) to the ISS Wiener laptop and onto a FlashCard, to be dumped to the ground for analysis on TsUP Go.  [The data transfer, required for periodic analysis of server condition, was preceded by a comm check between the ISS Wiener laptop and the BSPN.]

Testing by TsUP/Moscow continues on the two NPM receiver module units #3 and #4 of the Russian ASN-M satellite navigation system in the SM for the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle), prepared by Tokarev yesterday.

Today’s CEO (Crew Earth Observation)photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Atlas Mtns., Africa (Dynamic Event. Recent storms have dropped unusually heavy snowfall in the Atlas Mountains of northern Africa. The orbit track took ISS along the general trend [from W to E] of the range for mapping photography. The range itself parallels the Mediterranean coastline of northern Africa), and Perth, Australia (Night Time Practice Target. This coastal city is the largest in southwestern Australia. The lights of the metropolitan area should have been easily visible slightly to the right of track).

Over 177,000 of CEO (Crew Earth Observation) 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, 6:09am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 347.1 km
• Apogee height — 354.0 km
• Perigee height — 340.2 km
• Period — 91.48 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0010299
• Solar Beta Angle — -66.7 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 52 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 40988

Events Ahead (all dates Eastern; tentative):

• 02/03/06 — Russian EVA-15
• 02/11/06 — ISS Reboost Test (in MMOD avoidance mode)
• 03/03/06 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry
• 03/30/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S launch (Exp. 13 + Marcus Pontes/Brazil)
• 04/01/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S docking (DC1)
• 04/24/06 — Progress M-56/21P launch
• 04/26/06 — Progress M-56/21P docking
• 06/19/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking & reentry

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.