NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 28 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. Saturday — off-duty day for Bill McArthur & Valery Tokarev, except for housekeeping and voluntary work.

Onboard sleep cycle today shifted two more hours to the right, for a total of 7 hours (wake up 8:00am EST, sleep at 11:30pm), to prepare the crew for next week s EVA-15 spacewalk (which begins at ~5:26pm EST).

The crew completed the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough station cleaning, wearing protective garment.  [“Uborka”, normally done every Saturday, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the Service Module (SM) dining table, other surfaces and the FE’s sleep station with “Fungistat” disinfectant and cleaning fan screens to avoid temperature rises.]

The Science Officer continued his support of the PromISS-4 (Protein Crystal Growth Monitoring by Digital Holographic Microscope #4) experiment, today replacing tape #15 on the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) video system with tape #16.  [Tape exchanges vary due to record times throughout the 15-day running period of the experiment.]

The Flight Engineer completed the monthly recharging of the Motorola-9505 Iridium satellite phone.  [Valery retrieved it from its location in the Soyuz TMA-7/11S descent module (BO) and initiated the recharging of its lithium-ion battery, a 30-min. process. The charging was monitored every 10-15 minutes as it took place, and upon completion Tokarev returned the phone inside its SSSP Iridium kit and stowed it back in the BO s operational data files (ODF) container. The satphone accompanies returning ISS crews on Soyuz reentry and landing for contingency communications with SAR (Search-and-Rescue) personnel after touchdown. The Russian-developed procedure for the monthly recharging has been approved jointly by safety officials. During the procedure, the phone is left in its fluoroplastic bag with open flap.]

Tokarev also downlinked the video tape taken on 1/24 of the inspection of the docking interface between the DC1 Docking Compartment and the Progress 20 cargo vehicle,

Before exercising on the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation & Stabilization), McArthur conducted a functional test on the TVIS SLDs (Subject Load Devices) delivered on STS-114/LF-1.  [In order to make the launch date, this hardware had 73 hours remaining in the ambient burn-in certification testing. The remaining burn-in time was completed in real-time using Expedition 11 and 12 exercise sessions and is now complete. Today s functional test was needed to validate the burn-in. Other than that, the crew is to continue to run in the alternate eyebolt/bungee configuration. The SLD data acquired from the test will be saved on Bill s TVIS memory card and analyzed on the ground to determine if they are ready for operational use.]

Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS, 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).

The CDR also performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), and the weekly inspection of the air/liquid condensate separator apparatus (BRPK).

Later today, the FE will check 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 second discretionary task on the Russian work list for Tokarev today is the regular temperature check on the BIO-11 Statokonia payload with the ULITKA ( snail ) incubator with the ART (automated temperature logger), set up in the SM with new material delivered on 20P.  [BIO-11 studies the composition of statoconia, i.e., the organ of equilibrium in snails, and other phenomena exhibited by ulitka in zero-G and post-flight.]

McArthur ran another periodic atmospheric status checks for ppO2 (Partial Pressure Oxygen) and ppCO2 (pp Carbon Dioxide), using the CSA-O2 (Compound Specific Analyzer-Oxygen Sensor).  [Over the last month, ground engineers have noticed a discrepancy between the SM GA (Gas Analyzer) ppCO2 reading and that of the MCA (Major Constituents Analyzer). In order to help assess the situation, TsUP-Moscow had the Soyuz GA powered on to get another sensor’s readings. McArthur used the CDMK (CO2 Monitoring Kit) for the same reasons. In addition to the ppCO2 issue described above, there appears to be also a trending apart of the MCA ppO2 value and the CSA-CP O2 sensor value. Therefore, starting on 1/26, the CDR also takes daily CDMK and CSA-O2 readings to assist in evaluating these trends. Both MCC-H and TsUP are evaluating these issues. Despite the discrepancies, the atmosphere on ISS is considered in a safe configuration.]

Bill was thanked for his excellent support and feedback during SNFM (Serial Network Flow Monitor) operations yesterday.  [SNFM capture was started at 7:57:32am EST, while MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) downlinked eight files via the MRDL (Medium Rate Data Link). Resultant packet traffic was successfully captured and transmitted to the ARIS POP (Active Rack Isolation System/Payload On-orbit Processor) computer for downlink. Analysis is in process.]

Weekly Science Update (Expedition Twelve — 16th)

Human Research Facility/Gas Analyzer System for Metabolic Analysis Physiology (HRF GASMAP): In progress.

Human Research Facility/Workstation (HRF WS): Complete.

Advanced Ultrasound (ADUM):  Complete.

Pulmonary Function System (PFS): Complete.

Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device (SLAMMD):  Complete.

Renal Stone (RS): In progress.

Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight (FOOT):  In progress.

Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS): Complete.

Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS): Complete.

Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-3 (BCAT-3): Thanks again to McArthur for all the hard work. The BCAT team is already looking forward to the next round of operations in February.

Materials ISS Experiment (MISSE): In progress. New MISSE-5 “suitcase” deployed and unfolded during LF-1 EVA outside on the U.S. Airlock.

Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students (EarthKAM): Planned for February.

Cellular Biotechnology Support Systems-Fluid Dynamics Investigation (CBOSS-FDI): In progress.

Serial Network Flow Monitor (SNFM): Complete.

Educational Payload Operations (EPO):  The EPO Floor/Ceilings demo was great. Thank you for the creative look into how all parts of the ISS can be used for working and living in space. We really enjoyed seeing how crewmembers actually exercise on the ceiling. (Ed. note: the RED is mounted on the ceiling of the Node.)

Protein Crystal Growth Monitoring by Digital Holographic Microscope (PromISS):  Nominal operations of the PromISS instrument, with excellent performance of the instrument. Fringes are good and stable. Cell 1: Crystals have been observed at all stop positions. Cell 2: Possible crystal observed on top position 5, upper right hand corner and crystal growth at the edge of the wedge. A crystal has also been observed in the region before the first stop position. Cell 3: No crystals as of yet have been observed, though the possibility that there are crystals, is not ruled out. Cell 4: Possible crystals present at stop positions 4 and 6. Cell 5: No fringe information to date. Cell 6: No fringe information to date, blurry wedge visible at stop position 6. The ground team is anxiously awaiting the pictures taken during the setup of the PromISS hardware. Tape exchanges ran flawlessly. These tapes contain the actual data of the experiment that will be analyzed on Earth later on. Daily video of the six experiment cells is being received and analyzed. This allows together with the telemetry data to assess the sound running of the experiment and the instrument. Then if needed a correction table can be uploaded to PromISS in order to have a better view of the growing crystals. This happened four times up to now.

Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions (InSPACE): Planned.

Crew Earth Observation (CEO):  Through 1/22 the ground has received and catalogued a total of 8,551 ISS CEO images. The crew was advised that their fine mapping images of the cities of Addis Ababa, Melbourne, and Sydney meet all requirements for these targets this increment, so they can be removed from the target list. In the most recently received batch of images, investigators spotted three night views of Perth, Australia, taken on 1/20. The quality of these images is believed to be adequate for the study of New Orleans whenever the crew next has an opportunity there. An excellent view of the Sierra Nevada of Southern Spain will be posted on NASA/GSFC s Earth Observatory website this weekend.

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 Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire, USA (the Hubbard Brook LTER [Long Term Ecological Research] site investigates northeastern forest ecosystem dynamics. Overlapping frames along track will provide a good record of the site in winter conditions), Coweeta Forest, North Carolina, USA (this LTER site is primarily concerned with the ecologic and socioeconomic effects of past, present, and future land use change in the southern Appalachians. Overlapping nadir frame mapping is useful for land cover/land use change detection), St. Thomas reefs, Virgin Islands (weather was predicted to be mostly clear over the eastern Caribbean. ISS had a nadir pass over the Virgin Islands for detailed imagery of this reef system [and the following St. John and St. Croix reef targets]. High resolution imagery of the reefs enables assessment of changes to their morphology and ecosystem health), St. John reefs & St. Croix reefs, VI, and Shanghai, China (Night Time Practice Target. This important port city should have excellent contrast against the adjacent dark waters of the China Sea).

Over 177,000 of CEO (Crew Earth Observation) images have been taken in the first five years of the ISS.

Events Ahead (all dates Eastern; tentative):

• 01/31/06 — Orlan spacesuit dry run
• 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 + Marcos 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.