NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 February 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.

In the Service Module (SM), FE Tokarev performed his second session of the CARDIOCOG (BTC-10) experiment, using for the first time the Russian RSE1 laptop plus a newly delivered CARDIOCOG hard drive and a new finger cuff for the “Portapres” hardware for measuring blood pressure. [BTC-10 was at first planned to be conducted throughout the entire Increment, on the first, 10th, 14th and 24th week of crew stay, but the schedule slipped, and the first session was conducted on 1/6/06. Originally part of Pedro Duque’s VC5 “Cervantes” science program, CARDIOCOG studies changes in the human cardiovascular system in micro-G, expressed in the peripheral arteries, and the vegetative regulation of arterial blood pressure and heart rate.  For the experiment, Valery has to take systolic & diastolic blood pressure measurements and heart rate data manually, using the “Tensoplus” sphygmomanometer and the “Portapres” blood pressure equipment, storing the data on the RSE1 laptop, an IBM A31p that replaces the old French EGE-2.  The experiment also includes a 5-minute cognitive stress test with a numbers table, with the results called out for recording.  Results are later downlinked via Russian BSR telemetry and the RSE1 restored to nominal config.]

After the ground had opened the LNS (Lab Nitrogen System) valve to provide nitrogen gas (N2) for the following calibration session, the CDR set up the video equipment and began today’s FOOT experiment (Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight), his second data collection session, by donning the specially instrumented LEMS (lower extremity monitoring suit) pants garment and performing electromyography (EMG) calibration (i.e., electric muscle currents recording) on the right arm and leg.  With the N2 valve closed again, Bill conducted the data collection session during the course of the day.  After ~8.5 hours of activity, the equipment was stowed again.   [The LEMS pants are black Lycra biking tights with 20 electrodes and shoes fitted with insoles that measure impact forces on the bottom of the foot for the 12-hr session.  After the calibration, the CDR completed a typical on-orbit day while his reaction forces against the ISS structure were recorded passively on 14 channels to determine how much stress his legs and feet endure.  This provides better understanding of the bone loss and muscle mass loss experienced by astronauts in zero-G (recent studies have shown that as much as 1.58% per month of bone mineral is lost from the proximal femur during 4- to 14-month flights and that greater than 20% of knee-extensor strength is lost in 60- to 80-day flights).  The experiment, by the biomedical engineering department at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, was also conducted previously by John Phillips, Mike Foale and Ken Bowersox.]

Flight Engineer (FE) Tokarev set up for his 18th NOA (Nitric Oxide Analyzer) regular (non-EVA) 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.]

The FE took the weekly cabin air data with the GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer system of the SM SOGS (Pressure Control & Atmospheric Monitoring System) which tests particularly for NH3 (ammonia) and HCl (hydrogen chloride).

Later, the CDR performed the daily atmospheric status checks for ppO2 (Partial Pressure Oxygen) and ppCO2 (pp Carbon Dioxide), using the CSA-O2 (Compound Specific Analyzer-Oxygen sensor) and CDMK (CO2 Monitoring Kit).

After setting up the necessary pump/hose hookup, Valery Tokarev started transferring urine from three EDV-U liquid waste containers to the two Progress 19 “Rodnik” water tanks (BV) for disposal, emptying two containers each in BV1 and BV2.  Afterwards, the hookup was disassembled again.  Three more filled EDV-Us were disposed of in 19P without urine transfer.   [Each of the two spherical Rodnik tanks (BV1 & BV2) consists of a hard shell with a soft membrane (bladder) composed of elastic fluoroplastic.  The bladder is used to expel water from the tank by compressed air pumped into the tank volume surrounding the membrane.]

Tokarev completed the periodic (about monthly) replenishment of the Elektron’s water supply for electrolysis, his sixth, filling the KOV thermal loops’ EDV container with purified (deionized) water from the BKO multifiltration/purification column unit, following carefully written instructions.   [The procedure is specially designed to prevent air bubbles larger than ~20 mm from getting into the new BZh-8 Liquid Unit where they could cause Elektron shutdown.  In the procedure, the EDV water is carefully drawn from the BKO and the air/liquid separator unit (GZhS) while the crewmember checks for any air bubbles in the EDV (and, if visible, estimates their number, with up to 10 bubbles of less than 20 mm diameter permitted).  Elektron water is also supplied from USOS condensate in a CWC (collapsible water container) that is checked for its contents of air bubbles and is rejected if the estimated total air bubble volume is more than 30 cubic centimeters (1 cm air bubble is about 0.5 ccm).]

In preparation for the regular six-month maintenance of the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation & Stabilization) including replacement of roller bearings and isolator wire ropes, scheduled for three days next week, McArthur printed out the uplinked procedure. Afterwards, both crewmembers reviewed the detailed IFM (in-flight maintenance) instructions.

At ~3:40am EST, the FE conducted the weekly IMS tagup with specialists at TsUP/Moscow, discussing open issues concerning identification of equipment and stowage locations for the IMS databases via S-band. [Today’s topics dealt with disposition and stowage locations of a photo case with film, a transfer bag, and other data.]

FE Tokarev 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).  The daily updating/editing of the standard IMS “delta file”, including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur), was carried today on CDR McArthur’s “job jar” task list.

FE Tokarev conducted his daily check of 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.]

Also on Valery’s discretionary task list for today was the daily status check of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment.   [Rasteniya researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-8 greenhouse.  The regular maintenance of the experiment (each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) involves monitoring of seedling growth, humidity measurements, moistening of the substrate if necessary, topping off the water tank if ~20-25% of the total amount (4 liters) remains, and photo/video recording.  Once weekly, data from the Lada greenhouse control unit are recorded on floppy disk for weekly downlink via REGUL-Packet or the new BSR-TM at a suitable occasion

The crew 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 4 of the first set).]

Afterwards, the CDR 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 ~1:05pm EST, Bill and Valery held their tenth 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.

Also, at ~2:20pm EST, the crew conducted their standard weekly teleconference with the JSC Astronaut Office (Kent Rominger), via S-band S/G (space-to-ground).

Last evening’s dynamic thruster tests on both Progress 20 DPO manifolds went well, using 8.2 kg prop.  The 20P test reboost from the DC1 nadir port continues to be scheduled for 2/11 at 5:21pm EST on Daily Orbit 1, for 8 min 41.7 sec duration, to yield a delta-V of 0.5 m/sec (1.64 ft/sec).   [USSTRATCOM has screened the post-maneuver trajectory against orbital debris data and has identified no post-maneuver close approaches.]

Follow-up:  On 2/7 (Tuesday), as reported here, TsUP-Moscow performed a test of the SM “Klest” television camera that was replaced during EVA-15.   [This camera points towards the aft direction of the SM (+x-axis for the Russian segment).  There has been some history of image degradation (“spotting”) for the previous camera, probably due to cosmic ray and/or alpha particle hits, and of degradation of the camera due to atomic oxygen.  The goal of the test was to better characterize the spots and calibrate the new camera.  Russian specialists are currently assessing the test results.]

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 Internal waves, Northern Patagonian Shelf (on this pass, after crossing the coast, the crew was to look aft in the vicinity of the Valdes Peninsula for sun glint enhanced sea surface features), Johnston Island Reef, Central Pacific (this was the first of three coral reef targets within a span of four minutes.  ISS had a near-nadir pass in fair weather and lighting.  Using the long lens settings for details of the coral reef structures), Kingman Reef, Hawaiian Island chain (continuing with the long lens settings for this wedge-shaped reef system), and Palmyra Atoll, Central Pacific (this atoll with its distinct airstrip followed Kingman Reef within seconds).

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, 8:08am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 345.6 km
• Apogee height — 351.5 km
• Perigee height — 339.8 km
• Period — 91.45 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008688
• Solar Beta Angle — 7.5 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.75
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 52 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 41320

Events Ahead (all dates Eastern & tentative):

• 02/11/06 — ISS test reboost (by 20P, @ 5:22pm EST, followed by maneuver to XPOP)
• 02/21/06 — ISS reboost (by 19P; mvr. back to XPOP after burn)
• 03/03/06 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry (mvr. to LVLH XVV after undock)
• 03/10/06 — ISS reboost (by SM thrusters; mvr. back to XPOP after burn)
• 03/30/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S launch (Pavel Vinogradov/Russia, Jeffrey Williams/US, Marcos Pontes/Brazil)
• 04/01/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S docking (DC1; mvr. to LVLH XVV after dock)
• 04/09/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S undocking & reentry (mvr. to XPOP after undock)
• 04/16/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S relocation (DC1 to FGB nadir port)
• 04/24/06 — Progress M-56/21P launch
• 04/26/06 — Progress M-56/21P docking
• 05/03/06 — ULF1.1 launch (NET, not earlier than)
• 06/15/06 — U.S. EVA (under review)
• 06/19/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking & reentry
• 06/28/06 — Progress M-57/22P launch
• 06/30/06 — Progress M-57/22P docking
• 07/01/06 — 12A launch (under review)
• 08/01/06 — Russian EVA-16 (under review)
• 09/13/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking & reentry
• 09/14/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch
• 09/16/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking (DC1)
• 09/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking & reentry
• 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.