NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 28 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.

Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev performed Part 2 of his 4th onboard “Profilaktika” (MBI-8, “Countermeasures”) preventive health maintenance fitness test series, today using the resistive NS-1 load trainer, keeping a log and supported by tag-up with medical support personnel at TsUP/Moscow. Part 3, on the TVIS treadmill, will conclude the assessment tomorrow.

[Today’s Russian fitness test consists of four types of exercise, viz., neck stretching (back/forward), simultaneous upper arm flexing, trunk extension, and trunk flexes. Each type of exercise requires a series of 15 motions repeated two times. Load levels are selected by the ground and do not change from test to test. Total duration of the test is ~13 min.

Gas analysis using the TEEM-100M gas analyzer and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels were also performed as a part of this test. The lactate blood test was done twice at the end of the session, using the ACCUSPORT analyzer and REFLOTRON-4 accessories. Results were entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data were transferred to the Laptop 3, also on a tape cassette (Cardiocassette-2000), and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm. Results were also called down to specialists standing by at TsUP/Moscow.]

Tokarev also 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.]

In the Lab module, CDR/SO William McArthur relocated the U.S. TEPC (Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter) radiation monitor, consisting of Detector and Spectrometer, from its place in the Lab starboard endcone to a location closer to the IVCPDS (Intravehicular Charged Particle Directional Spectrometer), where it had been before its move to the Node on 1/31/05 and to the Service Module (SM) on 2/18/05. [TEPC remains plugged into the PS-120 junction box which itself is connected to UOP-2 (Utility Outlet Panel 2). Also plugged into UOP-2 is the IVCPDS, deployed on a rack boom in the Lab.]

McArthur had ~3.5 hrs. reserved on the timeline today for prepacking hardware destined for return on ULF1.1/STS-121 To support the extensive task, a 30-page “Pre-Pack List, prepared by MCC-H logistics specialists, was uplinked for reference, and a tagup with a pre-pack expert was conducted. [Pre-pack bags are being stored on the ZSRs (Zero-G Stowage Racks) cleaned out by Bill in the last few days.]

Tokarev also had ~3 hrs. to continue stowing excessed hardware in Progress-354/19P for disposal and keeping track of the moves in the IMS (Inventory Management System) database update file using the wireless BCR (Bar Code Reader).

The FE serviced the SM condensate water processor (SRV-K2M) system, today replacing the BKV water conditioning unit’s purification column (BKBKV) with a new spare. The old unit was pre-packed for disposal. [The SRV-K2M, with its BKO multifiltration unit, removes dissolved mineral and organic impurities from the condensate. Downstream from it, the condensate water is treated in the BKV water conditioning unit with salts for taste and silver ions for preservation, before it flows to the KPV potable water container.]

The CDR undertook 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). Near the end of the workday, Bill also 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).

Valery conducted the regular periodic photographing and subsequent downlinking of data & imagery collected of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment and transferred to the computer. Working off his “time available” voluntary task list, he also recharged the water tank. [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

A second discretionary task on Valery’s work list for today was the regular checkup on 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.]

McArthur did the daily atmospheric status check for ppO2 (Partial Pressure Oxygen) and ppCO2 (pp Carbon Dioxide), using the CSA-O2 (Compound Specific Analyzer-Oxygen Sensor).

Bill also completed the periodic (once per month) routine inspection of the RED (resistive exercise device) with canister cords and accessory straps as well as the canister bolts for re-tightening if required.

The crewmembers conducted the weekly TVIS routine maintenance with SLD (subject loading devices) contingency configuration, primarily inspecting the condition of the SLDs, SLD cables and SPDs (subject positioning devices), plus recording time & date values. [While one crewmember pulls out the cables about 10 inches (approximately 80 lbs of load), the other does the inspection. Temperature readings of motor box and electronics box are recorded on a PCMCIA memory card and downloaded to the MEC for subsequent downlink to the ground.]

The CDR performed his regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill and RED resistive exerciser, while Tokarev’s daily workout regimen was accounted for by his MBI-8 training/assessment on the VELO cycle with NS-1 force loader (see above).

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 on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

At ~3:15am EST, McArthur had his second Program Science Conference (of three) with Program Lead Scientist Dr. Don Thomas and his staff, to collect the Science Officer’s insight on lessons learned in order to better plan and execute Increment 13, and beyond. [Pre-selected topics of concern were on-orbit stowage, on-orbit hardware configuration, crew activity time allocation, payload crew procedures, and Saturday Science. Invitees to the conference included science payload specialists from Houston and Huntsville, plus Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams at Star City.]

At ~3:50am, Valery Tokarev was interviewed for television by well-known Russian actor Boris Sergeyevitch Galkin, acting as narrator for Moscow’s VID (Channel 1) TV company and currently at TsUP to shoot a documentary titled “Cosmic Risks”. [The documentary, to be ready by Space Day April 12, is intended for supporting the development of Russian space industry and addressed to the management of Russian military and space institutions. It is expected to be translated to English and Chinese, for showings at PAO events, exhibitions, conferences, and larger international Air/Space shows.]

The CDR was thanked for yesterday’s replacement of the TCCS (Trace Contaminant Control Subsystem) Sorbent Bed with a new unit delivered on 20P. Preliminary airflow measurements indicate increased airflow, i.e., the R&R appears to have been a success. [More monitoring is required for a definitive conclusion. A new Catalytic Oxidizer is being assessed for flight on ULF1.1/STS-121.]

With the Elektron remaining off until its reactivation tomorrow, the crew is being supplied oxygen (O2) from Progress 19 tankage.

Update on failed RPCM LA1B_F: Analysis confirms that the trip of RPC-5 (Remote Power Controller 5) was not caused by an overcurrent but by a failed FET (field effect transistor) Hybrid. Replacing this RPCM would require fairly significant crew time (~5 hrs/1 crew), as the TeSS (Temporary Sleep Station) in the Lab would have to be dismantled. For the time being, the nominal troubleshooting plan for a failed FET Hybrid by reclosing the RPC-5 was recommended. [None of the systems powered by this RPCM (RPC Module) were identified as requiring immediate re-closure of an RPC in the event of a POR (Power-On Reset). RPC-5, currently open, controls a valve for ITCS LTL (Internal Thermal Control System Low Temperature Loop) flow in the U.S. Airlock (CCAA/Common Cabin Air Assembly and SPCU IFHX/Service & Performance Checkout Unit Interface Heat Exchanger). There is a good spare unit available on orbit.]

Today’s CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in ram), were Internal waves, South China Sea-N (as ISS crossed the lower coast of Vietnam the crew was to shoot left of track and aft for sun glint enhancement of sea surface features until the vicinity of Hainan Island), Sobat fans, SE Sudan (looking left of track on this pass for contextual mapping areas west of the White Nile River with sun glint enhancements), and Internal waves, Northern Patagonian Shelf (good opportunities with sun glint lied left of track from near the Valdes Peninsula northward to near Bahia Blanca).

To date, more than 186,000 of CEO images have been taken in the first five years of the ISS, almost one third of the total number of images taken from orbit by astronauts.

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:

• http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/CEO.html
• 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, 7:20am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 347.7 km
• Apogee height — 353.1 km
• Perigee height — 342.3 km
• Period — 91.49 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008099
• Solar Beta Angle — 29.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 90 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 41603

Events Ahead (all dates Eastern & tentative):

• 03/03/06 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry (mnvr. to LVLH XVV after undock)
• 03/06/06 — Repair of MCA in US segment
• 03/10/06 — ISS reboost (by SM thrusters; mnvr. back to XPOP after burn)
• 03/16/06 — Airlock Campout SDTO (overnight)
• 03/20/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (FGB nadir port to SM aft-end port)
• 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 (FGB nadir port; mnvr. to LVLH XVV after dock)
• 04/09/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S undocking (4:15pm EDT) & land (7:40pm); (mnvr. to XPOP after undock)
• 04/18/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S relocation (FGB nadir port to DC1)
• 04/24/06 — Progress M-56/21P launch
• 04/26/06 — Progress M-56/21P docking (SM aft end port)
• 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)
• 09/12/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking & reentry
• 09/14/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch
• 09/16/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking (FGB nadir port)
• 09/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking & reentry
• 09/28/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S relocation (FGB nadir port to DC1)
• 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.