Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 21 June 2006

By SpaceRef Editor

June 27, 2006

Filed under ISS, ISS On-orbit status, NASA HQ/SpaceRef/NASA Watch, US

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 21 June 2006 — http://images.spaceref.com/news/exp.13.jpg

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. Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, i.e., the day of the year with the longest hours of daylight (and the shortest in the southern hemisphere). Also: Today two years ago (2004), SpaceShipOne became the first privately funded space plane to achieve spaceflight.

Before breakfast and exercise, the E13 crew completed their second session with the periodic Russian MedOps MO-10 test “Hematocrit”, which measures their blood’s red cell count. [The blood samples were drawn from a finger with a perforator lancet and then centrifuged in two microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit’s minicentrifuge. Its hematocrit value was read off the tubes with a magnifying glass. It is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go down over time. After the exam, the data were saved in the IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer), and Vinogradov later stowed the MO-10 equipment kit.]

Supported by ground specialist tagup, the CDR broke out and set up the hardware for the Russian technology experiment TKhN-7/”Self-propagating High-Temperature Synthesis” (SVS). After imaging the setup for ground review of the configuration, Pavel performed the experiment ops, while FE Williams assisted by taking digital photographs of the activities. Afterwards, the equipment was disassembled and prepacked for return on ULF1.1. The imagery was copied to the RSK1 laptop for subsequent downlink via BSR-TM or OCA.

After hooking up the UOP-DCP (Utility Outlet Panel-to-Display & Control Panel) bypass power cable at the Lab RWS (Robotics Work Station), Jeff Williams installed the CBCS (Centerline Berthing Camera System) on the Node nadir hatch window, along with all related avionics, followed by a checkout of the video system using the Lab RWS to check the image both on its display and on ground via Ku-band. The bypass jumper remains in place since it is also needed for the subsequent DOUG review and tomorrow’s planned Robotics systems checkout. [The CBCS will be used to assist in aligning and installing the MPLM after its transfer from the Shuttle cargo bay by the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System). CBCS components mounted on the hatch cover include the camera assembly, power supply (two UOPs, utility outlet panels), power cabling, CBCS electronics cable, LCU (light-emitting diode control unit), and VIU (video interface unit).]

Afterwards, FE/SO Williams conducted a one-hour review of the applicable new DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) software in support of the checkout ops of the SSRMS ahead. [DOUG is a software program on the MSS (Mobile Service System) RWS laptops that provides a graphical birdseye-view image of the external station configuration and the SSRMS arm, showing its real-time location and configuration on a laptop during its operation.]

Pavel Vinogradov prepared the thirteenth batch of raw data (broadcast sync commands & message files) from the ongoing testing of the ASN-M satellite navigation system by TsUP, for subsequent downlink via U.S. OCA assets. [ASN-M will be required for the arrival of the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) “Jules Verne” next year. During the extensive checkout from ESA (European Space Agency)/Oberpfaffenhofen, special software on Laptop 3 (running the “Solaris” Operating System) is being used for onboard storage of test data and logs. MCC-H has created a special subfolder for ASN data on the OCA file server to facilitate subsequent downlinking of the ASN-M output data, which is performed every other day throughout the 28-day test period for comparison with the uplinked data. The objective of this test is to verify compliance of the ASN-M data with approved requirements and to update ESA’s ASN-M model.]

The crew had again time reserved for locating, gathering and prepacking return cargo for loading on STS-121/ULF1.1 during the docked period. [This activity replaced the planned preparation of U.S. tools for the ULF1.1 EVAs from the “Quest” Airlock, now rescheduled for next week.]

The CDR collected the weekly cabin air readings with the GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer system of the SM SOGS (Service Module/Pressure Control & Atmospheric Monitoring System). [GANK tests for Methane (CH4), Ammonia (NH3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Formaldehyde (HCHO), Nitrogen Oxides (NO, NO2), Hydrogen Chloride (HCl), Hydrogen Fluoride (HF), and Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN).]

The FE conducted a test of a contingency C&DH (Command & Data Handling) file transfer procedure which would be used for uplinking OpsLAN (Operations Local Area Network) files via S-band in case of a failure of the normally used Ku-band. [To get files on board via S-band, they would first be uplinked to a PCS (Portable Computer System) laptop, then burnt by the FE to a CD-ROM, transferred to an SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop and thence deployed on the File Server. The files used for the test were uplinked on 6/19 to the Cupola PCS, ready for Jeff to proceed.]

Pavel Vladimirovich completed the routine daily maintenance of the SOZh environment control & life support system in the SM, including the ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables.

Working off his discretionary “time permitting” task list, the CDR also 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).

Still showing on Pavel’s “time permitting” discretionary task list for today was the search for some missing pieces of a complement of 26 CO2 filter units and six KL-152 TV cameras listed for return to Earth on ULF1.1.

A new task added to Jeff Williams’ U.S. “job jar” was the search for the missing digital MultiMeter kit, going by an uplinked list of possible locations. [Last week, the crew could not find the MultiMeter (also known as “Gnarlene”) for the regular defibrillator checkout and used an older scopemeter instead. It is planned to swap Gnarlene with the Shuttle MultiMeter being used on ULF1.1. If Gnarlene cannot be found, alternate plans will need to be made.]

Both crewmembers worked out in their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the TVIS treadmill (FE, CDR), RED resistive exerciser (FE) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR). ULF1.1 will deliver a new CEVIS in the MPLM and return the old cycle ergometer. [Pavel Vinogradov’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 latest microcycle).]

Afterwards, Jeff transferred the exercise data files to the MEC 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).

Shuttle
Processing Status
News
Daily Mission
Return to Flight
ISS
Weekly Status
Weekly Science
Daily On-Orbit Status
Daily Crew Timeline
Soyuz | Progress
ISS News | ATV

Update on BCC: A new BCC (Backup Control Center) dry run is now scheduled for 6/29 (next week Thursday). [Issues were encountered last week both with the BCC dry run and its subsequent checkout. The new exercise, not involving the crew, will ensure that the problems have been fixed. The ISS EMCC (Emergency Mission Control Center), located in Russia, comprises TsUP/Moscow as the Lead Control Center, coupled with HSR at TsUP. The BCC facility provides a command and control capability from TsUP if the EMCC must be activated. This is the case in situations that render MCC-Houston unable to provide telemetry, voice, and command capability for extended periods. EMCC is also used when the threat of severe weather results in evacuation of the MCC-H building for extended periods. In such an emergency, both Russian servers (CMD/command & TM/telemetry) are transitioned from MCC-H connectivity to BCC configuration, after which only the BCC can connect to the CMD and TM ports. An actual contingency requiring switchover to the BCC occurred on 10/2/2002 when Hurricane Lili forced MCC-H to shut down at 4:00am EDT, and more recently during the severe Hurricane Katrina emergency. POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center)/Huntsville has no command capability but can provide backup for telemetry/comm downlink and forwarding.]

FE/SO Williams has deferred this week’s Saturday Science activity in favor of more-pressing work.

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 Lawn Hill Impact Crater, Australia (looking left for this 19 km-diameter crater. Dated to more than 515 million years old, the structure of this crater is more difficult to discern than that of younger craters), Internal waves, South China Sea (looking left towards the glint point for possible internal waves off the coast of Viet Nam), and Patagonian Glaciers, Argentina (looking near nadir for smaller glaciers on the dry [east] side of the Andean Mt. chain).

Note: During the next week or two, ISS daylight “awake” passes will be located primarily in the Southern Hemisphere where lighting is approaching its seasonal minimum (Solstice is next week, 6/21) and winter weather will further reduce the crew’s viewing opportunities. Station tracks for now are also paralleling the terminator and sun angles will remain low. There will probably be a number of days where no suitable CEO target will be available for daily uplink.

To date, more than 198,000 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:

See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at:

http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/

To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 13 crew visit:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-13/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 13 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, 6:37am EDT [= epoch]):