NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 22 August 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.

After wakeup and before breakfast & first exercise, CDR Pavel Vinogradov, FE-1/SO Jeffrey Williams and FE-2 Thomas Reiter completed another monthly session with the Russian crew health-monitoring program’s medical assessment MO-9/Biochemical Urinalysis. Afterwards, Reiter stowed the Urolux hardware. [MO-9 is conducted regularly every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs) and is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for U.S. crewmembers for IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) evaluation as part of the “PHS/Without Blood Labs” exam. The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus Urolux developed originally for the Mir program. Afterwards, the data are entered in the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer)’s special IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program).]

Later in the day, the FE-1 unstowed and installed the equipment for the periodic Russian MO-10 “Hematokrit” testing that is scheduled tomorrow for the crew. [MO-10 measures the hematocrit (red blood cell mass) value of the blood (it is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell mass {normal range: 30-45%} tends to go down over time).]

Science Officer Williams worked on the new ESA payload EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System), installed last week by the two FEs, performing the scheduled EMCS Commissioning activities in preparation for the upcoming science runs. [EMCS, delivered on ULF1.1, is a combination centrifuge/growth chamber that allows plant growth experiments to be carried out in controlled partial and microgravity conditions. Main research focus is on multi-generation (seed-to-seed) experiments, studies on gravity effects on early development and growth, and on signal perception and transduction in plant tropisms. Experiments with insects, amphibian and invertebrates as well as studies with cell and tissue cultures are also foreseen for EMCS. After power up, today’s commissioning tasks included loading EMCS software onto the EXPRESS Rack (ER) laptop, installation of tubes in the water pump (done before each science run or experiment reference container {RefEC} run to prevent clogging in the internal water tubes), insertion of a blank tape in the video recorder located in the EMCS ISIS (International Subrack Interface Standard) drawer, and installation of four ECs (Experiment Containers) onto the EMCS centrifuges A & B, plus VES connection.]

FE-2 Reiter performed maintenance on the Russian thermal control system’s heating loop #2 (SOTR KOB-2), removing two units (BS) containing electric pumps (ENA) of the replaceable pump panel 4SPN2 and exchanging them with spares from FGB stowage. Afterwards, Reiter also changed the pressure settings of the coolant in the hydraulic lines of the KOB1 & 2 loops, supported by ground specialist tagup. [Each of the two SOTR KOB loops has two redundant pump panels with two redundant pumps each. While in the early years of Mir and ISS the pumps were integral to the SPN panels, the current design allows them to be replaced without requiring an entire new SPN block.]

After setting up the necessary pump/hose hookup, Reiter performed another transfer of urine from a liquid waste container (EDV-U #787) to the #1 & #2 “Rodnik” water tanks of the Progress M-56/21P cargo ship for disposal. [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.]

On the Service Module (SM) water supply system (SVO-ZV), Thomas completed a change-out of the EDV water bag adapter and dispenser hose (PrU) with a new unit, discarding the old one as trash.

Meanwhile, CDR Vinogradov worked on the Russian POTOK-150MK (150 micron) air contaminant filtration assembly (UOV) of the SM’s SOGS air revitalization subsystem, removing and replacing it with a new assembly and adjusting its settings for automatic, manual and checkout modes. The old unit, including power cable, was stowed for disposal.

To troubleshoot the shell of one of the A31p laptops (#1061), suspected of having a failed display, Jeff Williams set it up for use today as SSC7 (Station Support Computer 7), in place of #1021. If it checked out OK, it was to remain as SSC7, with #1021 to be stowed as a good spare.

The crew had ~30 minutes reserved for another skill OBT (onboard training) in preparation for photographing the Orbiter RPM (R-Bar Pitch Maneuver) at STS-115/12A arrival. Afterwards, the FE-1 downlinked the OBT photos to the ground for evaluation. The actual RPM photography has been assigned to Williams, but the training involves the entire crew to provide operator backup/standby if required. [During the RPM at ~600 ft from the station, the ISS crew will have ~90 seconds for taking high-resolution digital photographs of all tile areas and door seals, to be downlinked for launch debris assessment. The crew will be wearing headsets on extension cables for communicating during the maneuver.]

FE-2 Reiter powered down the EXPRESS Rack 5 (ER5), used yesterday by Williams for the first DAFT (Dust & Aerosol Measurement Feasibility Test) experiment. [The Science Officer performed three successful DAFT test points, after a quick repair of the Fill Assembly and several other minor anomalies. The data so far are judged “excellent”, and a preliminary analysis by the ground indicates that “science success criteria have been met”. DAFT tests the effectiveness of an ultra-fine particle counter device called P-Trak, a commercial hand-held air quality monitor that counts ultra-fine dust particles, in a low gravity environment. A risk mitigation activity as a precursor to the next generation of spacecraft fire detection hardware, DAFT provides the first systematic measurements of the sizes of particles in the ISS cabin air over time, which may prove the usefulness of the P-Trak counter. For the current testing sessions Jeff created a “known” aerosol in a valved Mylar bag from gaseous nitrogen (GN2) and Arizona Road Dust (ARD) as a test sample.]

Pavel Vinogradov collected the weekly cabin air readings with the GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer system of the SM SOGS (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).]

Working on more 12A EVA preparations in the US Airlock, Jeff Williams performed another “degassing” (removal of gas) from the PWR (Payload Water Reservoir) for use in the EMUs (Extravehicular Mobility Units), to minimize the amount of gas potentially introduced into the spacesuit water tanks.

The FE-1 also completed the regular weekly audit/inventory of the available CWCs (Contingency Water Containers) and their contents, to keep track of onboard water supplies.

The crew had an hour reserved for reviewing newly uplinked top-level material on transfer operations for STS-115/12A, including a preliminary list of transfers. [Transfers will differ from those of ULF1.1 in that there is no MPLM (Multi-Purpose Logistics Module) involved, which considerably reduces the number of transfers. Also, to minimize unpacking work, also for unpacking remaining ULF1.1 and Progress M-57/22P items, the crew will unpack as much as possible during the docked period in parallel to the transfers. In addition, some excess integration hardware to be brought in from the EVAs and destined for disposal is to be packed into 21P ASAP. Among the timeline-“choreographed” transfers from STS-115 are EMCS ECs, a new HMS (Health Maintenance System) defibrillator, and EVA items.]

The CDR completed the routine daily maintenance of the SOZh environment control & life support system in the SM, including the ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables and the weekly inspection of the BRPK air/liquid condensate separator apparatus.

Pavel 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).

The three 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 CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-1), TVIS (FE-2, CDR), RED resistive exerciser (FE-1, FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR). [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 1 of the first set).]

Afterwards, Thomas transferred the TVIS and RED 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).

At ~7:31am EDT, Reiter conducted an LDM (Long-Duration Mission) PAO conference on television with Michael Glos, the German Minister of Economy and Technology, speaking from the ESA Columbus Control Center at Oberpfaffenhofen/Bavaria, Germany. [The audio/video link was established by the SM’s automated onboard program sequencer (SPP). The German-language exchange on European participation in ISS included mention of the Columbus module and the coming flights of ESA’s Christer Fuglesang, Paolo Nespoli and Hans Schlegel.]

Still listed at Pavel Vinogradov’s discretion “if time permits” was the task of searching for a missing O2 channel primary data converter (transducer, GL5187) for the Russian IK0501 gas analyzer.

As per MCC-H request, the Russian Vozdukh CO2 scrubber has been shut down for 72 hours to allow data collection on the US CDRA (CO2 Removal Assembly) for performance evaluation of CDRA running in single-bed mode, to be available in time for the L-2 meeting before the launch. [Steady state ppCO2 levels during this test are expected to be between 2.5 and 3 mmHg. There is no need to allow ppCO2 levels to rise to any particular level prior to starting the test.]

A reboost of the ISS by 21P’s rendezvous & docking thrusters will be conducted tomorrow (8/23) at 12:04pm EDT, to set up proper angular phasing conditions for the STS-115/12A launch window, Soyuz 13S launch and 12S landing. The plan calls for a burn of 9 min 4sec duration, yielding a delta-V of 2.26 m/sec and a mean altitude increase of ~3.95 km (2.14 nmi).

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) 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 (weather was predicted to be mostly clear for internal wave photography. Looking to the left of track for the sunglint point. Overlapping frames that tie internal wave imagery to a surface feature [island, coastline, etc.] will be helpful for accurate location of the wave features), Vista Alegre Impact Crater, South America (looking to the left of track for this 9.5 km diameter impact structure. The crater itself is not well-defined and is covered with agricultural fields. Overlapping frames acquired parallel to the orbit track had the highest probability of capturing the crater), Lake Poopo, Bolivia (looking to the right of track for Lake Poopo as ISS approached the western slopes of the Andes. Imagery of this lake is useful for tracking water levels – these respond quickly to changes in precipitation resulting from regional climate variation), and Luquillo Forest, Puerto Rico (scattered cumulus clouds may have been present over the western Caribbean Sea. Looking to the left of track for the Luquillo Forest of northeastern Puerto Rico. This Long Term Ecological Research [LTER] site monitors changes to forest health, canopy cover, and land surface changes due to storm events. Imagery of the forest region and northeastern – eastern coastline of the island was requested).

Congratulations to the crew on the acquisition of the 250,000th image from the ISS, identified as a picture of Christchurch, New Zealand!

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 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, 7:59am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 339.9 km
• Apogee height– 344.5 km
• Perigee height — 335.4 km
• Period — 91.33 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0006735
• Solar Beta Angle — 49.8 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.77
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 141 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 44362

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern and subject to change):

• 08/23/06 — ISS reboost (21P)
• 08/27/06 — STS-115/12A launch (4:29:55pm EDT)
• 08/29-09/04 — STS-115/12A docked mission w/ISS (earliest) – P3/P4 trusses
• 08/31/06 — Pavel Vinogradov’s birthday
• 09/07/06 – STS-115/12A landing at KSC (~12:02pm EDT)
• 09/14/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch (Expedition 14 + VC11)
• 09/15/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking (SM aft port) & reentry
• 09/16/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking (SM aft port)
• 09/25/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking (FGB nadir port) & land
• 10/08/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S relocation (SM aft port to FGB nadir port)
• 10/18/06 — Progress M-58/23P launch
• 10/20/06 — Progress M-58/23P docking (SM aft port)
• 11/22/06 — Russian EVA-17
• 12/14/06 — STS-116/12A.1 launch
• 12/16-23/06 — STS-116/12A.1 docked mission w/ISS – P5 truss
• 12/19/06 — Progress M-57/22P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 12/20/06 — Progress M-59/24P launch
• 12/22/06 — Progress M-59/24P docking (DC1)
• 01/22/07 — US EVA-6
• 01/26/07 — US EVA-7
• 01/31/07 — US EVA-8
• 02/06/07 — Progress M-59/24P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 02/07/07 — Progress M-60/25P launch
• 02/09/07 — Progress M-60/25P docking (DC1)
• 02/22/07 — STS-117/13A launch – S3/S4 trusses
• 02/24-03/03/07 — STS-117/13A docked mission w/ISS (earliest)
• 03/08/07 — Progress M-58/23P undocking (SM aft port) & reentry
• 03/09/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S launch (Expedition 15 + VC12)
• 03/11/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S docking (SM aft port)
• 03/19/07 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S undocking (FGB nadir port)
• ??/??/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S relocation (SM aft port to FGB nadir port)
• 06/11/07 — STS-118/13A.1

ISS Altitude History

Apogee height — Mean Altitude — Perigee height

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ on NASA’s Human Spaceflight website. Additional satellite tracking resources can be found at http://www.spaceref.com/iss/tracking.html.