NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 30 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.

Continuing the current “noise abatement campaign” in the Russian segment (RS), CDR Vinogradov used the “Shumometer” sound level meter to take acoustic readings at the VVPrK fan located at the Transfer Tunnel (PrK) and at a number of other check points in the Service Module Work Compartment’s instrument area 2 (SM RO2). [The current standard fan at the VVPrK location is slated to be replaced with a new experimental low-noise ventilator, and today’s pre-installation measurements will be compared with similar post-installation measurements to assess the noise reduction effect of the experimental fan.]

FE-2 continued the current round of the monthly preventive maintenance of RS ventilation systems in the FGB (Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok), cleaning the detachable VT7 fan screens of the Thermal Control System (SOTR)’s gas-liquid heat exchangers (GZhT4).

In the SM, CDR Vinogradov continued the swap-out of metallic hoses on the Russian SRV-K2M condensate water processor system with new flexible spares, begun on 8/24, today replacing two A-B hoses and their connector adapters (PST). The old lines, along with their connectors, were discarded as trash. [The two A-B hoses link the SRV-K2M’s BKO multifiltration/purification column unit with the two redundant BRPK air/liquid condensate separators. SRV-K2M was temporarily switched off for the maintenance activity.]

After setting up the CFE (Capillary Flow Experiment) equipment in the Lab MWA (Maintenance Work Area) and positioning the camcorder, FE-1/SO Williams conducted test operations on the “Contact Line 1” part of the CFE investigation,- the fifth run of the CFE aboard the ISS. [CFE makes use of the station’s micro-G environment to investigate the special dynamics of capillary flow, i.e., the interaction of liquid with solid that can draw a fluid up a narrow tube and can be exploited to control fluid orientation so that fluid systems on spacecraft perform predictably. Contact Line 1 was also performed on Increments 9 (Mike Fincke) and 10 (Leroy Chiao), with the crewmember perturbing (slight tapping and shaking) the fluid (colored silicon oil) in a test chamber in the MWA to record on video the responses and damping times of the liquid at the contact line, i.e., the boundary between the liquid and solid container surface. Results will be fed into computer models of microgravity fluid properties used in the design of spacecraft fluid systems.]

FE-2 Thomas Reiter and CDR Vinogradov took the periodic (monthly) health test with the cardiological experiment PZEh MO-1 “Study of the Bioelectric Activity of the Heart at Rest” on the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation & Stabilization), assisting each other in turn. [During the 30-min. test, the crew tagged up with ground specialists on a Russian ground site (RGS) pass on Daily Orbit 1 (~7:40am EDT) via VHF and downlinked data from the Gamma-1M ECG (electrocardiograph) for about 5-6 minutes.]

Jeffrey Williams continued his support of the ALTEA (Anomalous Long-Term Effects on Astronauts) experiment, today preparing a directory listing for ALTEA on the ELC-4 (EXPRESS Rack 4 Laptop Computer), to be used for upcoming ALTEA troubleshooting. [Purpose of ALTEA is to define and measure descriptors for the electrophysiological brain functioning and to follow their dynamics, correlating it with space environments. This involves CNSM measuring sessions by Williams wearing a helmet for a 32-channel EEG system, plus long-term unmanned real-time particle flux dosimetry (DOSI mode) inside the ISS using six particle detectors (originally introduced on Mir). ]

Thomas Reiter performed maintenance on EXPRESS Racks 1, 2, and 4, replacing extinguished light bulbs and lens cover assembly power indicators in the racks’ upper/lower control panels.

The FE-2 also had another 90 min reserved on the timeline for loading Progress M-56/21P, docked at the SM aft end, with discarded equipment and trash, logging the moves for updating the IMS (Inventory Management System) database.

The CDR worked on the other Progress, 22P, docked at the “Pirs” Docking Compartment (DC1), unloading cargo for stowing aboard ISS, while keeping track in the IMS.

Jeff later prepared the updated/edited standard IMS “delta file”, including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Thomas conducted the routine daily SOZh maintenance, including the ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables.

Pavel performed the periodic (currently daily) time synchronization between the Russian payload server (BSPN) and the ISS “Wiener” power laptop in support of the ongoing runs of the externally mounted ESA/German commercial robotics experiment “RokvISS”.

The FE-1 did the periodic (once per month) routine inspection of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device) with canister cords, squat harness components, and accessory straps, and the canister bolts for re-tightening if required.

All 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, FE-2), TVIS (CDR, FE-2) and RED (FE-1). The CDR’s workout again was on TVIS/aerobic only (Day 1).

Afterwards, Jeffrey transferred the TVIS and RED 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).

Working off the Russian “time permitting” task list, Vinogradov set up a new session of the long-term BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment, which researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions. Pavel also performed the regular function check on the Plants-2 payload, including checking its water reservoir. [After unstowing a newly delivered Plants kit and cleaning the wicks of a root module of the Lada-9 greenhouse from the remains of old plants, the CDR planted seven barley seeds in the root module.]

Biographical Crew Note: Tomorrow is CDR Pavel Vinogradov’s birthday. Pavel Vladimirovich, a 1977 Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) graduate, Hero of the Russian Federation, and Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, was born August 31, 1953, in Magadan, Russia.

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets were Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze River (the crew hade an opportunity for nadir photography of the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. The water levels behind the dam and the clarity of the Yangtze River below the dam are of particular interest. This was an afternoon pass, so there may have been some cumulus cloud cover in the region), Lake Poopo, Bolivia (weather was predicted to be clear for nadir photography of Lake Poopo and nearby salars [large, highly reflective salt flats] to the west and south of the Lake), Tropical Storm Ernesto, southern Florida (Dynamic Event. This tropical storm should still have been fairly organized at the time of the station’s approach. Looking ahead of track as ISS entered the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida for the storm. As the crew approached the Florida peninsula, they were to look left of track for the storm center – it should have been over Lake Okeechobee, and cloud banding should have been evident), and Hurricane John, Pacific Ocean (Dynamic Event. Looking ahead of track and to the right as ISS approached the Yucatan Peninsula for this storm. The hurricane should exhibit well-formed cloud banding, and an eye may be visible. The current predicted track of the storm has it heading NW towards the southern tip of Baja California].

To date, over 250,000 of CEO images have been taken in the first six years of the ISS, about 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 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, 6:28am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 343.3 km
• Apogee height– 350.7 km
• Perigee height — 335.9 km
• Period — 91.40 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0011047
• Solar Beta Angle — 11.5 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.75
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 93 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 44487

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

• 08/31/06 — Pavel Vinogradov’s birthday
• 09/06 or 09/07/06 — STS115/12A launch
• 09/14/06 or 09/18/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch (Expedition 14 + VC11) — 12A slip impact TBD
• TBD — Progress M-56/21P undocking (SM aft port) & reentry — 12A slip impact TBD
• TBD — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking (SM aft port) — 12A slip impact TBD
• TBD — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking (FGB nadir port) & land — 12A slip impact TBD
• 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.