NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 6 September 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 FE-2 Reiter set up for his fifth NOA (Nitric Oxide Analyzer) session, he and the CDR undertook the procedure, later downlinking the measurements from the RSE1 laptop to the ground via the BSR-TM telemetry channel. [Purpose of the ESA experiment 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 in the closed environment of the ISS cabin and increased risk of decompression sickness. The test sessions are being conducted biweekly, 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 the measurements, Thomas and Pavel had to prepare themselves yesterday for the session by excluding food items containing nitrites and nitrates (such as in processed meat, assorted vegetables, stewed cabbage, etc.) from their diet for 24 hours before the weekly experiment.]

Assisted by CDR Vinogradov, Reiter unstowed and set up the equipment of the ESA experiment ERB (Erasmus Recording Binocular). After calibration and checkout of the ERB-LDM-10 camera, Thomas and Pavel took turns in conducting test runs and filming each other with the Sony DSR PD-150P and 3-D Nikon. [ERB is a three-dimensional (3-D) video camera being employed for taking imagery of the environment onboard the ISS. The images will be used to create an accurate map of the station’s interior. Today’s experiment was to test the 3-D ERB video camera (Erasmus Recording Binocular) in weightlessness. For deriving an accurate model of the interior, specialists will use the images from the ERB, the Sony PD-150P video camera and the Nikon 3-D still camera.]

Vinogradov performed IFM (inflight maintenance) on the Russian condensate water processor (SRVK-2M) in the Service Module (SM), removing and replacing its String 1 air/liquid separator (BRPK). The old unit was stowed for disposal in 21P. [The SRV-K2M converts collected condensate into drinking water and dispenses the reclaimed water (warm and hot) for drinking and preparation of food and beverages (there is no really cold water on the ISS).]

Also on the SRV-K2M, the CDR exchanged the water conditioning unit’s purification column (BK BKV), using special S-P2 intermodular jumper hoses. The activity was supported by ground specialist tagup.

FE-1 Williams continued preparations of the photo/TV equipment for the arrival of STS-115 (now not earlier than 9/9), today again recharging camera batteries, i.e., four batteries simultaneously in the DCS 760 digital camera, taking at least 3 hrs per charge. [Focus of the recharging is on a total of 10 batteries, of which 8 are intended for recording the Atlantis’ RPM (R-bar Pitch Maneuver) on memory cards before docking, two for the STS-115 EVA-1.]

The FE-2 continued his current round of the monthly preventive maintenance of RS ventilation systems, today performing the one-hour inspection and cleaning of Group A ventilator fans and grilles in the SM and moving to the DC1 Docking Compartment for replacing two dust filters (PF1 & PF2) of its air duct system and cleaning the protective mesh screens of the V1 & V2 ventilator fans.

Jeffrey Williams did the periodic (every two weeks) routine inspection of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device), checking squat harness components, adjusting accessory straps and tightening Flexpak canister bolts.

Pavel Vinogradov used the newly installed Matryoshka-R Bubble Dosimeter panel’s computer to acquire radiation readings of the four detectors retrieved from their exposure locations (where they were positioned on 9/1). Afterwards, the Bubble Dosimeter panel was deactivated again. [The Dosimeter panel is attached with Velcro at its SM work site (near the RBS 10/3 power outlet) and equipped with a fresh MMC memory card. Of eight Bubble dosimeter detectors supplied, only four are used in the first sessions. The complex Matryoshka payload suite is designed for sophisticated radiation studies. Besides the Phantom Sphere containers in the SM, the human torso in the DC1 is equipped with individual horizontal slice-like layers with 356 thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) and five nuclear radiation tracking detectors (NTDPs). The mannequin is covered with a “poncho” and “hood” and used for studies of on-orbit radiation and long-term dose accumulation. The payload collects radiation measurements every 15 minutes of each hour around the clock. Note: Matryoshka is the name for the traditional Russian set of nested dolls.]

Thomas collected weekly cabin air readings with the Russian 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).]

Science Officer Williams completed the visual “T+2 Day” microbial (bacterial & fungal) analysis of the Week 22 potable water samples, collected on 9/4 from the SRV-K hot tap and the EDV container of the water supply system (SVO-ZV), with the WMK (water monitoring kit) and MWAK (Microbial Water Analysis Kit) . He then entered the microbiological data in the medical equipment computer. [The T+2d analysis uses incubated MCDs (Microbial Capture Devices) and CDBs (Coliform Detection Bags) from the MWAK.]

Vinogradov and Williams had another three hours scheduled between them for hardware prepacking for return on STS-115/12A, based on an uplinked item list and the IMS (Inventory Management System).

In addition, Pavel and Jeffrey started the usual End-of-Increment Clean-up, i.e., cleaning out their personal items in preparation for their return home. [This activity will continue over the next couple of weeks.]

The FE-1 completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, with the regular replacements in its toilet system (ASU), plus the weekly inspection of the BRPK.

Williams also conducted the periodic checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various Russian segment (RS) hatchways, including the SM-to-DC1 (22P) tunnel, and the FGB-to-Node and FGB-to-Soyuz passageways.

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

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 resistive exerciser (FE-1). The CDR’s 2.5-hr. workout again was on TVIS/aerobic only (Day 4).

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 his discretionary “time permitting” task list, Pavel completed the daily status check of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) Lada-9 greenhouse experiment as well as photographic imagery of the experiment using the Nikon D1X digital camera with flash and copying all photos from the memory card to the RSK1 laptop for data downlink to TsUP via the BSR-TM telemetry channel. [Rasteniya researches growth and development of plants (peas) 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.]

At ~10:30am EDT, the Expedition 13 crew conducted a teleconference via S-band/audio with the Expedition 14 crew. Purpose of this now every-other-week exchange is to pass on lessons learned and begin the handover process before actual crew arrival. [E-14 crewmembers are CDR Michael Lopez-Alegria, Russian FE-1 Mikhail Tyurin and US FE-2 Sunita Williams. Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin will launch on Soyuz 13S, along with SFP (Space Flight Participant) Anousheh Ansari. Williams will join her two ISS crewmates in December on STS-116/Discovery. Increment 14 lasts from 9/18/06 to 3/8/07.]

At ~4:00pm EDT the crew has a communications pass scheduled over NASA VHF (very high frequency) sites at Dryden (4:05pm), White Sands (4:08pm) and Wallops Island (4:15pm) for the periodic VHF1 emergency comm check, talking with Houston/Capcom, MSFC/PAYCOM (Payload Operation & Integration Center Communicator) and Moscow/Glavni (TsUP Capcom) in the normal fashion via VHF radio from a handheld microphone and any of the U.S. segment ATUs (audio terminal units). [The test is to verify signal reception and link integrity, and to ensure minimum required link margin during emergency and special events (such as a Soyuz relocation). Last time done: 8/25/06.]

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets were Takla Makan Dust (Dynamic event. The first dust storm of Fall appears to be ramping up, with dust haze obscuring the floor of the entire Takla Makan basin [north of the Tibetan Plateau]. Shooting obliques of the mountain ranges that surround the basin to reveal the altitude of the top of the dust layer. The dust is exiting from the basin eastwards towards populated eastern China. Strong events such as this routinely transport central Asian dust over Japan and the western Pacific Ocean), Eastern Tien Shan glaciers, W. China (shooting nadir views of the glacier tongues flowing down the north slopes of the Tien Shan range. These are the northernmost of China’s glaciers), and West Hawk Impact Crater, Canada (this small crater [2.5 km diameter] has been re-excavated by erosion after being formed about 351 million years ago and buried under sediment and ice for much of its history. It lies north of Lake of the Woods [US-Canada border] and east of the city of Winnipeg).

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.

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

• 09/07/06 — STS115/12A launch
• 09/18/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch, 0:08am EDT (Expedition 14 + VC11) — 12A dependent
• 09/20/06 – Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking, 1:28am EDT — 12A dependent
• 09/28/06 – Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking & landing — 12A dependent
• 10/10/06 — 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.