NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 9 December 2007

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Sunday — off-duty day for CDR Whitson, FE-1 Malenchenko and FE-2 Tani. Ahead: Week 8 of Increment 16.

The launch of STS-122/Atlantis/Mission ISS-1E has now been targeted for not earlier than 1/2/08 for additional troubleshooting of the four LH2 low level cutoff sensors (after the #3 sensor again failed this morning during another tanking attempt).

Aboard the space station, FE-2 Dan Tani again accessed the SLEEP experiment (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) software after wakeup and before breakfast, for data logging, completing questionnaire entries in the experiment’s laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop for later downlink. [To monitor the crewmember’s sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew’s discretionary “job jar” task list.]

The FE-2 later conducted inflight maintenance on the Node-2 ITCS (Internal Thermal Control System)’s MTL (Moderate Temperature Loop) by adjusting its fluid sampling adapter metering valve and then taking another fluid sample for return to the ground and one for OPA (Ortho-Phthalaldehyde) testing.. Afterwards, Dan repeated the sampling process on the LTL (Low Temperature Loop) side of the Node-2 ITCS. [OPA, an antimicrobial agent, was introduced into the Lab ITCS coolant by the AmiA (Antimicrobial Applicator).]

FE-1 Malenchenko performed monthly maintenance on the Russian IK0501 GA (gas analyzer) of the SOGS Pressure Control & Atmospheric Monitoring System, deactivating the unit and replacing its CO2 filter assembly (BF) with a new unit from FGB stowage (replaced last: 10/29). [After ensuring good seals on the instrument’s base and no leaks around the installed filter, Yuri reactivated the GA and stowed the spent BF for disposal. IK0501 is an automated system for measuring CO2, O2, and H2O in the air as well as the flow rate of the gas being analyzed.]

CDR Whitson completed the periodic offloading of the Lab CCAA (Common Cabin Air Assembly) dehumidifier’s condensate tank, filling CWC (Contingency Water Container) #1062 with the collected water slated for processing, and putting aside two water samples in sample bags for analysis. [Estimated offload time before termination (leaving ~6 kg in the tank): ~20 min.]

The crewmembers conducted their regular 2.5-hr. physical workout program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1, FE-2), RED resistive exerciser (CDR, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).

Job items on Peggy’s and Dan’s discretionary “job jar” task list today were –

• Removal of panel fasteners in Node-2 to provide temporary access to the AR SDS (Atmosphere Revitalization/Sample Delivery System). [The SDS, along with the MCA (Major Constituents Analyzer), PCA (Pressure Control Assembly), TCCS (Trace Contaminant Control Subassembly) and CVV (Carbon Dioxide Vent Valve assembly), is a subsystem of the Atmosphere Control & Supply System of the Lab’s ECLSS (Environment Control & Life Support System)];
• Lubrication of TVIS treadmill SPDs (Subject Positioning Devices); and
• Monthly battery check and rebooting of the PCS (Portable Computer System) A31p laptops.

No CEO photo targets uplinked for today.

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov (about 700,000 NASA digital photographs of Earth are downloaded by the public each month from this “Gateway” site);
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/AstronautPhotography

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 3:59am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 338.3 km
Apogee height — 338.7 km
Perigee height — 338.0 km
Period — 91.30 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0000524
Solar Beta Angle — 4.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.77
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 124 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 51841

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Standard, some changes possible. NET = Not Earlier Than):
12/22/07 — Yuri Malenchenko’s Birthday
12/22/07 — Progress M-61/26P undocking (DC1) & reentry
12/23/07 — Progress M-62/27P launch
12/26/07 — Progress M-62/27P docking (DC1)
01/02/08 — STS-122/Atlantis/1E launch — Columbus Module, ICC-Lite (NET)
01/31/08 — 50-Year Anniversary of Explorer 1 (1st U.S. Satellite on Redstone rocket) [Check it out at http://usspace50.com/ ]
02/07/08 — Progress M-63/28P launch
02/09/08 — Progress M-63/28P docking
02/14/08 — NET: ATV-1 “Jules Verne” launch/Ariane V (Kourou, French Guyana)
02/14/08 — STS-123/Endeavour/1J/A launch/1J/A, ~11:53am, w/SLP-SPDM, JEM ELM-PS
02/16/08 — STS-123/Endeavour/1J/A docking
02/27/08 — STS-123/Endeavour undocking
02/29/08 — STS-123/Endeavour landing
03/01/08 — Progress M-62/27P undocking (DC1) & reentry
03/06/08 — NET: ATV-1 docking (SM aft port)
04/07/08 — Progress M-63/28P undocking (DC1) & reentry
04/08/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S launch
04/10/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S docking (DC1)
04/19/08 — Soyuz TMA-11/15S undocking (FGB nadir port)
04/23/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S relocation (from DC1 to FGB nadir port)
04/24/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J launch – JEM PM “Kibo”, racks, RMS.
04/26/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J docking
05/04/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J undocking
05/14/08 — Progress M-64/29P launch
05/16/08 — Progress M-64/29P docking (DC1)
07/29/08 — NET: ATV-1 undocking (from SM aft port)
08/11/08 — Progress M-64/29P undocking (from DC1)
08/12/08 — Progress M-65/30P launch
08/14/08 — Progress M-65/30P docking (SM aft port)
09/13/08 — Progress M-66/31P launch
09/15/08 — Progress M-66/31P docking (DC1)
09/20/08 — (NET) STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 launch – MPLM(P), LMC
10/01/08 — (NET) STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 undocking.
10/01/08 — 50th Birthday of NASA
10/11/08 — Progress M-65/30P undocking (from SM aft port)
10/14/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S launch
10/16/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S docking (SM aft port)
04/??/09 — Six-person crew on ISS
04/15/09 — Constellation’s Ares I-X Launch.