NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 30 November 2008

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Sunday – Progress docking day for CDR Fincke, FE-1 Lonchakov & FE-2 Magnus. Crew wake-up 3:00am; sleep 4:30pm EST. Ahead: Week 6 of Increment 18.

Yest kasaniye! At 7:28am EST, Progress M-01M (31P) docked smoothly at the DC1 (Docking Compartment) nadir port under manual TORU control by Lonchakov & Fincke, followed by a final DPO post-contact thrusting burn, docking probe retraction and hook closure (“sborka”) after motion damp-out, while the ISS was in free drift for ~20 min. At “hooks closed” signal, the SM (Service Module) returned to active attitude control, maneuvering the ISS to LVLH TEA (local vertical/local horizontal Torque Equilibrium Attitude). Control authority returned to US Momentum Management at ~8:55am. [Launched on 11/26 (7:38am EST), the cargo vehicle took two days longer than usual for the flight to the ISS to allow enough checkout time for its new avionics. The 7288-kg (16,070-lb) mass cargo drone delivered 2676 kg (5,900 lb) of various supplies to the ISS, including 28 kg (62 lb) oxygen, 21 kg (46 lb) air, 185 kg (408 lb) water, 296 kg (653 lb) food, 1,120 kg (2469 lb) propellant (for ISS needs), 321 kg (708 lb) US items, 171 kg (377 lb) sanitary & hygienic items, 19 kg (42 lb) fire-protection items, 133 kg (293 lb) medical items, 103 kg (227 lb) utilization/science payloads and various equipment. 31P is the first of a new, upgraded version of the cargo ship, equipped with a new state-of-the art digital computer system and more-compact radiotelemetry avionics. The new equipment allows automatic diagnostics for the comm paths between telemetry system & computer system elements and provides digital interfaces for integrating all the spacecraft systems into the ISS. It has 75 kg (165 lb) less dry mass than previous Progress vehicles, allowing more cargo, and has 15 fewer parts. Note: Soyuz & Progress flights are supported by (currently) 11 RGS stations: five connected to TsUP-Moscow by fiber-optic land line, four by the “Primyorka” geostationary satellite, and two in autonomous mode. Real-time commanding is normally performed directly by the RGS sites, with voice link to/from TsUP. There is also a tracking ship, “Cosmonaut Posayev” (KVP 47), in the port of Kaliningrad.]

STS-126/Endeavour Landing: Both landing opportunities at KSC have been waived off for today due to inclement weather conditions. Endeavour will land at Edwards/California at the first opportunity – 4:25m EST, after deorbit burn at 3:19pm. If the landing takes place as planned, ULF-2 mission duration will be 15d 20h 26m. Gregory Chamitoff’s total time in space will be 183d 19m (178d 23h 47m on board ISS).

Most of the crew’s time today went to preparing and supporting the Progress 31P docking. Pre-docking activities called for Sandra Magnus to –

• Ensure closure of the protective shutters of the science window in the JAXA JPM (JEM Pressurized Module) and in the US Lab,
• Power down the amateur radio equipment in the FGB, to prevent RF (radio frequency) interference with Progress final approach and docking, and
• Activate & configure the A31p laptop to support the transmission of MPEG2 streaming video from the RS via OpsLAN/Ku-band and US assets to Moscow.

Mike Fincke & Yuri Lonchakov meanwhile prepared their workplace at the TORU control station in the SM and operated the controls for the final approach & docking of the cargo ship. [TORU is the manual mode through which a crewmember can perform necessary guidance functions from the SM in the event of a failure of the KURS automated rendezvous and docking (AR&D) of the Progress. TsUP-Moscow selected the TORU mode after the failure of the Kurs antenna ASF2 (also referred to as 2ASF1-M-VKA No. 2) failed to deploy after launch on 11/26. The antenna was later deployed by direct command and brought online during docking day at a distance of 1 km from the ISS and used during final approach (starting at ~160 m). However, since TsUP was uncertain whether troubleshooting could be completed by docking day, TORU was selected to be on the safe side. Lonchakov, supported by Fincke, controlled the cargo ship’s motions from the TORU control panel with two hand controllers, viewing the approach to the ISS from a Progress point-of-view through the Klest-M television camera mounted on the Progress. Remote TORU control from the ground is not available.]

After the cargo ship’s successful docking, activities by Yuri & Mike included –

• Shutting off TORU and reconfiguring the STTS telephone/telegraph subsystem to normal ops [the "Voskhod-M" STTS enables telephone communications between the SM, FGB, DC1 and USOS, and also with users on the ground over VHF channels selected by an operator at an SM comm panel, via STTS antennas on the SM’s outside. There are six comm panels in the SM with pushbuttons for accessing any of three audio channels, plus an intercom channel. Other modes of the STTS include telegraphy (teletype), EVA voice, emergency alarms, Packet/Email, and TORU docking support];
• Conducting the standard one-hour leak checking of the docking vestibule and fuel/oxidizer transfer line interface between Progress and DC1 [during leak checking and initial clamp installation, Russian thrusters were inhibited (as was the case during docking)];
• Opening the hatches (~10:20am) and installing the QD (quick disconnect) screw clamps (BZV) of the docking & internal transfer mechanism (SSVP) to rigidize the coupling;
• Performing the standard air sampling inside Progress with the Russian AK-1M air sampler;
• Powering down the spacecraft and installing the ventilation/heating air duct (~11:15am);
• Dismantling & removing the video/MPEG equipment for the TV Ku-band downlink of the docking; and
• Dismantling the docking mechanism (StM, Stykovochnovo mekhanizma) between the cargo ship and the DC1 (~12:00pm). [The StM is the "classic" probe-and-cone type, consisting of an active docking assembly (ASA) with a probe (SSh), which fits into the cone (SK) on the passive docking assembly (PSA) for initial soft dock and subsequent retraction to hard dock. The ASA is mounted on the Progress’ cargo module (GrO), while the PSA sits on the docking ports of the SM, FGB and DC1.]

Before sleep time, Fincke & Lonchakov also have about an hour reserved for starting 31P unloading and cargo transfers, foremost fresh veggies and other food items.

FE-2 Magnus meanwhile performed the standard sensor calibration on the CSA-O2 (Compound Specific Analyzer-Oxygen) units #1043 & #1059, delivered on 1J, using a new calibration adapter (#1001), brought up by 30P. [Sandy reported an initial gas pressure of 1500 psi and final gas pressure of 1400 psi. Flow rate: 10 fps. For #1059, peak reading was 22% O2 and the final cabin value was 22%; for #1043, peak: 25.3%, final cabin value: 22%.]

The FE-2 also completed another one of the periodic inspections of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device) canister cords and accessories, currently done every two weeks.

In the SM, Magnus conducted the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS), including the weekly collection of the toilet flush (SP) counter and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP-Moscow. [Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.]

SOZh checkups by Sandy included the Russian POTOK-150MK (150 micron) air filter unit of the SM’s SOGS air revitalization subsystem, gathering weekly data on total operating time & “On” durations for reporting to TsUP-Moscow.

The FE-2 handled the daily IMS (Inventory Management System) maintenance, updating/editing the standard IMS “delta file” including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Later, Magnus had about 1.5 hrs for unpacking and IMS-supported stowing of ULF2-delivered cargo items.

In preparation for upcoming sample storage requirements, the FE-2 rearranged box modules in the MELFI (Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for the ISS) in the US Lab, swapping Dewar 3/Tray A (Section 1,2) with Dewar 4/Tray B (Section 3 and 4).

And before sleep time, Sandy will break out and set up the NUTRITION with Repository hardware for her first session (FD30), starting tomorrow with blood draw and urine collections. The protocol requires Magnus to begin the usual 8-hr fast tonight by 5:00pm EST, i.e., no food or drink, but water consumption is highly encouraged to ensure proper hydration. [Sandy’s 24-hour urine collect starts with the first void of the day tomorrow morning and continues through the first void Monday morning. The NUTRITION project is the most comprehensive in-flight study done by NASA to date of human physiologic changes during long-duration space flight. It includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage, nutritional assessments, and hormonal changes, expanding the previous Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile (MR016L) testing in three ways: Addition of in-flight blood & urine collection (made possible by supercold MELFI dewars), normative markers of nutritional assessment, and a return session plus 30-day (R+30) session to allow evaluation of post-flight nutrition and implications for rehabilitation.]

The FE-2 today performed the first leak check of WRS1 (Water Recovery System 1) and WRS2. [Since the racks are still powered, the leak check was an external visual check only, without touching internal parts.]

Before sleep time, Mike Fincke will voluntarily complete the software loading and hardware setup for the MERLIN (Microgravity Experiment Research Locker/Incubator) payload, which had been added to the “job jar” task list yesterday.

The ISS crew completed their physical workout program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-2), TVIS treadmill (FE-1), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).

ISS Crew Sleep Shift Planning: To synchronize the ISS crew’s timeline with STS-126/ULF-2 undocking on 11/28, ISS crew wake/sleep cycle has undergone a number of one-hour shifts which started on 11/25. After today’s shift, wake/sleep schedule returns to “normal” tomorrow (all times EST):

No CEO photo targets uplinked for today.

CEO photography can be studied at this “Gateway” website:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov (as of 9/1/08, this database contained 770,668 views of the Earth from space, with 324,812 from the ISS alone).

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:43am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 354.2 km
Apogee height — 358.5 km
Perigee height — 349.8 km
Period — 91.62 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0006502
Solar Beta Angle — -14.5 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours – 44 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) – 57471.

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
11/30/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF-2 landing (EDW/1st: 4:25m; EDW/2nd: 6:03pm.);
12/07/08 — Progress M-65/30P reentry (after 3 weeks autonomous flight for geophysical experiments)
12/17/08 — Progress M-01M/31P thruster firing (test with Soyuz docked at SM aft);
12/18/08 — Russian EVA-21
02/09/09 — Progress M-01M/31P undocking & deorbit
02/10/09 — Progress 32P launch
02/12/09 — Progress 32P docking
02/12/09 — STS-119/Endeavour/15A launch – S6 truss segment
02/14/09 — STS-119/Endeavour/15A docking
02/24/09 — STS-119/Endeavour/15A undocking
02/26/09 — STS-119/Endeavour/15A landing (nominal)
03/25/09 — Soyuz TMA-14/18S launch
03/27/09 — Soyuz TMA-14/18S docking (DC1)
04/05/09 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S undocking
04/07/09 — Progress 32P undocking & deorbit
05/15/09 — STS-127/Endeavour/2J/A launch – JEM EF, ELM-ES, ICC-VLD
05/27/09 — Soyuz TMA-15/19S launch
Six-person crew on ISS
07/30/09 — STS-128/Atlantis/17A – MPLM (P), last crew rotation
10/15/09 — STS-129/Endeavour/ULF3 – ELC1, ELC2
12/10/09 — STS-130/Endeavour/20A – Node-3 + Cupola
02/11/10 — STS-131/Atlantis/19A – MPLM(P)
04/08/10 — STS-132/Endeavour/ULF4 – ICC-VLD, MRM1 (contingency)
05/31/10 — STS-133/Endeavour/ULF5 – ELC3, ELC4 (contingency).