NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 1 August 2009
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Saturday — Crew rest day.
FE-1 Mike Barratt began the second day of his new session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository, after the 8-hr overnight fast. This was an all-day session of urine sample collections for both several times until termination tomorrow after 24 hrs. For FE-2 Tim Kopra, his 24-hr urine collection for the NUTRITION protocol closed out today. His next NUTRITION w/Repository activity will be the FD30 session. [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 six-member crew performed the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough station cleaning, including COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) and Kibo. ["Uborka", usually done on Saturdays, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the SM (Service Module) dining table, other frequently touched surfaces and surfaces where trash is collected, as well as the sleep stations with a standard cleaning solution; also, fan screens and grilles are cleaned to avoid temperature rises. Special cleaning is also done every 90 days on the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) bacteria filters in the Lab.]
As part of the house cleaning, Padalka & Romanenko conducted regular maintenance inspection & cleaning on fan screens, Group A, in the FGB (TsV2), DC1 (V3), and SM (VPkhO, VPrK, FS5, FS6 & FS9), plus dust filter replacement in the FGB.
At ~9:06am EDT, the crew conducted their regular WPC (Weekly Planning Conference) with the ground, discussing next week’s "Look-Ahead Plan" (prepared jointly by MCC-Houston and TsUP-Moscow timeline planners) via S-band/audio, reviewing the monthly calendar, upcoming activities, and any concerns about future on-orbit events.
The crew spent their free time with several VolSci (Voluntary Weekend Science) activities of their choice:
· Barratt & DeWinne, who had chosen CCISS (Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Control on Return from ISS) for their VolSci option, started out by setting up the hardware, started out by changing out the UltraBay drive of the HRF2 (Human Research Facility 2) PC2 laptop. Mike then began his 24-hr. on-orbit session with the CCISS experiment (with Frank acting as operator and photographer) by donning the HM2 (Holter Monitor 2) and the CBPD (Continuous Blood Pressure Device), performing the Baro Study, and starting the 24-hr passive heart rate data collection. Data were recorded on a PCMCIA memory card, with the HRF (Human Research Facility) rack laptop for control. Equipment doffing and stowage wrapped up the activity. [CCISS studies the effects of long-duration spaceflight on crewmembers’ heart functions and their blood vessels that supply the brain (= “cerebrovascular”). Learning more about the changes in cardiovascular & cerebrovascular systems in zero-G could lead to specific countermeasures that might better protect future space travelers. For the Baro study of CCIS, heart rate and blood pressure are being recorded for resting and timed breathing for 5 min, with no caffeine or food (water is acceptable) allowed two hours before the start of the Baro Study and no exercise prior to the Baro Study.]
· Afterwards, DeWinne performed two runs of the InSPACE-2 experiment, activating the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) and powering on the hardware, as well as the MSG video cameras and monitor. Next, the optical alignment of the cameras was verified and the MSG video recorders were configured. Then, Frank completed sessions #50 ;, switching the magnetic field to “steady” mode, sweeping and focusing the field of view, and then removing & stowing video tapes from the MSG video recorders and inserting new blank tapes. Later, the hardware was deactivated, the A31p turned off, and the gear stowed. [The purpose of the InSPACE-2 experiment is to obtain data on fluids that change properties in response to magnetic fields. Observations of the microscopic structures will yield a better understanding of the interplay of magnetic, surface and repulsion forces between structures in magnetorheological (MR) fluids (fluids that change properties under the influence of an applied magnetic field).]
FE-4 Thirsk performed the regular service on the WPA (Water Processor Assembly), first offloading the WPA from WRS (Water Recovery System) Rack 1 into a CWC-I (Contingency Water Container-Iodine) with the common H2O transfer hose (which took about 23 min) from the PWD (Potable Water Dispenser) Auxiliary Port, then flushing the system.
Thirsk also completed the regular bi-monthly reboots of the OCA Router and File Server SSC (Station Support Computer) laptops.
In Node-2, DeWinne disassembled the used LiOH (Lithium Hydroxide) canister, used for absorbing CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), and stowed it away.
Mike Barratt filled out his regular weekly FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer). [On the FFQs, NASA astronauts keep a personalized log of their nutritional intake over time on special MEC software. Recorded are the amounts consumed during the past week of such food items as beverages, cereals, grains, eggs, breads, snacks, sweets, fruit, beans, soup, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, chicken, sauces & spreads, and vitamins. The FFQ is performed once a week to estimate nutrient intake from the previous week and to give recommendations to ground specialists that help maintain optimal crew health. Weekly estimation has been verified to be reliable enough that nutrients do not need to be tracked daily.]
Roman Romanenko conducted the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM. [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],
Gennady Padalka made preparations for another run of the Russian/German TEKh-20 Plasma Crystal-3 Plus (PK-3+) experiment payload, the second of Expedition 20, by unstowing the hardware in the SM PkhO (Transfer Compartment), installing it in the SM for operation and photographing the setup. The images were downlinked to TsUP/Moscow via OCA for inspection, and the CDR performed the initial leak check of the PK-3 Electronics Box before its evacuation. More work to come tomorrow. [The experiment is performed on plasma, i.e., fine particles charged and excited by HF (high frequency) radio power inside a vacuum work chamber. Main objective is to obtain a homogeneous plasma dust cloud at various pressures and particle quantities with or without superimposition of an LF (low frequency) harmonic electrical field. The experiment is conducted in automated mode. PK-3+ has more advanced hardware and software than the previously used Russian PKE-Nefedov payload.]
At ~4:25am EDT, the crew held the regular (nominally weekly) tagup with the Russian Flight Control Team (GOGU), including Shift Flight Director (SRP), at TsUP via S-band/audio, phone-patched from Houston and Moscow.
The crew completed their regular daily 2.5-hr. physical workout program on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-1, FE-2), TVIS treadmill with vibration isolation (CDR, FE-3, FE-4, FE-5), ARED (CDR, FE-1, FE-2, FE-4, FE-5), and VELO cycle ergometer with bungee cord load trainer (FE-3).
Later, Mike transferred the exercise data files to the for downlink, including the daily wristband HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) data of the workouts on ARED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).
Reboost Update: Today the ISS performed a nominal reboost using the Progress 34P R&D thrusters. The purpose of the reboost was to set up phasing for STS-128/17A. TIG (Time of Ignition): 4:15am EDT. Burn duration: 7m 38s. Delta-V: 1.27 m/s (4.17 ft/s); mean altitude increase: 2.2 km (1.2 nmi.)
Weekly Science Update (Expedition Twenty — Week 8)
3-D SPACE: “Thank you, Tim, for your efforts for searching for the tablet pens. We hope you are able to finish your session before the end of the science window on 8/3.”
AgCam (Agricultural Camera): No report.
ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS): Complete.
ALTEA DOSI (NASA/ASI): Standing by.
BCAT-4/5 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test 4/5): No report.
BIOLAB (ESA): Microscope target test successfully completed on 6/19.
Biological Rhythms (JAXA): No report.
BISE (CSA, Bodies in the Space Environment): “Thanks Tim for your excellent work during the BISE session. The PI team has checked the data and confirmed it was ‘good responses and a quick run’. Please thank Bob Thirsk for us for his help with the hardware setup.”
BISPHOSPHONATES: “Bob, thanks for completing your pill ingestion. Your next session is scheduled for 8/3.”
CARD (Long Term Microgravity: A Model for Investigating Mechanisms of Heart Disease, ESA): No report.
CARDIOCOG-2: Complete.
CB (JAXA Clean Bench): No report.
CBEF (JAXA Cell Biology Experiment Facility): No report.
CCISS (Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Control on Return from ISS): “Tim, thanks for choosing CCISS as a voluntary science option. HRF looks forward to supporting the session this weekend."
CFE (Capillary Flow Experiment): Reserve.
CSI-3/CGBA-5 (CGBA Science Insert #2/Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 5): Complete.
CGBA-2 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 2): Complete.
CIR (Combustion Integrated Rack): See MDCA/Flex.
CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2): Complete.
Commercial 2 (JAXA): Completed.
Commercial 3 (JAXA): Completed.
CW/CR (Cell Wall/Resist Wall) in EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System): Complete.
DomeGene (JAXA): Complete.
EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students): Planned.
EDR (European Drawer Rack, ESA): The rack is continuously active in support of the Protein Crystallization Diagnostic Facility (PCDF) experiment. EDR is providing power / data and temperature control (via cooling loop) to PCDF.
ELITE-S2 (Elaboratore Immagini Televisive – Space 2): Planned.
ENose (Electronic Nose): ENose had its last downlink on July 15 and was shut down after about 7 months of operation just after the downlink. We will be analyzing the data for the next few months. The ENose team thanks all the crew members who participated in making our technology demonstration a success, including activation in December, the weekly payload status checks, the confirmational events, and all the help in trying to troubleshoot our communications anomaly last month and turning the unit back on July 10. “Thank you in advance to the crew who stow us for transportation back on ULF3.”
EPM (European Physiology Module): PCBA S/W Upgrade was successfully completed on 7/2, in preparation for SOLO execution.
EPO (Educational Payload Operations, NASA): “This week has been very productive having completed three EPO-Demos including EPO-Bernoulli-Demo, EPO-Eating-Demo, and EPO-LOCAD-Demo. Excellent job on all three! Thank you for your excellent talent on and off the camera. Educators and students worldwide will benefit from your effort. We look forward to completing more EPO-Demos during this Increment.”
EPO 3-min Video (JAXA): No report.
EPO J-Astro Report (JAXA): Ongoing.
EPO Space Clothes (JAXA): Complete.
EPO Hiten (Dance, JAXA): “Video was successfully downlinked. You accomplished more than expected at one time. Good job.”
EPO Moon Score (JAXA): “It is nice to take photo not only from JPM but also from RS module. We have 2 remaining sessions for Photo Moon. Session #6 will be 8/5 to 7. Session #7 will be on 8/23 (17A is not dock on the day) or 9/16.”
EPO Try Zero-G (JAXA): “No report.
EPO Kibo Kids Tour (JAXA): Complete.
EPO Spiral Top (JAXA): “Video was successfully downlinked. You accomplished more than expected at one time. Good job.”
ETD (Eye Tracking Device): Completed.
EuTEF (European Technology Exposure Facility): EuTEF platform and its instruments have been running nominally during this reporting period.- DEBIE-2, DOSTEL, EXPOSE: On-going science acquisition;- FIPEX: Science script successfully performed from 7/21 to 7/27. A new script has been started on 7/29; – MEDET: On-going science acquisition;- PLEGPAY: Langmuir Probe measurements were performed from 7/25 to 7/27. EXP2 experiment was successfully performed on 7/29 after an error in the ops manual was fixed by correcting some commanding parameters (heating time).
FACET (JAXA): No report.
FSL (Fluid Science Laboratory): “On 7/10, the Microgravity Vibration Insulation System (MVIS) commissioning has been started. Some initial communication problems between MVIS and FSL have been encountered, solved by reboot and power cycle of MVIS. Also some loss of communication between FSL and ground systems. On 7/13, the commissioning got resumed successfully, and two successful file transfers have been performed. So far, MVIS shows good telemetry. On 7/14, the tests of MVIS sensor, actuator and PSD have been carried out. The downlinked data is now analysed by CSA specialists.
GEOFLOW: No report.
HDTV System (JAXA): To be launched by HTV1.
Holter ECG (JAXA): No report.
HQPC (JAXA): To be launched by 34P.
ICE CRYSTAL (JAXA): Complete.
ICV (Integrated Cardiovascular): The ICV Team is looking forward to next week’s FD75 Exercise Echo session (a first for us). Talk to you soon!”
INTEGRATED IMMUNE: “Thanks for a great Integrated Immune session. We really appreciate all the feedback about what hardware was used during the session. It helps us keep everything straight on the ground!”
IMMUNO (Neuroendocrine & Immune Responses in Humans During & After Long Term Stay at ISS): Complete.
InSPACE-2 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions 2): No report.
IRIS (Image Reversal in Space): No report.
LOCAD-PTS (Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System): “Thanks for the great work you’re doing for LOCAD. You are choosing great sites and we are getting many interesting results. To summarize, you have tested 6 sites so far. Site 1 (Node 1 Rehydration Area) and Site 2 (WHC, before Shuttle dock): Low endotoxin (gram-negative bacteria), low lipoteichoic acid (gram-positive bacteria) and moderate glucan (fungi; an average of 30 – 40 ng per mL). Site 3 (Node 2 crew work station): Very low glucan (average 1 – 3 ng per mL). Site 4 (FGB): High levels of glucan (average 88 ng/mL); fabrics generally give higher readings. Site 5 (Crew Lock): Very low/absent endotoxin (average < 0.05 endotoxin units (EU) per mL; good news for planetary protection issues and human exploration of Mars). Site 6 (WHC, after Shuttle dock, July 27): Highest endotoxin readings obtained in the 25 LOCAD sessions performed on ISS so far with an average of 0.7 EU per mL (compared with 0.19 EU per mL reading obtained at WHC before Shuttle dock). These data are an excellent addition to those already obtained by Expeditions 14 – 18. They are enabling us to construct a more and more complete picture of the distribution of endotoxin, glucan and lipoteichoic acid aboard the ISS, and changes that occur over time. Not only does this support effective microbial monitoring of ISS surfaces, but it also provides unique in-flight data that is helping us prepare for monitoring and control biological contamination during the human exploration of the Moon and Mars. We look forward to more great sessions.”
Marangoni Experiment for ISS in JAXA FPEF (Fluid Physics Experiment Facility): No report.
MAXI (Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image, JAXA): Ongoing.
MDCA/Flex: No report.
Micro-G Clay (JAXA EPO): Complete.
MMA (JAXA/Microgravity Measurement Apparatus): MMA data downlink performed on 7/1. FSL Optical Target #4 check-out was completed by 7/1.
MISSE (Materials ISS Experiment): Ongoing.
Moon Photography from ISS (JAXA EPO): No report.
MSG-SAME (Microgravity Science Glovebox): Complete.
MTR-2 (Russian radiation measurements): Passive dosimeters measurements in DC1 “Pirs”.
MULTIGEN-1: Completed.
NEUROSPAT (ESA/Study of Spatial Cognition, Novelty Processing and Sensorimotor Integration): “Thank you Frank for successfully performing your second and last NEUROSPAT session. The science team is very happy with the good EEG signals that they saw on the ground.”
NOA-1/-2 (Nitric Oxide Analyzer, ESA): Complete.
NUTRITION w/REPOSITORY: Ongoing.
PADLES (JAXA, Area PADLES 3; Passive Dosimeter for Lifescience Experiment in Space): Continuing radiation dose accumulation.
PCDF-PU (Protein Crystallization Diagnostic Facility – Process Unit): “The science team is really looking forward to analyzing the crystals once returned to Earth.”
PCG (JAXA): PCG samples were successfully transferred from Progress to KIBO, and installed in PCRF. One of the temperature sensors at the Cell tray #4 position did not work. But, after the crew member moved the position to #2 for trouble shooting, it worked perfectly. We greatly appreciated it. We have started the experiment as scheduled.
PCRF (Protein Crystallization Research Facility) Reconfiguration (JAXA): Complete.
PMDIS (Perceptual Motor Deficits in Space): Complete.
POLCA/GRAVIGEN (ESA): Complete.
RadGene & LOH (JAXA): Complete.
SAMS/MAMS (Space & Microgravity Acceleration Measurement Systems): Ongoing.
SAMPLE: Complete.
SEDA-AP (Space Environment Data Acquisition Equipment-Attached Payload, JAXA): Exposed Payload,- to be launched by 2JA.
SHERE (Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment): Complete.
SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight): “Thanks for completing your first week of Sleep logging. You will have two more weeks to meet the requirement. We downlinked the data this week and it looked great! Thanks for your participation. All, the next Sleep Actiwatch download is on the task list until 8/7. The Actiwatches will stop taking data on 8/9.”
SMILES (JAXA): Exposed Payload, to be launched by HTV1.
SOLAR (Solar Monitoring Observatory): The Sun visibility window started on 7/21 and SOLAR has been acquiring science data since, making use of a new software algorithm which improves the Sun tracking capability of the platform. The SOLAR S/W upgrade still needs to be validated by testing how SOLAR handles the end of the Sun window. After that last test, the new S/W will be moved to the permanent partition on 8/1.
SOLO (Sodium Loading in Microgravity): PCBA software upgrade was successfully completed on 7/2, in preparation for SOLO execution.
SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellite): No report.
SPICE (Smoke Point In Co-flow Experiment): No report.
Swab (Characterization of Microorganisms & Allergens in Spacecraft): Complete.
TRAC (Test of Reaction & Adaptation Capabilities): Planned.
ULTRASOUND: Planned.
VLE (Video Lessons ESA): VLE-1 completed.
WAICO #1/#2 (Waving and Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots at Different g-levels): Complete/Planned (2J/A Stage). No report.
CEO (Crew Earth Observations): No report.
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible!):
08/07/09 — PMA-3 relocation to Node- 1 Port (~7:35am EDT)
08/25/09 — STS-128/Discovery/17A launch – MPLM (P), LMC (~1:36am EDT)
09/10/09 — H-IIB (JAXA HTV-1) launch (~1:00pm EDT)
09/16/09 — H-IIB (JAXA HTV-1) berth w/SSRMS
09/29/09 — Progress 34P undock
09/30/09 — Soyuz TMA-16/20S launch
10/02/09 — Soyuz TMA-16/20S docking (SM aft, until MRM-2 w/new port)
10/08/09 — H-IIB (JAXA HTV-1) unberth
10/11/09 — Soyuz TMA-14/18S undock
10/15/09 — Progress 35P launch
11/10/09 — 5R/MRM-2 (Russian Mini Research Module 2) on Soyuz-U
11/12/09 — STS-129/Atlantis/ULF3 – ELC1, ELC2
12/07/09 — Soyuz TMA-17/21S launch
12/26/09 — Progress 36P launch
02/03/10 — Progress 37P launch
02/04/10 — STS-130/Endeavour/20A – Node-3 + Cupola
03/18/10 — STS-131/Discovery/19A – MPLM(P), LMC
04/02/10 — Soyuz TMA-18/22S launch
04/27/10 — Progress 38P launch
05/14/10 — STS-132/Atlantis/ULF4 – ICC-VLD, MRM-1
05/29/10 — Soyuz TMA-19/23S launch
06/25/10 — Progress 39P launch
07/29/10 — STS-133/Endeavour/ULF5 – ELC4, MPLM
08/11/10 — Progress 40P launch
09/16/10 — STS-134/Discovery/ULF6 – ELC3, AMS
09/29/10 — Soyuz TMA-20/24S launch
10/19/10 — Progress 41P launch
11/??/10 — ATV2 – Ariane 5 (ESA)
12/??/11 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) w/ERA – on Proton
