NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 1 October 2011
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Saturday – Crew off duty.
Today 53 years ago (1958) NASA became operational after its establishment by the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958, replacing its predecessor, NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics).
FE-4 Sergei Volkov performed the routine checkup of the SM (Service Module) PSS Caution & Warning panel as part of the regular Daily Morning Inspection.
Also during the morning Inspection, the CDR conducted the routine checkup of the circuit breakers & fuses in the DC1 Docking Compartment. [The monthly checkup in DC1, MRM1 & MRM2 looks at AZS circuit breakers on the BVP Amp Switch Panel (they should all be On) and the LEDs (light-emitting diodes) of 14 fuses in fuse panels BPP-30 & BPP-36. MRM2 & MRM1 were derived from the DC1 concept and are very similar to it.]
CDR Fossum serviced the running BCAT-5 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-5) experiment, checking camera operations during the day and changing the camera battery in the morning and before sleeptime (change required after 8 hrs). As of yesterday, the BCAT camera flash has issues. The pictures are not useful and will need to be repeated. A cable needs to be found and a diagnosis of the camera problems completed. [The new experiment session is with a Harvard University phase separation sample using a different setup than for the recent crystal samples 9 & 10, mainly requiring an SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop with EarthKAM timing software, power cables and camera USB cable. For illumination, the Mini-MagLite and Flash batteries do not need to be changed yet, but the camera will need a freshly charged battery. After Mike started the run on 9/21 by mixing the sample (#4) for phase separation and taking test photos, the EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students) software on the SSC-13 laptop began taking pictures of Sample 4 for 13 days at different intervals throughout the run. This requires camera battery changes twice a day and image check with a battery change once per day. BCAT-5 is operating in the JPM (JEM Pressurized Module) because some time ago the crew deemed the US Lab too crowded for running it.]
Fossum, Volkov & Furukawa joined in conducting the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough cleaning of their home, including COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) and Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module). [“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 Uborka house cleaning, Volkov completed regular weekly maintenance inspection & cleaning of fan screens in the FGB (TsV2) plus Group E fan grilles in the SM (VPkhO, FS5, FS6, VP) and the BMP Harmful Contaminants Removal System grille in the SM. Before the cleaning, all fan screens were photographed for ground inspection.
FE-5 Furukawa turned on MPC (Multi Protocol Converter) routing and started the playback to the ground of stored video from yesterday’s JAXA EPO (Educational Payload Operation), i.e., the LEGO Bricks Trundle Wheel demo, shutting MPC routing down about 2 hrs later.
Also for the JAXA EPO program, Satoshi prepared Report Nr. 11, i.e., writing another short report showing ordinary life in space which, as is expected, will attract children and the general public’s attention for future human space exploration. [JAXA EPO Report 11 is intended for the THE NIKKEI-06 issue, with the topic (“Natural phenomenon”).]
In the ESA COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), Furukawa affixed updated labels at the fireports of an HRF (Human Research Facility) power converter and of the SLAMMD (Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device) payload.
Sergei performed 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, replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers and filling EDV-SV, KOV (for Elektron), EDV-ZV & EDV on RP flow regulator.]
After ground-commanded overnight MDCA (Multi-user Droplet Combustion Apparatus) payload test operations on the CIR (Combustion Integrated Rack) in the Lab (at S3), Mike Fossum installed the three PaRIS (Passive Rack Isolation System) lock-down alignment guides on the rack to protect its ARIS (Active Rack Isolation System) from external loading (dynamic disturbances).
At ~6:10am EDT, Sergei Volkov had his weekly PFC (Private Family Conference), via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop).
At ~8:25am EDT, the three crewmembers held the regular WPC (Weekly Planning Conference) with the ground, discussing next week’s “Look-Ahead Plan” (prepared jointly by MCC-H and TsUP-Moscow timeline planners), via S-band/audio, reviewing upcoming activities and any concerns about future on-orbit events.
At ~8:55am, Fossum & Furukawa conducted a teleconference with MCC-H “PLUTO” flight controllers to discuss the upcoming R&R (Remove & Replace) of the ISL (Integrated Station LAN) network router in Node-2, scheduled on Monday (10/3) for Satoshi. [Preparations are being made on SSC (Station Support Computer) laptops 7, 12 & 15 to ensure that the crew continues to have the necessary ops products during the activities for the day. The Node-2 activities will involve physical R&R of the ISL Router, relocation of SSC-9 & SSC-11 to Node-2 for ISL Router configuration, connecting SSC-9 & SSC-11 by Satoshi, configuring the new ISL Router by ground controllers, disconnecting the two SSC laptops and returning them to their nominal locations, again by FE-5.]
Tasks listed for Sergei Volkov on the Russian discretionary “time permitting” job for today were –
Continuing the preparation & downlinking of more reportages (written text, photos, videos) for the Roskosmos website to promote Russia’s manned space program (max. file size 500 Mb),
Another ~30-min. run of the GFI-8 “Uragan” (hurricane) earth-imaging program with the NIKON D3X digital camera with Sigma AF 300-800mm telelens, aiming for the volcanoes Popocatepetl, Huascaran and Cordon-Kaul, and
Another ~30-min. session for Russia’s EKON Environmental Safety Agency, making observations and taking KPT-3 aerial photography of environmental conditions on Earth using the NIKON D3X camera with the RSK-1 laptop.
The crew worked out with their regular 2-hr physical exercise protocol on the TVIS treadmill with vibration isolation & stabilization (FE-4), ARED advanced resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-4, FE-5) and T2/COLBERT advanced treadmill (CDR, FE-5).
Weekly Science Update (Expedition Twenty-Nine — Week 2)
2D NANO Template (JAXA): No report.
3D SPACE: Complete.
AgCam (Agricultural Camera): No report.
ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS): Complete.
ALTEA SHIELD (NASA/ASI): ALTEA-SHIELD Survey experiment aims at characterizing the radiation environment of the ISS with active detectors. The current part of the study foresees measurements at various locations, as a first step. Later on shielding materials will be tested with the same instrument. Expected spin-offs are in radiation-protection field for new space vehicles or inhabited space modules. ~50 cumulative days of science acquisition have been acquired at the last location in the US Lab. Since 9/20 only 5 out of 6 ALTEA Silicon Detector Units (SDUs) are delivering science data. One of the SDUs is connected but sends only housekeeping data and no science data packages (confirmation by Italian USOC MARS). Minor science impact since we are still acquiring science along all three orthogonal axes.
AMS-02 (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer): All AMS Payload and Laptop operations are nominal. On 9/27, AMS was commanded to change the input power channel configuration to support SPARTAN EPS testing. Following the test, the final power channel configuration was returned to the nominal 50/50 power channel split. At 9/29, the AMS event count is over 6 Billion.
APEX (Advanced Plant Experiments on Orbit) -Cambium: No report.
APEX-TAGES (Transgenic Arabidopsis Gene Expression System): No report.
Asian Seed 2010 (JAXA): Returned on ULF6.
BCAT-4/5 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test 4/5): “We’re rather excited about the angled BCAT-5 sample 9 and sample 10 pictures that were taken last week by Mike Fossum. Some of the sample 9 pictures were seen by Cathy Frey, BCAT Operations Lead, over the link during BCAT Ops. We’re also looking forward to the pictures from Sample 4, which is currently running. We’re continuing to check DIMS for pictures to forward to the BCAT science teams for feedback and analysis (that is, when we’re not busy replacing the ceiling tiles that got knocked out from all the jumping up and down)”.
BIOLAB (ESA): No report.
BIORHYTHMS (JAXA, Biological Rhythms): No report.
BISE (CSA, Bodies in the Space Environment): No report.
BISPHOSPHONATES: No report.
BXF-Facility (Boiling eXperiment Facility, NASA): No report.
BXF-MABE (Microheater Array Boiling Experiment, NASA): No report.
BXF-NPBX (Pool Boiling Experiment, NASA): No report.
CARD (Long Term Microgravity: Model for Investigating Mechanisms of Heart Disease, ESA): No report.
CARDIOCOG-2: Complete.
CB (JAXA Clean Bench): No report.
CBEF-2 (JAXA Cell Biology Experiment Facility)/SPACE SEED: No report.
CCISS (Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Control on Return from ISS): No report.
CERISE (JAXA): No report.
CCF (Capillary Channel Flow, NASA): No report.
CFE-2 (Capillary Flow Experiment 2, NASA): “Mike: We can’t fully express our elation at the success of this experiment and our appreciation of your vital involvement as one of our team. This dry surface test was very important and your highly detailed descriptions were key in letting us know what was going on and in making judgments during the large LOS period. Additionally, due to you, we believe that we were able to capture one of the critical wetting angles to with +/-0.5 degrees! We look forward to our continued partnership and more experiments to come!”
CFS-A (Colored Fungi in Space-A, ESA): No report.
CSI-5/CGBA-5 (CGBA Science Insert #5/Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 5): “Thank you, Satoshi, for a fantastic second planting. The video you had for us to follow along was a great help. All the seeds in the first planting germinated and images were taken every 30 minutes of their growth. There are currently 49,843 students participating in this experiment and that number is still growing. They represent classrooms from 47 states in the United States and 20 countries from around the world.”
CGBA-2 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 2): Complete.
CIR (Combustion Integrated Rack), MDCA/Flex: No report.
Commercial (Inc 23&24, JAXA): No report.
Commercial (Inc 25 & 26, JAXA): Sample returned by ULF6.
CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2): No report.
CsPins (JAXA): No report.
CubeLab: No report.
CW/CR (Cell Wall/Resist Wall) in EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System): Complete.
DECLIC-ALI (Device for the Study of Critical Liquids & Crystallization-ALICE-like, CNES/NASA): No report.
DomeGene (JAXA): Complete.
DOSIS (Dose Distribution Inside ISS, ESA): No report.
EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students): No report.
EDR (European Drawer Rack, ESA): No report.
EKE (Endurance Capacity by Gas Exchange and Heart Rate Kinetics During Physical Training, ESA): No report.
ELITE-S2 (Elaboratore Immagini Televisive – Space 2): Planned.
EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System): No report.
ENose (Electronic Nose): No report.
EPM (European Physiology Module): No report.
EPO (Educational Payload Operations, NASA) (Sesame Street): No report.
EPO (Educational Payload Operations, NASA) (Kids in Micro-G): No report.
EPO (Educational Payload Operations, NASA) (Earth/Moon/Mars Demo): No report.
EPO LES-2 (ESA): No report.
EPO GREENHOUSE (ESA): No report.
EPO 3-min Video (JAXA): No report.
EPO J-Astro Report (JAXA): On 9/24, Satoshi completed JAXA Report 10.
EPO Dewey’s Forest (JAXA): Closed out on 3/15.
EPO Space Clothes (JAXA): Complete.
EPO Hiten (Dance, JAXA): No report.
EPO Lego Bricks (NASA, JAXA): Clutch Power Test, Living and Working Interiors, Space Shuttle, and Hubble activities have been completed.
EPO-5 SpaceBottle (Message in a Bottle, JAXA): No report.
EPO Moon Score (JAXA): No report.
EPO-7 Try Zero-G (JAXA): Try ZERO-G #2 was performed on 9/22. Some Japanese children who suggested the experiment contents attended this session at SSIPC.
EPO Kibo Kids Tour (JAXA): Complete.
EPO Paper Craft (Origami, JAXA): No report.
EPO Poem (JAXA): No report.
EPO-6 Spiral Top 2 (JAXA): No report.
EPO-7 Doctor Demo (JAXA): No report.
EPO-7 Green Tea Preparation (JAXA): No report.
EPO-7 Ink Ball (JAXA): Completed Ink Ball 2 experiment conference on 9/29 and the Ink Ball 2 experiment on 9/30. [Background: Ink Ball Experiment 2 visualized the relation among life, light and the sea by making two kinds of salt water balls glow with UV (Ultraviolet) Light. The first was the Sea Firefly, which is a type of luminous plankton. Plankton is a mass of organisms which drifts in the pelagic zone of oceans. Using a stirring wire to keep the water flowing within the water ball, the crewmember added Sea Firefly which glowed for a few minutes. Satoshi then added fluorescent ink and used UV light to illuminate the water ball, resulting in Sea Firefly appearing as a black silhouette in a dim light of blue ink. The movement and expansion of the ink on the water ball was captured on video.]
EPO-7 Video (JAXA): On 9/20, Satoshi completed JAXA Video #2 using the 3D Camera.
ERB-2 (Erasmus Recording Binocular, ESA): [ERB-2 aims are to develop narrated video material for various PR & educational products & events, including a 3D interior station view.] No report.
ETD (Eye Tracking Device): Completed.
FACET-2 (JAXA): No report.
FERULATE (JAXA): No report.
FIR/LMM/CVB (Fluids Integrated Rack / Light Microscopy Module / Constrained Vapor Bubble): “Mike: Nice work replacing the LMM Monochrome Camera 1 and installing the first PACE (Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment)Tissue Sample. You installed the flight spare LMM Monochrome Camera 1 so we can perform a post-launch functional checkout on it. You also installed the first of three PACE Tissue Samples. This first sample contains various animal organ tissues. We’re using these samples to characterize the LMM Microscope for the ACE (Advanced Colloids Experiment) scheduled to begin in 2012.
Fish Scales (JAXA): Completed on FD7/ULF-4 and returned on STS-132.
FOAM STABILITY (ESA): No report.
FOCUS: No report.
FSL (Fluid Science Laboratory, ESA): FSL VMU Hybrid Test and troubleshooting were successfully completed.
FWED (Flywheel Exercise Device, ESA): No report.
GENARA-A (Gravity Regulated Genes in Arabidopsis A/ESA): No report.
GEOFLOW-2 (ESA): GEOFLOW-2 science has resumed. This experiment aims at studying fluid flows in a concentric spherical shaped geometry to mimic fluid flows in mantles of planets. Of relevance for various technology aspects (e.g. gyroscopes, ball bearings). This week we accomplished successfully 3 no-rotation runs, and we now make use of MVIS (Microgravity Vibration Insulation System) on FSL to characterize the g-disturbances during the runs. All data acquired this week were downlinked Friday, 9/30 and early next week.
HAIR (JAXA): No report.
HDTV System (JAXA): No report.
Hicari (JAXA): No report.
Holter ECG (JAXA): No report.
HQPC (JAXA): Was delivered by 34P.
HREP (HICO/Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean & RAIDS/Remote Atmospheric & Ionospheric Detection System/JAXA): This week marks the first week of Year 3 on-orbit for HREP. HREP was successfully installed on 9/24/09. Since then HICO has collected over 4,000 images and RAIDS has collected more than 64 million spectra as well as over 1 million limb scans. The exact image count to-date for HICO is 4170 processed images. The most recent HICO images include the northern coast of Australia, Midway Island and part of Hawaii east of Oahu. RAIDS has lost low-rate telemetry data as of Day 264 and is currently troubleshooting the problem with NASA engineers.
HydroTropi (Hydrotropism & Auxin-Inducible Gene Expression in Roots Grown under Microgravity Conditions/JAXA): No report.
ICE CRYSTAL (JAXA): Complete.
ICV (Integrated Cardiovascular): No report.
IMMUNO (Neuroendocrine & Immune Responses in Humans During & After Long Term Stay at ISS): Complete.
INTEGRATED IMMUNE: “Mike & Satoshi, thanks to all of you for a successful blood draw on 9/14. The PI team is looking forward to analyzing the data.”
InSPACE-2 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions 2): No report.
IRIS (Image Reversal in Space, CSA): No report.
ISS Amateur/Ham Radio: On 9/22 Satoshi contacted Kiroli Elementary in West Monroe, Louisiana. Satoshi answered at least 19 questions during the event. Statistics for events to date are: 1 in Increment 29; 7 for Furukawa; 15 for Exp28 crew; 103 in 2011; 669 Project count total.
ISSAC (ISS Agricultural Camera, NASA): After 8 days of continuous operations (worldwide ops, 24×7), our payload required a power cycle on 9/27 to resume nominal ops on 9/28. We believe that this event is minor and has no impact on our nominal operations to continue, but investigation is in progress to find out the root cause. On the science side for this week, we captured a total of 92 targets and among these targets: 40% – North America, 7% – South America, 15% – Africa, 30% – Asia, and 7% – Europe. Temporarily, there will be no ops between 9/30-10/9; we will resume our nominal worldwide ops on 10/10.
IV Gen (Intravenous Fluids Generation): No report.
KID/KUBIK6: No report.
KUBIK 3 (ESA): No report.
LMM/PACE-2 (Light Microscopy Module / Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment): We have finished powered operations with the PACE Particle Samples. Next, we plan to observe and image the PACE Tissue Samples.”
LOCAD-PTS (Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System): No report.
Marangoni Exp (JAXA): On 9/26, Satoshi completed MS-IPU VRU exchange to support ground activities for run #5, #6, #7 and #8. MAKING NEWS: On 9/20-9/23, we observed a PAS (dynamic Particle Accumulation Structure) in Marangoni convection last week. This is the first success in high viscous and large liquid bridge research. This observation could not be accomplished without utilizing the merit of long and high quality microgravity environment on-board the ISS effectively. The observation of PAS is the phenomenon we were passionately exploring in Kino for over three years since the start of Marangoni experiment. The Marangoni convection exhibits various flow patterns depending on its driving force. Under a certain condition, fine particles dispersed for the visualization accumulates spontaneously along a spirally twisted closed loop, which is called dynamic Particle Accumulation Structure (PAS). The mechanism of PAS formation has not been clarified yet. It is one of the hot topics involving researchers in fluid physics from around the world. This first observation of PAS by our Japanese science team will show the way to understanding the phenomena.
Marangoni DSD – Dynamic Surf (JAXA): Payload name was change from Marangoni DSD to Dynamic Surf.
Marangoni UVP (JAXA): No report.
MARES (Muscle Atrophy Research & Exercise System, ESA/NASA): No report.
Matryoshka-2 (RSA): No report.
MAXI (Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image, JAXA): Continuing telemetry monitoring.
MDCA/Flex: No report.
MEIS (Marangoni Experiment for ISS) in JAXA FPEF (Fluid Physics Experiment Facility): No report.
Microbe-2 (JAXA): Sample returned by ULF6.
Micro-G Clay (JAXA EPO): Complete.
MISSE-8 (Materials ISS Experiment 8): MISSE-8 is operating nominally. PASCAL is monitoring the status of the solar cells and analyzing data gathered from previous commanding. The SpaceCube experiment is running code for new radiation hardening by software.
MMA (JAXA/Microgravity Measurement Apparatus): No report.
MPAC/SEED (JAXA): No report.
MSG-SAME (Microgravity Science Glovebox-Smoke Aerosol Measurement Experiment): No report.
MSPR (Multi Purpose Small Payload Rack, JAXA): A USB checkout was performed on 9/29; it was successful.
MSL (Materials Science Laboratory, ESA): At 9/30, the Payload MDM in the US-Lab crashed which led to MSRR automatically going into Shutdown and switching MSL off during the SCA processing. At that moment the MSL Solidification and Quenching Furnace (SQF) was processing the SETA-2#3 sample at around 1000degC. Due to the power loss on MSRR-1/MSL, the power to the furnace was cut and the cooling of the facility and the Turbo Pump were switched off. The recovery of the Payload MDM took some time, after which MSRR-1 was rebooted and MSL brought back up. The temperatures in the furnace where at around 400 degC at that point. The MSL Facility was in a safe configuration and cooling down. Before the facility could reach touch temperature of 49 degC and go into Standby Mode there was a second Payload MDM crash, which caused MSRR to shut MSL off again. This time however, the facility was almost cool (about 130 degC) and therefore the situation was not critical. After about an hour the Payload MDM problem was recovered and MSL could be powered on again. After MSL was back in Standby mode the SETA2#3 activities could be concluded nominally. The sample processing stopped after 40mm of the planned 50mm processing length and no quenching took place at the end. What this means in terms of science loss is probably significant, but has to be analyzed by the SETA science team. MSL engineering team has also to evaluate whether there are further consequences regarding the MSL hardware.
MTR-2 (Russian radiation measurements): Passive dosimeters measurements in DC-1 “Pirs”.
MULTIGEN-1: Completed.
MYCO 3 (JAXA): On 9/22, Mike and Satoshi completed sample collection.
MyoLab (JAXA): Completed on 4/20.
NANOSKELETON (Production of High Performance Nanomaterials in Microgravity, JAXA): No report.
NEURORAD (JAXA): No report.
NEUROSPAT (ESA/Study of Spatial Cognition, Novelty Processing and Sensorimotor Integration): No report.
NOA-1/-2 (Nitric Oxide Analyzer, ESA): Complete.
NUTRITION w/REPOSITORY/ProK: No report.
ODK (Onboard Diagnostic Kit, JAXA): No report.
PACE-2 (Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment 2, NASA): (please see under FIR).
PADIAC (Pathway Different Activators, ESA): No report.
PADLES (JAXA, Area PADLES 3/4; Passive Area Dosimeter for Lifescience Experiment in Space): No report.
PASSAGES (JAXA): No report.
PCDF-PU (Protein Crystallization Diagnostic Facility – Process Unit): No report.
PCG (JAXA, Protein Crystal Growth): Returned on 26S on 9/16.
PCRF (Protein Crystallization Research Facility) Reconfiguration (JAXA): See PCG.
PLSG (Plant Signaling, NASA/ESA): No report.
PMDIS (Perceptual Motor Deficits in Space): Complete.
POLCA/GRAVIGEN (ESA): Complete.
Portable PFS: No report.
Pro K: No report.
RadGene & LOH (JAXA): Complete.
RadSilk (JAXA): No report.
Reaction Self Test (RST/Psychomotor Vigilance Self Test on the ISS): “Mike and Satoshi, thank you for your continued participation in Reaction Self Test!”
Robonaut (NASA): No report.
RYUTAI Rack (JAXA): No report.
SAIBO Rack (JAXA): No report.
SAMS/MAMS (Space & Microgravity Acceleration Measurement Systems): No report.
SAMPLE: Complete.
SCOF (Solution Crystallization Observation Facility, JAXA): No report.
SEDA-AP (Space Environment Data Acquisition Equipment-Attached Payload, JAXA): Continuing telemetry monitoring.
SHERE II (Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment II): No report.
SLAMMD (Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device): No report.
SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight): No report.
SMILES (JAXA): Continuing telemetry monitoring.
SODI/IVIDIL (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument/Influence of Vibration on Diffusion in Liquids, ESA): No report.
SODI/COLLOID (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument/Colloid): No report.
SOLAR (Solar Monitoring Observatory, ESA): Sun Visibility Window #45 on-going (until 10/3, Week #03). Anomaly on 9/27: The first two Sun tracking sequences did not start. Start command was later on successfully repeated. No science impact. Root cause not known yet. Anomaly on 9/28: AIB failure, however recovery of all scientific activities successful. On 0/29: Ground systems back to nominal after an outage. SOLAR was in Set-up and Configuration Mode (SCM) and SolACES was heating up for Debris Avoidance Maneuver (DAM) planned for 9/29 in the afternoon.
SOLO (Sodium Loading in Microgravity): No report.
Space-DRUMS (Space Dynamically Responding Ultrasonic Matrix System): No report.
Space Food (JAXA): No report.
SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellite): Mike executed SPHERES Test Session 27A, which was a continuation of objectives from TS 27. Successfully completed SPHERES Beacon Setup and Group A objectives. SPHERES Team considers Test Sessions 27 and 27A complete. Thanks to Mike for all the great work and great Science! And thanks to the Increment team for allowing us some extra time to complete our testing!”
SPHINX (SPaceflight of Huvec: an Integrated eXperiment, ESA): No report.
SPICE (Smoke Point In Co-flow Experiment): No report.
SPINAL (Spinal Elongation): No report.
SPRINT: No report.
SS-HDTV (Super Sensitivity High Definition Camera, JAXA): No report.
STP-H3 (Space Test Program – Houston 3): MHTEX continues to run in a steady state mode and will be in this mode for the next couple of weeks with minor adjustments as necessary. Canary acquired data during the debris avoidance maneuver on 9/29. Canary is also analyzing and downloaded files from previous data takes. VADER is cycling between voltages to measure the difference in states and the amount of repeatability between high and low emissivity states. DISC has taken more images this week and is processing images that were taken in previous weeks.
SWAB (Characterization of Microorganisms & Allergens in Spacecraft): No report.
TASTE IN SPACE (ESA): No report.
THERMOLAB (ESA): “Dear Mike, thank you for repeating the 4th VO2max/Thermolab session on 9/26. The science team confirmed the validity of the data.”
TRAC (Test of Reaction & Adaptation Capabilities): Planned.
TREADMILL KINEMATICS: “Thanks very much for the makeup session, Mike!”
TRIPLELUX-B (ESA): No report.
ULTRASOUND: Planned.
UMS (Urine Monitoring System (NASA): No report.
VASCULAR (CSA): No report.
VCAM (Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Module, NASA): No report.
VESSEL ID System (ESA): Acquiring science data with NorAIS receiver.
VESSEL IMAGING (ESA): No sessions possible due to Ultrasound anomaly.
VIABLE (eValuatIon And monitoring of microBiofiLms insidE the ISS Payload Touch, NASA): No report.
VO2max (NASA): “Thank you for the dedication and willingness to re-perform your FD 105 VO2max test! The PI team has begun data analysis and is excited to get feedback on your aerobic fitness. The Ops team appreciates all the information you have provided about stowage and we are working to get a copy of the training video you made. Again, thanks for all of your hard work!”
VLE (Video Lessons ESA): No report.
WAICO #1/#2 (Waving and Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots at Different g-levels; ESA): No report.
YEAST B (ESA): No report.
CEO (Crew Earth Observation): Through 9/24, the ground has received 3,486 CEO frames for review and cataloging. “We are pleased to report your acquisition of imagery this week with times corresponding to those of our CEO Daily Target Lists for the following targets: Munich, Germany – two sessions – one with seven excellent medium and long-lens views of the required target area – with excellent focus – daylight requirements are met for this target; Georgetown, Guyana – several well-composed views – however more clouds were present than we anticipated – we will continue to request this target; Beirut, Lebanon – three short-lens context views were acquired of this target – 180mm views are still required; Merapi Volcano, Indonesia – under evaluation for content; Ubinas Volcano, Peru – under evaluation for content; Chiricahua Mountains, AZ – under evaluation for content, but more clouds were present than expected; and Khartoum, Sudan – several excellent views – requirements are complete for this target and we can remove it from the list. Thanks for your continued good effort in response to our requests. Your absolutely awesome view of Hurricane Katia off the northeastern US coastline, acquired on 9/9, was published on the NASA/GSFC’s Earth Observatory website this past weekend. Your panoramic view captured much of the circulation of this immense storm well out to sea. Through a break in the clouds, it further offered a view of western Long Island, New York with the sediment plume of the Hudson River muddied by the runoff from the rains of earlier storms Irene and Lee. Thanks for this marvelous signature shot of our very active Hurricane season this year!”
CEO (Crew Earth Observation) targets uplinked for today were Cairo, Egypt (Cairo is the capital city of Egypt and is the largest city in Africa. It is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with an estimated population of 6.8 million people living within the city, and an estimated 10 million living outside the city proper. Documenting land use and urban boundaries), Mbabane, Swaziland (this small capital city has a population of approximately 95,000 and lies in a wooded highland of the tiny, land-locked nation of Swaziland. CEO staff has no images of this city in their database), Kerguelen Is., S. Indian Ocean (there may be a break in the clouds for nadir views of this glacier-capped island near the bottom of the orbit. Cook Glacier on the high west side is the focus of interest), Hurricane Ophelia (DYNAMIC EVENT: Since yesterday, Tropical Storm Ophelia unexpected strengthened very rapidly to a Category 1 Hurricane and on 9/30 reached Category 3 strength with 100kt winds. It is now moving northward over the open Atlantic and by the time of this ISS pass should have been very near Bermuda without further strengthening. Ophelia has remained a compact storm and now exhibits a well-defined eye. ISS should have been well off the US east coast and approaching the area of Ophelia from the NW. The crew had a near-nadir pass over the hurricane so short-lens, context views were fine during their approach, but they were to try for more detailed views directly into the eye, if visible, to document the interior eye-wall structure), Central Cuba (looking right of track for context views of land use in central Cuba. Researchers at Florida International University are conducting an analysis of Cuban land cover change. Land cover change is indicated by color, change in vegetation, lack of vegetation, industrial and residential land use, etc.), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (HMS Beagle Site: Darwin and the Beagle arrived in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, presently a city of more than 7 million, in April of 1832 and undertook an expedition inland. Overlapping views of the city were requested), and Sierra de los Ajos (this club-shaped, roughly north-south range of mountains, is situated in the northeastern part of the state of Sonora Mexico between the mining center of Cananea and the General Lazaro Cardenas Reservoir. With elevations ranging from about 4,000 to 8,600 feet, the Sierra de los Ajos support an ecologically diverse, alpine-woodland habitat within the Sonoran Desert that includes them in the regional province of scattered highlands known as the Madrean Sky Islands of northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. CEO is seeking detailed mapping views of this target for baseline and change detection of this unique and threatened habitat).
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:52am EDT [= epoch])
Mean altitude – 387.3 km
Apogee height – 398.5 km
Perigee height – 376.0 km
Period — 92.30 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0016636
Solar Beta Angle — 12.8 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.60
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 15 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 73,750
Time in orbit (station) — 4698 days
Time in orbit (crews, cum.) — 3985 days
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time and subject to change):
————–Three-crew operations (Increment 29)————-
10/19/11 — ISS Reboost
10/29/11 — Progress M-10M/42P undocking
10/30/11 — Progress M-13M/45P launch
11/01/11 — Progress M-13M/45P docking
11/14/11 — Soyuz TMA-03M/28S launch – D.Burbank (CDR-30)/A.Shkaplerov/A.Ivanishin
11/16/11 — Soyuz TMA-03M/28S docking (MRM2)
————–Six-crew operations————-
11/22/11 — Soyuz TMA-02M/27S undock/landing (End of Increment 29)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/30/11 — SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon — Target date
12/26/11 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S launch – O.Kononenko (CDR-31)/A.Kuipers/D.Pettit — (date “on or about”)
12/28/11 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S docking (MRM1) — (date “on or about”)
————–Six-crew operations—————-
TBD — Progress M-13M/45P undock
TBD — Progress M-14M/46P launch
TBD — Progress M-14M/46P docking (DC-1)
02/29/12 — ATV3 launch readiness
TBD — Soyuz TMA-03M/28S undock/landing (End of Increment 30)
————–Three-crew operations————-
03/30/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S launch – G.Padalka (CDR-32)/J.Acaba/K.Volkov
04/01/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S docking (MRM2)
————–Six-crew operations—————-
05/05/12 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) w/ERA – launch on Proton (under review)
05/06/12 — Progress M-14M/46P undock
05/07/12 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) – docking (under review)
05/16/12 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S undock/landing (End of Increment 31)
————–Three-crew operations————-
05/29/12 – Soyuz TMA-06M/31S launch – S.Williams (CDR-33)/Y.Malenchenko/A.Hoshide
05/31/12 – Soyuz TMA-06M/31S docking
————–Six-crew operations—————-
09/18/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S undock/landing (End of Increment 32)
————–Three-crew operations————-
10/02/12 — Soyuz TMA-07M/32S launch – K.Ford (CDR-34)/O.Novitskiy/E.Tarelkin
10/04/12 – Soyuz TMA-07M/32S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
11/16/12 — Soyuz TMA-06M/31S undock/landing (End of Increment 33)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/30/12 — Soyuz TMA-08M/33S launch – C.Hadfield (CDR-35)/T.Mashburn/R.Romanenko
12/02/12 – Soyuz TMA-08M/33S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
03/xx/13 — Soyuz TMA-07M/32S undock/landing (End of Increment 34)
————–Three-crew operations————-
03/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-09M/34S launch – P.Vinogradov (CDR-36)/C.Cassidy/A.Misurkin
03/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-09M/34S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
05/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-08M/33S undock/landing (End of Increment 35)
————–Three-crew operations————-
05/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-10M/35S launch – M.Suraev (CDR-37)/K.Nyberg/L.Parmitano
05/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-10M/35S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
09/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-09M/34S undock/landing (End of Increment 36)
————–Three-crew operations————-
09/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-11M/36S launch – M.Hopkins/TBD (CDR-38)/TBD
09/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-11M/36S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
11/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-10M/35S undock/landing (End of Increment 37)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-12M/37S launch – K.Wakata (CDR-39)/R.Mastracchio/TBD
11/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-12M/37S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
03/xx/14 – Soyuz TMA-11M/36S undock/landing (End of Increment 38)
————–Three-crew operations————-
