NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 5 November 2011

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Saturday – Crew off duty.

After wakeup, FE-4 Volkov performed the routine inspection of the SM (Service Module) PSS Caution & Warning panel as part of regular Daily Morning Inspection.

In the Lab, Fossum serviced the EarthKAM (EKAM/Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students) payload in the Lab WORF (Window Observation Research Facility) rack, changing battery after wakeup. Later in the day, Mike shut down the EKAM equipment, removed it to stowage and also returned the SSC-21 (Station Support Computer 21) T61p laptop to its original place in Node-2 (D5). During this session, 8,830 participating students from 133 schools (111 US and 22 international) requested images via the web-based system managed at the University of California, San Diego. [EK uses a NIKON D2Xs electronic still camera with 50mm and 180mm lenses, powered by a battery, taking pictures by remote operation from the ground, without crew interaction. It is available for students who submit image requests and conduct geographic research. The requests are uplinked in a camera control file to the T61p SSC-21 (Station Support Computer) laptop which then activates the camera at specified times and receives the digital images from the camera’s storage card on its hard drive, for subsequent downlink via OpsLAN. The camera battery is changed when no pictures are being taken. EKAM uses new software on SSC-21 which replaces the version used for the DCS 760 camera. This is the 3rd use of the D2Xs camera by EKAM. Students around the world are delighted with the use of the higher resolution images.]

The CDR also checked the running BCAT-6 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-6)-Phase Separation experiment for camera & flashlight battery charge and again 8 hrs later at midday and before sleeptime. The Nikon D2Xs camera with EarthKAM software running with the Intervalometer on SSC-18 is taking automated flash photography. [The camera is running for a total of 7 days, taking one photo each hour of Sample 2 (since 11/2). Camera battery change and Intervalometer restart is done three times a day. Objective of BCAT-6-Phase Separation: to gain unique insights into how gas and liquid phases separate and come together in microgravity. These fundamental studies on the underlying physics of fluids could provide the understanding needed to enable the development of less expensive, longer shelf-life household products, foods, and medicines.]

Fossum, Furukawa & Volkov 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 Potok Air Purification System pre-filters in SM & FGB. Before the cleaning, all fan screens were photographed for ground inspection.

In early preparation for his return to gravity on 11/8, Sergey Volkov underwent his first preliminary Chibis ODNT exercise protocol in the below-the-waist reduced-pressure device (ODNT, US: LBNP/Lower Body Negative Pressure) on the T2 treadmill, with Satoshi Furukawa assisting him as CMO (Crew Medical Officer). For the 55-min exercise, monitored from the ground via telemetry (6:13am EDT), Sergey wore the GAMMA-1 system and the REG ShKO Rheoencephalogram Biomed Cap. [ODNT provides gravity-simulating stress to the body’s cardiovascular/circulatory system after his long-term stay in zero-G. The preparatory training consists of first imbibing 150-200 milliliters of water or juice, followed by a sequence of progressive regimes of reduced (“negative”) pressure, set at -15, -20, -25, -30 mmHg for five min. each while shifting from foot to foot at 10-12 steps per minute. The body’s circulatory system interprets the pressure differential between upper and lower body as a gravity-like force pulling the blood (and other liquids) down. Chibis data and biomed cardiovascular readings are recorded. The Chibis suit (not to be confused with the Russian “Pinguin” suit for spring-loaded body compression, or the “Kentavr” anti-g suit worn during reentry) is similar to the U.S. LBNP facility (not a suit) used for the first time on Skylab in 1973/74, although it appears to accomplish its purpose more quickly.]

Later, the Russian Flight Engineer unpacked & deployed new 45P-arrived RODF (Russian Operations Data Files) documents. [This involved updates for the books/material on Medical Operations (MO Books 1 & 2), Technical Experiments (TE), Geophysics (GF), Biotechnology (BTKh), PHOTO, TORU, Video & Audio (ViA), Manual Controls (RSU), Onboard Computer System (BVS), Guidance, Navigation and Control System (SUDN), Life Support System (SOZh), Atmosphere Revitalization System (SOGS), Pressure Control & Atmosphere Monitoring System (SKDS), FGB IFM IVA (PTO VnuKD), Transfer Ops (RPR), Progress 413 Transfer Ops (RPR TKG 413), plus the DVD with the video on “Deployment of jettison container with Chibis-M microsatellite”].

At ~8:45am 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.

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-5), and T2/COLBERT advanced treadmill (CDR, FE-4, FE-5).

Tasks listed for Sergey 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 Laganakskoe plateau, Krasnaya Polyana, Kolka Glacier, Volga River delta, the Caspian Sea, Mount Etna, Allalin Glacier, Ugra National Park, Volcano Huascaran, Darwin Island, and the Volcanoes Arenal, Poas and San Cristobal (monitoring possible activity),
Conducting the daily inspection of the running Russian BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) payload with its LADA-01 greenhouse, verifying proper watering of the KM A32 & A24 root modules, 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.

Conjunction Update: FCT/Flight Controller Team has been tracking a new conjunction with Object #30353 (Fengyun 1C Debris). TCA (Time of Closest Approach): 11/6 (Sunday), 1:31pm EST. The object’s miss distance has remained outside of the notification box for the past few updates. The PC (Probability of Collision) is now valid (meeting all criteria) and well below any action threshold. No action is necessary by the FCT or the crew.

Time Change: The change from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time will occur tomorrow, 11/6, at 2:00am (local time). Clocks should be set BACK 1 hour.

Weekly Science Update (Expedition Twenty-Nine — Week 7)

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): No report.

AMS-02 (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer): AMS Payload and Laptop operations are nominal. AMS performed internal power reconfiguration in preparation for the MBSU activities. As of 11/1, AMS has acquired data for 7,583,850,300 events.

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-6 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test 6): “Thank you for working the problem with overexposure. The later photographs (the ones not overexposed, i.e., washed-out) enabled our scientists to image enhance them and judge that the colloid density seems to be much higher next to the container wall for sample 1; so this sample will likely need to be remixed and rerun in the future before we will see phase separation kinetics. The P&G phase separation samples (1 and 2) are “better” index matched than the Harvard phase separation samples, so there will be less contrast when the little blobs start to form and grow over time. We have yet to receive your test data or sample pictures for sample 2. Thank you for your efforts here. We heard a “Yipee” from our P&G scientists when they were told that you had initiated sample 2.” [Colloids are particles as small as a few tens of nanometers (a thousandth of a thousandth of a millimeter) that are suspended in a medium, usually a liquid or a gas. The name “colloid” comes from the Greek word for “glue”, and expresses very important properties of colloids: when small and light enough, particles can be influenced in their behavior by forces of electromagnetic origin, and make them stick together, or repel each other depending on the configuration. Colloids are widely studied in science because the forces between particles can be controlled and tuned and because particles, while being small enough to be influenced by such forces, are big and slow enough to be seen with a relatively simple and inexpensive laboratory instrument like a microscope. This is why colloids are often studied as model for molecular systems (like standard gases or liquids) where molecules, the individual constituents, are much smaller than colloids and cannot be seen with light. As mentioned, forces between colloids can be tuned giving rise to a rich variety of phenomena. One of them is aggregation, that is when particles stick together and tend to form structures. Among the many ways to induce particle aggregation, one allows to do so by controlling the temperature of the solution in which the particles are immersed, thanks to very weak forces called “critical Casimir forces” that have been predicted more than 30 years ago but just partially verified in experiments. The objective of SODI COLLOID is to measure such forces and produce a controlled aggregation of tiny plastic particles. This would allow to shed light on critical Casimir forces and to make a step towards the fabrication of new nanostructured materials with remarkable optical properties for industrial applications.]

BIOLAB (ESA): On 11/3 the ground-commanded BIOLAB Rotor A and B alignment test was nominally performed.

BIORHYTHMS (JAXA, Biological Rhythms): On 10/27, Satoshi completed data saving. Ground Activity and data download was completed successfully.

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): No report.

CFS-A (Colored Fungi in Space-A, ESA): No report.

CSI-5/CGBA-5 (CGBA Science Insert #5/Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 5): No report.

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): The 38th EarthKAM session began with the setup on 10/31 and will end with a planned shutdown & stow on 11/5. A battery-powered D2Xs camera was positioned inside the WORF, facing out the Lab Window alongside ISSAC. The EarthKAM software ran on a T61p Laptop deployed outside the WORF volume. During this session, 8,830 participating students from 133 schools (111 US and 22 international) requested images via the web-based system managed at the University of California, San Diego. Camera control files containing student requests uplinked to the laptop resulted in extremely high-quality 12.3 megapixel images. A 50mm camera lens was used for a wider field of view the first half of the run, and then swapped to a 180mm lens on GMT 306 for higher resolution images the remainder of the run. As of GMT 307, over 700 photos have been downlinked from this session, with many more expected for the remainder of the session, to add to the grand total of 37,236 images from all previous EarthKAM missions. Images processed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are posted to the EarthKAM website for students around the world to study earth & space science, geography, social studies, math, and even art. EarthKAM continues to inspire us all to take care of our home planet earth and share the excitement of space operations.

EDR (European Drawer Rack, ESA): No report.

EKE (Endurance Capacity by Gas Exchange and Heart Rate Kinetics During Physical Training, ESA): “Dear Mike, EKE data were successfully collected during your last VO2max/THERMOLAB session on 10/27. See THERMOLAB.

ELITE-S2 (Elaboratore Immagini Televisive – Space 2): Planned.

EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System): Nominal water pump servicing was performed by ground commanding on 10/13.

ENose (Electronic Nose): No report.

EPM (European Physiology Module): No report.

EPO (Educational Payload Operations, NASA) (Eye in the Sky; Sleep 2): 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 10/31, Satoshi completed JAXA Report 16 as a task list item, it was the final report for News Paper Company.

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): “Thank you, Satoshi, for all of your hard work with the Lego Bricks project. We are in the process of editing all of the videos, and Lego has posted the Clutch Power Test to the www.legospace.com website. It looks great and we appreciate all your hard work. Also, we have posted pictures of Satoshi with the ISS model on the web as well.”

EPO-5 SpaceBottle (Message in a Bottle, JAXA): No report.

EPO Moon Score (JAXA): No report.

EPO-7 Try Zero-G (JAXA): On 10/29, Satoshi completed EPO7/Try Zero G 3 as voluntary science. JAXA Commercial Mission was performed with this. The client was fully satisfied. Thank you so much for your effort even in urgent planning.

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): No report.

EPO-7 Video (JAXA):

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): No report.

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 runs will be resumed from the ground by Monday, 11/7. [Background: Everybody is familiar with liquids. In an average day we get to use, handle or drink water or other liquids. And everybody knows how fluids (that is liquids and gases) behave: when subjected to a net force, may be pressure, a temperature difference or gravity, they can move freely. Scientists have been studying how fluids move for centuries, and managed to write mathematical formulas that can describe and predict such movements. Unfortunately, these equations are extremely complex and only approximate solutions are known. As a result, our quantitative understanding of fluid movement is just partial. This is especially true for natural phenomena where the forces can be enormous and unpredictable, like in oceans or in the atmosphere. Or the interior of the earth, where rocks are exposed to pressures and temperatures so incredibly high that they slowly move and adapt their shape. That is, over hundreds of years rocks flow just like a very viscous liquid. Scientists try to study such flows but cannot observe them directly due to the fact that they take place deep beneath the surface of our planet. The only way is to have computers simulating those movements starting from the equations, but how to check whether computers are correct? This is what GeoFlow II is trying to answer on board the International Space Station. GeoFlow II is a miniature planet that has some of its essential ingredients: a fluid can freely move inside a spherical container that rotates, has temperature differences and has a simulated gravity directed towards the centre just like in a real planet. By taking pictures of the fluid movements, scientists are able to understand the essential characteristics of the flows and determine whether computer simulations are correct or whether they need to be refined and improved towards a better understanding of the elusive movements that take place inside our planet.]

HAIR (JAXA): On 10/28, Mike and Satoshi completed their 2nd and last sample collection and MELFI insertion. [Hair root cells actively divide in a hair follicle, and they sensitively reflect physical conditions. The hair shaft has an advantage in that it records the metabolic conditions of the environment where the subject is. The purpose of this experiment is to examine the effect of long duration space flight on gene expression and trace element metabolism in human body by analysing human hair.]

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): HICO has taken 4400 images to-date. The most recent HICO images include Monterey Bay in California, the southern California coastline, the coast of Cyprus and part of the northeast coast of Australia. RAIDS has lost low-rate telemetry containing the Science 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): “Satoshi and Mike, the ICV team is looking forward to Satoshi’s final (!) inflight ambulatory monitoring and echo sessions in the coming week!”

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: The latest statistics include 14 completed events for Mike and 10 completed events for Satoshi. This includes a total of 112 events in 2011 and 678 total events for the project.

ISSAC (ISS Agricultural Camera, NASA): After careful examination of the on-orbit photos, it was noticed that the EarthKAM cable is still within the ISSAC pointing system range of motion (+/-30 deg) and it is highly likely to cause the physical obstruction again to our pointing motion. Therefore, ISSAC stood down from its nominal operations this week until EarthKAM complete its science. ISSAC will resume its operations next week on 11/7. The impact to our science due to this temporary power down is minimal and acceptable and the lost science is recoverable next week.

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): No report.

LOCAD-PTS (Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System): No report.

Marangoni Exp (JAXA): On 10/30, Satoshi completed VRU hard disk exchange as voluntary science. Ground Activities completed for MEIS3-19 on 10/26, MEIS3-20 on 10/27, MEIS3-21 on 10/31 and MEIS3-22 was completed on 11/1. Remaining 5 runs are planned to be completed after January 2012. “Thank you for your support.”

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-2: 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 and the Communication Interface Board (CIB) has not reset so far this week. MISSE-8 is still investigating potential correlations of CIB resets to active MISSE-8 experiments and sub-experiments. PASCAL has performed nominal commanding that produced IV curves of the solar cells. IV curves are plots of the current versus voltage for solar cells and tell a lot about how these are performing. 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): No report.

MSL (Materials Science Laboratory, ESA): Science program is on hold pending engineering assessment after the MSRR / MSL power-down due to P/L MDM crashes on 9/29. “Thanks a lot, Mike, for installing the MSL Termination Plug into the Core Facility Chamber on 10/28! Its installation will make it possible to perform further health check tests from ground and formulate an assessment of the proper functioning of the MSL Solidification and Quenching Furnace (SQF).”

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): On 10/27, Satoshi completed the Questionnaire as a task list item.

PACE-2 (Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment 2, NASA): (please see under FIR and LMM/PACE-2.

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, keep up the great work with Reaction Self Test!”

Robonaut (NASA): The Robonaut on-orbit checkout continued on 11/4 with completion of the motion stop checkout, successful first motion of all fingers and a successful joint checkout of the right arm, right wrist joints and finger joints on the right hand. Two unexpected faults regarding the Neck and Waist joints occurred during the joint checkout. The waist joint fault has been attributed to the micro-g environment and may require tuning in the future. Analysis of the neck fault is on-going. “Thank you for your support!”

RYUTAI Rack (JAXA): No report.

SAIBO Rack (JAXA): No report.

SAMS/MAMS (Space & Microgravity Acceleration Measurement Systems): The SAMS 121f02 sensor currently installed on the outside seat track of the MSG will be used on a daily basis to support SODI-DSC operations within the MSG beginning next week. We have measured the vibratory environment of the MSG on 11/2 to study the local acceleration levels resulting from the 45P docking. MAMS data will be used on a daily basis to support SODI-DSC operations within the MSG starting next week. We have measured the quasi-steady acceleration levels onboard during the 45P docking on Wed, 11/2. “Have a great weekend.”

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): By 10/28, all “Crystal growth detection runs” were completed for all cells (4, 3, 2, 1). The correct temperature setting to create crystals is rather difficult to define as this process is very temperature sensitive and even a small temperature change can have the desired effect. However, the preliminary analyses of the science data indicate the formation of crystal-like structures for some of the cells. To check for any potential change in the current aggregation temperature (compared to the aggregation temperature determined at the beginning of the COLLOID#2 experiment), a new series of “reproducibility check runs” (#5-#8) was started on 10/28 and completed on 11/2. The preliminary analyses of the data indicate that heating of the samples in between the two series of COLLOID#2 “reproducibility check runs” apparently has an effect on the aggregation process. The final COLLOID#2 runs, the so-called “demixing runs”, were completed for all COLLOID cells by 11/3. At the time of writing, the “demixing run” for the reference cell is on-going. During the “demixing runs” temperatures above the critical point are applied to the experimental cells. This might lead to an irreversible transition (i.e. phase separation) in the samples. All in all, we had a very smooth and successful COLLOID-2 experiment!

SOLAR (Solar Monitoring Observatory, ESA): Troubleshooting activities to recover from the Sun tracking anomaly that occurred last week (10/25) were successfully completed on 10/28. Thereafter, SOLSPEC Sun tracking measurements were resumed and SOLSPEC calibrations were done without any issue by 10/31 when Sun Visibility Window #46 ended. SolACES was in warmed-up configuration for the 42P undock event. After 10/30 the Sun tracking measurement was no longer impacted by the shadowing of a robotic arm in parking position (was the case since 10/23) and was back to its full Sun tracking duration.

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 did an amazing job of completing our entire Test Plan on 11/1! The session focused on characterizing the Smartphone sensor and video. The tests ran very smoothly and we are anticipating very useful data.

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 more runs planned on Task List for Satoshi.

STP-H3 (Space Test Program – Houston 3): MHTEX is currently being reprimed prior to beginning the next test objective. Canary took data during the 42P undocking on 10/30 and the 45P docking on 11/2. VADER is currently planning a new series of tests of the VEDs. 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): “Thank you, Mike, you did a great job when performing your final THERMOLAB session on 10/27! The THERMOLAB data were successfully downlinked and the science team confirmed good data. Looking forward to your safe return, and to the post-flight BDC sessions ;-)”

TRAC (Test of Reaction & Adaptation Capabilities): Planned.

TREADMILL KINEMATICS: “Thank you, Mike and Satoshi!”

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): Nominal measurements with NORAIS receiver.

VESSEL IMAGING (ESA): “Thanks, Satoshi, for your great job during your first VESSEL IMAGING session on 10/21. The science team was really happy with the images they received.” [It is known that the ability of blood vessels to vasoconstrict – the ability of the muscular vessel wall to narrow the diameter of the blood vessel – is impaired during and after a human has been in space. “Vessel Imaging” is using the Ultrasound scanner on board the ISS to take images of the five different blood vessels in the lower abdomen and in the legs to study what changes occur to cause the blood vessels to be less able to vasoconstrict. For each vessel, a 5 second scan is performed to observe the blood vessel during several heart beats, followed by a scan where the ultrasound scan-head is tilted to allow a “cut through the blood vessel wall”. The same scans are also performed before flight, and these pre-flight images are used as the baseline to which the in-flight data is compared with. The images are analyzed to detect any changes in the blood vessel wall properties, such as wall thickness, elasticity or structure, changes in the size of the blood vessel or blood flow (volume) while the crewmember is in orbit.]

VIABLE (eValuatIon And monitoring of microBiofiLms insidE the ISS Payload Touch, NASA): No report.

VO2max (NASA): “Mike, congrats on completing the inflight portion of the VO2max experiment! We have really enjoyed working with you on-orbit. Data analysis for this session will begin soon. See you on R+1!”

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 11/1, the ground has received 26,504 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: Chihuahuan & Big Bend Deserts, TX and NM – target area acquired – under review and evaluation for content; Hurricane Rina, Caribbean Sea – excellent documentary views were acquired; Dakar, Senegal – several frames of this target were acquired with the 80mm lens setting – there was considerably more dust in the atmosphere than we anticipated – we will continue to request this target with the 180mm lens setting; Santiago, Chile – good imagery acquired of this target – imagery requirements are met and we can remove this from our list; Popocatepetl Volcano, Mexico – good 400mm imagery was acquired – under review and evaluation for content; Ganges River Delta – good imagery acquired – seasonal requirements for this target have been met; Pretoria, South Africa – under review for content; Johannesburg, South Africa – under review for content; Asmara, Eritrea – under review for content; India-Arabian Sea smog mass – under review for content; and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – as promised, you “nailed it” – we can finally take this toughie off our list as well. Thank you for your overwhelmingly good response to our target requests this past week! Your striking view of Crepuscular Rays from above the subcontinent of India was published on NASA/GSFC’s Earth Observatory website this past weekend. Your near-sunset view of shafts of sunlight (rays) being projected into a layer of haze behind cloud towers clearly illustrates the true parallel nature of the crepuscular rays. Kudos for this heads up shot!”

CEO targets uplinked for today were Chisinau, Moldova (World Capitals Collection Site: ISS had a nadir pass at midday in clear weather over this target. The Moldovan capital is located near the center of the country and inland about 120 miles from the northwestern coast of the Black Sea. At this time, as ISS approached from the SW, the crew was to look for this urban area of nearly one million inhabitants), Managua, Nicaragua (World Capitals Collection Site: On this mid-morning pass ISS approached the coast of Nicaragua from the SW in partly cloudy weather. After crossing the coast the crew saw both the larger Lake Nicaragua to their right and the smaller Lake Managua to the NW. Looking just left of track for this capital city of nearly 2 million located on the south shore of Lake Managua), Central Cuba (ongoing research at Florida International University is seeking imagery to document and analyze land cover change in central Cuba. Today ISS had a nadir, fair-weather pass in mid-morning light over this target area. As it approached the south coast of Cuba from the SW, the crew was to attempt a mapping strip of overlapping imagery just inland along the coast from the Zapata Peninsula to the Gulf of Ana Maria), and Volcan Colima, Mexico (ISS had a nadir pass in mid-morning light with fair expected weather over this massive, 3,850-meter volcanic complex in southwestern Mexico. CEO staff has numerous photos of this target, but cloud-free, long-lens views of the twin-peaked summit area have eluded crews to date. As ISS tracked northeastward over the coast of southern Mexico at this time, the crew was to look for this target and use the long lens).

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 9:03pm EDT [= epoch])
Mean altitude – 388.6 km
Apogee height – 403.4 km
Perigee height – 373.8 km
Period — 92.33 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0021882
Solar Beta Angle — -46.0 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.60
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours – 220 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 74,296
Time in orbit (station) – 4733 days
Time in orbit (crews, cum.) — 4020 days

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time and subject to change):
————–Three-crew operations (Increment 29)————-
11/13/11 — Soyuz TMA-03M/28S launch – D.Burbank (CDR-30)/A.Shkaplerov/A.Ivanishin (11:14pm EST)
11/16/11 — Soyuz TMA-03M/28S docking (MRM2) (~12:45am)
————–Six-crew operations————-
11/22/11 — Soyuz TMA-02M/27S undock/landing (End of Increment 29) (~9:21pm)
————–Three-crew operations————-
12/xx/11 — SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon — (Under Review)
12/21/11 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S launch – O.Kononenko (CDR-31)/A.Kuipers/D.Pettit — (Target Date)
12/23/11 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S docking (MRM1) — (Target Date)
————–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/xx/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S launch – G.Padalka (CDR-32)/J.Acaba/K.Volkov — (Target Date)
04/xx/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S docking (MRM2) — (Target Date)
————–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/xx/12 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S undock/landing (End of Increment 31)
————–Three-crew operations————-
05/xx/12 – Soyuz TMA-06M/31S launch – S.Williams (CDR-33)/Y.Malenchenko/A.Hoshide
05/xx/12 – Soyuz TMA-06M/31S docking
————–Six-crew operations—————-
09/xx/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S undock/landing (End of Increment 32)
————–Three-crew operations————-
10/xx/12 — Soyuz TMA-07M/32S launch – K.Ford (CDR-34)/O.Novitskiy/E.Tarelkin
10/xx/12 – Soyuz TMA-07M/32S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
11/xx/12 — Soyuz TMA-06M/31S undock/landing (End of Increment 33)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/xx/12 — Soyuz TMA-08M/33S launch – C.Hadfield (CDR-35)/T.Mashburn/R.Romanenko
12/xx/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————-