ISS On-Orbit Status 25 Apr 2003
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Day 153 for Expedition 6 (since STS-113 launch, 11/23/02).
The crew completed the scheduled first (of two) descent drill/OBT (on-board training) in the Soyuz TMA-1 (211), for which 3 hrs. had been set aside on their schedule. During the OBT, CDR/Soyuz-FE1 Ken Bowersox occupied the left seat, FE-1/Soyuz-CDR Nikolai Budarin the center seat, and FE-2/SO Don Pettit the right seat of the DM (Descent Module). [Simulation steps include: Soyuz activation, transfer hatch closing, transfer hatch seal check, undocking prep, hatch seal monitoring, automatic undocking, settings verification and descent program initiation. Changes introduced in the new Soyuz design include the new “Neptune-ME” control panel (“glass cockpit”), a the focal point of the training in order to ensure a thorough familiarization with the actual displays used during return preparation and descent. In the nominal case, reentry and landing will be fully automatic, with manual override by Budarin only in a technical contingency. The second training lesson, with the integrated E6/E7 crew, is scheduled for 5/2 (Friday), with Pettit’s seat then occupied by Yuri Malenchenko, CDR of Expedition 7.]
The crew held a teleconference via S-band with the Russian medical support group (GMO) to discuss what they can expect to experience during the ballistic descent of the Soyuz 5S DM,- the first crew landing in the modified TMA vehicle.
After CDR Ken Bowersox connected the UOP power bypass cable of the RWS (robotics workstation) to enable the SSRMS (space station remote manipulator system) video system, he and FE-1 Nikolai Budarin set up and tested the Ku-band configuration for the video transmission of Soyuz docking on 4/28 via USOS (US segment) assets and TDRS. There will also be Russian TV downlink during RGS (Russian ground site) comm pass which will then be relayed to MCC-H from Moscow. [The video setup via Ku-band also applies to 5S undocking (and is also generic for EVAs). Communications checks today between the Soyuz TMA-1 and the Service Module (SM) were conducted via cable extensions.]
Budarin completed his regular daily 5-min. inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”) plant growth experiment.
Nikolai also collected air samples in the SM, using the standard Russian AK-1M sampler device, after disconnecting the Vozdukh atmosphere purification unit at the BOA valve panel.
Later, the Russian flight engineer collected water samples from the BRP-M modified potable water dispensing and heating unit in the SM (from the hot valve), in preparation for the subsequently performed R&R (removal & replacement) of the purification beds (multifiltration unit) in the condensate water recovery system (SRVK-2M). [The water samples were secured in two EDP containers and prepared for return on Soyuz 211 (5S). The BRP-M collects purified water from the SRV-K2 condensate water processor and heats it to 80-95 degC, in the process sterilizing (“pasteurizing”) it for safe ingestion by the crew.]
Super handyman Don Pettit was congratulated on the successful completion of “a very daunting” ARCTIC-1 repair procedure, with which he “truly pushed back the frontiers of what can be done in IFM (in-flight maintenance)!” The last remaining test for Pettit today was an electrical isolation/continuity test of the refrigerator/freezer disconnected from EXPRESS Rack 2.
Don Pettit completed the daily routine task of SOZh life support systems maintenance and prepared the daily IMS inventory update file, while Bowersox performed the regular Lab payload status checkup.
The crew also continued their cargo preparations for the upcoming handover activities to the Expedition 7 crew on 4/28-5/3 and their own return on Soyuz TMA-1 on 5/4.
Pettit conducted another weekly inventory audit of the available CWCs (collapsible water containers) and their condition. [Last time done: 4/18.]
The Science Officer set up and activated the EarthKAM payload in preparation for next week’s operations. EarthKAM will remain idle and the Lab Window Shutter closed until post-Soyuz docking.
Ken Bowersox completed, for the last time, his weekly task of filling out the FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time. Don’s last FFQ turn on the MEC (medical equipment computer) was yesterday.
All crewmembers worked out on TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization), CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation), and RED (resistive exercise device), completing their daily physical exercise program. Due to the still unknown cause of the RED cable damage and the re-use of old cords, inspection details and use of safety straps have been added to the crew’s daily RED exercise advisory notes.
Launch of 6S/Soyuz TMA-2 is scheduled for tonight at 11:54pm EDT. For details, see the Appendix, below.
Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) targets, currently restricted by limited the use of the science window in the Lab including near-vertical targets from the city target list due to the current XPOP attitude, were Western Mediterranean Dust (looking left and right of track along the African coast), Rome, Italy (nadir pass; ESC [electronic still camera]), Berlin, Germany (nadir pass; ESC), Taiwan Smog (the west side of Taiwan is one of the smoggiest parts of the world. Looking right to record a developing smog event on Taiwan’s industrial western plains), Mekong River delta (Dynamic event. Sun glint point passing over this large delta. High contrast of glint views is ideal for mapping estuary coastal change), Salt Lake, Utah (Dynamic event. Sun glint opportunity to document the dynamic shoreline of the lake in detail), and Central America smoke (Dynamic event. Starting over Houston, looking right for a large smoke cloud moving from southern Mexico northwards. Views should have appeared for three minutes, especially of the abrupt east-side margin of the cloud on approach to the Yucatan peninsula).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Appendix:
The standard Soyuz launch-and-ascent template is as follows:
Soyuz (and Progress) fly a standard 34-orbit (2-day) timeline template from launch through docking. Actual day and time of launch must meet certain phasing requirements vis-à-vis the target (ISS) in order for this to work.
Flight operations are highly automated, reliant on stored program command timelines and standard command uplinks.
Same basic timeline for both Soyuz and Progress;
Soyuz crew activities are largely monitor-only functions, with a few exceptions;
Consequently, many systems activities occur only when Russian Ground Sites (RGS) are in line-of-sight (there are 5 RGS);
Rendezvous maneuvers are NOT constrained to occur over Russian tracking network. Post burn telemetry and tracked is used for maneuver assessment.
Soyuz/Progress vehicles are controlled by a separate, dedicated flight control team in MCC-Moscow (TsUP), not the ISS team.
Soyuz crew operates off the RODF (Russian orbital data file), i.e., five books, covering Ascent/Descent, Orbital Flight, Off-Nominal Situations, Reserve Modes, and Reference Materials, as well as standard radiogram formats. Medical Kit and Portable Survival Kit instructions are translated into English.
L-5 days:
Crew returned to Baikonur from Moscow where they had final medical;
Exercise, spacecraft briefing, flight plan briefing, Soyuz Manual Docking simulation;
Practice using handheld laser for R and R-dot, P/TV Refresher.
L-2 days:
Traditional events (Commission meetings on mission readiness at Baikonur Hotel)
Flight crew, backup crew, & flight surgeon, exercise, rest and study.
Day of Launch:
L-3 hours:
Crew dons suits in test room
RSC-Energia presentation everything GO with crew and vehicle (RSA);
Words from VIPs (i.e., Yuri Semyonov of RSC-Energia);
L-2.5 hours:
Crew takes bus to launch pad, “waters” tire about 200 meters from launch pad (old Gagarin tradition);
L-2 hours:
Spacecraft ingress (through orbital module down into descent module);
Ascent to orbit: takes 9 minutes. At L+9:00 the Soyuz spacecraft separates from the burnt-out booster, at 194 km altitude, 1710 km downrange from Baikonur.
Major crew action during ascent is to monitor pressures in the orbital module and descent module, confirm all booster separation, launch escape system jettison and spacecraft separation. Crew then monitors all deployments (solar arrays, antennae, etc.), reports on no leaks, probe extension, prop pressurization, and ECLS system and health.
First orbit should be about 233 x 182 km (average = 207 km). From there, the rendezvous profile
