Expedition 6 Crew Undocks From ISS
Day 162 for Expedition 6 (since STS-113 launch on 11/23/02 [160 days aboard ISS]). Last day of Increment 6.
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.
Undocking of 5S/Soyuz TMA-1 with Nikolai Budarin, Kenneth Bowersox and Donald Pettit occurred right on time at 6:43pm EDT in local daylight. [Separation springs imparted the spacecraft a delta-V of 0.12 m/s, followed three minutes later by a separation burn of 0.574 m/s delta-V. The spacecraft was visible to the ISS crew through nadir-facing windows until the station maneuvered from undock attitude back to LVLH duty attitude at 6:48pm EDT. The five-minute deorbit burn will be at 9:12pm, providing a directed braking impulse of 115.2 m/s delta-V in orbital nighttime, followed by entry interface at 9:43pm shortly after orbital sunrise. Landing site will be at 51.2 NLat, 67.1 ELong, near the city of Arkhalyk in Turgay province of Kazakhstan (capital: Astana). There were two additional/backup landing opportunities on subsequent orbits. Time of landing: ~10:06pm EDT (8:06am local time, 5/4). At the landing site, NASA personnel, including medical personnel and ISS Program Director, will be present by helicopter.]
After wakeup at a sleep-cycle-shifted 7am (sleep time 10pm), followed by breakfast, work prep and DPC (daily planning conference), the crew had a busy day with final packing, transfers and preparations for the undocking.
As a regular medical pre-return tradition, FE-1 Nikolai Budarin collected oral samples for the Russian MBI-3 Parodont experiment, stowing the saliva sample test tubes and Parodont kit in Soyuz/5S for return, labeled as “urgent cargo”. [Parodont is an experiment of human periodontal tissue research.]
Afterwards, Budarin also completed the scheduled Russian MedOps (SZM-MO-22) sanitary-epidemiological status experiment, taking samples from cabin surfaces, to be returned to the ground on 5S for sanitation and disease studies.
Other Russian experiments deactivated, transferred and stowed aboard the TMA-1 Descent Module (DM) were
BTKh-10 Conjugation (hybridizer samples stowed in fresh frozen ice packs, from Cryogem-03, in the Biokont-T stowage and return container);
BTKh-32 MSK (“Embryon” stem cell and postfusional cell samples retrieved from Akvarius-B equipment and stowed in 5S DM);
BIO-1 Poligen (Drosophilae [fruit flies] in their kits, photo- and video-imaged before stowage to show effectiveness of blocking their food access prior to return to gravity, plus stowage of film and videocassette used);
BIO-10 Intercellular Interaction (ESA experiment of cytotoxicity of human blood lymphocyte with joint cultivation of gonocyte culture under microgravity conditions, performed in the Microgravity Science Glovebox, stowed in KV-03 container and stowed in 5S);
GCF-N Counterdiffusion Crystallization of Biological Macromolecules (Granada Crystallization Facility 02,or “N”, arrived in Progress 10P in February ’03, transferred and secured in 5S DM).
CDR-7 Yuri Malenchenko completed the regular inspection of the BRPK air/liquid condensate separator system in the Service Module (SM).
Yuri also, for the first time, conducted the daily checkup of the continuing BIO-5 “Rasteniya-2/Lada-2” zero-G plant growth experiment.
FE-1-7 Edward Lu deactivated, deinstalled and stowed the EarthKAM equipment. [So far, there have been over 1600 images received on the ground, with 26 schools participating. In gratitude, the EarthKAM team uplinked stunning images of Quebec/Rupert Bay in Canada, Sicily with smoking Mt. Etna, Kazakhstan with Caspian Sea, and the Nile River with Sudan, Nubian Desert and Egypt.]
Later in the day, Ed Lu and Malenchenko configured the IWIS (internal wireless instrumentation system) with radio-linked RSUs (remote sensor units) plus their radio antennae installed in Lab and SM for recording of structural dynamics (vibratory) resulting from the Soyuz undocking.
Also for structural acceleration measurements during the undocking event, MCC-H remote-commanded a data take of the external SDMS (structural dynamics measurement system) on the S0 truss segment.
For observing the Soyuz thruster plumes during the deorbit maneuvers and the Earth’s limb, Malenchenko installed the geo-physical GFI-1 Relaksatsiya (“relaxation”) experiment, reconfiguring the Russian payload laptop 3 for the experiment and mounting the ultraviolet (UV) camera with spectrometer unit at SM window #9. [Relaksatsiya deals with the study of the chemoluminescent chemical reactions and atmospheric light phenomena (emissions) that occur during high-velocity interaction between the exhaust products from space vehicles and the atmosphere at orbital altitude and during the entry of space vehicles into the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Purpose of the current experiment is to record the TMA-1 thruster plumes (by UV-video) at 9:12pm and the emission layer of the atmosphere at the Earth’s limb at 9:17pm. After Soyuz’ entry, the experiment will be torn down and stowed again.]
Shortly before final farewell ceremonies, Nikolai performed the regular pre-undocking air sampling in the SM. [He first used the standard Russian AK-1M sampler device; then, to test for Freon traces, the AK-1M-F air sampler. Later, testing for carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrous gases (NH3), he collected air samples in the SM with the IPD Draeger tubes sampler.]
The traditional Change of Command Ceremony took place on time, at ~2:10pm, topped off by a congratulatory call from NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe at MCC-Moscow/TsUP.
At ~2:20pm CDR-7 Yuri Malenchenko and Nikolai Budarin set up and tested the communications configuration (STTS) for Soyuz undocking and descent, followed by Budarin and CDR Ken Bowersox activating the TMA-1 spacecraft for the undocking and return.
The returning Expedition 6 crew then entered the Soyuz spacecraft via the DC-1 “Pirs” docking module. Hatch closure occurred on time at 3:38pm, marking the official end of Increment 6. There followed leak check operations of about 50 minutes, with 30 minutes of no pressure change of the docking vestibule (transfer tunnel between SM and Soyuz) signifying seal pressure tightness.
DC-1 hooks opening took place at ~5:10pm, after ISS went to free drift for ten minutes during the opening of the hooks. Maneuver to 5S undocking attitude then followed at 6:10pm. The undock signal was uplinked at 6:40pm, and physical separation occurred on time at 6:43pm.
For the reentry, all crewmembers are wearing the Russian Kentavr anti-G suit. [The Russian Kentavr garment is a protective anti-g suit ensemble to facilitate the return of a long-duration crewmember into the Earth gravity. Consisting of shorts, gaiters, underpants, jersey and socks, it acts as countermeasure for circulatory disturbance, prevents crewmember from overloading during descent and increases orthostatic tolerance during post-flight adaptation.]
How will the crew experience the ballistic reentry in the Soyuz 5S Descent Module, a First for Bowersox and Pettit as well as for the TMA model? See Appendix, below.
Science Update (Expedition Six 22nd, last):
Lead Increment Scientist Vic Cooley to Expedition 6 crew: “Expedition 6 has been great. We have accomplished a significant amount of payloads activities and met many of our milestones. You guys completed important imagery projects for CEO, aided in the completion of three EarthKAM cycles and captured pictures of MISSE during your EVA’s. You completed two sessions of ZCG runs and continued to monitor the crystals. You were the subjects for many experiments and impressed us with your FOOT action as well as your PuFFing abilities. You diligently completed the EVARM badge reads and completion of the Renal Stone activities. You also found time to tinker with the MSG Rack and get it operating to perform InSPACE science. You managed to find the time to bestow attention on the PCG-STES, MAMS and SAMS payloads. To cap off this marathon of payloads activities you managed to get the ARCTIC operating long enough to make popsicles. When we look back on all you have accomplished this expedition it is truly amazing. The payloads community would like to thank the Expedition 6 crew for their work and welcome the Expedition 7 crew to the wonderful world of payloads on ISS. We are sure that Expedition 7 will prove to be equally as exciting.”
Extra-Vehicular Activity Radiation Monitors (EVARM): Complete.
GASMAP/Pulmonary Function in Flight (PuFF): A post-landing PuFF session is scheduled for R+1 at Star City.
Renal (Kidney) Stone Experiment: Complete.
Human Research Facility/Workstation (HRF WS): Continuing.
Foot/Ground Reaction Forces During Space Flight (FOOT): Complete.
Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI): Activities for Increment 6 are complete.
Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Rack: Thanks to Expedition 6, the MSG in a good configuration for Science Officer Edward Lu to continue operations. POC (Payload Operations Center) hopes to have successful runs with InSPACE, CSLM-2, PFMI, PromISS, and NANOSLAB.
Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS): SAMS is nominal. Currently analyzing data in support of InSPACE in addition to general characterization efforts toward tracking down numerous unknown disturbance sources.
Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS): MAMS is nominal. Currently analyzing data in support of InSPACE in addition to general characterization efforts toward tracking down numerous unknown disturbance sources.
Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System (PCG-STES): Complete.
Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions (InSPACE): InSPACE is complete for the time being. Ground team: “The Expedition 6 crew’s execution of InSPACE is a testimonial to the importance of the human presence in space to perform science.” Science Officers Don Pettit and Ed Lu and all crewmembers are “the eyes and hands and intellect for all those scientists and engineers on the ground”. The team is looking forward to future opportunities to speak with Don and Ed about the experiment, the operations and the results. The planned testing with InSPACE will continue in Increment 7.
Materials ISS Experiment (MISSE): In progress. Deployed outside. Nominal and collecting data.
Zeolite Crystal Growth (ZCG): ZCG has finished science operations for Increment 6.
Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA): Complete for now.
ARCTIC Refrigerator/Freezer: Ground to SO Don Pettit: “We truly appreciate the many hours of hard work and ingenuity that went into the ARCTIC repair. It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to get it to a state where science support for upcoming increments would be possible, but the 36 hours of “good” ARCTIC performance, and just under 48 hours of total uptime were EXTREMELY valuable, and you have laid the groundwork for bigger and better things for the future, not just for this one payload, but also for any potential repair work in space.”
EarthKAM (EK): Complete for now. EK images can be viewed on the Internet at
http://datasystem.earthkam.ucsd.edu/cgi-bin/datasys/ek_images_station
Crew Earth Observations (CEO): For NASA’s Earth Observatory website, the ISS/CEO image of São Paolo has been submitted. This regional view shows the city with its neighboring port. Unusual about this image were the two regions of distinctly different color in the night lights.
Aurora shots are suitable for assembling as a time series. First look at this week’s downlink of many images shows a detailed series of views of the Betsiboka River delta in northwest Madagascar. A new island seems to be emerging above sea level in the estuary.
Today’s CEO targets, including cities during daylight and at night (again available as targets in the current LVLH attitude) were Congo-Zimbabwe Biomass Burning (crew was asked to shoot obliques of fires, smoke or other haze. There may have been different loadings of aerosol above and below the escarpment between the plateau and coastal lowlands), Dakar, Senegal (nadir pass; ESC {electronic still camera]), Puerto Rico (shooting coastal cities and coral reefs), Albuquerque, New Mexico (nadir pass; ESC), Yucatan fires, southern Mexico (nadir pass over numerous fires making the news), Salt Lake City, Utah (nadir pass; ESC), Lower Yangtze cities (pass paralleled lower Yangtze River basin [mapped as China’s largest population cluster], over Nanjing and neighboring cities. Shanghai on the Yangtze estuary was south of track), and Seoul, South Korea (looking a touch right. Great atmospheric clarity).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 10:00am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 390.8 km
- Apogee — 394.9 km
- Perigee — 386.6 km
- Period — 92.37 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0006156
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
- Solar Beta Angle: -6.5 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 140 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 25404
- For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
Appendix: What will the Expedition 6 Crew encounter during Soyuz reentry/descent?
According to a summary uplinked by TsUP to the ISS crew, main features of their return on the 5S Descent Module are as follows:
On descent day:
Special attention had to be paid to the need for careful donning of the medical belt with sensors and securing tight contact between sensors and body.
During preparation for descent, before atmosphere reentry, the crew should settle down comfortably in the seat, fasten the belts, securing tight contact between body and the seat liner in he couch.
During de-orbit:
Dust particles starting to sink in the Descent Module cabin is the first indication of atmosphere reentry and beginning of G-load effect. From that time on, special attention is required as the loads increase rapidly.
Under G-load effect during atmosphere reentry the crew can expect the following sensations:
Sensation of G-load pressure on the body, ”burden in the body”, labored breathing and speech. These are normal sensations, and the advice is to “take them coolly”.
In case of the feeling of a “lump in the throat”, this is no cause to “be nervous”. This is frequent and should not be fought. Best is to “try not to swallow and talk at this moment”.
Crew should check vision and, if any disturbances occur, create additional tension of abdominal pressure and leg muscles (strain abdomen by pulling in), in addition to the anti-G “Centaur” suit .
During deployment of drogue and prime parachutes the impact accelerations will be perceived as a “strong snatch”. No reason to become concerned about this but one should be prepared that during the parachutes deployment and change of prime parachute to symmetrical suspension swinging and spinning motion of the Descent Module occurs, which involves vestibular (middle ear) irritations.
It is important to tighten restrain system to fasten pelvis and pectoral arch.
Vestibular irritation can occur in the form of different referred sensations such as vertigo, hyperhidrosis, postural illusions, general discomfort and nausea. To prevent vestibular irritation the crew should “limit head movement and eyes movement”, as well as fix their sight on motionless objects.
Just before the landing (softened by six small rocket engines behind the heat shield):
Crew should be prepared for the vehicle impact with the ground, with their bodies fixed along the surface of the seat liner in advance. “Special attention should be paid to arm fixation to avoid the elbow and hand squat”.
After landing:
Crew should not get up quickly from their seats to leave the Descent Module. They are advised to stay in the couch for several minutes and only then stand up. In doing that, they should limit head and eyes movement and avoid excessive motions, proceeding slowly. They and their body should not take up earth gravity in the upright position too quickly.
