Status Report

NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 1 May 2010

By SpaceRef Editor
May 1, 2010
Filed under , , ,
NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 1 May 2010
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All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Saturday. Progress Docking Day.

Crew sleep cycle shift:

  • Wake: 9:30am – 1:00am (tomorrow)

Yest kasaniye! At 2:32pm EDT, Progress M-05M(37P) docked successfully to the DC-1 port under manual TORU control, followed by a final DPO post-contact thrusting burn, docking probe retraction and hook closure (“sborka”) after motion damp-out while the ISS was in free drift for ~20 min (2:35pm-2:55pm). At “hooks closed” signal, the SM returned to active attitude control, maneuvering the ISS to LVLH TEA (local vertical/local horizontal Torque Equilibrium Attitude) at ~3:00pm. Control authority returned to US Momentum Management at ~3:35pm. Russian thrusters will be disabled temporarily during clamps install and leak check (4:20pm-5:35pm). [Auto rendezvous mode was aborted at about 2:10pm EDT.]

As part of the crew’s regular morning inspection tour, CDR Kotov conducted the routine checkup of circuit breakers & fuses both in the DC1 (Docking Compartment) and in the MRM2 (Mini Research Module 2). [The monthly checkup in the “Pirs” and “Poisk” modules 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.]

For monitoring 37P rendezvous & docking, Creamer & Kotov set up the Ku-band video “scheme” for covering the Progress docking, activating the FGB-based A31p SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop for the TV conversion to NTSC & Ku-band of the RS (Russian Segment) video signal from the SONY HDV camera via the MPEG-2 (Moving Pictures Expert Group 2) encoder from FGB & SM, in order to downlink “streaming video” packets via U.S. OpsLAN and Ku-band.

FE-3 Kornienko configured the hardware of the GFI-1 “Relaksatsiya” (Relaxation) Earth Observation experiment at SM window #9 to conduct observations during the Progress approach and linkup, then took down the equipment and stowed it. [Using the GFI-1 UFKFialka” ultraviolet camera, SP spectrometer and HD (High Definition) camcorder, the experiment is designed for spectral observations of the Earth atmosphere and surface, with spectrometer measurements controlled from Laptop 3. “Relaxation”, in Physics, is the transition of an atom or molecule from a higher energy level to a lower one, emitting radiative energy in the process as equilibrium is achieved.]

Also before docking, Skvortsov shut down the amateur/ham radio equipment to prevent RF interference with the Progress KURS radio control system.

FE-5 Noguchi meanwhile closed the protective shutters of the Lab, Kibo & Cupola science windows.

Before the docking, Kotov switched the KRIOGEM-03M container to +4 degC and the TBU thermostat-controlled incubator to +29 degC.

After the cargo ship’s successful docking, Oleg Kotov, Alexander Skvortsov & Mikhail Kornienko shut off the TORU teleoperated rendezvous & docking system, used as manual standby, and reconfigured the STTS telephone/telegraph subsystem to normal ops. [The "Voskhod-M" STTS enables telephone communications between the SM, FGB, DC-1 and USOS, and also with users on the ground over VHF channels selected by an operator at an SM comm panel, via STTS antennas on the SM’s outside. There are six comm panels in the SM with pushbuttons for accessing any of three audio channels, plus an intercom channel. Other modes of the STTS include telegraphy (teletype), EVA voice, emergency alarms, Packet/Email, and TORU docking support].

The crewmembers then conducted the standard one-hour leak checking of the docking vestibule and fuel/oxidizer transfer line interface between Progress and DC-1 compartment.

Later today, the Russian crewmembers will –

  • Open the hatches (~5:35pm) and install the QD (quick disconnect) screw clamps (BZV) of the docking & internal transfer mechanism (SSVP) to rigidize the coupling;
  • Perform the standard air sampling inside Progress with the Russian AK-1M air sampler;
  • Power down the spacecraft and installing the ventilation/heating air duct;
  • Take photographs of the internal docking surfaces for subsequent downlinking,
  • Dismantle the docking mechanism (StM, Stykovochnovo mekhanizma) between the cargo ship and the DC-1 (~7:15pm-8:15pm) [the StM is the "classic" probe-and-cone type, consisting of an active docking assembly (ASA) with a probe (SSh), which fits into the cone (SK) on the passive docking assembly (PSA) for initial soft dock and subsequent retraction to hard dock. The ASA is mounted on the Progress’ cargo module (GrO), while the PSA sits on the docking ports of the SM, FGB and DC-1], and
  • Transfer six Russian high priority biotechnology payloads to the ISS, setting them up in the RS (Russian Segment) and taking documentary photography of each:
  • BTKh-5/LAKTOLEN (to Bioecology containers in SM),
  • BTKh-6/ ARIL (to the TBU thermostat-controlled incubator at +29 degC)
  • BTKh-7/OChB,
  • BTKh-26/KASKAD (Cascade), (to KRIOGEM-03M at +4 degC)
  • BTKh-40/BIF (to MRM2, then to TBU), and
  • BTKh-41/BACTERIOFAG (Bakteriophag, to container and TBU)).

Kotov then has ~1 hr reserved on his timeline for the first cargo transfers from the Progress to the ISS.

On the US side, FE-6 Creamer will disassemble & remove the RS video “scheme”. [The associated conversion laptop, an A31p (SSC-1) in the FGB, on which Oleg monitored the video stream during the relocation, was configured and later shut down by TJ.]

At wake-up, CDR Kotov performed the regular daily early-morning check of the aerosol filters at the currently running Russian Elektron O2 generator which Maxim Suraev had installed on 10/19/09 in gaps between the BZh Liquid Unit and the oxygen outlet pipe (filter FA-K) plus hydrogen outlet pipe (filter FA-V). [CDR again inspected the filters before bedtime, currently a daily requirement per plan, with photographs to be taken if the filter packing is discolored.]

FE-3 Kornienko terminated the periodic regeneration of the active Russian BMP Harmful Impurities Removal System, closing down the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. [Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. The BMP’s regeneration cycle is normally done every 20 days. (Last time done: 3/15-3/16/10).]

As part of the crew’s regular morning inspection tour, Skvortsov conducted the routine checkup of circuit breakers & fuses both in the DC1 (Docking Compartment) and in the MRM2 (Mini Research Module 2). [The monthly checkup in the “Pirs” and “Poisk” modules 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.]

Also at wake-up, FE-6 Creamer continued his current medical protocol of Pro K (Dietary Intake Can Predict and Protect against Changes in Bone Metabolism during Spaceflight and Recovery), his 4th onboard run, performing the urine pH spot test (not sampling) and later logging his dietary intake. [Under Pro K, the crewmember measures and logs the pH value of a urine sample, to be collected the same time of day every day for 5 days. The crewmember also prepares a diet log and then annotates quantities of food packets consumed and supplements taken.]

Later, Timothy set up the Nutrition/Repository/Pro K equipment for the 24-hour urine collections of his Generic HRF (Human Research Facility) urine sampling protocol. [Based on crew feedback, new cold stowage hardware, and IPV (International Procedures Viewer) capabilities, the generic blood & urine procedures were created to allow an individual crewmember to select their payload complement and see specific requirements populated. Individual crewmembers will select their specific parameter in the procedures to reflect their science complement. Different crewmembers will have different required tubes and hardware configurations, so they should verify their choice selection before continuing with operations to ensure their specific instruction.]

With the Russian crewmembers fully occupied with docking & post-docking tasks, FE-2 Caldwell-Dyson, FE-5 Noguchi & FE-6 Creamer spent three hours on the weekly task of thorough station cleaning, including COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) and Kibo. ["Uborka", usually done on Saturdays, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the SM (Service Module) dining table, other frequently touched surfaces and surfaces where trash is collected, as well as the sleep stations with a standard cleaning solution; also, fan screens and grilles are cleaned to avoid temperature rises. Special cleaning is also done every 90 days on the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) bacteria filters in the Lab.]

In Node-2, Tracy shut down the EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students) equipment and removed it to stowage, notifying POIC (Payload Operations Integration Center) of the
deactivation. [160 Education Groups participated in collecting images for the week. Over 900 images are on the ground with more expected by payload shutdown.]

Creamer performed repair on the ABRS (Advanced Biological Research System) which had a sheared water reservoir QD (quick disconnect) line (#2). [With the humidity control system of the ERC (Environmental Research Chamber 2) turned off, TJ removed tubing with QD from WWB (Waste Water Bag), cut the tubing just inboard of the reducer, removed clamps from reducer, and installed new tubing with QD for Line 2, then took photographs of the repaired line.]

Caldwell-Dyson performed her first session with the MedOps experiment WinSCAT (Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows), logging in on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) laptop and going through the psychological evaluation exercise on the PC-based WinSCAT application. [WinSCAT is a monthly time-constrained questionnaire test of cognitive abilities, routinely performed by astronauts aboard the ISS every 30 days before or after the PHS (periodic health status) test or on special CDR’s, crewmembers or flight surgeons request. The test uses cognitive subtests that measure sustained concentration, verbal working memory, attention, short-term memory, spatial processing, and math skills. The five cognitive subtests are Coding Memory – Learning, Continuous Processing Task (CPT), Match to Sample, Mathematics, and Coding Delayed Recall. These WinSCAT subtests are the same as those used during NASA’s long-duration bed rest studies.]

Tracy also filled out her weekly FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire) on the MEC. [On the FFQs, NASA astronauts keep a personalized log of their nutritional intake over time on special MEC software. Recorded are the amounts consumed during the past week of such food items as beverages, cereals, grains, eggs, breads, snacks, sweets, fruit, beans, soup, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, chicken, sauces & spreads, and vitamins. The FFQ is performed once a week to estimate nutrient intake from the previous week and to give recommendations to ground specialists that help maintain optimal crew health. Weekly estimation has been verified to be reliable enough that nutrients do not need to be tracked daily.]

As a VolSci (Voluntary Weekend Science) activity, on his free time, Soichi had taken on an installment of the JAXA EPO (Educational Payload Operation) program “Try Zero-G”, for which prepared the HD TV gear (high definition G1 camcorder, MPC/Multipurpose Converter, IPU/Image Processing Unit) for recording the third session with the JAXA “Try Zero-G” experiment, and then conducted the demo, showing examples of the difference between 0G and 1G. [The video had to be downlinked to SSIPC (Space Station Integration & Promotion Center)/Tsukuba via high-rate data link.]

Oleg did the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM. [Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.]

FE-2, FE-5 & FE-6 had their weekly PFCs (Private Family Conferences) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop), Tracy at ~8:00am, Soichi at ~9:45am, TJ later tonight at ~11:00m EDT.

The crew completed their physical workout protocol (reduced for Sasha, Oleg & Misha) on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-5), TVIS treadmill (FE-3). ARED advanced resistive exerciser (CDR, FE-2, FE-5, FE-6), T2/COLBERT advanced treadmill (FE-2, FE-6), and VELO ergometer bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1). CHECK THIS – CAN T2 BE USED AGAIN?

Weekly Science Update (Expedition Twenty-Three — Week 6)

3-D SPACE: No report.

AgCam (Agricultural Camera): No report.

ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS): Complete.

ALTEA DOSI (NASA/ASI): This ISS backup radiation monitoring system remains non-operational.

APEX (Advanced Plant Experiments on Orbit) -Cambium: No report.

APEX-TAGES (Transgenic Arabidopsis Gene Expression System): No report.

BCAT-4/5 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test 4/5): No report.

BIOLAB (ESA): No report.

BIORHYTHMS (JAXA, Biological Rhythms): No report.

BISE (CSA, Bodies in the Space Environment): No report.

BISPHOSPHONATES: “Soichi, thanks for completing your pill ingestion. Your next session is scheduled for 5/2.”

CARD (Long Term Microgravity: Model for Investigating Mechanisms of Heart Disease, ESA): No report.

CARDIOCOG-2: Complete.

CB (JAXA Clean Bench): No report.

CBEF (JAXA Cell Biology Experiment Facility)/SPACE SEED: Returned with 19A.

CCISS (Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Control on Return from ISS): No report.

CERISE (JAXA): No report.

CFE (Capillary Flow Experiment): Reserve.

CSI-3/CGBA-5 (CGBA Science Insert #2/Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 5): Ongoing.

CGBA-2 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 2): Complete.

CIR (Combustion Integrated Rack), MDCA/Flex: “TJ: Thanks for all your hard work in changing out consumables on the CIR in support of MDCA/FLEX performing CO2 test points and changing out the methanol MDCA Fuel Reservoir, two CIR gas bottles, and the CIR Adsorber Cartridge. We look forward to running CO2 test points next week.”

CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2): Complete.

Commercial Photo (JAXA): No report.
CW/CR (Cell Wall/Resist Wall) in EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System): Complete.

DECLIC (Device for the Study of Critical Liquids & Crystallization, CNES/NASA): No report.

DomeGene (JAXA): Complete.

DOSIS (ESA): The instrument is nominally acquiring science.

EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students): “Thanks for the excellent support. 160 Education Groups participated in collecting images for the week. Over 900 images are on the ground with more expected by payload shutdown.”

EDR (European Drawer Rack, 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): Activated in support of CARD.

EPO (Educational Payload Operations, NASA): No report.

EPO LES-2 (ESA): No report.

EPO 3-min Video (JAXA): No report.

EPO J-Astro Report (JAXA): J-SPACE SCHOOL: planned on 5/4 and 5/5.

EPO Dewey’s Forest (JAXA): Closed out on 3/15.

EPO Space Clothes (JAXA): Complete.

EPO Hiten (Dance, JAXA): No report.

EPO Moon Score (JAXA): No report.

EPO Try Zero-G (JAXA): No report.

EPO Kibo Kids Tour (JAXA): Complete.

EPO Paper Craft (Origami, JAXA): No report.

EPO Poem (JAXA): No report.

EPO Spiral Top (JAXA): No report.

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.]

ETD (Eye Tracking Device): Completed.

FACET (JAXA): No report.

FIR/LMM/CVB (Fluids Integrated Rack / Light Microscopy Module / Constrained Vapor Bubble): Operations started on the CVB Module – Dry on 4/ 26. As of 4/28 approximately 40% of the defined test matrix is complete. The operations of FIR/LMM/CVB have been very stable with some portions of the test operating 5 hours between commands. This week the CVB preflight ground test data was published in the AIAA Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer (JTHT) Volume 24 Issue 2. http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=318&volume=24&issue=2&pubid=26&paperid=47522

FOAM STABILITY (ESA): No report.

FOCUS: No report.

FSL (Fluid Science Laboratory, ESA): No report.

FWED (Flywheel Exercise Device, ESA): No report.

GEOFLOW: No report.

HAIR (JAXA): No report.

HDTV System (JAXA): Was delivered by HTV1.

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): HREP is operating nominally and 891 images have been taken to date.

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: No report.

InSPACE-2 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions 2): No report.

IRIS (Image Reversal in Space, CSA): No report.

KID/KUBIK6: “Thanks, TJ, for your support for the KID / KUBIK6 commissioning activities!”

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

Marangoni UVP (JAXA): Performed the 10th run successfully (by ground commanding).

MAXI (Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image, JAXA): Acquiring science data.

Marangoni UVP: No report.

MEIS (Marangoni Experiment for ISS) in JAXA FPEF (Fluid Physics Experiment Facility): No report.

MDCA/Flex: See under CIR.

Microbe-1 (JAXA): No report.

Micro-G Clay (JAXA EPO): Complete.

MMA (JAXA/Microgravity Measurement Apparatus): No report.

MISSE7 (Materials ISS Experiment): MISSE7 is operating nominally.

MPAC/SEED (JAXA): Completed on 19A FD4.

MSG-SAME (Microgravity Science Glovebox): Complete.

MSL (Materials Science Laboratory, ESA): “The MICAST#5 SCA was successfully processed between 4/27 and 4/28. Thank you, Tracy. for performing the SCA exchange.”

MTR-2 (Russian radiation measurements): Passive dosimeters measurements in DC-1 “Pirs”.

MULTIGEN-1: Completed.

MYCO 1 (JAXA): No report.

MyoLab (JAXA): Completed on 4/20.

NANOSKELETON (Production of High Performance Nanomaterials in Microgravity, JAXA): Returned on 19A.

NEURORAD (JAXA): On-going. The sample will be fixed on 5/6.

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.

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): No report.

PCRF (Protein Crystallization Research Facility) Reconfiguration (JAXA): Complete.

PMDIS (Perceptual Motor Deficits in Space): Complete.

POLCA/GRAVIGEN (ESA): Complete.

Pro K: No report.

RadGene & LOH (JAXA): Complete.

RadSilk (JAXA): Samples were returned to ground on ULF3.

RST/Reaction Self Test (Psychomotor Vigilance Self Test on the ISS):Tracy, TJ and Soichi: Thank you for your continued participation in Reaction Self Test.”

SAIBO Rack (JAXA): A CGSE/CBEF CO2 leak check has been completed.

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): Returned on 19A.

SHERE (Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment): Complete.

SLAMMD (Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device): No report.

SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight): “Tracy and TJ, we are currently targeting next week for another week of Sleep logging. The SleepLog file with your previous entries was downlinked on 4/26 and the data looked good. TJ, thank you for completing the monthly Actiwatch download and initialization of your and Tracy’s watches. The data looked good from both watches”

SMILES (JAXA): SLOC (submillimeter local oscillator controller) troubleshooting is underway.

SODI/IVIDIL (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument/Influence of Vibration on Diffusion in Liquids, ESA): No report.

SODI/DSC (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument/Diffusion Soret Coefficient): No report.

SOLAR (Solar Monitoring Observatory): The Sun observation window#27 ended on 4/16.

SOLO (Sodium Loading in Microgravity): No report.

Space-DRUMS: “The 4/29 SpaceDRUMS operations will be the last until further notice while we work on our anomaly plan for the carousel fine position sensor. Thanks for your hard work, and we look forward to resuming operations in the future.”

SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellite): No report.

SPICE (Smoke Point In Co-flow Experiment): No report.

SPINAL (Spinal Elongation): No report.

SWAB (Characterization of Microorganisms & Allergens in Spacecraft): No report.

THERMOLAB (ESA): No report.

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

ULTRASOUND: Planned.

VASCULAR (CSA): No report.
VO2max (NASA): “Tracy, we have found a solution to the severed RVU O-ring for your next session the week of 5/10. The session will once again be split up over two days and on day 1 you will setup the hardware in the Lab and implement a temporary o-ring replacement. We have incorporated your inputs to the procedures and increased time for some activities. Thank you also for the pictures of the hardware stowage configuration. New O-rings will be launched on ULF4.”

VLE (Video Lessons ESA): No report.

WAICO #1/#2 (Waving and Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots at Different g-levels): “Thank you Soichi for all your great support with sterilizing, preparing and starting the WAICO#2 experiment. The first set of the experiment hardware was placed in the BIOLAB Glovebox (BGB) and sterilized with ozone for 8 hours on 4/26. This set was then assembled by placing one strip of Arabidopsis seeds onto the agar layer of each WAICO Cultivation Bowl, then finalize the preparation by sealing again each WAICO Experiment Container (EC). The first set of ECs were stowed into the TCU while the second set was sterilized on 4/27. Once the second set was sterilized and assembled following an identical procedure, both sets of ECs were finally installed on the 2 rotors in the BIOLAB incubator. The incubator was set to +22degC. Both centrifuges were started at 13:36 on 4/28, and have been set to 1-g with the illumination stimulus. For 3 days, the seeds will germinate and the plant roots will start growing along the artificial g vector induced by the centrifugal force. On 5/01 it is planned to stop one rotor, on which 4 ECs will be in microgravity condition for the remaining part of the experiment. he samples will be tilted at a 45degrees angle with respect to the g-vector and the growth phase will continue for approximately 9 days. Daily video observations are being performed on all the ECs, to monitor the growth of the plants.”

YEAST B (ESA): No report.

CEO (Crew Earth Observations): Through 4/28, a total of 19,324 frames of ISS CEO imagery have been received on the ground for review and cataloging. “Your image of the volcanoes near Usulutan, El Salvador, was published on NASA/FSFC’s Earth Observatory website on April 25. Your image was sharply detailed and highlighted the active and quiescent volcanoes of the Central American Volcanic Arc. Your image included four volcanoes, Usulutan, El Tigre, Santiago de Maria, and Chinameca. The infamous Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, Columbia will be published on NASA/GSFC’s Earth Observatory website this weekend. Nevado del Ruiz is the northernmost volcano of the Andean Volcanic Belt and is located about 129 km west of Bogota. In 1985, the volcano sent a lahar (mud and debris flow) that buried the town of Armero, killing 23,000 people. Your images are not only valuable for scientific purposes, but are also quite breathtaking. Thank you for sharing your view of the Earth with us and the public.”

CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo target uplinked for today was Montevideo, Uruguay (looking left on the north shore of the River Plate. This big estuary is usually brown with sediment and is the main visual cue from ISS. Montevideo is a light-gray zone on a headland. Buenos Aires lies further up the River Plate estuary.)

STS-132/Atlantis/ULF-4 Flight Plan Preview:

  • Launch: 5/14, 2:20pm EDT
  • Docking: 5/16, 10:20am
  • Undocking: 5/23, 11:12am
  • Landing: 5/26, 8:36am.
  • Atlantis, on its last flight, is crewed by
  • CDR – Ken Ham
  • PLT – Tony Antonelli
  • MS1 – Garrett Reisman
  • MS2 – Mike Good
  • MS3 – Steve Bowen
  • MS4 – Piers Sellers
  • MRM-1 Main Activities:
  • FD2: Ku Scheme/Video Test for MRM-1 Docking
  1. Setup and testing will be similar to Soyuz Docking video
  2. Equipment left in place until FD5
  • FD5: MRM-1 Docking (performed by STS crew)
  1. SRMS unberth MRM-1 from PLB
  2. SRMS handoff MRM-1 to SSRMS
  3. SSRMS will berth to FGB Nadir
  4. RS laptop deployed in USOS for docking ops
  • FD7: MRM-1 Hatch Open/Leak Check
  1. Initial ingress to scrub air
  2. Hatch will be left “ajar”
  3. Final, full ingress to occur TBD date post flight
  • Other Main Activieties:
  • FD3: Docking and ICC Unberth
  • FD4: EVA1
  • FD5: MRM-1 Docking to FGB Nadir and Focused Inspection
  • FD6: EVA 2
  • FD7: STS Water Dump and MRM-1 Hatch Open
  • FD8: EVA 3
  • FD9: ICC Berthing in PLB and Reboost
  • FD10: Undocking
  • Focused inspection is nominally planned for FD5, though due to limited time availability this activity may be scheduled on its own flight day, if required. On the evening of FD3, the Debris Assessment Team will start reviewing the RPM imagery.
  • Late inspection will be completed in its entirety the day following Shuttle undock, on FD11.
  • EVA Summary:
  • Three EVAs are planned during the mission.
  • General tasks for each EVA are:
  • EVA 1: SGANT & SGANT Boom Install, EOTP Install

Ground-controlled MT translate & SSRMS walkoff to MBS PDGF3 will occur during crew sleep on Flight Night 3 in preparation for EVA1

  • EVA 2: P6 Battery R&R (3)

Ground-controlled walkoff MBS PDGF3 & MT translate will occur during crew sleep on Flight Night 5 in preparation for EVA2

  • EVA 3: P6 Battery R&R (3), PDGF Retrieval (time permitting).

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:29am EDT [= epoch])
Mean altitude – 348.9 km
Apogee height – 355.4 km
Perigee height – 342.4 km
Period — 91.52 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0009649
Solar Beta Angle — 62.8 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.73
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 71 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) – 65,612

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time and subject to change):
————–Six-crew operations—————–
05/10/10 — Progress M-04M/36P undock
05/12/10 – Soyuz TMA-17/21S relocation (FGB Nadir to SM Aft)
05/14/10 — STS-132/Atlantis/ULF4launch (~2:19pm EDT) – ICC-VLD, MRM-1 “Rassvet”
05/26/10 — STS-132/Atlantis/ULF4 nominal landing (KSC ~8:36 am EDT)
06/02/10 — Soyuz TMA-17/21S undock/landing (End of Increment 23)
————– Three-crew operations ————-
06/14/10 — Soyuz TMA-19/23S launch – Wheelock (CDR-25)/Walker/Yurchikhin
06/17/10 — Soyuz TMA-19/23S docking
————–Six-crew operations—————–
06/28/10 — Progress M-06M/38P launch
06/30/10 — Progress M-06M/38P docking
07/07/10 — US EVA-15 (Caldwell/Wheelock)
07/23/10 — Russian EVA-25 (Yurchikhin/Kornienko)
07/26/10 — Progress M-05M/37P undock
08/30/10 — Progress M-06M/38P undock
08/31/10 — Progress M-07M/39P launch
09/02/10 — Progress M-07M/39P docking
09/16/10 — STS-133/Discovery launch (ULF5 – ELC4, PMM)
09/16/10 — Soyuz TMA-18/22S undock/landing (End of Increment 24)
————–Three-crew operations————-
09/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-20/24S launch – Kelly (CDR-26)/Kaleri/Skripochka
10/02/10 — Soyuz TMA-20/24S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
10/xx/10 — Russian EVA-26
10/27/10 — Progress M-08M/40P launch
10/29/10 — Progress M-08M/40P docking
TBD — STS-134/Endeavour (ULF6 – ELC3, AMS-02)
11/26/10 — Soyuz TMA-19/23S undock/landing (End of Increment 25)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/30/10 – ATV-2 launch– Ariane 5 (ESA) U/R
12/10/10 — Soyuz TMA-21/25S launch – Kondratyev (CDR-27)/Coleman/Nespoli
12/12/10 — Soyuz TMA-21/25S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
12/15/10 — Progress M-07M/39P undock
12/17/10 — ATV-2 docking
12/26/10 — Progress M-08M/40P undock
12/27/10 — Progress M-09M/41P launch
12/29/10 — Progress M-09M/41P docking
01/27/11 — HTV-2 docking
03/16/11 — Soyuz TMA-20/24S undock/landing (End of Increment 26)
————–Three-crew operations————-
03/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-22/26S launch – A. Borisienko (CDR-28)/R, Garan/A.Samokutayev
04/01/11 — Soyuz TMA-22/26S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
04/27/11 — Progress M-09M/41P undock
04/28/11 — Progress M-10M/42P launch
04/30/11 — Progress M-10M/42P docking
05/16/11 — Soyuz TMA-21/25S undock/landing (End of Increment 27)
————–Three-crew operations————-
05/31/11 — Soyuz TMA-23/27S launch – M. Fossum (CDR-29)/S. Furukawa/S. Volkov
06/01/11 — Soyuz TMA-23/27S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
06/21/11 — Progress M-11M/43P launch
06/23/11 — Progress M-11M/43P docking
08/30/11 — Progress M-12M/44P launch
09/01/11 — Progress M-12M/44P docking
09/16/11 – Soyuz TMA-22/26S undock/landing (End of Increment 28)
————–Three-crew operations————-
09/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-24/28S launch
10/02/11 – Soyuz TMA-24/28S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
10/28/11 — Progress M-13M/45P launch
10/30/11 — Progress M-13M/45P docking
11/11/11 — Soyuz TMA-23/27S undock/landing (End of Increment 29)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/25/11 — Soyuz TMA-25/29S launch
11/27/11 — Soyuz TMA-25/29S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
12/??/11 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) w/ERA – on Proton.

SpaceRef staff editor.