NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 12 September 2010
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Sunday – Progress unpacking day. Ahead: Week 15 of Increment 24.
Yest kasaniye! At 7:57am EDT, Progress M-07M(39P) docked successfully to the SM (Service Module) aft port under automatic KURS control, followed by a final DPO post-contact thrusting burn, docking probe retraction and hook closure (“sborka”, ~8:04am) after motion damp-out while the ISS was in free drift for 20 min (7:58am-8:18am). 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 ~8:18am. Control authority returned to US Momentum Management at ~9:00am. Russian thrusters were disabled temporarily during clamps install and leak check (9:30am-11:25am). All Progress systems operated nominally from automated rendezvous start at approximately 5:32am, Progress Kurs-A activation and testing, Kurs antenna retraction, and ending with successful approach & docking.
For monitoring 39P maneuvering and docking, Skvortsov & Caldwell-Dyson set up the Ku-band video “scheme”. [The crew configured the SSC-1 (Station Support Computer 1) A31p laptop in the FGB and activated the VWS (Video Streaming Workstation) laptop for both the conversion and the “streaming” MPEG2 (Moving Pictures Expert Group 2) encoding in order to downlink “streaming video” packets via U.S. OpsLAN and Ku-band. The previously used ESA MPEG2 Encoder in the SM was not used, in favor of the more stable VWS.]
Also before docking, the amateur/ham radio equipment was deactivated to prevent RF interference with the Progress KURS radio control system.
FE-2 Caldwell-Dyson installed the four snubber alignment guides at the T2 treadmill to protect the exercise device. After the docking and before first exercise run, Doug Wheelock removed the guides.
In addition, Tracy closed the protective shutters of the Lab, Kibo & Cupola science windows.
Also before the docking, FE-3 Kornienko switched the KRIOGEM-03M container to +4 degC and the TBU thermostat-controlled incubator to +29 degC.
After the cargo ship’s docking, Alex 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 the SM Transfer Compartment.
Later today, the Russian crewmembers –
- Opened the hatches (~11:00am) and installed the QD (quick disconnect) screw clamps (BZV) of the docking & internal transfer mechanism (SSVP) to rigidize the coupling (CDR);
- Performed the standard air sampling inside Progress with the Russian AK-1M air sampler (FE-5);
- Powered down the spacecraft and installing the ventilation/heating air duct (CDR);
- Took photographs of the internal docking surfaces for subsequent downlinking (FE-5),
- Dismantled the docking mechanism (StM, Stykovochnovo mekhanizma) between the cargo ship and the SM (~12:00pm) [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
- Transferred a number of Russian high priority biotechnology payloads to the ISS, setting them up in the RS (Russian Segment) and taking documentary photography of each:
o BTKh-5/LAKTOLEN (to Bioecology containers in SM),
o BTKh-6/ ARIL (to the TBU thermostat-controlled incubator at +29 degC)
o BTKh-7/OChB,
o BTKh-14/BIOEMULSIYA
o BTKh-26/KASKAD (Cascade), (to KRIOGEM-03M at +4 degC)
o BTKh-40/BIF (to MRM2, then to TBU at +29degC)
o BTKh-41/BACTERIOFAG (Bakteriophag, to container and TBU)
o BTKh-10/KONYUGATSIYA, (to KRIOGEM-03M at +4 degC)
o BIO-1/POLIGENE and
o TkhN-9/KRISTALLIZATOR.
Shannon Walker handled the high-priority transfer & installation of two critical science payloads from Progress –
o ESA SODI (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument Experiment) and
o JAXA PCG (Protein Crystal Growth) canister – installed in the PCRF (Protein Crystallization Research Facility) and PCRF cables connected.
Yurchikhin then had ~1.5 hr reserved on his timeline for the first cargo transfers from the Progress to the ISS.
On the US side, Caldwell-Dyson disassembled & removed the RS video “scheme” while Wheelock powered up the amateur/ham radio equipment in the SM.
Before Progress approach & docking, CDR Skvortsov at wakeup conducted the regular daily early-morning check of the aerosol filters at the Russian Elektron O2 generator which Maxim Suraev had installed on 10/19 in gaps between the BZh Liquid Unit and the oxygen outlet pipe (filter FA-K) plus hydrogen outlet pipe (filter FA-V). [The CDR again inspects the filters before bedtime tonight, currently a daily requirement per plan, with photographs to be taken if the filter packing is discolored.]
FE-2 Caldwell-Dyson, FE-4 Wheelock & FE-6 Walker continued their week-long activity with the post-wakeup experiment SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight), 4th for Doug & Shannon, 8th for Tracy, transferring data from their Actiwatches to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop. [To monitor his/her sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, the crewmember wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him/her as well as their patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition, using the payload software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment’s laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.]
After wake-up, Tracy began Day 2 of her current 4-day session of the medical protocol Pro K (Dietary Intake Can Predict and Protect against Changes in Bone Metabolism during Spaceflight and Recovery), her 5th onboard run, with controlled diet and diet logging after the urine pH spot test. [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 4 days. The crewmember also prepares a diet log and then annotates quantities of food packets consumed and supplements taken.]
In the JAXA Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), FE-5 Wheelock wrapped up his maintenance of the FPEF MI (Fluid Physics Experiment Facility / Marangoni Inside) payload, “backing out”, i.e., reversing the original disassembly steps. [Steps included installation of the FPEF MI core into the MI body, installing the PFEF MI into the FPEF, closing the experiment cover body, connecting the payload bus cable, installing the silicone hose, connecting IPU (Image Processing Unit) user video cables between FPEF and IPU & closing out the MS MWA I/F B & A (Marangoni / Maintenance Work Area / Interfaces A & B).]
Fyodor Yurchikhin used the Progress docking for another test of the new external Klest (KL-154M) TV camera, recording footage on the SONY HVR-Z1 camcorder for playback and subsequent downlink via Ku-band (~10:00am). [The video camera was installed outside the SM by Kornienko & Yurchikhin during their EVA-25 on 7/27.]
Shannon Walker continued her support of the ground-commanded CFE (Capillary Flow Experiment) payload by powering the hardware on for POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center/Huntsville) at ~11:45am and turning it off about 2 hrs later. [CFE is a suite of fluid physics experiments that investigate capillary flows and flows of fluids in containers with complex geometries. CFE takes advantage of the station’s micro-G environment to investigate the special dynamics of capillary flow, i.e., the interaction of liquid with solid that can draw a fluid up a narrow tube and can be exploited to control fluid orientation so that fluid systems on spacecraft perform predictably. Interest is in the critical wetting angles for various container geometries and determination of the hysteresis to a higher accuracy than before. CFE results will have applications to management of liquid fuels, cryogens, water-based solutions, and thermal fluids in spacecraft systems. CFE has applications to the management of liquid fuels, cryogens, water-based solutions and thermal fluids in spacecraft systems. ICF (Interior Corner Flow) is one of three CFE experiments, the others being Vane Gap (VG) and Contact Line (CL). Each of the CFE experiments is represented with two unique experimental units (1,2), all of which use similar fluid-injection hardware, have simple and similarly sized test chambers, and rely solely on video for highly quantitative data. Silicone oil is the fluid used for all the tests, with different viscosities depending on the unit. Differences between units are primarily fluid properties, wetting conditions, and test cell cross section.]
Kornienko did the daily IMS (Inventory Management System) maintenance, updating/editing its standard “delta file” including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).
Mikhail also completed 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.]
The crew worked out on today’s 2-hr physical exercise protocol on the CEVIS cycle ergometer with vibration isolation (FE-4), ARED advanced resistive exercise device (FE-2, FE-3, FE-4, FE-5, FE-6), T2/COLBERT advanced treadmill (FE-2, FE-6) and VELO ergometer bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-3). [T2 snubber arm inspection is no longer needed after the last T2 session of the day but is now regularly being done once a week after the last T2 session.]
No CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today.
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time and subject to change):
————–Six-crew operations—————–
09/15/10 — ISS reboost – 3:30am EDT
09/24/10 — Soyuz TMA-18/22S undock/landing (End of Increment 24; CDR-25 – Wheelock)
————–Three-crew operations————-
10/08/10 — Soyuz TMA-20/24S launch – Kelly (CDR-26)/Kaleri/Skripochka
10/10/10 — Soyuz TMA-20/24S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
10/26/10 — Progress M-05M/37P undock
10/27/10 — Progress M-08M/40P launch
10/29/10 — Progress M-08M/40P docking
11/01/10 — STS-133/Discovery launch (ULF5 – ELC4, PMM) ~4:33pm EDT
11/12/10 — Russian EVA-26
11/17/10 — Russian EVA-27
11/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-19/23S undock/landing (End of Increment 25)
————–Three-crew operations————-
12/14/10 — Soyuz TMA-21/25S launch – Kondratyev (CDR-27)/Coleman/Nespoli
12/16/10 — Soyuz TMA-21/25S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
12/20/10 — Progress M-07M/39P undock
01/24/10 — Progress M-08M/40P undock
01/28/10 — Progress M-09M/41P launch
01/31/10 — Progress M-09M/41P docking
02/xx/10 — Russian EVA-28
02/26/11 — STS-134/Endeavour (ULF6 – ELC3, AMS-02) ~4:19pm EDT – “target”
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————-
04/26/11 — Progress M-09M/41P undock
04/27/11 — Progress M-10M/42P launch
04/29/11 — Progress M-10M/42P docking
05/xx/10 — Russian EVA-29
05/16/11 — Soyuz TMA-21/25S undock/landing (End of Increment 27)
————–Three-crew operations————-
05/30/11 — 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
08/29/11 — Progress M-11M/43P undocking
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 – D.Burbank (CDR-30)/A.Shkaplerov/A.Ivanishin
10/02/11 – Soyuz TMA-24/28S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
10/20/11 — Progress M-10M/42P undocking
10/21/11 — Progress M-13M/45P launch
10/23/11 — Progress M-13M/45P docking
11/16/11 — Soyuz TMA-23/27S undock/landing (End of Increment 29)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-25/29S launch – O.Kononenko (CDR-31)/A.Kuipers/D.Pettit
12/02/11 — Soyuz TMA-25/29S docking
————–Six-crew operations—————-
12/??/11 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) w/ERA – on Proton.
12/26/11 — Progress M-13M/45P undock
03/14/12 — Soyuz TMA-24/28S undock/landing (End of Increment 30)
————–Three-crew operations————-
03/26/12 — Soyuz TMA-26/30S launch – G.Padalka (CDR-32)/J.Acaba/K.Valkov
03/28/12 — Soyuz TMA-26/30S docking
————–Six-crew operations—————-
05/15/12 — Soyuz TMA-25/29S undock/landing (End of Increment 31)
————–Three-crew operations————-
05/29/12 – Soyuz TMA-27/31S launch – S.Williams (CDR-33)/Y.Malenchenko/A.Hoshide
05/31/12 – Soyuz TMA-27/31S docking
————–Six-crew operations—————-
09/09/12 — Soyuz TMA-26/30S undock/landing (End of Increment 32)
————–Three-crew operations————-
09/23/12 — Soyuz TMA-28/32S launch – K.Ford (CDR-34)/O. Novitskiy/E.Tarelkin
09/25/12 – Soyuz TMA-28/32S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
10/07/12 — Soyuz TMA-27/31S undock/landing (End of Increment 33)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/xx/12 — Soyuz TMA-29/33S launch – C.Hadfield (CDR-35)/T.Mashburn/R.Romanenko
11/xx/12 – Soyuz TMA-29/33S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
03/xx/12 — Soyuz TMA-28/32S undock/landing (End of Increment 34)
————–Three-crew operations————-
03/xx/12 – Soyuz TMA-30/34S launch.
03/xx/12 – Soyuz TMA-30/34S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
