NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 13 November 2007
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
Station sleep cycle: 1:00am – 4:30pm EST.
FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko set up the equipment for the Russian MBI-18 DYKHANIE (“respiration”, “breathing”) experiment, then conducted the session, supported by ground specialist tagup, later closing down ops and stowing the equipment. [Dykhanie-1 gear uses two belts (PG-T/thoracic, PG-A/abdominal), a calibrator, resistor, mouthpiece, etc., to study fundamental physiological mechanisms of the external breathing function of crewmembers under long-duration orbital flight conditions. During the experiment, physiological measurements taken and recorded involve a pneumotachogram, thoracic pneumogram, abdominal pneumogram, and pressures in the oral cavity. All experimentally derived and salient environmental data along with personal data of the subject are recorded on PCMIA card for return to the ground at end of the Expedition. Objectives include determining the dynamics of the relationship between thoracic (pectoral) and abdominal breathing function reserves and their realization potential during spontaneous breathing, the coordinated spontaneous respiratory movements in terms of thoracic and abdominal components of volumetric, time & rate parameters of spontaneous respiratory cycle, identification of the features of humoral-reflex regulation of breathing by dynamics of ventilation sensitivity of thoracic and abdominal components to chemoreceptor stimuli, etc. Overall, the experiment is intended to provide a better understanding of the basic mechanisms of pulmonary respiration/gas exchange gravitational relations of cosmonauts.]
In preparation for tomorrow’s scheduled Node-2/PMA-2 relocation from the Node-1 portside dock to the Lab forward port, CDR Whitson and FE-2 Tani conducted the usual 1-hr review of the DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) application for the required SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) maneuvers.
Also for the relocation, later in the day (~8:40am EST) the MT (Mobile Transporter) was moved on its rail tracks from WS4 (Worksite 4) to WS7 by ground commanding. In support of this translation, the Russian thrusters were disabled from 7:35am to 10:40am. [The translation was delayed by ~45 min due to a microswitch error message requiring troubleshooting and clearing up by ground controllers.]
Later, Whitson and Tani worked on the Vestibule connecting Node-1 and Node-2, preparing it for Node-2 demating by installing the CPAs (Controller Panel Assemblies) on the ACBM (Active Common Berthing Mechanism), then conducting a final check of the vestibule, installing the CBM center disk cover and closing the Node-1 port hatch to the Vestibule.
Following hatch closure and the subsequent depressurization of the Vestibule to vacuum, started by the CDR after setting up the depress connections, the Node-2/PMA-2 “stack” is ready for the transfer tomorrow, scheduled around 5:25am, after a vestibule leak check and CBM demate. [Correction: For yesterday’s PMA-2 relocation, the SSRMS grappled the PMA on one of its two FRGFs (Flight Releasable Grapple Fixtures), not PDGFs (Power & Data Grapple Fixtures) as erroneously reported here. The PMAs have no PDGFs.]
Malenchenko used the SKDS CMS (Pressure Control & Atmosphere Monitoring System/Countermeasure System) to take readings of potentially harmful contaminants in the SM (Service Module). The hardware was then returned to initial stowage. [The CMS, part of the GANK-4M analyses (see below), uses preprogrammed microchips to measure Formaldehyde (H 2CO, methanal), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Ammonia (NH 3), taking one measurement per microchip. CMS is part of the GANK-4M analysis conducted today.]
Later, Yuri also collected the periodic ISS cabin air readings with the Russian GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer system. [GANK tests for Methane (CH 4), Ammonia (NH 3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Formaldehyde (HCHO), Nitrogen Oxides (NO, NO 2), Hydrogen Chloride (HCl), Hydrogen Fluoride (HF), and Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN).]
Dan Tani retrieved and stowed the two FMKs (Formaldehyde Monitoring Kits) deployed by him on 11/11 in the Lab (below CEVIS cycle) and SM (most forward handrail).
Dan had another 60 minutes for himself for general orientation (station familiarization & acclimatization), as is standard daily rule for the first two weeks after starting station residency.
The FE-1 continued the current round of monthly preventive maintenance of RS (Russian Segment) ventilation systems, today working in the FGB (Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok) to access and clean the protective mesh screens of its TsV1 central ventilation fan assembly.
Also in the Khrunichev-built module, Malenchenko, supported by ground specialist tagup, conducted troubleshooting on temperature sensors of the FGB’s retracted SB4 starboard solar array wing.
The FE-1 performed the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables.
Additionally, Yuri conducted the daily maintenance of the IMS (Inventory Management System), updating/editing its standard “delta file”, including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).
The crewmembers completed their physical workout program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-2), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1), RED resistive exercise device (FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).
The FE-2 then transferred the crew’s exercise data file to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) data of the workouts on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).
Weekend Voluntary Science: Four optional activities for the voluntary “Saturday Science” program for next weekend (11/16-18) were suggested to Peggy and Dan for their choice. Selection is required by tonight. [The four choices are: (1) BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-3) Magnet Unstick, using the CGBA-4 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus-4), powered up 12 hrs before to initiate cooling; (2) CFE-CL (Capillary Flow Experiment – Contact Line): voice & video of a 4-hr run of his last session to complete the CFE investigations; (3) SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites), flying two & three satellites, requiring 2 video camcorders & 2 VTRs; and (4) EPO (Education Payload Operations) demonstrating Newton’s Laws (Three Laws of Motion & Conservation of Angular Momentum).]
No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today.
CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov (about 700,000 NASA digital photographs of Earth are downloaded by the public each month from this “Gateway” site);
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/AstronautPhotography
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:50am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 341.4 km
Apogee height — 342.6 km
Perigee height — 340.2 km
Period — 91.36 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0001818
Solar Beta Angle — -16.4 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 106 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 51434
Significant Events Ahead(all dates Eastern Standard, some changes possible):
11/14/07 — Node-2 (Harmony) plus PMA-2 relocation to front of Lab
11/20/07 — US EVA-10 (Peggy Whitson/Dan Tani)
11/24/07 — US EVA-11 (Peggy Whitson/Dan Tani)
12/06/07 — STS-122/Atlantis/1E launch — Columbus Module, ICC-Lite
12/08/07 — STS-122/Atlantis/1E docking
12/15/07 — STS-122/Atlantis undocking
12/18/07 — STS-122/Atlantis landing
12/22/07 — Progress M-61/26P undocking (DC1) & reentry
12/23/07 — Progress M-62/27P launch
12/25/07 — Progress M-62/27P docking (DC1)
01/31/08 — ATV-1 “Jules Verne” launch/Ariane V (Kourou, French Guyana)
01/31/08 — 50-Year Anniversary of Explorer 1 (1 st U.S. satellite on Redstone rocket)
02/06/08 – Progress M-62/27P undocking
02/07/08 — Progress M-63/28P launch
02/09/08 — Progress M-63/28P docking
02/14/08 — ATV-1 docking (SM aft port)
02/14/08 — STS-123/Endeavour/1J/A launch/1J/A — SLP-SPDM, JEM ELM-PS (NET)
02/16/08 — STS-123/Endeavour/1J/A docking
02/27/08 — STS-123/Endeavour undocking
02/29/08 — STS-123/Endeavour landing
04/08/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S launch
04/10/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S docking (DC1)
04/19/08 — Soyuz TMA-11/15S undocking (FGB nadir port)
04/23/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S relocation (from DC1 to FGB nadir port)
04/24/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J launch – JEM PM “Kibo”, racks, RMS.
04/26/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J docking
05/02/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J undocking
05/14/08 — Progress M-64/29P launch
05/16/08 — Progress M-64/29P docking (DC1)
07/29/08 — ATV-1 undocking (from SM aft port)
08/11/08 — Progress M-64/29P undocking (from DC1)
08/12/08 — Progress M-65/30P launch
08/14/08 — Progress M-65/30P docking (SM aft port)
09/13/08 — Progress M-66/31P launch
09/15/08 — Progress M-66/31P docking (DC1)
09/20/08 — (NET) STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 launch – MPLM(P), LMC
10/01/08 — (NET) STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 undocking.
10/11/08 — Progress M-65/30P undocking (from SM aft port)
10/14/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S launch
10/16/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S docking (SM aft port)
04/??/09 — Six-person crew on ISS
04/15/09 — Constellation’s Ares I-X Launch.
Note: The daily ISS On-Orbit Status reports can also be found at
