NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 14 October 2008
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
Yest kasaniya! Soyuz TMA-13/17S docked smoothly at the FGB nadir port at 4:26am EDT, seven minutes ahead of time, with Expedition 18 crewmembers CDR-18 Michael Fincke, Soyuz CDR/FE-1-18 Yuri Lonchakov, and SFP (Spaceflight Participant) Richard Garriott, the 15th Visiting Crewmember (VC) and the 6th “space tourist”. He and Sergey are the first children of veteran space-flyers who also have made it to space. After about 1.5 hrs spent in Soyuz on pre-transfer activities, the crew opened hatches, followed by crew transfer, the traditional joyful welcome event and the installation of the BZV QD (quick disconnect) clamps by Lonchakov and Kononenko. [After successful "kasaniya" (contact), automatic "sborka" (closing of Soyuz & FGB port hooks & latches) took place shortly thereafter while ISS was in free drift. Attitude control authority had been handed over to the Russian MCS (Motion Control System) at ~00:25am and was returned to US CMG control at ~6:58am. For the 17S docking, Russian thrusters were disabled during Soyuz volume pressurization and clamp installation; they were afterwards returned to active attitude control (~4:53am. fore hatch opening, the crew performed leak checks of the Soyuz modules and the Soyuz/FGB interface vestibule. They then doffed their Sokol suits and set them up for drying, deactivated the Atmosphere Purification Unit (BOA) in the Descent Module (SA), replaced the Soyuz ECLSS LiOH cartridges, equalized Soyuz/ISS pressures, and put the spacecraft into conservation mode on ISS integrated power. Fincke & Lonchakov are replacing Expedition 17 CDR Volkov & FE-1 Kononenko. FE-2 Dr. Gregory Chamitoff remains on the station, joining Expedition 18 until next month (November) when he is replaced by U.S. Astronaut Sandy Magnus, arriving on STS-126/ULF2. Richard Garriott, the son of veteran U.S. Skylab/Shuttle Astronaut Owen Garriott, returns with Sergey & Oleg on 10/23 in Soyuz TMA-12/16S.]
The ISS crew’s work/sleep cycle shifted this morning by one hour, from wakeup at 2:00am to 1:00am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 4:30pm, from 5:30pm).
FE-2 Chamitoff continued his third week-long session of the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment, using payload software for data downloading and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment’s session file on the HRF-1 laptop. [To monitor the crewmember’s sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Greg wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. He will be joined in this experiment by Fincke and Garriott. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew’s discretionary “job jar” task list.]
Gregory also had the fifth day of his second SOLO (Sodium Loading in Microgravity) session, which runs in two blocks of six days each. Today, Greg again began with measurements and sampling of body mass (with SLAMMD/Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device), blood (with PCBA/Portable Clinical Blood Analyzer), and urine, to continue for three more days. Samples were stowed in the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). [Background: For the SOLO experiment, Chamitoff follows a special high-salt diet, for which prepared meals are provided onboard. All three daily meals are being logged on sheets stowed in the PCBA Consumable Kit in the MELFI along with control solution and cartridges for the PCBA. Blood and urine samples are stowed in the freezer. SOLO, an ESA/German experiment from the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Cologne/Germany, investigates the mechanisms of fluid and salt retention in the body during long-duration space flight. Background: The hypothesis of an increased urine flow as the main cause for body mass decrease has been questioned in several recently flown missions. Data from the US SLS1/2 missions as well as the European/Russian Euromir `94 & MIR 97 missions show that urine flow and total body fluid remain unchanged when isocaloric energy intake is achieved. However, in two astronauts during these missions the renin-angiotensin system was considerably activated while plasma ANP concentrations were decreased. Calculation of daily sodium balances during a 15-day experiment of the MIR 97 mission (by subtracting sodium excretion from sodium intake) showed an astonishing result: the astronaut retained on average 50 mmol sodium daily in space compared to balanced sodium in the control experiment. SLAMMD, performed first on Expedition 12 in December 2005, provides an accurate means of determining the on-orbit mass of humans spanning the range from the 5th percentile Japanese female and the 95th percentile American male. The procedure, in accordance with Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion, finds the mass by dividing force, generated by two springs inside the SLAMMD drawer, by acceleration measured with a precise optical instrument that detects the position versus time trajectory of the SLAMMD guide arm and a micro controller which collects the raw data and provides the precise timing. The final computation is done via portable laptop computer with SLAMMD unique software. To calculate their mass, crewmembers wrap their legs around a leg support assembly, align the stomach against a belly pad and either rest the head or chin on a head rest. For calibration, an 18-lbs. mass is used at different lengths from the pivot point, to simulate different mass values. Crew mass range is from 90 to 240 lbs.]
Steps by the ISS crew leading up to the Soyuz docking included:
- Testing, by Kononenko, of the RS (Russian Segment) video system, which uses the SONY HDV camera for transmitting over the MPEG-2 (Moving Pictures Expert Group 2) encoder from FGB & SM to downlink via U.S. OpsLAN and Ku-band in “streaming video” packets [deactivated and disassembled later in the day by Volkov],
- Configuring and activating the A31p SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop for the TV conversion to NTSC and Ku-band, by Chamitoff [later, Greg removed the downlink test equipment and disconnected the hook-up of the UOP DCP (utility outlet panel/display & control panel) power bypass cable at the CUP RWS (Cupola Robotic Work Station)],
- Activating the video equipment for covering the Soyuz approach & docking (CDR),
- Oleg configuring the station comm (STTS) for the docking [plus reconfiguring it afterwards for the nominal post-docking hardline mode (MBS)],
- Powering down the amateur radio (ham) equipment to prevent RF interference with the KURS automated approach & docking system (FE-2), and
- Monitoring approach and final docking of Soyuz from the SM (FE-1).
After the successful docking at the FGB nadir port –
- CDR Volkov downlinked the docking video via Ku-band,
- FE-1-18 Lonchakov & CDR-18 Fincke conducted the ~1 hr FGB interface leak check,
- Kononenko switched hatch KVDs (Pressure Equalization Valves) between FGB GA and Soyuz to electric control mode,
- The crew opened the Soyuz-FGB transfer tunnel hatches,
- Both crews then joined for the obligatory standard Safety Briefing of the newcomers by CDR Volkov to familiarize them with procedures and escape routes in case of an emergency [the Briefing included pointing out the location of the “Emergency Response/Visiting Crew” books, showed how to move about the station without getting hurt or accidentally disturbing air flow meters/sensors (PP IP-1) and familiarized the SFP with his switch to a different Soyuz for return],
- As part of Soyuz deactivation after the docking, Yuri Lonchakov installed the intermodular air exchange ducting between the Soyuz (through both Orbital & Descent Modules) and the FGB [the two optional modes for the ducting configuration are with & without air heating],
- Volkov meanwhile set up the three Sokol spacesuits and their gloves for drying out, followed later today by
- Yuri and Sergey swapped Chamitoff’s and Garriott’s IELKs (Individual Equipment & Liner Kits, Russian: USIL) between the two Soyuz vehicles, TMA-12/16S & TMA-13/17S, including their tailored Sokol spacesuits. The IELKs of Fincke & Lonchakov are already in the 17S spacecraft that has now become the Expedition 18 CRV (Crew Return Vehicle), good for a maximum of 200 days in space, while Volkov’s & Kononenko’s IELKs remain in 16S for the return on 10/23. [A crewmember is not considered transferred until her/his IELK, AMP (Ambulatory Medical Pack) and ALSP (Advanced Life Support Pack) drug kit are transferred. After today’s installation of the VC15 IELK, Richard is now considered a 16S crewmember, and Expedition 18 has technically begun its residence aboard ISS, with Sergey Volkov passing his CDR-baton to Mike Fincke. TMA-12 has been docked at ISS since 4/10/08. By the time of its return on 10/23 (with one pyro bolt removed), the spacecraft will have spent 199 days in space, one day short of its “warranty” life. Of course, Volkov & Kononenko also will have accumulated 199 days in space at their return.]
After activating the three thermostat-controlled sample containers KUBIK-1 (+21 degC), KUBIK-2 (+37 degC) and KRIOGEM-03 (+4 degC) in the RS, Oleg and Yuri transferred, installed and photographed high-priority science equipment, including –
- BIO-12/REGENERATION (a study of micro-G effects on structural and functional recovery of damaged organs and tissues in animal tests, specifically Planaria worms),
- BTKh-10/KONYUGATSIYA (“Conjugation” in its Biokont-T container, also in KRIOGEM, which deals with the processes of genetic material transmission using bacterial conjugation, in the Biokont-T container and Rekomb-K hardware in the KRIOGEM-03M),
- BTKh-14/BIOEMULSIYA (Bioemulsion, which investigates the design and improvement of a closed-type autonomous thermostat-controlled bioreactor for obtaining biomass of organisms and bioactive substances (BAV) without additional ingredients input or removal of metabolism products, for bacterial, enzymatic, and pharmaceutical preparations),
- BTKh-12/ BIOEKOLOGIYA (Bioecology, kits & containers with BIOTREK, LAKTOLEN, ARIL, and ANTIGEN) [BTKh-5/ARIL studies the effects of space flight on cultures of Lactolen- and Interleukin ARIL producing cells] and
- BIO-4 (the latest in a series of ESA’s BIO payload system which makes use of the KUBIK incubator facilities, currently the “facilities of choice” for this program).
Sergey Volkov took Richard Garriott on the standard one-hour guided tour of the ISS. [The tour was to acquaint the SFP with both station segments, his living quarters in the RS, his work station in the DC1 Docking Compartment, other work locations (e.g., SM windows #7 & #8 for his Earth photo/video activities), the sites for his scheduled once-daily VHF conferences with his consultant group and his ham radio sessions, location of his RSK2 laptop, stowage of his VC15 experiments, uplink printouts and camera equipment for his use, email ops, and PFC (Private Family Conference) using the IP (Internet Protocol) phone.]
Assisted by Sergey, Richard later –
- Installed his removable HDD (Hard Disk Drive) in the RSK2 A31p laptop,
- Transferred his PCG (Protein Crystallization in micro-G) experiment container from Soyuz, set it up in the SM and photographed it,
- Configured the ham radio in slow-scan TV mode,
- Donned the Actiwatch for the U.S. SLEEP experiment (in which he participates along with Mike Fincke),
- Performed his first on-board experiment, Visual Acuity in Space (PRK), with eye charts and log charts, which he will conduct every day, along with SLEEP log entries and, at some days, the Integrated Immune assessment with liquid collections, and
- Filled in the daily questionnaires for the two medical ESA assessments MUSCLE-G (LBP/Low Back Pain) and MOP (Motion Perception, study of vestibular adaptation to gravity transition).
Earlier in the day, FE-2 Chamitoff worked on the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS) to free a stuck drawer and prepare the freezer for the subsequent transfer of the new BIO-4 payload from the KUBIK-2 facility to MELFI.
Gregory also used the HRF printer to print out an uplinked 30-page “17S SFP Science Packet” for Richard Garriott, containing detailed instructions, timeline overview, SLEEP log sheets, visual acuity eye charts and forms, etc.
Oleg Kononenko deactivated the hardware of the MATRYOSHKA-R (RBO-3-2) radiation instrumentation on panel 429 in the FGB, packed the ALC-952 data storage card for return on Soyuz 16S and took documentary photographs. Afterwards, he deinstalled the AST Spectrometer in the FGB, moved it to the SM and re-installed it on panel 326. [RBO-3-2 is using the ESA/RSC-Energia experiment ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS/ALC) with its Spectrometer (AST) and ALC equipment, which is periodically moved around and now located again in the SM.]
Greg Chamitoff set up the NetMeeting application on SSC-1 in the SM for the SFP and conducted a network conference test. [This capability will allow the SFP to participate in a conference later during the mission.]
Afterwards, the FE-2 relocated more empty food containers to Node-2 and prepacked them to get them ready for return on ULF-2.
Chamitoff also updated the SODF POC (System Operations Data File/Portable Onboard Computer) procedures book with File Server Recovery procedures printed out from a file uplinked overnight.
The CDR meanwhile downloaded the accumulated structural dynamics data from this morning’s Soyuz docking from the IWIS RSUs (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System/Remote Sensor Units).
The FE-2 had an additional hour reserved for unpacking US cargo delivered on Progress 30P.
Later, Greg also spent ~30 min on US cargo unpacking from Soyuz 17S.
Volkov performed the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM (Service Module). [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 daily IMS (Inventory Management System) maintenance was conducted today by Oleg, updating/editing the standard IMS “delta file” including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).
The FE-2 completed another one of the periodic inspections of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device) canister cords and accessories, currently done every two weeks.
The crew performed an abbreviated physical workout program on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-2), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1), and RED resistive exercise device (FE-2).
FE-1 Kononenko conducted the periodic (currently daily) checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS (Russian Segment) hatchways, including the DC1-to-Soyuz tunnel, and the FGB-to-Soyuz and FGB-to-Node passageway. [This is especially important when the ventilation/circulation system has to cope with a larger crew on board, currently six persons, and one of the two Russian SKV air conditioners still off (SKV-1) because it has run out of service life.]
Before his sleep time tonight, Gregory will unstow the INTEGRATED IMMUNE Saliva Collection kit (#1005) in preparation for the upcoming series of sample collections by himself, Mike Fincke and Richard Garriott, the latter starting already tomorrow. Greg and Mike will begin their collections on 10/17. [Integrated Immune is a 24-hr.assessment of human immune system changes, with the objective to investigate immune neuro-endocrine reactions in the space environment by studying samples of saliva, blood and urine using collection kits and the biomedical (MBI) protection kit, to develop and validate an immune monitoring strategy consistent with operational flight requirements and constraints. The strategy uses both long and short duration crewmembers as study subjects. The saliva is collected in two forms, dry and liquid. The dry samples are collected at intervals during the collection day using a specialized book that contains filter paper. The liquid saliva collections require that the crewmember soak a piece of cotton inside their mouth and place it in a salivette bag; there are four of the liquid collections during docked operations. The on-orbit blood samples are collected right before undocking and returned on the Shuttle so that analysis can occur with 48 hours of the sampling. This allows assays that quantify the function of different types of white blood cells and other active components of the immune system. Saliva samples are secured in the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). Also included are entries in a fluid/medications intact log, and a stress-test questionnaire to be filled out by the subject at begin and end. Urine is collected during a 24-hour period, conventionally divided into two twelve-hour phases: morning-evening and evening-morning.]
At ~1:45pm EDT, CDR-18 Fincke had his first regular weekly PMC (Private Medical Conference) via S- & Ku-band audio/video.
No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today.
CEO photography can be studied at this “Gateway” website:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov (as of 9/1/08, this database contained 770,668 views of the Earth from space, with 324,812 from the ISS alone).
Week 26 Scheduled Main Activities:
- Wed. (10/15): IMMUNE; SLEEP log; ISS-18 expmts.; VC15 Prgm.; Handovers ISS-18; AED inspect.; WRM CWC fill; OGS activ.; Ham; IP-1 check.
- Thu. (10/16): ISS-18 expmts.; VC15 Prgm.; EDV replace; ULF-2 prepacking; Handovers ISS-18; WRM CWC audit; PEPS inspect.; Iridium recharge; IP-1 check.
- Fri. (10/17): ISS-18 expmts.; VC15 Prgm.; PAO; GOGU tagup; ULF-2 prepacking; Handovers ISS-18; ODNT/LBNP OBT; IDZ-2 smoke detector mntn.; CMS sampling; IP-1 check.
- Sat. (10/18): ISS-18 expmts.; VC15 Prgm.; BMP ch.1 regen.; GANK sampling; IP-1 check; FFQ; Handovers ISS-18; Symbolic Activity; OGS deact.; DOUG review for JEMRMS checkout.
- Sun. (10/19): ISS-18 expmts.; VC15 Prgm.; Handovers ISS-18; BMP ch.2 regen.; JEMRMS DOUG review ; JEMRMS activities/checkout ; MBI-15 NEURO; O-OHA assess.; IP-1 check; Elektron BZh check.
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:50am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 352.5 km
Apogee height — 355.1 km
Perigee height — 349.9 km
Period — 91.59 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.000381
Solar Beta Angle — -56.5 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
Mean altitude loss in the last 48 hours — 100 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 56731
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
10/23/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S undock (DC1 nadir, 8:15pm) & land (11:36pm) = 10/24 — 9:36am Kazakhstan)
11/02/08 — Progress 30P reboost; Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends
11/14/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 launch – MPLM Leonardo, LMC
11/16/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 docking
11/20/08 — ISS 10 Years
11/25/08 — Progress M-65/30P undocking & deorbit
11/26/08 — Progress M-66/31P launch
11/30/08 — Progress M-66/31P docking
12/01/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 landing (~1:25pm EST est.)
02/09/09 — Progress M-66/31P undocking & deorbit
02/10/09 — Progress M-67/32P launch
02/12/09 — Progress M-67/32P docking
02/12/09 — STS-119/Discovery/15A launch – S6 truss segment
02/14/09 — STS-119/Discovery/15A docking
02/24/09 — STS-119/Discovery/15A undocking
02/26/09 — STS-119/Discovery/15A landing (nominal)
03/25/09 — Soyuz TMA-14/18S launch
03/27/09 — Soyuz TMA-14/18S docking (DC1)
04/05/09 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S undocking
04/07/09 — Progress M-67/32P undocking & deorbit
05/15/09 — STS-127/Endeavour/2J/A launch – JEM EF, ELM-ES, ICC-VLD
05/25/09 — Soyuz TMA-15/19S launch
05/27/09 — Six-person crew on ISS (following Soyuz 19S docking)
07/30/09 — STS-128/Atlantis/17A – MPLM(P), last crew rotation
10/15/09 — STS-129/Discovery/ULF3 – ELC1, ELC2
12/10/09 — STS-130/Endeavour/20A – Node-3 + Cupola
02/11/10 — STS-131/Atlantis/19A – MPLM(P)
04/08/10 — STS-132/Discovery/ULF4 – ICC-VLD, MRM1
05/31/10 — STS-133/Endeavour/ULF5 – ELC3, ELC4 (contingency).