NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 18 July 2008

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.

Crew Sleep Cycle: Wakeup today was at 4:30am; sleeptime tonight: 8:00pm EDT.

Upon wake-up, Oleg Kononenko terminated his sixth MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session for the long-term Russian sleep study, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. Sergey Volkov’s new MBI-12 session starts tonight (~7:15pm). [SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember’s physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.]

In the DC-1 Docking Compartment, CDR Volkov terminated the discharge process on the second set of 825-M3 Orlan batteries and initiated it on the third set. Later tonight (~7:40pm), he will also terminate discharging the third set.

Afterwards, Volkov & Kononenko worked on the Progress M-64/29P cargo ship, re-integrating it with the ISS by

• Conducting a leak check between 29P and the FGB module,
• Opening the Progress/FGB hatches,
• Installing the LKT local temperature sensor commutator (TA251MB) of the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system, along with its ROM unit (read-only memory, TA765B) [LKT was subsequently switched on by the ground to complete the basic configuration.]
• Deactivating the Progress vehicle, and
• Closing out 29P re-integration operations.

Later, the CDR initiated, then terminated, a repress of the ISS cabin atmosphere with compressed air from Progress 29P tankage by ~18-20 mmHg.

Gregory Chamitoff had 4h 50min reserved for removing & replacing the Flexpacks in both RED (Resistive Exercise Device) canisters, along with spacers and canister cords, with on-orbit spares. The installation included the regular calibration of both canisters. [The Flexpacks (one each in the two RED canisters, not swappable) were approaching the end of their certified life of 289,000 cycles. The R&R involves replacement of the Canister Cords, Flexpack Assemblies, External Splines, and Spacers. Following the changeout, Greg performed the usual calibration, wearing special footwear (athletic shoes), to allow accurate execution of exercise protocol objectives. The calibration confirms a good Flexpack replacement, identifies the maximum allowed settings and allows for adjusting each crewmember’s RED exercise protocols accordingly. The canisters are only certified to a maximum load of 160 lbs each. If at any point doing the calibration, a load of 160 lbs or greater is reached before getting to the last load index setting of 5.5, the calibration is not to proceed to the next higher setting and MCC-H must be notified. Upon receipt of the results of the calibration data, ground specialists will review the data and, assuming favorable engineering analysis, will get back to the crew quickly to give them a GO for their RED exercise session. Calibration of the load settings of the pulley cans is performed with an on-orbit calibration kit with a special calibration tool and steel handles.]

Sergey conducted the periodic maintenance/checkout of the spare BZh Liquid Unit (#056) for the Elektron O2 generator, [Objective of the checkout of the BZh, which has been in stowage for 1.5 years, was to check water passage through the feed line inside of the BZh (from ZL1 connector to the buffer tank) and to check the response of the Electronics Unit’s micro switches (signaling “Buffer Tank is Empty” & “Buffer Tank is Full”.]

FE-1 Kononenko performed routine IFM (Inflight Maintenance) on the second Russian SRVK condensate water processor by removing & replacing its BRPK-2 (Condensate Separation & Pumping Unit) separator.

Chamitoff completed the regular 30-day inspection of the new AED (Automated External Defibrillator) in the CHeCS (Crew Health Care Systems) rack. [The AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient. It then can treat them through defibrillation, i.e., the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm. AEDs are generally either held by trained personnel who will attend events or are public access units which can be found in places including corporate and government offices, shopping centers, airports, restaurants, casinos, hotels, sports stadiums, schools and universities, community centers, fitness centers, health clubs and any other location where people may congregate.]

Oleg Kononenko took the periodic readings of potentially harmful atmospheric contaminants in the Service Module (SM), using the CMS (Countermeasure System), a component of the GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer suite, which uses preprogrammed microchips to measure H2CO (Formaldehyde, methanal), CO (Carbon Monoxide) and NH3 (Ammonia), taking one measurement per microchip. [CMS is a subsystem of the Russian SKDS Pressure Control & Atmosphere Monitoring System.]

Afterwards, the FE-2 conducted the periodic atmospheric sampling in the center of the Lab, SM and FGB with the GSC (Grab Sample Container), while Oleg, in parallel, used the AK-1M adsorber to collect cabin air samples in the SM and FGB.

Greg also took measurements for the regular atmospheric status check for ppCO2 (Carbon Dioxide partial pressure) in the Lab, SM (at panel 449) and COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), using the hand-held CDMK (CO2 Monitoring Kit, #1002). [The battery pack is to be replaced with the one from unit #1009 if necessary.],

Later, Chamitoff performed some troubleshooting on ANITA (Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air), checking on correct mating of cables, then powered up the ANITA hardware.

Volkov completed the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the Service Module (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 FE-2 conducted the regular bi-monthly reboot of the OCA Router and File Server SSC (Station Support Computer) laptops.

At ~7:50pm, getting ready for sleep time, the CDR will again set up the Russian MBI-12 SONOKARD (Sonocard) payload and start his sixth experiment session, using a sports shirt from the SONOKARD kit with a special device in the pocket for testing a new method for acquiring physiological data without using direct contact on the skin. Measurements are recorded on a data card for return to Earth.

The three crewmembers conducted their regular 2.5-hr. physical workout program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (CDR, FE-1), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1, FE-2), and RED resistive exercise device (FE-2). Later, Oleg transferred the exercise data file to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) laptop for downlink, including 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).

At ~5:50pm EDT, the ISS crew is scheduled for their regular weekly tagup with the Lead Flight Director at JSC/MCC-H via S-band/audio. [Private S/G-2 (Space-to-Ground 2) phone patch via SSC (Station Support Computer)].

WRM Update: An updated WRM (Water Recovery Management) “cue card” was uplinked overnight for the crew’s reference in lieu of yesterday’s uplink. [The new card (17-0002S) lists 35 CWCs (Contingency Water Containers,~1356.0 L total) for the four types of water identified on board: technical water (578.9 L, for Elektron, flushing, hygiene, incl. 509.4 L non-usable water because of Wautersia bacteria), potable water (706.7 L, incl. 260.6 L currently on hold), condensate water (62.5 L), waste/EMU dump and other (7.9 L). Wautersia bacteria are typical water-borne microorganisms that have been seen previously in ISS water sources. These isolates pose no threat to human health.]

BCC at MSFC: Last night, ground engineers conducted command & voice tests aimed at setting up BCC (Backup Control Center) capability at Marshall Space Flight Center/Huntsville.

VolSci Preview: For the weekend ahead, Gregory has selected another SHERE (Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment) session in the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) for the Voluntary Science program.

ATV1 Remaining O2: After last Monday’s (7/14) ISS cabin atmosphere repress with oxygen from ATV1 “Jules Verne”, about 3.7 kg of O2 remain in the supply ship’s tank.

CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today were Iceberg A43f (DYNAMIC EVENT: (This large iceberg broke away from the Antarctic Ice Shelf near the Antarctic Peninsula over 18 months ago. It is now in the area just north of South Georgia Island. Conditions were marginal for viewing as the ISS pass was in the low light of winter during early afternoon. Clouds were expected to be broken to scattered. Approach was from the W. Looking just right of track for this high contrast feature in the darkness of the sea and using the long lens settings for detail), and Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMC) over Northwestern Europe (DYNAMIC EVENT: The nighttime window of opportunity for this pass ran for about 10-12 minutes from just SW of the Azores in the eastern North Atlantic to eastern Poland. These were high oblique views left of track towards the Earth’s limb.)

CEO photography can be studied at this “Gateway” website:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov (as of 3/1/08, this database contained 757,605 views of the Earth from space, with 314,000 from the ISS alone).

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:31am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 344.2 km
Apogee height — 350.8 km
Perigee height — 337.7 km
Period — 91.42 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.000977
Solar Beta Angle — 71.0 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.75
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 31 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 55346

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
07/23/08 — ATV1 reboost (~12:06pm EDT, ~4.1 m/sec delta-V)
08/30/08 — Progress M-64/29P undocking, from FGB nadir
09/05/08 — ATV1 undocking, from SM aft port (loiter until ~9/25 for nighttime reentry/observation)
09/10/08 — Progress M-65/30P launch
09/12/08 — Progress M-65/30P docking (SM aft port)
10/01/08 — NASA 50 Years
10/08/08 — STS-125/Atlantis Hubble Space Telescope Service Mission 4 (SM4)
10/11/08 — Progress M-65/30P undocking (from SM aft port)
10/12/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S launch
10/14/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S docking (FGB nadir port)
10/23/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S undocking (DC1 nadir)
11/10/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 launch – MPLM Leonardo, LMC
11/12/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 docking
11/20/08 — ISS 10 Years
11/26/08 — Progress M-66/31P launch
11/28/08 — Progress M-66/31P docking
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
03/25/09 — Soyuz TMA-14/18S launch
05/15/09 — STS-127/Endeavour/2J/A launch – JEM EF, ELM-ES, ICC-VLD
07/30/09 — STS-128/Atlantis/17A – MPLM(P), last crew rotation
05/27/09 — Six-person crew on ISS (following Soyuz 19S docking, May ’09)
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).