NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 19 May 2008

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Crew off-duty day. Underway: Week 5 of Increment 17.

In the JLP (Japanese Experiment Module Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section), FE-2 Reisman performed the periodical status and shell temperature check from the MKAM (Minimum Keep-Alive Monitor).

The crew jointly reviewed the Robotics pre-launch checkout activities ahead, including the updated DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) software uplinked for tomorrow’s scheduled SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) operations and the procedures for starting up the DOUG. [Tomorrow (5/20) Reisman will check out both RWS (Robotics Workstations), as during the 1 JA prelaunch checkouts. Afterwards, the CDR and FE-2 also have some DOUG setup time and then maneuver the SSRMS into an ATV survey position using a Joint OCAS (Operator Commanded Auto Sequence) to look at two areas for possible MLI (Multi-Layered Insulation) damage. After the survey, the SSRMS will be maneuvered to grapple the MBS PDGF-3 (Mobile Base System/Power & Data Grapple Fixture 3), followed by a base change by ground commanding to prepare for the next day. On 5/21, the crew will release the other end of the arm at the Node-2 PDGF and maneuver to the 1J Docking position. DOUG is a special application running on the MSS (Mobile Service System) RWS laptops that provides a graphical birdseye-view image of the external station configuration and the SSRMS arm, showing its real-time location and configuration on a laptop during its operation.]

The FE-2 also set up the video configuration for the Robotics ops by putting in place the necessary cable hook-up of the UOP DCP (utility outlet panel/display & control panel) power bypass cable at the CUP RWS (Cupola Robotic Work Station).

In preparation for the STS-124 spacewalks, Garrett initiated recharge procedures on REBA (Rechargeable EVA Battery Assemblies), HL (Helmet Light), PGT (Pistol Grip Tool), and EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) batteries in the US Airlock. [This is the first of two recharges that will be required to prepare all batteries for flight, including three contingency batteries for return on STS-124.]

Kononenko completed the routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh/ECLSS system, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables. [Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists of replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers, replacement of an EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine container, and processing U.S. condensate water as it becomes available in a filled CWC from the Lab humidifier.]

The crew 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 (FE-2), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1), RED resistive exercise device (FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1).

Afterwards, Reisman 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).

At ~5:30am EDT, Sergey Volkov & Oleg Kononenko downlinked a PAO TV message of greetings to the participants of the joint conference “Space for Mankind” of the International Astronautics Academy (IAA) and the K. E. Tsiolkovsky Russian Cosmonautics Academy in Korolev near Moscow, to be replayed at the conference opening on 5/21. [“…The ISS is a place where human achievements in space exploration for the past 50 years have special appreciation. Scientific experiments and practical results obtained in this field have already produced significant impact on the development of the world civilization and on life on Earth and will be doing so in the future….We are proud to note that such a representative conference is taking place in Korolev, the birth place of practical cosmonautics, a place where MCC-M is located, which along with Houston and other centers, controls and operates the ISS; Korolev also is the home base of Energia corporation, whose Soyuz vehicles are used for ISS crew rotations…”]

At ~5:30am EDT, the crew conducted a telephone conference radio exchange with the editor of the Russian COSMOS Magazine, Yekaterina Timofeyevna Beloglazova

At ~4:10pm EDT, Garrett is scheduled for his weekly PFC (Private Family Conference) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop).

US Condensate Processing Update: Troubleshooting continued on Lane 3 of the SRVK. The failure of the separator unit was confirmed; to be replaced next week. Teams are working on procedure for pumping US condensate into ATV tanks. ISS will have condensate tanks empty prior to 1J if possible without the water dump. ATV to check whether they can support prep tasks for pumping of US condensate into ATV tanks as early as May 22.

No (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today.

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, 8:42am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 340.7 km
Apogee height — 344.5 km
Perigee height — 337.0 km
Period — 91.35 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0005648
Solar Beta Angle — 65.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 37m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 54400

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
05/31/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J launch – JEM PM “Kibo”, racks, RMS (5:02pm EDT nominal)
06/02/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J docking (1:49pm)
Tentative STS-124 docked working timeline:

• 6/03 — EVA-1 (11:30am, 6.5 hrs.), OBSS transfer, JPM prep, S3/S4 SARJ TBA install, JPM install
• 6/04 — JPM Vestibule outfitting, Reisman/Chamitoff handovers
• 6/05 — EVA-2 (11:30am, 6.5 hrs), JTVE install, JRMS cvr remv, NTA prep, CP 9 ETVCG retrv
• 6/06 — JLP relocate to JPM; JLP Vestibule leak check
• 6/07 — JLP Vestibule outfitting
• 6/08 — EVA-3 (10:30am, 6.3 hrs), S1 NTA install, CP9 ETVCG install, JRMS cover remove
• 6/09 — JRMS checkouts, JLP Vestibule outfitting, A/L BCM R&R
• 6/10 — Sayonara (~4:00pm), hatch close (~4:30pm)
• 6/11 — Undocking (~9:04am); OBSS survey/inspection
• 6/12 — Mostly off-duty
• 6/13 — Stowing; deorbit preps
• 6/14 — Deorbit burn (~9:56am);

06/14/08 — STS-124/Discovery landing (KSC: ~10:59am EDT, nominal)
07/10/08 — Russian EVA-20 (7/10-11)
??/??/08 — STS-125/Atlantis Hubble Space Telescope Service Mission 4 (SM4)
09/05/08 — ATV1 undocking
09/09/08 — Progress M-64/29P undocking (from DC1)
09/10/08 — Progress M-65/30P launch
09/12/08 — Progress M-65/30P docking
10/01/08 — NASA 50 Years
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 (SM aft port)
10/16/08 — STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 launch – MPLM Leonardo, LMC
10/18/08 — STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 docking
10/23/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S undocking (FGB nadir)
11/03/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S relocation (from SM aft to FGB nadir)
11/20/08 — ISS 10 Years
11/26/08 — Progress M-66/31P launch
11/28/08 — Progress M-66/31P docking
12/04/08 — STS-119/Discovery/15A launch – S6 truss segment
12/06/08 — STS-119/Discovery/15A docking
12/15/08 — STS-119/Discovery/15A undocking
2QTR CY09 — STS-127/2J/A launch – JEM EF, ELM-ES, ICC-VLD
3QTR CY09 — STS-128/17A/Atlantis – MPLM(P), last crew rotation
05/??/09 — Six-person crew on ISS (following Soyuz 18S-2 docking)
3QTR CY09 — STS-129/ULF3/Discovery – ELC1, ELC2
4QTR CY09 — STS-130/20A/Endeavour – Node-3 + Cupola
1QTR CY10 — STS-131/19A/Atlantis – MPLM(P)
1QTR CY10 — STS-132/ULF4/Discovery – ICC-VLD, MRM1 (contingency)
2QTR CY10 — STS-133/ULF5/Endeavour – ELC3, ELC4 (contingency).