Status Report

NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 21 August 2008

By SpaceRef Editor
August 21, 2008
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NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 21 August 2008
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All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.

After configuring the PFE-OUM (Periodic Fitness Evaluation – Oxygen Uptake Measurement) equipment at the HRF-2 (Human Research Facility 2) rack, Gregory Chamitoff conducted his first PFE-OUM session on the CEVIS (Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation) while wearing an HRM (Heart Rate Monitor), with Sergey Volkov as operator to obtain measurements of the subject. [The equipment includes the HRF PFM/PAM (Pulmonary Function Module/Photoacoustic Analyzer Module), Mixing Bag System and GDS (Gas Delivery System). Today’s session used GDS tanks 1, 2 & 5. After calibration of the DPFM (Differential Pressure Flowmeter), Greg, assisted by Sergey, worked through the protocol, changing the loads on the ergometer and recording data. Later, the FE-2 updated the evaluation protocol, deactivated & stowed the gear, and powered down the PFE-OUM laptop. Purpose of PFE-OUM is to measure aerobic capacity during exercise within 14 days after arrival on ISS, and once monthly during routine PFEs. The data allows exercise physiologists & flight doctors to assess the crew’s health & fitness and to provide data for modifying & updating crew-specific exercise regimes. By hooking up a special cable, continuous oxygen uptake measurements can now be taken while riding the CEVIS without requiring access to the CEVIS control panel as before. PFE-OUM is a collaborative effort between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency).]

Volkov and Kononenko continued communications outfitting activities in the SM (Service Module) by finishing the installation of two new “Zveno-B” (Link-B) modems with their cabling behind panel 437, connecting one to a BSK-1B Common Power Switching Timer, the other to an LKTs Local Digital Commutator (switch) and both to a controlling A31p laptop, RSE2. [The modems link the RSE2 to the SM REGUL comm system, enabling data to be uplinked/downlinked and commands to be uplinked directly. Regul provides for two-way voice communication, digital command/program information as well as telemetry transmission via RGS (Russian Groundsites). It also has the capability to receive and transmit range, radial velocity, and time-referenced information. It is the nominal uplink path for all Russian commands and is the only subsystem that operates using the Command Radio Link (KRL). Operating at a low data rate, it is equivalent to the U.S. S-band system. There is no Russian equivalent of the U.S. high data rate Ku-band system, based on the TDRS satellites.]

The FE-1 took the periodic readings of potentially harmful atmospheric contaminants in the SM, using the CMS (Countermeasure System), a component of the SKDS GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer suite, today using preprogrammed microchips to measure for Isopropanol (“rubbing alcohol”, C3H8O), Methanol (“wood alcohol”, CH3OH) and Toluene (methylbenzene, C7H8).

In the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), in support of ground-commanded FSL (Fluid Science Laboratory)/GeoFlow checkout ops, Chamitoff inserted an SDLT-II digital line tape in the FSL’s VMU (Video Management Unit) tape recorder. About 6.5 hrs later, the tape was removed, labeled “GeoFlow-234” and stowed.

Also in COL, the FE-2 had ~10 min reserved for a status check of the BLB ESEM3-2 (Biolab Exchangeable Standard Electronic Module 3-2) power board.

ESA ground controllers continued the “Cycle 11” software transition aboard COL, today focusing on PWS-1 (Portable Work Station 1) laptop, supported by Chamitoff as he did last week for PWS-2. The CDs with the new software were stowed afterwards. [After the transition, COL will gradually be powered back on, including external payloads.]

In the JAXA Kibo/JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), Gregory activated the RLT (Robotics Laptop Terminal) of the JEMRMS (JEM Robotic Manipulator System) to set up/enable a new database uplinked by flight controllers, then turned it off again, later reviewing & checking the DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) files for tomorrow’s scheduled RMS C/O-4 (Checkout #4). [During C/O-4, Greg will “fly” the JEMRMS MA (Main Arm) around the EFU13 (Exposed Facility Unit 13) on the JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Section) module to capture target images using the television camera on the MA EE (End Effector) for calibration purposes, followed by so-called “inching” operations, as a crew-in-the-loop demonstration to verify how small a command the crewmember can input using the hand controllers in Manual Mode (this inching operation is expected to be used on Flight 2J/A and subsequent flights if the RLT (Ready-to-Latch) judgment for a P/L (payload) berthing is not OK and the operator is requested to get the P/L closer to an EFU.]

Conducting periodic EHS CSA-CP (Environmental Health System – Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products) maintenance, Gregory removed the battery of the prime CSA-CP unit and replaced it with a fresh one (#1198). [The US CSA-CP is a passive cabin atmosphere monitor that provides quick response capability during a combustion event (fire). Its collected data are stored on a logger. After replacing the prime unit’s battery, Gregory zero-calibrated the instrument (to eliminate drift in the combustion sensors). Following zero calibration, prime unit was deployed again at the SM Central Post.]

Sergey Volkov completed the TVIS treadmill part of the onboard preventive health maintenance fitness test “Profilaktika” (MBI-8, “Countermeasures”), which could not be performed on 8/5 as per original plan due to the TVIS repair activities. Kononenko took the MBI-8 test yesterday. [Test procedure for MBI-8, which requires workouts on the VELO and TVIS, is identical to the Russian MO-5 assessment, but in addition to the nominal procedure it uses the TEEM-100M gas analyzer with breathing mask, a blood lactate test with the ACCUSPORT analyzer and REFLOTRON-4 accessories, and a subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test (using the Borg Perceived Exertion Scale, viz., 10 steps from very light over hard and very hard to maximum). Results are entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data are transferred to the RSE-Med laptop, also on a tape cassette (Cardiocassette-2000), and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm. Results are also called down to specialists standing by at TsUP.]

In the US Airlock (A/L), the FE-2 terminated the second recharge/discharge maintenance cycle on EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) battery #2073, started on 8/19. [Since the due date for the regular 85-day maintenance was expired, an additional maintenance cycle was required after the battery’s discharge. The periodic maintenance consists of fully discharging (and later recharging) the storage units to prolong their useful life. After end of the maintenance cycle, Greg restored the SSC laptop, which is used in DOS mode for the automated procedure, to nominal ops.]

Gregory completed another one of the periodic (monthly) inspections of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device) canister cords and accessories.

FE-1 Kononenko activated the four Pille dosimeters of the Lulin-ISS radiation complex to start data taking, after having set them up yesterday with their ICU (Interface Control Unit, Russian: BUI) for battery recharging.

The FE-2 completed the weekly 10-min. CWC inventory as part of on-going WRM (Water Recovery & Management) assessment of onboard water supplies. [The new card (17-0002V) lists 34 CWCs (Contingency Water Containers,~1204.3 L total) for the four types of water identified on board: technical water (426.5 L, for flushing only because of Wautersia bacteria), potable water (706.7 L, incl. 174.6 L currently on hold), condensate water (54.1 L), waste/EMU dump and other (17 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.]

Sergey checked another Russian laptop, today RSK-1, for software virus by scanning its hard drives and a photo disk with the Norton AntiVirus application.

The CDR also conducted 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.]

Oleg Kononenko took care of 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).

The three station residents 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-1, FE-2/OUM), TVIS treadmill (CDR), RED resistive exercise device (FE-1, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1). Later, Oleg transferred the exercise data file to the MEC 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 ~12:35pm EDT, the two cosmonauts downlinked a TV message of greetings for replay at Gidroaviasalon-2008 (Hydro-Aviation Show 2008) on 9/3 in Gelendzhik. Gidroaviasalon is a one-of-a-kind annual international hydro-aviation show with increasing popularity, with the prime objective to showcase Russia as a major space and aviation market player and to initiate new international projects. [“…The Expedition 17 crew of the International Space Station is extending their heartfelt greetings to the participants and guests of the Seventh International Hydro-Aviation Show, the Third Russian Song Festival Krylia Rossyi (Wings of Russia), and all citizens of the resort town Gelendzhik….”]

VHF Comm Check Update: The periodic VHF-1 emergency communications check conducted by Gregory Chamitoff on 8/18 over NASA’s VHF (Very High Frequency) stations could not be completed successfully when calls from the Control Centers could not be heard by the crew and COL-CC did not get uplink or downlink calls. Troubleshooting is in work.

SRVK Update: Yesterday TsUP-Moscow observed the failure of a separator in the SRVK-2M condensate water processor, which apparently lasted only about 20% of its expected life-time. Spares are available onboard and planning is underway to replace failed separator, using Line 3 which has a new one.

CBEF Update: JAXA specialists are continuing to assess the CO2 leak in the CBEF CGSA (Cell Biology Experiment Facility/Common Gas Support Assembly) in the JPM. Troubleshooting is planned on 9/5.

NODE-2 SD-2 Update: The failure of the Smoke Detector #2 in Node-2 is still under investigation, because it exhibited previously not seen signatures. Meanwhile, SD-1 is active and nominal, and there is a spare SD available onboard.

CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today were Urumqi, China (shooting overlapping nadir views of China’s booming oil city which lies at the foot of the mountains. City margins are of greatest interest), Typhoon Nuri, South China Sea (Dynamic event. This storm is still moving NW, and is expected to make landfall on the Chinese coast on Friday. ISS passed almost directly over the eye. Nuri is a Category 3 storm), Libyan Megafans (looking left for detailed images of the vast inland deltas north of the Tibesti Mountains. Widespread stream channel networks are the object interest), and Tropical Storm Fay, Florida (Dynamic event. Fay is moving slowly up Florida’s east coast and is expected to pass over Jacksonville).

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).

Week 18/19 Scheduled Main Activities:

  • Fri. (8/22): EMU batt. #2073 maint.; BKS cabling for Zveno (Link); Zveno-B unit install in ZVK LIV exp. video complex; RSE-2 laptop set-up for Zveno-B; PEPS inspect/checkout; Elektron BZh unit #56 leak check; Elektron On; JEMRMS Checkout #4; GANK & CDMK reading; Progress M-64 SSVP-StM docking mechanism install.
  • Sat. (8/23): Station cleaning (RS); BMP ch.1 regen; PFCs (CDR, FE-1); VolSci.; FFQ.
  • Sun. (8/24): Station cleaning (USOS); BMP ch.2 regen; PFC (FE-2).
  • Mon. (8/25): ATV cargo transfers; SVO EDV condensate fill; TEPC relocate; Flowmeter battery maint.; ER5 rack transfer preps.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 9:39am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 355.8 km
Apogee height — 361.5 km
Perigee height — 350.1 km
Period — 91.66 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.000848
Solar Beta Angle — -36.9 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 60 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 55882

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
08/25/08 — Progress M-64/29 SORR (Stage Operations Readiness Review) @ NASA/JSC
09/01/08 — Progress M-64/29P undocking, from FGB nadir; de-orbit/re-entry ~9/8
09/05/08 — ATV1 undocking, from SM aft port (loiter until 9/29 for nighttime reentry/observation)
09/10/08 — Progress M-65/30P launch
09/12/08 — Progress M-65/30P docking (SM aft)
10/01/08 — NASA 50 Years (official)
10/08/08 — STS-125/Atlantis Hubble Space Telescope Service Mission 4 (SM4)
10/11/08 — Progress M-65/30P undocking (from SM aft)
10/12/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S launch (~3:03am EDT; Lonchakov, Fincke, Garriott)
10/14/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S docking (FGB nadir port, ~4:51am)
10/23/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S undocking (DC1 nadir) or 10/24?
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
11/25/08 — Progress M-65/30P undocking & deorbit
11/26/08 — Progress M-66/31P launch
11/30/08 — Progress M-66/31P docking
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).

SpaceRef staff editor.