NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 21 July 2008
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Underway: Week 14 of Increment 17.
CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff began their workday before breakfast with the periodic session of the Russian biomedical routine assessments PZEh-MO-7/Calf Volume Measurement & PZEh-MO-8/Body Mass Measurement (fifth for CDR & FE-1, third for FE-2), using the IM mass measurement device which Sergey Volkov broke down afterwards for stowage. [Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM "scales" measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember’s mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.]
The FE-2 conducted another one of the periodic offloadings of the Lab CCAA (Common Cabin Air Assembly) dehumidifier’s condensate tank, filling a CWC (Contingency Water Container, #1054) with the collected water slated for processing. No samples were required. [Estimated offload time before reaching the tank’s neutral point (leaving ~6 kg in the tank): ~30 min. Condensate collection continues to be performed by the CCAA while the Russian SKV-2 air conditioner is off, awaiting its overdue Khladon (Freon-218) refill. SKV-1 has been nonfunctional for a long time. Greg was approved to use CWC #1062 in the event that #1054 is still full. Only these two CWCs are used for Lab condensate offloads.]
The CDR & FE-1 spent several hours in the DC1 Docking Compartment to reconfigure the “Pirs” airlock module after the recent EVA-20. The reconfiguring included the re-installation of the MATRYOSHKA-R radiation experiment with its antroph-amorphous (human torso) "Phantom" setup with 16 passive dosimeters and the LULIN-5 electronics box, which was activated. [The complex Matryoshka payload suite is designed for sophisticated radiation studies. The payload collects radiation measurements every few minutes of each hour around the clock. Note: Matryoshka is the name for the traditional Russian set of nested dolls, also called Babushka dolls when they are little old ladies (“grandmas”).]
Subsequently, Volkov supported the ground’s activation of the Elektron O2 generator at 32 amps by monitoring the external temperature of its secondary purification unit (BD) for the first 10 minutes of operations to ensure that there is no overheating. In support of the reactivation, the ground electrically disconnected the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) from the ISS at 6:47am EDT which required turning off lights in “Jules Verne”. The lights were turned back on at ~8:21am. [During nominal Elektron operations a gas analyzer is utilized to detect hydrogen (H2) in the O2 line (which could cause overheating) but is not included in the control algorithm until 10 minutes after Elektron startup.]
Chamitoff performed activation & checkout work in the JAXA Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), reconfiguring the CBEF (Cell Biology Experiment Facility) subrack equipment through several stages.
Afterwards, Gregory remated and reconfigured the ISPR-2 (International Standard Payload Rack 2) SAIBO rack, performing Upper and Lower Closeout installation. [SAIBO (“living cell”) is a Japanese multipurpose experiment/payload rack system on the ISS that transports, stores and supports subrack facilities such as the CB (Clean Bench) and CBEF (Cell Biology Experiment Facility) equipment by providing structural interfaces, power, data, cooling, water and other items needed to operate science experiments in microgravity.]
Later, the FE-2 checked out the Japanese fire alarm indicators in the JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Segment), JEMRMS (JEM Robotic Manipulator System), ISPR-A2 and ISPR-A3 racks, then moved stowage from COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) and Node-2 into Kibo, documenting some work areas photographically.
Chamitoff also supported the ground in powering up the SAMS ICU (Space Acceleration Measurement System/Interface Control Unit).
Sergey & Oleg underwent their third periodic (generally monthly) health test with the cardiological experiment PZEh MO-1 (“Study of the Bioelectric Activity of the Heart at Rest”) on the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation System). [During the 40-min. test, the crewmembers tagged up with ground specialists on an RGS (Russian ground site) pass (~12:15pm EDT) via VHF and downlinked data from the Gamma-1M ECG (electrocardiograph) for about 5-6 minutes.]
The FE-1 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 CDR meanwhile performed 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).
Working on the failed MEC (Medical Equipment Computer), Gregory Chamitoff swapped the laptop’s 60 GB hard drive and reloaded software. These activities were originally scheduled for 7/25, but were pulled forward in order to expedite the recovery of the A31p laptop. MEC data will be re-uplinked tonight during crew sleep. [The MEC failed on 7/19 while Greg was setting up for the BP/ECG (Blood Pressure/Electrocardiogram) Checkout activity. Even after multiple reboots the laptop could not be used. Since MEC is an integral part of the BP/ECG Checkout, no BP/ECG data could be collected. In addition, the MEC is necessary for recording and storing all crew medical and exercise data. The lack of a MEC also prevents the execution of the PFE w/OUM (Periodic Fitness Evaluation with Oxygen Uptake Measurement) activity next week since no BP/ECG or Heart Rate Monitor data can be collected. Thus, the PFE w/OUM session scheduled tomorrow was removed from the plan and will be rescheduled.]
The FE-2 also had ~35 min to troubleshoot the Columbus SOLAR (Solar Monitoring Observatory) experiment, trying to diagnose the connectivity between Columbus and the external SOLAR, using the ESA Multi-Purpose Laptop. [SOLAR is currently powered via the feeder#2 (survival) only and all instruments are off. All of the past Sun observation period data acquisitions have been lost, from sun visibility windows that closed on 7/7. Ground engineers are awaiting the outcome of today’s troubleshooting to revive SOLAR, so that it is fully operational when the next Sun observation window starts on 7/30.]
In the ER4 (EXPRESS Rack 4), Chamitoff replaced failed light bulbs, in ER3 failed power indicators. The broken/defective items were placed in a Ziplock bag 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-2), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1), RED resistive exercise device (FE-1, FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).
MDM Software Upgrade: At ~10:10am, the ground began a two-hour activity of uploading a new version of ALSYS software to the Airlock MDM (Multiplexer/Demultiplexer) computers.
VolSci Kudos: Gregory was thanked for yesterday’s Voluntary Science program with SHERE (Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment) checkout tests which were “a great success and showed that the SHERE hardware is functioning properly. We look forward to working with you again next Saturday to perform the Dry Run.”
No CEO (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, 8:07am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 344.2 km
Apogee height — 350.8 km
Perigee height — 337.5 km
Period — 91.42 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0009918
Solar Beta Angle — 70.1 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.75
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 22 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 55393
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
07/23/08 — ATV1 reboost (~12:06pm EDT)
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).
