NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 21 October 2008

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Day 8 of joint E17/18 operations.

Day/night cycle: Wake-up – 1:00am EDT, sleeptime – 4:30pm.

Aboard the station, the E17/18 crew rotation/handover activities continued nominally, today for the last day. [Kononenko and Lonchakov had ~1.5h between them for dedicated FE/FE handover activities, focusing today on Rodnik urine transfer and EDV water sampling, as listed in the relevant Handover (RPS) Book section 10 (SOZh). In addition, there are “generic” handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks.]

For the biomed experiment INTEGRATED IMMUNE (Validating Procedures for Monitoring Crew member Immune Function), CDR Fincke, FE-2 Chamitoff and SFP Garriott collected their third liquid, later the first dry saliva sample before breakfast. The dry saliva collection continued throughout the day today with collections occurring at five different time points. All samples were stored at ambient temperature. Gregory took three more dry samples during the day. [IMMUNE protocol requires the collection to occur first thing post-sleep, before eating, drinking and brushing teeth, and all samples are stored at ambient temperature. Along with NUTRITION (Nutritional Status Assessment), INTEGRATED IMMUNE samples & analyzes participant’s blood, urine, and saliva before, during and after flight for changes related to functions like bone metabolism, oxidative damage and immune function 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.]

Upon wakeup, FE-1-18 Yuri Lonchakov terminated his first SONOKARD experiment session for the long-term Russian sleep study MBI-12, 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. [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.]

Fincke & Chamitoff performed the regular inspection and checkout of the HMS RSP (Health Maintenance System/Respiratory Support Pack).

Mike & Greg also had about half an hour reserved to work on the CMRS (Crew Medical Restraint System), stowed in the CHeCS (Crew Health Care Systems) rack, performing the periodic checkout and inspection of the system for upcoming standard CMO (Crew Medical Officer) proficiency training. [The crewmembers inspected the CMRS for cracks in the board and/or metal fastener exposed on top of CMRS (found some time ago on the ground units), either of which could provide a high-voltage defibrillation ground path from the patient to ISS structure. The board-like CMRS allows strapping down a patient on the board with a harness for medical attention by the CMO who is also provided with restraints around the device. The device can be secured to the ISS structure within two minutes to provide a patient restraint surface for performing emergency medical procedures, such as during ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support). It can also be used to transport a patient between the station and the Orbiter middeck. It isolates the crew and equipment electrically during defibrillations and pacing electrical discharges, accommodates the patient in the supine zero-G positions, provides cervical spine stabilization and, for a three-person crew, can also restrain two CMOs during their delivery of medical care.]

FE-1 Kononenko & FE-1-18 Lonchakov conducted the MO-22 Sanitary-Epidemiological Status check, part of the Russian MedOps program done usually before Soyuz departures. [To monitor for microflora, Oleg & Yuri collected samples from surface areas of interior panels and hardware at various places in the Service Module (SM), and the FGB, also from each other, using cotton swabs and special test tubes which were then stowed in 16S for return to the ground.]

The CDR conducted an overview of the CEVIS cycle ergometer with Yuri Lonchakov to help him with the CEVIS equipment. [This was originally supposed to happen over the weekend, but it was dropped because of conflicting activities.]

Fincke took pictures of the S1 Radiator from the Soyuz 16S “Blister” window and SM window 13 using the 80-400mm lens. From each window, Mike shot photos at four different settings.

Yuri & Oleg also gathered water samples in the Russian Segment (RS) from the Service Module (SM) SVO-ZV Water Supply System, specifically from EDV containers filled from the ATV “Jules Verne”. All samples were prepared for return on TMA-12.

Also for return on Soyuz, Kononenko removed the SPD differential pressure indicator/dosimeter assemblies of the Matryoshka-R radiation monitoring payload and transferred them to the DM. [Matryoshka automatically takes radiation measurements in the SM and DC-1 docking compartment for studies of on-orbit radiation and long-term dose accumulation, using six SPD dosimeters deployed throughout the RS as well as in a spherical body-simulating Matryoshka-R phantom.]

In the JAXA Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), Chamitoff activated the JEMRMS (Japanese Experiment Module/Robotic Manipulator System), then conducted Checkout 1 on its Main Arm in space. The maneuvers were observed by the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) video cameras. [After powering up the RLT (RMS Laptop), CCP (Camera Control Panel) and RMS Monitors, and adjusting settings including updating the DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) laptop application with real-time data, RMS function was checked out for dynamic response, region check function, Arm Bus communication, Monitor split screen performance and RMS function. Afterwards, data were to be prepared for downlink, the Arm Bus Monitor turned off, MDP (Management Data Processor) set to Standby and all systems deactivated. Background: The externally mounted JEMRMS is composed of two arms: the 10-m-long MA (Main Arm) and a 2-m-long small fine arm (the latter to be delivered on a future mission). Both arms have six independent joints, to provide dexterity very similar to the human arm. The internal robotic control workstation, known as JEMRMS Console, is used for manipulating the RMS. Remote television cameras are mounted on both arms, enabling the crew to control the arms from inside the JPM.]

In preparation for their return to gravity in two days, Volkov & Kononenko undertook the second session of their fifth and final training session of the Russian MO-5 MedOps protocol of cardiovascular evaluation in the below-the-waist reduced-pressure device (ODNT, US: LBNP) on the Russian VELO ergometer, assisting each other as CMO (Crew Medical Officer). The activity was then closed out. [The one-hour assessment, supported by ground specialist tagup (VHF) and telemetry monitoring from Russian ground sites (at 6:11am EDT), uses the Gamma-1 ECG equipment with biomed harness, skin electrodes and a blood pressure and rheoplethysmograph cuff wired to the cycle ergometer’s instrumentation panels. The Chibis ODNT provides gravity-simulating stress to the body’s cardiovascular/circulatory system for evaluation of Malenchenko’s orthostatic tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry reflex) after several months in zero-G. The preparatory training generally consists of first imbibing 150-200 milliliters of water or juice, followed by two cycles of a sequence of progressive regimes of reduced (“negative”) pressure, set at -20, -25, -30, and -35 mmHg for five min. each, then -25, -30, and -35 mmHg (Torr) for 10 min. each plus 30mmHg for 5 min. while shifting from foot to foot at 10-12 steps per minute, while wearing a sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure. The body’s circulatory system interprets the pressure differential between upper and lower body as a gravity-like force pulling the blood (and other liquids) down. Chibis data and biomed cardiovascular readings are recorded. The Chibis suit (not to be confused with the Russian “Pinguin” suit for spring-loaded body compression, or the "Kentavr" anti-g suit worn during reentry) is similar to the U.S. LBNP facility (not a suit) used for the first time on Skylab in 1973/74, although it appears to
accomplish its purpose more quickly.]

Working together as part of the handover program, Yuri & Oleg transferred liquid waste (urine) from EDV-U containers to the Progress 30P Rodnik BV tankage.

Gregory performed the periodic deployment of four passive FMK (Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit) sampling assemblies in the Lab (at P3, below CEVIS) and SM (at the most forward handrail, on panel 307) for two days, to catch any atmospheric formaldehyde on a collector substrate for subsequent analysis on the ground. [Two monitors each are usually attached side by side, preferably in an orientation with their faces perpendicular to the direction of air flow.]

CDR Fincke was scheduled for cleaning the Node-1 Smoke Detector #2.

In preparation for the installation of the Regenerative ECLSS (Environmental Control & Life Support System) racks during the ULF-2 flight, Fincke also filled the MTL supply jumpers. [The jumpers are required to be filled prior to mating them to their respective racks.]

Major science activities in the RS (Russian Segment) by Sergey Volkov today concerned the biomedical experiment BIO-2/BIORISK kit, which the CDR transferred from the SM to the Soyuz for return to Earth, and BIO-4, ventilating the BIO-4 sample in the thermostatic container KUBIK-1. [The four BIO-4 experiments, developed by scientists from Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and France, include research in bacterial physiology, immune cell function and developmental biology. Two experiments (BBB/BASE B & BBC/BASE C) study how bacteria cope and adapt in the spaceflight environment, being exposed to parameters such as microgravity, cosmic radiation, space electromagnetism and vibrations. Xenopus studies the development of cane toad tadpoles (Xenopus laevis) in spaceflight. The fourth experiment is ROALD looks at the “ROle of Apoptosis in Lymphocyte Depression”. BBB, BBC & SEN will return on Soyuz TMA-12/16S.]

VC-15 Richard Garriott, assisted in part by Russian crewmembers, worked on his daily onboard program which today included –

• SLEEP Actiwatch logging;
• Phone tagup with consultant team at TsUP via VHF-1;
• SSTV (Slow-Scan TV) ham session (City of Shchelkovo)
• 2 ham radio sessions (Malaysia, Austin, TX);
• PRK Visual Acuity evaluation;
• MUSCLE-G (LBP/Low Back Pain) questionnaire;
• Video blogs;
• Earth photography; and
• Copying data & image files to HDD (Hard Disk Drive) for return.

Garriott, Chamitoff, Fincke, Volkov and Kononenko had their regular PMCs (Private Medical Conferences), via S-band/audio & Ku-band/video, Richard at ~5:45am EDT, Greg at ~10:30am, Mike at ~11:50am, Sergey at ~12:40pm, Oleg at ~1:00pm.

Sergey conducted the periodic (currently daily) checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS 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), having run out of service life.]

At ~12:20pm, Volkov & Lonchakov prepared two copies of the formal Russian handover protocol document certifying RS handover/acceptance as part of the standard Change-of-Command procedures scheduled tomorrow. [Two copies of the ISS RS Handover Protocol were printed out for signature by Volkov, Kononenko and Lonchakov. The first copy remains on ISS, the second copy will be returned to the ground on Soyuz TMA-12.]

CDR Volkov had another 2:25h set aside for packing return equipment for stowage on Soyuz 16S.

About 4:50hrs worth of pre-packing of return cargo was also completed by Mike Fincke for STS-126/ULF-2.\

Sergey performed 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.]

Lonchakov 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).

At ~9:30am EDT, the crew downlinked a 20-min. PAO video message of greetings to the 16th International Space Olympiad for Schoolchildren in Korolev. [The International Space Olympiad for Schoolchildren is conducted annually by the City of Korolev’s Council of Education jointly with RSC-Energia. This time around it’s the XVI Olympiad that is taking place from 10/15-26 in Korolev, dedicated to the 70th Anniversary of the City of Korolev and to the 45th Anniversary of Valentina N. Tereshkova’s flight to space. High school students from Korolev, Moscow Region, USA, and the UK are among the participants of the International Space Olympiad. The best of delegates will come to TsUP to see the ISS crew during a comm session.]

For his (initial) use of the TVIS treadmill, Mike Fincke installed SPD (Subject Positioning Device) top assemblies for safety, required for his first seven TVIS uses.

The E17/18 crew completed 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-1-18, FE-2), TVIS treadmill (CDR-18), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1-18). Sergey’s & Oleg’s exercise regimen today was accounted for by their Chibis/ODNT training activity.

Afterwards, 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).

In preparation for a microbial air sampling session scheduled tomorrow, Kononenko unstowed and set up the MedOps SZM-MO-21 ECOSFERA equipment, initiating charging on the Ecosphere power pack (BP) and activating the KRIOGEM-03 refrigerator for the samples. [The equipment, consisting of an air sampler set, a charger, power supply unit, and incubation tray for Petri dishes, determines microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.]

Lonchakov set up the TTM-2 and “Kelvin-Video” batteries for charging for another operational run of the Russian KPT-2 science payload BAR-RM. Charging will be terminated tomorrow (10/22), with data gathering starting afterwards using the RSE-1 laptop, with downlinking via BSR-TM channel. [Objective of the payload is to experiment with ISS leak detection based on environmental data anomalies (temperature, humidity, and ultrasound emissions) at leak locations. The payload uses a remote infrared thermometer (Kelvin-Video), a thermohygrometer (Iva-6A), a heat-loss anemometer/thermometer (TTM-2), an ultrasound analyzer (AU-01), and a leak detector (UT2-03) to determine physical background signs of loss of ISS pressure integrity which could be indicative of leaks in the working compartments of the station. Measurements are taken in specific zones (13 in SM PkhO and 4 in DC1), both with lights & fans turned on and off. ]

CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today were Mount Unzen (Mount Unzen volcano is located east of the city of Nagasaki. This volcano has been active during the last 10,000 years and is responsible for some pretty spectacular pyroclastic flows [fast moving currents of hot gas and rock which travel away from the volcano at speed generally greater than 80km/h]. The latest robust activity occurred from 1990-1995 when a lava dome formed at the summit and the resulting pyroclastic flows [temperatures in pf’s can reach about 1,000 degrees C] were responsible for fatalities), Sakura-jima Volcano (Sakura-jima is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. It is located in a part of Kagoshima bay. In 1914 the lava from an eruption created new land that connected the former island to the Osumi Peninsula), N Mariana Islands & Guam (the Northern Mariana Islands consists of 15 islands. ISS orbital track took the station near the southern islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota. There are few images of these islands due to the sleep schedule of ISS crews and weather. Lows clouds were probably around but it was hoped that Greg still was able to capture some of the islands. Of particular interest are the fringing coral reefs surrounding the islands), and Arkenu 1 and Arkenu 2 Impact Craters (Arkenu 1 and 2 are a rarely exposed double impact structure created by a 500 m diameter pair of asteroids. Located in southeastern part of the Libyan Desert, Arkenu 1 is 6.8 km in diameter and Arkenu 2 is 10 km. Both have been dated as less than 140 million years old. Detailed images of the structures of both craters were requested).

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 27 Scheduled Main Activities:

• Wed. (10/22): RPM skill trng2, BITS-LKT removal, IPD-NH3/GSC/CMS sampling, BIO-12 xfer, CBCS install, BTKh-31/-8 xfers, KPT-3 ops, MO-21, BIO-4, Change of Command, IP-1, PMCs.
• Thu. (10/23): SLEEP, IMMUNE, FMK stow, Pld xfers, Hatches closure, Soyuz undock & land; IP-1.
• Fri. (10/24): Ham pass, NUTRITION s/u, COL FSL VMU troubleshoot, BLB incubator ECS xchange, BCAT-4.
• Sat. (10/25): NUTRITION, Ham pass, WPC, FFQ, VolSci EPO, SAMS PCMCIA check, Node-1 cleanup.
• Sun. (10/26): NUTRITION, Station cleaning, PFCs.

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
10/23/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S undock (DC1 nadir, 8:16pm) & land (11:37pm) = 10/24 — 9:37am 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 (UNDER REVIEW)
11/26/08 — Progress M-66/31P launch
11/29/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 landing (~1:25pm EST est.)
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).