NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 22 December 2008

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Underway: Week 9 of Increment 18. Today’s crew activities are centered mostly on tonight’s Orlan EVA-21.

Crew Sleep Cycle: Wakeup this morning: 10:45am EST; sleep: 6:30am tomorrow morning (until 12/24/Wednesday, 1:00am, i.e., back to normal).

FE-2 Magnus & CDR Fincke started their day again with the week-long SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment, using the payload software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment’s laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop. [To monitor the crewmember’s sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, the crewmembers wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by them as well as their patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition and use the payload software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment’s laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew’s discretionary “job jar” task list. It was the second session for Mike, the first for Sandra.]

After morning inspection, all pre-EVA activities proceeded smoothly and on schedule, starting out with Fincke & Lonchakov taking another MO-9 “Urolux” urine biochemistry test before breakfast. [A second session with the Urolux equipment will be conducted by both crewmembers tomorrow morning (~2:30am) immediately after post-EVA station repress.]

Pre-EVA preparations by the crew included –

• Closing the external shutters on the Lab and JPM (JEM Pressurized Module) science windows,
• Verifying that windows 6, 8, 9 of the SM RO (Service Module Work Compartment) and 12, 13, 14 of the SM PkhO (Transfer Compartment) are closed,
• Deactivating the Kenwood-D700/Sputnik-SM amateur radio equipment in the FGB to prevent RF interference with the Orlans’ wireless in-suit Tranzit-B radio telemetry system,
• Changing the settings of the DSP pressure alarm sensors in the RS (Russian Segment),
• Deactivating the DS-7A Smoke Detector #1 in the SM PkhO,
• Setting up the PSS Caution & Warning System in the FGB,
• Deactivating the Vozdukh carbon dioxide (CO2) removal system and the SKV air conditioner,
• Removing SM air ducts to enable RO-PkhO hatch closure,
• Deactivating VN1 & VN2 air heaters,
• Powering down ventilation fans in the SM (VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VKYu1, VKYu2),
• Turning off the SRVK-2M condensate water processor, and
• Powering off the electrical food heaters in the SM galley.

Mike Fincke & Yuri Lonchakov had about an hour reserved to complete setting up DC1 and PkhO systems for pre-EVA mode.

Next steps by Yuri & Mike were to –

• Check out the Orlan-M spacesuits and their systems as well as the suit interface control panels (BSS) in DC1 & PkhO,
• Retest the BK-3 primary & backup oxygen (O2) tanks of the Orlans and DC1 (four total),
• Disassemble the DC1 air duct, but leaving the V3 fan in place, and
• Set up the STTS communications/telemetry links necessary for the spacewalk from the DC1. [Most activities were paced by RGS (Russian ground site) comm window passes.]

The CDR also test-“fired” the two D2X digital cameras and readied them in the DC1 for the spacewalk.

As a late-added activity, FE-2 Magnus reconfigured the WRS WPA (Water Recovery System/Water Processor Assembly) tank connection in the Lab, switching the waste/condensate water bus from the WRS tank to the Lab condensate tank. [This reconfiguration became necessary when the WPA tank quantity yesterday exceeded an upper limit of 91%. A max filling of 95% will cause an overfill fault and shutdown of the WPA due of insufficient ullage. Since the deactivation of the Russian SKV air conditioner for the EVA is accelerating the filling rate, switching to the Lab condensate tank today became a necessary workaround. The UPA (Urine Processor Assembly) is currently shut down.]

Also currently deactivated, by ground commanding at ~11:00am, is the CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) in the Lab.

After a midday “snack” (3:10-3:50pm), the spacewalkers, assisted by FE-2 Magnus, will conduct final inspections of the Orlan-M suits, BSS interface units & biomedical parameter telemetry to RGS (Russian Groundsite), including VHF/voice & biomedical electrode belt and telemetry hookups via the BSS (later by the wireless in-suit Tranzit-B radio telemetry system) for vital signs and equipment monitoring.

Magnus will configure the ISS for pre-EVA condition and support the spacewalkers in their preparations.

At ~5:00pm, in the DC1 & PkhO, after the Orlan & BSS systems checkouts Lonchakov & Fincke will be donning spacesuits and ancillary gear, assisting each other, then – with Sandy in the PkhO – close the hatchways between SM RO/PkhO and PkhO/SU (DC1 Transfer Vestibule) at ~5:35pm.

Magnus retreats into the FGB at ~6:20pm and closes the hatch to the SM, which now serves as a backup airlock to the DC1.

At ~4:50pm, ISS attitude control authority will be handed over to RS MCS (Motion Control System) to keep attitude stable during the (reactive) DC1 airlock depressurization. Then, the ISS will maneuver to a new EVA TEA (Torque Equilibrium Attitude), required due to the Port SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint) being moded from Autotrack to Parked position for the EVA. At 7:55pm, control will be returned to US Momentum Management to allow inhibiting Russian thrusters for safe work on the SM large diameter section. Thrusters will then be re-enabled (~12:32am). The US CMGs (Control Moment Gyroscopes) will be back in business tomorrow for the transition of the Port SARJ back to Autotrack (~10:40am).

The spacewalkers are scheduled to seal the Orlan backpacks at ~5:30pm, followed by Orlan & BSS controls checks. Final checkout of suits and their controls include checking for leaks during successive stages of depressurization. [Pressure inside the Orlans will be reduced to 0.42 at (6.2 psi). After suit purge, the spacewalkers have a 30-minute oxygen prebreathe period, as pressures between DC-1 and the PkhO are equalized and then reduced further.]

The spacewalk will begin after a final leak check on the four BK-3 O2 tanks. At end of prebreathe, DC1 pressure will be down to 15 mmHg (Torr), holding for 5 min for a final cabin leak check, followed by switching the Orlans to autonomous (battery) suit power (~7:12pm) and opening of EV hatch #1 at ~7:15pm.

During the EVA-21, Sandy Magnus is scheduled for a 2.5-hour activity in Node-1, clearing out and transferring stowed equipment as well as relocating Node-1 UOP (Utility Outlet Panel) plug-ins in preparation for next week’s planned installation of the ARED (Advanced Resistive Exercise Device).

Afterwards, Sandy will work in the Kibo modules and install three BBAs (Baseplate Ballast Assemblies) & LHAs (Lamp Housing Assemblies) in the JLP (JEM Pressurized Logistics Segment) at locations FP1, FP2, PA2, and one BBA & LHA in the JPM (JEM Pressurized Module) at OF2.

After Mike & Yuri’s return and ingress from the EVA, expected tomorrow morning at about 1:25am, the DC1 airlock will be repressurized from SM cabin air, the hatches opened and the SM re-entered at around 2:05am.

Later, Fincke, Lonchakov and Magnus will reset communications, conduct ISS activation operations and restore systems configurations in the DC1 and other RS modules to pre-EVA conditions, then install DC1 and SM air ducts and activate the Vozdukh CO2 scrubber and Sputnik-SM amateur radio.

Cleaning up after the spacewalk, the CDR & FE-1 will –

• Secure the returned BIORISK-MSN payload container in a stowage bag for return to Earth,
• Remove the Orlan BRTA radio/telemetry unit batteries,
• Take post-EVA radiation readings of the “Pille-MKS” dosimeters carried by the spacewalkers in their Orlan suits,
• Deactivate the ASU toilet in the Soyuz spacecraft,
• Set up the Orlans for drying of their heat exchanger water supply lines, and
• Downlink EVA-21 digital photography,

Sandy Magnus is timelined for her regular daily 2.5-hr. physical workout program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the CEVIS cycle ergometer and RED resistive exercise device.

EVA-21 Timeline Preview: The EVA-21 by Lonchakov (EV1/blue stripe) & Fincke (EV2/red stripe) today is scheduled to begin at ~7:15pm EST (DC1 EV hatch open), to last an estimated 6 hrs 10 min, i.e., concluding at approximately 1:25am. Russian attitude thrusters will be inhibited by TsUP ground commanding at specific times when the spacewalkers work on the SM RO large diameter (l.d.) and SM AO (Assembly Compartment). Main objectives of the EVA are to –

• Install a Langmuir Probe on the DC1 Docking Compartment (to measure plasma fields close to Soyuz in support of the ongoing pyro bolt anomaly investigation);
• Install & connect the EXPOSE-R monobloc unit on the SM RO l.d.;
• Install & connect the IPI-SM monobloc unit of the IMPULSE space experiment on the RO l.d.;
• Remove/return the BIORISK-MSN payload container #2 from the DC1;
• Conduct “SWG” Omega watch experiment operations;
• Inspect & photograph Progress 31P ASF1-M-VKA #2 antenna;
• Remove fasteners (Aramide straps) near docking target and AR-VKA & 2AR-VKA antenna areas on DC1(if time permits);
• Close MLI (Multi-Layer Insulation) flap on SM FP-10 connector patch (if time permits);
• Re-install SKK #9 removable cassette container in nominal position (if time permits); and
• Monitor conditions ISS RS exterior and structure components (“Panorama-2008” DTO, if time permits).

Correction: Due to EVA-caused timeline constraints, the crew had to cancel the planned multi-language Christmas Day Message announced here yesterday. However, the 40-year Apollo 8 Anniversary on 12/24 will be commemorated with a previously recorded message.

No CEO photo targets uplinked for today.

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).

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:39am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 354.0 km
Apogee height — 359.3 km
Perigee height — 348.8 km
Period — 91.62 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0007788
Solar Beta Angle — -46.5 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 41 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 57817

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible!):
12/22/08 — Russian EVA-21 (hatch opening ~7:15pm; ingress 1:25am);
02/09/09 — Progress M-01M/31P undocking & deorbit
02/10/09 — Progress 32P launch
02/12/09 — Progress 32P docking
02/12/09 — STS-119/Endeavour/15A launch – S6 truss segment
02/14/09 — STS-119/Endeavour/15A docking
02/24/09 — STS-119/Endeavour/15A undocking
02/26/09 — STS-119/Endeavour/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 32P undocking & deorbit
05/12/09 — STS-125/Atlantis Hubble Space Telescope Service Mission 4 (SM4)
05/15/09 — STS-127/Endeavour/2J/A launch – JEM EF, ELM-ES, ICC-VLD
05/27/09 — Soyuz TMA-15/19S launch
Six-person crew on ISS
08/06/09 — STS-128/Discovery/17A – MPLM (P), LMC, last crew rotation
08/XX/09 — Soyuz 5R/MRM2 (Russian Mini Research Module, MIM2) on Soyuz
09/XX/09 — H-IIB (JAXA HTV-1)
11/12/09 — STS-129/Atlantis/ULF3 – ELC1, ELC2
12/10/09 — STS-130/Endeavour/20A – Node-3 + Cupola
02/11/10 — STS-131/Atlantis/19A – MPLM(P), LMC
04/08/10 — STS-132/Discovery/ULF4 – ICC-VLD, MRM1
05/31/10 — STS-133/Endeavour/ULF5 – ELC3, ELC4
12/XX/11– Proton 3R/MLM w/ERA.