NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 22 July 2008
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
FE-1 Kononenko performed the periodic service of the active Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System) by starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The process will be terminated around sleeptime, at ~4:40pm EDT. Bed #2 regeneration follows tomorrow. [Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. The BMP’s regeneration cycle, normally done every 20 days, is currently performed four times more frequently to remove any lingering Freon-218 from the cabin atmosphere (last time: 6/23&24).]
CDR Volkov set up the electric pump and transfer equipment with pressure adapter, then transferred the remaining water from the WDS1 (Water Delivery System 1) tank of the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle), filling two EDV containers, to be used for electrolysis in the Elektron oxygen generator.
The FE-1 performed the periodic AST spectrometer repositioning for the MATRYOSHKA-R (RBO-3-2) radiation instrumentation, rotating the AST by 90 deg around the Y-axis to face along the FGB. Afterwards, Oleg retrieved the #951 PCMCIA memory card from the AST, checked it for contents before stowing it, and then installed a new card, #952, from an ALTCRISS kit. Photographs were taken of the setup and downlinked to TsUP-Moscow. [RBO-3-2 is using the ESA/RSC-Energia experiment ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS/ALC) with its Spectrometer (AST) and ALC equipment, located now again in the DC1 Docking Compartment).]
Gregory Chamitoff had a full plate of activities, viz.:
- Replacing the battery of the prime CSA-CP (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products) with a new battery (#1248),
- Updating the SODF/Station Operation Data File C&W (Caution & Warning) books to reflect the currently ongoing software transition of the S1 & P1 MDMs (Multiplexer/Demultiplexer) computers to vers. R3 [today’s transition was for the S1-2 & P1-1 MDMs, to be followed by the S1-1 & P1-2 MDMs tomorrow],
- Continuing FSL (Fluid Science Laboratory) commissioning in the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) by reconfiguring for the Optical Test 1, afterwards removing the two test targets, installing the OPT TGT (Optical Target) and activating the FSL for optical monitoring,
- Preparing for reloading the OpsLAN (Operations Local Area Network plus reviewing the procedures for the OpsLAN reload,
- Conducting a teleconference with ground specialists at ~12:05pm EDT on the OpsLAN reload [the primary OpsLAN reload activities, scheduled on 7/23, 7/24 & 7/25, consist of four major pieces: reloading the File Server, reload of SSCs (Station Support Computers) 12-15, preparation for reloading SSCs 1-11, and the ground administration of the reload of SSCs 1-11], and
- Setting up an A31p laptop at the RWS (Robotics Workstation) to use the IPV (International Procedures Viewer) DVD during the reload (in the event that he needs an electronic procedure, such as a caution procedure, during the reload),
- Dumping MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) data logs for inspection after last night’s reload by the ground, and
- Performing the periodic (monthly) inspection of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device) canister cords and accessories.
Kononenko began a new round of periodic preventive maintenance of cabin ventilation systems in the RS (Russian Segment), today cleaning fan grilles in the Service Module (SM).
Volkov set up the "Chibis" garment , an extensive cardiovascular test of human pericardium (heart muscle) activity as well as of primary parameters of central and regional blood circulation at rest and under the effect of lower body negative pressure (LBNP, Russian: ODNT). Sergey then underwent the MBI-5 LBNP exercise, with Oleg assisting as CMO (Crew Medical Officer). MBI-5 was closed out at ~1:00pm, with ground specialist tagup via S- band. [The LBNP applies a lower than ambient pressure to the body from the hips down to simulate 1g loads normally experienced on Earth. This acts as an orthostatic stressor and can be used to study deconditioning of the human cardiovascular system in space. The Chibis provides gravity-simulating stress to the body’s cardiovascular/circulatory system for evaluation of Sergey’s orthostatic tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry reflex) after 14 weeks in zero-G. The MBI-5 protocol again consisted of first imbibing 150-200 milliliters of water or juice, followed by a sequence of progressive regimes of reduced (“negative”) pressure, set at -25, -30, -35 and -40 mmHg for five minutes each, while shifting from foot to foot at 10-12 steps per minute. The body’s circulatory system interprets the pressure differential between upper and lower body as a gravity-like force pulling the blood and body fluids “down”. MBI-5 data output include blood pressure readings with the Tenzoplus Sphygmomanometer, today without telemetry data monitoring but reporting of heart rate and blood pressure to TsUP-Moscow.]
In preparation for a microbial air sampling session scheduled tomorrow, later today (~2:05pm) the CDR will unstow 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.]
The FE-1 conducted the periodic checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS hatchways, including the passageways SM PrK (Service Module Transfer Compartment)-ATV, PrK-RO (SM Working Compartment), PkhO (SM Transfer Tunnel)-RO, PkhO-DC1, PkhO-FGB PGO, FGB PGO-FGB GA, FGB GA-Node-1.
The CDR completed 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.]
Kononenko 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).
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-1, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1). Later, 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).
ATV1 Reboost Preview: Tomorrow’s ISS reboost by the ATV is scheduled for a TIG (Time of Ignition) of 12:18pm EDT for 20min 37s, to yield an expected delta-V of 4.1 m/s (13.5 ft/s). Expected mean altitude increase is 7.21 km (3.89 n.mi.). The purpose of the reboost is for altitude maintenance and to set up phasing for upcoming visiting vehicles.
VolSci Program Preview: For the weekend of August 2-3, Greg Chamitoff was offered three choices: (1) SHERE (Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment) science runs in the CGBA; (2) an “operations improvement” session with SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) with all three satellites; and (3) a LOCAD PTS (Lab-On-A-Chip Application Development – Portable Test System) surface sampling session using Glucan LAL cartridges, targeting yeast & molds on ISS surfaces.
CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today were Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMC) over Northwestern North America (DYNAMIC EVENT: The low-light window of opportunity for this pass ran for about 10-12 minutes from the central Aleutian Islands to just off the coast of southern California. These were high oblique views left of track towards darker parts of the Earth’s limb), and PMC over Northern Asia (DYNAMIC EVENT: The low-light window of opportunity for this pass ran for about 10-12 minutes from the central Ural Mountains of Russia to the eastern China. These were high oblique views left of track towards the darker parts of the Earth’s limb.)
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, 3:53am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 344.1 km
Apogee height — 350.9 km
Perigee height — 337.4 km
Period — 91.42 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0010008
Solar Beta Angle — 67.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.75
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 40 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 55406
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
07/23/08 — ATV1 reboost (12:18pm 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).
