NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 22 September 2008
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Underway: Week 23 of Increment 17.
CDR Volkov performed the periodic maintenance 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 at ~4:30pm EDT and Bed #2 regeneration performed 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 (last time: 9/16 & 9/17).]
Sergey Volkov and Oleg Kononenko again had several hours set aside for Progress 30P unloading, transferring and stowing Russian & US cargo aboard the station, while tracking moves & locations in the IMS (Inventory Management System) database with BCRs (Bar Code Readers).
The CDR and FE-1 both completed the first part of the onboard “Profilaktika” (MBI-8, “Countermeasures”) preventive health maintenance fitness test on the VELO bicycle ergometer, assisting each other in turn. Part 2, on the TVIS treadmill, is scheduled tomorrow. [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.]
Sergey Volkov spent some time familiarizing himself with the DAKON-M hardware and procedures for the new Russian TEKh-15 experiment “IZGIB” (“bend”, “curve”), scheduled tomorrow. [IZGIB uses accelerometers of the Russian SBI Onboard Measurement System, the GIVUS high-accuracy attitude sensors of the SUDN Motion Control & Navigation System and the LKT local temperature sensor in the Progress 30P vehicle for unattended study of the relationships between onboard systems operating modes and ISS flight conditions.]
FE-2 Chamitoff conducted the periodic inspection of the SPS ELPS (Secondary Power System/Emergency Lighting & Power Supply) subsystems in the Lab (2 units), Node-2 (2 units), A/L (US Airlock, 1 unit), and Node-1 (3 units).
In the U.S. “Quest” A/L, FE-2 Chamitoff installed EMU (Extravehicular Maneuvering Unit) spacesuit #3003 for the standard suit maintenance process, including dumping water from and refilling the feedwater tank. Afterwards, the scrubbing was terminated, the EMU water processing kit disassembled and the equipment stowed. [After removing EMU #3018 from the aft EDDA (EMU Don Doff Assembly) and installing #3003 instead, Greg connected it to its SCUs (Service & Cooling Umbilicals) and initiated the standard 1hr scrubbing process on the spacesuit’s cooling water loops, filtering ionic and particulate matter (via a 3-micron filter). Afterwards, the FE-2 reconfigured the cooling loops and initiated the ~2hr biocide filtering. Loop scrubbing, incl. iodination of the LCVGs (Liquid Cooling & Ventilation Garments) for biocidal maintenance, is done to eliminate any biomass and particulate matter that may have accumulated in the loops].
The FE-1 took and downlinked the periodic sensor readings of the Russian “Pille-MKS” (MKS = ISS) radiation dosimetry experiment which has ten sensors placed at various locations in the Russian segment (DC1, SM starboard & port cabin windows, ASU toilet facility, control panel, etc.). [Nine of the ten dosimeters are read manually.]
The CDR initiated another recharge cycle on the batteries for the SONY HVR-Z1J digital high-definition camcorder used for onboard video tapings.
In the SM, Oleg completed the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS). [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.]
Sergey took care of the daily IMS 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).
Gregory restored the AAL (Alternate Applications Laptop) in the US Lab to its previous SSC (Station Support Computer) configuration by replacing the AAL HDD (Hard Disk Drive) with the original SSC drive and stowing the AAL drive. [The AAL was prepared on 9/9 from a previously-loaded SSC for use on the OpsLAN network with applications requiring older software & driver versions, specifically to run the DCS760 digital cameras needed for the BCAT-3/4 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test) science experiment.]
The FE-2 also spent several hours supporting JAXA’s SSIPC (Space Station Integration & Promotion Center) in checking out the CB (Clean Bench) subrack’s Microscope unit. Afterwards, Greg deactivated CB ventilation. [CB checkout, without Microscope, was started last month. Ground commanding of JPM (JEM Pressurized Module) payloads, including checkout and temperature control, is done remotely by the SSIPC at Tsukuba/Japan. The CB provides a germ-free environment for life science and biotechnological experiments. It has a specially designed microscope that operates with bright-field, phase-contrast and fluorescence modes. The objective lens can be switched between four magnification levels (4x, 10x, 20x, 40x).]
Working off the Russian at-crew’s-discretion task list, Kononenko conducted the regular status check of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 ("Plants-2") experiment which researches growth and development of plants (barley) under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-13 greenhouse from IBMP (Institute of Bio-Medical Problems {Russian: IMBP}).
The crew completed their 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 (FE-2), RED resistive exercise device (FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR/MBI-8, FE-1/MBI-8).
Later, Sergey transferred the exercise data files 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).
At ~3:10pm EDT, the crew will convene for their standard bi-weekly teleconference with the JSC Astronaut Office (Steve Lindsey), via S-band S/G-2 audio & phone patch.
As generally every day now, starting at ~9:00am and running until 3:00pm, the US CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) is activated intermittently for two half-cycles to control ppCO2 levels. This configuration for the daily ops does not require connecting & disconnecting the ITCS cooling loop. [A forward plan is in work for cycling the CSV (CO2 Selector Valve) to prevent its sticking. CDRA remains “yellow” on the ISS critical systems list.]
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 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, 7:44am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 352.8 km
Apogee height — 357.5 km
Perigee height — 348.0 km
Period — 91.59 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0007075
Solar Beta Angle — 42.4 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
Mean altitude loss in the last 48 hours — 48 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 56384
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
09/29/08 — ATV de-orbit (nighttime re-entry for observation from 2 NASA planes; 9:12pm)
10/01/08 — NASA 50 Years (official)
10/02/08 – ISS Reboost (~1.8 m/s)
10/10/08 — STS-125/Atlantis Hubble Space Telescope Service Mission 4 (SM4) 12:33am
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)
10/24/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S undocking (DC1 nadir) & landing
11/12/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 launch – MPLM Leonardo, LMC
11/14/08 — 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).
