NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 23 December 2008

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Crew rest day after the spacewalk. Crew sleep started this morning at 6:30am EST & ends tomorrow at 1:00am, returning the wake/sleep schedule back to normal.

CDR Fincke & FE-1 Lonchakov’s Orlan EVA-21 from the DC1 (Docking Compartment) airlock last night lasted 5 hrs 38 min. It was partially successful; some objectives were not achieved. The spacewalkers –

• Installed the Langmuir probe on the DC1 Docking Compartment (to measure electrical/plasma fields close to the docked Soyuz TMA-13 in support of the ongoing pyro bolt anomaly investigation);
• Removed/returned the BIORISK-MSN payload container #2 from the DC1;
• Installed & connected the IPI-SM monobloc unit of the Russian IMPULSE space experiment on the Service Module (large diameter), and
• Made a photographic survey of the ISS RS exterior & structure components (“Panorama-2008” DTO).

Mike & Yuri also installed the European EXPOSE-R payload on the SM shell (large diameter) but had to remove it again for return inside the ISS when it failed to activate and transmit telemetry on ground command.

The following tasks were then deferred for lack of time:

• Inspection & photography of the Progress 31P ASF1-M-VKA #2 antenna;
• Removing fasteners (Aramide straps) near docking target and AR-VKA & 2AR-VKA antenna areas on DC1;
• Closing MLI (Multi-Layer Insulation) flap on SM FP-10 connector patch panel, and
• Repositioning the SKK #9 removable cassette container to nominal position.

The spacewalk began at 7:51pm EST, 36 minutes late due to the pressure equalization valve (PEV; Russian: KVD) in the hatch between the spherical SM PkhO (Transfer Compartment) and the DC1 SU (Transfer Vestibule) not opening on electric command (requiring FE-2 Magnus to enter the PkhO for manual cycling of the valve). The EVA ended at 1:29am. Subsequent repressurization of the DC1 from the SM PkhO failed when the KVD valve remained closed, even on an attempt by Sandy Magnus to open it manually from inside. The spacewalkers had to repressurize the DC1 from one of the backup BPN tanks (#7). The hatch could then be opened. The KVD valve suddenly became electrically functional again shortly before hatch opening (the second vestibule hatch, between the SU and the DC1 SO interior, could be opened OK during equalization).
[It was the 119th spacewalk for ISS assembly & maintenance and the 91st from the station (66 from Quest, 25 from Pirs, plus 28 from Shuttle) totaling 562h 44m; it was also the 19th this year. After today’s EVA, a total of 159 spacewalkers (122 NASA astronauts, 26 Russians, and 11 astronauts representing Japan-1, Canada-4, France-1, Germany-2 and Sweden-3) have logged 751h 06min outside the station on building, outfitting & servicing. It was the 139th spacewalk involving U.S. astronauts.]

During EVA-21, FE-2 Magnus worked in Node-1, clearing out and transferring stowed equipment, relocating the SSC-6 (Station Support Computer 6) laptop and reconfiguring Node-1 UOP-2 (Utility Outlet Panel 2), all in preparation for next week’s planned installation of the ARED (Advanced Resistive Exercise Device) which will block access to the NOD1P2 location.

Afterwards, Sandy replaced failed GLAs (General Luminaire Assemblies) in the JAXA Kibo modules, installing 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 their return from the EVA this morning, Fincke & Lonchakov completed another session of the standard Russian crew health-monitoring program’s medical assessment MO-9/Biochemical Urinalysis, after which Yuri restowed the Urolux equipment. [MO-9 is conducted every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs) and is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for U.S. crewmembers for IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) evaluation as part of the "PHS/Without Blood Labs" exam. The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus Urolux developed originally for the Mir program. Afterwards, the data are entered in the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer)’s special IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program).]

Later, Mike, Yuri & Sandy reset communications, conducted ISS activation operations and restored systems configurations in the DC1 & other RS modules to pre-EVA conditions, then installed DC1 and SM air ducts and activated the Vozdukh CO2 scrubber and Sputnik-SM amateur radio.

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

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

Bedtime began at 6:30am EST.

CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today were Johnston Island reef, central Pacific (ISS had a near-nadir pass over Johnston Island. Aiming slightly to the right of track for the island and adjacent reefs. Detailed imagery will add to the existing time series of information on the island-reef system, specifically change to shorelines and reef extent), American Samoa (weather was predicted to be mostly clear over the eastern Samoan archipelago – this portion of the island chain is not well-documented with imagery. Looking for several irregular and widely spaced-islands; the “lazy S” shaped island of Tutuila marks the western extent of American Samoa. Overlapping frames of the islands and fringing reefs were requested in order to track morphological changes over time), and Arkenu 1 and Arkenu 2 Impact Craters, Libya (the two Arkenu impact structures are located within approximately 6 km of each other and are thought to result from fragments of the same meteor. Both structures appear as dark, elliptical features surrounded by bright dune sands. ISS had a nadir pass over the craters; overlapping frames, taken along track as the station approached and then departed the target were recommended).

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 EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 354.0 km
Apogee height — 359.1 km
Perigee height — 348.8 km
Period — 91.62 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.000766
Solar Beta Angle — -41.7 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 54 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 57832

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible!):
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.