NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 23 June 2008

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Underway: Week 10 of Increment 17.

CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff began their workday before breakfast with the periodic session of the Russian biomedical routine assessments PZEh-MO-7/Calf Volume Measurement & PZEh-MO-8/Body Mass Measurement (fourth for CDR & FE-1, second for FE-2), using the IM mass measurement device which Sergey Volkov broke down afterwards for stowage. [Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM "scales" measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember’s mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.]

The FE-1 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 regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~5:30pm 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: 6/19&20).]

Pressing on with preparations for the Orlan EVA-20a on 7/10-11, Volkov & Kononenko, plus Chamitoff for some part, spent more time in the DC1 Docking Compartment where they –

• Reviewed procedures for the Orlan-suited translation from the DC1 to the Soyuz BO/Orbital Module (when the FE-2 will be behind the closed SA/Descent Module hatch), supported by ground specialist tagup,
• Searched for & gathered EVA tools & equipment, and
• Configured the BO & DC1 for the spacewalk [mostly by transferring a large number of stowage items from the Soyuz & FGB to temporary locations in the DC1, SM (Service Module), COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), and also to Progress 29P and/or ATV1 for disposal, while keeping track of the moves in the IMS (Inventory Management System).]

Gregory Chamitoff continued his JEM (Japanese Experiment Module) outfitting activities, today

• Connecting and activating the Kibo SLT (Station Laptop Terminal) on the JMP (JEM Pressurized Module) laptop table, after removing the SSC-14 (Station Support Computer 14) from it (but keeping it connected to its UOP/Utility Outlet Panel),
• Reconfiguring the JMP laptop (local Bus 2) and IAA (Intravehicular Antenna Assembly) by connecting their jumper cables to the JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Section), and later
• Moving the SLT to a different location (and UOP) in the Kibo laboratory.

Volkov & Kononenko worked on the RS (Russian Segment) radiation payload suite “Matryoshka-R” (RBO-3-3)/SDTO (Station Development Test Objective) 50448. [While Oleg opened the detector kit for checking out all Bubble Dosimeters for bubbles and photographing them for subsequent downlink of images, Sergey conducted the periodic time synchronization between the RSS1 laptop and BSPN payload server, after testing functionality by checking data comm between the two computers and synching RSS1 to station time with the RSC-E PingMaster application. The CDR then loaded new payload data in form of a parameter table into the RBO-3-3 hardware via the ShellForKE payload file transfer program.]

In preparation for an upcoming major IFM (Inflight Maintenance) task on the ITCS (Internal Thermal Control System), FE-2 Chamitoff had half an hour set aside to review and study background & procedures for the FSS (Fluid System Servicer) activities, scheduled later this week, on 7/26 & 7/27. [The IFM will refill the LTL PPA (Low Temperature Loop Pump Package Assembly) accumulator, necessary due to the recent installation of the Lab AmiA (Antimicrobial Applicator) by Karen Nyberg during 1J and the leak at the LTL supply QD (Quick Disconnect). With the FSS set up on Day 1, Greg will also refill the MTL (Moderate Temperature Loop) PPA accumulator and the spare ITCS CSA (Coolant Sampling Adapter). Because both of the JEM ITCS CSAs were deleted from the 1J manifest, the plan is to eventually install the spare onboard CSA in the JPM to take samples until the JEM Adapters are delivered on a later mission. On Day 1 (7/26), Chamitoff will set up the FSS including filling its jumpers and the spare CSA. On Day 2 (7/27), the LTL & MTL PPA accumulators will be refilled, the FSS & FSS jumpers drained and purged to vacuum FSS jumpers, and everything stowed.]

Gregory had another hour reserved for working in the “Quest” Airlock, gathering and preparing the US hardware selected for use with the Russian spacesuits during the Orlan EVA-20a. [Equipment to be installed on the Orlans includes helmet lights, WVS (Wireless Video System) helmet cam & associated tools, DIDBs (Disposable In-suit Drink Bags), Fresnel lenses, Orlan tether adapters, adjustable fuse tether, DCS760 camera, needle-nose pliers, etc. from previous ECOKs (EMU Crew Options Kits).]

The FE-2 also completed the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables.

Working off the Russian discretionary “time permitting” task list, the CDR 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).

Sergey Volkov unstowed and installed the equipment for the periodic Russian PZE-MO-10 "Hematokrit" testing which is scheduled for him and Oleg tomorrow. [MO-10 measures the hematocrit (red blood cell mass) value of the blood (it is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell mass {normal range: 30-45%} tends to go down over time).]

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 (CDR, FE-1, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1).

Afterwards, Sergey 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).

Still remaining on the voluntary task list item for Kononenko & Volkov today was an audit of expired Expedition 16 food rations, with repacking & preparation of food packages for disposal on the ATV1. [To clear storage space for cargo items delivered on Progress M-64/29P.]

Sleep Cycle Shift Preview: For adjusting the Orlan-suited dry-run & Soyuz ingress training next Thursday (6/26) to allow live VHF telemetry/comm visibility over RGS (Russian Groundsites), the crew will have an earlier (by 3 hrs) sleeptime on Wednesday (6/25) at 2:30pm EDT, followed by same-day wake-up at 11:00pm. On 6/26, sleep period begins at 3:30pm and extends to the regular 2:00am on 6/27 (Friday). The crew will then have half the day off to recover from the sleep shift.

No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today.

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, 8:10am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 345.5 km
Apogee height — 351.0 km
Perigee height — 339.9 km
Period — 91.45 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0008318
Solar Beta Angle — -26.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.75
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 36 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 54952

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
06/25/08 — Orlan-suited dry-run & Soyuz ingress training
07/10/08 — Russian EVA-20a (7/10-11)
09/05/08 — ATV1 Undocking
09/09/08 — Progress M-64/29P undocking (from FGB nadir)
09/10/08 — Progress M-65/30P launch
09/12/08 — Progress M-65/30P docking
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 (SM aft port)
10/23/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S undocking (DC1 nadir)
11/03/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S relocation
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
02/12/09 — STS-119/Discovery/15A launch – S6 truss segment
02/14/09 — STS-119/Discovery/15A docking
02/23/09 — STS-119/Discovery/15A undocking
2QTR CY09 — STS-127/2J/A launch – JEM EF, ELM-ES, ICC-VLD
3QTR CY09 — STS-128/17A/Atlantis – MPLM(P), last crew rotation
05/??/09 — Six-person crew on ISS (following Soyuz 18S-2 docking)
3QTR CY09 — STS-129/ULF3/Discovery – ELC1, ELC2
4QTR CY09 — STS-130/20A/Endeavour – Node-3 + Cupola
1QTR CY10 — STS-131/19A/Atlantis – MPLM(P)
1QTR CY10 — STS-132/ULF4/Discovery – ICC-VLD, MRM1 (contingency)
2QTR CY10 — STS-133/ULF5/Endeavour – ELC3, ELC4 (contingency).