NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 25 July 2008
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
CDR Sergey Volkov continued preparations for operating the Russian/German TEKh-20 Plasma Crystal-3 Plus (PK-3+) experiment payload, the first time for Expedition 17. [After unstowing and setting up the hardware yesterday in the Service Module (SM), leak checking of the electronics box and evacuation of the vacuum work chamber (ZB) in the SM Work Compartment (RO) with the turbopump, Volkov today conducted more hardware testing and calibration, uploaded new software from a USB stick, checked out the software installation and verified the readiness of the experiment. After starting the turbo pump right after wake-up and conducting additional leak checking on the ZB during the “day”, the CDR will deactivate the turbopump tonight at ~5:25pm EDT. The resulting log file was then downloaded to laptop for downlink via BSR-TM. The experiment is performed on plasma, i.e., fine particles charged and excited by HF (high frequency) radio power inside the evacuated work chamber. Main objective is to obtain a homogeneous plasma dust cloud at various pressures and particle quantities with or without superimposition of an LF (low frequency) harmonic electrical field. The experiment is conducted in automated mode. PK-3+ has more advanced hardware and software than the previously used Russian PKE-Nefedov payload.]
FE-2 Gregory Chamitoff supported OGS (Oxygen Generator System) activities, deactivating the OGS WDS (Water Delivery System) and then turning off the OGS for reconfiguring it for the subsequent purging of the H2 (hydrogen) sensor.
Using the Russian MO-21 “Ecosfera” air sampler & incubation equipment, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko monitored the station’s sanitary-hygiene status by conducting another 40-min. microbial analysis (T+2 days) on the air samples collected on 7/23, including from the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle), and incubated since then in the MO-21 equipment. [MO-21 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 equipment, consisting of an air sampler set, a charger and power supply unit, provides samples to help determine microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.]
Volkov spent a few minutes on the weekly inspection of the TVIS treadmill roller bearings, checking the treadmill’s belt both left and right for any noticeable depressions due to seized or worn rollers. [With the TVIS treadmill rollers approaching their end-of-life, the frequency of their inspection has recently been increased for safety.]
Kononenko performed more FGB outfitting with new stowage enclosures delivered by the ATV, built in Russia to provide more efficient stowage spaces behind FGB panels and improve airflow/circulation. [Today’s installations involved the spaces behind two panels (114, 115) in FGB zone 36 and behind one panel (215) in zone 40B.]
The crew performed the mandatory two-hour OBT (onboard training) emergency egress drill for the case of rapid cabin depressurization, with Russian & US specialists standing by at both control centers for crew questions or comments. [Background: Purpose of the drill is to (a) familiarize the station residents with the location of hardware and the positions of valves used in emergency situations, (b) work through the Russian Segment (RS) hardware deactivation procedures, (c) review ATV emergency response material, (d) practice crew emergency joint activities, and (e) identify crew comments and suggestions that arise during training regarding crew procedures and equipment. In the RS, the crew translated along the emergency egress path to the DC1 Docking Compartment (where Soyuz TMA-12 is currently docked), checking hardware such as the Sokol suits, cable cutters, fire extinguisher (OKR), gas masks (IPK), emergency procedures books, valve settings, hatch rubber seal & restraint integrity, etc. In the US Segment (USOS) the inspection focused on fireports being unblocked in the Lab {21}, with other US modules to be checked by future crews), readiness of CSA-CP (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products), ISS leak kit, PBA (portable breathing assembly) and PFE (portable fire extinguisher), emergency procedures books, valve settings, integrity of hatch rubber seals, presence of hatch handrails, etc. The checks also included Node-2, COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), JLP (Japanese Experiment Module Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section) and Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module). The exercise was topped off by a thorough debrief with the ground via S-band. During the session, the crew simulated executing the planned emergency procedures while moving about the station. For the case of an onboard fire and for emergency descent, there are other mandatory emergency drill OBTs.]
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.]
Sergey also 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).
Later, Volkov began a new round of periodic preventive maintenance of cabin ventilation systems in the RS (Russian Segment), today cleaning the “Group A” fan grilles in the SM.
Continuing his work on the OpsLAN (Operations Local Area Network) software reload, Greg Chamitoff –
- Stowed the equipment used for the reload,
- Activated the Netgear WAPs (Wireless Access Points) which provide Ethernet connectivity for the JSL (Joint Station LAN), then
- Performed the reload on the PDAs, setting up their RF (radio frequency) connection and
- Prepared the BCR (Bar Code Reader),
- Activated the SSC-14 (Station Support Computer 14),
- Set up its wireless connection and
- Disconnected its drag-thru Ethernet cable to the Node-2 patch panel & the ISL (Integrated Station OpsLAN) Router for stowage.
The FE-2 also took water samples from the SRV-K outlet for return on Mission ULF-2 and analysis on the ground.
The three crewmembers 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-1, FE-2), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR). Later, 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).
At ~4:20am, the crew held the regular (nominally weekly) tagup with the Russian Flight Control Team (GOGU/Glavnaya operativnaya gruppa upravleniya = “Main Operative Control Group”), including Shift Flight Director (SRP), at TsUP-Moscow via S-band/audio, phone-patched from Houston and Moscow.
At ~10:55am, Sergey & Oleg linked up with TsUP stowage specialists via S-band to conduct the weekly IMS tagup, discussing stowage issues, equipment locations and ATV & Progress cargo transfers.
At ~4:35pm, the ISS crew is scheduled for their regular weekly tagup with the Lead Flight Director at JSC/MCC-H via S-band/audio. [S/G-2 (Space-to-Ground 2) phone patch via SSC (Station Support Computer)].
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
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).
