NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 26 December 2008
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
CDR Fincke & FE-2 Magnus started their day with another download of last night’s data of the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment from their Actiwatches to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop as part of the week-long session with SLEEP. [To monitor the crewmember’s sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Mike & Sandy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by them as well as their patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition and use the payload software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment’s laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew’s discretionary “job jar” task list. It was the second session for Mike, the first for Sandra.]
In the DC1 Docking Compartment, FE-1 Lonchakov terminated the discharge cycle of the second 825M3 Orlan battery pack and removed it from the charger.
The FE-1 also finished stowing the tools taken out on the EVA-21 spacewalk and updated the IMS (Inventory Management System). CDR Fincke took care of the US equipment used for the EVA, putting it back in stowage in the US Airlock.
Later, Lonchakov & Fincke closed out the SM PkhO (Service Module Transfer Compartment) and DC1, restoring the compartments to their initial state.
The FE-1 then re-installed the MATRYOSHKA-R (RBO-3-2) radiation suite’s LULIN-5 electronics box and the associated antroph-amorphous (human torso) "Phantom" unit in the DC1, followed by a brief checkout. [The equipment had been temporarily stowed in the FGB. Data being accumulated by LULIN comprise measurement date, time, mode, three-directional flux data (per sq.cm per sec.), and three-directional dose rate.]
Yuri also collected about an hour’s worth of data of the Russian BIO-5 Rasteniya-1 ("Plants-1") experiment, with its BU Control Unit, for subsequent downlink to Earth as a checkout. [Rasteniya-1 researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the LADA-14 greenhouse from IBMP (Institute of Bio-Medical Problems, Russian: IMBP).]
FE-2 Magnus printed out the instructions for the upcoming installation and subsequent activation & checkout (ACO) of the CMS ARED (Countermeasures System/ Advanced Resistive Exercise Device). Meanwhile, CDR Fincke transferred ARED components (6 bags, 3 items) from JAXA JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Segment) for temporary stowage in Node-1 to make room for the currently used IRED (Interim Resistive Exercise Device) in JLP.
Afterwards, Fincke & Magnus had an hour set aside for reviewing ARED installation and ACO procedures, followed by a 30 min. tagup with ground specialist via S-band/audio & Ku-band/video to discuss the assembly activities next week.
Also in preparation of ARED installation Sandy set up two power tool batteries for the driver drill in the Lab for charging.
On ER2 (EXPRESS Rack 2), Magnus turned off the ENose (Electronic Nose) payload and relocated it to be independently powered from a Lab UOP (Utility Outlet Panel). [ENose monitors the station’s interior for harmful chemicals such as ammonia, mercury, methanol and formaldehyde, running continuously and autonomously. It is the first instrument aboard ISS which can detect and quantify chemical leaks or spills as they happen. If successful, ENose might be used in future space missions as part of an automated system to monitor and control astronauts’ in-space environments. The shoebox-sized ENose contains an array of 32 sensors that can identify and quantify several organic and inorganic chemicals, including organic solvents and marker chemicals that signal the start of electrical fires. The sensors are polymer films that change their electrical conductivity in response to different chemicals, where the pattern of the sensor array’s response depends on the particular chemical types present in the air. The instrument can analyze volatile aerosols and vapors, help monitor cleanup of chemical spills or leaks, and enable more intensive chemical analysis by collecting raw data and streaming it to a computer at JPL’s ENose laboratory. The instrument, weighing less than nine pounds and requiring only 20 watts of power, has a wide range of chemical sensitivity, from fractional parts per million to 10,000 parts per million. Its data-analysis software can identify and quantify the release of chemicals within 40 minutes of detection. While ENose will look for 10 chemical types in this six-month experiment, it can be “trained” to detect many others.]
The FE-2 then undertook another periodic relocation of the TEPC (Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter) detector assembly, the primary radiation measurement tool in the ISS, today from the SM Panel 327 back to Node-2 inside the new portside CQ (Crew Quarters), utilizing UOP-3. [TEPC had been moved to the SM by Fincke on 11/27, after having been in the Node-2 from 11/10.]
In the Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), the CDR meanwhile performed Part 6 of the continuing troubleshooting of the CGSE (Common Gas Support Equipment), reconnecting the GBU (Gas Bottle Units) high-pressure QD (quick disconnect) for cycling, with CO2 resupplied from the lower CGSE GBU, verifying proper line pressures via both lower and upper GBU pressure gauges to find the location of the suspected line blockage.
Sandy Magnus filled out the regular FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire), her fifth, on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer). Mike Fincke’s fourth FFQ activity is still on his “job jar” task list. [On the FFQs, NASA astronauts keep a personalized log of their nutritional intake over time on special MEC software. Recorded are the amounts consumed during the past week of such food items as beverages, cereals, grains, eggs, breads, snacks, sweets, fruit, beans, soup, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, chicken, sauces & spreads, and vitamins. The FFQ is performed once a week to estimate nutrient intake from the previous week and to give recommendations to ground specialists that help maintain optimal crew health. Weekly estimation has been verified to be reliable enough that nutrients do not need to be tracked daily.]
Afterwards, Sandy worked on the periodic inspection & cleaning of the FDS (Fire Detection & Suppression) system’s SDs (smoke detectors) and bacterial filters in the US Airlock, Node-1, Node-2 and Lab. [This activity, hard-scheduled for today, was listed yesterday among the “job jar” tasks as a discretionary item.]
FE-1 Lonchakov collected the periodic readings of potentially harmful atmospheric contaminants in the SM, using the CMS (Countermeasure System), a component of the SKDS GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer suite, today using preprogrammed microchips to measure for o-Xylol (1,2-Dimethylbenzol, C8H10) and Methyl-Mercaptan (Methanethiol, CH4S).
Yuri also took the periodic readings with the Russian AOK GANK-4M instrument and calibrated the unit. [AOK GANK-4M tests for Methane (CH4), Ammonia (NH3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Formaldehyde (HCHO), Nitrogen Oxides (NO, NO2), Hydrogen Chloride (HCl), Hydrogen Fluoride (HF), and Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN).]
The FE-2 conducted the T+2d inflight microbiology analyses for the samples collected on 12/24 from the PWD (Potable Water Dispenser) Ambient plus SVO-ZV and SRV-K Warm taps. [Sandy reported “yellow” for Coliform (= Negative), “130-ish purple dots” on the MCD (Microbial Capture Device) and a (nominal) incubation bag temperature of 80 degC. Photos were taken for return to Earth.]
In the SM, the FE-1 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, replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers and performing US condensate processing (transfer from CWC to EDV containers) if condensate is available.]
The daily IMS maintenance was performed by Sandy, consisting of updating/editing of its standard “delta file” including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).
At ~3:15am EST, the crew held the regular (nominally weekly) tagup with the Russian Flight Control Team (GOGU), including Shift Flight Director (SRP), at TsUP via S-band/audio, phone-patched from Houston and Moscow.
At ~2:00pm, the ISS crew will have 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).]
At ~4:30pm, Mike is scheduled for a PFC (Private Family Conference), via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop).
The station residents conducted 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), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-1, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).
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, 7:30am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 353.7 km
Apogee height — 358.9 km
Perigee height — 348.6 km
Period — 91.61 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.000768
Solar Beta Angle — -27.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 74 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 57879
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible!):
01/14/09 — ISS reboost w/SM thrusters
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.
