NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 29 January 2008

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.

FE-1 Malenchenko set up the pumping equipment and initiated (later closed out) the periodic transfer of urine from five EDV-U containers in the SM (Service Module) to the Rodnik BV2 tank of Progress M-62/27P.

With the Elektron-VM O2 (oxygen) generator currently off, a one-hour cabin air refresh was to be performed by the FE-1 from Progress 27P storage (SrPK) if required.

CDR Whitson conducted the periodic (every two weeks) 10-min inspection of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device) canister cords and accessory straps as well as the canister bolts for re-tightening if required.

Malenchenko completed today’s routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables.

Working off his “time permitting” discretionary job list, Yuri performed the daily 20-min. 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).

At ~8:45am EST, the crew conducted a teleconference with the Shuttle crew of STS-122/1E, scheduled for launch on 2/7.

At ~9:40am, Peggy, Dan and Yuri tagged up with EVA specialists at MCC-H to discuss final arrangements for tomorrow’s EVA-14 spacewalk.

Spending time in the Airlock (A/L) for final preparations for EVA-14, Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani –

• Configured the DCS-760 digital camera and flash attachment to be taken outside,
• Recharged three batteries for the EVA EMU-prebreathe period, to be installed in the EVA photo flash unit and EVA camera just prior to the spacewalk (when off station power),
• Prepared the A/L EL (Airlock Equipment Lock) for the Campout & spacewalk,
• Tagged up with ground specialists at ~9:40am EST for reviewing EVA particulars, and
• Underwent the standard pre-EVA PMC (Private Medical Conference) via S- & Ku-band audio/video.

Yuri prepared three Russian “Pille-MKS” radiation dosimeters, recorded their dosages and equipped each of the two EMUs (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) with a radiation sensor (A0309/CDR & A0310/FE-2). [A third sensor, A0308, was placed in the SM on the PULT reader for background readings.]

The CDR powered down the ham radio equipment in SM (Service Module) and FGB at ~12:30pm to prevent RF interference with the EMUs during the spacewalk. Peggy also closed the protective Lab science window shutters.

The crewmembers completed 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 (CDR, FE-2), TVIS treadmill (FE-1, FE-2), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).

Whitson then transferred the crew’s exercise data file to the MEC for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM data of the workouts on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

At ~2:50pm EST, Whitson and Tani began their overnight Campout prebreathe and lockout in the A/L. With METOX (Metal Oxide) canisters for CO2 removal in the A/L, the two spacewalkers performed PBA (Portable Breathing Apparatus) mask prebreathe for denitrogenation, while readying their equipment, then depressed the A/L to 10.2 psi for the campout.

After the 8.5-hr sleep period before the spacewalk, the A/L CL (Crewlock) hatch will be cracked at ~1:00am EST for a hygiene break/with mask prebreathe for Whitson and Tani, after spending the night on 10.2 psi. Around 2:10am, the hatch will be closed again by IV Yuri Malenchenko for EVA preparations in 10.2 psi, followed by EMU purge & prebreath. Afterwards, Yuri will support CL depressurization and EV1 & EV2 will egress (~5:20-5:30am).

CEO photo targets uplinked for today were IPY – Aurora Borealis; Heard Island, S. Indian Ocean (clear weather windows continue to be present in the region of Heard Island at the time of the ISS orbit pass. Looking to the right of track as ISS approached Antarctica. Mapping photography of the island was requested to capture snow and ice extent. The island of Kerguelen may also be visible to the northwest of Heard Island), and Patagonian Glaciers, S. America (this orbit track provided a traverse across the central portion of the Patagonian ranges. Overlapping, nadir mapping frames of glaciers on the western side of the mountains were requested).

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov (about 700,000 NASA digital photographs of Earth are downloaded by the public each month from this “Gateway” site);
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/AstronautPhotography

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:17am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 337.1 km
Apogee height — 340.9 km
Perigee height — 333.4 km
Period — 91.28 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0005612
Solar Beta Angle — 29.6 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.78
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 202 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 52649

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Standard, some changes possible.):
01/30/08 — EVA-14 (BMRRM R&R, ~6 hrs)
01/31/08 — Explorer-1 50 Years (1st U.S. Satellite on Redstone rocket) [see http://usspace50.com & http://www.us50thspace.com ]
02/04/08 — Progress M-62/27P undocking (5:30am) & reentry
02/05/08 — Progress M-63/28P launch (8:03am)
02/07/08 — Progress M-63/28P docking (9:38am)
02/07/08 — STS-122/Atlantis/1E launch — Columbus Module, ICC-Lite. ~2:40pm EST
02/18/08 — STS-122/Atlantis/1E landing (KSC: ~8:55am)
02/22/08 — ATV-1 “Jules Verne” launch/Ariane V (Kourou, French Guyana)
03/06/08 — ATV-1 Demo Day 1
03/11/08 — STS-123/Endeavour/1J/A launch/1J/A, w/SLP-SPDM, JEM ELM-PS
03/12/08 — ATV-1 Demo Day 2
03/15/08 — ATV-1 Demo Day 3 & Docking (SM aft port)
04/07/08 — Progress M-63/28P undocking (DC1) & reentry
04/08/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S launch
04/10/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S docking (DC1)
04/19/08 — Soyuz TMA-11/15S undocking (FGB nadir port)
04/23/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S relocation (from DC1 to FGB nadir port)
04/24/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J launch – JEM PM “Kibo”, racks, RMS
04/26/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J docking
05/04/08 — STS-124/Discovery/1J undocking
05/14/08 — Progress M-64/29P launch
05/16/08 — Progress M-64/29P docking (DC1)
08/07/08(NET) — ATV-1 undocking (from SM aft port)
08/12/08 — Progress M-65/30P launch
08/14/08 — Progress M-65/30P docking (SM aft port)
09/09/08 — Progress M-64/29P undocking (from DC1)
09/10/08 — Progress M-66/31P launch
09/12/08 — Progress M-66/31P docking (DC1)
09/18/08 — STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 launch – MPLM Leonardo, LMC
09/20/08 — STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 docking
10/01/08 — STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 undocking.
10/01/08 — NASA 50 Years
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 (FGB nadir)
11/03/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S relocation (from SM aft to FGB nadir)
11/06/08 — STS-119/Discovery/15A launch – S6 truss segment
11/08/08 — STS-119/Discovery/15A docking
11/17/08 — STS-119/Discovery/15A undocking
11/20/08 — ISS 10 Years
11/26/08 — Progress M-67/32P launch
11/28/08 — Progress M-67/32P docking (SM aft port)
04/15/09 — Constellation’s Ares I-X Launch
05/??/09 — Six-person crew on ISS (following Soyuz 18S-2 docking)
04/??/10 — STS-132/Discovery/20A – Node-3 + Cupola.