NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 30 July 2008
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
Upon wake-up, Oleg Kononenko terminated his seventh MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session for the long-term Russian sleep study, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. Sergey Volkov’s new MBI-12 session starts tonight (~5:20pm). [SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember’s physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.]
CDR Volkov began his workday again by supporting the Russian TEKh-20 Plazmennyi-Kristall/PK-3+ (Plasma Crystal-3+) experiment on its final day, first activating the turbopump in the Service Module (SM)’s Transfer Compartment (PkhO) for keeping the vacuum chamber (ZB) in the SM Work Compartment (RO) evacuated, then starting the experiment, terminating it later and performing close-down ops. Sergey copied the data to USB stick for subsequent downlinking via OCA, deactivated all the hardware, and disassembled and stowed it. [Main objective of PK-3 is to study non-linear dust plasma wave propagation and dispersion ratio at a specified power of an alternating electric field, pressure, and a varied number of particles, controlled by the experimenter. The research experiment was performed in semi-automatic mode with particles having a diameter of 9.19 um under pressures of 20, 40, and 80 Pa (Pascal).]
FE-1 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 panel 409 (from which the B14M unit was removed first) in zone 35G, and two panels (424, 425) in zones 10 & 12.]
The FE-1 also supported the ground’s activation of the Elektron O2 generator at 32 amps by monitoring the external temperature of its secondary purification unit (BD) for the first 10 minutes of operations to ensure that there is no overheating. In support of the reactivation, at ~4:42am EDT the ground temporarily switched the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) to autonomous power (i.e., disconnected from ISS) and later reconfigured it to ISS power. [During nominal Elektron operations a gas analyzer is utilized to detect hydrogen (H2) in the O2 line (which could cause overheating) but is not included in the control algorithm until 10 minutes after Elektron startup.]
In the JAXA Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), FE-2 Chamitoff continued preparations for payload operation, today continuing reconfiguring/reconnecting the CB (Clean Bench) subrack facility.
Chamitoff later set up the payload equipment for his third session with the 3D-Space (Mental Representation of Spatial Cues During Space Flight) experiment and then performed the protocol, with all three exercises (distance, illusion, handwriting). After all data were stored on PCMCIA memory card, the ESA multipurpose laptop was shut down and the hardware disconnected & stowed away. [3D-SPACE, a collaboration of ESA and the French space agency CNES (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), is designed to identify accurate visual perception & localization of objects in the space environment as prerequisites for spatial orientation & reliable performance of motor tasks in microgravity. Humans have mental representations of their surroundings based on sensory information & experience. It is hypothesized that depth & distance perception of objects could be altered in space due to the absence of gravitational reference and ambiguous perspective cues. 3D-SPACE investigates (a) depth perception & the role of perspective cues using geometric illusions, (b) distance perception using both standard psychophysics tests & natural three-dimensional scenes presented on a virtual reality head-mounted display, and (c) the effects of cognitive vs. perceptual-motor changes using handwriting & drawing tests.]
The CDR performed the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.]
Afterwards, Sergey also conducted 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).
CDR Volkov set up the hose & electric pump assembly and initiated (later closed out) transfer of water from the ATV WDS (Automated Transfer Vehicle/Water Delivery System) tank #1to three EDV containers in the SM.
In the JAXA Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), Gregory Chamitoff removed temporary stowage from the Ryutai rack and installed a silicone filter. [RYUTAI(“fluid”) is a Japanese multipurpose experiment/payload rack system to support the FPEF (Fluid Physics Experiment Facility), SCOF (Solution Crystallization Observation Facility), PCRF (Protein Crystallization Research Facility) and the IPU (Image Processing Unit) by providing structural interfaces, power, data, cooling, water and other items needed to operate science experiments in micro-G.]
FE-1 Kononenko used the Russian MedOps SZM-MO-21 “Ecosfera” air sampler & incubation equipment for another check on the station’s sanitary-hygiene status, conducting the standard 45-min. microbial analysis (T+7 days) on the air samples collected on 7/23 and incubated since then in the MO-21 equipment in Medium 2 (MON-2). [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 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-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). Later, Oleg transferred the exercise data file to the MEC 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 ~5:20pm, getting ready for sleep time, the CDR again set up the Russian MBI-12 SONOKARD (Sonocard) payload and started his seventh experiment session, using a sports shirt from the SONOKARD kit with a special device in the pocket for testing a new method for acquiring physiological data without using direct contact on the skin. Measurements are recorded on a data card for return to Earth.
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
08/13/08 — ATV Reboost
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 (official)
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).
