NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 31 July 2008
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
Upon wake-up, Sergey Volkov 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. [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.]
FE-2 Chamitoff closed the hatches between the Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module) and Node-2 for a vestibule leak check and left them closed overnight. The ground shut down the Inter/Intra Module Ventilation and the Smoke Detectors in the JPM and JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Section) prior to the leak check and it may occur when you are still in the JEM.
The TVIS treadmill has not been used for exercise since the crew reported hearing unusual noises yesterday. Audio, video, and still imagery were taken by the crew and downlinked for ground team analysis. The PFE w/OUM (Periodic Fitness Evaluation with Oxygen Uptake Measurement) activities are being deferred from tomorrow to accommodate an inspection of the TVIS chassis.
FE-1 Oleg Kononenko installed enclosures in FGB zones 16 & 19 (panels 224 & 225). He called down that he only had three small panels left to install and those would be done next week.
CDR Sergei Volkov conducted his monthly body fitness training using HMS (Health Maintenance System) hardware including ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) equipment which may be used in contingency situations where crew life is at risk. [To maintain proficiency, the CMOs spend one hour per month reviewing HMS and ACLS equipment and procedures via the HMS CBT, and CBT (Computer Based Training (CBT) and the ACLS CBT. Maintaining proficiency with the HMS hardware and procedures is essential to successful ISS operations and well-being of the crew.]
Volkov and FE-2 Greg Chamitoff performed a POC DOUG (Portable Onboard Computers/Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics (DOUG) Software Review: this review for upcoming robotics activities on Friday when they are scheduled to fulfill their recurring proficiency requirements by maneuvering the arm’s Latching End Effector (LEE) B above the Node 2 Zenith hatch window for diagnostic photography.
A scheduled leak check of the Node-2 to JPM vestibule was initiated this morning. The vestibule has been partially evacuated (to 325 mmHg) and the check will continue for eight hours. In preparation for the check which isolates the JPM, all laptops in the JPM were turned off due to the power to those units being disabled.
Chamitoff prepared two messages, the first for ARC (Ames Research Center) for a ‘NASA Night’ in August with the San Francisco Giants, who are also celebrating their 50th anniversary, and the second for a cancer research benefit endorsed by NASA.
Gregory also filled out the regular FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire), his seventh, on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer). [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.]
In the SM, Volkov took the periodic readings of potentially harmful atmospheric contaminants with the CMS (Countermeasure System) component of the GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer suite which uses preprogrammed microchips to measure H2CO (Formaldehyde, methanal), CO (Carbon Monoxide) and NH3 (Ammonia), taking one measurement per microchip. [CMS is a subsystem of the Russian SKDS Pressure Control & Atmosphere Monitoring System.]
Kononenko conducted the periodic checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS hatchways, including the passageways PrK (SM Transfer Compartment)-ATV, PrK-RO (SM Working Compartment), PkhO (SM Transfer Tunnel)-RO, PkhO-DC1, PkhO-FGB PGO, FGB PGO-FGB GA, FGB GA-Node-1.
Oleg also took the periodic readings of potentially harmful atmospheric contaminants with the CMS (Countermeasure System) component of the GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer suite which uses preprogrammed microchips to measure H2CO (Formaldehyde, methanal), CO (Carbon Monoxide) and NH3 (Ammonia), taking one measurement per microchip. [CMS is a subsystem of the Russian SKDS Pressure Control & Atmosphere Monitoring System.]
Later, the FE-1 used the SOGS GANK-4M system for taking and recording atmospheric readings. [GANK tests for Methane (CH4), NH3, CO, H2CO, Nitrogen Oxides (NO, NO2), Hydrogen Chloride (HCl), Hydrogen Fluoride (HF), and Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN).]
The Elektron was activated this morning and is currently performing nominally. An O2 repress from Progress was also conducted to supplement the Elektron due to the ppO2 level approaching lower flight rule levels.
A scheduled leak check of the Node 2 to JPM vestibule was initiated this morning. The vestibule has been partially evacuated (to 325 mmHg) and the check will continue for eight hours. In preparation for the check which isolates the JPM, all of the laptops therein were turned off due to the power to those units being disabled.
Working on the SHERE experiment payload, Chamitoff performed a SHERE Fluid Module Insert.
Kononenko performed the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the Service Module (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.]
Afterwards, Oleg 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).
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 (CDR, FE-2, FE1), 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 (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).
TVIS Noise Update: The TVIS treadmill has not been used for exercise since the crew reported hearing unusual noises yesterday. Audio, video, and still imagery were taken by the crew and downlinked for ground team analysis. The PFE w/OUM (Periodic Fitness Evaluation with Oxygen Uptake Measurement) activities are being deferred from tomorrow to accommodate an inspection of the TVIS chassis. Analysis of the increasing noise of the treadmill led to a requirement last evening to stand down on TVIS operations until further inspections of the unit could be conducted. The engineering team has speculated that the noise could be the result of a belt slat making contact with the chassis or another slat. This conclusion is based on the frequency (twice per belt revolution) and increasing magnitude of a percussive noise with increasing speeds. Recommendations on a forward plan are being developed.
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).
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).
