NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 5 November 2008
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
After wakeup, FE-2 Chamitoff again downloaded the accumulated data of the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment from his Actiwatches to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop as part of his final week-long session with SLEEP. [To monitor the crewmember’s sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Greg wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition and uses 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. This is Week 3 of 3 for the FE-2.]
In the FGB (Functional Cargo Block), FE-1 Lonchakov continued the extensive IFM (Inflight Maintenance) work on the “Komparus” Command Measurement System (KIS), removing and replacing electronic components of the system which acts as the communications portal of the Khrunichev-built FGB, receiving & forwarding ground commands addressed to onboard systems when the FGB is in view of a ground station, and serving other central functions. [Komparus maintains the FGB internal clock, stores time-tagged program commands for sequenced execution, activates & deactivates the dual-redundant radio telemetry system, measures FGB relative motion, and receives and routes USOS (US Orbital Segment) commands to be sent to the Node MDMs (Multiplexer/Demultiplexers).]
FE-2 Chamitoff prepared for camera viewing of today’s ESP-3 (External Stowage Platform 3) relocation with the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) by working in the Kibo JEM (Japanese Experiment Module) to set up and activate the JEMRMS PTU (Robotic Manipulator System/Pan & Tilt Unit) of the Elbow camera, reset the JEU (Joint Expedited Undocking) resolvers and power on the EXT2 video camera.
After booting up the CUP RWS (Cupola Robotic Workstation) A31p laptop in the US Lab and starting the DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) software to support the Robotics activities, the FE-2 & CDR used the SSRMS to relocate the ESP-3 from its permanent location on the zenith side of the P3 truss element to the MCAS (Mobile Base System [MBS] Common Attachment System) at WS5 (Worksite 5) on the truss for ULF2. [On EVA-1 during the Shuttle-docked operations, the spacewalkers will transfer the NTA (Nitrogen Tank Assembly) on the ESP-3 to the Endeavour for return and stow the FHRC (Flex Hose Rotary Coupler), arriving on STS-126, on the ESP-3. Today’s relocation consisted of grappling ESP-3 with the SSRMS, demating the UMA (Umbilical Mechanism Assembly), deploying the CLA (Capture Latch Assembly) with the CAS (Common Attach System) in Normal State, and mating the ESP-3. Afterwards, the CUP laptop was powered down, as were the JEMRMS systems, with the Elbow camera reconfigured in stowed position.]
Yuri Lonchakov conducted monthly maintenance on the deactivated Russian IK0501 GA (Gas Analyzer) of the SOGS Pressure Control & Atmospheric Monitoring System by replacing its CO2 filter assembly (BF) with a new unit from FGB stowage (done last: 9/25), then reactivating the unit. The old filter was discarded.
Using a vacuum cleaner with soft brush attachment, the FE-1 performed the periodic cleaning of the side panel fan grilles of the Russian LIV Video Complex voltage converter (UN941) behind SM (Service Module) panel 426.
With the RS (Russian Segment) Elektron-VM oxygen (O2) generator powered down, Yuri purged its BZh Liquid Unit with nitrogen (N2) at 0.65 kg/cm2 via its KE3 & VN3 valves, a periodic safety measure.
Chamitoff completed the routine daily servicing of the SM’s 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.]
Greg also conducted the periodic checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS hatchways, including the passageways SM PrK (Service Module Transfer Compartment)-RO (SM Working Compartment), PkhO (SM Transfer Tunnel)-RO, PkhO-DC1, PkhO-FGB PGO, FGB PGO-FGB GA, and FGB GA-Node-1.
The regular daily IMS (Inventory Management System) maintenance task was added today to Yuri’s discretionary “time permitting” job list, i.e., updating/editing the IMS standard “delta file” including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).
The FE-2 had another hour reserved for hardware prepacking for STS-126/ULF2, using as reference a revised uplinked Prepack List which reflects crew calldowns from the 11/3 ground specialist tagup.
The crew performed 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 (CDR, FE-2), TVIS treadmill (FE-1), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-1, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).
At ~3:30pm EST, FE-2 Chamitoff’s schedule calls for a teleconference via Ku-band with his replacement, Astronaut Sandy Magnus, due to arrive on ULF2 to be the new FE-2 for Expedition 18. [Purpose of the 30-min tagup: to pass on Lessons Learned to the upcoming Increment crew, i.e., to begin the handover process prior to the arrival on orbit through Videocons and Data Exchanges between the current crew and the upcoming crew. These tagups normally start toward the end of the first month on orbit.]
Acoustic Survey Issue: Yesterday’s periodic acoustic measurement protocol was not completed nominally due to an issue with data recovery. Steps at resolving the recovery snag are underway, and CDR Fincke was asked to redo the measurement for one of the three static dosimeters, first setting it up early this morning, then recording its data and stowing it tonight, at least 12 hrs after the setup.
CEO photo targets uplinked for today were Arkenu 1 and Arkenu 2 Impact Craters (Arkenu 1 & 2 are a rarely exposed double impact structure created by a 500 m diameter pair of asteroids. Located in the desert of southeastern Libya, Arkenu 1 is 6.8 km in diameter and Arkenu 2 is 10 km. Both have been dated as less than 140 million years old. ISS approach was from the NW under clear skies at mid-morning. First, looking ahead near nadir, Mike & Greg were to try to spot the large dark features of Arkenu and Auenat, and then look for the tiny, faint impacts just right of track. They recently acquired CEO’s best-ever images with the 400mm lens settings on 10/21. This time, they were to try for them using the 800mm), Antarctic Ice Pack (as part of the ISS program’s participation in the International Polar Year [IPY], CEO is attempting to monitor conditions of Antarctic Ice Pack, usually situated well right of track near the southernmost portion of the ISS orbit track. Weather satellite imagery loops today suggested the possibility of at least partial clearing in this area of the Southern Ocean. Mike & Greg had mid-afternoon light, to look for pack ice features well right of track towards the Antarctic coast), and Luquillo Forest, Puerto Rico (fair, mid-morning, just right of track, this Long Term Ecological Research Site [LTER] is located near the northeastern corner of the island of Puerto Rico. ISS pass was in mid-morning; hopefully with a minimum of cloud formations. As the station approached the Virgin Islands from the NW, Mike & Greg were to look for this forest site just right of track using the long lens settings for detail).
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, 8:01am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 352.0 km
Apogee height — 354.3 km
Perigee height — 349.8 km
Period — 91.58 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0003356
Solar Beta Angle — 10.1 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
Mean altitude loss in the last 48 hours — 53 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 57077
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
11/14/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 launch – MPLM Leonardo, LMC; 7:55pm EST
11/16/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 docking; ~4:56pm
11/20/08 — ISS 10 Years
11/25/08 — Progress M-65/30P undocking & deorbit
11/26/08 — Progress M-66/31P launch
11/27/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 undocking; 10:32am
11/29/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 landing; ~2:01 pm
11/30/08 — Progress M-66/31P docking
02/09/09 — Progress M-66/31P undocking & deorbit
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
02/14/09 — STS-119/Discovery/15A docking
02/24/09 — STS-119/Discovery/15A undocking
02/26/09 — STS-119/Discovery/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 M-67/32P undocking & deorbit
05/15/09 — STS-127/Endeavour/2J/A launch – JEM EF, ELM-ES, ICC-VLD
05/25/09 — Soyuz TMA-15/19S launch
Six-person crew on ISS
07/30/09 — STS-128/Atlantis/17A – MPLM (P), last crew rotation
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 (contingency)
05/31/10 — STS-133/Endeavour/ULF5 – ELC3, ELC4 (contingency).
