NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 6 December 2008

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Saturday – off-duty day for CDR Fincke, FE-1 Lonchakov & FE-2 Magnus.

The crew performed the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough station cleaning. ["Uborka", usually done on Saturdays, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the SM (Service Module) dining table, other frequently touched surfaces and surfaces where trash is collected, as well as the FE’s sleep station with a standard cleaning solution; also, fan screens and grilles are cleaned to avoid temperature rises. Special cleaning is also done every 90 days on the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) bacteria filters in the Lab.]

As part of the house cleaning, Yuri Lonchakov conducted regular maintenance inspection & cleaning of fan screens in the FGB (TsV2), DC-1 (V3) and SM (VPkhO, VPrK, FS5, FS6 & FS9).

For her VolSci (Voluntary Weekend Science) Program today, FE-2 Magnus had selected Part 1 of a major clean-up job of the JAXA Marangoni experiment in the Kibo JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module), estimated at ~3.5 hrs. The task required the MWA (Maintenance Work Area) and a downlink from the JPM internal camera to SSIPC (Space Station Integrated Promotion Center) in Tsukuba for ground support of the crew activity. [Work objective was to clean up spilled silicone oil inside the Marangoni Experiment Cell (MS) to prevent the Core from being further contaminated and to protect the hardware for the next Marangoni Experiment #2 on Increment 19. Part 1 today involved removing the MS from the FPEF (Fluid Physics Experiment Facility) and disassembling the Experiment Core from the MS. The actual silicone oil clean up in the Core will be performed in Part 2 at a later date.]

For his VolSci part, Mike Fincke prepared the MDCA CIA (Multi-user Droplet Combustion Apparatus/Chamber Insert Assembly) for initial installation. [The MDCA is a multi-user facility designed to accommodate different droplet combustion science experiments, using the CIR (Combustion Integrated Rack) of the NASA Glenn Research Center’s FCF (Fluids & Combustion Facility). The MDCA, in conjunction with the CIR, will allow for cost effective extended access to the microgravity environment, not possible on previous space flights. The MDCA contains the hardware and software required to conduct unique droplet combustion experiments in space. It consists of a CIA, an Avionics Package, and a multiple array of diagnostics.]

At ~9:00am EST the crewmembers conducted their regular WPC (Weekly Planning Conference) with the ground, discussing next week’s "Look-Ahead Plan" (prepared jointly by MCC-Houston and TsUP-Moscow timeline planners) via S-band/audio, reviewing the monthly calendar, upcoming activities, and any concerns about future on-orbit events.

CDR Fincke serviced the new WRS (Water Recovery System) by refilling the WSTA (Water Storage Tank Assembly) with pretreated urine from EDV-U container for processing. [The WSTA should be filled to no more than 60%.]

Sandy filled out the regular FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire), her first, 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 US Lab, Mike de-installed the UOP DCP (Utility Outlet Panel/Display & Control Panel) bypass power cable to the VTR (Video Tape Recorder) at the Lab & Cupola RWS (Robotics Work Stations), now no longer required for a while.

At ~6:00am EST, Yuri Lonchakov downlinked a New Year’s video message of greetings to TsUP/Moscow via MCC-Houston (Ku- & S-band).

The FE-1 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.]

The ISS crew completed their 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).

Weekly Science Update (Expedition Eighteen — Week 6)

3-D SPACE: PCMCIA card with results from session of Greg Chamitoff were downloaded on ULF-2.

ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS): Complete.

ANITA (Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air): Complete. Hardware returned on ULF-2.

BCAT-3/4 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test 3/4): Looking forward to a possible Voluntary Science run in NODE-2 on 12/13-14.

BIO-4: ROALD samples returned on ULF-2.

BIOLAB: The activity to remove a stuck triple contained syringe on 12/2 was not successful. The crew reported that the syringe is moveable, but the piston is still held by the inner gripper inner gripper mechanism of the Handling Mechanism arm, although the TM shows it to be released. The activity was aborted.

CARDIOCOG-2: Complete.

CCISS (Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Control on Return from ISS): In progress.

CFE (Capillary Flow Experiment): Reserve.

CW/CR (Cell Wall/Resist Wall) in EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System): Samples returned on 1J.

CSI-3/CGBA-5 (CGBA Science Insert #2/Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 5): “Thank you for exposing the Nectar which will provide food for the butterflies once they emerge. From video and images captured this week it appears the caterpillars are having difficultly pupating, but it is unclear whether this is due to the micro-g environment. The possibilities of a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis are decreasing with time, but all hope is not lost. The spiders remain well-fed and active in micro-g. All previously planned data on the spiders have been collected and are being analyzed. Because the spiders are doing well, data will continue to be collected for further analysis. The spider and caterpillar data are generating positive feedback from teachers whose students are enthusiastically engaged in tracking the progress of the CSI-3 experiment.”

CGBA-2 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 2): Complete.

CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2): Complete.

EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students): Complete.

EDR (European Drawer Rack): A software upgrade activity for Laptop and RIC was successfully performed on 12/3 with the support of the crew. This upgrade is required to prepare for the Protein Crystallization Diagnostic Facility (PCDF) experiment during the 15A Stage. Subsequently also PCDF-EU check-out was completed and images were received on the ground.

ELITE-S2 (Elaboratore Immagini Televisive – Space 2): Planned.

EPO (Educational Payload Operations): Reserve.

ETD (Eye Tracking Device): Completed.

EuTEF (European Technology Exposure Facility): The Data Handling Processing Unit (DHPU) MIL-BUS error has occurred again on 11/30. Similar MIL Bus errors have occurred on 11/5, 11/15, 11/17 and 11/20. Ground teams are investigating what causes this increased frequency of failures.– DEBIE-2: 24-hrs science scripts executed from 11/29 to 12/2;– DOSTEL: On-going science acquisition – nominal;– EuTEMP: Currently inactive as planned;– EVC: troubleshooting was planned on 12/3-4, awaiting results;– EXPOSE: On-going science acquisition – nominal;– FIPEX: New EOP started on 12/3;– MEDET: On-going science acquisition – nominal; — PLEGPAY: Inactive, “Experiment 1” memory has been erased on 10/30. Plasma generation capability has been disabled;– TRIBOLAB: Anomaly with the TRIBOLAB Ball Bearing experiment shaft motor, currently being analyzed, unfortunately does not look good. It looks like Ball Bearing motor shaft is severely damaged.

FSL (Fluid Science Laboratory): FSL is nominal.

GEOFLOW: MMA (Microgravity Measurement Apparatus) measurements during ULF-2 undocking could not be recorded due to issue with ground commanding/display. The issue was resolved and MMA measurements could be collected during 31P docking. Ground infrastructure at MARS USOC will be upgraded to support GEOFLOW science acquisition as of week#7.

HDTV System Test DL (JAXA): Complete.

IMMUNO (Neuroendocrine & Immune Responses in Humans During & After Long Term Stay at ISS): Complete.

InSPACE-2 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions 2): In progress.

Integrated Immune: In progress.

ICE CRYSTAL (JAXA): Since it started on 12/1, the experiment has been running successfully. After the super cooling temperature was changed, we are now observing the crystallization of Ice during night time on ISS.

KUBIK-FM1/ KUBIK-FM2 Centrifuge/Incubators: Completed.

LOCAD-PTS (Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System): “Thanks for operating Lab-on-a-Chip for Voluntary Science. We got good feedback from your comments and video. Your dispensing technique was great; I liked the way you held the Reader with your left hand to steady yourself. The data was also pretty interesting. The most interesting number out of the five that appeared on the display is the first one, called "Sample ng/mL". It tells you how much ‘fungi’ you have in your sample, and ranges between 1-100 ng/mL. The readings you obtained from the ATU (23.8 ng/mL) and Biolab glove box (<1.26ng/mL), were similar to those obtained by Greg in the US Lab and Node 1 (between 1 and 18 ng/mL). Trace levels of fungi such as these are common on all surfaces and are of no real concern. Readings above 75 ng/mL are potential indications of more established fungal growth.”

Marangoni Experiment for ISS in JAXA FPEF (Fluid Physics Experiment Facility): In progress.

Micro-G Clay (JAXA EPO): Complete.

MISSE (Materials ISS Experiment): Ongoing.

Moon Photography from ISS (JAXA EPO): Complete.

MOP (Motion Perception in Zero-G): Three ULF-2 astronauts have participated in this experiment (daily questionnaires)

MSG-SAME (Microgravity Science Glovebox): Complete.

MTR-2 (Russian radiation measurements): Passive dosimeters measurements in DC1 “Pirs”.

MULTIGEN-1: Completed.

MUSCLE-G (LBP/Low Back Pain): Six ULF- astronauts have participating in this experiment (daily questionnaires)

NOA-1/-2 (Nitric Oxide Analyzer, ESA): Complete.

NUTRITION w/REPOSITORY: In progress.

PADLES (Passive Dosimeter for Lifescience Experiment in Space): In progress.

PCRF (Protein Crystallization Research Facility) Reconfiguration (JAXA): Complete.

PMDIS (Perceptual Motor Deficits in Space): Complete.

SAMS/MAMS (Space & Microgravity Acceleration Measurement Systems): Ongoing.

SAMPLE: Complete.

SHERE (Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment): SHERE is standing by and ready for any science operations in the MSG during the month of December.

SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight): In progress.

SOLAR (Solar Monitoring Observatory): The Sun visibility window started on 11/21 and ended in the night from 12/1 to 2. After a last sun tracking of 4.5 min which started around GMT336/22:50, SOLAR was put in idle mode on 337/00:34. A software patch was successfully uploaded on 11/20 and SOLAR is now running version 4.7 and is in Pointing Mode. The new SOLAR software release is currently loaded on the RAM memory, and it will be transferred to the SOLAR Flash Disk on 12/5. In the night of 12/2-3, SOLAR experienced a loss of ancillary data. The issue is under investigation to avoid impact during next Sun visibility window.– SOVIM: No science acquisition, non-nominal mode: Trouble-shooting activities were not successful. Unfortunately results look not good for instrument. – SOLSPEC: science acquisition until 12/1-2, out of sun visibility since;– SOLACES: science acquisition until 12/1-2, out of sun visibility since.

SOLO (Sodium Loading in Microgravity): Blood and urine samples from Greg Chamitoff were returned with ULF-2.

SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellite): Reserve.

Swab (Characterization of Microorganisms & Allergens in Spacecraft): Complete.

TRAC (Test of Reaction & Adaptation Capabilities): Planned.

ULTRASOUND: Planned.

WAICO #1 (Waving and Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots at Different g-levels): The 4 remaining EC’s (Experiment Containers) were returned with ULF-2, although it is not foreseen to analyze them for scientific purpose.

CEO (Crew Earth Observations): ”For this past week the crew captured some good quality imagery, with regard to sharpness and content. We note in particular detailed images of the pyramids and urban scenes nearby, complex landscapes of megafan plains in Argentina (Bermejo R.), several Andes lakes and a 800 mm view of the Mt Nemut Caldera, Turkey near L. Van. The image chosen for this week’s Earth Observatory website submission is a detailed 800mm shot of Deriba Caldera in western Sudan, with a central Asian dust storm for next week.”

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).

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible!):
12/07/08 — Progress M-65/30P reentry (after 3 weeks autonomous flight for geophysical experiments)
12/22/08 — Russian EVA-21 (hatch opening ~7:15pm)
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/Atlantis/17A – MPLM (P), last crew rotation
08/XX/09 — Progress/MRM2 (Russian Mini Research Module, MIM2) on Soyuz
09/XX/09 — H-IIB (JAXA HTV-1)
11/12/09 — STS-129/Endeavour/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/Endeavour/ULF4 – ICC-VLD, MRM1 (contingency)
05/31/10 — STS-133/Endeavour/ULF5 – ELC3, ELC4 (contingency).