NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 7 May 2011
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Saturday – crew off duty.
Upon wake-up, FE-1 Samokutyayev performed the regular daily check of the aerosol filters at the Russian Elektron O2 (oxygen) generator. [Maxim Suraev installed these filters on 10/19/09 in gaps between the BZh Liquid Unit and the oxygen outlet pipe (filter FA-K) plus hydrogen outlet pipe (filter FA-V). Alexandr inspects the filters again before bedtime tonight, currently a daily requirement per plan, with photographs to be taken if the filter packing is discolored.]
FE-5 Nespoli continued his 5th (FD180) and final suite of sessions with the medical protocol Pro K (Dietary Intake Can Predict and Protect against Changes in Bone Metabolism during Spaceflight and Recovery), with diet logging after the urine pH spot test, for a 5-day period. Before sleeptime tonight, Paolo sets up the equipment for his NUTRITION/Repository/Pro K 24-hr urine collections starting tomorrow. Also tomorrow, Cady Coleman will set up the hardware for Paolo’s ProK/Nutrition/Repository blood draw on Monday (5/9). [For Pro K, there are five in-flight sessions (FD15, FD30, FD60, FD120, FD180) of samplings, to be shared with the NUTRITION w/Repository protocol, each one with five days of diet & urine pH logging and photography on the last day. The crewmember prepares a diet log and then annotates quantities of food packets consumed and supplements taken. Urine collections are spread over 24 hrs; samples go into the MELFI (Minus Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS) within 30 min after collection. Blood samples, on the last day, are centrifuged in the RC (Refrigerated Centrifuge) and placed in MELFI at -80 degC. There is an 8-hr fasting requirement prior to the blood draw (i.e., no food or drink, but water ingestion is encouraged). MELFI constraints: Maximum MELFI dewar open time: 60 sec; at least 45 min between MELFI dewar door openings.]
FE-6 Coleman concluded her 4th (FD135) and final 24-hr ICV (Integrated Cardiovascular) Ambulatory Monitoring session, doffing the two Actiwatches and HM2 (Holter Monitor 2) about 24 hrs after the end of yesterday’s “midpoint” activity (~2:50pm EDT). Data download from all devices to the HRF (Human Research Function) PC1 laptop will be scheduled later. [For the ICV Ambulatory Monitoring session, during the first 24 hrs (while all devices are worn), ten minutes of quiet, resting breathing are timelined to collect data for a specific analysis. The nominal exercise includes at least 10 minutes at a heart rate >=120 bpm (beats per minute). After 24 hrs, the Cardiopres/BP is doffed and the HM2 HiFi CF Card and AA Battery are changed out to allow continuation of the session for another 24 hours, with the Makita batteries switched as required. After data collection is complete, the Actiwatches and both HM2 HiFi CF Cards are downloaded to the HRF PC1, while Cardiopres data are downloaded to the EPM (European Physiology Module) Rack and transferred to the HRF PC1 via a USB key for downlink.]
The six-member crew joined in conducting the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough cleaning of their home, including COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) and Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module). [“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 sleep stations 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 uborka house cleaning, CDR, FE-1 & FE-2 completed regular maintenance inspection & cleaning of the TsV2 fan screen in the FGB plus Group E fan grilles (VPkhO, FS5, FS6, VP) in the SM (Service Module).
FE-2 Borisenko took the (currently) daily photographs of the BTKh-39 ASEPTIK culture medium samples in the “Poverkhnost” and “Vozdukh” devices and their stowage, later edited the images and downlinked them to Earth.
At ~6:55am, Paolo Nespoli powered up the new amateur radio station in the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) and at ~7:05am conducted a ham radio session with students at Istituto Tecnico Industriale Statale “Enrico Mattei”, Maglie, Italy.
At ~8:30am, Kondratyev, Samokutyayev & Borisenko supported a Russian PAO TV event, downlinking congratulations on the occasion of Victoria Day, May 9, an official Russian holiday, to the V-Day veterans and war veterans at Baikonur/Kazakhstan. [The Soviet Victory Day on May 9 marked the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War (also known as the Great Patriotic War) in Russia. Though it has been celebrated since 1946, the holiday became a non-labor day only in 1965 and only in some of the countries.]
At ~8:35am, Paolo used the COL amateur radio station for a ham pass with students at the Turin Flying Institute, Caselle Torinese, Italy.
At ~9:00am EDT, the six crewmembers held the regular WPC (Weekly Planning Conference) with the ground, discussing next week’s “Look-Ahead Plan” (prepared jointly by MCC-H and TsUP-Moscow timeline planners), via S-band/audio, reviewing upcoming activities and any concerns about future on-orbit events.
At ~11:25am, the three Russian crewmembers supported a Russian PAO TV downlink, addressing messages of greetings and salutations to four different events. [To (1) the participants of the “Single Day, the Children’s Road Safety” propaganda event for children’s road safety to be held May 11 on the city square of the city of Odintsovo, Moscow Region; (2) to the closing ceremony of the Continental Hockey League (CHL) with the presentation of individual, team and special prizes to the best players, coaches and clubs of the season for the Gagarin Cup. One of the special prizes, “The Future Depends on You”, will be awarded in the category “Best Newcomer” to a very young and promising player of the CHL, (3) as a TV salute to the opening of the Fifth International Satellite Navigation Forum 2011 on June 1 in Moscow in the “Expocenter” Central Exhibition Complex, and (4) as a welcome at the opening meeting of the Sixth Congress of All-Russian Teachers on May 30-31 in Moscow.]
At 1:10pm, Cady conducted a ham radio session from the COL with visitors at the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
FE-1 & FE-5 had their weekly PFCs (Private Family Conferences) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop), Sasha at ~7:30am, Paolo at ~10:45am EDT.
The crew worked out with their regular 2-hr physical exercise protocol on the CEVIS cycle ergometer with vibration isolation (FE-3), ARED advanced resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-2, FE-3, FE-5, FE-6), T2/COLBERT advanced treadmill (CDR, FE-1, FE-2, FE-5, FE-6) and VELO ergometer bike with load trainer (FE-1, FE-2).
TVIS Treadmill Update: TVIS data on sound are still being analyzed by specialists. A possibly TVIS intrusive gyro inspection is under discussion. For the time being, TVIS continues to be No Go for the crew.
TOCA Issue: On 5/5, the crew reported a TOCA (Total Organic Carbon Analyzer) fault alert indicating elevated liquid loop pressures. Specific root cause is unknown but is thought to be related to an improperly executed buffer container changeout and associated loop priming. A procedure is in work to provide manual commanding to relieve pressure by forcing water through a downstream relief valve. Planned execution is 5/10 (Tuesday).
Weekly Science Update (Expedition Twenty-Seven — Week 7)
2D NANO Template (JAXA): No report.
3D SPACE: No report.
AgCam (Agricultural Camera): No report.
ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS): Complete.
ALTEA SHIELD (NASA/ASI): On 5/2, the ALTEA DAU lost H&S. After power cycling, the H&S could be recovered and all six SDU’s started measuring again. However on 5/3, two of the SDU’s lost communication. Since both SDU’s are in the same direction, this implies loss of science. Under investigation whether these days do then not count against the minimum of 20 days measurement.
AMS-02 (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer): AMS: “GO” on ULF-6. AMS Laptop: Daily commanding and weekly downlinks progressing nicely. On 5/4, when loading a file from the rack RIC EMU into the Laptop, the Laptop software restarted, causing a momentary loss of health and status.
APEX (Advanced Plant Experiments on Orbit) -Cambium: No report.
APEX-TAGES (Transgenic Arabidopsis Gene Expression System): No report.
Asian Seed 2010 (JAXA): Photo session is on the task list.
BCAT-4/5 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test 4/5): No report.
BIOLAB (ESA): No report.
BIORHYTHMS (JAXA, Biological Rhythms): Biorhythm for Cady was performed on 5/4 & 5/5. Biorhythm for Paolo began on 5/5 and was completed on 5/6.
BISE (CSA, Bodies in the Space Environment): No report.
BISPHOSPHONATES: No report.
BXF-Facility (Boiling eXperiment Facility, NASA): No report.
BXF-MABE (Microheater Array Boiling Experiment, NASA): No report.
BXF-NPBX (Pool Boiling Experiment, NASA): No report.
CARD (Long Term Microgravity: Model for Investigating Mechanisms of Heart Disease, ESA): No report.
CARDIOCOG-2: Complete.
CB (JAXA Clean Bench): No report.
CBEF-2 (JAXA Cell Biology Experiment Facility)/SPACE SEED: “Ron and Cady: thanks for all your help on CFE-2 on Tuesday of this week. Ron, capturing a bubble in that transfer tube did require some careful manipulation, and we appreciate your patience in trying different methods to do so. We think you may have discovered a new mechanism for bubble migration due to compression heating of gas bubbles. Compressing the bubble using the piston in the fluid reservoir increases the gas temperature by 40-60 C in the bubble, which the PI thinks is enough to cause thermal gradients in the bubble that correspondingly generate the surface tension gradients of the fluid at the bubble interface. If so, these surface tension gradients can cause the bubble to migrate via what is called the thermo-capillary or Marangoni effect. You were able to get 2 runs in where the bubble did move, although to you it probably seemed as slow as watching grass grow! We still need to review the data from MAMS to confirm that the small residual accelerations on ISS did not cause the movement due to buoyancy effects. Again, thank you for a great experiment run!”
CCISS (Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Control on Return from ISS): No report.
CERISE (JAXA): No report.
CCF (Capillary Channel Flow): No report.
CFS-A (Colored Fungi in Space-A, ESA): No report.
CSI-3/CGBA-5 (CGBA Science Insert #2/Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 5): Ongoing.
CGBA-2 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 2): Complete.
CIR (Combustion Integrated Rack), MDCA/Flex: No report.
Commercial (Inc 23&24, JAXA): No report.
Commercial (Inc 25 & 26, JAXA): Sample launch & return by ULF6.
CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2): No report.
CsPins (JAXA): Run1-3 was performed on 4/27 & 4/28. The sample was fixed and stowed in MELFI. And the samples of Run1-2 and Run1-3 are waiting for ULF6.
CubeLab: No report.
CW/CR (Cell Wall/Resist Wall) in EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System): Complete.
DECLIC-ALI (Device for the Study of Critical Liquids & Crystallization-ALICE-like, CNES/NASA): No report.
DomeGene (JAXA): Complete.
DOSIS (Dose Distribution Inside ISS, ESA): Acquiring science data with DOSTEL-2 detector.
EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students): No report.
EDR (European Drawer Rack, ESA): No report.
EKE (Endurance Capacity by Gas Exchange and Heart Rate Kinetics During Physical Training, ESA): “Thanks to data sharing with VO2max, the EKE science team has gathered their last science data take during your VO2max session of today 5/5. Thank you!”
ELITE-S2 (Elaboratore Immagini Televisive – Space 2): Planned.
EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System): No report.
ENose (Electronic Nose): No report.
EPM (European Physiology Module): No report.
EPO (Educational Payload Operations, NASA) (Hobbies): No report.
EPO (Educational Payload Operations, NASA) (Kids in Space): No report.
EPO LES-2 (ESA): No report.
EPO GREENHOUSE (ESA): No report.
EPO 3-min Video (JAXA): No report.
EPO J-Astro Report (JAXA): No report.
EPO Dewey’s Forest (JAXA): Closed out on 3/15.
EPO Space Clothes (JAXA): Complete.
EPO Hiten (Dance, JAXA): No report.
EPO-5 SpaceBottle (Message in a Bottle, JAXA): No report.
EPO Moon Score (JAXA): No report.
EPO Try Zero-G (JAXA): No report.
EPO Kibo Kids Tour (JAXA): Complete.
EPO Paper Craft (Origami, JAXA): No report.
EPO Poem (JAXA): No report.
EPO Spiral Top (JAXA): No report.
ERB-2 (Erasmus Recording Binocular, ESA): [ERB-2 aims are to develop narrated video material for various PR & educational products & events, including a 3D interior station view.] No report.
ETD (Eye Tracking Device): Completed.
FACET-2 (JAXA): No report.
FERULATE (JAXA): No report.
FIR/LMM/CVB (Fluids Integrated Rack / Light Microscopy Module / Constrained Vapor Bubble): No report.
Fish Scales (JAXA): Completed on FD7/ULF-4 and returned on STS-132.
FOAM STABILITY (ESA): No report.
FOCUS: No report.
FSL (Fluid Science Laboratory, ESA): Active for GEOFLOW-II experiment. Refer to GEOFLOW-II.
FWED (Flywheel Exercise Device, ESA): No report.
GENARA-A (Gravity Regulated Genes in Arabidopsis A/ESA): No report.
GEOFLOW (ESA): On-going operations, however impacted by 3 anomalies over the last couple of weeks: 1) Experiment Container PID control is skipping some experimental set-points; 2) FSL encountered some TEC control board trip; 3) problem with the Experiment Container Rotating Tray (belt slipping). These anomalies restrict the parameter ranges (Delta T, rotation speed) to perform science runs for the moment. While waiting for the delivery of an updated software to resolve the first two anomalies, the plan for this past week was to do a re-run of a Medium-High rotation run (rotation ranging from 0.2Hz to 1.6Hz in steps of 0.2Hz, delta-Temperature between two spheres = 1K and central force field HV = 6.5kV) which could not be completed on 4/28. At the last set-point for this run, an anomaly happened preventing the FSL VMU to record the related images on the VMU hard disk. This setpoint is to be repeated. All data were successfully downlinked afterwards.
HAIR (JAXA): Hair for Ron, Paolo and Cady was performed on 5/4.
HDTV System (JAXA): Was delivered by HTV1.
Hicari (JAXA): Still working on the Facility (GHF) checkout. On 5/2, the insulation resistance on the GHF Heating Unit was measured and is being assessed.
Holter ECG (JAXA): No report.
HQPC (JAXA): Was delivered by 34P.
HREP (HICO/Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean & RAIDS/Remote Atmospheric & Ionospheric Detection System/JAXA): No report.
HydroTropi (Hydrotropism & Auxin-Inducible Gene Expression in Roots Grown under Microgravity Conditions/JAXA): No report.
ICE CRYSTAL (JAXA): Complete.
ICV (Integrated Cardiovascular): “Cady, the ICV team would like to thank you for your flexibility in accommodating a Thursday start to your Ambulatory Monitoring activities. Also, here are the additional details about the findings from the recent Cardiopres Pump Test: 1. All connections appear to be good. The hardware developer confirmed that the freedom of movement that you noted for some connectors is part of the design. 2. The “hiccups” that you reported are also believed to be nominal. The Cardiopres is designed to operate the pump as little as possible in order to conserve battery power so when the pump reaches the correct pressure, it stops until additional pressure is needed. This feature is most noticeable when there is sudden back pressure (the ICV team induced hiccups on a ground unit this way) or when operating the Cardiopres pump at low pressures, such as at 50 mmHg in maintenance mode (as you reported). This could also occur when arterial blood pressure readings are very low (e.g., when the fingers are very cold or when the cuff is on the fingertip). 3. The mechanical and squealing sounds that you noted are most likely due to friction of the ball bearings in the pump (which is part of normal wear-and-tear). When the pressure is set to zero, the pump may continue to rotate very slowly for a time which could produce such a noise. In summary, the on-orbit Cardiopres unit does seem to have some mechanical wear. The ICV team is ok with continuing operations without the Cardiopres. Both the hardware developer and the ICV team would like to thank you for providing detailed results of the test and Friday’s ops as this assisted the team greatly in drawing conclusions.””
IMMUNO (Neuroendocrine & Immune Responses in Humans During & After Long Term Stay at ISS): Complete.
INTEGRATED IMMUNE: No report.
InSPACE-2 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions 2): No report.
IRIS (Image Reversal in Space, CSA): No report.
ISS Amateur/Ham Radio: No report.
IV Gen (Intravenous Fluids Generation): No report.
KID/KUBIK6: No report.
Kids in Micro-G: “The results of Attracting Water Drops were great. From what we saw on the video, it looks like the water drop was traveling along the equipotential lines around the charged tubing. Thanks for completing Flight of Paper Rockets. The Children’s Museum of History, Science, and Technology plans to hold a press conference to announce an exhibit featuring the students’ experiment along with the edited on orbit video. The video will also be used on NASA education websites.”
KUBIK 3 (ESA): No report.
LOCAD-PTS (Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System): No report.
Marangoni Exp (JAXA): 24th run was completed on 12/22.
Marangoni DSD – Dynamic Surf (JAXA): Payload name was change from Marangoni DSD to Dynamic Surf.
Marangoni UVP (JAXA): The MI cassette removal and stow was performed on 5/2 in preparation for return on ULF7.
Matryoshka-2 (RSA): No report.
MAXI (Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image, JAXA): No report.
MDCA/Flex: No report.
MEIS (Marangoni Experiment for ISS) in JAXA FPEF (Fluid Physics Experiment Facility): No report.
Microbe-2 (JAXA): Sample return by ULF6.
Micro-G Clay (JAXA EPO): Complete.
MISSE-7 (Materials ISS Experiment): No report.
MMA (JAXA/Microgravity Measurement Apparatus): No report.
MPAC/SEED (JAXA): Completed on 19A FD4.
MSG-SAME (Microgravity Science Glovebox-Smoke Aerosol Measurement Experiment): No report.
MSL (Materials Science Laboratory, ESA): Last Sample Cartridge Assembly (SCA) returned with STS-133 (ULF5).
MTR-2 (Russian radiation measurements): Passive dosimeters measurements in DC-1 “Pirs”.
MULTIGEN-1: Completed.
MYCO 3 (JAXA): No report.
MyoLab (JAXA): Completed on 4/20.
NANOSKELETON (Production of High Performance Nanomaterials in Microgravity, JAXA): Experiment Exp2 completed on 4/8.
NEURORAD (JAXA): No report.
NEUROSPAT (ESA/Study of Spatial Cognition, Novelty Processing and Sensorimotor Integration):
NOA-1/-2 (Nitric Oxide Analyzer, ESA): Complete.
NUTRITION w/REPOSITORY/ProK: No report.
PADIAC (Pathway Different Activators, ESA): No report.
PADLES (JAXA, Area PADLES 3/4; Passive Area Dosimeter for Lifescience Experiment in Space): No report.
PASSAGES (JAXA): No report.
PCDF-PU (Protein Crystallization Diagnostic Facility – Process Unit): No report.
PCG (JAXA, Protein Crystal Growth): No report.
PCRF (Protein Crystallization Research Facility) Reconfiguration (JAXA): See PCG.
PMDIS (Perceptual Motor Deficits in Space): Complete.
POLCA/GRAVIGEN (ESA): Complete.
Pro K: No report.
RadGene & LOH (JAXA): Complete.
RadSilk (JAXA): No report.
RST/Reaction Self Test (Psychomotor Vigilance Self Test on the ISS): “Paolo, Cady and Ron, thank you for your participation in Reaction Self Test!”
RYUTAI Rack (JAXA): No report.
SAIBO Rack (JAXA): No report.
SAMS/MAMS (Space & Microgravity Acceleration Measurement Systems): No report.
SAMPLE: Complete.
SCOF (Solution Crystallization Observation Facility, JAXA): No report.
SEDA-AP (Space Environment Data Acquisition Equipment-Attached Payload, JAXA): Continuous operation from Inc 19&20.
SHERE (Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment): Complete.
SLAMMD (Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device): No report.
SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight): No report.
SMILES (JAXA): Recooling mode #13 continues.
SODI/IVIDIL (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument/Influence of Vibration on Diffusion in Liquids, ESA): No report.
SODI/COLLOID (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument/Colloid): COLLOID flash-disks returned with STS-133 (ULF5).
SOLAR (Solar Monitoring Observatory): In the middle of Sun Visibility Window #40 for SOLAR. Acquiring science data nominally for both SOLACES and SOLSPEC. Further investigation on-going on the observed degradation of SOLACES spectrophotometers.
SOLO (Sodium Loading in Microgravity): No report.
Space-DRUMS (Space Dynamically Responding Ultrasonic Matrix System): No report.
SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellite): No report.
SPHINX (SPaceflight of Huvec: an Integrated eXperiment, ESA): No report.
SPICE (Smoke Point In Co-flow Experiment): No report.
SPINAL (Spinal Elongation): No report.
SWAB (Characterization of Microorganisms & Allergens in Spacecraft): No report.
TASTE IN SPACE (ESA): No report.
THERMOLAB (ESA): “Thank you Cady for your last THERMOLAB science data gathering during your VO2max session of 5/5! Data have been downlinked are being passed on to the science team.”
TRAC (Test of Reaction & Adaptation Capabilities): Planned.
TREADMILL KINEMATICS: No report.
TRIPLELUX-B (ESA): No report.
ULTRASOUND: Planned.
VASCULAR (CSA): No report.
VCAM (Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Module, NASA): No report.
VESSEL ID System (ESA): Acquiring science data with NorAIS receiver.
VESSEL IMAGING (ESA): No sessions possible due to Ultrasound anomaly.
VO2max (NASA): “Cady, great job on your last VO2max session, completing the calibrations and instrument check without any issues! The data has been received on the ground and analysis will begin soon. The PI looks forward to seeing you on R+1.”
VLE (Video Lessons ESA): No report.
WAICO #1/#2 (Waving and Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots at Different g-levels; ESA): No report.
YEAST B (ESA): No report.
CEO (Crew Earth Observation): Through 5/3, 13,050 ISS CEO frames were received on the ground for review and cataloging. “We are pleased to report your acquisition of the following targets with times corresponding to those of our daily CEO Target Request lists: Lake Poopo, Bolivia – two sessions containing useful imagery were acquired, providing a timely update to ENSO-linked inundations occurring there – these frames remain under evaluation additional imagery may be required; and Kilauea, HI – although some nearby imagery acquired – clouds appear to cover the areas of interest – we will continue to request this target as conditions permit. Beautiful photo of the complex channel system of the Parana River Floodplain was published this past weekend in NASA/GFSC’s Earth Observatory website. Your detailed view of the segment of the floodplain is highly instructive for understanding the patterns and geomorphology this major South American river. Nice shot! Additional CEO info is in the tab below entitled ‘CEO additional info'”
CEO (Crew Earth Observation) targets uplinked for today were Asmara, Eritrea (this capital city of nearly 600,000 lies at elevation of 7,628 ft near a great escarpment that marks the edge of the Eritrean Highlands, with the shores of the Red Sea just 50 miles to the east. Today ISS had a nadir pass with clear weather in late morning light, and an approach from the SW. This is a low-contrast target, so as the crew tracked northeastward over the rugged, barren Highlands at this time they were to begin a nadir-looking mapping pass ending when they reached the escarpment or the coast), Sofia, Bulgaria (the Bulgarian capital city is located in the western part of the country within a broad valley of the Balkan Mountains. ISS had a near-nadir pass at midday with fair weather and approach from the SW. As ISS tracked northeastward over the Balkan Peninsula the crew was to look for this metropolitan area of nearly 2 million. CEO staff is only seeking a context view that includes the entire city), and Jornada Basin, New Mexico (this Long Term Ecological Research [LTER] site is devoted to the causes and consequences of desertification. It is located in the northern Chihuahuan Desert just northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico. ISS had a midday pass in clear weather for this target area. As the crew approached the Rio Grande River valley from the SW, they should have easily spotted the large urban area of El Paso/Juarez. Trying for a detailed mapping strip of eastern side of the river valley from Las Cruces northward).
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:56am EDT [= epoch])
Mean altitude – 345.7 km
Apogee height – 347.5 km
Perigee height – 344.0 km
Period — 91.45 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.65 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0002544
Solar Beta Angle — -13.1 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 189 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) – 71,449
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time and subject to change):
————–Six-crew operations————-
05/16/11 — STS-134/Endeavour launch ULF6 (ELC-3, AMS) ~8:56am EDT [not earlier than]
05/18/11 — STS-134/Endeavour docking – for a 16-day mission
05/23/11 — Soyuz TMA-20/25S undock/landing (End of Increment 27)
————–Three-crew operations————-
06/07/11 — Soyuz TMA-02M/27S launch – M. Fossum (CDR-29)/S. Furukawa/S. Volkov
06/09/11 — Soyuz TMA-02M/27S docking (MRM1)
————–Six-crew operations————-
06/xx/11 — ATV-2 “Johannes Kepler” undock (SM aft)
06/21/11 — Progress M-11M/43P launch
06/23/11 — Progress M-11M/43P docking (SM aft)
06/28/11 — STS-135/Atlantis launch ULF7 (MPLM) ~3:30pm EDT NET
06/30/11 — STS-135/Atlantis docking ULF7 (MPLM) NET
07/27/11 – Russian EVA #29
08/29/11 — Progress M-11M/43P undocking
08/30/11 — Progress M-12M/44P launch
09/01/11 — Progress M-12M/44P docking (SM aft)
09/16/11 – Soyuz TMA-21/26S undock/landing (End of Increment 28)
————–Three-crew operations————-
09/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-03M/28S launch – D.Burbank (CDR-30)/A.Shkaplerov/A.Ivanishin
10/02/11 – Soyuz TMA-03M/28S docking (MRM2)
————–Six-crew operations————-
10/25/11 — Progress M-10M/42P undocking
10/26/11 — Progress M-13M/45P launch
10/28/11 — Progress M-13M/45P docking (DC-1)
11/16/11 — Soyuz TMA-02M/27S undock/landing (End of Increment 29)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S launch – O.Kononenko (CDR-31)/A.Kuipers/D.Pettit
12/02/11 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S docking (MRM1)
————–Six-crew operations—————-
12/26/11 — Progress M-13M/45P undock
12/27/11 — Progress M-14M/46P launch
12/29/11 — Progress M-14M/46P docking (DC-1)
02/29/12 — ATV3 launch readiness
03/05/12 — Progress M-12M/44P undock
03/16/12 — Soyuz TMA-03M/28S undock/landing (End of Increment 30)
————–Three-crew operations————-
03/30/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S launch – G.Padalka (CDR-32)/J.Acaba/K.Volkov
04/01/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S docking (MRM2)
————–Six-crew operations—————-
05/05/12 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) w/ERA – launch on Proton (under review)
05/06/12 — Progress M-14M/46P undock
05/07/12 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) – docking (under review)
05/16/12 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S undock/landing (End of Increment 31)
————–Three-crew operations————-
05/29/12 – Soyuz TMA-06M/31S launch – S.Williams (CDR-33)/Y.Malenchenko/A.Hoshide
05/31/12 – Soyuz TMA-06M/31S docking
————–Six-crew operations—————-
09/18/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S undock/landing (End of Increment 32)
————–Three-crew operations————-
10/02/12 — Soyuz TMA-07M/32S launch – K.Ford (CDR-34)/O.Novitskiy/E.Tarelkin
10/04/12 – Soyuz TMA-07M/32S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
11/16/12 — Soyuz TMA-06M/31S undock/landing (End of Increment 33)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/30/12 — Soyuz TMA-08M/33S launch – C.Hadfield (CDR-35)/T.Mashburn/R.Romanenko
12/02/12 – Soyuz TMA-08M/33S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
03/xx/13 — Soyuz TMA-07M/32S undock/landing (End of Increment 34)
————–Three-crew operations————-
03/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-09M/34S launch – P.Vinogradov (CDR-36)/C.Cassidy/A.Misurkin
03/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-09M/34S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
05/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-08M/33S undock/landing (End of Increment 35)
————–Three-crew operations————-
05/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-10M/35S launch – M.Suraev (CDR-37)/K.Nyberg/L.Parmitano
05/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-10M/35S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
09/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-09M/34S undock/landing (End of Increment 36)
————–Three-crew operations————-
09/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-11M/36S launch – M.Hopkins/TBD (CDR-38)/TBD
09/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-11M/36S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
11/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-10M/35S undock/landing (End of Increment 37)
————–Three-crew operations————-
11/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-12M/37S launch – K.Wakata (CDR-39)/R.Mastracchio/TBD
11/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-12M/37S docking
————–Six-crew operations————-
03/xx/14 – Soyuz TMA-11M/36S undock/landing (End of Increment 38)
————–Three-crew operations————-
