NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 7 October 2008

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.

FE-2 Chamitoff had the fifth day of his first SOLO (Sodium Loading in Microgravity) session, which runs in two blocks of six days each. Today, Greg continued with measurements and sampling of body mass (with SLAMMD/Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device), blood (with PCBA/Portable Clinical Blood Analyzer), and urine, begun yesterday and continuing for one more day. [Background: For the SOLO experiment, Chamitoff follows a special high-salt diet, for which prepared meals are provided onboard. All three daily meals are being logged on sheets stowed in the PCBA Consumable Kit in the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS) along with control solution and cartridges for the PCBA. Blood and urine samples are stowed in the MELFI. SOLO, an ESA/German experiment from the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Cologne/Germany, investigates the mechanisms of fluid and salt retention in the body during long-duration space flight. Background: The hypothesis of an increased urine flow as the main cause for body mass decrease has been questioned in several recently flown missions. Data from the US SLS1/2 missions as well as the European/Russian Euromir `94 & MIR 97 missions show that urine flow and total body fluid remain unchanged when isocaloric energy intake is achieved. However, in two astronauts during these missions the renin-angiotensin system was considerably activated while plasma ANP concentrations were decreased. Calculation of daily sodium balances during a 15-day experiment of the MIR 97 mission (by subtracting sodium excretion from sodium intake) showed an astonishing result: the astronaut retained on average 50 mmol sodium daily in space compared to balanced sodium in the control experiment. SLAMMD, performed first on Expedition 12 in December 2005, provides an accurate means of determining the on-orbit mass of humans spanning the range from the 5th percentile Japanese female and the 95th percentile American male. The procedure, in accordance with Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion, finds the mass by dividing force, generated by two springs inside the SLAMMD drawer, by acceleration measured with a precise optical instrument that detects the position versus time trajectory of the SLAMMD guide arm and a micro controller which collects the raw data and provides the precise timing. The final computation is done via portable laptop computer with SLAMMD unique software. To calculate their mass, crewmembers wrap their legs around a leg support assembly, align the stomach against a belly pad and either rest the head or chin on a head rest. For calibration, an 18-lbs. mass is used at different lengths from the pivot point, to simulate different mass values. Crew mass range is from 90 to 240 lbs.]

FE-1 Kononenko updated the AntiVirus program in the Russian auxiliary (VKS) laptops RSS1, RSK1, RSK2, RSE1 from a new uplinked program copy on the RSS2 laptop, first scanning the latter, then transferring the database by flash-card to the other computers and scanning them one by one.

CDR Volkov terminated his first session of the Russian MedOps MO-2 protocol which calls for 24-hour recording of his ECG (electrocardiogram) and assisted the FE-1 in donning the equipment for his turn with MO-2 for the next 24 hrs. [For the ECG recording, each cosmonaut wears the five-electrode Holter harness that reads their dynamic (in motion) heart function from two leads over 24 hours and record data on the Kardioregistrator 90205 unit.]

After downloading the accumulated IWIS (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System) structural dynamics data from Saturday’s (10/4) Progress thruster reboost of the ISS from the RSUs (Remote Sensor Units) in the US Lab, Node-1, Node-2, FGB and SM (Service Module), Volkov today powered down the sensors and NCU (Network Control Unit).

FE-2 Chamitoff had about two hours reserved for unpacking US cargo delivered on Progress M65/30P.

Volkov & Kononenko worked another two hours each on pre-packing return cargo to be loaded on Soyuz TMA-12, based on a detailed 15-page loading list with schematics (“maps”) as stowage guides for the extremely limited stowage space in the 16S Descent Module (SA).

For a VolSci (Voluntary Science) program session tonight before sleeptime, Gregory set up the BCAT-4 (Binary Colloid Alloy Test 4) experiment, first familiarizing himself with payload hardware & operations, then setting up the experiment in the Lab Avionics Racks 2 & 3 seat track area, along with camcorder and still camera,- to take video and photos of Greg performing sample homogenization, the first crystal check of the session, crystal photography, and sample photography, and then initiated the activity. [The FE-2 configured the SGSM (slow growth sample module) by mixing the samples 8, 9, 10, and 3 and starting automated photography of sample 3 with the Kodak DCS-760 digital still camera controlled by the EarthKAM software running on an SSC (Station Support Computer).]

The two cosmonauts again had a one-hour period each to themselves for the regular crew departure preparations, working on the standard end-of-increment cleanup preparatory to their return to Earth later this month. [It is usual for Russian crewmembers to be granted reduced workdays for making their departure preparations, as their return date approaches.]

In preparation for the arrival of Mike Fincke, the new CDR of Expedition 18, Greg Chamitoff collected and gathered the physical exercise equipment to be used by Mike, already in stowage on board or newly delivered on Progress 30P. [Typical items are HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) chest strap, watch & transmitter, PCMCIA memory cards, treadmill harness, and exercise shoes, etc.]

The crew completed 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/2.5h, FE-1/2.5h), and RED resistive exercise device (FE-2).

Later, the CDR transfers 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).

Oleg performed the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the 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.]

Sergey later took care of 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).

In preparation for the arrival and on-orbit stay of the next SFP & VC15 (Space Flight Participant/Visiting Cosmonaut 15) Richard Garriott, the crew conducted a 90-min. review of Garriott’s projected timeline and then tagged up with ground specialists to discuss the planned VC15 activity program. [VC15 will be performed from 10/12-10/23 (10/14-10/23 in the ISS RS/Russian Segment). The program involves 3 real-time TV events between RS and TsUP-Moscow, 12 ham radio sessions, photo & video imagery in the RS interior, commemorative activities and once-daily tagups with an advisory group. There are three experiment blocks: (1) Richard Garriott’s VC-15 experiments: “PICTURE” (creation of a painting in micro-G), “DHL-G” (demonstration of the law of preservation of energy), “PCG” (protein crystallization in micro-G), and “ARISS” (ham radio comm using slow-scan TV system); (2) ESA VC-15 experiments: “MUSCLE-G” (assessment of micro-G impact on contracting muscles & neurophysiological properties of quadrocetal muscle in humans), “MOP-G” (vestibular adaptation to changes in micro-G, SAS/Space Adaptation Syndrome); and (3) NASA VC-15 experiments: “SLEEP-G” (Actiwatch recording of activity during sleep and after waking & exposure to light during spaceflight), “IMMUNO-G” (immune system monitoring), “CORNEA-G” study of effects of micro-G on eye corona). There will also be a Russian and ESA experiment program performed by ISS-17 & ISS-18 crewmembers during the VC-15 period.]

The crew had their regular PMCs (Private Medical Conferences), via S-band/audio & Ku-band/video, Greg at ~10:25am, Sergey at ~12:55pm, Oleg at ~2:30pm.

A new job on the Russian discretionary task list for Volkov & Kononenko is to take out time for more RS ventilation system cleaning.

At ~7:24am EDT, Gregory powered up the SM’s amateur radio equipment (Kenwood VHF transceiver with manual frequency selection, headset, & power supply) and conducted, at 7:29am, a ham radio exchange with the Scuola Media Statale Donato Forlani in Conversano, Italy. [The Scuola media D. Forlani is a middle school in the suburb of Conversano, a small town located 30km from Bari in South-east Italy. The school has 30 classrooms and various laboratories, including an astronomy lab. About 250 pupils attend the school, aged from 11 to 14. Extracurricular activities include English conversation, sport, theatre, the environment and other research activities. Questions to Greg were uplinked beforehand. “What is the most ambitious spatial project for the future?”; “What do you see at the moment when you are looking outside the ISS?”; “How does it feel to be in space?”; “Is it difficult to get used to zero gravity?”; “What do you think about extraterrestrial life in the universe?”; “How many years ago did you start your career as astronaut?”; “What studies are necessary to become an astronaut?”; “Where does the electric power come from on board the ISS?”; “Was it your childhood dream to become an astronaut?”; “At what age did you discover your passion for space?”]

As generally every day now, today starting at 9:00am and running until 3:00pm, the US CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) is running intermittently for two half-cycles to control ppCO2 levels. This configuration for the daily ops does not require connecting & disconnecting the ITCS cooling loop. [A forward plan is in work for cycling the CSV (CO2 Selector Valve) to prevent its sticking. CDRA remains “yellow” on the ISS critical systems list.]

Conjunction Update: Two conjunction passes with orbital debris from the Kosmos-2421 satellite are being closely monitored for tomorrow (Wednesday, 10/8), for a TCA (Time of Closest Approach) at 10:18am EDT and at 11:49am. The passes are not considered to be threat at this point. The preliminary PC (Probability of Collision) for each is zero and is expected to remain zero.

Marangoni Experiment: Today’s Marangoni experiment in the JAXA JPM, requiring a “quiet” environment, will be performed between 5:30pm and 2:00am EDT, remotely controlled from Tsukuba/Japan.

MCAS Checkout: MCC-Houston, by ground control, performed a checkout of the MCAS (Mobile Servicing System Common Attach System) in early preparation for ULF-2. Russian thrusters were inhibited during the period from 9:00am to 11:50am for the checkout, and physical exercise by the crew could not be performed during this time on unisolated equipment (i.e., RED).

Week 24/25 Scheduled Main Activities:

• Wed. (10/8): SOLO; MO-2; 16S Return stowage; CMS analyz.; Diatomeya; Water sampling; ZSR Rack prep.; MBI-12 prep./init.
• Thu. (10/9): MBI-12 dwnld.; ODNT OBT; IP-1 mnt.; ZSR-LAB1)5 relocate; ZSR NOD2D5 relocate; WRM CWC audit;
• Fri. (10/10): Progress thruster/SUDN; MO-8; MBI-12 dwld.; FFQ; ITCS MFCV adjust; RS Video MPEG config.; Water T+2 anal.; SOLO #2; CDMK check.
• Sat. (10/11): Station cleaning; PFCs; Ham radio call; SOLO #2.
• Sun. (10/12): SOLO #2; PFC; VRU disk exchange.

CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today were East Haruj Megafans (one of CEO’s terrestrial analogues for Mars, the East Haruj megafans shows ancient river courses that originated from the Tibesti Mountains. These numerous ancient river channels can be compared to similar regions on Mars. The area of interest is to the south and east of the very dark volcanic structure called Waw an Namus [Oasis of Mosquitoes]. Mapping pass with overlapping images was requested. The area of interest was to the right of the ISS orbital track), Mount Vesuvius (known for its historic eruption in 79 A.D., Vesuvius lead to the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum, but ironically also allowed for their preservation. Vesuvius is still considered an active volcano. It is located east of Naples and is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last 100 years. Detailed views of Vesuvius were requested. Some clouds may have been present), and Barringer Impact Crater (also known as Meteor crater, this approximately 50,000 year old impact crater is about 1.2 km in diameter and 170 m deep. It is located 43 miles east of Flagstaff, near Winslow, Arizona. Detailed images of this impact crater were requested).

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 noon, 12:06pm EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 352.9 km
Apogee height — 355.7 km
Perigee height — 350.2 km
Period — 91.60 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0004082
Solar Beta Angle — -27.8 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
Mean altitude loss in the last 48 hours — 48 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 56623

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
10/10/08 — Progress 30P thruster test
10/12/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S launch (~3:03am EDT; Fincke, Lonchakov, Garriott)
10/14/08 — Soyuz TMA-13/17S docking (FGB nadir port, ~4:51am)
10/24/08 — Soyuz TMA-12/16S undocking (DC1 nadir) & landing (local time!)
11/02/08 — Progress 30P reboost; Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends
11/16/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 launch – MPLM Leonardo, LMC (~7:02pm EST) – U/R
11/18/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 docking – U/R
11/20/08 — ISS 10 Years
11/25/08 — Progress M-65/30P undocking & deorbit
11/26/08 — Progress M-66/31P launch
11/30/08 — Progress M-66/31P docking
12/01/08 — STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 landing (~1:25pm EST est.)
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
05/27/09 — Six-person crew on ISS (following Soyuz 19S docking)
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
05/31/10 — STS-133/Endeavour/ULF5 – ELC3, ELC4 (contingency).