NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 1 December 2005

SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2005) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.

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

After wakeup at 1:00am EST, FE Valery Tokarev’s regular morning inspection today included the routine inspection of DC-1 circuit breakers and fuses.   [The monthly checkup in the “Pirs” Docking Compartment looks at AZS circuit breakers on the BVP Amp Switch Panel (they should all be On) and the LEDs (light-emitting diodes) of 14 fuses in Fuse Panels BPP-30 & BPP-36.]

The FE set up for his ninth NOA (Nitric Oxide Analyzer) session in the DC1 and then conducted the weekly test, afterwards dumping the measurements from the RSE laptop to the ground via the BSR-TM telemetry channel.   [Purpose of the new ESA VC9 payload ESANO1, consisting of the “Platon” analyzer and its power supply, is to monitor expired nitric oxide (NO) in the subject’s exhaled air to detect signs of airway inflammation and indications of venous gas emboli (bubbles) that may be caused by inhalation of pollutants on the ISS and increased risk of decompression sickness.  The experiment sessions are being conducted once a week, with two NO measurements in the exhaled air (after rinsing out with Rodnik water) taken in each session through a bacterial filter.  Today’s measurement ops were recorded in the Platon log and supported by ground specialist tagup via S-band.  To prevent skewing measurements, Valery (and Bill if applicable) has to prepare for the session by excluding food items containing nitrites and nitrates (such as in processed meat, assorted vegetables, stewed cabbage, etc.) from his diet for 24 hours before the weekly experiment.]

Continuing the current round of monthly preventive maintenance/cleaning of Russian segment (RS) SOTR ventilation systems, CDR/SO McArthur completed cleaning “Group B” and “Group C” fan screens and heat exchanger grilles in the Service Module (SM), which he began yesterday.

In the Soyuz TMA-7/11S spacecraft’s Orbital Module, Tokarev performed the monthly cleaning of the screen/grid of its fan & air heater assembly (BVN), to assure adequate air ventilation.

To improve the cooling of Crew Health Care System (CHeCS) components in their rack at location LAB1D4, Bill McArthur undertook the scheduled 1.5-hr. job of inspecting & cleaning the rack’s AAA (Avionics Air Assembly) fan and plenum orifices.   [Later on, Velocicalc air flow measurements were taken on the CHeCS rack to check on putative flow improvement.  However, data taken before and after the cleaning were not much different.  ECLSS engineers are looking at other possible causes of poor fan performance.  For using a vacuum cleaner inside the rack, McArthur first removed the CMRS (Crew Medical Restraint System) to allow rotation of the rack for access to its rear panel.  The latter was then removed along with four air ducts, before the vacuum cleaner could be employed to remove any FOD (foreign object debris).  Also contained in the CHeCS rack are the Defibrillator and the VOA (Volatile Organics Analyzer).]

In preparation for the major IFM (in-flight maintenance) on the failed VOA, starting tomorrow and spanning three crew work days, McArthur reviewed a special VOA training video and tagged up with ground specialists to discuss details of the repair job.   [The VOA, inoperable since July 2003, detects trace organic compounds in the atmosphere by taking in an air sample, dividing it between two channels and concentrating the compounds in an adsorption bed called a “trap”.  The trap is then quickly heated to 300° C to desorb the compounds.  The compounds proceed through a 60m-long tightly wound gas chromatograph column to separate out different molecules based on their rate of diffusion.  Finally, the compounds reach the IMS (Ion Mobility Spectrometer) detector where they are ionized and further separated based on differences in their rate of mobility through an electric field.]

The FE continued cargo transfer operations from Progress-354/19P to the ISS, tracking the equipment movements in the IMS (Inventory Management System), afterwards also updating/editing the standard IMS delta file, including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

The CDR conducted the weekly audit/inventory of the available CWCs (collapsible water containers) and their contents, to keep track of onboard water supplies.   [Updated “cue cards” based on Bill’s water calldowns are sent up every other week.  The current (11/29) cue card lists two dozen water containers for the four types of water carried on board: technical water (for Elektron, flushing, hygiene, ~371 liters), potable water (~180 l), condensate water (for processing, ~25 l) and other (Thermal Control System fluid, waste water incl. from EMUs, ~31 l).]

McArthur also took care of the regular weekly maintenance reboot on the operational PCS (Portable Computer System) laptops and the bi-monthly restart of the OCA (Orbit Communications Adapter) comm router SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop. 

The CDR filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his sixth, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) software.   [On the MEC, Bill is using his personalized file that reflects the food flown for his Increment.  The FFQ records 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.  IBMP/Moscow (Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian: IMBP – Institute of Medico-Biological Problems) recommended average daily caloric value of the crew’s food intake is 2200-2300 cal.  If larger quantities of juices and fruits are taken into account, the value can go to 2400-2500 cal.] 

Using the U.S. CDMK (Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Kit, #1015), McArthur collected the periodic reading of the cabin air’s current CO2 concentrations in SM and Lab for calldown, along with its battery status (taken after pump start-up) for trending analyses.

Bill also took care of the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s Environment Control & Life Support System (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU).

Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, RED resistive exerciser and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer.   [Valery’s daily protocol prescribes a strict four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill in unmotorized mode and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 4 of the first set).]

Afterwards McArthur transferred the TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) data from the workouts, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

The Science Officer was thanked by POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center/Huntsville) for yesterday’s successful powered checkout of the new Refrigerated Centrifuge (RC) in the HRF2 (Human Research Facility-2), getting the RC ready for use.

The propellant transfer from the Progress 19 resupply tanks to the FGB low pressure tanks during the night of 11/29-30 provided 75 kg fuel (UDMH/unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine) and 146 kg oxidizer (NTO/nitrogen tetroxide, N2O4) to the ISS.

MCC-H specialists are preparing for another reconditioning cycle on the U.S. P6 Photovoltaic Arrays nickel hydrogen (NiH) batteries.  Reconditioning activities on battery pack 3 of Channel 2 will begin 12/5 and extend through 12/12.  The PPL (pre-positioned load) software to control charging of the reconditioned 2B3 battery will then be developed and uplinked on 12/16, to be followed by a capacity test.   [The discharge/recharge reconditioning, to restore the batteries that typically undergo “memory loss” of their charge condition, will take about one week for the 2B3 battery set.  No crew involvement is required.]

Today’s CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in ram), were Smoke haze, Ganges R. Valley, India (Dynamic event.  Smoke accumulation reported for several days.  Shooting obliques half left with Himalayan Mountains as backdrop to show altitude of the upper surface of the haze blanket), Salamat Basin fans, Chad (broad contextual views were requested to set up subsequent detailed mapping of these large features in one of the most remote parts of the world.  A diverging pattern of channels marks the upper 200 km of the basin), and Muglad Basin fans, SW Sudan (oblique contextual views of central/lower Muglad basin are requested, looking as far as the White Nile/Sudd swamplands.  Prior CEO imagery has documented well the landscapes at the upper end of the basin).

To date, over 177,000 of CEO images have been taken in the first five years of the ISS.

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:

• http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
• http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
• http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/AstronautPhotography/

See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at:

• http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/

To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 12 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-12/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 12 Flight Crew Plans can be found at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines/

Previous NASA ISS On-orbit Status Reports can be found here. Previous NASA Space Station Status Reports can be found here. Previous NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Reports can be found here. A collection of all of these reports and other materials relating to Return to Flight for the Space Shuttle fleet can be found here.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 8:02am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 351.4 km
• Apogee height — 357.4 km
• Perigee height — 345.4 km
• Period — 91.57 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008896
• Solar Beta Angle — -60.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.73
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 66 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 40202

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html

Upcoming Events (all dates Eastern):

• 12/20/05?? — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry (baseline date under review)
• 12/21/05 — Progress M-55/20P launch
• 12/23/05 — Progress M-55/20P docking
• 01/09/06 — 100 days for Expedition 12
• 02/02/06 — Russian EVA-15
• 03/22/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S launch
• 03/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S docking
• 04/01/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S undocking & return.

ISS Altitude History

Apogee height — Mean Altitude — Perigee height

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html. In addition, information on International Space Station sighting opportunities can be found at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ on NASA’s Human Spaceflight website. The current location of the International Space Station can be found at http://science.nasa.gov/temp/StationLoc.html at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Additional satellite tracking resources can be found at http://www.spaceref.com/iss/tracking.html.