NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 1 October 2004
SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2004) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
Update on Elektron : Yesterday at 4:30am EDT the Elektron was activated (using the BMP vent) in 32 amp mode with no problems. Additional power was provided from the U.S. segment (USOS) via SNT-24 (voltage & current transformer/stabilizer 24) so that the electrolyzer machine could be placed in 50 amp mode. Elektron continued to operate successfully and was later switched to 48 amp mode. The O2 generator will remain active during crew wake periods, and the crew will regularly check the secondary purification unit with a temperature sensor (specified limit: 50 degC).
Update on MCA : After correcting two valve settings, the MCA (Major Constituents Analyzer) vacuum chamber was successfully evacuated. MCA is now on and operating and will be monitored for the next couple of days to verify nominal operation. A zero calibration will be completed at that time and if successful, MCA will remain on continuously. Daily CSA-CP (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products) readings are under review, to be suspended once MCA is operational. Mike today removed and stowed the MCA “anaconda” jumper hose.
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Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
No breakfast this morning for CDR Padalka until after he completed the blood sampling (to determine lactate and creatine kinase levels in the blood with the AccuSport equipment) of the current MBI-8 Profilaktika (“countermeasures”) fitness assessment series, followed later by a physical exercise session on the TVIS treadmill, supported by tagup with a ground specialist. Mike Fincke was available to assist as CMO (crew medical officer) as required. (Last time done: 9/9) [The TVIS test is identical to the MO-3 test performed on the treadmill in idling (non-motorized) mode with free choice of speeds within certain specified ranges (idle/walk/slow run/moderate run/fast run/walk/recovery). In addition to the nominal test procedure, MBI-8/Part 3 calls for the use of the TEEM-100M gas analyzer during the test, the blood lactate measurements, and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels (using the Borg Perceived Exertion Scale, viz., 10 steps from very light over hard and very hard to maximum) during the test. At the end of the creatine kinase tests, the results were logged, copied from Cardiocassette-2000 recording to OCA for downlink, and reported to the ground via tagup. The activity was also photo-documented with the Nikon D1 digital camera.]
FE/SO Fincke conducted an inventory/audit of available LiOH (lithium hydroxide) canisters aboard the station. [LiOH canisters are used for CO2 absorption, backing up the Russian segment’s Vozdukh CO2 removal system.]
CDR Padalka is scheduled to make preparations for his first experiment session with the Russian/German Plasma Crystal-3 (PK-3) payload, planned for tomorrow, after he had repaired the experiment in August. Today’s preps consist of activating the evacuation turbopump, checking for leaks and tagging up with ground specialists, then starting the evacuation of the vent lines and vacuum chamber (ZB). Later, the experiment is to be terminated and the turbopump deactivated shortly before sleep time. [The experiment will be performed on plasma, i.e., fine particles, charged and excited by RF/radio frequency power, inside the evacuated work chamber.]
Mike will conduct the periodic one-hour inspection of emergency lighting power sources (ELPS) in the U.S. Airlock and Node. [There are three ELPSs in Unity, two in the Lab Destiny, and one ELPS in the Airlock Quest.]
Fincke also is scheduled to do the monthly PEP (portable emergency provisions) audit and inspection. [The procedure involves verification that PFEs (portable fire extinguishers), PBAs (portable breathing assemblies), QDMAs (quick-don mask assemblies) and EHTKs (extension hose/tee kits) are free of damage to ensure their functionality, and to track shelf life/life cycles on the hardware. PEPs are not removed from their locker unless obvious damage is discovered during the inspection. There are a total of 5 PBAs in the U.S. segment (USOS), viz., two in the Node, two in the Lab, and one in the Airlock.]
Padalka conducted the periodic inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment which researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-5 greenhouse.
The CDR completed installing another set of cargo stowage enclosures behind wall panel 415 in the FGB (area 25A) after first setting up the worksites. These enclosures prevent cargo items in the stowage areas from floating around freely. [The enclosures are assembled from components in a kit delivered by an earlier Progress. Enclosed areas are identified as 25A, 25B, 28A & 29.]
Instructions were uplinked for the upcoming IMF (inflight maintenance) activities on the U.S. EMU spacesuit #3005, which will require R&R (removal & replacement) of the gas trap and pump inlet filter. They are to be printed out today by Fincke for review. [EMU 3013, which is currently on the forward EDDA (EMU Don Doff Assembly) in the Airlock, needs to be swapped out with EMU 3005 for the IMF. This swap is scheduled for 10/4. Since there is always the potential that 3013 may have to be ready for use, it is being temp stowed where it is easily accessible.]
In preparation for future FMVM (Fluid Merging Viscosity Measurement) operations, Mike Fincke is warming honey syringes (D-1, D-2) in the U.S. food warmer to determine whether its temperature is adequate for dissolving crystals that have formed in the honey.
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The FE also collects the periodic CO2 partial pressure reading in the SM and Lab using the U.S. CDMK (CO2 monitor kit), for calldown to MCC-Houston (along with the battery status) for use in trending analyses.
Gennady is to perform the routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, while Mike prepares the regular IMS (inventory management system) delta file for automated export to the ground for database updating and subsequent re-import via OCA. He also will attend to the routine status checkup of the autonomous PCG-STES010 (Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System) payload in the Lab (done every Monday, Wednesday and Friday).
At ~12:05PM, Padalka will hold his regular weekly IMS (inventory management system) tagup with ground specialists at TsUP, discussing open issues concerning identification of equipment and storage locations for updating the IMS database.
At ~3:00pm, the crew is scheduled for their weekly teleconference with the ISS Flight Director at MCC-H.
Expedition 9 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.
Today’s CEO photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by restrictions on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Volcanic rock unit site, N Pakistan (this overpass provided an opportunity for oblique photography of this unusual volcanic field. The volcanic units are reddish-black and should stand out from the surrounding soils and rocks. Looking to the right of track for the volcanic field), Internal waves, Azores Islands – Mid Atlantic (weather was predicted to be mostly clear for capture of internal waves. The sunglint point was to the right of track and slightly behind), Internal waves, Eastern Equatorial Pacific (a predicted break in cloud cover presents an opportunity for internal wave photography. Looking to the right of track for the sunglint point), and Internal waves, Tuamotu Archipelago (the pass took the ISS over the eastern archipelago for internal wave photography. Looking to the right and slightly ahead of track for the sunglint point).
CEO images can be viewed at these websites:
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at:
To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 9 crew visit:
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-9/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.
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.
