NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 March 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.

Early before breakfast and first exercise, FE Salizhan Sharipov and CDR/SO Leroy Chiao completed their 10th session with the Russian crew health-monitoring program’s medical assessment MO-9/Biochemical Urinalysis.  Afterwards, the FE stowed the hardware.   [MO-9 is conducted regularly every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs) and is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for US crewmembers for IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) evaluation as part of the “PHS/Without Blood Labs” exam.  The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus Urolux developed originally for the Mir program.  Afterwards, the data are entered in the medical equipment computer (MEC) s special IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program).]

Later, Sharipov took his 5th session with the cardiological experiment PZEh MO-1 (Study of the Bioelectric Activity of the Heart at Rest), with Chiao assisting as CMO.   [During the 30-min. test, the crew tagged up with ground specialists on a Russian ground site (RGS) pass on Daily Orbit 14 (~6:36am EST) via VHF and downlinked data from the Gamma-1M ECG (electrocardiograph) for about 5-6 minutes.]

Leroy Chiao collected and stowed the two FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) units, deployed by him on 3/8 in the Lab (below CEVIS) and in the Service Module (SM, most forward handrail).

Salizhan Sharipov used an automatic temperature recorder (ART) for a temperature check on the BIO-11 Statokonia payload with the ULITKA ( snail ) incubator which he had set up in the (SM) on 3/3.   [BIO-11 studies the composition of statoconia, i.e., the organ of equilibrium in snails, and other phenomena exhibited by ulitka in zero-G and post-flight.]

The FE also worked on a Russian IPK-1M gas mask (#003), upgrading it with a new nozzle attachment.  The work was videotaped by the CDR and downlinked via Ku-band for subsequent inspection by TsUP/Moscow specialists.  [Other gas masks will be upgraded similarly in the future.]

Today was the first day of the extensive EVA SPCU (Service & Performance Checkout Unit) repair in the Joint Airlock (A/L), to remove and replace its corroded heat exchanger (HX) with a new unit delivered on Progress 17.   [The SPCU HX transfers heat from the EMU/spacesuit water loops to the ITCS LTL (internal thermal control system low temperature loop).  Ground testing has shown that the currently installed HX, single-brazed internally with a Nickel (BNi-3) process, could rupture due to BNi-3 corrosion in as early as four years after the Airlock’s launch in July 2001, possibly even earlier.  A rupture would be a catastrophic hazard because it could lead to an over-pressurization of the EMU cooling loop, with coolant fluid entering the suit, when the SCU (service &cooling umbilical) is connected to an EMU (the ITCS lines are at ~85 psi while EMU lines are at ~25 psi max.).  The new double-brazed HX launched on 17P will have a considerably longer on-orbit life.  The HX R&R will be spread over several days, leading off today with setup of video equipment to monitor A/L activities, procedures printout, training preps, familiarization with the newly delivered equipment, tagging up with ground specialists, and setup of the FSS (Fluid Servicer System) in the A/L for the TCS work.  Tomorrow, A/L stowage will be cleared out, the Cabin Air (CA) rack in the A/L rotated out of the way and the TCS loops disconnected & isolated, with photographs taken.  The actual HX R&R will occur on 3/14 (Monday) with leak checks, followed on 3/15 by final ops and rack re-rotation.  On 3/16, if everything has gone well, final cleanup, re-stowage, and dismantling of the FSS will conclude the work.]

At ~8:05am, Leroy and the ADUM (Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Micro-G) ground team held their post-session analysis to discuss the successful ultrasound Z-scans performed yesterday (the next-to-last for Exp. 10).   [Conducting these scans repeatedly has the purpose of increasing the proficiency of crewmembers.  The ground compares the scans to evaluate the crew s learning curves and to see if procedures need to be adjusted.  ADUM has to date excellently demonstrated the capability of non-medical personnel to downlink diagnostic information (ultrasound images) for evaluation by medical specialists on the ground.]

Salizhan completed the routine SOZh/ECLSS servicing/inspection in the SM, including the ASU toilet facilities.  Working off the Russian task list, he also prepared the daily IMS (Inventory Management System) delta file for the automated export/import to the three IMS databases on the ground.

The FE performed the regular periodic download of data & imagery collected of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment to the payload computer for subsequent downlink to the ground.  Working off the Russian discretionary job jar, he also completed the regular daily inspection of the Lada-5 greenhouse equipment, including filling its water canister as required.

The crew performed their regular daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS, RED exerciser, CEVIS cycle and VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer.   [Salizhan’s daily protocol currently prescribes a four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill and one hour on VELO (today: Day 1 of a new set).]

Leroy then transferred the daily TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC (medical equipment computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.

Chiao filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his 18th, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC software.   [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 (Institute of Biomedical 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.]

The crew was congratulated on yesterday s great job with the Robotics/SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) proficiency session, which went without issues.  Today the CDR disconnected and removed the UOP DCP (utility outlet panel/display & control panel) bypass power cable at the Lab RWS (Robotics Work Station) that supported the ops.   [As intended, the robot arm s final position is similar to the position used for EVA-12 viewing, with a slightly different wrist configuration.]

The crew again had time set aside for Progress 17 unloading and cargo transfer activities.   [Updated US & Russian cargo lists are being used in conjunction with the IMS-based transfer and stowage operations, which uses a computerized barcode reader system.]

At 1:15pm, Leroy Chiao conducted a discretionary educational session with students of Calhoun School at the American Museum of Natural History, answering questions uplinked beforehand.  [Conference on audio/S-band and one-way video/Ku-band.]

In order to characterize the thermal environment experienced by CMG-1 (control moment gyroscope #1), MCC/H today begins commanding CMG-1 gimbal angles to eight different positions over the next four days while ISS is still flying in XPOP attitude.   [The same sequence of commanding will also be done in future LVLH XVV and YVV periods prior to the CMG-1 replacement on flight LF-1/STS-114 (switch to LVLH occurs on 3/17).  Due to the CMG-1 rotor being at standstill, the only heat sources are environmental sources such as solar heating. This thermal mapping may assist in CMG-1 root cause failure analysis after it is brought back on Discovery.]

Starting this morning at 9:00am EST and running for ~6 hours, MCC-H and its support group in Moscow conducted another BCC (Backup Control Center) dry run in test mode, with no involvement of the ISS crew or vehicle.  Actual command window required for the BCC was less than 8 min comm scheduled for RGS (Russian ground sites) on DO3.   [Purpose of the periodic exercise is to demonstrate BCC functionality under Russian assets, while providing proficiency training for HSG (Houston Support Group) personnel at the HSR (Houston Support Room) and TsUP/Moscow specialists.  The ISS EMCC (Emergency Mission Control Center), located in Russia, comprises TsUP/Moscow as the Lead Control Center, coupled with HSR at TsUP.  The BCC facility provides a command and control capability from TsUP if the EMCC must be activated.  This is the case in situations that render MCC-Houston unable to provide telemetry, voice, and command capability for extended periods.  EMCC is also used when the threat of severe weather results in evacuation of the MCC-H building for extended periods.  In such an emergency, both Russian servers (CMD/command & TM/telemetry) are transitioned from MCC-H connectivity to BCC configuration, after which only the BCC can connect to the CMD and TM ports.  An actual contingency requiring switchover to the BCC occurred on 10/2/2002 when Hurricane Lili forced MCC-H to shut down at 4:00am EDT.]

Battery reconditioning activities began yesterday (3/9) with the initial discharge of the BCDU (Battery Charge/Discharge Unit) for set 2B2.  After a 24-hr. hold, the battery recharge will begin.  The reconditioning takes approximately one week to complete, and will be followed by a capacity test.  Reconditioning of the 2B3 set is targeted for April and of 2B1 for early June, after LF-1.   [Nickel hydrogen batteries can develop and display memory loss resulting in a temporary loss of capacity that should be periodically erased by cycling all material via fully discharging and charging cells ( reconditioning ).] 

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in ram), were Internal waves, Sea of Okhotsk (weather was predicted to clear over the southern islands of Japan for internal wave photography.  Looking to the left of track [south of the Korean peninsula and west of Kyushu] for the sunglint point), and Coastal flooding, Pakistan (Dynamic Event.  Recent heavy rains have produced flooding in eastern coastal Pakistan.  Images of the flooded regions are useful for assessment of damage and hydrologic change.)

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 10 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-10/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 10 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.
 

Upcoming Key Events:

• EVA-13 — 3/25 (could slip to 3/28);
• Soyuz TMA-6 (10S) launch — 4/15 with Expedition 11 (CDR Sergei Krikalev, FE/SO John Phillips);
• Soyuz TMA-5 (9S) undocking — 4/25 with Exp. 10 crew (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS);
• LF1 (STS-114) — NET 5/12;
• Progress M-53 (18P) launch — 6/10;
• ULF1.1 (STS-121) — NET 7/10;
• Progress M-54 (19P) launch — 8/24;
• Soyuz TMA-7 (11S) launch — 9/27.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 6:25am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 357.0 km
• Apogee height — 359.5 km
• Perigee height — 354.4 km
• Period — 91.68 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0003783
• Solar Beta Angle — 37.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.70
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 140 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 36016

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.