NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 November 2005

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

This morning’s reboost of the station was completely successful.  Both burns were executed nominally on Progress 19 thrusters from DPO manifold #2.   [Post-burn tracking results TBD.]

Before breakfast, CDR McArthur deployed acoustic dosimeters on Valery and himself, to be worn for 24 hours (with a microphone on the shirt collar).  A third dosimeter was deployed in the Lab for a 24-hr. static data take (last time done: 6/14).   [Tonight, after about 15 hours of measurements, dosimeter data will be recorded and the hardware power-cycled, for another data take tomorrow morning after 8.5-hr. sleep.  At that point, the crew will deploy the dosimeters statically in the station for the duration of the day, record measurements tomorrow night and stow the instruments.  Acoustic data must be taken twice per Increment, each time for the duration of the 16-hour crew workday.]

At ~3:35am EST, McArthur began the “bake out” regeneration of the two expended EMU Metox (Extravehicular Mobility Unit/Metal Oxide) recyclable CO2 absorption canisters in the “Quest” Airlock (A/L).  Some time earlier, Bill also initiated the discharge procedure on the EMU batteries.     [Since the Metox regeneration process releases CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the cabin, the AR (Atmosphere Revitalization) rack and CDRA (CO2 removal assembly) were activated yesterday.  Also, the setpoint of the IATS LTL (Internal Thermal Control System/Low Temperature Loop) was changed temporarily to 7.78 degC.]

FE Tokarev had an hour each for working in the FGB “Zarya” module, setting up the gas analyzer (GA), and in the DC-1 “Pirs” docking compartment to prepare them for the Soyuz TMA-7 relocation next week (11/18), keeping track of his equipment movements in the IMS (Inventory Management System).

The CDR performed the periodic comprehensive cabin air & surface sample collections for the regular periodic bacterial and fungal analysis, starting off with sample collection with the SSK (Surface Sample Kit) in Lab, Node and Service Module (SM), and following it with the MAS (Microbial Air Sampler) kit to collect air samples in these modules. [Bacterial and fungal samples are taken once every three months at each location, and there are two locations in each module.  The sampling slides are analyzed after five days of incubation.]

Tokarev switched the Russian telephone/telegraph subsystem (STTS) back to its primary string in nominal mode, after its operation on the backup string since 10/24.   [The “Voskhod-M” STTS enables telephone communications between the SM, FGB, DC1 Docking Compartment and U.S. segment (USOS), and also with users on the ground over VHF channels selected by an operator at an SM comm panel, via STTS antennas on the SM’s outside.  There are six comm panels in the SM with pushbuttons for accessing any of three audio channels, plus an intercom channel.  Other modes of the STTS include telegraphy (teletype), EVA voice, emergency alarms, Packet/Email, and TORU docking support.]

In the Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft, the FE performed a visual inspection of the lens- and diffusion screen-equipped VSK-4 space vision window to check for possible fogging or denser haze between the panes when the viewport is exposed to direct sunlight.

In the SM, Valery activated the new Russian experiment DZZ-11 Volni (“Waves”) which he had set up on 11/1 at window #3.   [Volni monitors and documents Earth natural resources & ecology data, using the French LSO equipment and two micro cameras installed on a mounting bracket at the window to observe wave disturbances (of natural and man-made origins) in the intermediate-altitude atmosphere.  The images are transferred between the French EGE1 and EGE2 laptops for downlink via the BSR-TM channel.  The original objective of LSO was to study rare optical phenomena occurring in the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere, so-called “sprites” (i.e., puzzling glow phenomena observed above thunderstorm clouds).]

Bill filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his second, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) software.   [On the MEC, the CDR 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.]

The FE performed digital photography and video imagery for another session of the Russian “Diatomeya” ocean observations program.   [Valery used the Nikon D1X digital still camera with 400mm-lens and the DSR PD-150P Sony videocam from window #9 to obtain oceanographic data on color blooms in the Atlantic Ocean (Argentina shores, Falkland-Patagonia area, underwater Mid-Atlantic Ridge, western portion of the Falkland & Brazilian current convergence area, Tierra del Fuego, Magellan Strait, Gulf of Guinea) on two overflights today, including areas currently being studied by the expedition team aboard the Russian science research vessel “Academician Sergey Vavilov”.]

In Node “Unity”, McArthur performed the routine inspection of the RED resistive exercise device and subsequently completed the periodic calibration on the exerciser’s Schwinn canisters.   [The calibration involves taking load readings at various canister Flexpak settings. The RED continues to function nominally.] 

Valery completed the routine SOZh/ECLSS maintenance in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities, while Bill updated/edited the regular IMS (Inventory Management System) delta file for its automated export/import to the three IMS databases (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).   [The ASU system is working nominally.]

The Elektron continues to provide oxygen for the cabin atmosphere. After 16 hours of nominal operation on the primary micropump, the machine was switched to the backup pump.  Plans are for Elektron to run until the Soyuz relocation event on 11/18.

The FE performed the periodic replenishing of the Elektron’s water supply for electrolysis, his second, filling the KOV thermal loops’ EDV container with purified (deionized) water from the BKO multifiltration/purification column unit, following carefully written instructions.   [The procedure is specially designed to prevent air bubbles larger than ~20 mm from getting into the new BZh-8 Liquid Unit where they could cause Elektron shutdown.  In the procedure, the EDV water is carefully drawn from the BKO and the air/liquid separator unit (GZhS) while the crewmember checks for any air bubbles in the EDV (and, if visible, estimates their number, with up to 10 bubbles of less than 20 mm diameter permitted).  Elektron water is also supplied from USOS condensate in a CWC (collapsible water container) that is checked for its contents of air bubbles and is rejected if the estimated total air bubble volume is more than 30 cubic centimeters (1 cm air bubble is about 0.5 ccm).]

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 and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 3 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 of the RED workout, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

At ~10:00am EST, Bill and Valery configured the television hardware for two interactive TV PAO events of ~9 minutes each starting at 10:20am, with WBTW-TV (Bob Juback) in Myrtle Beach, SC and WNCN-TV (Donald Jones) in Raleigh, NC.   [This was another in-flight event utilizing the new NASA Television Digital Satellite System.  Due to the signal encoding and decoding required, the new digital satellite system has a 5-second audio delay between ISS and ground reception, and vice versa, for which the crew is prepared.]

On Saturday, 11/12, the crew will be involved in a very special event at 12:55pm EST when they will be tied in live to Sir Paul McCartney’s music concert from Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, CA.  Tune in!   [The in-flight event between the crew and Sir Paul will be aired live on NASA-TV.  The former Beetle would like to play two songs for the ISS crew and talk briefly with them about their adventure on ISS and space exploration.]

Today’s CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Ganges River Delta (clouds may have been encroaching on this target area from the SE by the time of this pass. Otherwise the crew had a fine pass over this extensive delta and wetlands region.  Looking just left of track and document details of the boundaries of the dark mangrove stands known as the Sunderbans), Internal waves, Northern Patagonian Shelf (as ISS tracked northeastward over Patagonia, the crew was to look forward and just right of track for sea surface glint S through E of the Valdes Peninsula), Navassa Island reef, Caribbean (ISS had another nadir pass in fair weather and good light over this tiny island in the Windward Passage between Cuba and Hispaniola.  Using the long lens to document coral reef structures there), and Moorea Coral Reef, Tahiti (Tahiti is the largest of the Society Islands archipelago and located near the eastern end.  Detailed mapping of the coral reef structures of this island support an international effort to map and inventory global coral reef resources).

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.

Upcoming Events (all dates Eastern):

• 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
• 2/07/05 — EVA-15 (Russian; under review)
• 12/20/05 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry
• 12/21/05 — Progress M-55/20P launch
• 12/23/05 — Progress M-55/20P docking
• 01/09/06 — 100 days for Expedition 12.

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.