NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 October 2005

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All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.   Day 8 (and final day) of joint Exp.11/Exp.12 operations.  When their Soyuz capsule lands tonight at 9:09pm EDT as scheduled, Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips will have spent 179 days 23 minutes in space (from liftoff), and ~177 days aboard ISS.  Gregory Olsen’s time in space will have been 9 days 21 hours 15 minutes.  Underway: Week 1 of Increment 12.

Crew wake-up was again shifted today, by 1.5 hours to 5:00am EDT, to accommodate tonight’s undocking and post-undock activities.  Sleep period for Expedition 12 will begin later than usual (9:30pm, about 20 min after 10S landing), in consonance with TMA-6 departure and post-departure activities.

The ISS crews had a busy day with final packing, transfers, last handovers from Expedition 11 to Expedition 12, preparations for the undocking, and departure.

Sergei Krikalev and Valery Tokarev completed the scheduled Russian MedOps (SZM-MO-22) sanitary-epidemiological status experiment, taking samples from cabin surfaces for return to the ground on 10S, along with samples from crewmembers, for sanitation and disease studies.

CDR-12 Bill McArthur meanwhile conducted a microbial air sampling run with the Russian MedOps SZM-MO-21 experiment Ecosphera.   [The equipment, consisting of an air sampler set, a charger, power supply unit, and incubation tray for Petri dishes, determines microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.]

Tokarev also conducted routine air sampling in the cabin, which is standard practice before departure of a crew.   [Valery first used the IPD-NH3 Draeger tubes sampler for ammonia.  Then he took air samples in the Russian segment (RS) with the Russian AK-1M sampler.]

VC-9 experiments that were deactivated, closed out, transferred and stowed aboard the TMA-6 Descent Module (BO) by Krikalev today included:

• STATOKONIA “Ulitka” (snail) Container and its ART temperature controller;
• BIO-12 “Regeneratsiya” kit and its ART temperature controller;
• BIO-10 KV-03 cold container of Intercellular Interaction with samples, from the SM’s CRYOGEM-03M freezer/glovebox;
• BTKh-1,-2,-4 Glycoproteid, MIMETIK-K, Vaccine-K in the “Luch-2” kit;
• BTKh-10 “Konyugaciya” (Conjugation) in the Recomb-T kit from CRYOGEM-03M;
• TKhH-9 “Kristallizator” (Crystallizer) Modules 1 & 2.

SFP (Spaceflight Participant) Gregory Olsen wrapped up his VC-9 program, completing a final sampling session of the ESA-sponsored experiment SAM (Sample).  The hardware was then closed out and the sample secured for return on Soyuz.   [SAM evaluates microbial species which might benefit from growth conditions within ISS life support systems, and investigates into the mechanism of microbial adaptation (mutation) to microgravity.]

The crew set up the NIKON D1X still camera and DSP-150SP camcorder for battery charging preparatory to the subsequent Soyuz departure coverage.  Later, the video equipment was configured for downlink on U.S. assets via Ku-band.

With Soyuz TMA-6 no longer available as emergency CRV (crew return vehicle) for the coming Increment, Krikalev ensured correct transfer of its three Emergency Procedures ODF (DAS EhP) books to the new CRV, Soyuz TMA-7, currently at the DC1 port (will be transposed to FGB nadir port on 11/18).

The new ISS Flight Engineer, Valery Tokarev, performed the daily routine maintenance of the SOZh environmental control system and prepared the IMS (inventory management system) “delta” files for updating the IMS databases.

CDR/SO Bill McArthur meanwhile set up and activated the hardware of EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students, EK) at the U.S. Lab’s science window for another run.  Over 105 schools are already signed up to participate in the 20th EK session that runs through 10/15 (Saturday).   [Setup and activation occurred prior to 10S departure but because of the thruster firings from the Soyuz and the ISS attitude changes occurring shortly thereafter, the US Lab window shutter cannot be opened until tomorrow morning Tuesday morning.  The CDR connected an SSC (station support computer) laptop to the EK’s electronic still camera (ESC) and to the OpsLAN via Ethernet cable and readied the automated/remote-controlled process.  The payload will run without crew intervention.  EK is using a Kodak ESC 460C electronic still camera with 50mm (f/1.4) lens, now powered by 16Vdc from a 28 Vdc adapter, taking pictures by remote operation from the ground, without crew interaction.  It is available for students who submit image requests and conduct geographic research.  The requests are uplinked in a camera control file to the IBM 760XD SSC laptop which then activates the camera at specified times and receives the digital images from the camera’s storage card on its hard drive, for subsequent downlink via OpsLAN.]

McArthur and Tokarev completed the regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS, RED resistive machine and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer.

Later, Bill transferred their exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data of the RED workouts, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).   [For the E12 entries, special procedures were used to establish their accounts.  Their data transfers will become regular after the installation of new, personalized software on the MEC on 10/14, during which MEC will be upgraded from the IBM 760XD to an A31p ThinkPad.]

Soyuz loading complete was reported to the ground at ~1:00pm EDT.

The returning Expedition 11 crew and “taxi crewmember” Gregory Olsen entered the Soyuz spacecraft via the FGB nadir port at ~1:30pm.  Then the crew activated the spacecraft, followed by setting up and testing of the communications configuration (STTS) for Soyuz undocking and descent.  Everything went nominally.

Tokarev prepared the hardware for hatch closure.  Goodbye handshakes took place at ~2:44pm, marking the official end of Increment 11.  After closure of the two hatches between Soyuz and FGB at ~2:45pm, leak check ops followed, requiring a period of ~60 min of no pressure change in the docking vestibule (transfer tunnel) to ascertain seal pressure tightness.

With that, the return to Earth of Soyuz TMA-6/10S with John Phillips, Sergei Krikalev & Gregory Olsen was ready to proceed along the following event sequence (all times EDT):

• ISS attitude handover to RS & maneuver to 10S undocking attitude — 2:05pm;
• ISS in free drift — 5:38pm;
• Hooks Open command — 5:40pm;
• Separation springs action (delta-V ~0.12 m/sec) — 5:43pm;
• Manual separation burn (8 sec, ~0.29 m/sec) — 5:46pm;
• Deorbit Burn start (delta-V 115.2 m/sec) — 8:18:46pm;
• Deorbit Burn complete — 8:23:05
• Tri-Module separation (140.1 km) — 8:43:26pm;
• Atmospheric entry (101.8 km, ~170 m/sec) — 8:46:22pm;
• Max G-load — 8:52:56pm;
• Parachute deploy command — 8:54:49pm;
• ISS attitude control handed back to US — 8:45pm;
• 10S Landing (nominally at latitude 50.38°, longitude 67.19°, ~51 km from Arkalyk) — 9:08:59pm EDT; 7:08:59am on 10/11 local Kustanai/Kazakhstan time;
• Local Sunrise — 9:47pm (7:47am local on 10/11).

[Note: Kazakhstan time is GMT+6h; EDT+10h.]   Landing point for this descent profile is at ~51 km SW from Arkalyk City.

As 10S is getting ready for reentry later today, life aboard the station goes on.

For observing the Soyuz thruster plumes during the deorbit maneuvers and the Earth’s limb, at ~3:00pm Valery installed the geo-physical GFI-1 Relaksatsiya (“relaxation”) experiment, reconfiguring the Russian payload laptop 3 for the experiment and mounting the ultraviolet (UV) camera with spectrometer unit at SM window #9, with its cover open.  [Purpose of the current experiment is spectrometric recording of the Earth limb (~8:10pm), the TMA-6 propulsion system plumes (by UV-video) during the 4-min. retrograde burn at 8:14pm, with the emission layer of the atmosphere at the Earth’s limb during that period, and the actual reentry of the Soyuz descent module at ~8:25-8:52pm (which occurs in local darkness).  Afterwards, Tokarev is to tear down the experiment and stow the equipment.]

No CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets uplinked today.

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, 7:13am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 347.7 km
• Apogee height — 348.8 km
• Perigee height — 346.6 km
• Period — 91.49 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0001616
• Solar Beta Angle — -16.8 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 100 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 39382

  Upcoming Events (all times EDT):

• 10/18/05 — ISS Reboost
• 10/27/05 – EVA-04 Dry Run
• 11/07/05 — EVA-4 (U.S.)
• 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
• 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.

What will the Soyuz TMA-6/10S crew (Exp. 11 + Gregory Olsen) experience during today’s reentry/descent?

For the reentry, all crewmembers are wearing the Russian Kentavr anti-G suit.   [The Kentavr garment is a protective anti-g suit ensemble to facilitate the return of a long-duration crewmember into the Earth gravity.  Consisting of shorts, gaiters, underpants, jersey and socks, it acts as countermeasure for circulatory disturbance, prevents crewmember from overloading during descent and increases orthostatic tolerance during post-flight adaptation. Russian crewmembers are also advised to ingest fluid-electrolyte additives, viz., three sodium chloride tablets during breakfast and after the midday meal, each time with 300 ml of fluid, and two pills during the meal aboard Soyuz before deorbit.]

Before descent:

Special attention will be paid to the need for careful donning of the medical belt with sensors and securing tight contact between sensors and body.

During preparation for descent, before atmosphere reentry, crewmembers settle down comfortably in the Kazbek couches, fasten the belts, securing tight contact between body and the seat liner in the couch.

During de-orbit:

Dust particles starting to sink in the Descent Module (DM) cabin is the first indication of atmosphere reentry and beginning of G-load effect. From that time on, special attention is required as the loads increase rapidly.

Under G-load effect during atmosphere reentry the crew expects the following experience: Sensation of G-load pressure on the body, burden in the body, labored breathing and speech. These are normal sensations, and the advice is to “take them coolly”.  In case of the feeling of a lump in the throat, this is no cause to “be nervous”.  This is frequent and should not be fought.  Best is to “try not to swallow and talk at this moment”.  Crew should check vision and, if any disturbances occur, create additional tension of abdominal pressure and leg muscles (strain abdomen by pulling in), in addition to the Kentavr anti-G suit.

During deployment of pilot (0.62 & 4.5 square meters), drogue (16 sq.m.) and main (518 sq.m.) parachutes the impact accelerations will be perceived as a “strong snatch”.  No reason to become concerned about this but one should be prepared that during the parachutes deployment and change (“rehook”) of prime parachute to symmetrical suspension, swinging and spinning motion of the DM occurs, which involves vestibular (middle ear) irritations.

It is important to tighten restrain system to fasten pelvis and pectoral arch. Vestibular irritation can occur in the form of different referred sensations such as vertigo, hyperhidrosis, postural illusions, general discomfort and nausea.  To prevent vestibular irritation the crew should “limit head movement and eyes movement”, as well as fix their sight on motionless objects.

Just before the landing (softened by six small rocket engines behind the heat shield): Crew will be prepared for the vehicle impact with the ground, with their bodies fixed along the surface of the seat liner in advance. “Special attention should be paid to arm fixation to avoid the elbow and hand squat” (instruction). Landing speed: ~9.9 m/sec.

After landing:

Crew should not get up quickly from their seats to leave the DM. They were advised to stay in the couch for several minutes and only then stand up. In doing that, they should limit head and eyes movement and avoid excessive motions, proceeding slowly.  They and their body should not take up earth gravity in the upright position too quickly.

Happy Landing, John, Sergei and Gregory!

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.