NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 11 August 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.
At Baikonur, Progress M-50/15P launched on time (1:03 EDT) with critically required cargoes. After normal separation of the first, second and third stage, antennas and solar arrays were nominally deployed at orbit insertion (1:12am). With that, the new cargo ship is on its way to rendezvous with ISS. [At orbit insertion, Progress unfolded two solar arrays, four Kurs antennas, one TORU/Rassvet-M antenna and one telemetry antenna. Later, the SSh docking probe was extended, followed by a successful self-test of the Kurs MCS (motion control system) including the Klest TV system, with both sets indicating readiness. Two major orbit adjustment burns were completed, DV1 (17.5 m/s) at 4:38am and DV2 (11.6 m/s) at 5:13am. DV3, a test burn, is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:04am, followed by three more burns until rendezvous. After the two-day “chaser” flight, 15P will dock at the SM aft end on 8/14 (Saturday) at about 1:02am. Its ~2.5 tons of cargo includes supplies for the ISS crew (food, batteries, office supplies, and clothes), critical hardware for EHS (environmental health systems), HMS (health maintenance systems) and CMS (crew medical systems), new software CD-ROMs for the U.S. PCS (portable computer system) and SSC (station support computer) laptops, a new U.S. MCA (major constituent analyzer), two new SchRED (Schwinn-RED) canisters, four LHAs (lamp housing assemblies), a GPS systems cable, EMU spacesuit repair hardware, a new 800A storage battery, Vozdukh CO2 removal hardware, Elektron O2 generation hardware, etc.]
After wakeup (2:00am EDT) and before breakfast and exercise, CDR Padalka completed another session with the periodic Russian MedOps test “Hematokrit” (MO-10), measuring red blood cell count of the blood. [The blood sample was drawn from a finger with a perforator lancet, then centrifuged in two microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit’s minicentrifuge, and its hematocrit value was read off the tubes with a magnifying glass. It is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go down over time. After the exam, the data were saved in the IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer).]
Afterwards, still without savtrak, Padalka also took the MBI-1 SPRUT-K test, part of Russian medical research on the distribution and behavior of human body fluids in zero gravity. Supported by laptop 3 (LT3), the data were recorded on “Profilaktika” memory cards, along with this morning’s hematocrit data and yesterday’s body mass values. Afterwards, LT3 was powered down. [Experiment requisites are the Sprut (“squid”) securing harness, skin electrodes (cuffs), and the payload computer for control and data storage. The “Penguin” suit or “Braslet-M cuffs, if worn, have to be taken off first. Electrode measurements are recorded at complete rest and relaxed body position. Assistance from the FE was not required. The recently failed power supply of LT3 had been replaced with a US-supplied unit (originally reserved for the SSC3 computer),]
FE/SO Fincke meanwhile prepared the water microbiology kit (WMK) for today’s analysis activities by consolidating new items into the WMK and trashing expired items from it.
Afterwards, Mike completed another monthly potable water sampling for in-flight chemistry/microbiology analysis (Week 14), using jointly approved Russian sampling procedures with the U.S. WS&A (water sampler & archiver) for collection and the WMK (water microbiology kit) for treatment/processing within 6 hours of the collection (done later today). Sample analysis also includes processing water samples in the MWAK (microbial water analysis kit) for inflight coliform bacteria (Escherichia coli) detection. [Results will be available after a two-day incubation period, in case of the MWAK after 4-6 days of incubation. Samples were taken in the Service Module (SM) in four bags, two from the potable water SRV-K hot port and two from the EDV container of the SVO-ZV water supply system, with the first bag from each port a flush of the lines. The second bag from each port was for the in-flight analysis and coliform detection. Last time done: 7/6.]
The FE/SO also used the EHS SSK (environmental health systems/surface sample kit) to perform surface sample swabs in Lab, SM and Node for cultivation. [SSK sampling is done once per month for the first three months that a module is on orbit and once every three months thereafter. Bacterial and fungal samples are taken at two locations in each module. The colony growth on the sampling slides will be analyzed after five days of incubation.]
In addition, Mike employed the MAS (microbial air sampler) kit to collect air samples in Lab, Node and SM for bacterial and fungal analysis. [As for the SSK, the sampling analysis is done once per month for the first three months, and once every three months thereafter. Bacterial and fungal air samples are taken at two locations in each module. The colony growth on the sampling slides will be analyzed after five days of incubation in Petri dishes. For onboard visual analysis of media slides from SSK, MCDs (microbial capture devices) from WMK, coliform detection bags from MWAK, and Petri dishes from MAS, the crew has a procedure for visual inspection of samples for bacterial and fungal colony growths after appropriate incubation periods.]
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Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
The CDR conducted his first periodic visual inspection of the pressure hull in the SM Working Compartment (RO) behind panels 130, 134, 135, 138 and under the TVIS treadmill in the “floor pit”, looking for any moisture, residue, mold, corrosion and pitting. [Gennady focused on hull shell and cold plates under the SNT voltage and current stabilizers and STR thermal control system pipes, using surface wipes to clean the area in question, describing any discovered mold as to color, consistency (solid, crumbly, powdery) and location, and photographing the hull surface with the digital camera before and after the treatment. Pictures were prepared for downlink to MCC-H for forwarding to TsUP. If he found cavities, he was to use chewing gum to measure their depth. The last hull inspection was performed by Sasha Kaleri on 1/15/04.]
Gennady Padalka started another round of periodic preventive maintenance of Russian segment (RS) ventilation systems, today cleaning the VD1 and VD2 air ducts in the “Pirs” DC-1 docking compartment. (Last time done: 5/5).
Supported by a tagup with ground specialists, Padalka loaded laptop 3 (LT3) with a software upgrade (vers. 7.02) from a CD-ROM. Afterwards, he set up the appropriate Windows config and finally prepared a second HDD (hard disk drive) with the 7.02 load as backup.
Mike Fincke updated the daily IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file and conducted the regular routine status checkup of autonomous Lab payloads (currently PCG-STES010), while Gennady completed the daily routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh life support system (with routine ASU toilet replacements).
For Padalka, it was Day 4 of the inflight maintenance of the Russian TEKh-20 Plasma Crystal-3 (PK-3) payload. [Today’s task involved another pressure check of the removed N-300 turbopump after the repair of its leaky VV1 nozzle, followed by re-installation of the N-300, which is required to evacuate the PK-3 work chamber, and final cleanup operations.]
As part of his regular daily chores, Gennady inspected the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment which researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-2 greenhouse. [The experimental seeds of two types of peas (a flagellate variety with reds flowers, up to 27 cm high, and an acacia-leaf variety with white flowers, up to 20 cm high) are planted between wicks in a root tray, with environmental control powered on. Regular daily maintenance of the experiment involves monitoring of seedling growth, humidity measurements, moistening of the substrate if necessary, and photo/video recording.]
Working from the Russian task list, the CDR also continued the current session with the Uragan (“hurricane”) earth-imaging program, using the Kodak 760 DSC (digital still camera) with 800mm-lens from SM windows. [Today’s targets for his photo imagery were the port of Novorossiisk, the Altai mountain range, the polygonal agricultural area of Aksai-Ilek, open pit mining areas near the city of Leipzig, the Erzgebirge mountain range, Toknogul water reservoir, Medvezhy glacier, Sarezskoye Lake, Krasnodar and its water reservoir, the cities of Kurinskaya and Vladikavkaz, etc.]
The U.S. “Aeolus” scopemeter (voltage/current gage) has stopped recharging its battery. Mike was advised to try recharging the battery in the “Natalie” scopemeter (which is out of calibration) or else use non-rechargeable C cell batteries in Aeolus (although they would be consumed at a higher rate).
Imagery of tropical storm Bonnie taken by the crew and the external video camera system are currently being shown on nationwide television and are a great hit.
The crew was thanked for yesterday’s “good work” with the ADUM (Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity) bone scans of the knee, ankle, elbow ands shoulder (“Scan Z”) on both crewmembers, which successfully achieved all objectives. ADUM Scan A activities are scheduled for tomorrow.
The station continues to fly in XPOP attitude (X-axis perpendicular to orbit plane), pitch: 0.8 deg, yaw: -8.0 deg, roll: 0 deg, until 9/2, when it will switch to LVLH XVV in support of EVA-11, to return to XPOP on 9/4.
Major upcoming events:
- Progress 15P docking — 8/14 (1:02am EDT);
- Progress 15P thruster tests — 8/18
- ISS Reboost — 8/20 (delta-V = 1.5 m/s);
- ISS Reboost — 8/25 (delta-V = 2.2 m/s);
- EVA-11 — 9/3;
- Soyuz 9S launch — 10/9;
- Soyuz 9S dock — 10/11;
- Soyuz 8S undock/land — 10/19;
- Soyuz 9S relocate — 11/18;
- Progress 16P launch — 11/24.
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 target, 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, Aegean Sea (as ISS tracked SE-ward over western Turkey, the crew was to look right of track for views with glint and internal waves over this region), and Internal waves, SE Newfoundland (there were two passes for this target area. Weather was improving from the W. As ISS moved SE-ward from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the crew was to look right of track for internal wave patterns enhanced by glint).
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.
U.S. & Russian Segment Status (as of yesterday, 1:17pm EDT)
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
- Elektron O2 generator is On (16A, = lowest setting). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On. U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating. SM Gas Analyzer has been calibrated and is used for ppO2 & ppCO2 monitoring. MCA (major constituents analyzer) is in Life Extending Mode (LEM). BMP Harmful Impurities unit: absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On, SKV-2 is Off (SM panel mods completed 4/8; SKV-2 activation failed 4/20; is still considered failed). SFOG slot #2 fan suspect (not usable).
- SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 738; temperature (deg C) — 26.7; ppO2 (mmHg) — 161.8; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.6.
- SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 736; temperature (deg C) — 21.0.
- FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 744; temperature (deg C) — 26.0.
- Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 736.2; temperature (deg C) — 24.3 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 738.1; temperature (deg C) — 24.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 738.3; temperature (deg C) — 26.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — n/a, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
(n/a = data not available)
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
- Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in Autotrack (solar-tracking, “sun slicer”, i.e., drag reduction-biased by 47 deg).
- Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is in Standby mode; PCU-2 is in Standby mode.
Command & Data Handling Systems (C&DH)
- C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is backup, and C&C-3 is in standby.
- GNC-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is backup.
- INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.
- EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is Off (backup).
- LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
- PL-1 MDM is Off; PL-2 MDM is Operational.
- APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
- SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
- SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
- FGB MDM-1 is Off (failed, 11/21/03); MDM-2 is Operational.
Propulsion System (PS):
- Total propellant load available: 4068 kg (8968 lb) as of 8/5/04; [SM(552) + FGB(3516) + Progress M(0)]. (Capabilities: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).
Attitude Control Systems (ACS):
- 3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02; CMG-2’s RPC-17 failed 4/21/04; was replaced 6/30/04).
- State vector source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
- Attitude source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
- Angular rate source — RGA-1
Flight Attitude:
- XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: 0..5 deg, pitch: -9.0 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist), until 8/14 for brief free drift (Inertial), then back to XPOP until 8/18 for 15P thruster tests and reboost 1 & 2. LVLH will be regained on 9/2 for EVA-11, then back to XPOP on 9/4.
Communications & Tracking Systems (C&T):
- FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.
- All other Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.
- S-band is operating nominally (on string 2).
- Ku-band is operating nominally (may require a mask).
- Audio subsystem is operating nominally (IAC-1 is prime, IAC-2 is off).
- Video subsystem operating nominally.
- HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.
Robotics:
- SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at Lab PDGF/LEE A, operational on redundant string, off on prime.
- MBS: KA (keep alive) power on both strings.
- MT: latched and mated at WS4.
- POA: KA power on both strings.
- RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is On (DCP connected); Cupola RWS is Off.
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ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 11:55am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 356.9 km
- Apogee height — 360.8 km
- Perigee height — 353.0km
- Period — 91.7 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0006187
- Solar Beta Angle — -36.2 deg (culminating)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 90 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 32703
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.
