NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 11 August 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.
The crew pressed on in their preparations of next week s EVA-14. Activities focused on pulling together and staging all the tools and equipment required for the EVA and assembling the gear as a bundle (or cluster ) on the standard Russian EVA integrated equipment carrier (KPU). [The size of the EVA bundle must not exceed a diameter of 1m in order to pass through the DC-1 docking compartment s EVA hatch (max. allowable diameter: 1 m). Using comm links from the DC-1, the crew tagged up with ground specialists and made a video tape of the preparation of the bundle which was subsequently downlinked for inspection.]
Other EVA prep tasks included gathering & servicing of Orlan-M suit consumables and replaceable ORU elements, personal gear, as well as initial inspection of the two Orlan spacesuits to be used for the excursion. [The crew will be using Orlan-M suits #25 and #27, with US EMU helmet lights installed.]
Also in preparation for the EVA, Krikalev installed the second (of 2) supplementary portable air repress bottle (BNP) in the repress line of the Service Module (SM) s work compartment (RO).
Meanwhile, FE/SO Phillips worked in the SM Transfer Compartment (PkhO) and DC-1 to replace failed light assemblies in seven SD lighting fixtures, using any light assemblies with two operating lights from the SM.
Later, Sergei Krikalev transferred potable water supplies from the second set (BV2) of the Progress 18 Rodnik water storage to the SM (the BV1 tank s contents having been transferred by him on 7/7). After hooking up the plumbing (hoses, pressure adapter, electrical cable for the compressor) connecting the 18P water tank BV2 with the SM Rodnik BV2 tankage and an EDV container, Krikalev started the water transfer using a compressor pump via a GZhS gas/liquid separator, to remove air bubbles in the water. [Sergei closely monitored the transfer for bubbles every 30 minutes until termination of the process, after which he disassembled the hookup, compressed the BV2 bladder to expel water and air residuals, and bled the trapped air from the EDV.]
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On the MedOps defibrillator equipment, John Phillips initiated the regular recharge process on battery #1 to full capacity and subsequently performed it also on battery #2. The task concluded with a battery voltage check. [Each NiCad battery was charged for ~3.5 hrs, and its open-circuit voltage was tested at the end with the Aeolus volt/ohm scopemeter, then removed and stowed again. Nominally, the defib has a battery installed at all times, but with this particular unit the PDIM (power data interface module) is not functioning properly and would overcharge the batteries if left inside. They have to be charged every 60 days along with the defib checkout.]
The FE filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his thirteenth, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC software. [On the MEC, John 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 (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.]
John also took care of the regular weekly maintenance reboot on the operational PCS (Portable Computer System) laptops and the bi-monthly restart of the OCA comm router SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop.
Both crewmembers conducted their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, CEVIS cycle ergometer, RED resistive machine and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer. [Sergei 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 a new set).]
Afterwards, John transferred the exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data of the workouts on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).
Working from his discretionary time available task list today, Sergei performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, including the ASU toilet system, and prepared the IMS delta file for automated export/import to the three IMS databases.
As part of the EVA assembly video downlink, the crew also sent down greetings to the participants of the Russian Geographic Society s 12th Congress, requested by veteran cosmonaut V.P. Savinykh.
The ISS is today passing through a minor micrometeoroid storm area. No reason for concern.
Preparations for EVA-14, along with STS-121/ULF1.1 prepacking protecting for a September launch, have consumed the projected available crew time through the end of the Increment. In order to gain back some crew time an analysis is underway to determine whether certain scheduled routine maintenance may be deferred or the period lengthened without compromising safety or hardware.
Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude not limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Puerto Rico (with high sun and only scattered trade wind cumulus present, concentrating on the details of the threatened coral reef structures on the northern and eastern coasts of this populous island), Andrews Forest, Washington (taking advantage of this late morning pass to a near-nadir, detailed mapping strip from Salem, Oregon to the east-southeast across the forests of the Cascade Range), Stardust Site (within two minutes of the Andrew Forest target, the crew had an excellent, nadir view of the Stardust Landing Site and the Dugway Proving Grounds in the Great Salt Lake Desert. Looking for possible glint in areas where transient surface water may be present), and Beni River dynamics, Bolivia (the weather has continued to improve over this target area. ISS had a fine pass in mid-afternoon sun. Using the long lens setting to continue mapping details of the meanders, oxbow lakes, and wetlands of the evolving floodplain of this active river).
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:
To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 11 crew visit:
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-11/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.
Expedition 11 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.
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ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:39am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 354.2 km
- Apogee height — 354.9 km
- Perigee height — 353.5 km
- Period — 91.62 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.65 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.000104
- Solar Beta Angle — -4.1 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 83 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 38438
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.
