NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 11 November 2005

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

Before breakfast, CDR/SO McArthur performed the 24-hr. data registration of the acoustic dosimeters (two body-worn, one static) deployed yesterday.  Readings will again be taken tonight before sleep time, after which Bill will deactivate and stow the dosimeters at ~4:30pm EST.   [Before turning the dosimeters back on again, their batteries were changed out.  The dosimeters were then statically deployed for approximately 12 hrs in specified locations.]

FE Tokarev set up for the sixth NOA (Nitric Oxide Analyzer) session in the DC-1 docking compartment and then conducted the weekly test.   [Purpose of the new ESA VC9 payload ESANO1, consisting of the “Platon” analyzer and its power supply, is to monitor expired nitric oxide (NO) in the subject’s exhaled air to detect signs of airway inflammation and indications of venous gas emboli (bubbles) that may be caused by inhalation of pollutants on the ISS and increased risk of decompression sickness.  The experiment sessions are being conducted once a week, with two NO measurements in the exhaled air (after rinsing out with Rodnik water) taken in each session through a bacterial filter.  Today’s measurement ops were recorded in the Platon log and supported by ground specialist tagup via S-band.  To prevent skewing measurements, Valery (and Bill if applicable) has been requested to avoid food items containing nitrites and nitrates (such as in processed meat, assorted vegetables, stewed cabbage, etc.) from their diet for 24 hours before the weekly experiment.]

In the Airlock (AL), Bill McArthur terminated the “bake out” regeneration of the two expended EMU Metox (Extravehicular Mobility Unit/Metal Oxide) recyclable CO2 absorption canisters and the discharge cycle on the EMU batteries, both procedures having been initiated yesterday.  Afterwards, the AL CCAA (Common Cabin Air Assembly) air conditioner was deactivated by ground commanding.

Wrapping up post-EVA ops in the AL, the CDR reconfigured the VRA (Vent & Relief Assembly) power for two-man joint EVA.  Later, the ground activated the AL PCA (Pressure Control Assembly) and shut down the CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) in the Lab.   [With the CDRA off, the setpoint of the IATS LTL (Internal Thermal Control System/Low Temperature Loop) was then raised from 7.78 back to 11.1 degC.]

Bill also collected the periodic reading of the cabin air’s current CO2 concentrations in the Service Module (SM) and Lab, using the U.S. CDMK (Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Kit, #1015), for calldown, along with its battery status, taken after pump start-up, for use in trending analyses.

Valery Tokarev had 1.5 hours reserved for transferring equipment from the Progress-354/19P cargo vehicle to Russian segment stowage locations, logging movements in the IMS (Inventory Management System) and “yellow-tagging” selected items.   [Yellow tags, more formally called “uncertified dual ops tags”, are used to identify items not certified for ISS Operations (certification and/or paperwork not complete prior to launch); items which have IP (International Partner) segment-specific certification (can be used in one IP segment but should not be used in anther IP segment); items that could pose a safety hazard; and items that are broken or expired.  Blank yellow tags are flown so hardware can be tagged on-orbit as necessary.]

McArthur performed the bi-monthly reboot of the OCA comm router SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop.

The Science Officer began work on the BCAT-3 (Binary Colloid Alloy Test 3) experiment, first familiarizing himself with the payload hardware & operations, then setting up the experiment on the Lab MWA (Maintenance Work Area) and conducting the first photography session.   [Along with the MWA, Bill set up the SGSM (slow growth sample module) for subsequent photographing of samples 8, 9, and 10 with the Kodak 760 digital still camera.  The images were then stored on a PCMCIA 1GB micro drive (a new card for each day of ops).  The MWA and BCAT-3 SGSM will remain deployed until ops are complete on 11/15.  Activities will then pick up again on 11/28 with homogenization and photography of sample 6 using EarthKAM software (not used today).  Samples 8, 9, 10 were homogenized over a year ago, remaining in microgravity undisturbed as they continued to grow. They have had a very long time to exhibit colloidal/crystalline behaviors which have never before been experienced on Earth.]

The CDR conducted the periodic noise level measurements program throughout the station, using the US sound level meter (SLM) in the cabin for a 2-hr. acoustic survey.  The recorded data were later transferred to the medical equipment computer (MEC).   [These acoustic measurements are obtained periodically at 46 locations in the Lab (13), Node (4), Airlock (3), FGB (7), SM (11) and DC-1 (3) modules.  The survey also includes five crew preference locations taken at their perceived loudest locations in the station.  The SLM gives instantaneous noise levels and their frequency spectra, which are transferred to the MEC laptop via an RS232 cable and later downlinked with regular CHeCS (crew health care systems) data dump or via OCA. ]

After setting up the necessary pump/hose hookup, Tokarev started transferring urine from nine EDV-U liquid waste containers to the two empty Progress 19 “Rodnik” water tanks for disposal, emptying five containers in BV1 and four in BV2.  Afterwards, the hookup was disassembled again.  Three EDV-Us were loaded in Progress for disposal without emptying.   [Each of the two spherical Rodnik tanks (BV1 & BV2) consists of a hard shell with a soft membrane (bladder) composed of elastic fluoroplastic.  The bladder is used to expel water from the tank by compressed air pumped into the tank volume surrounding the membrane.]

Valery completed the routine SOZh/ECLSS maintenance in the SM, including ASU toilet facility checkout and today also the weekly inspection of the BRPK air/liquid condensate separator apparatus.  The FE also updated/edited the regular IMS delta file for its automated export/import to the three IMS databases (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Later today, during suitable passes before sleep time, McArthur is scheduled to conduct the periodic emergency VHF communications proficiency checkout over NASA VHF (very high frequency) sites at White Sands and Wallops, checking voice comm with Houston/Capcom, MSFC/POIC (Payload Operations & Interactions Control Center) and Moscow/Glavni (TsUP Capcom) in the normal fashion via VHF radio from a handheld microphone and any of the U.S. segment ATUs (audio terminal units).

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 4 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 ~1:55pm EST, Bill and Valery had their second standard weekly teleconference with the JSC Astronaut Office (Kent Rominger), via S-band S/G (space-to-ground).

At ~2:10pm, the crew had their fourth regular (nominally weekly) teleconference with the Lead Flight Director at MCC-H and TsUP/Moscow via S-band/audio, with a phone patch between Houston and Moscow.

Yesterday’s second attempt of reboosting the station was successful, as reported.  The two burns were performed nominally at 6:23am and 7:42am EST, yielding a total delta-V of 4.46 m/s (predicted: 4.40 m/s).  Mean altitude was increased by 7.82 km (predicted: 7.71 km).   [The burns were conducted with the 19P thrusters of manifold #2.  The SM thrusters were used for roll control.  The objective of the reboost was to set up the station’s proper orbital phasing angle with regard to Baikonur for the 20P launch on 12/21/05.  The earlier 10/18/05 reboost was aborted after 117 seconds.  A subsequent hot fire test of the four manifold #2 thrusters on 10/26 was nominal.]

MAMS (Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System) was activated per request from TsUP/Moscow to collect data on the ISS reboost.   [MAMS measured 4.43 m/s.  US ground teams plan to leave MAMS activated until after next Monday’s 19P manifold test.  Specialists at GRC (Glenn Research Center) and POIC provided support via special arrangement, since the MAMS/SAMS program has been terminated.] 

The new Russian experiment DZZ-11 Volna (“Wave”) was not performed yesterday (as erroneously reported) since the hardware at SM window #3 was not ready and the FE instead had to work on Soyuz ASU toilet maintenance.   [Volna 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.]

Tomorrow, 11/12 (12:55pm EST) and on Sunday, 11/13 (1:13pm EST) the crew will be involved in a very special event 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 (“English Tea” & “Good Day Sunshine”) and talk briefly with them about their adventure on ISS and space exploration.  This will be the first time a live concert will be linked to a U.S. spacecraft.]    

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 Yellow River Delta (the dynamics of this delta system are driven by intense human activity, highly variable seasonal discharge rates, and powerful storm and tidal activity in Bo Hai Bay.  River levels are low now and the winter storm season is about to begin.  The crew was to take advantage of this fair weather pass to document the current state of the delta region with a mapping session), Muglad Basin fans, SW Sudan (as ISS tracked northeastward into savannas of Africa’s Sahel region, the crew was to begin looking well right of track towards the White Nile River.  The complex drainage pattern including wetlands and burn scars is poorly understood and mapped.  Using high obliques and pans to provide context views of this vast region), and Florida Coastal Everglades (the state of sea grasses and mangroves in the coastal areas of Florida Bay is the focus of this Long Term Ecological Research site.  This should have been a fine nadir pass with good weather and light.  Mapping the interior side of the keys from Key West to Miami using the long lens settings).

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.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 7:12am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 352.8 km
• Apogee height — 358.3 km
• Perigee height — 347.4 km
• Period — 91.60 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008095
• Solar Beta Angle — -9.5 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 140 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 39886

Upcoming Events (all dates Eastern):

• 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
• 12/07/05 — 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.