NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 12 April 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.

Today Russia observes Denj Kosmonavtov (Cosmonauts Day) — celebrating Yuri Gagarin’s pioneering flight into space 44 years ago.  [Yuri Alexeyevich was accepted into the cosmonaut unit in 1960, at age 26. After his historic 108-min. flight around the Earth in Vostok 1 , which ended with a parachute ejection at 7 km altitude over a farm field near the city of Engels in Saratov Oblast (province), he was promoted to unit leader. Seven years later, in 1968 (March 27), Yuri died with a flight instructor in a still not completely explained fighter jet crash. Chief Designer of the thusly inaugurated Soviet human space program was Sergey Pavlovich Korolev.]

Also today: 24 years ago, Space Shuttle Columbia had its maiden flight, with John Young and Bob Crippen. And 20 years ago, Senator Jake Garn flew into space as a crewmember on the 16th Shuttle flight, Discovery STS-51D.

In observance of Cosmonauts Day, the ISS crew conducted two PAO down/uplink exchanges:

At 2:20am EDT, Sharipov and Chiao conferred via video link with top management personnel and guests gathered at Federal Space Agency (FKA/Roskosmos) headquarters on Shepkina Street in Moscow. FKA chief Anatoly Perminov congratulated the crew (utilizing a newly established central information center at Roskosmos, which he first used a week ago (4/5) to address the ISS crew).  [The video connection employed US S- and Ku-band assets and linked to the ISS via MCC-Houston.]

At 4:00am, the ISS crew also exchanged congratulatory greetings and chatted with RSC-Energia, GCTC (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center) and IBMP (Institute of Biomedical Problems) personnel at TsUP/Moscow.

Getting back to business, Sharipov completed his current session of the scheduled 24-hour recording of his ECG (electrocardiogram) under the Russian MedOps MO-2 protocol.  [For the ECG recording, the FE yesterday donned the five-electrode Holter harness that read his dynamic (in motion) heart function from two leads over 24 hours and recorded data on the Kardioregistrator 90205 unit. The CDR/SO was available to assist in the harness donning and doffing.]

It was also time for Salizhan to complete the second of two final 1.5-hr. training sessions in the “Chibis” ODNT suit as part of his preparations for returning into gravity, after the first session on 4/7. Since there was no telemetry downlink, his vital body readings were again obtained with the Tensoplus sphygmomanometer. A tagup with ground specialists via S-band supported the run, and Leroy Chiao assisted as CMO.  [The below-the-waist reduced-pressure device ODNT (US: LBNP) in the “Chibis” garment provides gravity-simulating stress to the body s cardiovascular/circulatory system for reestablishing the body s orthostatic tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry reflex) after the six-month stay in zero-G. Salizhan s ODNT protocol today consisted of first drinking 150-200 milliliters of water or juice, followed by a sequence of progressive regimes of reduced ( negative ) pressure, set at -20, -25, -30 and -35 mmHg for five minutes each, while shifting from foot to foot at 10-12 steps per minute. The body s circulatory system interprets the pressure differential between upper and lower body as a gravity-like force pulling the blood (and other liquids) down.]

With the Elektron O2 generator still off, Salizhan worked on the Russian BMP harmful impurities removal system, starting the “bake-out” cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. Before sleep time today, the bake-out will be terminated.  [Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. The BMP is currently still using the same vacuum vent valve for regeneration as the Elektron (the latter for venting hydrogen).]

Reactivation of the Elektron will be attempted early tomorrow morning over RGS (Russian Ground Site) for direct MCC-M telemetry monitoring. In the event of no success, another attempt will not be made until after the upcoming Soyuz 10 docking operations (4/16), possibly by swapping BZh liquid unit #7 with the older #6.

The CDR filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his 23rd, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC (medical equipment computer) software.

In the SM, the FE deactivated the IK0501 gas analyzer (GA) of the SOGS pressure control & atmospheric monitoring system and exchanged its BF carbon dioxide (CO2) filter assembly with a new unit from FGB stowage (replaced last: 3/1/05). GA was reactivated and the spent BF stowed for disposal.  [IK0501 is an automated system for measuring CO2, O2, and H2O in the air as well as the flow rate of the gas being analyzed.]

Sharipov also worked on the Russian laptops #2 and #3, used for payloads etc., cloning three HDDs (hard disk drives, ##6059, 6138, 6156) with new Windows OS (Operating System) vers. 07.02 software from a CD-ROM via Norton Ghost application on floppy.

Both crewmembers continued work on preparing/pre-packing equipment for return to Earth, both on the Shuttle and on Soyuz TMA-5.

Salizhan performed a ground-developed troubleshooting procedure on the Russian SKV-1 air conditioner, first setting up the appropriate pump-and-plumbing system and then flushing the suspected clogged lines and dried wicks of the condensate evaporator with water.  [The SKV-1 stopped functioning properly on 4/4 (Monday) and was deactivated. Meanwhile, the SKV-2 is operating nominally to remove moisture from the air.]

The FE also collected the standard fluid sample from the SRVK-2M condensate water processor in the SM, then closed out the KAV sampling configuration again.

Working off the voluntary Russian task list, Salizhan performed the daily routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, including ASU toilet facilities, and prepared the regular IMS delta file for the daily automated export/import to the three IMS databases on the ground.

As also task-listed, the FE conducted another session with the “Uragan” (hurricane) earth-imaging program that had him focus the Nikon D1X digital camera with f800 mm lens from SM window #9 on targets specified by an uplinked list.  [Today’s targets included detailed imagery of the Volga river delta and isolated sources of spring fires of reed grass, which threaten fauna.]

The crew conducted their regular daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill, RED exerciser, and VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer.  [Salizhan’s daily protocol currently prescribes a four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill and one hour on VELO (today: Day 3 of a new set).]

Chiao then transferred the daily TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.

Leroy also performed the weekly maintenance on the TVIS treadmill, primarily checking the condition of the SPDs (subject positioning devices) and recording time & date values.

At ~2:15pm EDT, the crew exchanged greetings with NASA top management at Headquarters in Washington via a direct video conference. The occasion was the ribbon cutting for the new Space Operations Center (SOC) at the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD)  [The crew tie-in demonstrated to top management the new hi-tech on-site connectivity with ISS Expedition and Shuttle crews from NASA HQ, while providing the crew with a brief update on STS-114 mission processing. The SOC represents a secure environment for receiving and displaying mission information to enable HQ staff to monitor ISS and Shuttle mission operations in real-time.]

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 Mediterranean Dust (DYNAMIC EVENT: A strong, slow-moving storm over the central Mediterranean has been raising large dust plumes over northeastern Africa and sweeping them northward over the sea. As ISS approached the African coast from the NW on this pass, the crew was to look left of track for plumes and streaks of dust over the open water), Lake Nasser, Toshka Lakes, Egypt (although there are already a number of good views of this target area, this particular pass offered sun glint enhancement possibilities. Looking right of track for glint on the lakes, their connecting channels, and any other adjacent areas where water may be seeping away from the lakes), North Atlantic (weather is ever-challenging in this turbulent area of the North Atlantic. However satellite imagery suggested that a good stretch of open water may have been present to the W of the Iberian Peninsula at the time of this pass), and Gulf of Maine Plankton (frequent plankton blooms have been observed in this area in recent years, and ongoing research there is using surface observations from ships. Looking right of track for signs of plankton in the waters between Cape Cod and western Nova Scotia).

 
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 10 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-10/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 10 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.

Expedition 11/Expedition 10 Flight Timelines (preliminary):

• Soyuz 10S (Expedition 11+1; Sergei Krikalev, John Phillips, Roberto Vittori):
• Launch — 4/14 (Thu.), 8:46pm EDT;
• Soyuz TV activation (8 km from ISS) — 4/16 (Sat.), 9:42pm
• Start Flyaround — 10:00pm;
• Start Stationkeeping — 10:09pm;
• Final Approach — 10:10pm;
• Docking — 4/16 (Sat.), 10:19pm EDT.
• Soyuz 9S (Expedition 10+1; Leroy Chiao, Salizhan Sharipov, Roberto Vittori):
• Undocking from FGB — 4/24 (Sun.), 2:38pm EDT (undock command);
• Sep Burn #1 (manual) — 2:44pm;
• Deorbiting Burn — 5:18pm (4 min 23 sec, delta-V 115.2 m/s);
• Module Sep —  5:43pm;
• Atmospheric Entry — 5:46pm;
• Landing in darkness — 4/24 (Sun.) 6:09pm EDT; 3:09am (4/25) local Kustanai/Kazakhstan;
• Sunrise at Kustanai landing site — 5:16am. [Note: Kazakhstan remains on Standard Time; thus: local time = GMT+5].

Return to Flight:

• LF-1 (STS-114)/Increment 11 SORR — 4/22 (Friday), at JSC;
• LF1 (STS-114)/Discovery launch windows (all times EDT), for FD3 docking:
• 5/15: 3:45 – 3:55pm;
• 5/16: 2:22 – 2:32pm;
• 5/17: 1:59 – 2:07pm;
• 5/18: 1:34 – 1:44pm;
• 5/19: 1:12 1:22pm;
• _ etc.

Note: For the May/June launch period, the daily 10-minute planar launch window (i.e., in ISS orbit plane) starts an average 23 minutes earlier each day, extends into early June and closes due to current constraints of Daylight Launch (6/7) or ET umbilical photo opportunity (6/3). Figures are approximate. There are additional opportunities for docking on FD4 (Flight Day 4), which is not planned.

Other Upcoming Main Events:

• ULF1.1 (STS-121) launch — NET 7/12;
• Progress M-54 (19P) launch — 8/24;
• Soyuz TMA-7 (11S) launch — 9/27.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 3:38am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 356.1 km
• Apogee height — 360.5 km
• Perigee height — 351.7 km
• Period — 91.66 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0006529
• Solar Beta Angle — -22.6 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 90 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 36532

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.