NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 12 January 2006
SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2006) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev performed Part 2 of his third onboard Profilaktika (MBI-8, Countermeasures ) preventive health maintenance fitness test series, today using the resistive NS-1 load trainer, keeping a log and supported by tag-up with medical support personnel at TsUP/Moscow. Part 3, on the TVIS treadmill, will conclude the assessment tomorrow. [Today s Russian fitness test consists of four types of exercise, viz., neck stretching (back/forward), simultaneous upper arm flexing, trunk extension, and trunk flexes. Each type of exercise requires a series of 15 motions repeated two times. Load levels are selected by the ground and do not change from test to test. Total duration of the test is ~13 min. Gas analysis using the TEEM-100M gas analyzer and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels were also performed as a part of this test. The lactate blood test was done twice at the end of the session, using the ACCUSPORT analyzer and REFLOTRON-4 accessories. Results were entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data were transferred to the Laptop 3, also on a tape cassette (Cardiocassette-2000), and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm. Results were also called down to specialists standing by at TsUP/Moscow.]
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Shuttle |
In the Russian segment (RS), Tokarev conducted the first experiment session with the Russian/German TEKh-20 Plasma Crystal-3 (PK-3) payload. [After spending the preceding two days on hardware setup, leak checks of the electronics box, evacuation of the work chamber, uploading new software, doing additional leak checks and verifying the readiness of the experiment, Valery today activated the PK-3/N turbopump in the Service Module s Transfer Compartment (SM PkhO), tagged up with ground specialists and started the evacuation of the vacuum chamber (ZB) in the SM Work Compartment (RO), then monitored PK-3 operations. At Experiment Start + ~10 min, video recording began. The turbopump will be deactivated tonight. The experiment is performed on plasma, i.e., fine particles charged and excited by HF (high frequency) radio power inside the evacuated work chamber. Main objective is to obtain a homogeneous plasma dust cloud at various pressures and particle quantities with or without superimposition of an LF (low frequency) harmonic electrical field. The experiment is conducted in automated mode.]
The FE installed IP-1 airflow meters in the hatchway between the SM PkhO and the DC1 Docking Compartment to measure ventilation after the IMV (intermodular ventilation) air duct collapsed recently and had to be propped open by the crew.
The crew conducted a review of the applicable DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) software and afterwards performed the scheduled video inspection of the zenith IUA/TDA (Integrated Umbilical Assembly/Trailing Umbilical System Disconnect Actuator) of the MT (Mobile Transporter) rail-car for purposes of EVA planning. [DOUG is an interactive software program on the MSS RWS laptop that provides a graphical birdseye-view image of the external station configuration and the SSRMS arm, showing its real-time location and configuration on the laptop during its operation. After the recent (12/21) TUS-2 cable cut anomaly, more detailed imagery of IUA1 & IUA2 are required, using the SSRMS camera capabilities. Objectives: Verification that the TDA safing bolt is still resident at IUA-1 for EVA tasks; possible identification if similar anomalous behavior is occurring on IUA-1 like it did on IUA-2; familiarization with worksite for potential EVA tasks; and better understanding of the actual anomalous event.]
Bill McArthur worked a 4-hr. task in the U.S. Airlock, installing the ROOBA (Recharge Oxygen Orifice Bypass Assembly) line. [The ROOBA allows for unrestricted flow of Shuttle oxygen for all ISS users. This reduces ORCA (Oxygen Recharge Compressor Assembly) usage and eliminates the need for connecting the Orbiter ports or using ISS O2 for EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) purge operations during assembly mission EVAs. The ROOBA will be used during Flight ULF1.1.]
In the Soyuz TMA-7/11S spacecraft s Orbital Module, Tokarev performed the monthly cleaning of the screen/grid of its fan & air heater assembly (BVN), to assure adequate air ventilation.
CDR McArthur conducted the weekly audit/inventory of the available CWCs (collapsible water containers) and their contents, to keep track of onboard water supplies. [Updated cue cards based on Bill s water calldowns are sent up every other week.]
The ground-commanded BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test) activity continued, taking time-lapse photography of BCAT sample 6 at the MWA (Maintenance Work Area) via EarthKAM camera and SSC-7 laptop. Later in the day, Science Officer conducted a check of the alignment and focus of the camera on the sample and position of flash. The imaging is to continue for 21 days (until 1/26).
The FE performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), and updated/edited the standard IMS (Inventory Management System) delta file , including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).
Tokarev also conducted the periodic checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various Russian segment (RS) hatchways, including the SM-to-DC1 tunnel, and the FGB-to-Node passageway.
At ~5:35am EST, Valery held the weekly IMS tagup with specialists at TsUP/Moscow, discussing open issues concerning identification of equipment and storage locations for the IMS databases via S-band.
As new standard early-morning task, the FE checked the operation of the Japanese experiment GCF-JAXA (Granada Crystallization Facility) in the Russian TBU incubator, maintained at 20 degC, including a temperature check on its ART (automatic temperature recorder). [This daily monitoring/temp checking, carried on the Russian voluntary “time available” task list, will continue until 4/30.]
The CDR completed his regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the CEVIS cycle ergometer, TVIS treadmill and RED resistive exerciser, with Valery Tokarev s exercise accounted for by his MBI-8 Profilaktika run on the VELO bike this morning.
Afterwards, Bill 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).
Afterwards, McArthur 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.
Today’s CEO (Crew Earth Observation)photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Muglad Basin fans, SW Sudan (ISS orbit track took the crew over the western portion of the Muglad basin. Overlapping mapping frames along track are useful in mapping individual fan boundaries and variations in habitat quality), and Fires in South-Central USA (Dynamic Event. Dry conditions and high winds continue to support the spread of fires throughout the southwestern and south-central United States. Looking to the left of track for smoke plumes as ISS traversed eastern Texas, northwestern Louisiana, and southern Arkansas).
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:
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.
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ISS Location NOW |
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 11:59am EST [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 347.5 km
- Apogee height — 354.7 km
- Perigee height — 340.3 km
- Period — 91.49 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0010745
- Solar Beta Angle — -31.3 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 70 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 40866
Events Ahead (all dates Eastern; tentative):
- 02/02/06 — Russian EVA-15
- 03/03/06 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry
- 03/22/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S launch (Exp. 13 + Marcus Pontes/Brazil)
- 03/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S docking (DC1)
- 04/01/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S undocking & return (Exp. 12 + Marcus Pontes)
- 04/06/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S relocation (DC1 to FGB nadir port)
- 04/09/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking & reentry
- 04/10/06 — Progress M-56/21P launch
- 04/12/06 — Progress M-56/21P docking
- 06/28/06 — Progress M-57/22P launch
- 06/30/06 — Progress M-57/22P docking
- 09/12/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking & reentry
- 09/13/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch
- 09/15/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking
- 09/23/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking & reentry
- 09/28/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S relocation (DC1 to FGB nadir port)
- 10/18/06 — Progress M-58/23P launch
- 10/20/06 — Progress M-58/23P docking
- 12/19/06 — Progress M-57/22P undocking & reentry
- 12/20/06 — Progress M-59/24P launch
- 12/22/06 — Progress M-59/24P docking.
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.
