NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 12 May 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.

Before breakfast, FE/SO Phillips performed the 24-hr. data registration of the acoustic dosimeters (two body-worn and one static) deployed yesterday. Readings will again be taken tonight before sleep time, after which John will deactivate and stow the dosimeters. [The dosimeters were today deployed statically for approximately 12 hrs in specified locations in the Service Module (SM), viz., behind TVIS, near the SKV air conditioner, and at the Central Post.]

CDR Krikalev continued the new round of monthly preventive maintenance on Russian segment (RS) air ventilation systems, today working an hour in the Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok (FGB) for the regular cleanup of the detachable fan screens of the three SOTR (thermal control system) gas-liquid heat exchangers (GZhT4), as well as the fixed grill of GZhT #4.

After powering up the HRF (Human Research Facility) rack, Phillips transferred his personal montage file on an HRF flash card to the HRF PC into a specific directory for the upcoming experiment session of FOOT (Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight) and his subsequent FOOT activities, after which he powered down the rack again. Later, John performed a dry run of the electromyography (EMG) calibration exercises that will precede the experiment. [The LEMS (Lower Extremity Monitoring Suit) was not required as yet, and Phillips used the HEAs (handrail extender assemblies) set up beforehand. During the actual experiment, the FE will wear the specially instrumented garment and shoes as he goes through a typical on-orbit day while reaction forces against the ISS structure are recorded passively to determine how much stress his legs and feet endure. This provides better understanding of the bone loss and loss of muscle mass experienced by astronauts in zero-G (on Mir, for example, cosmonauts lost as much bone mass in a month as post-menopausal women do in a year).]

Krikalev performed an IMS (Inventory Management System) audit of Russian spare light fixtures and replaced two faulty lamp units in the SM.

Sergei also conducted an IMS-supported tally of as many items stowed in the DC1 docking compartment as possible, to verify availability and stowage locations of equipment, pouches, bags and kits. [This will be a continuing activity. The list to be checked contains 76 item categories such as KVO-M liquid cooling garments, a BNG air pressurization unit, electrical umbilicals, tethers and constraints, Orlan spacesuits, equipment kits and containers, etc.]

John worked the somewhat complicated task of replacing CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) batteries in a PCS (Portable Computer System) laptop, specifically the IBM 760XD machine of the Lab RWS (Robotics Work Station). [The task involved shutting down and opening the PCS, replacing its CMOS batteries, reinstalling its 1553 card and closing it up again. Afterwards, the FE also had to reset the CMOS settings, with MCC-H standing for support if required.]

The CDR conducted the periodic (monthly) functional closure test of a spare emergency vacuum valve (AVK) for the Vozdukh CO2 removal system. [The AVKs are critical because they close the Vozdukh’s vacuum access lines in the event of a malfunction in the regular vacuum valves (BVK) or a depressurization in the Vozdukh valve panel (BOA). Access to vacuum is required to vent carbon dioxide (CO2) during the regeneration of the absorbent cartridges (PP). During nominal operation, the AVK valves remain open.]

The FE/SO supported a ground-controlled full calibration of the MCA (Major Constituents Analyzer) by opening the instrument’s VGA (verification gas assembly) valve and closing it again a few hours later. [The MCA uses a mass spectrometer with a magnetic field to separate ionized air sample constituents in a work chamber that is kept at vacuum by a high-performance ion pump.]

Krikalev completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, including servicing the ASU toilet system, and, from his discretionary task list, prepared the regular IMS “delta” file for export/import to the IMS databases.

Also suggested on Sergei’s task list was his first session with the Russian “Uragan” (hurricane) earth-imaging program that had him focus the Nikon D1X No. 3 digital camera with 800-mm lens on targets called out on an uplinked list. Some images were then to be downlinked to TsUP/Moscow via the new BSR-TM/Regul comm link that is currently being tested. [Targets for today were coastal and mountain areas of Taiwan (susceptible to earthquakes and tsunamis) and the Panama Canal.]

The crew conducted their regular daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the CEVIS cycle ergometer, RED resistive exerciser and VELO bike with bungee cord force loader (NS-1), with Sergei also using the TVIS for his rigorous exercise regimen. [Ground engineers need additional time on Phillips to evaluate his use of the treadmill after its unexpected power-down last week, followed by an “underspeed” event. As of now, nothing amiss has been found with TVIS hardware, and it is expected that both crewmembers will be OK’d to resume TVIS exercise quite soon. ]

The FE 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 his workout on CEVIS and RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.

At 9:45pm EDT, the crew downlinked TV greetings to participants of the “Zdorovaya Rossiya 2020” (Healthy Russia 2020) symposium, to be held May 30-June in Moscow. [The event is sponsored by the Russian nonprofit organization “Healthy Russia”, implementing the joint US-Russian public service program “Zdorovaya Rossiya 2020”. The program is dedicated “to a healthy life style and prevention of risky behavior in the youth population”. CDR Sergei Krikalev is on its Board of Trustees and an avid participant in the activities of the fund, supporting the aim of “healthy life style choices, i.e. be athletic, eat correctly, say NO to smoking and drinking”.]

Update on Reboost: Yesterday’s station reboost successfully set up proper phasing conditions for Progress 18 launch on 6/17. Actual delta-V of the apogee burn was 0.71 m/sec (0.75 predicted) and mean altitude increase 1.24 km (1.3 predicted). Progress 17 propulsion used about 88 kg of propellants for the burn plus pre- & post-burn maneuvering. There will be another reboost in June, from 18P (~6/22). During the reboost, photogrammetric video was taken by MCC-H of the portside solar array wing (SAW) tip to help evaluate structural integrity from the observed motion. An earlier observation (Feb. ’05) has successfully confirmed the structural integrity (including tight bolts) of the starboard SAW and its BGA (Beta gimbal assembly).

Update on Elektron: The oxygen generator is off and considered failed. According to RSC-Energia specialists, an electronics box of its control system needs to be replaced for its restoration to service, and a new spare box will probably fly on Progress 18 next month. Until then, the station residents will use O2 from Progress 17P storage, which lasts until May 22 or 23, and SFOG (solid-fuel oxygen generator) “candles” afterwards. [There are currently 84 candles available on board, and with a two-person crew two of them are required each day. 18P will also deliver hardware for firing SFOGs electrically, as opposed to using the previous squib-type igniters.]

Update on Russian Air Conditioners: Both A/Cs of the Russian segment (SKV-1 & -2) are considered fully functional. They will be used in alternating mode (switching after 4 & 6 days) to prevent the wicking material inside from drying up.

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 Internal waves, South China Sea (weather and lighting looked good for the time of this pass for sun glint enhancement of internal wave features in the South China Sea. As ISS tracked northeastward across southern Vietnam, the crew was to look left of track to the area between the coast and Hai-nan Island at the entrance to the Gulf of Tonkin), Delhi, India (this megacity continues to be difficult to find because of poor air quality. Weather and lighting were expected to be good at the time of this pass; however, surface visibilities may have been as low as two miles and only near-nadir views may have worked. Using the long lens and trying to map the diffuse edges of this urban area), Cairo, Egypt (investigators are attempting to document the urban expansion of this megacity. On this ideal nadir pass the crew was to use the long lens and attempt to map the entire city with successive frames to be used in a mosaic of the city), and Pilcomayo River dynamics, N Argentina (the Pilcomayo River breaks out of the eastern Andes as a major river in southern Bolivia. However, as it flows southeastward marking the border between Argentina and Paraguay it all but vanishes into the Chaco Plain with only vegetation indicating older, abandoned channels as the river retreated. On this pass the crew used the long lens for mapping the river from where it emerges from the mountains until it becomes diffused 150 miles to the SE. Looking left of track for the lightly colored riverbed that gradually darkens with vegetation).

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 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.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:53am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 354.3 km
• Apogee height — 358.2 km
• Perigee height — 350.5 km
• Period — 91.63 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0005697
• Solar Beta Angle — 39.9 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 50 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 37007

Some Increment 11 Main Events (not final):

• Progress M-52 (17P) undock — 6/16;
• Progress M-53 (18P) launch — 6/17 (dock 6/19);
• Reboost — ~6/22 (delta-V 1.5 m/s);
• LF-1/STS-114 launch — NET 7/13 (window opens);
• Soyuz TMA-6 (10S) relocate (from DC-1 to FGB) — 8/16;
• Progress M-53 (18P) undock — 8/23;
• Progress M-54 (19P) launch — 8/24 (dock 8/26);
• ULF1.1/STS-121 launch — NET 9/9 (window opens);
• Soyuz TMA-7 (11S) launch — 9/27 (dock 9/29);
• Soyuz TMA-6 (10S) return — 10/7.

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.