NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 13 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.
After the 8-hour sleep period, FE/SO Phillips re-recorded the data from one acoustic crew-worn dosimeter which had accidentally been shut off during the previous night-time recording. Afterwards he deactivated and stowed the dosimeter.
Continuing the current round of monthly preventive maintenance on Russian segment (RS) air ventilation systems, Phillips worked in the Service Module (SM), inspecting and cleaning Group B ventilators in the PkhO/Transfer Compartment air duct (grilles VAP-1 & -2, VPO-2 thru -4, VN-1 & -2).
Sergei Krikalev finished the installation of a sound-reducing textile muffler in the air duct of the starboard crew cabin to deaden the noise of the VKYu-1 ventilation fan in the duct, started on 5/11.
John undertook the regular periodic hatch seal inspection on all six USOS (U.S. segment) hatches, viz., Node (forward & aft starboard), Lab (aft), and Joint Airlock, in support of regular ACS (atmospheric control system) maintenance. (Done last: 3/15).
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Time again for recharging the Motorola-9505 Iridium satellite phone. Krikalev retrieved it from its location in the Soyuz TMA-6 descent module (DM) and initiated the monthly recharging of its lithium-ion battery, a 30-min. process. The charging was monitored every 10-15 minutes as it took place, and upon completion Sergei returned the phone inside its SSSP Iridium kit and stowed it back in the DM s operational data files (ODF) container. [The satphone accompanies returning ISS crews on Soyuz reentry and landing for contingency communications with SAR (Search-and-Rescue) personnel after touchdown. The Russian-developed procedure for the monthly recharging has been approved jointly by safety officials. During the procedure, the phone is left in its fluoroplastic bag with open flap.]
John completed the regular weekly maintenance reboot on the operational PCS (Portable Computer System) laptops and the bi-monthly restart of the OCA comm router SSC laptop. [Phillips was thanked for his great work on the PCS laptops this week, which included the tricky job of a CMOS battery replacement. The ISS is now in a better configuration with respect to PCS than it has been in a long time. ]
Phillips also did the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system and prepared the regular IMS delta file for export/import to the IMS databases.
The CDR serviced the ASU toilet facility, replacing the pretreat container (E-K) plus hose with a new assembly, discarding the old one. [E-K contains five liters of pre-treat solution,- a mix of H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), CrO3 (chromium oxide, for oxidation and purple color), and H2O (water). The pre-treat liquid is mixed with water in a dispenser (DKiV) and used for toilet flushing.]
Sergei collected the monthly sensor readings of the Pille-MKS radiation dosimetry experiment, with its ten sensors placed at various locations in the RS (port cabin window, starboard cabin window, ASU toilet facility, control panel, etc.). (Last time done: 4/21).
The FE filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his third, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC (medical equipment computer) software. [With the updated MEC software, John is using a new 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.]
Supported by tagup with ground specialists, the CDR worked on the Russian VELO bicycle ergometer and its NS-1 force loaders. The cycle needed two new foot pedals (with toe clips), which Sergei installed, discarding the old ones. The two force loaders (which essentially are spring-driven pulley cords) required removal of a damaged portion of the cord.
On the US exercise hardware, Phillips conducted the periodic (once per month) routine inspection of the RED (resistive exercise device) with canister cords and accessory straps as well as the canister bolts for re-tightening if required.
The FE also performed the regular monthly maintenance of the TVIS treadmill, mainly consisting of an inspection of the Russian and US tie-down harnesses for any damage. [A newly designed US harness will arrive on STS-114, to be evaluated on orbit by John, while Sergei will continue using the Russian harness and do a comparison evaluation.]
The crew completed their regular daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, RED resistive exerciser and VELO bike with bungee cord force loader, with Sergei also using the TVIS for his rigorous exercise regimen (Day 3). [Both crewmembers were given the Go to run on the TVIS in the passive (i.e., not motor-driven) mode without exceeding 6 mph, with the data from both recorded on John s exercise memory card. This should provide ground engineers additional input to help them verify proper TVIS functionality.]
The FE again 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 RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.
From his discretionary task list, Sergei conducted another 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. [Targets for today were the Himalayas, coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, the Amu-Daria River, plus general view and close-up images of the Volga River. The latter were to be downlinked from the EGE-1 laptop via the new BSR-TM/Regul comm link that is currently being tested.]
Later, at ~3:30pm, the crew is scheduled for their third regular (nominally weekly) teleconference with the Lead Flight Director at MCC-H via S-band/audio.
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 Manila, Philippines (this was a nadir pass in good, early afternoon light over the Philippine capital city. As ISS approached from the SW, the crew was to look for this mega city on a bay on the SW side of the big island of Luzon, using the long lens for detailed mapping), Muglad Basin fans, SW Sudan (this target is now situated on the very northern edge of the heavy cloud formations that mark the return of the rainy season to this part of Africa. The station pass was over the western portion of the target, and the crew was to begin detailed mapping with the long lens for about thirty seconds as they cleared the northern edge of the clouds), Sao Paulo, Brazil (taking advantage of this excellent pass under expected ideal weather and lighting conditions favoring this sprawling inland mega city. Requested was a 400mm lens mapping of the city), Lake Poopo, Bolivia (investigators are continuing their long-term monitoring of this variable salt lake in the southern Altiplano of Bolivia. Poopo s size and color changes, in response to El Niño cycles, are well documented. Using the long lens for details of the shoreline and sediment plumes), and Internal waves, E & W Florida coasts (as ISS passed just SE of the Florida Keys, the crew was to look left of track for glint and internal wave patterns in the coastal waters of both the W and then the E coast of the peninsula).
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, 6:08am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 354.3 km
- Apogee height — 358.3 km
- Perigee height — 350.2 km
- Period — 91.63 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0006021
- Solar Beta Angle — 34.6 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 65 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 37021
For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
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.
