NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 13 September 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.

Day 2 of the three-day transition of the onboard PCS (Portable Computer System) to software Version R9 and the ThinkPad A31p platforms again was a success.   [FE/SO Phillips first powered on the PCS A31p at the Cupola RWS (Robotics Workstation), then installed ePCS (early PCS) hard drives in the current 760XD laptops in the Lab and Service Module (SM), verifying normal bootup by powering them up temporarily before stowing them (one of the old ePCS hard drives proved to be failed).  They will be used in the event of a failure of all three C&C MDMs (Command & Control Multiplexer/Demultiplexers, i.e., computers), the so-called “Mighty Mouse scenario” (after the moniker of the special resident last-resort/fail-safe software package).  The FE then deployed and activated the other two A31p laptops, one at the Lab RWS, the other in the SM.  The ground meanwhile got the Primary and Backup C&Cs switched to R9 and tomorrow will also take off the Standby C&C MDM, load it with the appropriate files and reinitialize it.  This will commit to PCS R9 in all three C&Cs, concluding the job.]

Meanwhile, working in the 19P cargo ship, CDR Krikalev installed the LKT local temperature sensor commutator (TA251MB) of the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry system, along with its ROM unit (read-only memory, TA765B).  The LKT was subsequently switched on by the ground to complete the basic configuration.   [The BITS2-12, VD-SU control mode, and SKV-1 air conditioner were also temporarily powered off for the installation.] 

Afterwards, Sergei Krikalev completed Progress 19 integration into SM systems by installing the standard US-21 matching unit in the cargo ship, a 50-min. task.  An electrical test was conducted by TsUP during RGS (Russian ground stations) coverage on Daily Orbit 2.   [The US-21 matching unit connects the SM with the Progress motion control and DPO thrusters systems, so that they can be commanded by the SM computer system (BVS).  After bolting the box down, Sergei hooked it up with the telemetry (TM) connector to the BITS2-12 onboard TM system on Go from TsUP, after Moscow had inhibited data output to the VD-SU control system mode, powered off the BITS and deactivated the SKV-1 air conditioner.  These systems were subsequently turned back on.]

Later in the day, the crew continued Progress offloading and cargo transfers, in the process updating the IMS (Inventory Management System).

As a special task, the CDR transferred another new and quite interesting Russian payload, the AKVARIUM experiment, consisting of the Exposure 1 and Exposure 2 packages, which he set up in the SM in the existing Rasteniya (Plants-2) kit.   [Purpose of Akvarium is to obtain data on the possibility of long-term storage of dormant animal forms and to determine their ability to survive and be revivified under space flight conditions.  Each of the two Exposure bags contains resting eggs of three types of freshwater crustaceans (Daphnia magna, Streptocephalus torvicornis, Eucypris), with seven specimen, adhered to paper strips, in each bag.] 

Krikalev took digital images of a suspect connector thread on one of the Orlan backpack batteries (825M3) used during EVA-14 that he had worked on 9/6, to be downlinked for inspection.

Sergei also performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, including the ASU toilet system, while John, working off the “job jar” task list, prepared the regular daily IMS “delta”/update file for automated export/import to the three IMS databases (MCC-H, TsUP, and Baikonur).

Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, RED resistive machine and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer.   [Sergei’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 3 of a new set).]

Afterwards, John 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 RED workouts, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

At ~7:05am EDT, Krikalev downlinked a PAO message of greetings and congratulations to the attendees of the RMA Award Ceremony, to be held by MTV Russia on 9/21 on Vassilievski Drive near the Kremlin.   [The ceremony will be attended by the best foreign and domestic performers, and the awards will be presented by representatives of the Russian elite of writers, musicians, athletes, and other prominent figures.  Sergei’s videotaped downlink will congratulate the winners in five categories, from a list of names uplinked yesterday.]

MCC-H performed another periodic (biannual) degradation test on the U.S. photovoltaic arrays (SA) today.   [This test is performed at low Solar Beta Angle in XVV attitude with both BGAs (Beta Gimbal Assemblies) in Autotrack mode.  Each SA is shunted ~10 minutes prior to eclipse over three consecutive orbits.  Observation of the shunt current under these conditions provides a good data set for assessment of SA output capability. Performing the periodic test of the performance allows to track the performance over time and to compare degradation trends against the expected curve. Analysis of the test results will be available within the next two weeks.]

Until the Elektron oxygen (O2) generator is brought back on line with the new BZh-8 Liquid Unit (to be installed on 9/15), cabin atmosphere is being refreshed with O2 from Progress tankage as needed to maintain proper ppO2 (oxygen partial pressure).

Over the weekend, Phillips reported an additional LHA (Lamp Housing Assembly) failure in the Lab over the TESS (temporary sleep station) that was replaced only a week ago using an LHA scavenged from the LF-1 MPLM “Raffaello”.

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 Toshka Lakes, Egypt (looking right to see all the lakes in one view), Internal waves, W Florida coast (dry air to the west of Hurricane Ophelia permits views of the Gulf surface), Hurricane Ophelia (Dynamic event. The poorly formed eye is expected to be located just left of your track), and Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan (oblique shots to the right of the track were requested as baseline and contextual shots for long-term monitoring of acid-rain affected forests).

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, 6:06am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 350.6 km
• Apogee height — 351.9 km
• Perigee height — 349.3 km
• Period — 91.55 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0001901
• Solar Beta Angle — 1.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.73
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 144 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) – 38956

Upcoming Events (all times EDT):

• 09/30/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S launch (~11:54pm)
• 10/03/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S docking (~1:20am)
• 10/11/05 — Soyuz TMA-6/10S landing (~9:06pm)
• 10/18/05 – ISS Reboost
• 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
• 12/21/05 – Progress M-55/20P launch
• 12/23/05 — Progress M-55/20P 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.