NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 14 November 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 is the 36th anniversary of Apollo 12, the second manned lunar landing (Pete Conrad, Al Bean, Dick Gordon). Underway: Week 6 for Expedition 12. 

Following station inspection and morning hygiene, before breakfast and exercise, CDR/SO McArthur and FE Tokarev performed their second periodic (monthly) Russian biomedical assessment PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement), using the specially designed mass measurement device (IM), later breaking it down for stowage.   [Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures.  For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM “scales” measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants.  By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember’s mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.]

Later, the crew completed their regular monthly fitness evaluation.  For the FE, this consisted of his first session of the Russian MO-5 MedOps protocol of cardiovascular evaluation during graded exercises on the VELO cycle ergometer, assisted by the CDR as CMO (crew medical officer).   [The assessment, supported by ground specialist tagup, uses the Gamma-1 ECG equipment with biomed harness, skin electrodes and a blood pressure and rheoplethysmograph cuff wired to the cycle ergometer’s instrumentation panels.  For the graded exercise, the subject works the pedals after a prescribed program at load settings of 125, 150, and 175 watts for three minutes each.]

McArthur afterwards underwent the general U.S. MedOps PFE (periodic fitness evaluation), a monthly 1.5-hr. procedure which checks up on blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) during programmed exercise on the CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) in the Lab.  Readings were taken with the BP/ECG (blood pressure/electrocardiograph) and the HRM (heart rate monitor) watch with its radio transmitter, with Tokarev assisting as CMO.   [BP/ECG provides automated noninvasive systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements while also monitoring and displaying accurate heart rates on a continual basis at rest and during exercise.]  

Bill McArthur initiated Phase 2 of METOX (Metal Oxide) canister regeneration in the Airlock (AL) plus the maintenance/reconditioning cycle on the EVA/EMU batteries.   [For the latter, he set up an SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop running an automated DOS-based discharge/recharge application.  For the METOX regeneration, Bill had activated the Lab AR (Atmospheric Revitalization) rack and assisted in powering up the CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly), which the ground supported by lowering the ITCS LTL (Internal Thermal Control System/Low Temperature Loop) setpoint to 9.4 degC.  The recyclable METOX canisters are used in the U.S. EMUs (Extravehicular Mobility Units) for removal of CO2 from the air circulating in the suits.]

Tokarev collected the weekly cabin air data with the new GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer system of the Service Module’s pressure control & atmospheric monitoring system (SOGS).

Valery also recorded the monthly sensor readings of the Russian “Pille-MKS” radiation dosimetry experiment, which has ten sensors placed at various locations in the Russian segment (port cabin window, starboard cabin window, ASU toilet facility, control panel, etc.). (Last time done: 10/18). 

The CDR completed the monthly PEP (portable emergency provisions) safety inspection.  (Last time done: 10/20).   [The inspection involves verification that PFEs (portable fire extinguishers), PBAs (portable breathing apparatus), QDMAs (quick-don mask assemblies) and EHTKs (extension hose/tee kits) are free of damage to ensure their functionality, and to track shelf life/life cycles on the hardware.  There are a total of 5 PBAs in the U.S. segment (USOS).  There is only one EHTK, in the Lab.]

The Science Officer reviewed onboard computer-based training (CBT) material for the LF1-delivered new Human Research Facility #2 (HRF2) to prepare himself for the setup and functional checkout of the HRF2 Workstation 2 (WS2) scheduled tomorrow.

The crew started preparations for the Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation scheduled for next Friday (11/18) during which Tokarev and McArthur will fly the spacecraft from its current docking location on the “Pirs” Docking Compartment (DC1) to the nadir-facing docking port of the FGB.  Preparations began by a review of updated ODF (Operations Data File) material on the preparations of the SM for the event.  The relocation is necessary to allow the crew the use of the DC1 for the Russian EVA-15 spacewalk in Orlan-M suits in December.   [During the relocation, the ISS will be in “uncrewed mode” (which in the unlikely event of a failed redocking could extend for a longer period of time).  This mode requires powering off RS (Russian segment) systems, including two PCS (Portable Computer System) laptops in SM and FGB that provide C&W (Caution & Warning) annunciation for the crew (their brief deactivation is covered by a by a newly revised and MMT {Mission Management Team}-approved Flight Rule).  After Tokarev and McArthur have entered the spacecraft on Friday morning, TsUP/Moscow will command Undocking, after which Soyuz 11 will back off, rotate and translate to the FGB, followed by final approach and physical docking.  The maneuver times are chosen to be within coverage of RGS (Russian ground sites).  The last relocation, by Krikalev and Phillips in Soyuz TMA-6/10S, took place on 7/19.] 

Valery performed digital photography and video imagery for another session of the Russian “Diatomeya” ocean observations program.   [Valery used the Nikon D1X digital still camera with 85mm-lens and the DSR PD-150P Sony videocam from SM windows #7 and #8 to obtain oceanographic data on cloud cover, high production zones and associated oceanic phenomena in the Pacific and Atlantic ocean areas. (Today’s target zones: South Atlantic, from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge area to the SW African shoreline).]

The FE also completed his second session of the Russian “Uragan” (hurricane) earth-imaging program, using the Nikon D1X digital camera with f400 mm lens and 2x teleconverter (thus, f800).   [Today’s targets were natural environment conditions and natural sites on the territory of South America, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil.]

FE Tokarev completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), while McArthur updated/edited the regular IMS (Inventory Management System) delta file for its automated export/import to the three IMS databases (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur). 

At ~6:20am EST, the FE also conducted 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.

Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program, Bill on the CEVIS (as part of his PFE exam), the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation & Stabilization), and RED (Resistive Exercise Device), Valery on TVIS and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer.   [Valery’s daily protocol prescribes a strict four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill and one hour on VELO plus resistive load trainer (today: Day 3 of the first set).]

No CEO photo targets uplinked today.

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:

• http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/

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.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 6:54am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 352.6 km
• Apogee height — 358.1 km
• Perigee height — 347.1 km
• Period — 91.59 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008232
• Solar Beta Angle — -24.2 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 86 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 39933

Upcoming Events (all dates Eastern):

• 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
• 12/07/05 — EVA-15 (Russian; under review)
• 12/20/05 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry
• 12/21/05 — Progress M-55/20P launch
• 12/23/05 — Progress M-55/20P docking
• 01/09/06 — 100 days for Expedition 12.

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.