NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 16 December 2004
SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2004) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
Both crewmembers in turn underwent their second 30-min. CBT (computer-based training with video and audio) exercise to refresh their Crew Medical Officer (CMO) proficiency in emergency medical operations. [Objective of today’s CBT, scheduled regularly once a month, was to review information regarding airway management, i.e., nasal airway, equipment & operations with the suction device, the ILMA (intubating laryngeal mask airway), and how to perform a cricothyrotomy (making an incision under the Adams apple to bypass an airway obstruction).]
For today s ADUM session (Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Micro-G) the crew set up the equipment, including video and electronic still cameras, and then the operator, geared up with headset and VOX mike, performed Scan Z (Bone) and Scan C (Face) scanning on the subject, both crewmembers taking turns. Later, Leroy Chiao deactivated the hardware. Scan B (Abdominal) activities will be performed tomorrow, for which the subject, Salizhan, will need to fast for six hours and drink some water beforehand. [The session required prior HRF (Human Research Facility) and video tape recorder (VTR) activation by the ground, followed by power-up of the HRF computer and the ADUM hardware and software by the crew. Using the CMRS (crew medical restraint system) for strapping down the subject and electrodes for ECG (electrocardiogram) recording, scans were taken, their images recorded and the scanning & post-scan activities videotaped and still-photographed for downlink. ADUM tests the diagnostic capability of ultrasound (U/S) in medical contingencies relevant to the space environment and demonstrates the ability of minimally trained crewmembers to perform and interpret advanced U/S examinations. The U/S images are downlinked to the ground for interpretation. This telemedicine has application to emergency medical care in remote areas of the earth, as well as for astronaut crews traveling beyond low earth orbit.]
FE Sharipov reconfigured the Russian telephone/telegraph subsystem (STTS) from its backup string, used in nominal mode. [The “Voskhod-M” STTS enables telephone communications between the SM, FGB, DC1 Docking Compartment and U.S. segment (USOS), and also with users on the ground over VHF channels selected by an operator at an SM comm panel, via STTS antennas on the SM s outside. There are six comm panels in the SM with pushbuttons for accessing any of three audio channels, plus an intercom channel. Other modes of the STTS include telegraphy (Teletype), EVA voice, emergency alarms, Packet/Email, and TORU docking support.]
CDR Chiao performed the scheduled mid-December 3-hr. inventory audit of the food pantry , taking stock of all available food (exclusive of drinks or sweets) by type and amount contained in various storage locations in the Node, FGB and SM, similar to what the crew did on 12/2. The results will be downlinked and used to update the actual food situation on board.
The FE conducted a 3-hr. poisk for uteryannogo oborudovaniya (search for lost equipment), with the help of an uplinked list from TsUP, which should help reconcile the IMS (inventory management system) database with the actual stowage situation in the ISS. [The hunt focused particularly on electronic Kurs equipment from past Soyuz and Progress spaceships in the FGB, as well as 800A storage batteries, Orlan O2 tanks, EDV containers, KBO trash bags and hoses.]
Salizhan also prepared the regular IMS export/import delta file for updating the IMS databases, and he performed today s routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh life support system.
The crew conducted their daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS, RED exerciser, CEVIS cycle and the VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer. [Salizhan’s daily protocol prescribes a 1.5-hr structured set on the treadmill (today: Day 1 of a new set) and one hour on VELO.]
Later, Leroy transferred the daily TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data, which he then erased on the HRM storage medium.
For the next Saturday Science program (12/18), the SO has selected to perform SNFM (Serial Network Flow Monitor) software loading on the EXPRESS Rack 1 laptop (ELC-1). The activity is being hard scheduled. [There will be no Saturday Science options for 12/25. If there is a Saturday Science on 1/1/05 (New Year s Day), available payloads would be CBOSS-FDI (Cellular Biotechnology Support Systems-Fluid Dynamics Investigation) and SNFM.]
Specialists reviewing the results of the 12/13 troubleshooting by Leroy on the new Respirator Support Pack (RSP) #1004 have given the latter a clean bill of health and have designated it as prime for medical contingencies, while RSP #1003 is backup. [The RSP is designed to breathe for an incapacitated crewmember in the event of a respiratory health event on board ISS. RSP #1003 expired its certification in May of this year, and #1004 was flown on 15P as a replacement but failed its initial BPM (breaths per minute) checkout on orbit. The troubleshooting corrected the calibration problem with the BPM knob and verified nominal performance. The BPM performance of #1003 was also evaluated, and its results were downlinked. Manifesting another RSP on Progress has been withdrawn.]
After the totally successful repair of the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) on 12/10, which afterwards ran for 24 hours without any anomalies before it was turned off, plans are now being made to install a fourth sock filter at some future date. [Purpose of these filters is to protect the valves of the assembly from debris, e.g., from Zeolite generated by the desiccant/sorbent beds.]
The Russian SKV-1 air conditioner returned to operations yesterday, running nominally. Inspection via a transparent tube showed that condensate water is beginning to collect in the lines (TsUP: a good sign ).
The Elektron electrolysis machine remains off until 15P undocking next Wednesday. O2 still stored in 15P (~8 kg) will be used to conduct a cabin air repress tomorrow (12/17). [Sharipov s inspection yesterday of the Elektron s ZLVK electric hydrogen vacuum vent valve, checking for KOH (potassium hydroxide) residue, showed a pH level of the Triol contained in it to be 8 (neutral reference = 9). The manometer checking for a valve leak to vacuum came up with a constant reading (over 10 min duration.), indicating that the valve remains blocked.]
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Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
Yesterday s crew proficiency operations with the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) were completed successfully as planned. [At the end, the arm was placed in a double-grapple configuration in preparation for possible 16P de-manning, with one end grappled to the Lab PDGF (Power & Data Grapple Fixture) and the other to PDGF-3 on the MBS (Mobile Base System). During the SSRMS ops, the crew coined a new expression for the dither technique intended to prevent the loads-and-friction-induced grapple sticking: rocking the baby .]
Overnight, TsUP/Moscow will conduct the standard vacuum purging of the Progress 15P fuel (ZUG) and oxidizer (ZUO) lines, to vent prop residuals in the plumbing between Progress and SM into space. [Fuel purge (unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine, UDMH) begins at 10:45pm EST on Daily Orbit 2 (DO2), oxidizer purge (nitrogen tetroxide, N2O4) at 12:20am on DO3, for about 7 minutes each.]
Progress 15P has been loaded to its maximum cargo capacity based on the low levels of its remaining propellants, and no US non-common trash can be loaded on it for disposal lest it affects the planned de-orbit trajectory. The US items will be re-planned for disposal on 16P. [The low propellant levels occurred during the ISS reboost on 11/17, which had been planned to use propellant from the SM tanks to supply the 15P thrusters. Instead, 15P propellants were expended because of misconfigured valves.]
Update on SIGI1: Despite multiple on/off cyclings yesterday the SIGI1 (space integrated GPS/inertial navigation system #1) box did not re-initialize. It was finally powered off. Work is underway to see if any other options are available to make GPS-1 operational. Its failure causes a loss of redundancy, but other sources of state determination (GPS-2 and Russian data) are available. [GPS-2, which has the new SIGI firmware loaded, continues to operate nominally.]
Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in ram), were Internal Waves, North Atlantic (a roughly north-south trending clear weather window was predicted to the west of the Iberian Peninsula. This provided an opportunity for photography of internal waves in this region. Looking to the right of track and slightly ahead for the sunglint point), Sobat fans, SE Sudan (the overpass provided an opportunity to photograph the apex of the Sobat megafan complex. Looking to the left of track for the convergence of westward-spreading drainage patterns and the Ethiopian Highlands to the east. Photography of this region is important to understand geomorphic processes operating at the fans’ point of origin), Fires, Central Africa (Dynamic Event. Fires are spreading throughout central Africa from Lake Chad to the Congo. Looking to the left of track for smoke plumes originating from these fires. The crew may have also been able to see black burn scars using the 400 mm lens. Imagery of smoke plumes and burn scars is useful for study of fire dynamics and ecological response), and Internal Waves, Caribbean Sea (weather was predicted to be mostly clear over the Caribbean for internal wave photography. Looking to the right of track for the sunglint point. Internal wave patterns may have been more evident near the Venezuelan coastline).
CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at:
To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 10 crew visit:
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-10/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.
Expedition 10 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.
Upcoming Key Events:
- Progress 15P undocking & destructive reentry — 12/22 (Eastern);
- Progress 16P launch — 12/23 (5:19pm EST);
- Progress 16P docking — 12/25 (7:10pm EST);
- ISS Reboost 1/15/05 (or alternatively on 1/19/05);
- EVA-12 — 1/26/05;
- Progress 16P undocking & destructive reentry — 2/27/05;
- Progress 17P launch — 2/28/05.
- EVA-13 — 3/25/05;
- Soyuz 9S undock — 4/25/05 (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS).
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ISS Location NOW |
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:23am EST [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 354.9 km
- Apogee height — 357.8 km
- Perigee height — 351.9 km
- Period — 91.64 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0004422
- Solar Beta Angle — -38.1 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 97 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 34696
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.
