NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 16 June 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, the FGB (Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok) has its 2400th day in space. The Control Module “Zarya” was launched on November 20, 1998.
In preparation for the Progress 18 docking on 6/18 (Saturday), CDR Sergei Krikalev and FE/SO John Phillips took the standard 3-hour on-board training course with the TORU teleoperator system, which provides a manual backup mode to the Progress’ (and Soyuz’) KURS automated rendezvous radar. Afterwards, Sergei and John tagged up with TORU specialists at MCC-M (TsUP) via S-band audio. [The drill included procedure review, rendezvous, docking data and rendezvous math modeling data review, fly-around, final approach, docking and off-nominal situations (e.g., video or comm loss). The TORU teleoperator control system lets a Service Module (SM)-based crewmember perform the approach and docking of automated Progress vehicles in case of KURS failure. Receiving a video image of the approaching ISS, as seen from a Progress-mounted docking television camera (“Klest”), on a color monitor (“Simvol-Ts”, i.e. “symbol center”) which also displays an overlay of rendezvous data from the onboard digital computer, Krikalev would steer the Progress to mechanical contact by means of two hand controllers, one for rotation, the other for translation. The controller-generated commands are transmitted from the SM’s TORU control panel to the Progress via VHF radio. In addition to the Simvol-Ts color monitor, range, range rate (approach velocity) and relative angular position data are also displayed on the “Klest-M” video monitor (VKU) which starts picking up signals from Progress when it is still approximately 7 km away. TORU is monitored in real time from TsUP over Russian ground sites (RGS) and via Ku-band from Houston, but its control can not be taken over from the ground.]
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The crew also assembled the TV subsystem (TVS) routing to downlink the view of the 18P/Progress docking via U.S. Ku-band, by routing the video via a specially configured A31p laptop to the US segment and from there onto the Ku-band system. A test of the video downlink was conducted around 12:00pm EDT. Afterwards, the A31p SSC (Station Support Computer) was deactivated but left intact with all cabling until after docking. [The A31p laptop used for the routing from the SM is in the FGB, since the available cables are not long enough to extend to the Node. The video signal is feed from there via coaxial cable to the SSC Operations LAN (local area network) and from there into the Ku-band system for subsequent conversion from the Russian SECAM format to the American NTSC on the ground.]
Both crewmembers completed the regular 30-minute CMO (crew medical officer) computer-based proficiency drill, which focused on ACLS (Advanced Cardio Life Support) and IV (intravenous) fluid infusion.
The CDR pulled a TA985M database (DB) “monoblock” slated for return on LF-1/STS-114 from stowage and swapped its TA748M component with another TA748M, restowing the removed unit in the SM as an IFM (in-flight maintenance) spare. Sergei then packed the TA985M, which is a DB storage unit for the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system in the Russian segment (RS), for STS-114 return. A ground specialist provided tagup support.
Phillips collected and stowed the two FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) monitors, deployed by him on 6/14 in the Lab (below CEVIS) and SM (most forward handrail).
In the Soyuz TMA-6’s Orbital Module, Krikalev cleaned the screen/grid of the BVN fan & air heater assembly to assure adequate air ventilation for the relocation to the FGB nadir-facing port (ASPB).
John completed the regular periodic (every two weeks) reboot of the OCA comm router laptop.
The FE also collected the periodic reading of the cabin air’s current CO2 partial pressure in the SM and Lab, using the U.S. CDMK (carbon dioxide monitoring kit, #1013), for calldown (along with the battery status) for use in trending analyses.
Phillips prepared the regular IMS (Inventory Management System) “delta” file for automated export/import to the IMS databases, while Sergei conducted his regular weekly IMS tagup with specialists at TsUP/Moscow at ~4:35am EDT, discussing open issues concerning identification of equipment and storage locations for the IMS databases.
Working off his voluntary “job jar” item, the CDR conducted the regular daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 experiment and recharged its water tank.
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 4 of a new set).]
Afterwards, 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 the workouts on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).
At ~3:10pm EDT, the crew is scheduled for their standard weekly teleconference with the JSC Astronaut Office (Kent Rominger), via S-band S/G (space-to-ground).
Yesterday’s attempt by Phillips to reinstall a loose EVA bolt found floating in the Z1 Dome in the spare IUA (Interface Umbilical Assembly) was not completed, since the spare was not in the expected configuration, making the procedure nonexecutable. Specialists are studying if the IUA is usable in its current configuration or if a replacement should be manifested.
Yesterday, TsUP/Moscow had the crew deactivate the Russian Laptop 1 (LT1) and the Central Post Computer 1 (KTsP1) because of an off-nominal connection between the two. LT2 and KTsP2 were then brought up and are currently used as primary while specialists are researching the LT1 anomaly.
Tonight at start of crew sleep (5:30pm EDT), MCC-Houston will conduct a checkout of the Node portside CBM (Common Berthing Mechanism). The intent is to verify that the CPAs (Connector Panel Assemblies) are operating nominally before two of four are removed, as they will be for the planned PMA-3 (Pressurized Mating Adapter 3) ingress and stow next week..
Later this evening, TsUP/Moscow will restart the SM’s Central Computer (TsVM), which is currently running with one (#1) of its three redundant lanes out of the set. The restart “with context” will reintegrate the three subsets. For the operation, Krikalev temporarily shut off the Vozdukh CO2 scrubber at ~2:45pm and will reactivate it in Mode 5 before bedtime at 5:15pm.
Overnight, TsUP will also attempt to switch over from the failed LKT-2B signal commutator of the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system to its backup system, which should allow reactivation of the currently off-line BMP micropurification system.
Update on Progress 17: Last night, 17P successfully undocked from the SM aft port at 4:15pm EDT. Re-entry over the Pacific was nominal.
Update on Progress 18: Launch of 18P on a Soyuz-U rocket from Baikonur is set for 7:09pm EDT. The first maneuver burn (DV1, 18.03 m/sec delta-V) is scheduled for 10:45pm, followed by DV2 (9.67 m/sec) at 11:10pm. DV3 (2 m/sec) will be conducted tomorrow evening at ~8:22pm, with docking expected on Saturday (6/18) at 8:44pm.
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 (good pass for the first views in several months of these new desert lakes in southern Egypt. Looking left for a regional view towards Lake Nasser. Images months old showed the first slight decline in water levels, and may be the beginning of a long term decline, a point of interest as millions of people are encouraged to move to the new agricultural areas surrounding the lakes), Angolan fires (Dynamic event. Widespread fires in the part of the world that burns most regularly are making news. Long views looking obliquely inland, to show locations of fires and smoke transport directions, are requested), and S Amazonian Fans, Brazil (regional views from nadir leftward of track requested. Looking for sinuous gray lines winding through the forest. These ancient river courses are visible because their very poor soils cause sparse forest cover. The wider pattern of these courses is the subject of geological interest. Viewing was predicted to include “popcorn cumulus” cloud, acceptable in this discovery phase).
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, 7:40am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 350.6 km
- Apogee height — 353.2 km
- Perigee height — 348.0 km
- Period — 91.55 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.000387
- Solar Beta Angle — 13.6 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.73
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 90
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 37557
Some Increment 11 Main Events (not final):
- Progress M-53 (18P) launch — 6/16 (7:09pm EDT, Baikonur: 6/17, 5:09am)
- Progress M-53 (18P) dock — 6/18 (8:44pm EDT);
- PMA-3 depress — 6/22 (4:50am EDT);
- Reboost — 6/29 (4:21pm, delta-V 2.3 m/s);
- LF-1/STS-114 launch — NET 7/13 (18-day window opens);
- LF-1/STS-114 dock — NET 7/15 (adding 110,713 kg to ISS mass);
- Soyuz TMA-6 (10S) relocate (from DC-1 to FGB) — ~8/17;
- Progress M-54 (19P) launch — 8/24 (dock 8/26);
- ULF1.1/STS-121 launch — NET 9/9 (launch window opens);
- 12A/STS-115 launch — NET 2/16/06;
- 12A.1/STS-116 launch — NET 4/23/06;
- 13A/STS-117 launch — NET 7/13/06.
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.
