NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 16 September 2005
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
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.
CDR Krikalev performed another change-out at the Service Module (SM) condensate water processor (SRV-K2M) system, today replacing the BKV water conditioning unit’s purification column (BKBKV) with a new spare. [The SRV-K2M, with its BKO multifiltration unit, removes dissolved mineral and organic impurities from the condensate. Downstream from it, the condensate water is treated in the BKV water conditioning unit with salts for taste and silver ions for preservation, before it flows to the KPV potable water container.]
The CDR also took regular air data with the new GANK-4M (Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer) system of the SM pressure control & atmospheric monitoring system (SOGS).
Afterwards, Sergei collected the monthly sensor readings of the “Pille-MKS” radiation dosimetry experiment, with its 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: 8/17).
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After the ground had opened the LNS (Lab Nitrogen System) valve for the following calibration session, Phillips set up the video equipment and began today’s FOOT experiment (Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight), his fifth data collection session, by donning the specially instrumented LEMS (lower extremity monitoring suit) pants garment and performing electromyography (EMG) calibration (i.e., electric muscle currents recording) on the right arm and leg. With the N2 valve closed again, the FE/SO conducted the data collection session during the course of the day, including special pedaling on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (a first). After ~8.5 hours of activity, the equipment was stowed again. [The LEMS pants are black Lycra biking tights with 20 electrodes and shoes fitted with insoles that measure impact forces on the bottom of the foot for the 12-hr session. After the calibration, John completed a typical on-orbit day while his reaction forces against the ISS structure were recorded passively on 14 channels to determine how much stress his legs and feet endure. This provides better understanding of the bone loss and muscle mass loss experienced by astronauts in zero-G (recent studies have shown that as much as 1.58% per month of bone mineral is lost from the proximal femur during 4- to 14-month flights and that greater than 20% of knee-extensor strength is lost in 60- to 80-day flights). The experiment, by the biomedical engineering department at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, was also conducted previously by Mike Foale and Ken Bowersox.]
The FE collected the periodic reading of the cabin air’s current CO2 concentrations in the SM and Lab, using the U.S. CDMK (Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Kit, #1013), for calldown, along with its
battery status, for use in trending analyses.
The crew again will have spent several hours with Progress offloading and cargo transfers, in the process updating the IMS (Inventory Management System).
FE/SO Phillips performed the regular weekly maintenance reboot on the operational PCS (Portable Computer System) laptops and the bi-monthly restart of the OCA comm router SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop.
John also filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his seventeenth, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) software. [On the MEC, John is using his 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.]
Sergei did the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), and also prepared the regular daily IMS “delta”/update file for automated export/import to the three IMS databases (at MCC-H, TsUP, and Baikonur).
Both crewmembers are scheduled for their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the CEVIS cycle ergometer, TVIS treadmill, RED resistive machine and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer, with John’s PFE session on the CEVIS accounting for his workout today. [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 2 of a new set).]
Afterwards, John transfers 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).
Working off his discretionary “time permitting” task list, the CDR performed the regular daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment, including filling its water canister for the Lada-7 greenhouse as required.
Another item in Sergei’s Russian “job jar” for today was another session with the “Uragan” (hurricane) earth-imaging program, focusing the Nikon D1X digital camera with f400 or f800 mm lens from an SM window on targets specified by an uplinked list.
At ~2:20pm EDT, the FE is scheduled to set up the Sputnik-SM Kenwood D700 amateur radio station in the SM and to conduct a 10-min. ham radio session with students at Kuss Middle School in Fall River, MA. [Mathew J. Kuss is an urban middle school with a population of 600 sixth through eighth grade students. Kuss was named one of the fifty original NASA Explorer Schools in 2003, and as part of the NASA Explorer School program, Kuss started a ham radio club with the support of the Bristol County Repeaters Association, the local ham radio club. Among else, students have also participated in NASA E-Mission simulations and distance learning events with NASA scientists.]
At ~3:30pm, the crew will have their eleventh regular (nominally weekly) teleconference with the Lead Flight Director at MCC-H and TsUP/Moscow via S-band/audio, with a phone patch between Houston and Moscow.
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 Georgia Coastal Ecosystems (good pass just offshore to document this Long Term Ecological Site. Shooting overlapping images for about 45 secs. Coastal erosion effects of Hurricane Ophelia may have been visible), Stardust Site, Utah (to assist planning for the next Stardust recovery, detailed mapping of the landing site needs to include the location of shallow bodies of standing water. Looking right as the glint point passes through the landing site),and Yellowstone NP, Wyoming (good pass across southern margin of this site. Looking just left and shoot for about 30 secs).
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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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.
