NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 17 January 2006

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 © 2006) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.

In the Lab module, CDR McArthur powered up the HRF GASMAP (Human Research Facility/Gas Analyzer System for Metabolic Analysis Physiology) and its laptop for another routine 30-day health check, his third for this Increment (last time done: 12/21). Later in the day, McArthur turned the equipment off again.  [During the health check, the GASMAP AM (Analyzer Module) is powered on and runs for approximately 6 hours to maintain the vacuum integrity of the hardware. In addition, the CM (Calibration Module) tank values are logged to track gas usage.]

FE Tokarev completed the periodic change-out of the Russian-provided personal protection gear, unstowing six new IPK-1M gasmasks, delivered on Progress 20, and securing them in the same locations where he removed the old ones for disposal.  [There are three gas masks in the Service Module (SM), two in the FGB and one IPK-1M in the DC1 Docking Adapter. Afterwards the FE also reported to Moscow the ID numbers of SPPZ fire protection kits stowed above the FGB hatch.]

McArthur worked on Smoke Detector #2 in the Node, cleaning the sensor assembly that was deactivated in November due to false readings, leaving the second Node SD functional. [After the cleaning, both obscuration and scatter improved (reduced) by 40%.]

Tokarev supported TsUP/Moscow in powering down the Elektron oxygen generator and performing the standard safety purge with nitrogen (N2) on its BZh-8 liquid unit. The shutdown supports the upcoming regeneration of the BMP trace impurities removal system, which temporarily shares the same vacuum exhaust valve.  [The current oxygen partial pressure (ppO2), from the MCA (Major Constituents Analyzer), was 172.6 mmHg (23.2% O2). A repress with Progress 20 O2 is tentatively planned fir 1/19.]

Valery also retrieved the new Russian BTKh-12 “Bioekologiya” payload from Progress 20 and set it up at its SM workstation. He also replaced the batteries of the ART automated temperature logger.  [The installation and replacement activities were photo documented with the Nikon D1X digital camera with flash.]

As early on-board preparations for the Russian Orlan EVA-15 are getting underway, the FE gathered the hardware kits of the Russian Glisser-M video system that is to be used to cover payload operations during the spacewalk, and initiated charging of both Glisser video batteries.

Also for EVA-15, Valery unstowed three 825í3 batteries for the Orlan-M spacesuits and started the charging cycle on the first battery pack in the ZU-S battery charger, with the POTOK air purification system running.

Another EVA-prep task for the FE was a careful accuracy check of five vacuum pressure gauges taken from stowage, using the vacuum pressure gauge in the Soyuz CRV (Crew Return Vehicle) for comparison with the readings of the unstowed units.

The CDR performed the scheduled monthly routine inspection of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device). Afterwards, he replaced its pulley cables replaced (done after every 53,515 cycles), and then completed the load calibration of its Flexpack canisters as required after cable replacements.  [The calibration of the Schwinn RED cans re-establishes the relationship of specific load settings with a specific number of pulls per setting, followed by recording of the load values measured with a calibration tool and steel handles from the on-orbit calibration kit.]

At ~10:45am EST, McArthur and Tokarev started the standard 90-min. on-board training (OBT) session with procedures designed to respond to a rapid depressurization.  [The OBT was conducted with the support of a tagup with ground specialists via S-band.]

The ground-commanded BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test) activity is continuing, taking time-lapse flash photography of BCAT sample 6 at the MWA (Maintenance Work Area) via EarthKAM camera and SSC-7 laptop. Later in the day, Science Officer conducted a check of the alignment and focus of the camera on the sample and position of flash. The imaging is to continue until 1/26.

Via S-band/audio telecon, the CDR went through a questionnaire addressing the office pantry and the resupply needs for its supplies.

Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, RED resistive exerciser 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 in unmotorized mode and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 4 of the first set).

Afterwards, Bill 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 ~12:20pm EST, McArthur had his weekly PFC (private family conference) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting video.

The FE performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), while the CDR updated/edited the standard IMS (Inventory Management System) delta file , including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Valery checked the operation of the Japanese experiment GCF-JAXA (Granada Crystallization Facility) in the Russian TBU incubator, maintained at 20 degC, including a temperature check on its ART (automatic temperature recorder).  [This daily monitoring/temp checking, carried on the Russian voluntary “time available” task list, will continue until 4/30.]

The crew has now located the missing hardware for the PromISS (Protein Crystal Growth Monitoring by Digital Holographic Microscope) experiment in the FGB (behind panel 113). Since the PromISS samples delivered on Progress 20, now located in the Russian KUBIK-AMBER temperature-controlled incubator at +22 degC, have limited shelf lives, ground specialists are now determining which samples can still be processed and how the activities can be best re-inserted into the crew schedule.

Over 177,000 of CEO (Crew Earth Observation) 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, 10:28am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 347.2 km
• Apogee height — 354.3 km
• Perigee height — 340.2 km
• Period — 91.48 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0010427
• Solar Beta Angle — -54.8 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 70 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 40945

Events Ahead (all dates Eastern; tentative):

• 02/02/06 — Russian EVA-15
• 03/03/06 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry
• 03/22/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S launch (Exp. 13 + Marcus Pontes/Brazil)
• 03/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S docking (DC1)
• 04/01/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S undocking & return (Exp. 12 + Marcus Pontes)
• 04/06/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S relocation (DC1 to FGB nadir port)
• 04/09/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking & reentry
• 04/10/06 — Progress M-56/21P launch
• 04/12/06 — Progress M-56/21P docking
• 06/28/06 — Progress M-57/22P launch
• 06/30/06 — Progress M-57/22P docking
• 09/12/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking & reentry
• 09/13/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch
• 09/15/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking
• 09/23/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking & reentry
• 09/28/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S relocation (DC1 to FGB nadir port)
• 10/18/06 — Progress M-58/23P launch
• 10/20/06 — Progress M-58/23P docking
• 12/19/06 — Progress M-57/22P undocking & reentry
• 12/20/06 — Progress M-59/24P launch
• 12/22/06 — Progress M-59/24P 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.