NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 17 October 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.   Underway: Week 2 for Expedition 12.

Following station inspection and morning hygiene, before breakfast and exercise, CDR/SO McArthur and FE Tokarev performed their first session of the periodic Russian biomedical assessments 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.]

Today marked the start of NASA/JSC renal (kidney) stone experiment activities by the Expedition 12 crew.  In preparation of the new round, Valery Tokarev first reviewed the Renal CBT (computer-based training), while Bill McArthur set up the experiment hardware and prepared for his first day tomorrow by starting his diet log.   [This long-range preventive medicine investigation features daily random ingestion of either potassium citrate or placebo tablets.  It is Dr. Peggy Whitson’s double-blind research study investigating methods to prevent formation of kidney stones in zero-G.  Part of the experiment consists in keeping a metabolic diet log (food and fluid intake), followed by collection of urine samples several times per day during each week-long session.]

Tokarev worked in the DC1 docking compartment, preparing for the removal and replacement (R&R) of a cold plate (PAS) of the thermal control system (SOTR), because of a hose failure.  Today’s task involved gathering of the necessary equipment, review of the applicable ODF (Operations Data File) and familiarization with local valves and pump connections.  The actual R&R, which will require deactivation of the SOTR heating loop 2 (KOB-2), is scheduled for 10/19.

Later, the FE replaced the gas analyzer filter of the Vozdukh carbon dioxide (CO2) removal system.  The old filter was trashed.

Valery also spent some time in the Soyuz TMA-7/12S, installing a cooling fan for the periscope (VSK-4) in the Descent Module (SA).

The CDR supported a ground-controlled full calibration of the MCA (Major Constituents Analyzer) by opening the instrument’s VGA (verification gas assembly) valve and closing it again a few hours later.   [The U.S. MCA uses a mass spectrometer with a magnetic field to separate ionized air sample constituents in a work chamber that is kept at vacuum by a high-performance ion pump.]

Bill also performed the weekly spot check on the two new CSA-CP (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products) units from Progress 19 by measuring the state of their decontamination and comparing them with the active (prime and backup) CSA-CPs.

Before checking oxygen (O2) level in the cabin with the new CSA-O2 units, McArthur changed their batteries.   [Due to unavailability of battery life data, safety requires a battery change every month on each CSA-O2 unit.  This is a modified CSA-CP with the combustion sensors removed and only the O2 sensor installed.  It was developed to support reduced pressures during EVA preparation activities, during which the CSA-CP cannot be used.]

Bill McArthur had almost four hours today to continue the previously started Progress 19 offloading and cargo transfers, in the process updating the IMS (Inventory Management System).

Tokarev meanwhile did the daily routine maintenance of the Service Module (SM)’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), and prepared the regular daily IMS “delta”/update file for automated export/import to the three IMS databases (MCC-H, TsUP, Baikonur).

Later in the day, Valery unstowed and installed the equipment for the periodic Russian MO-10 “Hematokrit” testing, scheduled for tomorrow for both crewmembers.   [MO-10 measures the hematocrit (red blood cell mass) value of the blood (it is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell mass {normal range: 30-45%} tends to go down over time).]

The crew again had one hour each set aside on today’s schedule for ISS familiarization and adaptation, to help in adjusting to their new surroundings and activities.   [This “free” session has become a valuable standard requirement for new station occupants for the first two weeks.]

Bill and Valery completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill, RED resistive machine 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 load trainer (today: Day 3 of the first set).]

Later, McArthur transferred the TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data of his CEVIS and RED workouts, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

On the TVIS, the crew also conducted the weekly routine maintenance, primarily inspecting the condition of the SLDs (subject loading devices), SLD cables and SPDs (subject positioning devices), plus recording time & date values.   [While one crewmember pulls out the cables about 10 inches (approximately 80 lbs of load), the other does the inspection.  Temperature readings of motor box and electronics box are recorded on a PCMCIA memory card and downloaded to the MEC for subsequent downlink to the ground.]

TsUP/Moscow is currently readying the Progress 19 propulsion system for tomorrow’s scheduled ISS reboost.   [During today’s Daily Orbits 13, 14 & 15 (12:48pm – 4:07pm EDT), the BG1&2 and BO1&2 propellant tanks of the 19P refueling system (SD) are being opened and pressurized, followed by connecting the first manifold of Progress thrusters (DPO) to the Service Module (SM) motion control & navigation system (SUDN) via the US-21 matching unit (installed in 19P on 9/13).  There will be two reboost burns tomorrow, at 5:09pm & 6:18pm, conducted with the Progress’ DPO approach & attitude control thrusters for yaw and pitch control from manifold 1, and the SM MNFD thrusters for roll control, from two manifolds.  The propulsion systems were tested successfully on 9/15.]

McArthur’s voluntary work on the reloading of the new SSC (Station Support Computer) A31p File Server (FS) and Client laptops yesterday proved to be fully successful, although it took nine crew-hours to accomplish.  Today, MCC-H uplinked a list of questions to improve future scheduling of these activities and to better estimate number and quality of DVD/CDs required for the reloads.  [The FS was upgraded to software vers. 7.00, and all SSC Clients received the new A31p vers. 11.00 load. The also-planned IMS software upgrade has been postponed indefinitely, due to integration issues currently experienced by the Russian partner. The transition of the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) to the new A31p is in work but will probably not be ready for implementation for a few more increments due to complications with the required privacy.  Until then, MEC will keep the 760XD format.]

The Elektron O2 generator continues to be off, as Russian specialists are reviewing downlinked data.  The thinking right now is that “the system did what it was supposed to do” in shutting down late on 10/13. Oxygen partial pressure (ppO2) remains within Flight Rule limits, with O2 stores available in Progress 19 as required.

No CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets uplinked today.   [CEO targets are only provided Tuesday through Saturday.]

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, 7:16am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 346.9 km
• Apogee height — 348.0 km
• Perigee height — 345.8 km
• Period — 91.48 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0001678
• Solar Beta Angle — 14.0 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 85 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 39492

Upcoming Events (all times EDT):

• 10/18/05 — ISS Reboost (two burns, 5:09pm & 6:18pm, 11m40s each, to set up phasing for Progress 20P launch & circularize;)
• 10/27/05 – EVA-04 Dry Run
• 11/07/05 — EVA-4 (U.S.)
• 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
• 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.