NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 18 September 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. Saturday — first weekend rest day for the crew. Flight Control to Crew: “Nice work on Elektron and the Lab Window!”
Update on Elektron: Operation of the Elektron is being monitored carefully as troubleshooting goes on. If it continues to work, the plan is to run it in 32A mode during crew wake periods next week once hazard reports are available for operating the O2 generator without the gas analyzers.
After breakfast, CDR Padalka and FE/SO Fincke performed the regular weekly 3-hr. station cleaning, which today included installation of a new dust collector in the vacuum cleaner and its subsequent removal after use for return on 8S/Soyuz-214 for analysis of its contents. [“Uborka”, done every Saturday, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, wet cleaning of the Service Module (SM) dining table and other surfaces with “Fungistat” disinfectant and cleaning fan screens to avoid temperature rises.]
Main activity for Mike Fincke was another session of his chosen “Saturday Science” program, consisting today of a demonstration of CFE (Capillary Flow Experiment) supplementary techniques the Lab’s Maintenance Work Area (MWA). [Observation, video recording and voice description of fluid behavior in the capillary test cylinders were done for various fluid situations, such as axial mode disturbance (to investigate the fluid motion after a motion was imparted parallel to the test chambers and perpendicular to the previously accomplished multiple slides), bottom effects (incrementally backing-out silicone oil from the test chamber to the reservoir while introducing a slide disturbance, with comparison of each volume series to show what effects, if any, the bottom of the test chamber has on the fluid motion), contact line behavior, and container draining (where it is of interest to see how much fluid can be removed from a vessel in a low-G environment with capillary effects present). The equipment was then stowed again.]
Mike again filled out the FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), which keeps an (almost-) regular weekly log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC (medical equipment computer) software.
The FE also completed the regular once-a-week maintenance reboot on the operational PCS laptops and the restart of the OCA comm router laptop (every two weeks).
Gennady performed the routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system. An additional SOZh task today was the flushing and disinfecting of a fluid hose used on 9/14 for sample collection upstream of the SRV-K2Ms purification column unit (BKO) so that it can be reused at a future date.
Fincke took the periodic (weekly) reading of the cabin airs current CO2 partial pressure in the SM and Lab, using the U.S. CDMK (CO2 monitor kit), for calldown (along with the battery status) for use in trending analyses.
From the Russian discretionary task list, the CDR was to set up another operations and measurement session with the Molniya-SM/LSO hardware from SM window #3, with the French-provided EGE-1 laptop running the latest NORAD orbital parameters (TLEs, two-line elements). The start time was set for 9/21 (Tuesday), the completion time for 9/22.
Another task list item for Gennady was a new run of the “Diatomeya” ocean observations program, for which he used the DSR PD-150P video camera and Nikon F5 digital still camera with 24/85-mm lens from SM windows #7 and #8 to collect photo and video data describing hydrobiological dynamics in the area of large currents crossing, typhoon wakes and drifting icebergs [Today’s targets in the Pacific Ocean were Kalimantan, the Philippines and the Nampo Islands, in the Indian Ocean the South Trade drift near the underwater Madagascar Ridge, and in the South Atlantic the region of the Falkland Islands.]
Also from the “job jar” task list, the CDR unstowed and set up the equipment for another “Cardiocog” experiment (last time done: 7/5). [Originally part of Pedro Duque’s VC5 “Cervantes” science program, Cardiocog studies changes in the human cardiovascular system in micro-G, expressed in the peripheral arteries, and the vegetative regulation of arterial blood pressure and heart rate. For the experiment, the CDR, after removing his antistatic bracelet 12 hours before, has to take systolic & diastolic blood pressure measurements and pulse data manually, using the Tensoplus sphygmomanometer, storing the data on the EGE-2 laptop.]
As a fourth task list item, Gennady continued yesterday’s “Uragan” earth-imaging program, using the Kodak 760 DSC (digital still camera) with 800mm-lens from SM windows #9, now available again in LVLH attitude. [Today’s task featured imagery of Patagonia and the Volcano Etna, to observe its eruption at dusk.]
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Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
At 9:30am EDT, the crew their regular weekly planning conference (WPC) with the ground to discuss the “Look-Ahead Plan” for next week (regularly prepared jointly by MCC-H and TsUP planners), via S-band/audio.
Later, the crew downlinked a message of greetings to the faculty, students, and alumni of the Russian Federation President’s Academy of Civil Servants on the occasion of an anniversary. [The message expressed appreciation for “the significant contribution of the Academy in the field of the personnel training for government and municipal offices, financial, socio-economic institutions of the modern-day Russia.”]
The crew also had another ham radio session, today with the European Space Operations Center of ESA.
Yesterday’s Lab window restoration activities by Mike Fincke were successful. [The Lab nadir window was evacuated and the crew did not observe condensation in the window during this activity. Upon completion of the depress, the crew installed the new flex hose on ports C and D of the window frame. The ports, flex hose and other potential leakage locations were inspected using an ULD (Ultrasonic Leak Detector) and no leaks were found. The crew installed a metal box over the flex hose to protect it from inadvertent contact. This completes the window activities, and the Lab window is returned to nominal configuration.]
The two-week U.S. TRRJ (Thermal Radiator Rotary Joint) checkout is underway and the starboard radiator is autotracking through the weekend.
Flow measurements taken from the CHeCS AAA (Crew Health Care System Avionics Air Assembly) air ducts after its cleaning showed a flow rate of 670 ft/min. This compares with earlier (pre-cleaning) readings of 155 ft/min, an improvement factor of over 4.
Weekly Science Update (Expedition Nine — 21st):
GASMAP: Nothing new.
Human Research Facility/Workstation (HRF WS): Continuing.
Advanced Ultrasound (ADUM): POIC to crew: “The ADUM team has had a look at all the data and we have been so impressed with the science you two have been able to get. Thanks for the great job!”
Hand Posture Analyzer (HPA: Nothing new.
In-Space Soldering Investigation (ISSE): Nothing new.
Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI): Nothing new.
Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS): SAMS is monitoring the vibratory regime of the microgravity environment.
Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS): MAMS continues to monitor the quasi-steady microgravity environment.
Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System (PCG-STES): Nominal.
Protein Crystal Growth Monitoring by Digital Holographic Microscope (PromISS): Nothing new.
Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions (InSPACE): Planned.
Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-3 (BCAT-3): Complete.
Renal Stone (RS): Nothing new.
Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SHERES): Nothing new.
Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight (FOOT): Nothing new.
Materials ISS Experiment (MISSE): In progress. Deployed outside on the U.S. Airlock. Nominal and collecting data.
Cellular Biotechnology Support Systems-Fluid Dynamics Investigation (CBOSS-FDI): Nothing new.
Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (BSTC): In planning.
Yeast Group Activation Packs (Yeast GAP): Nothing new.
Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students (EarthKAM): Successful camera battery charge and function test on 8/28. Thanks!
Earth Science Toward Exploration Research (ESTER): Nothing new.
Serial Network Flow Monitor (SNFM): Nothing new.
Fluid Merging Viscosity Measurement (FMVM): Nothing new.
Viscous Liquid Foam–Bulk Metallic Glass (Foam): Nothing new.
BIOPSY (Effects of Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle): Nothing new.
Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures-2 (CSLM-2): Planned.
Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA): Nothing new.
Miscible Fluids in Microgravity (MFMG): The team has received digital photos from the Test 2 completed last weekend and is looking forward to the remaining video downlink. Mike’s extra efforts to remove bubbles were very much appreciated. His suggestions will be incorporated into procedures regarding using the syringe push-pull technique and specifying the location for applying duxseal.
Educational Payload Operations (EPO): EPO looks forward to future operations. The crew’s previous EPO demonstrations have been well received by NASA Education and payload sponsors.
Capillary Flow Experiment (CFE): The CFE team was anxiously waiting to see the “cool science” that mike created today (see above).
Crew Earth Observations (CEO): This has been a historic hurricane season for the western Atlantic and the crew has done a remarkable job of documenting it from their unique vantage point on the ISS. During the past two weeks of Frances and then Ivan there has scarcely been a televised national news broadcast that did not include at least one of the spectacular ISS/CEO photos. The crew should “get ready for Jeanne and Karl”. This week’s Earth Observatory submission features one of their earlier images in May of Lake Titicaca (well-north of Poopo). ISS/CEO view revealed a pair of small, previously undetected fresh-water plankton blooms near the southeastern shore. This phenomenon may be worth monitoring in the future. From other recent imagery the ground found the crew’s response to requested views of the dramatic smoke plume over central South America to be excellent for their purposes and publication-worthy.
Expedition 9 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.
Today’s CEO 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, Sulu Sea, Indonesia (weather was clear over this portion of the Sulu Sea for internal wave photography. Looking to the left of track and slightly behind for the sunglint point), Yangtze River Delta, China (this nadir pass over the delta presented an opportunity for detailed mapping. Detailed images of shorelines and sediment plumes will be useful for quantitative tracking of delta sedimentary processes), Lower Amazon River Basin, S. America (this pass provided an opportunity for detailed photography of shoreline changes and sediment plumes. Looking to the left of track for the northern delta region), Hurricane Karl, central Atlantic Ocean (Dynamic Event. Karl was predicted to reach Category 2 strength by the time of this overpass. This storm is well formed and should exhibit excellent features), and Hurricane Jeanne, western Atlantic Ocean (Dynamic Event. This storm is only at Category 1 strength but is following the same track as previous Hurricane Frances. Looking to the right of track approximately 3-4 degrees for the eye).
CEO images can be viewed at these websites:
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at:
To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 9 crew visit:
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-9/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.
Major upcoming events:
- Reboost — TBD (phase angle correction for 9S)
- Soyuz 9S launch — TBD (w/Leroy Chiao, Salizhan Sharipov, Yuri Shargin);
- Soyuz 9S dock — TBD;
- Soyuz 8S undock — TBD (w/Gennady Padalka, Michael Fincke, Yuri Shargin);
- Soyuz 8S land — TBD;
- Soyuz 9S relocate to FGB nadir port — 11/18;
- Progress 15P undock – 11/23;
- Progress 16P launch — 11/24;
- EVA-12 — 12/28;
- Progress 16P undock — 1/29/05;
- Progress 17P launch — 1/30/05;
- EVA-13 — 2/21/05;
- Shuttle/LF1 launch — NET 3/6/05;
- Shuttle/LF1 undock — NET 3/16/05.
U.S. & Russian Segment Status (as of today, 1:30pm EDT)
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is On. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On. U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is On. SM Gas Analyzer has been calibrated and is used for ppO2 & ppCO2 monitoring. MCA (major constituents analyzer) is Off. BMP Harmful Impurities unit: absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is Off. SKV-2 is On (SM panel mods completed 4/8; SKV-2 activation failed 4/20; new replaceable condensate removal line installed on 9/9). SFOG slot #2 fan suspect (not usable).
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in directed position (dual angle/blind mode, non solar-tracking, biased for drag reduction).
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is in Standby mode; PCU-2 is in Standby mode.
Command & Data Handling Systems (C&DH)
- C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is backup, and C&C-3 is in standby.
- GNC-1 MDM (vers.R4) is prime; GNC-2 (vers.R4) is backup.
- INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.
- EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is Off (backup).
- LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
- PL-1 MDM is Off; PL-2 MDM is Operational.
- APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
- SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
- SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
- FGB MDM-1 is Off (failed, 11/21/03); MDM-2 is Operational.
Propulsion System (PS):
- Total propellant load available: 4158 kg (9167 lb) as of 9/16/04; [SM(552) + FGB(3326) + Progress M(280)]. (Capabilities: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).
Attitude Control Systems (ACS):
- 3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02; CMG-2’s RPC-17 failed 4/21/04; was replaced 6/30/04).
- State vector source — RS
- Attitude source — RS
- Angular rate source — RGA-1
Flight Attitude:
- LVLH XVV (local vertical/local horizontal = earth-fixed: z-axis in local vertical, x-axis in velocity vector [yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -7.2 deg, roll: 0 deg]), with CMG/TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management.
Communications & Tracking Systems (C&T):
- FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.
- All other Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.
- S-band is operating nominally (on string 2).
- Ku-band is operating nominally.
- Audio subsystem is operating nominally (IAC-1 is prime, IAC-2 is off).
- Video subsystem operating nominally.
- HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.
Robotics:
- SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at Lab PDGF/LEE A, operational on redundant string, off on prime.
- MBS: KA (keep alive) power on both strings.
- MT: latched and mated at WS4.
- POA: KA power on both strings.
- RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is On (DCP connected); Cupola RWS is Off.
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ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:28am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 359.3 km
- Apogee height — 363.0 km
- Perigee height — 355.7 km
- Period — 91.73 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.000537
- Solar Beta Angle — 27.4 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.70
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 120 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 33297
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.
