NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 19 May 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.  

CDR Krikalev performed the third and last part of the current MBI-8 Profilaktika (“countermeasures”) fitness assessment, today by physical exercise on the TVIS treadmill, supported by ground specialist tagup. Before the test and during the first minute after it, the usual blood analysis for lactate and creatine kinase levels was performed with the Reflotron finger perforator and AccuSport analyzer equipment. [The TVIS test is identical to the MO-3 test performed on the treadmill in idling (non-motorized) mode with free choice of speeds within certain specified ranges (idle/walk/slow run/moderate run/fast run/walk/recovery). In addition to the nominal test procedure, MBI-8/Part 3 calls for the use of the TEEM-100M gas analyzer (with face mask) during the test, blood lactate measurements, and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels (using the Borg Perceived Exertion Scale, viz., 10 steps from very light over hard and very hard to maximum) during the test. At the end of the Creatine Kinase tests, the results were logged, copied from Cardiocassette-2000 recording to OCA for downlink, and reported to the ground via tagup.]

After ground-activation of the MSG ESEMs (Microgravity Science Glovebox Exchangeable Standard Electronic Modules) plus MSG video equipment and opening of the Lab nitrogen (N2) valve, FE/SO Phillips began today’s FOOT (Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight) session, his first, donning the specially instrumented LEMS (lower extreme monitoring suit) pants garment and then conducting the data collection session during the day. Later, after initial checks, the Lab N2 valve was closed again. [Wearing the 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, Phillips first performed electromyography (EMG) calibration (i.e., electric muscle currents recording) on the right arm and leg. He then 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). Prior to and following TVIS exercise John needed to perform a standing calibration with three marker button presses, to allow the ground to identify if sensors have shifted during exercise. During standing calibration he was to stand up as erect as in 1G, keeping knees straight and heels on the footplates. At the end of the day, he was to check whether EMG electrodes have come loose during the preceding activities. 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.]

Sergei Krikalev performed maintenance on his Nikon D1X digital camera, cleaning its highly sensitive CCD (charged-couple device) matrix and Nikkor lenses of dust particles. The activity was supported by specialist tagup.  [Earlier in the program, when downlinked frames of the camera showed smudges looking like “soft focus spots”, Yuri Malenchenko had investigated possible causes and methods for cleaning the matrix. Krikalev used a special lens brush, a blower bulb and for heavier contamination special paper wipes, if required.]

The CDR conducted an IMS (Inventory Management System)-based stowage audit of equipment items that have accumulated behind two panels (#134 & #135) in the Service Module (SM). [Sergei had two hours reserved for the audit, which essentially consisted of a one-on-one check of IMS database-listed items/containers against actuals.]

A second IMS inventory survey was conducted by Krikalev of the equipment located at the portside kayuta (sleep station). [Listed items include a Bose/ANR headset, EKON kits and accessories, a DVD player, CO2 filter units, etc.]

The Science Officer worked on EXPRESS Rack 1 (ER1), installing SNFM (Serial Network Flow Monitor) 14P software on its laptop (ELC1) from CD-ROM. [SNFM will allow the ELC to capture/monitor packet data traffic on the science Ethernet network during payload rack-to-rack comm traffic, for analysis on the ground. The payload application was used first during Increment 9 (SO Fincke).]

John also completed the regular weekly maintenance reboot on the operational PCS (portable computer system) laptops and did the bi-monthly restart of the OCA comm SSC router laptop.

The daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system including its ASU toilet system was today performed by Krikalev, who also prepared the regular IMS delta file for export/import to the IMS databases.

The FE took the periodic (weekly) reading of the cabin air’s current CO2 (carbon dioxide) 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.

Phillips collected and stowed the two FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) sampling assemblies which he had deployed on 5/17 in the Lab (below CEVIS) and in the Service Module (SM, most forward handrail).

The FE completed his regular daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill and RED resistive exerciser, while Krikalev worked out on the TVIS for his MBI-8 Profilaktika run. [Before using the treadmill, Phillips set up the video equipment to record today s run, with the videotape to be downlinked tomorrow for ground analysis. The imagery of his RED session on Monday (5/16) was sent down today. Tomorrow, the FE will also videotape his scheduled PFE (periodic fitness evaluation) and Sergei s TVIS session, both to be transmitted to the ground next week.]

Afterwards, Phillips 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 his workout on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.

For the first EPO (Educational Payload Operations) activity on Increment 11, John Phillips reviewed suggested procedures, then set up the camcorder equipment and captured educational video of leisure activities by the crew, explaining how they spend their free time on board the station. [The core audience for this activity is students in grades K – 4, but also K – 16. Prior to its release for educational purposes, today s Free Time Demo Video will be edited.]

Working off his job jar task list, the CDR conducted another session with the “Uragan” (hurricane) earth-imaging program, focusing the freshly cleaned Nikon D1X No. 3 digital camera with 800-mm lens on targets called out on an uplinked list. [Targets for today involved areas south of Kursk, including undisturbed steppe (a small biospheric reserve in close proximity to the town) and quarries of the Kursk magnetic anomaly.]

An 8 mmHg cabin air repress was completed yesterday from the Progress 17 air tank. Today, an approximate 5.6 mmHg repress was performed using the remaining O2 from 17P. O2 partial pressure (ppO2) is currently 160 mmHg. In preparation for using SFOG (solid-fuel oxygen generator) candles , the crew will test-activated two of them tomorrow. SFOG cartridges will then be used (two per day) until arrival of Progress 18 next month. [Each candle contains a briquette of solid LiClO4 (Lithium Perchlorate), enough to generate 600 liters (1.74 lb) of oxygen by thermal decomposing (burning), sufficient for one person/day. Reaction temperature is about 450-500 degC, generating ~800W of heat. Ignition of the compound, currently by striking an igniter tablet (squib), will be done electrically after delivery of new equipment on 18P. In addition to the SFOGs, the US Airlock HPGTs (high-pressure gas tanks) contain 362 lbs. of gaseous oxygen.]

As per current plans, TsUP/Moscow will start preparations next week (5/24) for stepping up the SM computers to the new version 7.03 software. The transition, which is worked jointly with MCC-H (readiness review: 5/26), should be complete by 6/2.

Yesterday’s cleanout and subsequent depressurization of PMA-2 (Pressurized Mating Adapter #2) was successfully accomplished by the crew, but setting up the VAJ (vacuum access jumper)/DPA (depress pump assembly)/PCA (pressure control assembly) connections between the Lab fwd hatch and the Airlock crewlock (C/L) took longer than expected, necessitating deferral of C/L restowing with the temporarily removed equipment. The task is now tentatively scheduled for Monday (5/23).

Pre-LF1 stowage rearrangements similar to yesterday s PMA-2 are also planned for the contents of the Z1 dome on 5/30 and for PMA-3 on 6/21.

During various RGS (Russian ground site) comm passes, TsUP/Moscow and Oberpfaffenhofen today again continued tests of the downlink functionality of the BSR-TM Regul interface unit (part of the Russian radio control & communications system) and of the ROKVISS robotics experiment, without crew involvement.

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 Lake Nasser, Toshka Lakes, Egypt  (ISS had a nadir pass in midday sun over this target. The crew used the long lens to map in detail the new man-made lakes in the desert northwest of Lake Nasser on the Nile. Researchers are looking for indications of water level changes and any evidence of land use changes near these lakes. There was also a chance for sun glint enhancement of water features this pass), Tropical Storm Adrian (DYNAMIC EVENT: The first tropical storm of the Eastern Pacific season formed late yesterday about 400 miles WSW of El Salvador in Central America. Adrian developed rapidly over very warm waters as it moved northeastward and may reach hurricane strength before making landfall on the El Salvador coast late Thursday. The crew had a midday pass today with the system forecast to be located to the right of track. The storm is probably not fully developed at the time, but the crew was to try for oblique views which show the extent of the storm and the definition of its cloud banding features. On its projected course Adrian could reach the NW Caribbean as a tropical depression by late Friday, and Internal waves, E & W Florida coasts (a midday pass and the glint point was just left of track. Areas of interest are S and W of Tampa Bay and then from Cape Canaveral northward. Trying for overlapping views that include landmarks for reference).

 
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 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.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 8:00am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 353.4 km
• Apogee height — 357.2 km
• Perigee height — 349.5 km
• Period — 91.61 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0005743
• Solar Beta Angle — 7.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 110 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 37116

Some Increment 11 Main Events (not final):

• Progress M-52 (17P) undock — 6/16;
• Progress M-53 (18P) launch — 6/17 (dock 6/19);
• Reboost — ~6/22 (delta-V 1.5 m/s);
• LF-1/STS-114 launch — NET 7/13 (window opens);
• Soyuz TMA-6 (10S) relocate (from DC-1 to FGB) — 8/16;
• Progress M-53 (18P) undock — 8/23;
• Progress M-54 (19P) launch — 8/24 (dock 8/26);
• ULF1.1/STS-121 launch — NET 9/9 (window opens);
• Soyuz TMA-7 (11S) launch — 9/27 (dock 9/29);
• Soyuz TMA-6 (10S) return — 10/7.

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.