NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 19 October 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. Day 4 of joint Exp.9/Exp.10 operations
After wake-up at the regular time (2:00am EDT), another demanding day’s schedule awaited the two crews, starting out with rave kudos from Flight Control: “You’re making complicated Elektron repairs look easy; you’re fixing spacesuits, flying the arm, and completing an impressive array of payloads ops, to say nothing of conducting the handover.”
General handover activities between Exp.9 and Exp.10 continue to go well. As of last night, the two U.S. crewmembers Fincke & Chiao have completed a total of 5 hrs 35 min and 6 hrs 30 min, respectively, for dedicated handover.
Before breakfast, CDR Gennady Padalka started on his first day of the Russian MBI-2 Diurez (“Diuresis”) experiment, for which he is the subject today and tomorrow. [MBI-2 studies water-salt metabolism and volemic hormonal regulation during long duration spaceflight. Today, Gennady was required to record toilet use time in the morning, perform urine sample collections throughout the day, and log meal and fluid intake on a record card. Additional work, to be completed tomorrow, consists of collecting his venous blood samples, followed by centrifugation to separate the blood into cells and plasma, and finally closeout and stowage.]
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Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
Next, Padalka underwent the Day 1 protocol of the Russian MedOps tests MBI-11 Gematologia (Hematology) which investigate the decrease in red blood cell mass during long duration exposure to micro-G. [FE Sharipov assisted in the test, drawing the blood samples for analysis with the special Erythrocyte kit after he and Gennady had donned protective goggles.]
Padalka and Sharipov spent the second day on the repair of the Elektron oxygen generator. [Yesterday, they installed an aerosol filter plus valve adapter and completed the H2 line routing. The crew put “Triol” into the valve to attempt to bring the pH value down. They let this sit over night and tested it again this morning. The activity ran long, causing a postponement of the planned gas analyzer base plate installation to today. The crew continued this work today, in addition to the planned installation of the final gas analyzers and begin of testing. The Elektron remains off during these activities.]
Also yesterday, Fincke and Chiao successfully completed the cooling circuit flushing procedure on EMU/spacesuit #3013. No sample was taken since there are no plans to return one on 8S/Soyuz. Today, Mike and Leroy continued work by disassembling the water pump of suit #3005, followed by photo documentation for inspection of the rotor etc. by specialists on the ground. The new pump, delivered on 8S, will be installed tomorrow. [As expected, EMU #3013 exhibited proper flow and sufficient cooling. The last time the Exp.9 crew worked on this suit, reporting good cooling, was on 8/24/04.]
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“Fincke: Well Keith, we are 225 miles closer to the stars. We are humanity’s only outpost at this time. That is something very special. I made a few remarks the other day in a teleconference to an astronaut reunion. I had this question a little bit in mind saying “people – critics – say that we’re not going anywhere.” Well sure we are. We’re building up a lot of experience – and we can’t get this experience anywhere else – experience so that we can really go to places – to the moon and to Mars. And on this expedition we showed it.” |
Salizhan Sharipov terminated the bake-out cycle on the BMP micropurification system’s channel #1, moding the channel back to Purify. After yesterday’s termination of regeneration on channel #2, this restored both filter beds to Purification/Absorption mode. [The regeneration of the air purifier filter beds is repeated every 20 days. Each bakeout to space vacuum takes about 24 hours. Since the BMP’s vacuum vent valve is currently also used for venting H2 from the Elektron, the regeneration of BMP beds preempts use of the O2 generator during that time.]
FE Sharipov also had another session with the European Neurocog experiment, employing newly delivered equipment. Today’s activities focused on virtual rotation in free floating and fixed position passages while recording EEG (electroencephalogram). [Assisted by Yuri Shargin, who took video imagery, Salizhan first activated the EGE-2 computer, then equipped himself with the Halley head electrodes. After doing the virtual turns/corridor episodes in fixed state (subject strapped down) and free-floating in zero-G called for by the Neurocog protocol, he downloaded the EEG data to a PCMCIA memory card for subsequent return to Earth, and dismantled the equipment.]
Salizhan then performed the Russian TEKh-8 Toksichnost (Toxicology) experiment, first setting it up in the Service Module (SM), then taking water samples of the SOZh environment control & life support system’s condensate water processor SRV-K2M with syringes for analysis, for subsequent report of the tabulated results to TsUP/Moscow. The water collection bag was then replaced for future tests.
Shargin again performed two separate observation and imagery sessions of the Atlantic & Indian Oceans and Mediterranean & the Red Sea for the Diatomeya experiment series. [The purpose was to obtain data characterizing geographic location of bioproductive areas in the ocean and cloud structure in typhoon developing areas (first session), and condition of marine environment in industrial oil and gas production areas as well as regions of heavy fishing (second session). Yuri again used the Nikon-F5 digital still camera with 80mm focal length and the DSR PD-150P camcorder in minimum zoom mode, from SM windows #7 and #8, which he closed again afterwards.]
Sharipov and Shargin floated ~2 hrs each in the FGB (Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok), swabbing its surfaces, equipment and structural parts behind wall panels for microbial samples that were then stowed in tube kits for return on Soyuz 8S.
Later, Yuri also took detailed photographs of specific FGB panels, using the Nikon-D1 with 70mm lens and flash attachment.
Salizhan unstowed and set up the gear for his first session with the periodic Russian MO-10 “Hematokrit” testing scheduled for tomorrow. [MO-10 measures the hematocrit (red cell mass) value of the blood (as a well-known phenomenon of space flight, red blood cell mass {normal range: 30-45%} tends to go down over time).]
CDR Padalka completed the now-daily routine checkup of the IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS hatchways and FGB-to-Node tunnel. [With five inhabitants in the station, proper IMV (intermodular ventilation) is of prime importance.]
Sharipov did his daily monitoring of the Russian Kriogem-3M refrigerator (which should be holding at +4 degC).
The Exp10 FE also completed the daily routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh life support system, while Exp10 CDR Chiao prepared the regular IMS (inventory management system) delta file for export/import to the IMS databases.
At 3:10am, Yuri Shargin conducted a ham radio session with students at Pori High School in Finland, lasting ~8min. Questions by the 15-19-year old amateur radio fans were uplinked beforehand. [“My name is Elina. Do you think everyone should have a chance to visit the ISS? Over.”]
Yesterday, the crew performed troubleshooting on the SM Payload Laptop #3 (LT3), supported by teleconference with ground controllers. After discovering a misconfiguration in the Microsoft Windows settings, Padalka corrected the problem within Windows and put LT3 in a nominal configuration to support the “Conjugation” experiment.
Also yesterday, Fincke and Chiao, by way of functional handover, successfully completed Robotics operations with the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System). [Mike and Leroy began with the RWS (Robotic Workstation) familiarization tasks and then, using a series of single joint maneuvers, moved the SSRMS to and grappled PDGF-3 (Power & Data Grapple Fixture #3) on the MBS (Mobile Base System). The crew and ground controllers experienced a few video routing/trunkline snags, without impacting the SSRMS operations. They completed the tasks by performing the MSS (Mobile Servicing System) camera familiarization.]
Sleep period begins at the regular 5:30pm.
Ahead for Soyuz 8S:
- Hatch close — 10/23 (Sat), ~2:00pm;
- Undocking from FGB — ~5:05pm;
- Entry burn — ~7:40pm;
- Landing — ~8:32pm.
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.
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.
U.S. & Russian Segment Status (as of last night, 5:50pm EDT)
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
- Elektron O2 generator is Off. 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 On. 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).
- SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 26.7; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 761; temperature (deg C) — 20.7.
- FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 756; temperature (deg C) — 21.3.
- Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 747.1; temperature (deg C) — 21.3 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 749.4; temperature (deg C) — 23.1; ppO2 (mmHg) — 159.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.1.
- Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 749.5; temperature (deg C) — 22.6; shell heater temp (deg C) — n/a, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- (n/a = data not available. ppO2 & ppCO2 readings from MCA)
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).
- SM batteries: All batteries (8) are on line in “Partial Charge” mode.
- FGB batteries: Battery #6 is off line; all other batteries (5) are on line in “Partial Charge” mode.
- 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 failed, C&C-2 is prime, and C&C-3 is backup.
- 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: 4076 kg (8986 lb) as of 10/14/04; [SM(552) + FGB(3524) + Progress M(0)]. (Capabilities: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).
Attitude Control Systems (ACS):
- 3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02; CMG-2s RPC-17 failed 4/21/04; was replaced 6/30/04).
- State vector source US SIGI-1 (GPS)
- Attitude source US String 1
- Angular rate source — RGA-1
Flight Attitude:
- XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = sun-fixed [yaw: 0..5 deg, pitch: -9.0 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist) until 9S docking on 10/16.
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, 11:23am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 361.0 km
- Apogee height — 367.0 km
- Perigee height — 355.0 km
- Period — 91.76 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0008877
- Solar Beta Angle — -28.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.69
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 90 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 33786
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.
