NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 2 August 2006

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.

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.

After morning inspection, preparations for tomorrow’s EVA-5 started out with Williams and Reiter taking the standard MO-9 “Urolux” urine biochemistry test before breakfast. A second session with the Urolux equipment will be conducted by both crewmembers immediately after the spacewalk. Health care activities for the two spacewalkers included the US pre-EVA crew health status test and data entry, with each crewmember assisting the other in turn. [MO-9 is conducted regularly every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs) and is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for US crewmembers for IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) evaluation as part of the “PHS/Without Blood Labs” exam. The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus Urolux developed originally for the Mir program. Afterwards, the data are entered in the medical equipment computer (MEC)’s special IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program).]

Other EVA preps by Williams and Reiter included setting up the IR (Infrared) Camera for its external deployment during the spacewalk, removal of the protective caps from EVA ORUs (Orbit Replaceable Units) and setting up the A/L EL (Airlock Equipment Lock).

In the Lab module, Jeffrey hooked up the UOP-DCP (Utility Outlet Panel-to-Display & Control Panel) bypass power cable at the RWS (Robotics Work Station) in support of tomorrow’s video coverage of the EVA.

CDR Vinogradov unstowed the new updates for the ODF (Operations Data File) books, which arrived with Progress M-57/22P, and updated the ODF books on DC1 Egress, Orlan Ops, Airlock Ops Cue Cards for three and for two spacewalkers, plus a new book on FGB IFM (Inflight Maintenance/Intravehicular Activities) IVA containers. The old sheets were discarded.

After yesterday’s successful checkout of the MedOps cardiac defibrillator equipment at the HRF1 (Human Research Facility 1) in the Lab, FE-2 Reiter today initiated the regular recharge process on the battery #1 to full capacity and subsequently performed it also on battery #2. Each charge took ~4 hrs. The task concluded with an open-circuit battery voltage check with the MultiMeter gauge. [The NiCads have to be charged every 60 days, along with a defib checkout.]

Pavel Vinogradov collected the weekly cabin air readings with the GANK-4M Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer system of the SM SOGS (Pressure Control & Atmospheric Monitoring System). [GANK tests for Methane (CH4), Ammonia (NH3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Formaldehyde (HCHO), Nitrogen Oxides (NO, NO2), Hydrogen Chloride (HCl), Hydrogen Fluoride (HF), and Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN).].

At ~6:20am EDT, the CDR also linked up with TsUP specialists to conduct the weekly IMS tagup, discussing open issues concerning identification of equipment and stowage locations for the IMS databases via S-band.

In the Progress M-56/21P cargo ship, docked at the Service Module (SM) aft end, Pavel packed two bags with ventilation system equipment and transferred them to the DC1 Docking Compartment and FGB GA (gas analyzer) ducts.

In the SAMS (Space Acceleration Measurement System) computer, Jeff Williams replaced the hard drive.

Pavel Vladimirovich performed the periodic (about twice a month) replenishing of the Elektron’s water supply for electrolysis, filling the KOV thermal loops’ EDV container with water from an EDV containing water from the BKO multifiltration/purification column unit. [The 40-minute procedure is specially designed to prevent air bubbles larger than ~10 mm from getting into the BZh-8 Liquid Unit where they could cause Elektron shutdown. In the procedure, the BKO water is carefully transferred with a pump (BP), located behind SM panel 420, from the EDV-1 through the air/liquid separator unit (GZhS) into the empty EDV-2 while the crewmember checks for any air bubbles accumulating in the GZhS (and, if visible, estimates their number, with no more than two 1 cm diameter bubbles permitted in EDV-2). Elektron water is also supplied from U.S. technical water in a CWC (contingency water container) that is checked for its contents of air bubbles and is rejected if the estimated total air bubble volume is more than 30 cubic centimeters (1 cm air bubble is about 0.5 ccm). CWCs can hold condensate, technical or potable water. Raw condensate is either processed through the SRV-K condensate water processor system into potable water or is used directly for flush water in the ASU toilet system.]

The CDR also completed the routine daily maintenance of the SOZh environment control & life support system in the SM, including the ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables. And he 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).

Jeff continued collecting trash in the USOS (US Segment).

As another pre-EVA task, Pavel dumped monthly sensor reading records of the Russian Pille-MKS radiation dosimetry experiment and checked up on its ten different sensors located throughout the Russian segment.

As first operational use of the MELFI (Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS) equipment, Jeff inserted a sample of the POEMS (Passive Observatories for Experimental Microbial Systems in Micro-G) payload into its dewar. The FE-2 later took historical documentary photographs of the MELFI setup.

Williams completed the regular monthly battery check and reboot of all PCS (Portable Computer System) A31p laptops.

The crew worked out in their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-1), TVIS treadmill (FE-2, CDR), RED (FE-1, FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR). [Pavel Vinogradov’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 1 of the first set).]

Afterwards, Williams transfers his, Pavel’s and Thomas’ exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM data of the workouts on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

At ~10:10am EDT Jeff Williams set up the FGB’s amateur radio equipment (Ericsson VHF transceiver, headset, power supply) to conduct, at 10:15am, a 10-min. ham radio exchange with students at Robinson Elementary, Anderson, Indiana. [Robinson Elementary School is located in the mid-sized city of Anderson, Indiana. It is part of Anderson Community School Corporation, which includes 10 public elementary schools, 3 public middle schools, and 2 public high schools. Robinson has approximately 421 students from kindergarten to fifth grade. Robinson has a diverse student population with a 41 % Caucasian, 31 % African American, 21 % Hispanic and 7% multiracial breakdown.]

Afterwards, Jeff deactivated the Ericsson radio equipment in the FGB to prevent radio interference during tomorrow’s spacewalk.

Working off his discretionary “time permitting” task list, CDR Vinogradov was to search for the missing BPU electronic processor (converter-amplifier) box of the Beta-08 ECG (electrocardiogram) units #61 and #63.

Also off his task list, Pavel completed the daily status check of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) Lada-8 experiment as well as photographic imagery of the experiment using the Nikon D1X digital camera with flash and copying all photos from the memory card to the RSK1 laptop for downlink to TsUP via the BSR-TM telemetry channel. [Rasteniya researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-8 greenhouse. The regular maintenance of the experiment (each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) involves monitoring of seedling growth, humidity measurements, moistening of the substrate if necessary, topping off the water tank if ~20-25% of the total amount (4 liters) remains, and photo/video recording.]

The CDR also was to conduct an audit of the components required for connecting the Russian RS1 laptop.

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:

• http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/CEO.html
• 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 13 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-13/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 13 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.

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern and subject to change):

• 08/03/06 — US EVA-5
• 08/27/07 — STS-115/12A launch
• 08/29-09/05 — STS-115/12A docked mission w/ISS (earliest) – P3/P4 trusses
• 08/31/06 — Pavel Vinogradov’s birthday
• 09/13/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking (SM aft port) & reentry
• 09/14/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch (Expedition 14 + VC11)
• 09/16/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking (SM aft port)
• 09/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking (FGB nadir port) & reentry
• 10/08/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S relocation (SM aft port to FGB nadir port)
• 10/18/06 — Progress M-58/23P launch
• 10/20/06 — Progress M-58/23P docking (SM aft port)
• 10/31/06 — Russian EVA-17
• 12/14/06 — STS-116/12A.1 launch (earliest)
• 12/16-24/06 — STS-116/12A.1 docked mission w/ISS (earliest) – P5 truss
• 12/19/06 — Progress M-57/22P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 12/20/06 — Progress M-59/24P launch
• 12/22/06 — Progress M-59/24P docking (DC1)
• 01/22/07 — US EVA-6
• 01/26/07 — US EVA-7
• 01/31/07 — US EVA-8
• 02/06/07 — Progress M-59/24P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 02/07/07 — Progress M-60/25P launch
• 02/09/07 — Progress M-60/25P docking (DC1)
• 02/22/07 — STS-117/13A launch (earliest) – S3/S4 trusses
• 02/24-03/03/07 — STS-117/13A docked mission w/ISS (earliest)
• 03/08/07 — Progress M-58/23P undocking (SM aft port) & reentry
• 03/09/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S launch (Expedition 15 + VC12)
• 03/11/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S docking (SM aft port)
• 03/19/07 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S undocking (FGB nadir port)
• ??/??/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S relocation (SM aft port to FGB nadir port)
• 06/11/07 — STS-118/13A.1 (earliest).

ISS Altitude History

Apogee height — Mean Altitude — Perigee height

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ on NASA’s Human Spaceflight website. Additional satellite tracking resources can be found at http://www.spaceref.com/iss/tracking.html.