NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 2 May 2004
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously. Sunday second off-duty day for the crew, and part of the Russian May Day Holiday weekend, extending through Monday.
As called for on the Russian task list, before breakfast Gennady Padalka performed a session with the VC6 “Delta” program’s ETD experiment (Investigation of the Coordination of Eye and Head Movements). [After a calibration with the calibrating unit, the experiment investigated eye and head movement coordination, measured Listing’s plane, and determined the orientation of the vestibulo-ocular coordinate system. Each step required another prior calibration run, using visual target cues or the calibration unit.]
Mike Fincke performed the daily leak check of the Lab window’s inter-pane volume, using the “Aeolus” scopemeter with pressure probe. [Past readings, dating back to March, have found a steady leak rate of ~27 Torr/day (from the cabin into the interstitial volume).]
A standard Sunday tasks, CDR Padalka is scheduled for the weekly SOZh data collection of the Service Module (SM)’s toilet flush counter readings, with inspection of the SP urine collection and pretreat assembly, and SVO water supply status counter readings, both for calldown to MCC-M/TsUP. The SOZh maintenance today includes the regular weekly inspection of the BRPK air/condensate water separator system.
Gennady will also unstow and set up the equipment for the periodic Russian MO-10 “Hematokrit” testing scheduled for tomorrow, his first. [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).]
Continuing the current Uragan earth imaging session requested on his Russian task list, clouds permitting, Padalka today was to focus the digital still camera with 400mm and 800 mm lens and LIV camcorder on Lisbon/Portugal and the islands at the mouth of the Tagus river, the Strait of Gibraltar, Lake Chad in Africa, and the African Great Rift, the largest fracture of the Earth’s crust, running lengthwise along lakes.
Both crewmembers are scheduled for their PFCs (private family conferences) today, Fincke on S-band/audio, Padalka on VHF/audio.
Yesterday’s open circuit voltage (OCV) check on the EMU batteries showed nominal values for batteries #2029 and the suspect #2030, which exonerates both BCM4 (battery charger module 4) and #2030, indicating that there may have been a data/telemetry issue. [EMU batteries #2029 & #2030 expire 6/4 and will be replaced with the arrival of new batteries on Progress 14P. In the event that EMU battery #2030 is required for EVA (before 14P arrival), OCV readings will be verified to ensure the battery’s health prior to use.]
Today’s CEO targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, except for the shutter closure and condensation-prevention plan (limited to 90 min. in 24 hours), were Lake Nasser, Toshka Lakes, Egypt (pass right over the three new lakes in the desert just west of the Nile River. Looking for new agricultural developments around the lake nearest to the Nile), Chicago, Illinois (looking just right of track for the Loop, Chicago’s city center), and Denver, Colorado (nadir pass).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites.
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at
