NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 22 April 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. Day 6 of joint Exp.10/Exp.11 operations. Day 191 in space for Exp. 10 (189 aboard ISS), with 3 days to go.
After wake-up at the regular time (2:00am EDT), both crews continued their busy schedule of ISS-10-to-ISS-11 handovers (Russian acronym: RPS), which continue to go well, including yesterday’s EMU resizing, Motorola satphone charging, US ADUM payload ops and US hardware prepack for LF-1. [As of last night, several more hours were run up of dedicated handover and functional handover (walk-throughs on specific tasks with departing crewmembers), with Krikalev now racking up 9h 35m functional, 2 h dedicated, and Phillips 11h 20m functional, 3h 40m dedicated.]
FE-10 Sharipov worked on stowing return hardware in the Soyuz TMA-5/9S descent module (BO), while FE/SO-11 Phillips and CDR-10 Chiao conducted another teleconference with the ground via audio/S-band to discuss LF-1 prepacking, and John had a ~2h slot reserved for Shuttle return gear prepacking.
For Sharipov, it was time to complete the first 1.5-hr. part of his final training session in the “Chibis” ODNT suit as standard preparation of cosmonauts for returning into gravity (the second part is scheduled for tomorrow). Since it was outside an RGS (Russian ground site) comm window, with no telemetry downlink, his vital body readings were again obtained with the Tensoplus sphygmomanometer. A tagup/calldown with ground specialists via US S-band supported the run, which was assisted by Chiao. [The below-the-waist reduced-pressure device ODNT (US: LBNP) in the “Chibis” garment provides gravity-simulating stress to the body’s cardiovascular/circulatory system for reestablishing the body’s orthostatic tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry reflex) after the six-month stay in zero-G. Salizhan’s ODNT protocol today consisted of first imbibing 150-200 milliliters of water or juice, followed by a sequence of progressive regimes of reduced (“negative”) pressure, set at -15, -25, -35 and -40 mmHg for five minutes each, then at -20, -30, and -40 mmHg, 10 minutes in each mode, and at -30 mmHg for 5 min, while shifting from foot to foot at 10-12 steps per minute. The body’s circulatory system interprets the pressure differential between upper and lower body as a gravity-like force pulling the blood (and other liquids) down.]
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The Exp. 10 crew and FE-VC8 Roberto Vittori had three hours set aside to conduct the Soyuz descent training exercise, standard procedure for each crew returning on a Soyuz. The exercise, which strictly forbids any command activation (except for switching the InPU display), was supported by a tagup and discussions with a ground instructor at TsUP/Moscow via S-band. [The training session included a review of the pertinent ODF (operational data files), specifically the books on Soyuz Insertion & Descent Procedures, Emergency Descents, and Off-Nominal Situation Procedures, and it featured special emphasis on nominal operations with the Neptune-MEh cockpit console. During descent, Sharipov, as Soyuz CDR, will occupy the middle couch, with Vittori in the left seat and Chiao in the Descent Module’s right Kazbek couch. Pending the final State Commission decision at about 3.5h before undocking, 9S return is currently still expected for 4/24 (Sunday), with undocking at 2:38pm EDT in darkness and landing near Arkalyk/Kazakhstan on Daily Orbit 1 (DO1) on 4/25 (Monday) at 4:08am local Arkalyk time (GMT+6h), or 6:08pm EDT on 4/24, 2h 9m before local sunrise.]
Leroy Chiao and John Phillips terminated the regular (50-day) maintenance procedure on the backup EMU batteries (#2047 & #2048) in the Airlock (A/L) and reconfigured the SSC laptop that was used for the automated DOS-based charge/discharge application. [The crew also received kudos from the EVA Office for the excellent outcome of the A/L cooling line flushing and SCU swap activities.]
Sharipov conducted a 1-hour test & health check on the Russian BSPN payload server computer (which recently received a software upgrade for ROKVISS) and its connectivity with the Russian OpsLAN/Ethernet via BRI SmartSwitch. [The checkout was conducted in two 30-min. parts, supported by tagup with ground specialists.]
Leroy completed a test procedure with the three older DCS760 digital still cameras on board, taking calibration photographs that will help the ground to determine which of these cameras will be used at STS-114 arrival for the planned external Shuttle Orbiter imaging during Discovery’s R-bar maneuver/rotation. [All three cameras were to be powered down 30 minutes prior to initiation of the test.]
Krikalev and Phillips performed the periodic stand-alone functional open/closure test of the Vozdukh CO2 removal system’s secondary vacuum valve group (AVK), kept in the Service Module (SM) in storage. [Closure of the Vozdukh’s vacuum access lines in the event of a malfunction in its vacuum valves (BVK) or a depressurization in the Vozdukh valve panel (BOA) would be handled by the secondary/emergency AVK valve group. Access to vacuum is required to vent carbon dioxide (CO2) during the regeneration of the absorbent cartridges (PP). During nominal operation, the AVK valves remain open.]
Continuing the outfitting of the RS (Russian segment) with the new Russian ASN-M satellite navigation system for the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle), Sergei installed new software for the system on the payload Laptop 3, then connected it to an ASN component, tagging up with ground specialists via S-band for support.
John Phillips assisted the ground in powering up the HRF (Human Research Facility) rack, followed by ground-commanded downlinking of the scan files from yesterday’s highly successful ADUM (Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Micro-G) session with Leroy Chiao. HRF was later powered down again.
Sergei did the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, including its ASU toilet system, and also prepared the regular IMS (inventory management system) delta file for export/import to the IMS databases.
Phillips, with Chiao’s handover “tutelage”, also 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.
Salizhan transferred his prepacked (4/20) BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) payload of dry bean plants bagged in silica gel to the Soyuz BO, turning off the Lada-5 greenhouse’s light and fan until resumption of ops on 4/24.
Using the newly delivered AVR High Resolution Equipment installed at SM window #9 (on 4/19), a powerful telescope connected to a Nikon D100 digital camera, Krikalev conducted test observations and photography (KPT-3) of a land area for Russia’s Environmental Safety Agency (ECON).
Sharipov began his third and final session of diet logging for the BIOPSY (Effect of Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle) experiment. Similarly to the Renal (kidney stone prevention) experiment in the past, nutrition consumption (i.e., all food & fluid intake) is being recorded over 48 hrs. three times a day, using the IMS BCR (inventory management system/bar code reader). Last time done: 1/9/05. [One of the human systems most affected by extended stays in space is the neuromuscular system. Past space missions have shown weightlessness can cause deterioration of muscle fiber, nerves and physical strength. BIOPSY investigates the reductions in limb muscle size, force and power at the cellular level that are induced by microgravity. This research will determine how long it takes for micro-G to affect skeletal muscles, so predictions can be made regarding muscle changes that may occur on a roundtrip flight to Mars. To help establish the cellular effects of weightlessness, biopsies are taken from the calf muscle (gastronemius) and foot-flexing muscle (soleus) 45 days before launch, and again immediately upon return to Earth. MRI (magnetic resonance imagery) also is taken of the calf muscle 90 and 30 days before launch, and again one and 21 days after return to Earth.]
Sergei conducted the periodic (currently daily) checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various Russian segment (RS) hatchways, including the SM-to-Soyuz tunnel, and the FGB-to-Node passageway. [This checkup is especially important when the ventilation/circulation system has to cope with a large crew on board.]
The four Expedition crew members conducted an abbreviated physical exercise program on TVIS, CEVIS, RED exerciser, and VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer. Leroy then transferred the daily TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC (medical equipment computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.
VC8 guest cosmonaut Roberto Vittori meanwhile continued his busy schedule of experiments of the “Eneide” science program. [Today, Vittori worked on EST/Electronic Space Test (exp. activation, start time registration), HPA/Hand Posture Analyzer (video camera setup, recording exp. ops, closeout, hardware stowing), CRISP-2/Crickets in Space (KUBIK-AMBER video, closing lid), LAZIO (PCMCIA card checking & replacement), AGROSPACE/Beans-Seedlings (photo imagery, monitoring, data logging), MOP/Motion Perception (filling out questionnaire), and E-NOSE/Electronic “Nose” (closeout ops, data transfer to laptop).]
FE-VC8 Vittori, working off his discretionary “job jar” task list, used his Nikon D1X digital camera for shooting pictures of his home country, for which three overflight opportunities were uplinked for today.
Krikalev and Vittori again had time reserved for scheduled commemorative (Russian: “symbolic”) activity, a standard tradition for visiting guest crewmembers, usually consisting of signing and stamping envelopes and imaging other memorabilia. [VC8 items to be returned by Vittori and the Exp. 10 crew are 60 in-orbit- stamped envelopes with the VC8 mission logo, a “Microcosmos” kit with a clear crystal with an embedded nanotechnology silicon chip bearing a picture of Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci in Italy (500 years anniversary in 2005) “painted” by Russian artist Georgy Pusenkov with pixels, reduced by nanotechnology (courtesy a Zelenograd company) to individual atoms, and the “Dove of Peace” kit for photography, to be demonstrated during a future downlink conference.]
The two crews had their traditional Changing-of-Command ceremony at ~8:20am EDT, as Exp. 10 (Leroy Chiao, Salizhan Sharipov) turned ISS operations over to Exp. 11 (Sergei Krikalev, John Phillips). The brief ceremony was transmitted to the ground via Ku- & S-band for broadcast on NASA TV. With this, stewardship of the space station is officially transferred to the new crew. As usual, the form of the traditional event, which celebrates and commemorates the transition between station crews, was at the crew’s discretion. [Krikalev and Sharipov also signed the usual formal Russian statements certifying RS handover/acceptance as specified in the RPS (handover) book, proper transfer of emergency procedures documents, and a list of 27 cargo items stowed on Progress-352/17P for deorbit.]
At 1:20pm, Vittori conducted his daily 10-min tagup with ESA Ops personnel via audio/S-band.
Afterwards, at 1:50pm, Robert responded to a live TV call and exchange with the Italian Prime Minister, supported by Sergei Krikalev as camera operator.
A second in-flight call for Vittori on live TV is scheduled for ~3:25pm EDT from the “Cit? de l’Espace” (City of Space) museum in Toulouse, the largest space museum in France. More than 200 guests from Toulouse’s political, business, and cultural communities expected to attend the event. Participants will be Jean-Luc Moudenc, Mayor of Toulouse, Bernard Burel, Director of the museum, and moderator Jean Coisne/ESA. [With the VC8 downlink, the museum is launching a new wing of the establishment, called “Astralia — the Sixth Continent”. The first IMAX film to be shown will be the US production “Space Station” in 3D. The VC8 downlink footage will also become part of the Astralia exhibition.]
Elektron Status: The Elektron continues to be off, after it failed a 12-hr. leak check of its N2 (nitrogen) pressurization system. Further troubleshooting is anticipated during the week to determine the location of the leak.
SKV Status: Both Russian SKV air conditioners are not operating. The cause for their lack of condensate transfer to the SRVK-2M condensate water processor is still not identified. The US segment (USOS) continues to collect all station humidity. The Lab condensate tank will reach maximum capacity in 5 days at the current collection rate. With crew size returning to two after 9S undocking, collection rate is then expected to decrease commensurably.
Testing by TsUP continues on the Russian ASN-M satellite navigation system in the SM for the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle).
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:
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.
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ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:56am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 354.8 km
- Apogee height — 360.0 km
- Perigee height — 349.7 km
- Period — 91.64 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0007669
- Solar Beta Angle — 25.0 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 85 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 36692
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.
Expedition 10 Flight Timelines (all times EDT, except where noted):
- Soyuz 9S (Expedition 10+1; Leroy Chiao, Salizhan Sharipov, Roberto Vittori):
- Undocking from FGB — 4/24 (Sun.), 2:38pm EDT (to be confirmed by State
- Commission ~3.5 hrs. before undock);
- Sep Burn #1 (manual) — 2:44pm;
- Deorbiting Burn — 5:16pm (4 min 23 sec, delta-V 115.2 m/s);
- Daily Orbit 1 (DO1) begin – 5:30am
- Module Sep — 5:41pm;
- Atmospheric Entry — 5:44pm;
- Landing in darkness — 4/24 (Sun.) 6:08pm EDT; 4:08am (4/25) local
- Kustanai/Kazakhstan;
- Sunrise at Kustanai landing site — 6:16am. [Note: Kazakhstan time is GMT+6h].
- Landing point for this descent profile is at ~87 km SW from Arkalyk City.
Return to Flight:
- LF-1 (STS-114)/Increment 11 SORR (Stage Operations Readiness Review) — 4/22 (Fri) at JSC;
- LF1 (STS-114)/Discovery launch windows (all times EDT), for FD3 docking:
- 5/22: 1:03 – 1:08pm;
- 5/23: 12:36 – 12:46pm;
- 5/24: 12:15 – 12:20pm
- etc.
Note: For the May/June launch period, the daily 10-minute planar launch window (i.e., in ISS orbit plane) starts an average 23 minutes earlier each day, extends into early June and closes due to current constraints of Daylight Launch (6/7) or ET umbilical photo opportunity (6/3). Figures are approximate. There are additional opportunities for docking on FD4 (Flight Day 4), not planned.
Other Upcoming Main Events:
- Progress M-52 (17P) undock — 6/16.
- Progress M-53 (18P) launch — 6/17;
- ULF1.1 (STS-121) launch — NET 7/12;
- Progress M-54 (19P) launch — 8/24;
- Soyuz TMA-7 (11S) launch — 9/27.