NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 22 December 2004

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All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Thanks went up to the crew for yesterday’s great work on the PCS R8.003 hard drive ghosting, ITCS servicing and Progress set-up for separation.

This morning, the crew started the new sleep cycle shifts by sleeping in for 1.5 hours (2:30am EST). Bunk time tonight starts at 6:00pm. [These times will be kept until 12/25 when wake-up shifts to 5:00am (sleep: 9:05pm), followed by wake-up at 6:00am (sleep 5:30pm) on 12/26, and 2:00am – 4:30pm on 12/27, to return to “normal” thereafter.]

Cargo ship M-50 (15P) undocked on time (2:37pm EST), and fired its separation burn three minutes later. It is now headed for fiery reentry, with its 2min 28d deorbit burn scheduled at 5:32pm and entry interface at 6:10pm, for splashdown of surviving parts in the “regular” Progress deep-sea graveyard of the Pacific Ocean. [In the US segment, the SDMS (Structural Dynamic Measurement System) was activated to record vibrational data beginning two minutes prior to undocking through three minutes after.]

FE Salizhan Sharipov performed a three-hour plumber’s job on the SRV-K2M condensate water processor in the Service Module (SM), removing and replacing the string 1 condensate evacuation pump (NOK1) that has reached the end of its certified service life. [For the R&R, SKV2 air conditioner and NOK2 were turned off. After activation of the new pump, its flow of condensate will be monitored tomorrow for several hours via a transparent pipe section, and the VR fan cover will be checked for the presence of moisture.]

In the Lab, CDR/SO Leroy Chiao set up the MWA (Maintenance Work Area) containment system with the soldering iron assembly for the final ISSI (In-Space Soldering Investigation) payload run, then installed the solder and performed Test 5 of the experiment that had been bumped on 12/4 for lack of a charged Makita battery on the day before. The activity was covered by camcorder and recorded on the ground-commanded VTR (video tape recorder). Afterwards, equipment and MWA were stowed. [Test 5 today consisted of soldering the final 12 ISSI coupons (Large Loop and L-shape). The soldering iron is a wand with an exchangeable iron tip heated to 600F, powered by a modified Makita-type NMH (nickel metal hydride) power tool battery. The soldering iron kit comes with seven of these batteries, which need to be recharged shortly before use. For today’s experiment, battery charging was done yesterday.]

In the SM and FGB, Sharipov continued the inspection and photography of wall panels with damaged (peeling) facing, which he started yesterday, using the Nikon D1 digital still camera with flash attachment.

After yesterday switching filter bed 1 of the SM’s harmful impurities removal unit (BMP) to Regeneration cycle, the FE today terminated the bake-out, moding the channel back to Purify. Later, he initiated regeneration on filter channel 2. After its completion tomorrow, the Elektron O2 generator, which uses the same vacuum vent valve, will be switched on again. [The regeneration of the air purifier filter beds is repeated every 20 days. Each bakeout to space vacuum takes about 24 hours.]

The CDR continued the previously begun “ghosting” of PCS (portable computer system) hard drives, updating their software “image” for the planned CCS upgrade to R4 loads in January. [Progress 16P will deliver three new ThinkPad A31p laptops for use in the Russian segment (as SSC Router, SSC1 and SSC2) plus software to reload the entire OpsLAN network.]

Both crewmembers in turn took their second periodic on-orbit hearing assessment (O-OHA) test, a NASA environmental health systems examination to assess the efficacy of acoustic countermeasures. [The O-OHA audiogram test involves minimum audibility measurements for each ear over a wide range of frequencies (0.25-10 kHz) and sound pressure levels, with the crewmembers using individual-specific Prophonics earphones, Bose ANC headsets and the SLM (sound level meter). To conduct the testing, the experimenter is supported by special EarQ software on the MEC (medical equipment computer), featuring an up/down-arrow-operated slider for each test frequency that the crewmember moves to the lowest sound pressure level at which the tone can still be heard. The baseline test is required not later than about Flight Day 14 for each new Expedition and is then performed once per month.]

At ~8:40am EST, Salizhan held his weekly IMS (inventory management system) tagup with ground specialists, discussing open issues concerning identification of equipment and storage locations for IMS updating.

The FE also prepared the regular IMS (inventory management system) delta file for export/import to the IMS databases, while the CDR completed the routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh life support system (including replacement of ASU toilet facility inserts).

The crew performed their daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill, RED exerciser, CEVIS cycle and VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer. Salizhan’s daily protocol currently prescribes a 1.5-hr structured set on the TVIS (today: Day 3 of a new set) and one hour on VELO.

Leroy then transferred the daily TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.

At 10:10am EST, CDR Chiao set up the SM’s amateur radio equipment (Ericsson VHF transceiver, headset, power supply) and at 10:12am engaged in a 10-min. ham radio exchange with students at Tulsa Air and Space Museum, Tulsa, OK. [Tulsa Air and Space Museum conducts aerospace classes throughout the year from STARBASE during the school year and at Aerospace Summer Camps during the summer vacation. Questions for the crew had been uplinked beforehand. (“What is it like working with someone from another country for a long time?”)]

At 11:40am, Leroy and Salizhan participated in two interactive televised PAO interviews (Ku-band & S-band), one on ABC’s “Good Morning, America” (Ned Potter), the other on CNN (Miles O’Brien), each one lasting about seven minutes.

Yesterday’s attitude maneuver from XPOP to LVLH/XVV, utilizing a new controller in the US segment, was a full success. [The “Zero Torque Controller”, which holds attitude with zero torque on the CMGs (control moment gyros), was developed to perform attitude maneuvers under US control utilizing Russian thrusters. Large US-led attitude maneuvers have not been performed since the failure of CMG-1, but with the new controller all control torque required for holding attitude is diverted to Russian thrusters while CMG gimbal rates are maintained within current CMG constraints. In particular, this type of controller may facilitate the use of US CMG attitude control for a potential Shuttle ORM (Orbiter Tile Repair Maneuver), which requires stringent attitude control, or future ISS attitude maneuvers to conserve propellants. Yesterday’s US-controlled maneuver used 15.5 kg props; the same maneuver performed nominally under Russian segment (RS) control would have been expected to require up to 20 kg.]

Starting this morning at 3:00am EST and running for six hours, MCC-H and its support group in Moscow (HSG) conducted another BCC (Backup Control Center) dry run in test mode, with no involvement of the ISS crew or vehicle. Purpose of the periodic exercise was to verify recent fixes to communication software and demonstrate BCC functionality under Russian assets, while providing proficiency training for HSG (Houston Support Group) personnel at the HSR (Houston Support Room) and TsUP/Moscow specialists. [The ISS EMCC (Emergency Mission Control Center), located in Russia, comprises TsUP/Moscow as the Lead Control Center, coupled with HSR at TsUP. The BCC facility provides a command and control capability from TsUP if the EMCC must be activated. This is the case in situations that render MCC-Houston unable to provide telemetry, voice, and command capability for extended periods. EMCC is also used when the threat of severe weather results in evacuation of the MCC-H building for extended periods. In such an emergency, both Russian servers (CMD/command & TM/telemetry) are transitioned from MCC-H connectivity to BCC configuration, after which only the BCC can connect to the CMD and TM ports. An actual contingency requiring switchover to the BCC occurred on 10/2/2002 when Hurricane Lili forced MCC-H to shut down at 4:00am EDT.]

Later today (~3:45pm), Sharipov will install the geophysical GFI-1 Relaksatsiya (“relaxation”) experiment, reconfiguring the Russian payload Laptop 3 for the experiment and mounting the UV (ultraviolet) camera with spectrometer unit at SM window #9. Purpose: to observe the Progress 350/15P thruster plumes during the time period of 5:20-5:45pm (deorbit burn), 25 minutes before entry interface (below the horizon). [Relaksatsiya deals with the study of the chemoluminescent chemical reactions and atmospheric light phenomena (emissions, i.e., molecular relaxation processes) that occur during high-velocity interaction between the exhaust products from space vehicles and the atmosphere at orbital altitude and during the entry of space vehicles into the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Objective of the current experiment is to record the Progress thruster plumes (by UV-video). After 15P has moved out of sight, the equipment will be disassembled for FGB stowage, and Laptop 3 returned to its permanent location.]

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, no longer limited in the current LVLH attitude, were Muglad Basin fans, SW Sudan (this nadir overpass provided an opportunity for high-resolution mapping of the Muglad megafans. Mapping swaths across the contorted drainage patterns and wetlands are useful for detailed mapping of fan boundaries and habitats), Caracas, Venezuela (weather was predicted to be clear over northern Venezuela for detailed mapping of this urban center. Mapping swaths along the western portion of the urban-rural fringe are useful for land cover and ecosystem change detection), and High Central Andean Glaciers, S. America (the overpass provided an opportunity for nadir photography along the central trend of the Andes Mountains. Some scattered clouds may have been present, but shadows should have been minimal as this overpass coincided with local solar noon. Mapping swaths along the western face of the Andes are useful for mapping of smaller glaciers and monitoring of current ice extent).

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 10 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-10/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 10 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.

Progress 15P — 12/22 (today):

• Deorbit burn (2 min 28 s): 5:32pm
• Entry Interface: 6:10pm.

Progress 16P (all times EST):

• Launch — 12/23, 5:19pm;
• Kurs-A/P system acquisition: 12/25, ~5:28pm;
• Video link activation (at ~8 km): ~5:50pm;
• Flyaround start (at ~400 m): 6:09pm;
• Stationkeeping (at ~170m, in darkness): 6:19pm;
• Final approach start (in darkness): 6:55pm;
• Local sunrise: 7:03pm;
• Docking contact: 7:04pm.
• (If the automated Kurs rendezvous fails, there remain ~20 min. for manual TORU ops, until next day).
• Hatch opening — 12/26, 1:10pm.

Other Key Events:

• EVA-12 — 1/25/05;
• Progress 16P undocking & destructive reentry — 2/27/05;
• Progress 17P launch — 2/28/05.
• EVA-13 — 3/25/05;
• Soyuz 9S undock — 4/25/05 (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS).

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:09am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 354.2 km
• Apogee height — 357.0 km
• Perigee height — 351.3 km
• Period — 91.62 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0004227
• Solar Beta Angle — -9.7 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 100 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 34790

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.