NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 22 May 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.  Underway: Week 7 of Increment 13.

Crew day continues on 6h-shifted schedule, with wakeup at 8:00am EDT, sleep time at 11:30pm.

CDR Pavel Vinogradov and FE/SO Jeffrey Williams performed their periodic (monthly) Russian biomedical assessments PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement).   [Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. , using later disassembling it for stowage.   For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the specially designed Russian mass measurement “scales” (IM), measures the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants.  By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember’s mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.  The IM was later dismantled again.]

The FE retrieved MBS (Mobile Base System) equipment required for the Orlan EVA-16 from the Z1 truss vestibule.   [Working on the “ceiling” of the Node, Jeff gained access to the Z1 “dome” volume by unbolting and removing the hardmount plate of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device), then opening the Z1 hatch, followed by an inspection of the overhead hatch seal.  After unstowing the MBS subsystems CLPA (camera, light & pan/tilt assembly) and CETA Luminaire (crew external translation aid light fixture) in the Z1 vestibule, required for the EVA, Jeff closed the Z1 hatch again and reinstalled the RED hardmount plate.]

Later today, Williams will prepare and configure U.S. tools for the EVA, including testing of the PGT (Pistol Grip Tool).

Meanwhile, Vinogradov had 1.5 hrs. for collecting and preparing hardware and tools for the spacewalk on Thursday next week (6/1).   [This included a foot restraint adapter (“Yakor”), the new external nozzle for the Elektron H2 vent line, MLI (multi-layer insulation) nozzle cover, cutters, ratchet wrench, etc.]

Assisted by ground specialist tagup, Pavel prepared and configured two new contamination (plume impingement & deposits) monitoring units, BKDO & “Kromka-3”, and the “Biorisk-MSN” exposure payload for their installation on the outside during the EVA-16, replacing currently mounted versions.

The CDR also conducted the regular processing of KAV condensate water for the Elektron oxygen generator, using US-collected water from CWC (collapsible water container) #1042 via the electric condensate pumping unit (BPK) of the Russian water processing system (SRV-K2).

With Elektron deactivated until after the EVA, another oxygen repress of the cabin atmosphere was performed, using 6.4 kg of O2 from Progress 20 tankage.   [ISS O2 increased by 9.7 mmHg, with ppO2 currently at 166.78 mmHg.]

Vinogradov performed his third session of the regular monthly Eye Tracking Device (ETD) experiment, which studies the coordination of eye and head movements in zero-G and takes place in the DC-1 docking module’s center sphere.   [After a calibration with the calibrating unit, the experiment investigated horizontal eye and head movement coordination, measured Listing’s plane, and determined the orientation of the vestibulo-ocular coordinate system, using five target marks on the EV-2 hatch on the horizontal plane.  For the experiment, Pavel established his most comfortable and stable body position relative to the visual target (60 cm for the first part of the experiment, 100 to 150 cm in parts two & three).  Each step required another prior calibration run, using visual target cues or the calibration unit.]

Later today, Pavel will replace the gas analyzer filter of the Vozdukh carbon dioxide (CO2) removal system.  The old filter will be trashed. [Vozdukh continues to operate nominally in manual mode.  The current ppCO2 is 3.39 mmHg.]

Afterwards, the CDR performs the daily routine maintenance of the Service Module (SM)’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including regular replacements in its toilet system (ASU), and the updating/editing of the standard IMS “delta file”, including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

The FE/SO will conduct his daily check of the alignment and focus of the EarthKAM (EK) camera and position of flash aimed at the sample of the BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test) science activity.   [The EK camera is taking automated time-lapse flash photography (once every hour) of BCAT sample #3 at the MWA (Maintenance Work Area), controlled from the SSC-7 laptop (Station Support Computer 7).  The imaging is to continue for two weeks.]

Jeffrey Williams also is to perform the daily atmospheric status check for ppO2 (Partial Pressure Oxygen) and ppCO2 (pp Carbon Dioxide), using the CSA-CP (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products), CSA-O2 (CSA-Oxygen Sensor) and CDMK (CO2 Monitoring Kit).

Still remaining on Pavel’s discretionary “time as available” task list is the search for “missing” Russian equipment items, specifically a transformer for the SOZh’s water management system with cable and accessories that were delivered about three years ago on a Progress cargo ship but never used.

Both crewmembers are scheduled to work out in their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the TVIS treadmill (FE, CDR), RED resistive exerciser (FE) 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 3 of the latest microcycle).]

Afterwards, Jeff transfers the exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) data of the workouts on CEVIS and RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

At ~9:24am EDT, Williams set up the FGB’s amateur radio equipment (Ericsson VHF transceiver, headset, power supply) to conduct, at 9:29am, a 10-min. ham radio exchange with students at Virgilio Primary School of Mestre, in Venice, Italy.   [Virgilio Primary School was built in 1980 and is named after an important Roman emperor poet (Virgil).  It has 210 pupils and 23 teachers.  Questions were uplinked beforehand.  “Have you ever had a language problem?”; “What are some of the jobs you do on the Space Station you enjoy doing?”; “What are the jobs you don’t like doing?”; “What inspired you to become an astronaut?”]

MCC-H started the third part of the periodic P6 solar array battery capacity tests, focusing today on battery set 4B3.  The 24-hour test, preceded by some necessary on-board power reconfiguring, began at 9:00am EDT with the initial discharge of the BCDU (Battery Charge/Discharge Unit) for set 4B3.  The capacity test of the 4B2 battery set will follow on 5/24 at 3am.   [The 2B solar arrays were set to Autotrack, with the 4B wing staying in Auto biased at ~44 deg, to support the battery capacity test.  NiH (nickel hydrogen) batteries can develop and display memory loss resulting in a temporary loss of capacity that can periodically be erased by fully discharging and charging cells (reconditioning).  The battery state of charge (SOC) reported in telemetry does not include the effect of this reduced capacity. Reconditioning was performed on all P6 Battery sets from Oct. 2004 through Dec. 2005.  In the current round, reconditioning of the first set, 2B2, was successfully finished on 4/12, of the second set, 2B1, on 5/2.  These tests are necessary to improve battery health and to determine the amount of amp hour capacity retained since the reconditioning was performed.]

TsUP-Moscow conducted a dynamic test of the medium accuracy rate sensor (ORT) aboard the Soyuz 12S crew return vehicle via the spacecraft’s APVU automated (pre-programmed) timer  and BTsVK digital computer complex.

No CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets uplinked for today.

To date, more than 198,000 of CEO images have been taken in the first five years of the ISS, almost one third of the total number of images taken from orbit by astronauts.

  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.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 10:46am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 343.1 km
• Apogee height — 349.2 km
• Perigee height — 337.1 km
• Period — 91.40 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008951
• Solar Beta Angle — -30.7 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.75
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 75 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 42913

Significant Events Ahead (all dates subject to change):

• 06/01/06 — Russian EVA-16 (EV-1 hatch open ~6:40pm EDT; duration ~5h 50m)
• 06/08/06 — ISS reboost with 21P for phasing (6:51pm EDT, delta-V 1.5 m/s)
• 06/19/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 06/24/06 — Progress M-57/22P launch
• 06/26/06 — Progress M-57/22P docking (DC1)
• 07/01/06 — NET STS-121/ULF1.1 launch
• 07/03-11/06 — NET STS-121/ULF1.1 docked mission w/ISS
• 07/??/06 — US EVA-5
• 08/28/07 — NET STS-115/12A launch
• 08/30-09/06 — NET STS-115/12A docked mission w/ISS
• 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
• 09/??/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)
• 11/??/06 — Russian EVA-17
• 12/14/06 — NET STS-116/12A.1 launch
• 12/16-23/06 — NET STS-116/12A.1 docked mission w/ISS
• 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 — NET STS-117/13A launch
• 02/24-03/03/07 — NET STS-117/13A docked mission w/ISS
• 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)
• 03/22/07 — NET STS-117/13A launch
• ??/??/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S relocation (SM aft port to FGB nadir port)
• 06/11/07 — NET STS-118/13A.1.

    (NET = no earlier than)

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.