NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 23 July 2004
SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2004) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.
All ISS systems continue to function nominally except those noted previously or below.
At wakeup, the crew was complimented on yesterday’s successful SSRMS/robotarm operations.
CDR Padalka and FE/SO Fincke then continued preparations for the upcoming EVA-10, searching for & gathering equipment/tools required for the excursion.
Afterwards, the crewmembers used a 3-hr. time slot for reviewing procedures and timeline of the EVA, supported by tagup with ground specialists at TsUP/Moscow. [Unlike EVA-9, the 6-hr. spacewalk on 8/3 (hatch open ~2:50am EDT) will take place on the Russian segment only (DC1 and SM). Its objectives include installation of protective devices on DC1 hatch circular handrail brackets and gap spanners between existing DC1 handrails, still imagery and replacement of a collection tray of the Kromka contamination experiment and of a removable materials sample cassette (SKK) on the SM, replacement of laser retro reflectors (LRRs) for ATV (automated transfer vehicle) docking with improved LRRs, installation of an internal Visual Video Target (VVT) and two antennas (WAS1 & 2) for the Proximity Communication Equipment (PCE) with their cabling, removal of a Platan-M detector unit, etc.]
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Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
Gennady Padalka perform his first session of the Russian MedOps MO-4 “Hemodynamics” protocol, working with the “Chibis” suit (a Russian below-the-waist reduced-pressure device to provide gravity-simulating stress to the body’s cardiovascular/circulatory system) for evaluation of the body’s orthostatic tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry reflex) after 20 weeks in zero-G. Fincke assisted his commander as CMO. [The device applies suction to the lower part of the body and legs, thereby exerting specific functional loadings to test the body’s adaptation to prolonged exposure to microgravity. Chibis data and biomed cardiovascular readings are recorded. The Chibis suit (not to be confused with the Russian “Pinguin” suit for spring-loaded body compression, or the “Kentavr” anti-g suits used during reentry) is quite similar to the U.S. LBNP (lower-body negative pressure, Russian: ODNT) device used for the first time on Skylab in 1973/74, although it appears to accomplish its purpose quicker.]
Mike Fincke disconnected and removed the UOP DCP (utility outlet panel/display & control panel) bypass power cable at the Lab Robotics Work Station, which was used yesterday to support video camera coverage of the SSRMS operation.
Gennady completed the daily routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh life support system, including the periodic inspection of the BRPK air/liquid condensate separator apparatus, while Mike prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file update and conducted the regular routine status checkup of autonomous Lab payloads.
Before bunk time tonight, at 5:00pm EDT, the crew is scheduled for their regular weekly teleconference with the JSC Astronaut Office (Kent Rominger), via S-band S/G-2.
As reported yesterday, Mike Fincke’s ultrasound inspection of the Lab window yielded no detectable leak. The “Volume D” space between the pressure panes is currently at cabin pressure, so the check was an attempt to identify any leak overboard at the hull-to-window frame. Since no leak was found even after three inspections using different methods, it further supports that the only leak path for the window is from the primary pressure pane frame to the redundant pressure pane frame across seal C, i.e., internal.
Following the upload of the SM 7.02 software, Russian state vector (SV) determinations (position & velocity) of the ISS have shown variations (“oscillations”) of about 6 kilometers. Use of the SV on the station has been inhibited until the problem can be corrected. [The Russian SV is one of the three data points used by the GN&C (Guidance, Navigation & Control) system to help determine the station’s position.]
Heads of Agencies (HOA) Meeting: At today’s HOA meeting at the ESA Technical Center (ESTEC) in Noordwijk/Holland the space agency leaders from the US, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada discussed ISS cooperation activities. They reviewed the status of ISS on-orbit operations and unanimously endorsed the ISS technical configuration and plans. The new ISS configuration is planned for completion by the end of the decade and will accommodate on-orbit elements from each of the ISS Partners. The configuration will enable increased utilization and will provide early opportunities for an enhanced crew of greater than three people. During their discussions, the agency leaders reaffirmed their enduring commitment to the unprecedented international cooperation characterizing the ISS Program. In particular, they expressed their appreciation of Russia’s significant efforts, through the provision of crew transportation and re-supply capabilities, to safely maintain a human presence on-orbit during the current hiatus in Space Shuttle flights, planned to end in March 2005.
Major upcoming events:
- EVA tool configuring & video review — 7/26;
- MO-5, Orlan-M suit prep, water sep in PkhO and DC1 — 7/27;
- Orlan-M leak checks and telemetry checks — 7/28:
- EVA procedures review, 14P undock prep — 7/29;
- Orlan training run, battery charging, camera prep — 7/30;
- Progress 14P undocking — 7/30 (2:06am EDT);
- EVA timeline review — 8/1;
- OpsLan reconfig, etc. — 8/2;
- Orlan EVA-10 from DC-1 — 8/3 (hatch open: 2:50am EDT);
- EVA debrief, etc. — 8/4;
- Progress 15P launch — 8/11 (1:01am EDT);
- Progress 15P docking — 8/14 (2:05am EDT).
Expedition 9 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.
Today’s CEO (crew earth observation) photo targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in “ram”), were Aerosols, Lower Yangtze Basin, China (a clear summer day allowed imaging of ground features as a baseline for images which show smog, in this basin where air pollution is a major problem. Suggested was a mapping strip along track as near nadir as feasible [the Yangtze River paralleled the ISS track on the left side close to nadir]), Internal waves, Aegean Sea (looking left towards the glint point as it crosses Crete and other islands), and Saharan dust out blow, Morocco (Dynamic event. Looking left towards the Atlas Mountains for possible source points for a new dust event. A large dust plume is moving west into the Atlantic Ocean and re-curving NE towards Spain). On the following pass: an unreported dust plume is moving towards SW Spain off the coast of Morocco. Looking right for what appears to be a very marked dust margin between the dust mass and the clear air).
CEO images can be viewed at these websites:
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at:
To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 9 crew visit:
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-9/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.
U.S. & Russian Segment Status (as of yesterday, 1:17pm EDT)
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
- Elektron O2 generator is On (16A, = lowest setting). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On. U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating. SM Gas Analyzer has been calibrated and is used for ppO2 & ppCO2 monitoring. MCA (major constituents analyzer) is in Life Extending Mode (LEM). BMP Harmful Impurities unit: absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On, SKV-2 is Off (SM panel mods completed 4/8; SKV-2 activation failed 4/20; is still considered failed). SFOG slot #2 fan suspect (not usable).
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
- Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in Autotrack (solar-tracking, “sun slicer”, i.e., drag reduction-biased by 47 deg).
- Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is in Standby mode; PCU-2 is in Standby mode.
Command & Data Handling Systems:
- C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is backup, and C&C-3 is in standby.
- GNC-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is backup.
- INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.
- EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is Off (backup).
- LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
- PL-1 MDM is Off; PL-2 MDM is Operational.
- APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
- SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
- SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
- FGB MDM-1 is Off (failed, 11/21/03); MDM-2 is Operational.
Propulsion System:
- Total propellant load available: 3864 kg (8519 lb) as of 7/15/04; [SM(552) + FGB(3312) + Progress M(0)]. (Capabilities: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).
Attitude Control Systems:
- 3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02; CMG-2’s RPC-17 failed 4/21/04; was replaced 6/30/04).
- State vector source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
- Attitude source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
- Angular rate source — RGA-1
Flight Attitude:
- XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: 0.5 deg, pitch: -9.0 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist), until 7/26, then LVLH XVV.
Communications & Tracking Systems:
- FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.
- All other Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.
- S-band is operating nominally (on string 2).
- Ku-band is operating nominally (may require a mask).
- Audio subsystem is operating nominally (IAC-1 is prime, IAC-2 is off).
- Video subsystem operating nominally.
- HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.
Robotics:
- SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at Lab PDGF/LEE A, operational on redundant string, off on prime.
- MBS: KA (keep alive) power on both strings.
- MT: latched and mated at WS4.
- POA: KA power on both strings.
- RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is On (DCP connected); Cupola RWS is Off.
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ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:46am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 358.8 km
- Apogee height — 363.0 km
- Perigee height — 354.7 km
- Period — 91.7 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0006175
- Solar Beta Angle — 26.6 deg
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.70
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 100 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 32401
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.
