NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 23 March 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.

Preparations continued for the 3/28 space walk. In the DC1 docking compartment, CDR/SO Chiao terminated the recharging of the second Orlan 825M3 28V-battery pack and removed it from the ZU-S battery charger.

Other EVA preparations today, all completed without issues, included: (1) checkout of the Orlan/BSS cooling loop water/gas separation systems in the DC1 docking module and later in the Service Module Transfer Compartment (SM PkhO), (2) pressure equalization valve (KVD) functionality tests on the two Orlan suits #25 & #27 and their BSS interface units in the DC1 and SM PkhO (backup), (3) leak/pressure checking on the four BK-3 oxygen tanks (2 primary, 2 backup), and (4) gathering & servicing Orlan suit consumable/replaceable ORU elements and personal gear. The Orlan prepping activities were supported by peregovoriy (tagup) with ground spets (specialist). [Orlan ORUs are LiOH canisters (LP-9), primary & backup oxygen tanks (BK-3), moisture collectors, feedwater filters (FOR), CO2 measuring unit (IK) filter, filtration & separation units (BOS), and the newly charged 825M3 storage batteries.]

The crew also installed a US EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) helmet light on Orlan #27 and checked out the already installed (from Increment 9) EMU light on Orlan #25.

Preparatory to tomorrow’s suited & pressurized EVA dry-run, Chiao and Sharipov performed fit (height) adjustments on the suits, to be repeated as necessary during the dry-run and under reduced airlock pressure.

Using the automatic temperature recorder (ART), Salizhan conducted the regular temperature check on the BIO-11 “Statokonia” payload with its ULITKA (“snail”) incubator that he had set up in the SM on 3/3. [BIO-11 studies the composition of statoconia, i.e., the organ of equilibrium in snails, and other phenomena exhibited by “ulitka” in zero-G and post-flight.]

The FE also relocated and re-installed three assemblies of the Russian radiobiology experiment RBO-2 “Bradoz-1” in the SM, following a recommendation by the ground based on analysis of downlinked photos. [Bradoz was developed by Moscow’s IBMP (Institute of Bio-Medical Problems) to detect integral absorbed doses of ionizing radiation using thermoluminescent detectors. It also uses plastic track detectors for recording fluxes and spectra of linear energy transfers of heavy charged particles, and utilizes biological objects to detect radiation damage to the genetic system. Purpose of this research is to develop radiobiological dosimetry methods for more accurate assessment of biologically significant radiation dose commitments for humans during long-term space flight. Space radiation, even in small doses, can damage not only the somatic but also generative tissues in the human body, making it crucial to quantitatively assess the genetic damage caused by space radiation. The experiment consists of six assemblies, five Bradoz-1 kits and one Bradoz-2 unit. They include thermoluminescent dosimeters made of lithium fluoride crystals, R-39-type plastic track detectors made of tissue-equivalent plastic, and packets with biological samples of dry seeds of higher plants.]

The CDR conducted the monthly IMS-based PEP (portable emergency provisions) audit and inspection (last time done: 2/21). [The procedure involves verification that PFEs (portable fire extinguishers), PBAs (portable breathing assemblies), QDMAs (quick-don mask assemblies) and EHTKs (extension hose/tee kits) are free of damage to ensure their functionality, and to track shelf life/life cycles on the hardware. PEPs are not removed from their locker unless obvious damage is discovered during the inspection. There are a total of 5 PBAs in the U.S. segment (USOS), viz., two in the Node, two in the Lab, and one in the Airlock.]

Leroy also filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his 20th, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC (medical equipment computer) software.

Salizhan completed the daily inspection of the SOZh life support system in the SM, including routine replacements of ASU toilet system inserts.

Chiao conducted the weekly data take with the two new 17P-delivered CSA-CP units (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products), with the purpose to monitor the desired ongoing decontamination (outgassing) of the deployed instruments. [CSA-CP measures O2 (oxygen), CO (carbon monoxide), HCN (hydrogen cyanide), and HCl (hydrogen chloride).]

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

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.

Working from the discretionary task list, the FE performed the daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment, including filling its water canister as required. As part of his regular work schedule, he also completed the regular periodic download of data & imagery collected of the BIO-5 experiment to the computer for subsequent downlink to the ground. [Rasteniya researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-5 greenhouse.]

At ~1:20pm EST, the US MCA (major constituents analyzer) was set to “rapid sampling” preparatory to a cabin air refresh, and at 1:25pm the planned one-hour repressurization with O2 from Progress 17’s Section 2 storage tank (SrPK) was scheduled to begin. A second repress with Progress air is to take place right after the EVA on 3/28.

Again during several DO (daily orbit) comm passes over RGS (Russian ground site), TsUP/Moscow performed testing of the onboard ASN-M satellite navigation equipment, running activation/deactivation sequences and uplinking various commands to change settings and variable values.

Ground-controlled testing from the Russian onboard command sequencer (SPP) was also again conducted on the ESA/German commercial “RokvISS” robotics experiment, exercising its BSPN (biological coordination unit) server, CUP (communication unit for payloads) and OBC (onboard controller).

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Hyderabad, India (weather and solar conditions were predicted to be ideal for detailed imagery of this megacity. An overlapping nadir mapping swath across the urban area from W to E was recommended for characterization of urban-rural gradients in the region. Use of the 400 mm lens is preferred if atmospheric clarity is high over the urban area), Caracas, Venezuela (weather was predicted to be clear over the Venezuelan coastline. ISS had a nadir pass over the Caracas metropolitan region at approximately solar noon. This presented an ideal opportunity for detailed mapping photography of the city and surroundings. An overlapping mapping swath from W to E across the metropolitan area was recommended for characterization of the current urban-rural fringe), and Internal Waves, Bahamas (some patchy cloud cover was predicted to the north of Cuba, but conditions should have been favorable for internal wave photography. Looking to the right of track as ISS passed over central Cuba; sunglint and internal waves may have been visible along both the southern and northern coastlines).

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.

Upcoming Key Events:

• __Reboost — 3/25 (5:00am EST; ~1.65 m/s, for 10S rendezvous & 9S landing phasing);
• __EVA-13 — 3/28 (hatch open~1:33am; hatch close~7:12am);
• __Soyuz TMA-6 (10S) launch — 4/15 with Expedition 11 (CDR Sergei Krikalev, FE/SO John Phillips & VC8 cosmonaut Roberto Vittori/ESA-Italy);
• __ Soyuz TMA-6 docking – 4/17;
• __Soyuz TMA-5 (9S) undocking — 4/25 with Exp. 10 crew (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS) and VC8 cosmonaut Vittori;
• __LF1 (STS-114) launch — 5/15;
• __Progress M-53 (18P) launch — 6/10;
• __ULF1.1 (STS-121) launch — NET 7/12;
• __Progress M-54 (19P) launch — 8/24;
• __Soyuz TMA-7 (11S) launch — 9/27.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 5:49am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 355.2 km
• Apogee height — 357.6 km
• Perigee height — 352.9 km
• Period — 91.65 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.65 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0003477
• Solar Beta Angle — -15.7 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 95 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 36219

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.