NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 23 November 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.

Early in the morning, before breakfast and first exercise, FE Tokarev and CDR/SO McArthur completed their fourth session with the Russian crew health-monitoring program’s medical assessment MO-9/ Biochemical Urinalysis. Afterwards, the FE recorded data and stowed the hardware. [MO-9 is conducted regularly every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs) and is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for US crewmembers for IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) evaluation as part of the “PHS/Without Blood Labs” exam. The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus Urolux developed originally for the Mir program. The data were entered in the Medical Equipment Computer (MEC)’s special IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program).]

Valery Tokarev completed the two-day task of routing a new TV cable from the Service Module (SM) through the FGB module, to allow Russian transmissions via Ku-band assets in the U.S. segment (USOS). [The installation of the cable, supported by specialist tagup on S-band, will allow the conversion of the Russian SECAM (PAL) video signal into an American NTSC video signal for downlink via U.S.Ku-band. The actual conversion is performed by an A31p laptop in the FGB. For the installation, Valery connected the A31p to the FGB’s SECAM video outlet panel on one side, and the NTSC video cable through a U.S. AVIU (Advanced Video Interface Unit) to the Node’s ICP (Interface Control Panel), and thence to the Lab Ku- band assets on the other side. A checkout of the installation is scheduled for 11/25 (Friday). Due to the complexity of the procedure, a video routing test will be set up prior to each docking, undocking, or Russian EVA. All cables must remain in place after the test.]

The FE set up for his eighth NOA (Nitric Oxide Analyzer) session in the DC1 docking compartment and then conducted the weekly test. [Purpose of the new ESA VC9 payload ESANO1, consisting of the “Platon” analyzer and its power supply, is to monitor expired nitric oxide (NO) in the subject’s exhaled air to detect signs of airway inflammation and indications of venous gas emboli (bubbles) that may be caused by inhalation of pollutants on the ISS and increased risk of decompression sickness. The experiment sessions are being conducted once a week, with two NO measurements in the exhaled air (after rinsing out with Rodnik water) taken in each session through a bacterial filter. Today’s measurement ops were recorded in the Platon log and supported by ground specialist tagup via S-band. To prevent skewing measurements, Valery (and Bill if applicable) has been requested to avoid food items containing nitrites and nitrates (such as in processed meat, assorted vegetables, stewed cabbage, etc.) from their diet for 24 hours before the weekly experiment.]

The CDR conducted the periodic IMS (Inventory Management System) food audit, to determine the number of unopened food containers/ kits, in support of manifesting decisions for future resupply flights. [The IMS updating is done with the BCR (Bar Code Reader) in batch mode, including recording of current physical locations. Unopened food containers are indicated by a green strap around the package; however, some older Russian food containers may not have a green strap, in which case Bill was to verify that the tape on all sides is intact.]

Valery Ivanovich, a Colonel in the Russian Air Force, set up the biomedical “Pilot” experiment (MBI-15), which requires a table, ankle restraint system and control handles for testing piloting skill in “flying” simulations on a laptop (LT 2) under stopwatch control. He then conducted the experiment for the second time this Increment, supported by tagup with ground specialists. Later, the Pilot-P gear was deactivated, disassembled and stowed. [The test subject performed three flight control modes (fixed, slow and fast free-flyer), each one five times, after checkout and calibration of the control handles. Results were reported to the ground.]

McArthur conducted the weekly audit/inventory of the available CWCs (collapsible water containers) and their contents, to keep track of onboard water supplies. [Updated “cue cards” based on Bill’s water calldowns are sent up every other week. The current cue card lists about two dozen water containers, for the four types of water identified on board: technical water (for Elektron, flushing, hygiene), potable water (~180 liters), condensate water (for processing) and other (Thermal Control System fluid, waste).]

Bill also conducted an inspection of all water-containing CWCs and their condition, to supply MCC-Houston with a full picture of CWC status. [During Increment 11, five leaking CWCs with cracked inlet and outlet fittings were repaired by the crew. Preliminary reports from today’s activity indicate none of the inspected CWCs are leaking.]

The CDR filled out the regular weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), his fifth, which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special MEC software. [On the MEC, the CDR is using his personalized file that reflects the food flown for his Increment. The FFQ records amounts consumed during the past week of such food items as beverages, cereals, grains, eggs, breads, snacks, sweets, fruit, beans, soup, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, chicken, sauces & spreads, and vitamins. IBMP/Moscow (Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian: IMBP – Institute of Medico-Biological Problems) recommended average daily caloric value of the crew’s food intake is 2200-2300 cal. If larger quantities of juices and fruits are taken into account, the value can go to 2400-2500 cal.]

McArthur also powered up the EXPRESS Rack #1 laptop computer (ER1 ELC) and checked it out in preparation for the new RIC (Rack Interface Controller) computer software (Release 4A) for HRF1 (Human Research Facility 1), to be loaded on the ELC next Friday (11/25). [The ER itself is powered up by ground commanding from POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center), after which the crewmember activates the ELC.]

The CDR printed out new uplinked pages for two ODF (Operations Data File) Warning Procedures books and replaced the old pages in the books with the new ones.

Tokarev did the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU) plus the weekly inspection of the air/liquid condensate separator apparatus (BRPK) while McArthur updated/edited the regular IMS delta file, including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS, RED and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer. [Valery’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 4 of the first set).]

Afterwards, Bill transferred 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).

The CDR set up the U.S. video system for playback and then initiated the downlink of the crew’s TVIS exercise footage recorded yesterday. Afterwards, the camcorder was deactivated and stowed.

At ~3:15am EST, the crew downlinked a TV message of congratulation and greetings to the students, faculty and alumni of Baumann Moscow State Technical University (MGTU) on the occasion of the school’s 175th Anniversary. [Named after N.E. Baumann, MGTU is one of the leading and most reputable technical schools in Russia and the entire world. There are many cosmonauts among the school’s alumni.]

At ~12:15pm, the crew used the Sputnik-SM Kenwood D700 amateur radio station in the SM to conduct a 10-min. ham radio session, via a California Telebridge station, with students at Central Park Middle School in Schenectady, NY. [Central Park Middle School is the first NASA Explorer School in New York State. “How did West Point prepare you for becoming an astronaut?”; “Have you been able to witness any of the natural disasters on Earth, such as hurricanes and tornadoes?”]

At ~11:40am, Bill and Valery also conducted their weekly 15-min. teleconference with ISS Program Management at JSC/Houston via S- band/audio.

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 Nile River Delta (trying for a nadir mapping pass of the agricultural areas of the delta from just north of Cairo to Port Said on the Mediterranean end of the Suez Canal), Jornada Basin, New Mexico (this pass offers a near- nadir view of most of this Long Term Ecological Research [LTER] Site in fair weather and early morning light. Using the long lens for a detailed mapping strip from just southeast of El Paso then up the Rio Grande to the Elephant Butte Reservoir), and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (the morning light was rather low, but the weather was expected to be unusually good over this target area for this time of year. Trying for a detailed mapping strip from Jackson Lake to Yellowstone Lake).

To date, over 177,000 of CEO images have been taken in the first five years of the ISS.

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:

  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 12 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-12/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 12 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, 7:37am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 351.9 km
• Apogee height — 357.6 km
• Perigee height — 346.3 km
• Period — 91.58 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008384
• Solar Beta Angle — -66.4 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 66 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 40076

Upcoming Events (all dates Eastern):

• 12/20/05 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry
• 12/21/05 — Progress M-55/20P launch
• 12/23/05 — Progress M-55/20P docking
• 01/09/06 — 100 days for Expedition 12
• 02/06/06 — Russian EVA-15
• 03/22/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S launch
• 03/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S docking
• 04/01/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S undocking & return.

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.

Have a great Thanksgiving Day!