NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 24 April 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 3 of Increment 13.

Progress M-356 (21P) launched flawlessly on time at 12:03pm EDT from Baikonur/Kazakhstan, when the ISS, after passing directly overhead, was leading by a phase angle of ~145 degrees.  After normal separation of the first, second and third stage of the Soyuz-U rocket, antennas and solar arrays deployed nominally at orbit insertion (12:12pm).  With that, the new cargo ship, of ~7200 kg mass including ~2500 kg of cargo, is on its way to rendezvous with ISS.  Docking is on 4/26 (~1:40pm EDT) at the Service Module (SM) aft end.     [At orbit insertion, Progress unfolded two solar arrays, four Kurs antennas, one TORU/Rassvet-M antenna and one telemetry antenna.  Later, the docking probe (SSh) was extended, followed by a 6-min long self-test of both subsets of the Kurs-A MCS (motion control system) including the Klest TV system.  Two major orbit adjustment burns of 5 min duration each will be executed later today, DV1 (29.08 m/s) at 3:38pm EDT and DV2 (19.87 m/s) at 4:29pm.  DV3 (2 m/s) is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Progress Kurs-A activation and self-test on Wednesday.  As Kurs-A and Kurs-P (on SM) confer and “compare notes”, Klest TV camera & floodlight are turned on at 8 km (2:16pm).  Three successive braking burns lead into flyaround mode (400 m), stationkeeping (160 m), and final approach.   After the two-day “chaser” flight, 21P will dock at the SM aft port at ~1:40pm. Its 2.5 tons of cargo includes supplies for the ISS crew (food, batteries, office supplies, and clothes), water, oxygen, air, experiments, and new spares.]

FE/SO Jeff Williams completed the carefully prepared removal & replacement (R&R) of RPCM (Remote Power Controller Module) LA1B-H RPC-3, successfully finishing the work well ahead of time.   [The job was considerably more involved than usual due to the fact that the TeSS (Temporary Sleep Station) rack in the Lab had to be removed for access and significant switchovers and power-downs (i.e., all loads powered from DDCU LA1B and the DDCU converter itself) were required to safe the RPCM for removal.  All systems are now being powered up and restored by the ground in their original configuration.  A number of preparatory tasks were already done by Jeff yesterday as get-aheads, including setting up the worksite and unbolting the TeSS, requiring him to sleep in the US Airlock instead.  Today, the TeSS was moved out of the way and the IWIS (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System) accelerometer removed from behind it, as planned, since it was no longer providing valid data.  In addition, Williams inspected and photographed an SPDA (Secondary Power Distribution Assembly) cable and other power equipment to help with ground troubleshooting of previous power system anomalies not related to the failed RPCM.  Williams will probably be able to put the TeSS back in place in time for tonight’s sleep.]

CDR Pavel Vinogradov supported TsUP-Moscow in powering down the Elektron oxygen (O2) generator and performing the standard safety purge with nitrogen (N2) on its BZh-8 liquid unit.  The shutdown was in preparation for the subsequent regeneration of the BMP trace impurities removal system, which temporarily shares the same vacuum exhaust valve as the Elektron.   [During the Elektron’s downtime, onboard ppO2 (partial pressure O2) is being maintained at nominal levels by refreshes from Progress 20 storage.]

Afterwards, Vinogradov serviced the BMP, starting the periodic “bake-out” cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system.  Before sleep time today, the bake-out will be terminated.  Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. [Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods.]

FE/SO Williams verified the closure of the Lab science window shutters for protection from Progress 21P thrusters.

The CDR continued the current round of the monthly preventive maintenance of Russian segment (RS) ventilation systems, first working in the Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok (FGB), cleaning the mesh screens of the FGB’s central ventilation fans (TsV1 & TsV2), with the fans running (in earlier years they were first turned off by the ground).  He also cleaned the detachable fan screens 1, 2, and 3 of the three SOTR (thermal control system) gas-liquid heat exchangers (GZhT4), as well as the fixed grill of GZhT #4.

In the “Pirs” DC1 Docking Compartment, Pavel cleaned the air ducts and protective mesh screens of the VD1 & VD2 ventilator fans.

Jeff performed the standard weekly maintenance on the TVIS treadmill in the SM, primarily checking the condition of the SPDs (Subject Positioning Devices) and recording time & date values.

Both crewmembers worked 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 first set).]

Afterwards, Williams 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 RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

Pavel completed the regular processing of condensate water (KAV) for the Elektron oxygen generator, using the electric condensate pumping unit (BPK) of the Russian water processing system (SRV-K2) behind SM wall panels and US-collected water in CWC (collapsible water container) #1027.   [The CDR found #1027 to be leaking; this had not been observed during last week’s CWC audit.  As such, the flight rules allowed this CWC to be processed.]

Vinogradov performed the routine daily maintenance of the SOZh environment control & life support system in the SM, including ASU toilet system facilities, and he also updated/edited the standard IMS (Inventory Management System) “delta file” for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Williams completed 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).

The CDR prepared for a three-day activity with the Russian MO-21 experiment, today setting up the ECOSFERA equipment for the microbial air sampling run called for by the MedOps SZM-MO-21 experiment, charging the Ecosphere power pack (BP), and activating the Cryogem-03 thermostat-controlled container at +37 degC.   [The equipment, consisting of an air sampler set, a charger, power supply unit, and incubation tray for Petri dishes, determines microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.]

Vinogradov also had an hour set aside to conduct a search for “missing” cables of the Russian TVS television system, supported by ground specialist tagup to discuss possible “hiding” places.

ESA today announced the imminent roll-out and delivery of the finished European Columbus laboratory, to be observed with a formal ceremony on 5/2 (Tuesday) at EADS Space Transportation in Bremen, Germany.  The event will be attended by German chancellor Angela Merkel.   [Columbus will be shipped to KSC at the end of May, from where it will be flown on the Shuttle to the ISS in the second half of 2007.]

No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today.

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, 7:14am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 342.8 km
• Apogee height — 349.0 km
• Perigee height — 336.6 km
• Period — 91.39 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0009219
• Solar Beta Angle — 60.7 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 70 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 42469

Significant Events Ahead (all dates subject to change):

• 04/26/06 — Progress M-56/21P docking (1:40pm EDT; SM aft port)
• 05/20/06 — Progress M-56/21P loading complete; hatches closed
• 06/01-08/06 — Russian EVA-16 (planning window)
• 06/17/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 06/18/06 — Progress M-57/22P launch
• 06/20/06 — 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://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.