NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 24 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. 

The crew’s sleep/work schedule remains shifted 6 hrs. to the right, with wakeup at 8:00am EDT, sleep time at 11:30pm, in preparation for next week’s late-night EVA-16.

Currently, CDR Pavel Vinogradov and FE/SO Jeffrey Williams are continuing initial preparations for the Russian-controlled spacewalk on 6/1 (Thursday), finishing up hardware collecting started yesterday and then working on their Orlan spacesuits, service equipment and personal gear for life support, communications, etc.

Earlier today, crew activities first focused on gathering, laying out and readying the replaceable components (OTA) and auxiliary gear for their particular Orlan “skafandr” suits.   [Orlan ORUs include LiOH canisters (LP-9), portable primary & backup oxygen tanks (BK-3), moisture collectors, feedwater filters (FOR), CO2 measuring unit (IK) filter, filtration & separation/degassing units (BOS), and 825M1 storage batteries (after they have been freshly charged).  Personal gear includes the KVO liquid cooling garment, ShL-10 comm cap, GP-10K gloves, BK-10 thermal comfort undergarment, socks, etc.]

Later today, the crew will activate and inspect Orlan suits #25 and #26. Preparations also deal with removing the U.S. EHIP (Extravehicular Mobility Unit Helmet Interchangeable Portable) light assembly from Orlan-M #27 and installing it instead on #26, then checking out the EHIP already mounted on Orlan #25.  

In the DC1 Docking Compartment’s ZU-S battery charger, Pavel will terminate the recharging of the first Orlan 825M3 28V-battery packs and start the process on the second pack.   [The charging takes from 18 to 23 hours.]

The crew has an hour scheduled for installing the docking mechanism (SSVP) in the hatchway between Progress-355/20P and the DC1.  Before the 6/1 spacewalk, the hatches will also be closed, to allow remote-controlled undocking of the cargo ship, should it be required for in case of an offnominal EVA event.   [The SSVP is the “classic” probe-and-cone type, consisting of an active docking assembly (ASA) with a probe (SSh), which fits into the cone (SK) on the passive docking assembly (PSA).  The ASA is mounted on the Progress’ cargo module (GrO), while the PSA sits on the docking ports of the SM, FGB and DC1.]

FE/SO Williams will perform the daily routine maintenance of the Service Module (SM)’s environment control & life support system (SOZh).  On the toilet system (ASU), Jeffrey is to replace the toilet’s urine receptacle (MP) and filter insert (F-V), stowing the old units for disposal.

Jeff will also update/edit the standard IMS (Inventory Management System) “delta file”, including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Later tonight, CDR Vinogradov is scheduled to configure the Russian Laptop 3 for receiving downloaded raw data from upcoming testing of the ASN satellite navigation system by TsUP/Moscow, required for the arrival of the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) “Jules Verne” next year.

Another task for Williams is the 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.]

Afterwards, Jeff conducts his 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).

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 CEVIS cycle ergometer, 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 1 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 ~7:45pm EDT, Williams is expected to hold a PFC (private family conference) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting video.

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.

Yesterday’s capacity test on the freshly reconditioned P6 solar arrays battery set 4B3 was successful.  Preliminary analysis indicates 72.4 Amp-hrs capacity for the 4B3 set, as opposed to 69.9 Amp-hrs before the reconditioning.  This morning at 3:00am EDT the procedure was started on battery set 4B2.   [Capacity tests determine the amount of storage capacity retained since the battery reconditioning was performed.]

In order to characterize some sensor data drift exhibited by so-called Pirani Gauge transducers (PGT) of the Lab’s Vacuum Exhaust System (VES), the VES vent valve has been opened by ground command and will remain open except for a monthly cycling to ensure valve operation.   [Once the sensor drift is fully understood, a software subroutine (=prepositioned load, PPL) will be developed to allow proper operation of the system that provides vacuum access to Lab experiments requiring it.  There are still two seals to vacuum in the system, and the VES vent valve will close automatically if a rapid depress is detected or a station mode transition occurs.]

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in ram), were Tin Bider Impact Crater (Tin Bider impact crater is 6 km in diameter and located in Algeria.  Looking for circular structure and drainage features), Internal waves, Azores, Atlantic (weather may have allowed an opportunity to capture internal wave features.  Looking right of track [W-ward] of the descending pass for the sun glitter point), Tenoumer Impact Crater (this is a very young [<1 million years] simple [<4 km diameter] impact crater.  However, the crew should have been able to distinguish this circular feature in the desert as they were able to distinguish Meteor crater in Arizona), Baltimore Ecosystem, Maryland (this was the first of the Long Term Ecological Research Sites [LTER] for this day.  Dry air has permeated through this region of the east coast and should allow for documentation of land cover and land use change.  Detailed mapping of this area is highly desirable), Virginia Coast Reserve, Virginia (this was the second of the LTER sites for today.  Again, investigators want detailed imagery of the land cover and land use change in this region), Shortgrass Steppe, Colorado (the target of Short Grass Site encompasses a large portion of the Colorado Piedmont Section of the western Great Plains. The extent is defined as the boundaries of the Central Plains Experimental Range [CPER], which is managed by the Agricultural Research Service [ARS], and the Pawnee National Grassland [PNG], which is managed by the US Forest Service.  Expansion into the PNG has allowed investigators to explore the biotic interactions of the SGS ecosystem across a range of climatic, geologic, topographic and land use conditions), Pinacates Biosphere Site, N Mexico (the Pinacates Biosphere site in northern Mexico is a unique site, the name is derived from "pinacatl", the Aztec name for the desert stink beetle, which is common in the region.  Documenting the numerous cinder cones and lava flows), and Central-Arizona Phoenix (the Central Arizona - Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research [CAP LTER] is one among a network of 24 LTER projects funded by the National Science Foundation [NSF] to monitor and assess long-term ecological change in diverse ecosystems in the United States.  Specific research topics are: Interactions of ecological and socio-economic systems in an urban environment; influence of land use change on ecological patterns and processes; movement of nutrients through highly manipulated, urban flowpaths; interactions of introduced and native species in urban environment; millennium- and century-scale geomorphic change in landforms and interaction with engineered landscapes).

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, 7:07am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 343.0 km
• Apogee height — 349.0 km
• Perigee height — 337.0 km
• Period — 91.40 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008962
• Solar Beta Angle — -27.9 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.75
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 82 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 42942

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.