NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 25 December 2004

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(Supplementary)

Progress 16P (#351) has docked flawlessly at the Service Module aft port at 6:58pm EST.

The entire process of fully automated rendezvous, closure, final approach and capture, followed by closing of “soft” hooks and “hard” latches, went without issues. For the actual docking, TsUP in a late realtime decision reversed its timeline, going back to the originally planned docking above Russian ground sites in sunlight, thus regaining the advantage of live TV downlink from the Progress’ black/white Klest camera (which also provided a picture of the ISS to Sharipov via his VKU monitor in the SM) as well as realtime telemetry reception.

The uncrewed cargo ship approached from forward, starboard and nadir for the period from 1 km into the beginning of flyaround at 6:09pm, for 7 min, followed by 32 min of station keeping at 160 m. Final approach began at 6:50am from the stern. Russia’s Santa has arrived OK with 2.5 tons of Christmas cargo.

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Merry Christmas! (Non-Blackberry users, see below…)

Progress 16P continues closing in for rendezvous, with docking set for this evening at ~6:31pm EST. [In the event of a failure of the “Kurs” AR&D (automated rendezvous and docking) system, Sharipov can perform necessary guidance functions of the Progress from the Service Module (SM) with the manual TORU system via two hand controllers, attempting manual docking until no later than ~7:20pm. Kurs-A (on 16P, turned on ~4:55pm) and Kurs-P (on SM, turned on ~4:57pm) will confer and “compare notes” at ~5:28pm; Klest TV camera & floodlight are turned on at 8 km (~5:50pm) and three successive braking burns lead into flyaround mode (400 m), stationkeeping (170 m, ~6:09pm), and final approach (~6:22pm). Docking will be on Daily Orbit 2, four minutes past local sunset. For visibility, SM external lights will be turned on (4:55pm) besides Progress’ floodlight, and SM, FGB and P6 truss solar arrays will be feathered shortly before proximity approach for protection against thruster plume contamination.]

After wake-up at a shifted 5:00am EST, the crew started the day’s duty schedule with the once-every-two-weeks teleconference with ISS Program Management at JSC/Houston via S-band/audio at ~7:10am.

Leroy Chiao completed the regular weekly maintenance reboot on the operational PCS (portable computer system) laptops and the restart of the OCA comm router laptop (every two weeks).

Afterwards, the CDR also took CO2 (carbon dioxide) partial pressure measurements in the SM and Lab using the U.S. CDMK (CO2 monitor kit), for calldown to MCC-Houston (along with the battery status) for use in trending analyses. [Air sampling will also be conducted in the Progress cargo ship tomorrow after hatch opening, before installation of the air duct assembly.]

Salizhan Sharipov completed the daily routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh/ECLSS life support system (including replacement of ASU toilet facility inserts).

The crew performed their regular daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS, RED exerciser, CEVIS cycle and the VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer. [Salizhan’s daily protocol prescribes a 1.5-hr structured set on the treadmill and one hour on VELO (today: Day 2 of a new set).]

Working off the Russian task list, the FE transferred new accumulated Matryoshka data tables from the BSPN Matryoshka server via the ISS Wiener laptop to a PCMCIA flash card for subsequent downlink on OCA comm, to clean out the BSPN folder. [Matryoshka automatically takes measurements in the Service Module (SM) and DC-1 docking compartment for studies of on-orbit radiation and long-term dose accumulation, using six SPD dosimeters deployed throughout the Russian segment as well as in a spherical body-simulating Matryoshka-R phantom and a human torso model outside on the SM hull, mounted there during EVA-9 on 2/27/04.]

At ~2:50pm, Leroy had his Christmas PFC (private family conference) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/NetMeeting video.

Later today, at ~4:50pm, the CDR will activate and configure the SSC (station support computer) A31p laptop in the SM, which will support the TV comm coverage of the docking from the Russian segment via US assets, with downlink to MCC-H.

Afterwards, Sharipov will ready the TORU system to be on “hot standby” for action, and at ~5:25pm, the crew will configure the rest of the communications setup.

At 4:27pm, ISS will maneuver from the current LVLH/XVV to the desired docking attitude and go into free drift at 6:31pm for the actual linkup. Afterwards, at 6:51pm, attitude will be changed to XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane).

16P approach and docking in darkness will be closely monitored by the crew until contact. The linkup, if necessary, can be re-attempted manually with TORU control until 7:20pm (and then one orbit later). Following contact and hooks closure, the crew will return all systems to pre-dock configuration, tearing down the special TV comm setup.

After the standard waiting period overnight, leak checks of the Progress-to-SM tunnel/vestibule will be performed tomorrow, followed by hatch opening, screw clamps installation, air sampling and air vent duct installation.

Update on food resupply: 16P carries sufficient food, both US and Russian, for 112 days (covering 67 days at a nominal consumption rate and 45 days of food at a skip cycle consumption rate of 0.8 rations/day). [These calculations assume two US entrees per day per crewmember, not including breakfast meats, appetizers (e.g., shrimp cocktail) or vegetarian entrees (e.g., tofu products). The Russian food compliment is still being worked. After 16P arrival, there are 67 days until 17P arrives (3/2/05). Skip Cycle Food will be separately located/identified such that the crew will notify the ground before use. The crew should not open these containers until all other food has been consumed. A detailed unpack plan will indicate specifically which 12 US containers should be clearly marked as skip cycle. The Russian side was asked to identify a similar quantity of Russian food to be set aside.]

Weekly Science Update (Expedition Ten — 9th): The crew received cordial Christmas thanks from the POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center) for their excellent work in support of onboard science research.

GASMAP: Nothing new.

Human Research Facility/Workstation (HRF WS): Continuing.

Advanced Ultrasound (ADUM): Nothing new.

Hand Posture Analyzer (HPA: Nothing new.

In-Space Soldering Investigation (ISSI): Nothing new.

Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI): Nothing new.

Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS): SAMS continues collecting numerous channels of acceleration data that serve toward characterization of the dynamic vibratory environment on the ISS.

Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS): Thanks to Leroy for the MAMS filter cleaning.

Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System (PCG-STES): Nothing new.

Protein Crystal Growth Monitoring by Digital Holographic Microscope (PromISS): Nothing new.

Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions (InSPACE): Nothing new.

Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-3 (BCAT-3): Nothing new.

Renal Stone (RS): Nothing new.

Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SHERES): Nothing new.

Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight (FOOT): Nothing new.

Materials ISS Experiment (MISSE): In progress. Deployed outside on the U.S. Airlock. Nominal and collecting data.

Cellular Biotechnology Support Systems-Fluid Dynamics Investigation (CBOSS-FDI): Nothing new.

Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (BSTC): Nothing new.

Yeast Group Activation Packs (Yeast GAP): Nothing new.

Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students (EarthKAM): Nothing new.

Earth Science Toward Exploration Research (ESTER): Nothing new.

Serial Network Flow Monitor (SNFM): Leroy was thanked for the “valiant effort” to load SNFM on ER1 (EXPRESS Rack 1). Since two CD-ROMs were not recognized by the laptop, the ground suspects a CD-ROM drive failure. A report has been generated and troubleshooting is in work.

Fluid Merging Viscosity Measurement (FMVM): Nothing new.

Viscous Liquid Foam–Bulk Metallic Glass (Foam): Nothing new.

Effects of Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle (BIOPSY): Nothing new.

Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures-2 (CSLM-2): Planned.

Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA): Nothing new.

Miscible Fluids in Microgravity (MFMG): Nothing new.

Educational Payload Operations (EPO): Nothing new.

Capillary Flow Experiment (CFE): Nothing new.

Crew Earth Observations (CEO): In addition to the publication of an “incredible” image of Howland Island published this weekend, next weekend an ISS CEO image of the Libya oil fire plume among the sand dunes will be published on NASA’s Earth Observatory website. It is a striking image with high contrasts.

No CEO targets for today. The last day for CEO target uplinks was yesterday until after the New Year.

CEO images can be viewed at these 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 9 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-10/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Upcoming Key Events: (all times EST)

• Progress 16P (all times EST):
• Kurs-A/P system acquisition: 12/25, ~5:28pm;
• Video link activation (at ~8 km): ~5:50pm;
• Flyaround start (at ~400 m): 6:09pm;
• Stationkeeping (at ~170m, in darkness): 6:19pm;
• Final approach start (in darkness): 6:22pm;
• Docking contact: 6:31pm.
• Local sunrise: 7:03pm;
• Hatch opening — 12/26, 1:10pm.

Other Key Events:

• EVA-12 — 1/25/05;
• Progress 16P undocking & destructive reentry — 2/27/05;
• Progress 17P launch — 2/28/05.
• EVA-13 — 3/25/05;
• Soyuz 9S undock — 4/25/05 (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS).

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 11:33am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 353.7 km
• Apogee height — 356.3 km
• Perigee height — 351.2 km
• Period — 91.61 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0003821
• Solar Beta Angle — 3.3 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 100 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 34840

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.