NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 25 January 2005

SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2004) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Day 105 of Expedition 10. Today was a “half-duty” day in view of tomorrow’s EVA load.

After waking up at the usual 1:00am EST, the crew got an early sleep, starting at 9:00am. Getup tonight will be at 5:30pm for a 20-hr day to include the EVA-12 spacewalk. [This stay-awake period is in violation of a Flight Rule (B13-103), which limits the time to 18 hrs. However, for two-man operations, Orlan EVAs and Soyuz landing this rule cannot realistically be implemented in real time and as such is not appropriate for the Flight Rules document. Crew workday and wake/sleep scheduling constraints are fully documented in the ISS Execute Planning Groundrules and Constraints. In addition, regarding EVA 12/13 and Soyuz 9 landing day, surgeons on both sides are reassured that the current crew is “physically strong, adequately rested, and emotionally motivated enough to proceed with completion of their mission”, including EVA 12/13 and 9 Soyuz landing day, despite the lengthy duty days associated with critical operations.]

EVA-12 preparations and systems reconfigurations proceeded nominally, both onboard and on the ground. U.S. & Russian EVA support teams report ready to conduct the spacewalk.

On the Russian BIORISK-MSN experiment, to be taken outside tomorrow, Salizhan Sharipov opened “breathing” vents on the three containers to allow exhausting to vacuum.

Earlier, after crew wake-up, all pre-EVA activities proceeded smoothly and on schedule, starting out with CDR/SO Chiao and FE Sharipov undergoing another MO-9 urine biochemistry test. [A second session with the Urolux equipment will be conducted by both crewmembers immediately after the EVA. The CDR then stows the gear.]

Meanwhile, final ground-commanded and crew-assisted station preps for unmanned mode and EVA ops were underway. [These included contingency telemetry downlink tests, shell heater ops, S-band setup, and ITCS configuration to dual-loop operations mode so that one string of USOS critical avionics systems are on one cooling loop and the secondary avionics string is on the other cooling loop. This provides redundancy in the event of an ITCS loop failure.]

The crew tagged up with TsUP specialists for a final review of the timeline and procedures. [Hatch opening is now scheduled for 2:22am EST, hatch closing at ~7:46am, for a total EVA duration of 5 hrs 24 min. Objectives of the spacewalk are: Installation of the transferable Universal Work Platform (URM-D) with baseplate (FP-20) on Service Module (SM) Working Compartment (RO), installation of a robotic device on URM-D, transfer of MPAC&SEED hardware panel #3 to the location of panel #2, installation of a TM/TS device in place of the MPAC&SEED panel #3, routing of a cable to connect the TM/TS device between the FP30 and FP3 baseplates, routing a cable to connect the robotic device between the FP2 and FP20 baseplates, installation of the BIORISK-MSN payload on the DC1, and Inspection and photography of gas vent nozzle extenders of the Elektron-VM (Zl 204), Vozdukh (SVM 15), and BMP (SVM 39).]

CDR Chiao prepared cabin systems for the isolation of the Russian segment (RS) from the U.S. segment (USOS) during the EVA, by transferring SODF (Systems Operations Data File) items and the CCPK (Crew Contamination Protection Kit) from the USOS to the SM. [SODF items include hardcopies of the SODF Warning book, POC book and Medical Checklist, as well as portions of the CD library.]

Station preparations by Leroy for the spacewalk also included:

• * Configuring the EPS (electrical power system) as required for USOS/RS module isolation for EVA (verifying that all U.S. GLAs (general luminaire assemblies) manual rack power switches, except for the failed ones, are in the On position and lights illuminated;this provides for ground control of the lights and the racks, and it also provides for the rack automatic software response to an ISS emergency fire event),
• * Reconnecting the UOP (utility outlet panel) bypass power cable at both Lab and Cupola RWS DCPs (display & control panels); and
• * Setting up two Sony PD100 camcorders in the Lab & Node for situational awareness during the spacewalk.

Other tasks preparatory to the EVA, worked by Salizhan, included

• * Equipping both Orlans (in pocket on left calf) with a “Pille-MKS” radiation sensor. [Two sensors, A0309 &A0310, were removed from their exposure locations in the RS after recording their dose measurements; a third, A0307, was placed in the SM for background readings. Also, tomorrow when donning his gear, Sharipov will place his ID-3 personal dosimeter, normally worn on the flight suit, into the chest pocket in his Orlans lining (near the DIDB) and later return it to the flight suit.], and
• * Refilling the U.S. DIDBs (disposable in-suit drink bags) with water and reinstalling them in the Orlans.

The crew deactivated the Elektron O2 generator, to stay off until 1/27. The onboard oxygen levels are near the upper limits to provide for crew metabolic demands until the Elektron is turned back on after the EVA.

A new list of “Saturday Science” options for Dr. Chiao was uplinked. [The options are BCSS-FDI TCM (Biotechnology Cell Science Stowage – Fluid Dynamics Investigation/Tissue Culture Module) and syringe bubble removal (2 hrs.), and FMVM (Fluid Merging Viscosity Measurement), for ~3.5 hrs.]

The FE once more broke out the “Urolux” equipment, setting it up for the Russian PZE MO-9 biochemical urine test tomorrow, a standard requirement before and after Orlan-suited activities. [The MO-9 analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus Urolux developed originally for the Mir program.]

Sharipov also performed the routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, including ASU toilet facilities.

At ~6:30am, CDR Chiao completed partial hatch closure (isolation) between the RS and the USOS. [Hatches were closed between Lab & Node (2), Node strbd & Airlock, and Node & PMA-1. The remaining hatches will be closed tomorrow prior to the EVA. Between the USOS modules, the IMV (Intermodule Ventilation) valves are open and the MPEVs (Manual Pressure Equalization Valves) are closed to support equalization of module pressures. This configuration provides the ground with module isolation control if necessary and supports the automatic software response to an ISS emergency depressurization event.]

Yesterday, the ground performed an S-band String 1 test. This test involved powering up the String 1 ORUs (orbit replaceable units) and commanding them as the active S-band string. String 1 operated nominally for approximately 30 minutes before String 2 was commanded as the active string.

Upcoming Key Events:

• * EVA-12 — 1/26/05 (DC1 isolation, suited ingress & start depress 00:48am EST, EVA1 hatch opening 2:22am);
• * Progress 16P undocking & destructive reentry — 2/27/05;
• * Progress 17P launch — 2/28/05.
• * EVA-13 — 3/25/05;
• * Soyuz 10 S launch — 4/15/05;
• * Soyuz 9S undock — 4/25/05 (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS).

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.

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.