NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 25 October 2004
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. Underway: Week 1 of Increment 10.
After the hectic days of handover and change-of-command, the new station crew CDR/SO Leroy Chiao & FE Salizhan Sharipov has a welcome rest day, mostly used for adapting to the new life in zero-G and familiarization with their new residence in orbit and its multitude of complex systems and their interfaces.
After performing a communications check between the ISS Wiener laptop and the Matryoshka server (BSPN) via broadband Ethernet, Sharipov transferred new accumulated Matryoshka measurement tables from BSPN via Wiener laptop to a PCMCIA memory card (using a program called ShellForKE) for subsequent downlink on U.S. OCA comm. [Matryoshka automatically takes radiation measurements in the 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.]
Salizhan also performed the daily routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh life support system, including the weekly inspection of the BRPK air/liquid condensate separator apparatus.
Both crewmembers completed their daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill, RED exerciser and VELO cycle with load trainer. [TsUP/Moscow uplinked the standard restrictions recommended for Sharipov in workouts with the NS-1 load trainer, whose use is limited by ISS structural constraints. Prescribed are medium speed (0.33 Hz, one full motion in three seconds) and fast speed (not to exceed 0.5 Hz, one full motion in two seconds), with medium tempo allowed for simulated rowing and bending/straightening at the waist plus trunk flexing exercises, and fast tempo for simulated hammer throw and lower arm flexing/extending.]
Chiao performed the regular transfer of exercise data files from the TVIS to the medical equipment computer (MEC) for subsequent downlink.
To ensure accurate readings from the MCA (major constituent analyzer), used as primary device for monitoring oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the cabin air, the ground commanded another full calibration of the analyzer, which Leroy supported by opening the manual oxygen valve (HV O2) before the calibration and closing it after it ~3 hrs later.
Working off the crew-discretionary Russian task list, Sharipov conducted the periodic inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment which researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-5 greenhouse.
The FE also completed a new task list item by conducting a run of the Uragan earth-imaging program, using the Kodak 760 DSC (digital still camera) with 800mm-lens. [Today’s task featured imagery of the Andes in Peru with the world’s largest volcanoes, all ice-topped, particularly the Huascaran Volcano, and “typical and noteworthy” views depicting the state of the natural environment.]
At ~9:00am EDT, the ground initiated the long-scheduled P6 battery reconditioning on the 4B solar array’s battery charge/discharge unit #2 (BCDU 4B2) that will continue for about a week to improve battery performance and assess battery health. There are no crew actions associated with this activity. [Crew intervention would be required for off-nominal events such as power channel loss or BGA (beta gimbal assembly) motor stall during an LOS (loss-of-signal, no-comm) period. During the reconditioning, BCDU 4B2 will be offline and the 4B power channel will be supported in eclipse (darkness periods) by the other two BCDUs. With one BCDU offline, channel 4B power levels will be limited to a max of 9.5 kW (normally limited to 12.2 kW). Solar arrays will be in autotrack.]
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Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
Since its operation is not required for a crew of two, the CDRA (carbon dioxide removal assembly) in the U.S. Lab has been deactivated.
Elektron Status : After the successful testing of the repaired Elektron machine since 10/19 over its entire range of ampère (= output performance) settings, the IMMT (ISS Mission Management Team) this morning decided unanimously to start 24-hr operations for the O2 generator. Ground testing for a new software patch for auto shutdown is in work.
Update on Soyuz TMA-5 docking anomaly : The special Commission investigating the TMA-5/9S prox ops anomaly delivered its report today. According to Moscow, it has determined that one of the two forward-pointing DPO approach & attitude control thrusters on manifold 1 (specifically, #18) failed by working only intermittently (“blinking off and on”). This resulted in less range rate reduction (braking) than predicted. The onboard Kurs-A algorithm did not recognize this as a failure. But it was seen on the ground, and flight control immediately decided to switch between automatic and manual. The two newly installed thrusters (#27, #28) of backup manifold 2 worked fine. The docking was completed by Sharipov manually. [Of the 16 large DPO translational thrusters of the KDU combined propulsion system, all mounted on the outside of the instrument/propulsion compartment AO (agregatnyj otsek ) in the rear, the four forward-facing thrusters #17, #18, #27, #28 are located on the frame of the transition compartment (PkhO) to effect braking impulse. Along with the other translational thrusters, they are positioned to fire approximately through the vehicle’s center of gravity, so failure of #18, opposite to #17, would not rotate the vehicle sidewise.]
Sleeptime begins at the regular 5:30pm.
Weekly Science Update (Expedition Nine/Ten — 26th):
GASMAP: The first on-orbit Routine health check will occur on Wednesday, 10/27. The team looks forward to working with the Expedition 10 crew.
Human Research Facility/Workstation (HRF WS): Continuing.
Advanced Ultrasound (ADUM): Nothing new.
Hand Posture Analyzer (HPA: Nothing new.
In-Space Soldering Investigation (ISSE): Nothing new.
Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI): Nothing new.
Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS): SAMS went down end of last week.
Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS): MAMS monitoring of the low-frequency acceleration environment of the space station continues. MAMS HiRAP is active and monitored Soyuz 8S un-docking.
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): Planned.
Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-3 (BCAT-3): Complete.
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): In planning.
Yeast Group Activation Packs (Yeast GAP): Nothing new.
Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students (EarthKAM): The Lab window is back in order, UCSD is ready and the Middle School students are anxious “to wear-out the camera” beginning tomorrow, 10/26. This will be the first of two EarthKAM runs with the Inc-10 crew.
Earth Science Toward Exploration Research (ESTER): Nothing new.
Serial Network Flow Monitor (SNFM): All 10 of the planned Increment 9 SNFM runs have been completed.
Fluid Merging Viscosity Measurement (FMVM): Planned.
Viscous Liquid Foam–Bulk Metallic Glass (Foam): Nothing new.
BIOPSY (Effects of Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle): 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): The total CEO images that were received from Expedition 9 have reached 21,203. A striking image of Mount St. Helens acquired on 10/13 has been published on the Earth Observatory website last weekend. Although only minor steam plumes were visible at the time, this view provides an excellent synoptic view from above of the current state of the volcano as well as most features created by the 1980 eruption.
CEO images can be viewed at these websites:
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at:
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.
Expedition 9 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.
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ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 10:48am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 360.0 km
- Apogee height — 365.7 km
- Perigee height — 354.3 km
- Period — 91.74 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0008525
- Solar Beta Angle — -1.0 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.69
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 100 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 33880
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.
