Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 26 Jan 2004

By SpaceRef Editor

January 26, 2004

Filed under ISS, ISS On-orbit status, NASA HQ, US

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 26 Jan 2004 — iss

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Underway: Week 14 for Increment 8.

FE Alexander Kaleri performed scheduled IFM (in-flight maintenance) on the Service Module (SM)’s condensate water processor (SRV-K2M) by removing and replacing its water-conditioning unit (BK BKV). [The SRV-K2M converts collected condensate into drinking water and dispenses the reclaimed water (warm and hot) for drinking and preparation of food and beverages.]

CDR/SO Michael Foale conducted a checkout of the audio headsets.

Kaleri ended the long-range performance test of SM battery #8 by using the multimeter “Elektronika MMTs-01” instrument to measure voltage downstream of the battery between contacts and pins, reporting the measured voltage to MCC-M/TsUP.

Later, Alex Kaleri, assisted by his crewmate, removed no-longer-needed electronic equipment from the Progress 12P cargo ship, first disconnecting the BITS 2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system and turning off its monitoring mode, then removing the US-21 matching unit in its container box. [The matching unit and associated commutator gear provided the electronic interface between the SM and the Progress for SM computer control of the Progress thrusters. It will be returned to Earth and recycled on a future Progress.]

Kaleri and Foale then installed the SSVP docking mechanism in the hatchway between the 12P and the SM aft end. [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 DC-1.]

Sasha performed the periodic inspection of the Elektron oxygen generator’s VM gas/liquid separator system (GZhS) for obstructing air bubbles. [The necessary activation/deactivation of the transfer unit (BP), for Sasha to watch for bubbles during BP operation, was executed via KRL command radio link.]

Foale set up the EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students) hardware in the SM (because of Lab window unavailability), making connections to the Russian 28V power supply and an SSC (station support computer) laptop. [EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students) is using a Kodak ESC 460C electronic still camera, now powered by 16Vdc from a 28 Vdc adapter. EK takes pictures by remote operation from the ground, without crew interaction. It is available for students who submit image requests and conduct geographic research. The requests are uplinked in a camera control file to an IBM 760XD SSC laptop which then activates the camera at specified times and receives the digital images from the camera’s storage card on its hard drive, for subsequent downlink via OPS LAN.]

Preparatory to the upcoming Progress 13P docking, Alex Kaleri conducted a test of the TORU teleoperator control system between the SM and the docked Progress 12P. Progress thrusters (DPO) were inhibited and not involved. [TORU is the manual mode through which Kaleri can perform necessary guidance functions from the SM in the event of a failure of the “Kurs” automated rendezvous and docking (AR&D) of the Progress. He would control the cargo ship’s motions from a control panel, viewing the approach to the ISS via the Klest-M television camera mounted on the Progress. Remote TORU control from the ground is not available.]

Foale performed the weekly and monthly TVIS treadmill maintenance/inspection.

Mike signed in and performed his third session with the psychological MedOps WinSCAT (Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool) experiment. [This is a time-constrained questionnaire test of cognitive abilities, routinely performed by astronauts aboard the ISS every 30 days before or after the PHS (periodic health status) test or on special CDR’s, crewmember’s or flight surgeon’s request.]

Kaleri conducted the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh life support system, and prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file for automatic export/import to update the database.

The crew received thanks from the ground for yesterday’s successful closing-out of the Airlock (A/L) panel near the VRA (vent relief assembly).

Both crews worked out according to their regular daily physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill and CEVIS cycle (aerobic), VELO ergometer with force loader and RED exerciser (anaerobic).

Today’s optional CEO (crew earth observations) targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, except for the shutter closure and condensation-prevention plan (limited to 90 min. in 24 hours), wereMekong River Delta (nadir pass. Land use change in the delta is of interest as Vietnam converts to a market economy),Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam(nadir pass), Patagonian Glaciers (reasonable lighting still available on this pass. Nadir views of glacier tongues requested),Navassa Island, Caribbean(administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, this 2 sq mi limestone atoll lies between Haiti and Jamaica [and, strategically, 90 mi south of Guantanamo Bay]), andBahamas(the detail of coral reefs allows estimations of reef productivity. 400 mm lens views are critical [800 mm-lens even more useful] for the mapping effort).

CEO images can be viewed at the websites.

See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at