NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 27 December 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 10 of Increment 10.
Crew wake-up this morning was shifted back to 2:00am EST. Final shift to the regular 1:00am will occur tomorrow.
CDR/SO Chiao and FE Sharipov performed the regular weekly 3-hr. task of thorough station cleaning. [“Uborka”, delayed from last Saturday because of the holiday, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, wet cleaning of the Service Module (SM) dining table and other surfaces with “Fungistat” disinfectant and cleaning fan screens to avoid temperature rises.]
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Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
As next step toward establishing full access to the Progress M-51/16P cargo ship, the crew this morning disassembled the docking & internal transfer system (SSVP) in the hatchway between 16P and the SM aft end, then removed and dismantled the probe-and-cone docking mechanism (StM) to clear the passage for the ensuing transfer operations, planned for the remainder of this week. [The StM 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’ GrO cargo module, while the PSA sits on the docking ports of the SM, FGB and DC-1.]
Next step, scheduled for tomorrow, will be the installation of a recycled electronics box containing the US-21 matching unit, a 50-min. task, followed by an electrical test to be performed by TsUP/Moscow. [The US-21 matching unit connects the SM with the Progress motion control and DPO thrusters systems, so that they can be commanded by the SM computer system (BVS).
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Progress Cargo Vehicle Procedures According to the introduction to these documents “this book is intended for performing cargo transfer operations in Progress and on stowing equipment in SM and Progress.” These documents contain diagrams and detailed procedures for the transfer of times from the Progress Vehicle currently docked with the ISS. |
As final step, on 12/29 (Wednesday) TsUP will conduct the standard dynamic testing of the US-21 via a hot firing of Progress thrusters, to conclude the full integration of the Progress into the ISS systems.
In the SM, 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. [This had been on the Russian task list last week and was “hard” scheduled for today. The Matryoshka payload 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. Note: Matryoshka is the name for the traditional Russian set of nestling dolls.]
Sharipov completed the routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh life support system (including replacement of ASU toilet facility inserts).
Also in the SM, Salizhan performed the periodic calibration check of the IK0501 gas analyzer (GA) via its IG-3 oxygen (O2) gas analyzer. [IK0501 is an automated system for measuring CO2, O2, and H2O in the air, as well as the flow rate of the gas being analyzed.]
Preparatory to their extensive cargo transfer operations ahead, the crew conducted a teleconference with off-loading specialists at TsUP via S-band to discuss an uplinked list of steps detailing cargo item descriptions, quantities, and recommended ISS stowage locations. The updates were incorporated in the RODF (Russian Operations Data File) document.
The crew was provided with a comprehensive overview/listing of 16P payload/experiment hazards. [As of 12/21, seven payloads had completed PSRP (Payload Safety Review Panel) approval, while three payloads, with certification activity ongoing, remained to be approved. Payload safety reviewers distinguish between standard hazards and unique hazards, in the two categories of Biosafety and Toxicity. There are four defined Biosafety levels, 1 thru 4 (of which levels 3 & 4 are not permitted on board), and five Toxicity levels, zero to 4. Before experiments are approved for operation, they must be carefully reviewed and certified by teams of payloads safety experts and the PSRP.]
Chiao and Sharipov performed their daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill, RED exerciser and VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer. Salizhan’s daily protocol currently prescribes a 1.5-hr structured set on the TVIS (today: Day 4 of a new set) and one hour on VELO.
Leroy then transferred the daily TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.
Working off the Russian task list, Salizhan was to perform another hardware functionality check on the Russian EKON experiment, using Laptop TP2. This was a repetition of a previous check on 12/8, troubleshooting an anomaly that arose on 11/28. [EKON (KPT-3) is an experiment by the Russian Environmental Protection Services, which uses the Nikon D1 camera for observation and imaging of selected ground targets.]
At ~7:55am, Chiao set up the SM’s Kenwood D-700 amateur radio equipment and at 8:05am engaged in a ham radio exchange with students at 92o Grupo de Escoteiro Caio Viana Martins in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. [This educational institution is supported by the Boy Scout’s organization of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Many of its activities are related to science (astronomy), technology (aeronautics) and ham radio. Students are 8-18 years old.]
The Elektron O2 generator in the SM has been turned on again and is running normally.
The station continues to fly in sun-pointing XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane) attitude, until shortly before the 12/29 16P thruster testing (see above). Bias setting of the P6 solar array wings (for drag reduction) was configured today to 44 deg for BGA (Beta gimbal assembly) 2B and -44 deg for BGA 4B.
Update on USOS docking video downlink anomaly: An investigation is underway at MCC-H to determine the root cause of the failed Klest TV image downlink from the A31p laptop via US Ku-band assets before the docking. As a consequence, the latter was delayed by 27 minutes. [On the “plus”-side: since Progress station keeping has never been done before in Earth’s shadow for that long, the event provided Russian specialists at RSC-Energia with the bonus of significant new “lessons learned” experience.]
Sleep time tonight will be at 5:30pm.
There will be no “Saturday Science” activities on New Year’s Day. The next opportunity, should the Science Officer elect to use it, will be 1/8.
No CEO targets for today. The next CEO target uplinks are planned for after the New Year.
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:
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.
Upcoming Key Events:
- ISS reboost (delta-V: 4 m/s) — 1/15/05;
- EVA-12 — 1/26/05 (Eastern)
- Progress 16P undocking & destructive reentry — 2/27/05;
- Progress 17P launch — 2/28/05.
- EVA-13 — 3/25/05;
- Soyuz 10S launch — 4/15/05;
- Soyuz 9S undock — 4/25/05 (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS).
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ISS Location NOW |
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:32am EST [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 353.4 km
- Apogee height — 356.0 km
- Perigee height — 350.8 km
- Period — 91.61 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.000385
- Solar Beta Angle — 11.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 158 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 34868
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.
