NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 27 February 2006

SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2006) 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 21 for Expedition 12.

FE Valery Tokarev completed Part 1 of his 4th onboard “Profilaktika” (MBI-8, “Countermeasures”) preventive health maintenance fitness test series, starting with the VELO stationary cycle ergometer. [Valery will do two additional parts of the test, one with the NS-1 Load Trainer tomorrow, the other with the TVIS treadmill on 2/29. Test procedure for MBI-8 is identical to the Russian MO-5 assessment, but in addition to the nominal procedure it uses the TEEM-100M gas analyzer with breathing mask and a subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test. The lactate blood test was done twice at the end of the session, using the ACCUSPORT analyzer and REFLOTRON-4 accessories. Results were entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data were transferred to the Laptop 3, also on a tape cassette (Cardiocassette-2000), and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm. Results were also called down to specialists standing by at TsUP.]

Afterwards, with Tokarev assisting as CMO (Crew Medical Officer), CDR/SO William McArthur completed another session of the general U.S. MedOps Periodic Fitness Evaluation (PFE), a monthly 1.5-hr. procedure that checks up on blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) during programmed exercise on the CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) in the Lab. Readings were taken with the BP/ECG (blood pressure/electrocardiograph) and the HRM (heart rate monitor) watch with its radio transmitter. [BP/ECG provides automated noninvasive systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements while also monitoring and displaying accurate heart rates on a continual basis at rest and during exercise.]

It was time again for the Flight Engineer to change out the PCMCIA memory card in the ALC laptop of the ESA/RSC-Energia experiment ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS), currently located in the SM, and to dump the spectrometer data for subsequent downlink via the OCA comm system. [ALTCRISS uses the ACT spectrometer employed by VC8 guest cosmonaut Roberto Vittori earlier this year in the DC1 for the Italian LAZIO (Low Altitude Zone/Ionization Observatory) experiment. Progress 20 delivered a new Nomex shielding belt, containing polyethylene bricks and two new dosimeters in a dedicated pocket. The shields were installed yesterday around the ACT.]

McArthur worked on the TCCS (Trace Contaminant Control Subsystem) in the Lab AR (Atmosphere Revitalization) Rack, removing and replacing its sorbent bed assembly in order to increase airflow rate through the system. Measurements were to be taken after the R&R. [During TCCS troubleshooting last year (10/31 & 11/1) Bill and Valery had removed each major component of the TCCS and recorded flow measurements taken at the PAR (Process Air Return) duct inside the AR (Air Revitalization) rack that proved to be much lower than original PAR readings. Data also indicated increased flow resistance in the catalytic oxidizer bed and sorbent bed, with debris found between the two assemblies. The new sorbent bed is expected to decrease the flow resistance to a more acceptable level.]

The CDR completed the clean-out and preparation of the ZSRs (Zero-G Stowage Racks) and the overhead ER1 (EXPRESS Rack 1) for receiving pre-pack bags for ULF-1.1/STS-121 and, in the case of ER1, for a new payload delivered by ULF-1.1. He also had time reserved for starting hardware prepacking hardware. [The ZSRs are to be returned to Earth Their cleanout essentially consisted of relocating items currently stowed there per uplinked instructions table while the ground was keeping track of the moves in the IMS (Inventory Management System).]

Tokarev continued the new round of monthly preventive maintenance on Russian segment (RS) air ventilation systems, today changing out the Service Module (SM)’s four dust filter cartridges (PF1-4) and discarding the old units.

Valery also conducted an audit/inventory of the air duct sections currently in place between Progress 19 at the SM aft end docking port and the SM Transfer Compartment (PrK), to ensure that all necessary duct sections are in place before the scheduled relocation of Soyuz TMA-7/11S from the FGB nadir port to the SM aft end after 19P’s departure later this week (3/3). The task was supported by ground specialist tagup.

The CDR ran another periodic atmospheric status check for ppO2 (Partial Pressure Oxygen) and ppCO2 (pp Carbon Dioxide), using the CSA-O2 (Compound Specific Analyzer-Oxygen Sensor).

The FE performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), and including its toilet system (ASU), and updated/edited the standard IMS “delta file” for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the CEVIS cycle ergometer, RED resistive exerciser and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer, Valery today on the VELO cycle as part of his MBI-8 assessment, Bill on CEVIS (for PFE) and RED.

Afterwards, the CDR transferred the exercise data files to the MEC for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data of the workouts on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

Working off his discretionary “time available” task list, Tokarev completed his regular checkup on the Japanese experiment GCF-JAXA (Granada Crystallization Facility) in the Russian TBU incubator, maintained at 20 degC, including a temperature check on its ART (automatic temperature recorder). [This daily monitoring/temp checking, carried on the Russian voluntary “time available” task list, will continue until 4/30.]

A second discretionary task on the Russian work list for Valery was the daily status check of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment and water tank recharge. [Rasteniya researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-8 greenhouse. The regular maintenance of the experiment (each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) involves monitoring of seedling growth, humidity measurements, moistening of the substrate if necessary, topping off the water tank if ~20-25% of the total amount (4 liters) remains, and photo/video recording. Once weekly, data from the Lada greenhouse control unit are recorded on floppy disk for weekly downlink via REGUL-Packet or the new BSR-TM at a suitable occasion.]

With the Elektron remaining off until its reactivation on 3/1 (Wednesday), the crew is being supplied oxygen (O2) from Progress 19 storage.

During crew sleep last Saturday night (~5:29pm EST), RPC-5 (Remote Power Controller 5) in RPCM (RPC Module) LA1B_F in the Lab tripped. Analysis of dumped data indicated that the trip was not caused by an overcurrent but by a FET (field effect transistor) Hybrid failure. [The RPC, currently stuck open (closing is inhibited), controls a valve for ITCS LTL (Internal Thermal Control System Low Temperature Loop) flow in the U.S. Airlock (CCAA/Common Cabin Air Assembly and SPCU IFHX/Service & Performance Checkout Unit Interface Heat Exchanger). There is a good spare unit available on orbit.]

Yesterday’s vacuum purging of 19P’s propellant transfer lines was successfully completed. [The standard vacuum purging of the fuel (ZUG) and oxidizer (ZUO) lines is commanded by prestored (time-tagged) commands of the automated onboard sequencing program (SPP), to vent prop residuals in the plumbing between Progress and SM into space. Fuel purge (unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine, UDMH) and oxidizer purge (nitrogen tetroxide, N2O4 each takes about 15 minutes.]

No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked today.

To date, more than 186,000 of CEO images have been taken in the first five years of the ISS, almost one third of the total number of images taken from orbit by astronauts.

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:

• http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/CEO.html
• 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 12 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-12/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 12 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 Orbit (as of this morning, 6:54am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 347.8 km
• Apogee height — 353.3 km
• Perigee height — 342.3 km
• Period — 91.49 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008144
• Solar Beta Angle — 32.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 90 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 41587

Events Ahead (all dates Eastern & tentative):

• 03/03/06 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry (mnvr. to LVLH XVV after undock)
• 03/06/06 — Repair of MCA in US segment
• 03/10/06 — ISS reboost (by SM thrusters; mnvr. back to XPOP after burn)
• 03/16/06 — Airlock Campout SDTO (overnight)
• 03/20/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (FGB nadir port to SM aft-end port)
• 03/30/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S launch (Pavel Vinogradov/Russia, Jeffrey Williams/US, Marcos Pontes/Brazil)
• 04/01/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S docking (FGB nadir port; mnvr. to LVLH XVV after dock)
• 04/09/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S undocking (4:15pm EDT) & land (7:40pm); (mnvr. to XPOP after undock)
• 04/18/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S relocation (FGB nadir port to DC1)
• 04/24/06 — Progress M-56/21P launch
• 04/26/06 — Progress M-56/21P docking (SM aft end port)
• 05/03/06 — ULF1.1 launch (NET, not earlier than)
• 06/15/06 — U.S. EVA (under review)
• 06/19/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking & reentry
• 06/28/06 — Progress M-57/22P launch
• 06/30/06 — Progress M-57/22P docking
• 07/01/06 — 12A launch (under review)
• 08/01/06 — Russian EVA-16 (under review)
• 09/12/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking & reentry
• 09/14/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch
• 09/16/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking (FGB nadir port)
• 09/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking & reentry
• 09/28/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S relocation (FGB nadir port to DC1)
• 10/18/06 — Progress M-58/23P launch
• 10/20/06 — Progress M-58/23P docking
• 12/19/06 — Progress M-57/22P undocking & reentry
• 12/20/06 — Progress M-59/24P launch
• 12/22/06 — Progress M-59/24P docking

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.