NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 28 June 2005

SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2005) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.

The crew started the work day with another drill to hone their skill at observing and photographing the Orbiter Discovery during the pre-dock RPM (R-Bar Pitch Maneuver). [During the RPM at ~600 ft from the station, the two crewmembers will have ~90 sec for taking high-resolution digital photographs of all tile areas and door seals, to be downlinked for launch debris assessment. The crew will be wearing headsets on extension cables for communicating during the maneuver. Today’s skills training had Phillips use the 400mm lens and Krikalev the 800mm lens, shooting out of Service Module (SM) windows 6 & 8 facing the FGB. While practicing switching between autofocus and manual focus (to simulate autofocus failure), they used the coast of Africa as test target, with overlapping images. The crew also imaged the Soyuz CRV, docked at the DC-1, with both lenses from windows 6, 7 and 8.]

CDR Krikalev continued his extensive outfitting work to install & test the PCE (Proximity Communications Equipment) hardware of the ASN-M satellite navigation system for the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) “Jules Verne”, scheduled to arrive at the ISS next year. The work was supported by specialist tagup via S-band. [Today’s tasks dealt with installation of a PCE Z0000 electronics “monoblock” for the space-to-space radio (MBRL) and connecting it to the intricate onboard cable network (BKS), including the antenna feeder system, and lastly to the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry system.]

The first activation and test of the MBRL from the newly installed ATV/BRTK control panel (PU) was added to Sergei’s “time available” task list for today, at his choice.

In further SM outfitting, the CDR also installed two new electronic blocks (Signal Recovery Devices, UVS-871) for the Russian telephone/telegraph subsystem (STTS) behind wall panels, supported by specialist tagup via headset/extension cable from the FGB. After reconfiguring nominal MBS (intermodule) comm between the Russian (RS) and US (USOS) segments, a checkout for volume level was to follow. [This task was postponed from 6/3 when the UVS devices could not be located in time. Sergei found them on 6/14. The “Voskhod-M” STTS enables telephone communications between the SM, FGB, DC1 Docking Compartment and USOS, and also with users on the ground over VHF channels selected by an operator at an SM comm panel, via STTS antennas on the SM’s outside. There are six comm panels in the SM with pushbuttons for accessing any of three audio channels, plus an intercom channel. Other modes of the STTS include telegraphy (Teletype), EVA voice, emergency alarms, Packet/Email, and TORU docking support.]

FE Phillips performed troubleshooting on the CBCS (centerline berthing camera system) Ku-band power supply. [Objective: to isolate the location of the cause of the high current event that tripped the RPC-17 (Remote Power Controller #167) upstream of the Node’s UOP-2 (Utility Outlet Panel #2). After the initial finding that the trip was caused by an overcurrent, UOP-2 was repowered and its power switch cycled on/off ten times without a RPC trip. Today’s troubleshooting was to focus on the power supply and CBCS hardware. CBCS will be required for the MPLM (Multipurpose Logistics Module) Raffaello linkup at the Node.]

In Lab “Destiny”, Phillips powered up the HRF GASMAP (Human Research Facility/Gas Analyzer System for Metabolic Analysis Physiology) and its laptop for the regular functional checkout of the GASMAP system, which is a little more comprehensive than the session performed by John on 5/17. The checkout included the analyzer vacuum and tank pressure. Later in the day, the equipment was turned off again. [After unstowing, cabling and powering up the gear, John let it run for several hours in standby mode to warm up, then performed the health check and reconfigured the system for a ~6 hr low power rundown prior to shutdown. Afterwards, GASMAP was deactivated with its HRF PC and the collected files added to the downlink package.]

In preparation for tomorrow’s planned new FOOT (Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight) data collection session, his third, the Science Officer set up the necessary equipment and readied the experiment for the initial electromyography calibration exercises (EMG, =electric muscle currents recording) which will precede the data collection period.

The FE had another hour reserved for prepacking & consolidating RS cargo in the USOS in preparation for LF-1 unpacking and stowage as well as a “get-ahead” for the ULF1.1/STS-121 mission in September.

John also completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh) and prepared the regular IMS (Inventory Management System) “delta” file for export/import to the IMS databases.

Both crewmembers conducted their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, RED resistive machine and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer. [Sergei’s daily protocol prescribes a strict four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 4 of a new set).]

Afterwards, the FE transferred the exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) 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).

In preparation for Robotics/SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) pre-LF1 operations scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday, Phillips connected the UOP DCP (utility outlet panel/display & control panel) bypass power cable at the Lab RWS (Robotics Work Station). [After reviewing the latest version of the laptop-based DOUG application (Dynamic Operational Ubiquitous Graphics), the crew will conduct the requisite LF-1 pre-launch checkout of the MSS (Mobile Service System) which plays a crucial part in the LF-1 docked mission. The checkout (C/O) has been divided into three parts with the ground performing C/O activities around the crew ops. Two parts will be performed tomorrow (6/29), and the third on 6/30. Part 1 will be to maneuver the SSRMS from the MBS PDGF-3 (Mobile Base System Power & Data Grapple Fixture #3) pre-grapple position to grapple MBS PDGF-1. Part 2 of the C/O involves releasing the Lab PDGF with the other end of the inchworm-like arm and backing off the grapple fixture to a pre-grapple position, followed by a checkout of the Cupola RWS. In Part 3, John will regrapple the Lab PDGF, perform a base change, release MBS PDGF-1 and maneuver the SSRMS to the orbiter docking viewing position for LF-1 arrival, very similar to the LF-1 Flight Day 5 (FD5) operations.]

At ~11:15am EDT, Phillips and Krikalev supported a 10-min televised PAO interview via Ku-band & S-band with KNTV-TV in San Jose, CA (Jonas Tichenor).

Yesterday, the U.S. Airlock CCAA (A/L Common Cabin Air Assembly) was activated when the Lab CCAA showed indications that it may start collecting condensate. Activation was nominal, and the crew was asked to move any equipment stowed in front of the CCAA inlets.

Also yesterday, the crew completed the SDTO (Station Detailed Test Objective) of installing and testing the “Clarissa” application. [Clarissa, developed at NASA Ames, studies the use of a spoken dialogue system to navigate and read procedures to determine how effective such speech-based systems are in the ISS environment. The system allows crewmembers to concentrate on a task with their hands and eyes, while the procedure is read and navigated step by step by voice commands. Clarissa also has a graphical user interface, which is much like the MPV (Manual Procedures Viewer) or paper procedure. It is anticipated that the Clarissa system will allow a single crewmember, instead of several, to carry out a complicated procedure.]

Tomorrow the ISS will perform a translational reboost maneuver using Progress 18 propulsion, to optimize the upcoming LF-1/STS-114 launch window opportunities. The burn, at 4:18pm EDT, will last approximately 5m 8s for a delta-V of 1.3 m/s and altitude increase of 2.3 km (1.2 nm). [The maneuver will optimize the STS-114 launch season to allow for FD3 launch opportunities on July 13, July 15 and July 17 through 31. July 14 and 16 are the only two days within the July launch season that are not optimized for FD3 docking opportunities using this burn plan.]

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were S Congo (Dynamic event. Good visibility is occurring over the usually cloudy Congo basin. Few images of the area exist in the handheld images database. A left-of-track mapping pass was requested from the cloud line southwards for ~90 sec), and Orange River mouth, Namibia (Dynamic event. Winter stratus cloud has cleared from the coast, allowing the Orange R. mouth to be viewed, just right of track. The Orange has no visible delta even though it is southern Africa’s main river (starting near the east coast and flowing to the west coast). Extensive diamond workings can be seen stretching along the coast north and south of the mouth. The small Roter Kamm impact crater (2.5 km diameter) appears inland from the coastline right under track. It is pristine because it is only 5 million years old.

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 11 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-11/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 11 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, 7:56am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 349.9 km
• Apogee height — 352.5 km
• Perigee height — 347.3 km
• Period — 91.54 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0003894
• Solar Beta Angle — 68.7 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.73
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 35
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 37746

Some Increment 11 Main Events (not final):

• Reboost — 6/29 (4:18pm, delta-V 1.3 m/s);
• LF-1/STS-114 launch — 7/13 (18-day window opens);
• LF-1/STS-114 dock — 7/15 (adding 110,713 kg to ISS mass);
• LF-1/STS-114 undock — 7/23;
• Soyuz TMA-6/10S relocate (from DC-1 to FGB) — ~8/16;
• Progress M-54/19P launch – TBD;
• Progress M-53/18P undock — TBD;
• ULF1.1/STS-121 launch — NET 9/9 (launch window opens);
• ULF1.1/STS-121 dock — 9/11;
• ULF1.1/STS-121 undock — 9/19;
• Soyuz TMA-7/11S launch — 9/27;
• Soyuz TMA-7/11S dock — 9/29;
• 12A/STS-115 launch — NET 2/16/06;
• Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocate (from DC-1 to FGB) — ~10/15;
• 12A.1/STS-116 launch — NET 4/23/06;
• 13A/STS-117 launch — NET 7/13/06.

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.