NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 29 December 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.    

With the Elektron deactivated, the Flight Engineer serviced the Russian BMP Harmful Impurities Removal System, starting the “bake-out” cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. Before sleep time today, the bake-out will be terminated.  [Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. The BMP currently still uses the same vacuum vent valve for regeneration as the Elektron (the latter for venting hydrogen). Replacement of the Elektron s external vent valve has been deferred to a later Russian EVA.]

This was the second day for the current renal (kidney) stone experiment session, with Bill and Valery collecting urine samples throughout the day and keeping their dietary/metabolic log entries up to date. Last day of diet logging. [This long-range preventive medicine investigation features daily random ingestion of either potassium citrate or placebo tablets at dinnertime. The NASA-JSC double-blind Renal Stone research study investigates methods to prevent formation of kidney stones in zero-G. Part of the experiment consists in keeping a metabolic diet log (food and fluid intake), followed by collection of urine samples several times per day during each session, which terminates tomorrow morning (12/30).]

Due to unsatisfactory results with the first two Cardiocog (BTC-10) experiment sessions for Tokarev on 10/6 & 10/28, the crew today conducted an equipment test, using a new finger cuff for the Portapres hardware, which measures blood pressure. As the FE conducted the operability checks, CDR McArthur took photo imagery of the activities for ground analysis.  [BTC-10 was planned to be conducted throughout the entire Increment, on the first, 10th, 14th and 24th week of crew stay, but the schedule now has slipped. Originally part of Pedro Duque’s VC5 “Cervantes” science program, CARDIOCOG studies changes in the human cardiovascular system in micro-G, expressed in the peripheral arteries, and the vegetative regulation of arterial blood pressure and heart rate. For the experiment, Valery has to take systolic & diastolic blood pressure measurements and heart rate data manually, using the Tensoplus sphygmomanometer and the Portapres blood pressure equipment, storing the data on the French EGE-2 laptop. The experiment also includes a 5-minute cognitive stress test with a numbers table, with the results called out for recording. Results are later downlinked via Russian BSR telemetry and the EGE2 restored to nominal config.]

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

Working on the SM SOZh plumbing system, Tokarev removed & replaced the gas-liquid mixture filter (FGS) in the powered-down condensate water processor (SRVK-2M) and then also swapped the SRVK-2M s air/liquid separator apparatus (BRPK) with a spare unit.  [The SRVK-2M was subsequently reactivated, and the parts were prepared for disposal on Progress 19. For the filter replacement, the FE also temporarily turned off the SKV air conditioner.]

CDR McArthur conducted the weekly audit/inventory of the available CWCs (collapsible water containers) and their contents, to keep track of onboard water supplies.  [Updated cue cards based on Bill s water calldowns are sent up every other week.]

Working off his voluntary “time available” task list, the FE checked the operation of the Japanese experiment GCF-JAXA (Granada Crystallization Facility) in the ESA MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), including a temperature check on the ART (automatic temperature recorder).  [This monitoring/temp checking is a daily routine task until 4/30 next year.]

Bill McArthur had almost 2 hrs. reserved for conducting U.S. cargo transfer operations from Progress 20, supported by the IMS (Inventory Management System) for reference and log-in.  [20P arrived with a cargo load totaling ~2580 kg (5680 lbs), comprised of 880 kg (1940 lbs) of propellants (fuel/oxidizer) for the Station’s Russian thrusters, 83 kg (183 lbs) of oxygen and air for the ISS atmosphere, 210 kg (463 lbs) of water to augment onboard supplies, plus ~1400 kg (3,100 lbs) of spare parts, repair gear, life support system replaceables (including new U.S. TCCS {Trace Contaminant Control Subassembly} hardware), experiment equipment, and Christmas/New Year presents for the crew.]

Valery worked on the Russian RSK-1 laptop, clearing its hard disk drive (HDD) of old files to make room for saving new photos (in newly created folders for EVA, Earth, Service, Indoor, Uragan, Tokarev, and Capture).

Using oxygen (O2) from Progress 19 storage, the cabin air was refreshed today to maintain ppO2 (oxygen partial pressure) within Flight Rule limits.

Bill and Valery conducted the weekly TVIS routine maintenance with SLD (subject loading devices) contingency configuration, primarily inspecting the condition of the SLDs, SLD cables and SPDs (subject positioning devices), plus recording time & date values.  [While one crewmember pulls out the cables about 10 inches (approximately 80 lbs of load), the other does the inspection. Temperature readings of motor box and electronics box are recorded on a PCMCIA memory card and downloaded to the MEC for subsequent downlink to the ground.]

Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, RED, and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer.  [Valery s daily protocol prescribes a strict four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill in unmotorized mode and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 1 of the first set).]

Afterwards, Bill 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.

Early in the morning, at ~3:50am EST, the crew conducted the traditional live televised New Year’s press conference with Russian news media assembled at TsUP-Moscow.

At ~2:00pm, the crew held their weekly 15-min. teleconference with ISS Program Management at JSC/Houston via S-band/audio.

The crew was congratulated on yesterday s great video for the Russian New Year Grandfather Frost event. It is always enjoyable to see you guys on-orbit.

Corrections: Two activities scheduled (and reported) for yesterday were actually completed by the crew a day earlier (12/27): Locating the CBOSS (Cellular Biotechnology Support Systems) Caddy, which is used for the BCSS-FDI (Biotechnology Cell Science Stowage-Fluid Dynamics Investigation), and the replacement of the Carbon Monoxide (CO) Gas Analyzer (GL2106) fan unit in the DC1 Docking Compartment, which had been diagnosed as failed after a final test on 12/26.

Some new options of the Saturday Science program for Science Officer McArthur were uplinked for his selection.  [The suggestions for 12/31 are CBOSS-FDI on-board training for bubble removal, followed by CBOSS-FDI Tissue Culture Module (TCM) and syringe bubble removal in the MWA (Maintenance Work Area), with video and still imagery.]

Today’s CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo target, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward ( in ram ), was the Coast of India at night (Dynamic event. This was a practice session for night photography of city lights. Looking oblique right as ISS crossed the coast, towards cities on the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers. With the 400 mm lens, overlapping images were requested. This session was in preparation for future night-time photography of the New Orleans region).

To date, over 177,000 of CEO images have been taken in the first five years of the ISS.

  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 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, 6:56am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 348.8 km
• Apogee height — 356.1 km
• Perigee height — 341.5 km
• Period — 91.51 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0010871
• Solar Beta Angle — 23.7 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.73
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 142 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 40642

Upcoming Events (all dates Eastern; tentative):

• 01/09/06 — 100 days for Expedition 12
• 02/02/06 — Russian EVA-15
• 03/03/06 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry
• 03/22/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S launch (Exp. 13 + Marcus Pontes/Brazil)
• 03/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S docking (DC1)
• 04/01/06 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S undocking & return (Exp. 12 + Marcus Pontes)
• 04/06/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S relocation (DC1 to FGB nadir port)
• 04/09/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking & reentry
• 04/10/06 — Progress M-56/21P launch
• 04/12/06 — Progress M-56/21P docking
• 06/28/06 — Progress M-57/22P launch
• 06/30/06 — Progress M-57/22P docking
• 09/12/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking & reentry
• 09/13/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch
• 09/15/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking
• 09/23/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking & reentry
• 09/28/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S relocation (DC1 to FGB nadir port)
• 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.