NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 3 May 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.

FE/SO Williams worked on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer), upgrading it from the old IBM 760XD model (#6050) to a new ThinkPad A31p platform, including installation of new software from CD disks (formerly yellow-tagged but now fully flight-certified), followed by a checkout.

CDR Vinogradov performed similar software upgrading on Russian A31p laptop RS1, by first switching the Service Module (SM) primary computer system to KTsP2 (Central Post Computer #2), then swapping the RS3 laptop at work site 1 with RS1 and installing the new software version 12.01 on RS1 from CD. After testing of the load with the support of ground specialists via S-band tagup, KTsP1 was transitioned back to prime mode.

The FE conducted an inspection of CWCs (collapsible water containers) for small and large cracks around their inlet and outlet fittings. CWC #1027, which the crew recently found leaking, was replaced with #1057, after its careful inspection. [CWC #1057 was manifested on STS-114/LF-1, with small cracks on the fittings. These cracks have been known to propagate over time, even if the container has never been used before on-orbit, as is the case for #1057. CWC #1027 will be returned on STS-121/ULF1.1.]

Afterwards, Williams continued the current round of the monthly preventive maintenance of Russian segment (RS) air ventilation systems (SOTR) by finishing the cleaning of Group B & C ventilation fans in the SM, including a checkout of the ventilators and a thorough cleaning of fan screens and flexible air ducts.

To monitor air circulation with Progress M-56/21P attached, Pavel Vinogradov installed IP-1 air flow transducers (sensors) near the two hatches of the Progress-to-SM transfer tunnel (PrK).

Jeff worked on the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), preparing it with its video equipment (monitors and multipurpose arms) plus touchpad for tomorrow’s scheduled activation and first PFMI (Pore Formation & Mobility Investigation) ops session.

Pavel had an hour set aside to work on a new Russian experiment, CULT, concerned with filling out a “cultural” questionnaire. Ground specialists were available to tag up via S-band as necessary.

The FE performed the routine daily maintenance of the environment control & life support system (SOZh) in the SM, including ASU toilet facility systems, and 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).

Jeff also conducted the daily atmospheric status check for ppO2 (Partial Pressure Oxygen) and ppCO2 (pp Carbon Dioxide), using the CSA-CP (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products), CSA-O2 (CSA-Oxygen Sensor) and CDMK (CO2 Monitoring Kit).

In the SM, Williams set up the video equipment for filming his and Vinogradov’s subsequent workout on the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation & Stabilization) treadmill, for biomechanical evaluation of the individual crewmembers and assessment of the hardware status by ground engineers. Later today the video equipment will be dismantled and stowed. [Preparations included the removal of the treadmill’s “skirt” to show TVIS motion within the floor “pit” in the SM along with the crewmember’s feet striking the belt.]

Both crewmembers worked out in their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the TVIS treadmill (FE, CDR), RED resistive exerciser (FE) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR). [Pavel Vinogradov’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 4 of the first set).]

Afterwards, Jeff 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).

The CDR still had the roll-over task to search for “missing” Russian equipment items on his discretionary “time available” task list (which now includes locating a DVD disk required for an upcoming task on the A31p laptop RS1).

Starting on 5/1 and running through 5/4, TsUP/Moscow has several amateur radio sessions scheduled for Pavel Vladimirovich (Call Name R3K/0) with radio amateurs in Anadyr/Siberia (known to “insiders” for its blue-eyed Siberian Huskies).

The second part of the periodic P6 solar array battery capacity tests, started yesterday on battery set 2B1, was terminated earlier than planned, due to lack of comm coverage (which prevented acquisition of sufficient data to analyze test results). Battery set 2B1 was put back online in nominal configuration. [NiH (nickel hydrogen) batteries can develop and display memory loss resulting in a temporary loss of capacity that can periodically be erased by fully discharging and charging cells (reconditioning). The battery state of charge (SOC) reported in telemetry does not include the effect of this reduced capacity. Reconditioning was performed on all P6 Battery sets starting in Oct. 2004 through Dec. 2005. In the current round, reconditioning of the first set, 2B2, was successfully finished on 4/12. These tests are necessary to improve battery health and to determine the amount of amp hour capacity retained since the reconditioning was performed.]

At ~5:45am EDT, ISS attitude control was handed over to the Russian SUD motion control system (MCS), followed by a small thruster-effected maneuver to the test attitude required for conducting today’s SM and FGB solar array efficiency testing. The test itself took ~6.5 hrs, and ISS maneuvered back to XPOP TEA (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane/torque equilibrium attitude) at 12:00pm, followed by control handover to the U.S. CMGs (control moment gyroscopes) at ~12:15pm. [The periodic efficiency testing keeps track of the energy-output performance of the Russian segment (RS) photovoltaics over time under the degrading effects of the space environment (mostly from ultraviolet radiation and atomic oxygen). Since the test requires the full power output of the solar arrays and the FGB itself does not have sufficient loads for drawing it, the U.S. side usually increases U.S. loads via RACU 6 (Russian-to-American Converter Unit #6) up to 1200 Watts, ramping up and later down in steps of ~200 W each two minutes by judicious switching of Node heaters. U.S. and Russian power specialists then compare power draws seen by MCC-H and TsUP. This helps to check the calibration coefficients for RACU power draw values necessary to accurately coordinate Russian-to-US power transfer. Official results will be available in a couple of weeks. The procedure has been used seven times before (4/3/03, 11/11/03, 3/5/04, 6/16/04, 10/31/04, 8/7/05, and (as a test repeat) 12/8/05.)]

Tomorrow’s ISS reboost, primarily to set up orbit phasing for 22P launch, will be conducted at 7:29:34am EDT (slight time change) with the Progress M-56/21P rendezvous & docking thrusters (burn duration: 6min 31s; delta-V: 1.6 m/s; mean altitude gain: 2.8 km). [According to a recent TsUP announcement, the test run with the SM engines on 4/20 failed when an external antenna, intended for comm with the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) “Jules Verne”, blocked the thermal (sun) cover of one of the engines from opening fully.]

As announced yesterday by NASA, Expedition 14, the next ISS crew, will consist of Michael Lopez-Alegria (CDR/SO), Mikhail Tyurin (Soyuz-CDR/FE), and Sunita Williams (FE). Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin will launch on Soyuz 13S on or about 9/14 this year, and Williams will join Expedition 14 in progress, arriving on STS-116. Backup crew: Peggy Whitson (CDR), Yuri Malenchenko (Soyuz-CDR/FE), Clay Anderson (FE),

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, 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), were Internal waves, South China Sea-S (looking left of track after crossing Sumatra for possible internal waves until ISS passed Hainan Island off the southern China coast), Internal waves, South China Sea-N (looking for possible internal waves left of track and towards the Vietnamese coast until ISS passed Hainan Island off the southern China coast), Irrawaddy River Delta, Burma (the Irrawaddy river delta and surrounding area was recently hit by Cyclone Mala. Looking along the eastern part of the delta and river for signs of flooding), Lake Nasser, Toshka Lakes, Egypt (although weather satellites show that clouds should be clearing out of this area, there may still have been some residual clouds. Documenting lake levels in the Toshka Lakes as recent imagery shows the levels to be declining), and Internal waves, Eastern & Western Florida coasts (looking along the western coast of Florida for possible internal waves).

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, 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), were Ganges River Delta (this fair-weather pass in good light was over the western edge of this target area. Trying for oblique mapping views for context of this large, complex delta, looking right of track), and Talemzane Impact Crater (this feature is less than 2km in diameter. However it is fairly distinct and circular. Looking for context views just to the left of track).

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 13 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-13/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 13 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, 7:28am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 342.1 km
• Apogee height — 347.9 km
• Perigee height — 336.3 km
• Period — 91.38 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008624
• Solar Beta Angle — 22.5 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 97 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 42611

Significant Events Ahead (all dates subject to change):

• 05/04/06 — ISS reboost (7:29am EDT; Progress 21 thrusters, delta-V 1.6 m/s.)
• 05/20/06 — Progress M-56/21P loading complete; hatches closed
• 06/01-08/06 — Russian EVA-16 (planning window)
• 06/17/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 06/18/06 — Progress M-57/22P launch
• 06/20/06 — Progress M-57/22P docking (DC1)
• 07/01/06 — NET STS-121/ULF1.1 launch
• 07/03-11/06 – NET STS-121/ULF1.1 docked mission w/ISS
• 07/??/06 — US EVA-5
• 08/28/07 — NET STS-115/12A launch
• 08/30-09/06 — NET STS-115/12A docked mission w/ISS
• 09/13/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking (SM aft port) & reentry
• 09/14/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch (Expedition 14 + VC11)
• 09/16/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking (SM aft port)
• 09/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking (FGB nadir port) & reentry
• 09/??/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S relocation (SM aft port to FGB nadir port)
• 10/18/06 — Progress M-58/23P launch
• 10/20/06 — Progress M-58/23P docking (SM aft port)
• 11/??/06 — Russian EVA-17
• 12/14/06 — NET STS-116/12A.1 launch
• 12/16-23/06 — NET STS-116/12A.1 docked mission w/ISS
• 12/19/06 — Progress M-57/22P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 12/20/06 — Progress M-59/24P launch
• 12/22/06 — Progress M-59/24P docking (DC1)
• 01/22/07 — US EVA-6
• 01/26/07 — US EVA-7
• 01/31/07 — US EVA-8
• 02/06/07 — Progress M-59/24P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 02/07/07 — Progress M-60/25P launch
• 02/09/07 — Progress M-60/25P docking (DC1)
• 02/22/07 — NET STS-117/13A launch
• 02/24-03/03/07 — NET STS-117/13A docked mission w/ISS
• 03/08/07 — Progress M-58/23P undocking (SM aft port) & reentry
• 03/09/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S launch (Expedition 15 + VC12)
• 03/11/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S docking (SM aft port)
• 03/19/07 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S undocking (FGB nadir port)
• 03/22/07 — NET STS-117/13A launch
• ??/??/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S relocation (SM aft port to FGB nadir port)
• 06/11/07 — NET STS-118/13A.1.

(NET = no earlier than)

 
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.