NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 31 August 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.
After wake-up, morning hygiene and breakfast, CDR Krikalev worked in the Progress-353/18P vehicle, dismantling the Kurs-A rendezvous & approach radar system of its motion control & navigation system (SUDN) and removing it from the transport drone, a three-hour job. These valuable components will be returned to Earth on the Shuttle for reuse. [KURS-A is the active half of the Russian space program’s proven S-band radar system for automated flight, which measures relative motion parameters between Progress (or Soyuz) and the ISS during rendezvous operations, to enable the autopilot’s calculation of corrective impulses. The system s passive transponder counterpart (KURS-P) is on the Service Module (SM), with one antenna each at the tip of the two solar array wings.]
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FE/SO Phillips meanwhile gathered and prepared U.S. equipment and trash identified for discarding in 18P. [A list of about 40 items for disposal was uplinked overnight, along with instructions for packing and IMS (Inventory Management System) identification. A few items were also identified for removal from disposal status and retaining on board due to incomplete safety paperwork, possible refurbishment & reuse, etc. An additional 30 min. will be scheduled next week right before undocking to allow John to finish gathering any items not collected today or not yet available for trash.]
Later in the day, both crewmembers worked on 18P transfer/loading and IMS operations, getting the Progress ready for its undocking next week (9/7).
Krikalev used the Russian MO-21 Ecosfera air sampler & incubation equipment for another check on the station s sanitary-hygiene status by conducting another 40-min. microbial analysis (T+7 days) on the air samples collected on 8/24 and incubated since then in the MO-21 equipment. [MO-21 determines microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.]
The CDR also took air data with the new GANK-4M (Real-Time Harmful Contaminant Gas Analyzer) system of the SM pressure control & atmospheric monitoring system (SOGS).
The FE collected the periodic reading of the cabin air’s current CO2 concentrations in the SM and Lab, using the U.S. CDMK (Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Kit, #1013), for calldown, along with its battery status, for use in trending analyses.
Sergei Krikalev set up the equipment for his third Russian MBI-8 “Profilaktika” (countermeasures) fitness test and ran through a refresher course with the VELO stationary bike ergometer for using the TEEM-100M gas analyzer and the Cardiocassette-2000 unit, supported by tagup with ground specialists. [There will be two more tests, one with the NS-1 Load Trainer tomorrow, the other with the TVIS treadmill on 9/2. Test procedure is identical to the Russian MO-5 assessment, but in addition to the nominal procedure, it calls for the use of the TEEM-100M gas analyzer, measurement of the lactate level in the subject s blood with the AccuSport device, and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test. Results are entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data are transferred to Laptop 3, also on a tape cassette (Cardiocassette-2000), and prepared for later downlink via OCA or Regul-Packet comm. The lactate levels were called down to specialists standing by at TsUP.]
John Phillips held a 15-min. teleconference with ground specialists on the PCS (Portable Computer System) hard disk ghosting (= loading with software image) activities on three A31p laptops (plus a spare HDD) scheduled for tomorrow and Friday. [This work is in preparation of the upcoming transition of the onboard PCS laptops to the new R9 software version and the step-up from IBM 760XD laptops to the faster ThinkPad A31p NGL (Next Generation Laptop) platforms. The actual transition is tentatively planned for 9/14, and the 760XDs will continue to be used until that time. Resolution of current A31p laptop display issues may impact these plans.]
Afterwards, John completed the regular weekly maintenance reboot on the operational PCS laptops and the bi-monthly restart of the OCA comm router SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop.
Phillips connected the UOP DCP (utility outlet panel/display & control panel) bypass power cable at the Lab RWS (robotics work station) in support of the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) activity scheduled for tomorrow morning. [During tomorrow s maneuver, he will drive the wrist pitch and yaw joints to configure the arm, currently positioned to view the FPP (Floating Potential Probe) with its tip camera, to avoid contamination of the tip LEE (Latching End Effector) during Progress 18 undocking and 19P docking. The maneuver will also verify a new software patch that allows for the Joint OCAS (operator commanded auto sequence) target angles to be displayed on the ground (MCC-H).]
John performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including toilet facilities (ASU) and today also the weekly inspection of the air/liquid condensate separator apparatus (BRPK), while Sergei prepared the regular daily IMS delta /update file for automated export/import to the three IMS databases (MCC-H/TsUP/Baikonur).
The FE completed his regular daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the CEVIS cycle ergometer and RED resistive exerciser, while Krikalev s exercise was accounted for by his MBI-8 Profilaktika run in the morning.
Afterwards, John transferred the exercise data files to the MEC for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data of the RED workouts, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).
A continuing job for Sergei on his discretionary task list is the transfer of urine from EDV-U liquid waste containers to the two empty Rodnik water tanks in Progress 18 for disposal, begun on 8/26.
Working off his voluntary time available task list, Sergei conducted the regular daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment, and completed the regular periodic download of data & imagery collected of the hardware to the Packet Laptop computer for subsequent downlink to the ground via Regul or OCA. [Rasteniya studies growth and development of plants (peas) under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-7 greenhouse.]
An additional job on the Russian task list was the replacement of two 3COM network jumper cables in the SM, one for the SSC1 (Station Support Computer 1) laptop at the Central Post and the other at the SSC2 laptop in the sleep station, plus their network cards.
RPC-7 (Remote Power Controller #7) in a Node RPC module (RPCM), which tripped the first time on 8/18, today failed to latch when commanded to close, confirming that the RPCM needs to be replaced. There are three spare new RPCMs onboard. [The RPCM, which is inside the Node, powers the heater of the WVS WETA (Wireless Video System External Transceiver Assembly) 115, located outside at the Node P12 camera position. Workarounds have since maintained the WETA within thermal limits.]
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 Patagonian Glaciers (two passes, with the second one the best of the day in terms of lighting and probably weather. The crew was to continue to concentrate on views of small glaciers, especially the ones further south, if they were visible), and High Central Andean Glaciers (while the weather was not ideal this pass, it probably was better than usual during this late afternoon pass. As ISS approached the Peruvian coast and central Andes from the SW, the crew was to shoot left of track (N and NW) for context views of the small ice fields situated on the crest of the mountains).
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 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.
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ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:55am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 352.3 km
- Apogee height — 353.2 km
- Perigee height — 351.3 km
- Period — 91.58 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0001394
- Solar Beta Angle — 57.9 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 110 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) 38752
Upcoming Events (all times EDT):
- 09/07/05 — Progress M-53/18P undocking (6:23am)
- 09/08/05 — Progress M-54/19P launch (9:08am)
- 09/10/05 — Progress M-54/19P docking (10:49am).
19P is manifested to deliver to the ISS the following cargo: 800 kg propellants; 110 kg gas (oxygen/air, thanks to 14 additional gas tanks installed by RSC-Energia externally for an extra delivery capability of 60 kg O2); 300 kg water; 1230 kg dry cargo, comprising 139 Russian cargo items (including a new Elektron-VM Liquid Unit and 16 SFOG candles) and 83 NASA items (including two IBM 760XD laptops).
- 09/30/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S launch (~11:54pm)
- 10/03/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S docking (~1:20am)
- 10/11/05 — Soyuz TMA-6/10S landing (~9:06pm)
- 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
- 12/21/05 Progress M-55/20P launch
- 12/23/05 — Progress M-55/20P 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.
