NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 31 October 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. Underway: Week 4 for Expedition 12.
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Following station inspection and morning hygiene, before breakfast and exercise, CDR/SO McArthur and FE Tokarev conducted their second session of the periodic Russian biomedical assessments PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement), using the specially designed mass measurement device (IM), and later breaking it down for stowage. [Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM “scales” measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember’s mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.]
Later, the crew spent about five hours troubleshooting the TCCS (Trace Contaminant Control Subassembly) which has not operated nominally (Part 1). Part 2 is scheduled for tomorrow. [Today’s work consisted essentially of pulling the TCCS out of the ARS (Atmospheric Revitalization Systems) rack to make it accessible, then selectively removing ORUs (orbit replaceable units), such as the sorbent bed and the catalytic oxidizer, for inspection and taking air flow measurements on each. Part 2 will focus on specific component inspections, followed by reassembly of the removed units. The objective is to check ORUs and plumbing for damage and leaks (with the ULD/ultrasonic leak detector), to determine which parts need to be manifested on future cargo flights.]
CDR McArthur also worked on the SAMS (Space Acceleration Measurement System) in the Lab, replacing the data hard drive of its ICU (Interface Control Unit) laptop.
FE Tokarev had two hours reserved for locating and transferring selected cargo items from the Progress-354/19P cargo ship to Russian segment stowage, in particular new DS-7A smoke detectors, outfitting gear for the VB-3 VELO cycle ergometer, and crew garments.
Bill McArthur set up the video recording equipment for documenting the subsequent crew exercise on the RED (resistive exercise device) in the Node. After the session, the gear was again disassembled and stowed.
Both crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the CEVIS cycle, TVIS treadmill, RED resistive machine 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 and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 2 of a new 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 CEVIS and RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).
Tokarev did the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s Environment Control & Life Support System (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), and later, working off his voluntary task list, updated/ edited the computerized IMS (Inventory Management System) “delta” file for automated export/import to the three IMS databases (MCC-H, TsUP, Baikonur).
Engineers are planning to use the external PCUs (Plasma Contactor Units) for an experiment on 11/9 to study the interaction between the PCU’s Xenon plasma jet and the incoming ionospheric flow of atomic oxygen.
Saturday’s troubleshooting on the Elektron oxygen generator has not restored the system’s primary micropump circuit to nominal operation as yet. The Elektron continues to work satisfactorily on the backup pump in 24A mode.
No CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets uplinked for today.
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:
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.
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ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:31am EST [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 346.3 km
- Apogee height — 347.6 km
- Perigee height — 345.1 km
- Period — 91.46 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0001908
- Solar Beta Angle — 33.8 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.74
- Mean altitude gain in last 24 hours — 89 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 39713
Upcoming Events (all dates Eastern):
- 11/02/05 – Fifth Anniversary of permanent ISS occupancy
- 11/07/05 — EVA-4 (U.S.; hatch open ~9:30am; hatch closing ~3pm EST)
- 11/10/05 — ISS Reboost (from 19P; manifold #2)
- 11/18/05 — Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocation (from DC-1 to FGB nadir port)
- 12/07/05 — EVA-15 (Russian; under review)
- 12/20/05 — Progress M-54/19P undocking & reentry
- 12/21/05 — Progress M-55/20P launch
- 12/23/05 — Progress M-55/20P docking
- 01/09/06 — 100 days for Expedition 12.
Happy Halloween!
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.
