NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 5 August 2004
SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2004) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.
All ISS systems continue to function nominally except those noted previously or below.
Early in the morning, right after breakfast, FE/SO Michael Fincke deployed two acoustic dosimeters, one on each crewmember, for being worn for 24 hours (with a microphone on the shirt collar). A third dosimeter was deployed in the Lab for a 24-hr. static data take (last time done: 6/16). [Tonight, after about 15 hours of measurements, dosimeter data will be recorded and the hardware power-cycled, for another data take tomorrow morning after 8.5-hr. sleep. At that point, the crew will deploy the dosimeters statically in the station for the duration of the day, record measurements tomorrow night and stow the instruments. Acoustic data must be taken twice per Increment, each time for the duration of the 16-hour crew workday.]
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Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
CDR Padalka performed closeout operations on two Russian payloads returned from their external locations via EVA-10 (viz., the Platan-M and SKK-2 material exposure units), disassembling and packing them for return on Soyuz TMA-4 next October.
Gennady also dismantled the six LRRs (Laser Retro Reflectors, Russian: LSV) that were replaced at the Service Module (SM) aft end with newer units. Each LRR was photographed for ground analysis, and LRRs ##1, 2, 4, 5, & 6 were placed in a solid waste container for disposal on the next Progress, while LRR #3 was packed for return to Earth.
Besides the five LRRs, the CDR also disposed of other post-spacewalk equipment that is no longer needed, as advised by ground specialists during a tagup.
As additional post-EVA tasks, Padalka terminated the discharging of the 825M3 Orlan backpack batteries, removed the spare portable air repress bottle (BNP) from the DC1 docking compartment’s instrumentation “corridor” and returned the BNP to its storage place in the “divan” of the Soyuz orbital module. [This additional BNP was used as standard safeguard against the contingency of the repress valve to the corridor stuck Closed during the post-ingress repressurization of the DC1.]
In the Lab, Mike conducted the periodic inspection of its two lighting units’ ELPS (emergency lighting power supply).
Mike updated ODFs (operations data files) for onboard laptops, printing out new pages.
Fincke also took the periodic CO2 partial pressure measurements in the SM and Lab using the U.S. CDMK (CO2 monitor kit), for calldown to MCC-Houston (along with the battery status) for use in trending analyses.
The CDR deactivated the IK0501 gas analyzer (GA) in the SM and exchanged its BF carbon dioxide (CO2) filter assembly with a new unit from the FGB (replaced last: 5/23). GA was reactivated and the spent BF stowed for return to Earth. [IK0501 is an automated system for measuring CO2, O2, and H2O in the air as well as the flow rate of the gas being analyzed.]
Gennady also completed the periodic servicing task of changing out ASU toilet system equipment, then checked out the ASU. [Replaced with new units were the U-receptacle (MP) and filter insert (F-V). The old items were stowed for disposal.]
At 9:45am EDT, the crew conducted their regular weekly teleconference with the JSC Astronaut Office (Kent Rominger), followed by a tagup/discussion of the pending installation of the Lab window flex hose cover (both on S-band).
Fincke and Padalka performed their full regimen of physical exercise on VELO with force loader, RED (resistive exercise device) and TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization).
The FE conducted the prescribed weekly maintenance check of the treadmill and its SPDs (subject positioning devices) as well as its time & date settings.
Yesterday MCC-Houston transitioned the U.S. ITCS (internal thermal control system) from dual loop mode to single loop (LTL, low temperature loop). This was the last step needed to move the ITCS from the unmanned configuration to the nominal config. [Dual loop mode is considered a nominal mode, but whenever possible ITCS is operated in single loop mode (nominally LTL) to prolong the life of the ITCS pumps. Telemetry showed no leak indications.]
When all of the ECLS (environment control & life support) systems were back in a nominal config after the EVA, a nitrogen repress was performed yesterday to make up for the lost air from EVA-10 to increase the stack pressure up to 14.3 psi (740 mmHg/Torr). The repress duration was an hour starting at 11:00am EDT. There will be one more repress prior to EVA-11 to put the station in a posture to equalize above 13.9 psi (720 mmHg).
At 10:40am, Mike Fincke entertained a VIP-conference with the cast of the Australian children’s TV show “The Wiggles”.
The station continues to fly in XPOP attitude (X-axis perpendicular to orbit plane), pitch: 0.8 deg, yaw: -8.0 deg, roll: 0 deg.
CEO images can be viewed at these websites:
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at:
To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 9 crew visit:
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-9/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.
Expedition 9 Flight Crew Plans can be found at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines/
Major upcoming events:
- Progress 15P launch — 8/11 (1:01am EDT);
- Progress 15P docking — 8/14 (2:05am EDT).
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ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:24am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 357.3 km
- Apogee height — 360.9 km
- Perigee height — 353.7km
- Period — 91.7 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0005396
- Solar Beta Angle — -28.3 deg
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.70
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 80 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 32606
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.
