NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 5 July 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.

Following station inspection and morning hygiene, before breakfast and first exercise, CDR Krikalev and FE/SO Phillips performed another session of the periodic Russian biomedical assessment PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and today, for the first time, also PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement), using the newly installed mass measurement device (IM), 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].

The CDR also took his second MBI-1 SPRUT-K test, part of Russian medical research on the distribution and behavior of human body fluids in zero gravity. Supported by payload laptop 3 (LT3) in the Service Module (SM), the test used the Profilaktika kit #7, delivered on Soyuz-216/10S, with data recorded on PCMCIA memory cards, along with this morning s body mass values.  [Experiment requisites are the Sprut (“squid”) securing harness, skin electrodes (cuffs), and LT3 for control and data storage. The Pinguin suit or Braslet-M cuffs, if worn, have to be taken off first. Electrode measurements are recorded at complete rest and relaxed body position. John’s assistance was not required.]

This was the second day for the current renal (kidney) stone experiment session, with John collecting urine samples throughout the day and keeping his dietary/metabolic log entries up to date, while Sergei started his diet log (collections by the crew are not done concurrently). [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.]

Sergei Krikalev performed Part 2 of his second onboard Profilaktika (MBI-8) preventive health maintenance fitness test started yesterday, today using the resistive NS-01 load trainer, keeping a log and supported by tag-up with medical support personnel at TsUP/Moscow. Part 3, on the TVIS treadmill, will conclude the assessment tomorrow.  [Today’s Russian fitness test consists of four types of exercise, viz., neck tilting (back/forward), simultaneous forearm flexing, trunk extension, and trunk flexes. Each type of exercise consists of a series of 15 motions repeated two times. Load levels are selected by the ground and do not change from test to test. Total duration of the test is 13 min. Gas analysis and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels are also performed as a part of this test, using the TEEM-100M gas analyzer, but no lactate level and creatine kinase blood testing as in previous runs.]]

John Phillips was scheduled to initiate battery maintenance (charging, then discharging) on the EVA batteries on board, to be terminated on 7/7, followed by charge initiation. Two charge sessions will need to be completed for all needed storage units, with the second session to start on 7/9.  [With LF-1 expected to arrive next week (7/15), supporting the three scheduled Shuttle-based EVAs (in Shuttle EMUs) requires charging all EVA batteries, some for actual use, and others for backup. This includes the EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) batteries plus NiMH (nickel metal hydride) batteries for the PGT (pistol grip tool), REBA (rechargeable EVA battery assembly) and EMU Helmet Lights.]

Preparatory to the upcoming transfer of fresh water from the Progress 18 cargo vehicle, Krikalev worked on the SM’s Rodnik water supply system, compressing the bladder of the its BV1 water storage tank with a pump and an available EDV container for leak checking.  [There are two spherical Rodnik tanks, consisting of a hard shell with a soft membrane (bladder) composed of elastic fluoroplastic, used for expelling water from the tank by compressed air pumped into the tank volume surrounding the bladder.]

In the SM, Sergei deactivated the IK0501 gas analyzer (GA) of the pressure control & atmospheric monitoring system (SOGS) and exchanged its carbon dioxide (CO2) filter assembly (BF) with a new unit from FGB stowage (replaced last: 5/23/05). GA was reactivated and the spent BF stowed for disposal.  [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.]

John had 1.5 hours set aside for continuing his prepacking of hardware slated for return on LF-1/STS-114.

Both crewmembers had another 30 min reserved for training their photo skills for the LF-1 RPM (rendezvous pitch maneuver) on 7/15.  [The drill particularly focuses on switching 400mm and 800mm lenses and setting manual focus in case of failure of the autofocus function.

Phillips did the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), while Krikalev, working off his voluntary time available task list, prepared the IMS (inventory management system) delta file for automated export/import top the three IMS databases.

The crew spent approximately an hour with an in-depth review of the uplinked LF-1 mission timeline and then tagged up with LF-1 Flight Control Team representatives in a timeline conference via S-band. [The STS-114 mission will last 13 days, with KSC landing on 7/25 at ~11:01am EDT (assuming an on-time liftoff on 7/13 at 3:51pm). Docking with ISS will occur on FD3 (Flight Day 3); followed by MPLM Raffaello transfer & berthing on the Node on FD4 (7/16); EVA-1 on FD5 (7/17) to reconfigure the CMG-2 patch panel and conduct TPS repair tests in the Shuttle cargo bay; rest and PAO events on FD6 (7/18); EVA-2 on FD7 (7/19) to replace CMG-1; rest and PAO events on FD8 (7/20); EVA-3 on FD9 (7/21); MPLM unberthing and return to Shuttle payload bay on FD10 (7/22); undocking on FD11 (7/23); return preparations on FD12 (7/24): and deorbit and landing on FD13 (7/25).]

The CDR set up the equipment for tomorrow’s planned session with the European Neurocog experiment, his first, including the Halley electrode gear and the EGE-2 laptop  [By researching the integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive cues in the perception of body position in space, Neurocog studies how humans perceive space, what role the sensory information of sight, balance, motion and position plays in this, and how human perception is affected by weightlessness.]

Phillips completed his regular daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the RED resistive exerciser and TVIS treadmill, with Krikalev’s exercise accounted for by his MBI-8 Profilaktika run on the force loader in the morning.

Afterwards, John 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 on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

The FE/SO also conducted the weekly maintenance on the TVIS treadmill, primarily checking the condition of the SPDs (subject positioning devices) and recording time & date values.  [The roller bearings under the treadmill belt have reached the end of their projected life. Since a new treadmill assembly will arrive on LF-1/STS-114, engineers have decided not to replace the roller bearings (which would require ~12 crew hours) but have instructed the crew instead to include a 5-minute check on the belt each week until the new hardware can be installed.]

Overnight TsUP/Moscow uplinked a software patch to the SM Central Computer (TsVM) to prevent future FGB false fire alarms at TsVM restart, plus an update for the ROKVISS experiment software.

Via the SM’s automated onboard program sequencer (SPP), TsUP also conducted ASN-M satellite navigation equipment testing and the operational test downloads of the ROKVISS experiment over RGS (Russian ground site).  [ROKVISS (Robot Komponent Verification on ISS), a pioneering German-Russian mission, has the purpose to demonstrate the ability of robots to perform on-orbit servicing & repair tasks. Consisting of a 50cm-long double-jointed manipulator arm with a single finger, two cameras and an impedance control system that allows ground specialists to operate the arm in real time, ROKVISS is seen as the forerunner of a German-Russian-Canadian free-flying robot to be developed later in this decade. Its HDR (high data rate) S-band comm link is designed to keep total signal roundtrip time well below 500 millisecond (considered the limit for comfortable force feedback ops) and to ensure that force/position data are jitter-free. Because of limited direct-comm windows from the German control site at Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich/Bavaria, the experiment includes automatic control gear, requiring pre-stored commands, onboard data file storage and efficient, time-saving downlinking at RGS coverage window openings. ROKVISS operational testing is expected to extend over one year.]

No CEO (crew earth observations) targets today.

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 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.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 6:11am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 351.7 km
• Apogee height — 352.8 km
• Perigee height — 350.7 km
• Period — 91.57 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0001552
• Solar Beta Angle — 63.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.72
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 80 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 37855

Some Increment 11 Main Events (not final):

• ISS Reboost — 7/6 (10:58am EDT; 1.8 m/s)
• LF-1/STS-114 launch — 7/13 (3:51pm EDT) 18-day window opens;
• LF-1/STS-114 dock — 7/15 (12:26pm EDT), adding 110,713 kg to ISS mass;
• LF-1/STS-114 undock — 7/23 (9:23am EDT);
• LF-1/STS-114 landing @ KSC — 7/25 (11:01am EDT);
• Soyuz TMA-6/10S relocate (from DC-1 to FGB) — ~8/16;
• Progress M-54/19P launch TBD;
• Progress M-53/18P undock — TBD;
• ULF1.1/STS-121 launch — NET 9/9 (launch window opens);
• ULF1.1/STS-121 dock — 9/11;
• ULF1.1/STS-121 undock — 9/19;
• Soyuz TMA-7/11S launch — 9/27;
• Soyuz TMA-7/11S dock — 9/29;
• 12A/STS-115 launch — NET 2/16/06;
• Soyuz TMA-7/11S relocate (from DC-1 to FGB) — ~10/15;
• 12A.1/STS-116 launch — NET 4/23/06;
• 13A/STS-117 launch — NET 7/13/06.

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.