NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 5 November 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.
For today’s Ultrasound session (ADUM, Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Micro-G) the crew again set up the equipment, including video and electronic still cameras, after which the operator, Salizhan Sharipov with headset and VOX mike, performed Scan C activities (the first on orbit) on the subject, Leroy Chiao. After a scanhead swap, Sharipov captured multiple different ultrasound video to allow comparison for scanhead diagnostics. Later, the hardware was deactivated and the scanheads were cleaned and stowed as part of closeout operations. [After activation of the HRF (Human Research Facility) and the video tape recorder (VTR) by the ground, the crew powered up the HRF computer and the ADUM hardware and software. Using the CMRS (crew medical restraint system) for strapping down the subject and electrodes for ECG (electrocardiogram) recording, scans were taken of the CDR, their images recorded and the scanning & post-scan activities videotaped and still-photographed for downlink.]
The CDR/SO used the EHS SSK (environmental health systems/surface sample kit) to collect surface sample swabs in Lab and Node for cultivation. Instead of the samples taken usually in the Service Module (SM), Chiao today obtained two surface samples in the FGB from panels 406 & 408 that have indicated potential microbial growth on photographs. [SSK sampling is done once per month for the first three months that a module is on orbit and once every three months thereafter. Bacterial and fungal samples are taken at two locations in each module. The colony growth on the sampling slides will be analyzed after five days of incubation.]
Leroy also employed the MAS (microbial air sampler) kit to collect air samples in Lab, Node and SM for bacterial and fungal analysis. In addition, he took an air sample in the FGB in the immediate vicinity of the potentially contaminated panels mentioned above. The periodic microbial water sampling, including coliform analysis, is scheduled for 11/8 (Monday). [As for the SSK, the sampling analysis is done once per month for the first three months, and once every three months thereafter. Bacterial and fungal air samples are taken at two locations in each module. The colony growth on the sampling slides will be analyzed after five days of incubation in Petri dishes. For onboard visual analysis of media slides from SSK, MCDs (microbial capture devices) from WMK, coliform detection bags from MWAK, and Petri dishes from MAS, the crew has a procedure for visual inspection of samples for bacterial and fungal colony growths after appropriate incubation periods.]
Continuing the new round of the monthly preventive maintenance of Russian segment air ventilation systems, Chiao worked 50 min. in the Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok (FGB) for uninstalling and replacing the FGB’s two dust collector filters (PS1 & PS2). [Last time done: 9/23.]
Sharipov later continued the ventilation maintenance in the FGB by cleaning airflow mesh screens on interior panels.
The FE downloaded the FSH3 spectrum analyzer data obtained yesterday from his GTS cable continuity troubleshooting to the TP2 laptop, which contains special software (“FSH View”). The data were subsequently prepared (e.g., compressed with WinZip) for later downlink to the ground via OCA comm. [The electronics systems of the Russian/German GTS (Global Timing System) are installed in the SM, with two transmitters intended to broadcast a time signal at 400.1 MHz (1 watt) and 1428 MHz (0.5 watt) straight downward (nadir) for worldwide clock synchronization. The system has been experiencing problems for some time.]
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Previous Reports ISS On-orbit Status [HQ] |
Sharipov’s daily routine maintenance of the SOZh environmental control & life support systems in the SM today included an inspection of two connectors (ZL26 & ZL28) on the Elektron’s BZh Liquid Unit #7 for white deposits of electrolyte (potassium hydroxide, KOH). Chiao meanwhile prepared the daily “delta” file for updating the IMS (inventory management system) databases
At ~6:40am EST, the FE held his weekly IMS tagup with ground specialists, discussing open issues concerning identification of equipment and storage locations for IMS updating. [Today’s topics included identification of items in two bags stowed in the FGB behind panels, and proper labeling of photo film & videotapes, with commensurate IMS updating.]
Working off the crew-discretionary Russian task list, Salizhan completed the periodic inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) zero-G greenhouse experiment.
The crew performed their regular daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill, CEVIS ergometer bike, RED exerciser and VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer.
Afterwards, the CDR again downloaded TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC (medical equipment computer), currently done six times a week to support early review on the ground.
At ~4:10pm, the crew is scheduled for their regular (nominally weekly) teleconference with the ISS Flight Director at MCC-H.
The LA1B-G RPCM (remote power controller module) was successfully refreshed today. The “health” flag that occurred on 11/2 is now cleared.
During yesterday’s relocation and installation of the TEPC (tissue equivalent proportional counter) radiation-measuring instrument to its new location on the TeSS (temporary sleep station) in the Lab, used by Leroy for sleeping, the crew inadvertently also moved the IVCPDS (intravehicular charged particle directional spectrometer). Chiao was advised to return the IVCPDC to its previous location (LAB1S4) for data tracking purposes and to label the box, which looks like a large TEPC, conspicuously.
MCC-H successfully uplinked the computer PPL (pre-positioned load) to calculate the new state of charge for the reconditioned P6 4B2 batteries. The new PPL is utilized by the PVCA (photovoltaic control assembly) and correlates to the higher battery pressures than those observed previously using the old PPL.
The S1 truss LOOB (lower outboard) video camera has undergone a series of tests over the past few days in an attempt to improve its operation. The attempts were unsuccessful, and the video image still has the pink tint. [Each test power-cycled the camera for a period of one, five and ten hours respectively. Yesterday’s final test was for a fifteen-hour period, but after two hours, the ground noted that the camera had fallen below the documented test limit of -5 degC to -9 degC. The test was immediately halted.]
Next week’s SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) operations are now scheduled for 11/8 (Monday) for surveying a suspected dent in the “Destiny” Lab’s exterior surface and 11/12 (Friday) for positioning the SSRMS for viewing the Soyuz relocation on 11/29.
Upcoming Key Events: Current station attitude of sun-pointing XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane) will be maintained until 11/16. Station reboost will then follow on 11/17 (backup opportunity 11/18). The Soyuz relocation is scheduled for 11/29 (no earlier than), preceded by a hot-fire test of its thrusters.]
Today’s CEO photo targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the science window (not applicable to other windows), which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in ram), were Lake Poopo, Bolivia (weather was predicted to be favorable for photography of the lake. Imagery of the lake is useful for monitoring of short-timescale fluctuations in water levels and turbidity), Internal waves, Patagonian Shelf (weather conditions were predicted to be favorable for internal wave photography. Looking left of track for the sunglint point), Patagonian Glaciers, S. America (this overpass presented an opportunity for general context photography of the southernmost glaciers in South America. Looking to the left of track along the western coastline for ice fields and valley glaciers [recognizable by linear debris stripes paralleling the valley walls]), and Manam Volcano, Papua New Guinea (Dynamic Event. This volcano forms a small island off the northeastern coast of Papua New Guinea and has produced ash-laden plumes and pyroclastic flows over the past few days. Cloud cover was predicted to be variable but eruptive plumes may be visible above the atmospheric clouds. Looking to the left of track off the northeastern coast of Papua New Guinea for the volcano).
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 10 crew visit:
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-9/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.
Expedition 10 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, 6:37am EST [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 358.1 km
- Apogee height — 364.0 km
- Perigee height — 352.3 km
- Period — 91.70 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0008684
- Solar Beta Angle — 32.8 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.70
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 135 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 34036
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.
