NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 6 December 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. Underway: Week 7 of Increment 10.
CDR/SO Chiao and FE Sharipov had their fourth session with the periodic Russian biomedical assessments PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement), before breakfast and first exercise. [Sharipov set up the BMM mass-measuring device, which uses a scale of calibrated springs to determine the subject’s mass in weightless space, and stowed it away after the tests. Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the ISOG 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 of the effectiveness of countermeasures.]
Chiao supported the current EVA battery maintenance/reconditioning activities in the Airlock. After reconfiguring the SSC laptop for running the automated discharge procedure with its special DOS application, Leroy initiated the discharge cycle on one of the two REBAs (rechargeable EVA battery assemblies) in battery charger 3 (BC3) and on the two EMU batteries in BC4.
In the Service Module (SM), the FE removed and replaced a fan (VVPrK), stowing the failed unit for disposal.
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The CDR conducted the monthly potable water microbial sampling for in-flight chemistry/microbiology analysis, using jointly approved Russian sampling procedures with the U.S. WS&A (water sampler & archiver) for collection and the WMK (water microbiology kit) for treatment/processing within 6 hours of the collection (done at ~7:30am EST). Sample analysis also included processing water samples in the MWAK (microbial water analysis kit) for inflight coliform bacteria (Escherichia coli) detection, at ~9:10am. Salizhan set up the video camera to record Leroy s microbiology water analysis for downlink and use on the ground as baseline test for future Russian Clarissa microbial analysis activities (Clarissa software was not yet used today). [Results will be available after a two-day incubation period, in case of the MWAK after 4-6 days of incubation. Since only one sample return bag remained available (due to the slip of 16P), only one sample was taken in the SM from the EDV container of the SVO-ZV water supply system. Last time done: 11/8.]
As is standard practice after Russian dockings, the FE took two photos of the FGB nadir port docking assembly (StA) used for the Soyuz TMA-5 relocation linkup. These images will be used to refine current understanding of docking conditions. [The objective is to inspect photo imagery of the scratch or scuff mark left by the head of the docking probe on the internal surface of the drogue (docking cone) ring. As other cosmonauts before him, Salizhan used the Kodak 760 digital still camera to take two pictures with the hatch closed down and downlinked them at 9:00am via OCA.]
Working in the SM on the payload cable network, Sharipov installed a new cable bundle between the Russian payload computer (BSMM) payload computer and its time synchronization unit (BSV-M2), after both units and the “Meteoroid” sensor (SMMK) outside the SM had been powered off from the ground.
CDR/SO Chiao moved the remaining ISSI (In-Space Soldering Investigation) hardware from last Saturday s Test 4 session back into storage. The single remaining Test 5, which was bumped from the Saturday Science program on 12/4 for lack of a charged Makita battery on the day before, was today proposed to Leroy as an option for next Saturday s session.
As a test for science activities planned for next year, the FE installed a new Russian spectrometer instrument (AST) with its cables in the DC1 docking compartment and activated the spectrometer. The installation was photographed with the Nikon D1 digital camera with flash. [The test was to verify equipment functionality for its eventual use during the next Soyuz mission (10S) and the photographs are used to determine space accommodations in the DC1 for the LAZIO experiment by the VC8 visiting crewmember. The spectrometer will be looking at and measuring phenomena of the Earth s magnetosphere.]
Salizhan also continued the photo imagery of openings in SM crew cabin wall panels (Stage 2), using the Nikon D1 with flash attachment, along with a ruler to allow later size and location estimation.
The ongoing in-depth inventory/audit of computer accessories onboard was discussed with the ground in a teleconference at 12:00pm. [Most laptops on board are still of the IBM 760XD type, used for command & control functions (Tier 1), operations data handling (Tier 2), payloads (Tier 3), and operations enhancements/other (Tier 4), for a total of 18. Spare components include 29 3GB hard drives, 7 CD-ROM drives and 9 Lithium Ion batteries. Three new A31p laptops will be delivered on 16P, to replace three 760XDs. In the event of a shortage, repriorizations and reassignments of laptops for SSC (station support computer) is possible. The transition of the PCS (portable computer system) to all A31Ps is planned for July 2005.]
In the Lab, Leroy supported a ground-commanded power-up of ER3 ARIS (EXPRESS rack #3, Active Rack Isolation System) by activating the ER3 laptop computer for an initial checkout preparatory to this week s ARIS activities. [The ER3 POP (payload on-orbit processor) power-up by POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center) included closing the RPCs (remote power controllers), configuring the RFCA (rack flow control assembly), payload startup notification, configuring the RIC (rack interface controller), etc.]
Salizhan attended to today s routine inspection of the SM’s SOZh life support system (including replacement of ASU toilet facility inserts) and the preparation of the regular IMS (inventory management system) delta file for export/import to the IMS databases.
The crew performed their daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill, RED exerciser, CEVIS cycle and VELO cycle with bungee cord load trainer. Salizhan’s daily protocol currently prescribes a 1.5-hr structured set on the treadmill (today: Day 3 of a new set) and one hour on VELO.
Chiao also conducted the weekly maintenance check of the treadmill and its SPDs (subject positioning devices) as well as its time & date settings. Afterwards, he transferred the daily TVIS and RED exercise data files to the MEC (medical equipment computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM (heart rate monitor) data, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium.
The FE worked on Russian systems/procedures books for the SM SOTR thermal control system and FGB ECLS systems to update selected items from uplinked radiogram instructions.
Because of Russian troubleshooting underway on the SKV-1 (with raised temperature limit setting to an H2O partial pressure of 9 mmHg), the U.S. segment (USOS) is collecting more condensate water than usual, currently at ~4.5 lbs/day. The condensate tank is at 35 lbs (upper limit: 100 lbs).
The Russian side has requested transfer of water from U.S. stores for use in the Elektron oxygen generator. There are two filled CWCs (contingency water containers) set aside, originally intended in case of need for the U.S. ITCS (internal thermal control system).
CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the 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-10/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.
Upcoming Key Events:
- Progress 15P undocking & destructive reentry — 12/22 (Eastern);
- Progress 16P launch — 12/23;
- Progress 16P docking — 12/25 (7:00pm EST);
- EVA-12 — January 2005 (1/27?).
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ISS Location NOW |
ISS Orbit (as of this noon, 1:47 pm EST [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 355.9 km
- Apogee height — 358.8 km
- Perigee height — 352.9 km
- Period — 91.66 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0004334
- Solar Beta Angle — -73.9 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 80 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 34543
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.
