NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 6 June 2006

SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2006) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.   Light-duty day for CDR Vinogradov and FE/SO Williams.   Today 35 years ago (6/6/1971), Soyuz 11 (call sign Jantar, “Amber”) launched with Cosmonauts Vladislav Volkov, Georgi Dobrovolski and Viktor Patsayev on the first successful visit to the world’s first space station, Salyut 1, for a 23-day stay (during which they fought a fire on board).  On 6/30, during their return to Earth, the crew asphyxiated due to a pressure equalization valve jolted open at separation of the Descent Module from the Service Module.  A pre-flight visit to their final resting place in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis on Moscow’s Red Square has since become a serene tradition for Russian cosmonauts.

CDR Vinogradov performed troubleshooting and a health check on the Russian payload server (BSPN), making sure that connections were in order and using the ISS Wiener laptop for a comm check with the BSPN for functions testing.   [The activity was supported by ground specialist tagup via S-band.]

FE/SO Williams conducted the monthly PEP (portable emergency provisions) safety inspection.   [The IMS-supported inspection involves verification that PFEs (portable fire extinguishers), PBAs (portable breathing apparatus), QDMAs (quick-don mask assemblies) and EHTKs (extension hose/tee kits) are free of damage to ensure their functionality, and to track shelf life/life cycles on the hardware.  There are a total of 5 PBAs in the U.S. segment (USOS).  There is one EHTK, in the Lab.]

The CDR worked on the ESA KUBIK-1 incubator to copy its data to a PCMCIA memory card for subsequent downlinking to the ground via the BSR-TM telemetry channel.   [When data copying from the KUBIK1 & KUBIK2 incubators failed on 4/7/06 because of erroneous ESA input data, the decision was made to leave the boxes on board for another attempt at data transfer, instead of returning them on Soyuz TMA-7/11S.  Pavel will perform KUBIK 2 copying on 6/18.]

At ~11:45am EDT, the crew had a communications pass over NASA’s VHF (very high frequency) sites at Dryden and White Sands for the periodic (monthly) VHF1 emergency comm check, talking with Houston/Capcom, MSFC/PAYCOM (Payload Operation & Integration Center Communicator) and Moscow/Glavni (TsUP Capcom) in the normal fashion via VHF radio from a handheld microphone and any of the U.S. segment ATUs (audio terminal units).   [Purpose of the test is to verify signal reception and link integrity, and to ensure minimum required link margin during emergency and special events (such as a Soyuz relocation).  Last time done: 5/406.]

In the Node, Williams completed the periodic (once per month) routine inspection of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device) with canister cords, squat harness components, and accessory straps, and the canister bolts for re-tightening if required.

In the Service Module (SM), Jeffrey set up the video equipment for another filming of his and Vinogradov’s subsequent workout on the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation & Stabilization), for biomechanical evaluation of the individual crewmembers and assessment of the hardware status by ground engineers.   Afterwards, he dismantled and stowed the video equipment.   [Preparations included the removal of the treadmill’s “skirt” to show TVIS motion within the floor “pit” in the SM along with the crewmember’s feet striking the belt.]

Both crewmembers worked out in their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the TVIS (FE, CDR), RED (FE) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR).   [Pavel Vinogradov’s daily protocol prescribes a strict four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill in unmotorized mode and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 4 of the first set).]

Afterwards, Jeff transferred the exercise data files to the MEC 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).

Pavel performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including the toilet system (ASU), and the weekly inspection of the air/liquid condensate separator apparatus (BRPK).

The FE ran the daily atmospheric status check for ppO2 (Partial Pressure Oxygen) and ppCO2 (pp Carbon Dioxide), using the CSA-CP (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products), CSA-O2 (CSA-Oxygen Sensor) and CDMK (CO2 Monitoring Kit).

Working off his voluntary task list, the CDR performed another session of the Russian “Uragan” (hurricane) earth-imaging program, using the Nikon D1X digital camera with f400 mm lens and 2x teleconverter (thus, f800).   [Today’s prime targets were tropical storm formation features, the Panama Canal and its approaches, fire monitoring around the Amur river (the historical border river between Russia and China), and the Sikhote-Alinsk Natural Reserve.]

The Science Officer was lauded by POIC for his assistance yesterday in making the HRF1 (Human Research Facility 1) rack configuration file load a “resounding success”.   [The next step will be to physically move some rack drawers to bring the HRF1 rack into its final configuration.]

At 8:35am EDT, the FE set up the amateur radio equipment (Ericsson VHF transceiver, headset, power supply) in the FGB to conduct, at 12:40am, a 10-min. ham radio exchange with students at Scarlett Middle School in Ann Arbor, Michigan.   [Scarlett MS has the distinction of being a 2004 NASA Explorer School.  It is one of five middle schools in the Ann Arbor Public School District, with approximately 600 students, divided between grades 6, 7 and 8.  About 15% of the school population speaks English as a second language, and 60% are minorities.  “What are the advantages of being in space compared to living on Earth?”; “Looking out the window, where would you rather look, at the Earth or out to the depths of space? Why?”; “Do stars look different from space than from Earth?”; “Since you have been to space before: how has going to space changed your life at home?”]

At ~1:00pm, the crew configured the television hardware for an interactive TV PAO event of about 20 minutes, starting at 1:20pm, with the Alumni Global Community of the State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.

Elektron reactivation for electrolytic generation of O2 (oxygen) and H2 (hydrogen) from water is scheduled for tomorrow, preceded by another check of the newly installed H2 dump line to the outside and a micropump health check.  Meanwhile, cabin air is kept supplied with O2 from Progress 21 storage.

Yesterday, MCC-H ground engineers successfully started a four-day CMG-1 (Control Moment Gyroscope #1) wheel speed characterization test, to run until 6/8.  Purpose of the test, without crew involvement, is to finish the checkout of the new CMG-1 by commanding 16 different wheel speeds over the course of four days and monitoring the performance of the gyro package.

At ~3:00pm, the ground will start another P6 primary power system battery capacity test, this time on the 4B1 battery set, beginning with overcharging and then a complete discharge for reconditioning, followed by a capacity check.  [The 2B and 4B solar array BGAs (Beta Gimbal Assemblies) were set to Autotrack to support the battery capacity test. NiH (nickel hydrogen) batteries can develop and display memory loss resulting in a temporary loss of capacity that can periodically be erased by fully discharging and charging cells (reconditioning).  The battery state of charge (SOC) reported in telemetry does not include the effect of this reduced capacity.  Reconditioning was performed on all P6 Battery sets starting in Oct. 2004 through Dec. 2005.  In the current round, reconditioning of the first set, 2B2, was successfully finished on 4/12, followed by 4B3 & 4B2 on 5/23-24. These tests are necessary to improve battery health and to determine the amount of amp hour capacity retained since the reconditioning was performed.]

The station continues in LVLH XVV (local vertical local horizontal/x-axis in velocity vector) attitude, as required by the current solar Beta angle magnitude (21.3 deg), until the reboost and the maneuver to LVLH YVV (y-axis in velocity vector) on 6/9 (Friday).

Station reboost, by 21P’s DPO rendezvous & docking thrusters at 2:47pm EDT, followed by maneuver to YVV at 2:54pm, will be preceded by attitude control handover to RS at 12:30pm and concluded by its return to USOS at 3:45pm.   [Designed to set up proper orbit phasing for 22P (docking 6/26) and ULF1.1/STS-121 (docking 7/3 earliest, with phasing remaining valid for the duration of the July launch window), the maneuver will apply a delta-V of 0.7 m/s to boost mean altitude by 1.3 km, with a burn duration of 2 min 58 sec.]

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Tunis, Tunisia (nadir pass over ancient Carthage.  Mapping of expanding city margins is requested to evaluate city growth), B.P. Impact Structure, Libya (looking left of track for this 2-km diameter structure, dated at less than 120 million years old. This is one of several circular features in the area, some of which are impact craters), and Oasis Impact Crater, Libya (looking left of track for this 18-km diameter structure, dated at less than 120 million years old.  This is one of several circular features in the area, some of which are impact craters).

To date, more than 198,000 of CEO images have been taken in the first five years of the ISS, almost one third of the total number of images taken from orbit by astronauts.

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:

• http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/CEO.html
• 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 13 crew visit:

• http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-13/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.

Expedition 13 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, 7:29am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 341.9 km
• Apogee height– 347.9 km
• Perigee height –335.9 km
• Period — 91.37 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008895
• Solar Beta Angle — 21.3 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 70 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 43147

Significant Events Ahead (all dates EDT and subject to change):

• 06/09/06 — ISS reboost with 21P for 22P & ULF1.1 phasing (2:47pm, delta-V 0.7 m/s)
• 06/15/06 — 20P propellant transfer lines purge (~1:00pm)
• 06/16/06 — 20P interface leak check (~12:50-2:30pm)
• 06/19/06 — Progress M-55/20P undocking from DC1 (10:02am) & reentry
• 06/24/06 — Progress M-57/22P launch (11:08am)
• 06/26/06 — Progress M-57/22P docking at DC1 (~12:27pm)
• 07/01/06 — STS-121/ULF1.1 launch (earliest, 3:43pm)
• 07/03-11/06 — STS-121/ULF1.1 docked mission w/ISS (earliest, 11:28am)
• 07/??/06 — US EVA-5
• 08/28/07 — STS-115/12A launch (earliest)
• 08/30-09/06 — STS-115/12A docked mission w/ISS (earliest) – P3/P4 trusses
• 09/13/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking (SM aft port) & reentry
• 09/14/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch (Expedition 14 + VC11)
• 09/16/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking (SM aft port)
• 09/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking (FGB nadir port) & reentry
• 10/10/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S relocation (SM aft port to FGB nadir port)
• 10/18/06 — Progress M-58/23P launch
• 10/20/06 — Progress M-58/23P docking (SM aft port)
• 11/22/06 — Russian EVA-17
• 12/14/06 — STS-116/12A.1 launch (earliest)
• 12/16-23/06 — STS-116/12A.1 docked mission w/ISS (earliest) – P5 truss
• 12/19/06 — Progress M-57/22P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 12/20/06 — Progress M-59/24P launch
• 12/22/06 — Progress M-59/24P docking (DC1)
• 01/22/07 — US EVA-6
• 01/26/07 — US EVA-7
• 01/31/07 — US EVA-8
• 02/06/07 — Progress M-59/24P undocking (DC1) & reentry
• 02/07/07 — Progress M-60/25P launch
• 02/09/07 — Progress M-60/25P docking (DC1)
• 02/22/07 — STS-117/13A launch (earliest) – S3/S4 trusses
• 02/24-03/03/07 — STS-117/13A docked mission w/ISS (earliest)
• 03/08/07 — Progress M-58/23P undocking (SM aft port) & reentry
• 03/09/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S launch (Expedition 15 + VC12)
• 03/11/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S docking (SM aft port)
• 03/19/07 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S undocking (FGB nadir port)
• ??/??/07 — Soyuz TMA-10/14S relocation (SM aft port to FGB nadir port)
• 06/11/07 — STS-118/13A.1 (earliest).

ISS Altitude History

Apogee height — Mean Altitude — Perigee height

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ on NASA’s Human Spaceflight website. Additional satellite tracking resources can be found at http://www.spaceref.com/iss/tracking.html.