NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 7 August 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. Underway: Week 18 of Increment 13.

CDR Vinogradov serviced the Russian BMP Harmful Impurities Removal System, starting the “bake-out” cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. Before sleep time today (5:30pm EDT) the bake-out will be terminated. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. [Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods.]

The CDR also supported the ground in starting the Elektron oxygen generator, after removing any gas bubbles from the micro pump cavity and performing a micro pump health check. Elektron is running nominally in 32 amps mode.

FE-1 Williams and FE-2 Reiter began this week’s work on the ESA ALTEA (Anomalous Long Term Effects in Astronauts) operations, starting out with a familiarization session to review procedures of this experiment with which scientists are hoping to gather information about human brain response to space radiation that will ensure safer living in space. [Objectives of ALTEA for Increment 13 are to perform two 90-minute CNSM (Central Nervous System Monitoring) measure sessions with Jeff as subject; and to continuously monitor space radiation inside the ISS (DOSI/Dosimetry Operations mode).]

For the ALTEA ops ahead, Jeff Williams also reconfigured the ERL4 (EXPRESS rack 4 laptop). [This required moving the 3COM network card from the top PCMCIA card slot to the bottom PCMCIA card slot, freeing the top slot for ALTEA’s PCMCIA card so that space will be available to connect a fiber cable.]

Jeff also performed the third (of four planned) HRF GASMAP (Human Research Facility/Gas Analyzer System for Metabolic Analysis Physiology) routine health checks for the Increment, which help maintain good vacuum in the GASMAP work chamber.

In preparation of subsequent cargo unloading and transfers from Progress M-57/22P today, Thomas Reiter dismantled and removed the docking mechanism (StM) between 22P and the DC1 Docking Compartment. [The StM is the “classic” probe-and-cone type, consisting of an active docking assembly (ASA) with a probe (SSh), which fits into the cone (SK) on the passive docking assembly (PSA). The ASA is mounted on the Progress’ cargo module (GrO), while the PSA sits on the docking ports of the SM, FGB and DC1.]

The cargo unloading, while updating the IMS (Inventory Management System) via BCR (Bar Code Reader), was later conducted by Thomas and Pavel Vinogradov.

Williams was thanked by POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center/Huntsville) for volunteering for another session of SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) activities for the “Saturday Science” program on 8/12. [The SPHERES experiment is a test bed for the development and testing of formation flying and other multi-spacecraft control algorithms. SPHERES will serve to mature autonomous satellite formation flight, rendezvous and docking algorithms in a long duration, microgravity environment.]

Thomas and Jeff did the daily routine maintenance of the Service Module (SM)’s environment control & life support system (SOZh), including its toilet system (ASU), in which he serviced and replaced the toilet’s urine receptacle (MP) and filter insert (F-V), stowing the old units for disposal.

The FE-2 updated/edited the standard IMS “delta file”, including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Working in the US Airlock, Reiter and Williams completed post-EVA tools and equipment cleanup, and preparations for the 12A docked period (8/29-9/5) which will include three EMU spacewalks (FD4, FD5 & FD7), for unberthing, transfer and installation of the P3/P4 truss section, followed by solar array deployment.

In the Russian segment (RS), the CDR began the current (Week 18) water sampling activity by collecting KAV condensate water samples upstream of the SRV-K2M Gas/Liquid Mixture Filter (FGS) after first installing a separator and sampler.

At ~10:30am EDT, the two Flight Engineers tagged up with ground specialists via audio/S-band to discuss equipment prepacking for return on the next Shuttle flight. Afterwards, Jeffrey had an hour reserved for the first part of prepacking.

The crew 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 CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-2), TVIS treadmill (FE-1, CDR), RED (FE-1, FE-2), 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 2 of the first set).]

Afterwards, Williams transfers his, Pavel’s and Thomas’ exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, as well as the daily wristband HRM data of the workouts on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

Working from his discretionary task list, the CDR was to search for the missing BPU electronic processor (converter-amplifier) box of the Beta-08 ECG (electrocardiogram) units #61 and #63.

Also off the “time permitting” task list, Pavel completed the daily status check of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment, including recharging the water tank as required. [Rasteniya researches growth and development of plants (peas) under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-9 greenhouse.]

During EVA-5, VTR1 (Video Tape Recorder 1) and VTR 2 were used to record EVA Video along with all audio in “Public 1”, including S/G1 (Space-to-Ground 1) and UHF. Subsequent playback of video revealed a loud “sonar” sounding noise on S/G2. Ground teams continued to downlink the video for approximately 30 additional minutes but the audio distortion remained. They also observed the same distortion was being recorded on both VTRs, although the distortion was not present during the live EVA audio feeds. Ground teams are currently assessing the signatures which rendered the audio recordings useless.

CMG-4 (Control Moment Gyroscope 4) exhibited approximately 30 SB/EA (Spin Bearing Heater/ Electronics Assembly) faults over the course of the weekend, and these have been occurring with varying frequency for about the past week. There are no immediate concerns based on these signatures, and teams will continue to monitor CMG-4 performance.

The crew reported that they were successful in locating the missing PPA (Pump Package Assembly) Gas Trap on board. [Thermal teams require the gas trap in order to stock the next spare ground PPA, and anticipate return of the found unit on the 12A mission.]

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, 7:53am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 340.6 km
• Apogee height– 346.0 km
• Perigee height — 335.2 km
• Period — 91.35 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008089
• Solar Beta Angle — 35.3 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 100 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 44125

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

• 08/27/07 — STS-115/12A launch
• 08/29-09/05 — STS-115/12A docked mission w/ISS (earliest) – P3/P4 trusses
• 08/31/06 — Pavel Vinogradov’s birthday
• 09/14/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch (Expedition 14 + VC11)
• 09/15/06 — Progress M-56/21P undocking (SM aft port) & reentry
• 09/16/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking (SM aft port)
• 09/24/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking (FGB nadir port) & reentry
• 10/08/06 — 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)
• 10/31/06 — Russian EVA-17
• 12/14/06 — STS-116/12A.1 launch (earliest)
• 12/16-24/06 — 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.