NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 7 January 2005

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. A crew off-duty day due to Russian Orthodox Christmas, but more troubleshooting on the Elektron and catching up with work postponed earlier because of the troubleshooting did not make it a complete rest day.

Update on Elektron: At last report, the Elektron was operating again, on the backup pump. During troubleshooting today, Russian specialists considered the possibility that the water flushes performed during previous troubleshooting efforts had diluted the electrolyte (KOH) concentration in the installed Liquid Unit #5 (BZh-5). The crew was advised to transfer fresh electrolyte fluid from the stowed BZh-7 into BZh-5. Afterwards, the Elektron operated in 32 amp mode for about 5.5 hours before shutting down. It was restarted in 50 amp mode. After operating for 3 hours, the primary pump failed and the unit began operating on the backup pump.

FE Salizhan Sharipov completed the periodic (weekly) replenishing of the Elektron’s water supply for electrolysis, his ninth, filling the KOV thermal loops EDV container (#1013) with purified (deionized) water from the BKO multifiltration/purification column unit that was recently installed (12/2). [The procedure is specially designed to prevent air bubbles from getting into the BZh liquid unit where their pressure spikes, from collapsing, could cause micropump impeller cavitation and Elektron shutdown, as happened numerous times in the past. In the procedure, the EDV water is drawn from the BKO and the air/liquid separator unit (GZhS) while the crewmember checks for any air bubbles in the EDV (and, if visible, estimates their number).]

CDR/SO Leroy Chiao deployed two passive FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) sampling assemblies in the Lab (below CEVIS) and SM (most forward handrail), to catch any atmospheric formaldehyde on a collector substrate for subsequent analysis. (Last time done: 12/8).

The crew conducted the periodic routine air sampling in the cabin. [Sharipov first used the Russian AK-1M sampler in the SM and FGB. Then, checking for CO (carbon monoxide), he took air samples in the SM with the IPD-CO Draeger tubes sampler. Air samples were also collected by Chiao with the GSC (grab sample container, #1054) at the center of the Lab, then with the new Dual Sorbent Tube (DST), instead of the old SSAS (Solid Sorbent Air Sampler), in the center of the Lab and SM. (Last time done: 12/10). ]

After reconfiguring the EGE-2 laptop, the FE performed the session with the European Neurokog experiment, which was postponed yesterday (and erroneously reported as completed) because of the Elektron troubleshooting. Today’s activities focused on virtual rotation in free floating and fixed position corridor passages while recording EEG (electroencephalography). The session was supported by tagup with ground specialists. [Salizhan was equipped with the Halley head electrodes. After doing the virtual turns/corridor episodes in fixed state (subject strapped down) and free-floating in zero-G called for by the Neurokog protocol, he downloaded the EEG data to a PCMCIA memory card for subsequent return to Earth, and dismantled the equipment.]

Chiao disconnected the Lab RWS UOP (robotics workstation/utility outlet panel) bypass power cable after yesterday’s SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) proficiency training. [The crew successfully completed the training round. The only anomaly noted was the usual non-connection of the UMA (Umbilical Mechanism Assembly) microswitches, which were driven closed again. The arm was driven to and remains in a favorable viewing position for the upcoming EVA 12. The repetitive anomaly is under investigation.]

At ~3:45am EST, the crew participated in a ham radio session with students at Mori Elementary School, Hyogo, Japan. [Mori Elementary School, founded in 1872, is located near the city of Kakogawa and has a total number of 363 students.]

At ~9:50am, the crew conducted an interactive educational PAO event with students from Central Park Middle School in Schenectady, N.Y., on the vital role the ISS plays in the Vision for Space Exploration. The Schenectady School District broadcast the event throughout the area to enable students from other schools to view the call live.

Chiao and Sharipov 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 four-day microcycle exercise regimen with 1.5 hours on the TVIS and 1 hr. on VELO (today: Day 1 of a new set).

Afterwards, Leroy 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 crew unpacked and reviewed the new SEM (Space Experiment Module) Satchel, delivered on 16P, and then took the first set of photographs for subsequent downlink. [SEM is an educational program for students, grades K-12 and University (free of charge to U.S., reimbursable to International participants). The package, developed by the students, contains 11 zero-G experiments, to be left running during Increment 10. Close-up photos are to be taken in three separate sessions during the payload’s flight in order to document changes in the experiment samples: 1. as soon as possible after transfer; 2. mid-duration of payload’s stay; 3. as late as possible before return.]

Today the crew completed unpacking and stowage of cargo items delivered on 16P. They called down updates to the Inventory Management System (IMS) for the ground to incorporate the database.

Upcoming Key Events:

• ISS reboost (delta-V: 4 m/s) — 1/15/05;
• EVA-12 — 1/26/05 (Eastern)
• Progress 16P undocking & destructive reentry — 2/27/05;
• Progress 17P launch — 2/28/05.
• EVA-13 — 3/25/05;
• Soyuz 10 S launch — 4/15/05;
• Soyuz 9S undock — 4/25/05 (after 193 days on orbit, 191 days on board ISS).

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 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.

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.