NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 7 September 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.

After setting up the necessary pump/hose hookup, FE-2 Reiter started transferring urine from two EDV-U liquid waste containers (#787, #768) to the “Rodnik” water tanks of the Progress M-56/21P cargo ship for disposal. [Each of the two spherical Rodnik tanks (BV1 & BV2) consists of a hard shell with a soft membrane (bladder) composed of elastic fluoroplastic. The bladder is used to expel water from the tank by compressed air pumped into the tank volume surrounding the membrane.]

Leak checks conducted by FE-1 Williams on the Lab VES (vacuum exhaust system) and VRS (vacuum resource system) in preparation for future MSRR-1 (Materials Science Research Rack 1) operation encountered leak rates of approximately three times the max value allowed by the MSRR (of 17.9 mmHg/hour). Suspected leak sources are male UIP QD (Utility Interface Panel Quick Disconnect) connections or the jumpers hoses used for the leak checks. [VES and VRS are connected to the various racks in the U.S. Lab and are periodically vented to space to protect their PGT (Pirani Gauge Transducer) pressure sensors. MSRR-1, the first of three modular and autonomous racks, is the primary facility for U.S. sponsored materials science research on the ISS, contained in an ISPR (International Standard Payload Rack) equipped with the ARIS (Active Rack Isolation System) for the best possible microgravity environment. MSRR-1, to be launched on ULF-2 in 2008, will accommodate dual Experiment Modules and provide simultaneous on-orbit processing operations capability. The first integral Experiment Module for the MSRR-1, the MSL (Materials Science Laboratory), is an international cooperative activity between NASA and ESA.]

CDR Vinogradov worked in the DC1 (Docking Compartment) on the hydraulic connector behind panel 301 to fix the small leak of Triol coolant which he had detected on 8/29. [The PMS1-PS1 half-coupling, part of the DC1 thermal control system (STR) was found loose. After tightening of its collar it tested leak-free.]

The CDR also conducted a one-hour inventory/audit of power and computer equipment for station network systems, preparatory to the upcoming crew handover activities. [The computer “pantry” inspection involved the Russian RSK1, RSE1 and RSE-Med laptops including power accessories and storage media, as well as a test of the RSK1 and RSE1 HDs (hard disks).]

FE-2 Thomas Reiter continued his comprehensive audit/inventory of Russian hardware, today checking spaces behind FGB wall panels and verifying entries on an uplinked summary list of over 300 items.

Jeffrey Williams conducted tests on the SSC (Station Support Computer) File Server laptop to ensure proper accessibility of the OCA Email system for the “Soyuz Taxi 1” Outlook account of SFP (Space Flight Participant) Anousheh Ansari.

As the Elektron O2 generator continues to operate nominally, Vinogradov completed the periodic (about twice a month) replenishing of the Elektron’s water supply for electrolysis, filling the KOV thermal loops’ EDV container with water from an EDV containing water from the BKO multifiltration/purification column unit.

Pavel also took photographs of the Nitrogen Purge Assembly (BPA) behind SM (Service Module) panel 429, used for pressurizing the Elektron’s Liquid Unit (BZh) with the inert gas (to prevent dangerous O2/H2 mixing).

Jeff filled out his regular weekly FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer), which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special software. [Jeff is using his personalized file that reflects the food flown for his Increment. The FFQ records amounts consumed during the past week of such food items as beverages, cereals, grains, eggs, breads, snacks, sweets, fruit, beans, soup, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, chicken, sauces & spreads, and vitamins. IBMP/Moscow (Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian: IMBP – Institute of Medico-Biological Problems) recommended average daily caloric value of the crew’s food intake is 2200-2300 cal (= ~one ration). If larger quantities of juices and fruits are taken into account, the value can go to 2400-2500 cal.]

Williams also had one hour scheduled for prepacking U.S. equipment for return on Soyuz and, joined by Vinogradov, another two hours for the End-of-Increment Clean-up, i.e., cleaning out of personal items in preparation for their return home. [This activity continues over the next couple of weeks.]

All 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 TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1), RED resistive exerciser (FE-1, FE-2), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-2). The CDR’s 2.5-hr. workout again was on TVIS/aerobic only (Day 1).

Afterwards, Jeffrey transferred the TVIS and RED 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).

At ~5:45am EDT, FE-2 Thomas Reiter, with Pavel and Jeff, downlinked three LDM PR (Long-Duration Mission/Public Relations) messages of greetings in German, taped on the ground for (1) the opening of a spaceflight exhibition in Mannheim/Germany at end-September, (2) the 1000th issue of a quiz show on the ARD TV network (Jörg Pilawa), and (3) an educational PISA show with school children on ARD. [The audio/video connection was made by the SM’s automated onboard program sequencer (SPP) over RGS (Russian Ground Site), and the VHF/TV signal was routed from RGS through TsUP/Moscow and Ostankino TV satellite to Germany.]

At ~7:15am, CDR Vinogradov downlinked a TV message to TsUP for the 25th Anniversary of the City of Krasnoznamensk near Moscow in September, which is also marking the 50th Anniversary of Russia’s Space Era. [“…Krasnoznamensk today can be proud of the fact that some unusually captivating and driven people have served here and continue to maintain their operational readiness. Many of these people took part in testing of our first satellites, training and sending to space the first cosmonauts on the planet, controlled one-of-a-kind space vehicles created by human mind and hands to glorify our nation…”]

Overnight, TsUP/Moscow conducted hardware testing on the automated passive Kurs-P rendezvous & approach radar system on the SM, on both subsets (strings). There were no issues. [The SM aft end port will be used by Progress 23 for docking next month. 21P is currently docked at the SM aft end, 22P at the DC1, and Soyuz 12 at the FGB nadir port.]

No CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets uplinked today.

To date, over 250,000 of CEO images have been taken in the first six years of the ISS, about one third of the total number of images taken from orbit by astronauts.

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:

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

• 09/08/06 — STS-115/12A launch (11:35am EDT)
• 09/10/06 — STS-115/12A docking @ ISS
• 09/18/06 — Soyuz TMA-9/13S launch, 0:08am EDT (Expedition 14 + VC11) — 12A dependent
• 09/20/06 – Soyuz TMA-9/13S docking, 1:28am EDT — 12A dependent
• 09/28/06 – Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking & landing — 12A dependent
• 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
• 12/16-23/06 — STS-116/12A.1 docked mission w/ISS – 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 – 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

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.