NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 8 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.

CDR Vinogradov serviced the Russian BMP Harmful Impurities Removal System, starting the “bake-out” cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. Before sleep time today (5:30pm EDT) the bake-out will be terminated. [Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. After the successful IVA/EVA installation of a new H2 dump line for the Elektron earlier this year, the BMP now uses its vacuum vent line/valve without having to share it with the electrolysis machine.]

In the Service Module (SM), CDR Vinogradov continued the current (Week 18) water sampling activity begun yesterday, by using two empty drinking bags (or food container) to collect condensate (KAV) samples upstream of the Water Purification Column Unit (SRV-K2M BKO), then replaced the sampler used. Later, Pavel also collected potable water samples from the Water Distribution & Heating Unit (BRP-M), from the Hot tap, into an EDP sample container, and from the second spigot (lukewarm) into three drink bags, for return to Earth. The water used for line flushing was disposed of into an EDV container. [Curiously, there is no really cold water aboard the ISS.]

Pavel Vinogradov also set up a Bubble dosimeter for recording radiation traces as a new component of the Russian radiation payload suite “Matryoshka-R”. [Using Velcro, the dosimeter panel was attached at the SM work site (near the RBS 10/3 power outlet) and equipped with its own MMC memory card. Of eight Bubble dosimeter detectors supplied, only four are used in the first sessions. The complex Matryoshka payload suite is designed for sophisticated radiation studies. Besides the Phantom Sphere containers in the SM, the human torso in the DC1 is equipped with individual horizontal slice-like layers with 356 thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) and five nuclear radiation tracking detectors (NTDPs). The mannequin is covered with a “poncho” and “hood” and used for studies of on-orbit radiation and long-term dose accumulation. The payload collects radiation measurements every 15 minutes of each hour around the clock. Note: Matryoshka is the name for the traditional Russian set of nested dolls.]

FE-2 Reiter meanwhile conducted the periodic hardware health check on the ESA/RSC-Energia experiment ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS), essentially ascertaining the size of the recorded data on the ACT spectrometer PCMCIA memory card by temporarily removing it and inserting it into the RSK1 laptop for “reading”.

Thomas Reiter and Pavel Vinogradov closed out the ESA student demo experiment OEE (Oil Emulsion Experiment) by setting up the camcorder for video/audio recording of Thomas explaining the mixing behavior of the two liquids used and finishing with farewell words to the young students in Germany, Austria and Switzerland who are participating in this experiment.

The crew executed the first of two planned days of scheduled TVIS treadmill six-month maintenance. [The crew discovered that one of the gyro wire ropes was severed and another one frayed. In addition, the crew partially completed tomorrow’s scheduled activity of roller bearing maintenance, allowing time tomorrow to replace the severed/frayed gyro wire ropes and returning TVIS to nominal configuration.]

The CDR performed outfitting on the ESA/German commercial experiment “RokvISS” by laying out, routing, installing and connecting two SUBA cables to a power switching unit. [RokvISS investigates the feasibility of robotic function and remote control in open space environment. Its REU (Robotic External Unit) arm, installed on the URM-D, is controlled by the CUP (Communication Unit for Payloads) via the OBC electronics, part of SM systems. RokvISS communicates directly with the GOSC (German Space Operations Center) ground station at Oberpfaffenhofen/Germany via independent S-band comm link. The SUBA (Onboard Equipment Control System) controls, monitors, and diagnoses SM systems status. It operates using sensor output signals and command radio link SM functional outputs, onboard computer system (BVS) units, SM control panels, and system relay outputs. Its software resides in the SM central computer (TsVM) and terminal computer (TVM).]

In the SM, Vinogradov also installed a cable for the Russian TV system between switches behind panel 127.

In the US Airlock, FE-2 Reiter terminated the charging of EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) batteries, and later, before sleep time, he will start the regeneration process on EMU METOX (Metal Oxide) carbon dioxide (CO2) filter canisters used during the recent EVA-5.

The FE-2 had another hour reserved for prepacking equipment to be returned on STS-115/12A.

Thomas also completed the routine daily maintenance of the SOZh environment control & life support system in the SM, including the ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables, and he updated/edited the standard IMS (Inventory Management System) “delta file”, including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

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-1, FE-2), RED (FE-1, CDR), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-2). [Pavel Vinogradov’s daily protocol prescribes a strict four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill in unmotorized mode (waived today) and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 3 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).

At ~4:10pm EDT, the crew is scheduled for a crew-discretionary TV conference via S- and Ku-band.

Working from his “time permitting” 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.

At ~9:50am EDT, station attitude was maneuvered from LVLH XVV (local vertical/local horizontal +x-axis in velocity vector) to LVLH -YVV (-y-axis in velocity vector, = “barbecue mode”), using the USTO (US Thruster Only) controller (which controls the Russian thrusters without requiring handover between MCSs (motion control systems). [During the new YVV attitude period (8/8-8/19), ground control teams will be executing a “timelined” series of BGA (Beta Gimbal Assembly) commands as an attempt to replicate the conditioning motion observed during XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to the orbit plane) attitude. In the past, XPOP BGA autotrack motion has allowed BGA performance to “reset” or smooth out between XVV intervals, ultimately improving BGA performance. Previous YVV conditioning trials showed the simulated XPOP motion had the same benefit to BGA XVV performance as standard XPOP Autotrack.]

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 Glacial features – South Libya (this nadir pass provides an opportunity to map ancient river deposits exposed by erosion. The deposits were formed by rivers flowing beneath glaciers in Libya approximately 450 million years ago. Looking for sinuous linear features on the landscape – these are the river deposits), Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa (Dynamic Event. Weather satellite imagery indicates that this South African range has accumulated snow cover – a somewhat unusual occurrence for these typically dry mountains. Its orbit track brought ISS directly over the range; overlapping mapping frames of the snow-covered peaks are desired), and Tropical Disturbance, Atlantic Ocean (Dynamic Event. A strong tropical wave emerged from the west coast of Africa three days ago passing to the south of the Cape Verde Islands. The National Hurricane Center is now monitoring this weather system as it continues moving westward into an area favorable for development. The next storm would be named “Debby.” Trying for short lens views and pans looking well left of track for cloud structure).

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:

• 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, 6:39am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 340.6 km
• Apogee height– 346.0 km
• Perigee height — 335.1 km
• Period — 91.35 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008099
• Solar Beta Angle — 40.0 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 50 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 44140

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)
• 09/25/06 — Soyuz TMA-8/12S undocking (FGB nadir port) & land
• 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.