NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 9 August 2005
SpaceRef note: This NASA Headquarters internal status report, as presented here, contains additional, original material produced by SpaceRef.com (copyright © 2005) to enhance access to related status reports and NASA activities.
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
In a joyous event for all of NASA, STS-114/Discovery returned to Earth this morning, touching down on Runway 22 of Edwards AFB at Dryden FRC at 8:11:22am EDT after 219 orbits, thereby crowning a highly successful mission ISS LF-1 mission. Welcome back, Discovery, after a 13d 21h 32m 22s and 5.8 million-mile journey in space! “Eileen made it look like a cakewalk!” (Bill Readdy). [The Orbiter and its crew of seven had to be redirected to California after two KSC wave-offs yesterday and today due to inclement weather conditions at the Cape.]
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Following station inspection and morning hygiene, before breakfast and first exercise, CDR Krikalev and FE/SO Phillips performed another session of the periodic Russian biomedical assessments PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement), using the newly installed mass measurement device (IM), later breaking it down for stowage. [Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM “scales” measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember’s mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.]
In the Lab module, the Science Officer powered up the HRF GASMAP (Human Research Facility/Gas Analyzer System for Metabolic Analysis Physiology) and its laptop for another routine 30-day health check. Later in the day, the equipment was turned off again. [During the health check, the GASMAP AM (Analyzer Module) is powered on and runs for approximately 6 hours to maintain the integrity of the hardware. In addition, the CM (Calibration Module) tank values are logged to track gas usage.]
The crew spent several hours reviewing the ODFs (Operations Data Files), training DVDs and preliminary timeline of the upcoming Russian EVA-14, to be conducted on 8/18 from the “Pirs” DC1 docking compartment. Several tagups with ground specialists supported the familiarization activities. [EVA-14 egress in Orlan-M suits is tentatively scheduled for 2:45pm EDT, with ingress an estimated 5h 50m later at 8:35pm. The spacewalk by Krikalev (EV1) & Phillips (EV2) has seven major objectives: (1) Remove MPAC & SEED panel #3 on the large diameter section (RO) of the Service Module (SM); (2) remove the Matryoshka experiment on SM RO; (3) install a reserve television camera on the endcone of the SM assembly section; (4) photograph and check out the Kromka-3 contamination exposure experiment tablet attached to an SM handrail; (5) change out the SKK-3-SM materials exposure container with the new SKK-5-SM; (6) remove the Russian/US Strela 2 adapter from the EFGF (electrical flight grapple fixture) on the FGB module and install it on the FRGF (flight releasable grapple fixture) on the PMA-3 (pressurized mating adapter #3); and (7) remove the “Biorisk” payload canister on the DC-1. MPAC (a micrometeoroid & orbital debris collector) and SEED (a materials exposure array) are commercial Japanese/JAXA science payloads. Matryoshka is a spherical body-simulating “phantom” and a human torso model outside on the SM hull, mounted there during EVA-9 on 2/27/04 to study radiation effects. Strela-2 is one of two cranes and work stations mounted at the DC-1, with an adapter end at the FGB, to be moved to the PMA-3.]
The CDR performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, including the ASU toilet system and the weekly inspection of the BRPK air/liquid condensate separator apparatus.
Both crewmembers conducted their regular 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, CEVIS cycle ergometer, RED resistive machine and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer. [Sergei’s daily protocol prescribes a strict four-day microcycle exercise with 1.5 hr on the treadmill and one hour on VELO plus load trainer (today: Day 2 of a new set).]
Afterwards, John transferred the exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) 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).
The FE completed the weekly TVIS maintenance in the current SLD (subject loading device) contingency configuration, primarily checking the condition of the SPDs (subject positioning devices) and recording time & date values.
Phillips also performed the periodic once-per-month inspection of the RED with canister cords and accessory straps as well as the canister bolts for re-tightening if required.
On the recently located ITCS PPA (Internal Thermal Control System Pump Package Assembly), John checked out its three QDs (quick disconnects) for FOD (foreign object debris) and installed protective caps on them.
Sergei broke out and set up the equipment for tomorrow’s scheduled Russian PZE MO-9 “Urolux” biochemical urine test, his fourth on this Increment. [The MO-9 urinalysis assessment is a standard requirement for Russian spacewalkers, both before and immediately after the EVA.]
Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) photo targets, in the current LVLH attitude not limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Tunis, Tunisia (ISS had an excellent nadir pass in high sun over the Tunisian capital city. Using the long lens settings for a detailed mapping of the urban area and infrastructure of this city of over 2 million), St. Thomas reefs, Virgin Islands (continuing to use the long lens settings for mapping details of the coral reef structures of this beautiful island), St. John reefs, Virgin Islands (continuing to use the long lens settings for mapping details of the coral reef structures of this beautiful island), St. Croix reefs, Virgin Islands (continuing to use the long lens settings for mapping details of the coral reef structures of this beautiful island), Andrews Forest, Washington (this pass should have been early enough in the day to beat the diurnal clouds that form over the forested mountains this time of the year. Trying for a nadir mapping of the northern portion of this target area), and Beni River dynamics, Bolivia (clouds were expected to remain to the south of the portion of the Beni. Using the long lens setting for nadir mapping of the meanders and oxbow lake structures).
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:
To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 11 crew visit:
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-11/ndxpage1.html at NASA’s Human Spaceflight website.
Expedition 11 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.
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ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:44am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 354.4 km
- Apogee height — 355.2 km
- Perigee height — 353.6 km
- Period — 91.63 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.65 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0001189
- Solar Beta Angle — -12.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.71
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 22 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 38406
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.
