NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 9 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.

FE-1 Williams and FE-2 Reiter continued the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation & Stabilization) six-month maintenance, today focusing on finishing torquing roller bearings and replacing both gyroscope wire ropes (one frayed, one broken) with new ones from the gyro mount/cable spare parts kit, a three-to-four hour job.

At the Service Module Central Post (SM/CP) CDR Vinogradov transitioned the Russian computer system to standard mode of operation by switching from TsPK2 (Central Post Computer 2) and Laptop 2 to TsPK1 and Laptop 1.

Also in the SM, Pavel Vinogradov continued the current (Week 18) water sampling program by taking more KAV condensate samples upstream of the SRV-K2M Condensate Water Processor’s Gas-Liquid Mixture Filter (FGS), then removing the sampler and separator and disposing of flush water as per instructions.

While working on the SRV-K2M system, Vinogradov replaced the BKO purification column assembly with a new spare. [The SRV-K2M, with its BKO multifiltration unit, removes dissolved mineral and organic impurities from the condensate. Downstream from it, the condensate water is treated in the BKV water conditioning unit with salts for taste and silver ions for preservation, before it flows to the KPV potable water container.]

FE-2 Reiter set up his third NOA (Nitric Oxide Analyzer) session, followed by Thomas and Pavel Vinogradov conducting the procedure, afterwards downlinking the measurements from the RSE1 laptop to the ground via the BSR-TM telemetry channel. [Purpose of the ESA experiment ESANO1, consisting of the “Platon” analyzer and its power supply, is to monitor expired nitric oxide (NO) in the subject’s exhaled air to detect signs of airway inflammation and indications of venous gas emboli (bubbles) that may be caused by inhalation of pollutants in the closed environment of the ISS cabin and increased risk of decompression sickness. The test sessions are being conducted biweekly, with two NO measurements in the exhaled air (after rinsing out with Rodnik water) taken in each session through a bacterial filter. Today’s measurement ops were recorded in the Platon log and supported by ground specialist tagup via S-band. To prevent skewing the measurements, Thomas and Pavel had to prepare themselves yesterday for the session by excluding food items containing nitrites and nitrates (such as in processed meat, assorted vegetables, stewed cabbage, etc.) from their diet for 24 hours before the weekly experiment.]

After having set up the necessary hardware yesterday, the two Flight Engineers began ALTEA (Anomalous Long Term Effects in Astronauts) operations, [Activities started with software loading on the EL4 (EXPRESS rack 4) laptop, followed by a tagup with ALTEA specialists on the ground, initial activation of the hardware and the video equipment to take historical documentation imagery. Later in the day, Jeff performed ALTEA dosimeter deactivation/activation, for the ground to receive the first DOSI data realtime for verification of the setup. Objectives of ALTEA for Increment 13 are to perform two 90-minute CNSM (Central Nervous System Monitoring) measure sessions with Jeff as subject (the first one tomorrow); and to continuously monitor space radiation inside the ISS (DOSI/Dosimetry Operations mode), to gather information about human brain response to space radiation that will ensure safer living in space.]

CDR Vinogradov made preparations for his first experiment session with the Russian/German Plasma Crystal-3 Plus (PK-3+) payload by unstowing, gathering and setting up its hardware, Telescience gear and two manometer pressure gauges. [The experiment will be performed on plasma, i.e., fine particles, charged and excited by RF/radio frequency power, inside the evacuated work chamber where they are studied in various modes and with various RF-discharge power levels, pressures, and quantities of particles. The experiment will run in automated mode. Main objective is to study dust plasma crystallization processes at a specified power of HF (high frequency) discharge, pressure, and a varied number of particles with subsequent reduction of HF discharge power, then to observe melting of the structures formed earlier.]

After configuring the new Bubble dosimeter yesterday for recording radiation traces as a new component of the Russian radiation payload suite “Matryoshka-R”, Pavel today worked on initializing and positioning the dosimeter, supported by ground specialist tagup. Photographing of the installed payload was to be conducted off the CDR’s discretionary task list. [The dosimeter panel is attached with Velcro at its SM work site (near the RBS 10/3 power outlet) and equipped with a fresh 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.]

Vinogradov and Reiter worked in the Soyuz TMA-8/12S vehicle at the FGB nadir port, dismantling the KURS-A rendezvous and approach radar system of its SUDN motion control & navigation system and removing it from the Orbit Module of the crew transport ship, a three-hour job. These valuable components will be returned to Earth for reuse. [KURS, not required for Soyuz prox ops (relocation) or reentry, has two components: KURS-A is the active half of the Russian space program’s proven S-band radar system for automated flight, which measures relative motion parameters between Soyuz(or Progress) and the ISS during rendezvous operations, to enable the autopilot’s calculation of corrective impulses. The system’s passive transponder counterpart (KURS-P) is on the SM, with one antenna each at the tip of the two solar array wings.]

In the US Airlock, FE-2 Reiter terminated the regeneration (“bake-out”) cycle on the first set of EMU METOX (Metal Oxide) carbon dioxide (CO2) filter canisters used during the recent EVA-5 and started it on the second set.

The CDR completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, with the regular replacements in its toilet system (ASU), plus the periodic checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS hatchways, including the SM-to-DC1 (22P) tunnel, and the FGB-to-Node and FGB-to-Soyuz passageways.

Working off his “time permitting” discretionary task list, Pavel also 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 FE-2 had another 1.5 hours reserved for prepacking equipment to be returned on STS-115/12A.

Jeffrey Williams did the periodic (once per month) routine inspection of the RED (Resistive Exercise Device) with canister cords, squat harness components, and accessory straps, and the canister bolts for re-tightening if required.

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 TVIS treadmill (FE-1, FE-2), RED (FE-1, FE-2, CDR), 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 4 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).

Jeff began preparations for tomorrow’s and Friday’s SSRMS operations by connecting the UOP DCP (Utility Outlet Panel/Display & Control Panel) bypass power cable at the Lab RWS (Robotics Work Station) for the Robotics/SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) video system. [Objectives for the SSRMS Ground Control Ops scheduled for 8/10-11 are (a) to position the robotarm in the 12A SVS (Space Vision System) targets viewing position (to provide the accuracy required for P3/P4 berthing), and (b) to configure the SSRMS for 12A, by having it walk off to the MBS PDGF (Mobile Base System Power & Data Grapple Fixture) under ground control. Each of the two days will have its specific DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) software on the MSS (Mobile Service System) RWS laptops that provides a graphical birdseye-view image of the external station configuration and the SSRMS arm, showing its real-time location and configuration on a laptop during its operation.]

At ~3:30pm EDT, Thomas Reiter is scheduled to support a test communications session between TsUP-Moscow and the Columbus Control Center (Col-CC) in Oberpfaffenhofen/Germany on the ESA/German commercial payload “RokvISS”, for which he had installed two SUBA (Onboard Equipment Control System) cables yesterday.

Working off his voluntary “job jar” task list, Pavel completed the daily status check of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) Lada-8 experiment as well as photographic imagery of the experiment using the Nikon D1X digital camera with flash and copying all photos from the memory card to the RSK1 laptop for downlink to TsUP via the BSR-TM telemetry channel. [Rasteniya researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-8 greenhouse. The regular maintenance of the experiment (each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) involves monitoring of seedling growth, humidity measurements, moistening of the substrate if necessary, topping off the water tank if ~20-25% of the total amount (4 liters) remains, and photo/video recording.]

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

MCC-Houston has uplinked crew briefing material on long-duration mission (LDM) behavioral health and performance factors, being worked at JSC/BHFG (Behavioral Health and Performance Group), for discussion with the crew. [The material focuses on four key factors that can reduce the astronaut’s behavioral health and performance: sleep and circadian factors; behavioral health factors; psychological adaptation factors; and human-to-system interface (the interface between the astronaut and the mission workplace) factors. Once on orbit, the certified CMO (Crew Medical Officer) becomes a valuable extension of the crew surgeon and BHPG on the ground due to the CMO’s constant interaction with crewmembers and preflight training in these four factors.]

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 S. Mozambique, Africa (weather was clear over Mozambique for nadir mapping photography. Overlapping frames along track were desired to establish a baseline for ecological change and urban development), Roter Kamm Impact Crater, Namibia (ISS had a nadir pass directly over this impact structure. Looking for a well-defined circular crater distinct from the surrounding desert floor), Riachao Ring Impact Crater, Brazil (ISS had a nadir pass over this moderately old [approximately 400 million years] impact structure. The crater is approximately 4.5 km in diameter is defined mainly by agricultural fields developed on its surface. Looking for a distinct circular pattern of fields as an indicator of the crater’s position), and Serra da Cangalha Impact Crater, Brazil (this impact structure is located close to the previous target [Riachao Ring] and is much larger – 12 kilometers in diameter. Vegetation patterns help define the crater structure – looking for a distinct inner ring surrounded by a less well-defined outer ring).

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, 7:01am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 340.5 km
• Apogee height– 346.0 km
• Perigee height — 335.0 km
• Period — 91.34 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008174
• Solar Beta Angle — 44.4 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 80 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 44156

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.