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. The crew awoke to thanks for their outstanding work yesterday evening with the kids of Waimea Middle School at Kamuela, Hawaii.
Progress 15P launch is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 1:03am EDT. Docking: Saturday, 8/14, at 1:02am.
Before breakfast, both crewmembers completed another session of the bi-monthly (more or less) Russian medical experiment protocols Calf Volume Measurement (PZEh-MO-7) and Body Mass Measurement (PZEh-MO-8). FE/SO Fincke set up the MO-8 "scales" equipment and CDR Padalka later broke it down and stowed it away. [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 ass 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].
This was the second and final day of keeping diet logs for the current session of the BIOPSY experiment. Similarly to the Renal (kidney stone prevention) experiment in the past, nutrition consumption is recorded three times a day, in this case in a spreadsheet via the crewmember's handheld PDA. [One of the human systems most affected by extended stays in space is the neuromuscular system. Past space missions have shown weightlessness can cause deterioration of muscle fiber, nerves and physical strength. The BIOPSY (Effect of Prolonged Space Flight on Human Skeletal Muscle) experiment investigates the reductions in limb muscle size, force and power at the cellular level that are induced by microgravity. This research will determine how long it takes for micro-G to affect skeletal muscles, so predictions can be made regarding muscle changes that may occur on a roundtrip flight to Mars. To help establish the cellular effects of weightlessness, biopsies are taken from the calf muscle (gastronemius) and foot-flexing muscle (soleus) 45 days before launch, and again immediately upon return to Earth. MRI (magnetic resonance imagery) also is taken of the calf muscle 90 and 30 days before launch, and again one and 21 days after return to Earth.]
Gennady Padalka completed the Day 3 part of the inflight maintenance of the Russian TEKh-20 Plasma Crystal-3 (PK-3) payload. Today's task involved the "vacuumizing" and final leak checking of the repaired VV1 nozzle in the pump body of the removed N-300 turbopump. [Re-installation of the N-300, required to evacuate the PK-3 work chamber, is scheduled for tomorrow.]
Mike Fincke powered up EXPRESS Rack 5 (ER5) with its laptop to support subsequent SNFM network flow monitoring/capturing of downlinked HRF ADUM (Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity) data. Afterwards, ER5 laptop was to be powered down again.
After the ground had activated the ER2 HRF (Human Research Facility) earlier in the morning, Mike powered up its laptop and set up the ADUM equipment, after which the crewmembers performed ultrasound bone scans ("Scan Z") on each other, taking turns as operator and subject. Afterwards the hardware was deactivated. The scan heads were cleaned and stowed as part of closeout operations. ADUM Scan A activities are scheduled for Thursday (8/12). [After activation of the HRF (Human Research Facility) and the video tape recorder (VTR) by the ground early in the morning, Mike powered up the HRF computer and the ADUM hardware. The bone scans were taken of the subject's shoulder, elbow, knee and ankle, medically supported from the ground (POIC, Payload Operations & Integration Center) via privatized video and VOX S/G. The data were also recorded, and the scanning and post-scan activities were videotaped and still-photographed for downlink.]
Gennady worked briefly on the Matryoshka server (BSPN) behind Service Module (SM) panel 128, disconnecting one of its channels (channel SAN), followed by tagup with ground specialists via S-band.
Using the MO-21 "Ecosfera" air sampler and incubation equipment, broken out and set up yesterday, the CDR spent about 40 minutes collecting air samples for atmospheric microbial analysis. (Last time done: 4/28/04) [MO-21 determines microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.]
Padalka and Fincke had three hours set aside to conduct the Soyuz emergency descent (srotchniy spusk) training exercise, standard procedure for each crew depending on the Soyuz as a CRV (crew rescue vehicle). The exercise, which strictly forbids any command activation (except for switching the Soyuz InPU display), was supported by a tagup with ground experts at TsUP/Moscow via U.S. S-band. [The training session included a review of the pertinent ODF (operational data files), specifically the books on Soyuz Insertion & Descent Procedures, Emergency (Rapid) Descents, and Off-Nominal Situation Procedures.]
Gennady completed the daily routine inspection of the SM's SOZh life support system (with routine ASU toilet replacements), including the periodic inspection of the BRPK air/liquid condensate separator apparatus, and later prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) "delta" file update.
Both crewmembers completed their full regimen of physical exercise on VELO with force loader, RED (resistive exercise device), CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) and TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization).
Afterwards, the FE performed the monthly maintenance of the CEVIS, which concerns itself mostly with an examination of the wire rope isolators for damage.
Later today, Gennady unstows and sets up the gear for the periodic Russian MO-10 "Hematokrit" testing scheduled for tomorrow (last time done: 7/15). [MO-10 measures the hematocrit (red cell mass) value of the blood (as a well-known phenomenon of space flight, red blood cell mass {normal range: 30-45%} tends to go down over time).]
Scheduled for tomorrow: another session of the MBI-1 SPRUT-K experiment test, part of Russian medical research on the distribution and behavior of human body fluids in zero gravity.
The Science Officer was provided with a new list of options, at his discretion, for the next "Saturday Science" demo program. [Suggestions by POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center) are a BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test 3) photography session, a CFE (Capillary Flow Experiment) teleconference, a CFE experiment run, and EPO (Educational Program Operation) demos of toys, music and "chicken shake", an ISSI (In-Space Soldering Investigation) experiment, and an MFMG (Miscible Fluids in Microgravity) PI conference.]
Using the new Russian "Sputnik-SM" amateur radio hardware, at ~9:43am EDT the crew engaged in a ham radio exchange with students of Good Shepherd School at Decherd, TN, with contact being shared with St. Paul's in Tullahoma, TN. [The school of The Good Shepherd is a continuation of Winchester Academy, which was opened in September 1903 by the Dominican Sisters in conjunction with the Good Shepherd Parish. The present school, built and dedicated in 1966, is under lay administration.]
Working from the Russian task list, the CDR continued the current session with the Uragan ("hurricane") earth-imaging program, using the Kodak 760 DSC (digital still camera) with 800mm-lens from SM windows #9. [Today's task again was to perform photo imagery of the Grushevskoye village in the Alexandrovskiy Region of Stavropol Territory. Grushevskoye is 80 km east of Stavropol, on the highway between Svetlograd Gofitskoye Grushevskoye Alexandrovskoye.]
Starting at last midnight and running for five hours, MCC-H and its support group in Moscow (HSG) conducted another BCC (Backup Control Center) dry run in test mode, with no involvement of the ISS crew or vehicle. Purpose of the periodic exercise was to demonstrate BCC functionality under Russian assets (RSA EIS server and RSA command drop box) as usual and this time under the new IBM "Shark" server, while providing proficiency training for HSG (Houston Support Group) personnel at the HSR (Houston Support Room). [The ISS EMCC (Emergency Mission Control Center), located in Russia, comprises TsUP/Moscow as the Lead Control Center, coupled with HSR at TsUP. The BCC facility provides a command and control capability from TsUP if the EMCC must be activated. This is the case in situations that render MCC-Houston unable to provide telemetry, voice, and command capability for extended periods. EMCC is also used when the threat of severe weather results in evacuation of the MCC-H building for extended periods. In such an emergency, both Russian servers (CMD/command & TM/telemetry) are transitioned from MCC-H connectivity to BCC configuration, after which only the BCC can connect to the CMD and TM ports. An actual contingency requiring switchover to the BCC occurred on 10/2/2002 when Hurricane Lili forced MCC-H to shut down at 4:00am EDT.]
Starting at 5:00am this morning, work continued in Moscow on upgrading MCC-H/TsUP network routers. The NISN Mission routers are providing command and telemetry links between Moscow and Houston.
Yesterday's checkup by Mike Fincke of the HV02 (Hand Valve 02) on the MCA (Major Constituents Analyzer) confirmed that the valve is properly closed at a torque value of 28 in-lbs. [HV02 was suspected to be either not fully closed or leaking, resulting in the previously reported MCA VGA (Verification Gas Assembly) pressure anomaly. The VGA is used to calibrate the MCA, and workarounds are currently in place to extend the VGA life through August 2005.]
The S1 truss external TV camera (ETVC) system lost video a total of six times over the past weekend. The video was recovered by power cycling the unit, and is now operating nominally. [S1 ETVC loss of video has been observed numerous times since the first time it happened last year (4/27) and is being tracked by the video System Problem Resolution Team.]
The station continues to fly in XPOP attitude (X-axis perpendicular to orbit plane), pitch: 0.8 deg, yaw: -8.0 deg, roll: 0 deg, until 9/2, when it will switch to LVLH XVV in support of EVA-11, to return to XPOP on 9/4.
Major upcoming events:
- Progress 15P launch -- 8/11 (1:03:07am EDT); new
- Progress 15P docking -- 8/14 (1:02am EDT);
- ISS Reboost -- 8/20 (delta-V = 1.5 m/s);
- ISS Reboost -- 8/25 (delta-V = 2.2 m/s);
- EVA-11 -- 9/3;
- Soyuz 9S launch -- 10/9;
- Soyuz 9S dock -- 10/11;
- Soyuz 8S undock/land -- 10/19;
- Soyuz 9S relocate -- 11/18;
- Progress 16P launch -- 11/24.
Expedition 9 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.
Today's CEO photo target, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in "ram"), were Kolka Glacier, Caucasus Russia (ISS had a nadir pass over this small feature in the Caucasus Mountains. Although attitude may not have permitted a good view of the target itself, the crew was to try to take advantage of the morning light and cloud conditions to map the late-summer snow and ice conditions in these rugged mountains), Typhoon Rananim (DYNAMIC EVENT: ISS had a near nadir pass over this small, but strengthening typhoon located northeast of Taiwan. Trying for oblique views of the banding features and perhaps a shadow-enhanced view of the eye, if one was visible), and Internal waves, Vietnam (a nice, fair-weather pass to look right of track for internal waves near the coast from the Gulf of Tonkin to well into the South China Sea).
CEO images can be viewed at these websites:
See also the website "Space Station Challenge" at:
To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 9 crew visit:
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:55am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude -- 356.9 km
- Apogee height -- 360.8 km
- Perigee height -- 353.0km
- Period -- 91.7 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
- Eccentricity -- 0.0006187
- Solar Beta Angle -- -36.2 deg
- Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.70
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 90 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 32684
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.
