All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Day 149 for Clayton Anderson. Flight Day 12 for STS-120/10A; Day 10 of Joint Ops. "It's been a great day!" (MS1 Scott Parazynski).
.....and thank God for the Canadian MSS!
ISS/Shuttle crew wake-up: 1:38am EDT. Sleeptime: 5:38pm (ISS), 6:08pm (Shuttle).
P6 Solar Array Wing 4B has been fully restored to service and is deployed for its entire length of 110 ft (33.5 m), under its nominal tension load of ~70 lbs (32 kg).
EVA-4 was completed fully successful in 7 hrs 19 min, accomplishing its objective by MS1 Scott Parazynski & MS2 Doug "Wheels" Wheelock, thanks to truly great team work:
- After approaching the damage site on the 4B inboard solar blanket on the OBSS/SSRMS (Orbiter Boom Sensor System/Space Station Remote Maneuvering System) combination, expertly "piloted" by Stephanie Wilson and Daniel Tani, Parazynski (EV1), closely monitored by Wheelock (EV2) at the 4B Mast base, inserted the first suture-like brace/stabilizer across the hinge (~8:50am), cut a snarled guidewire and then installed the remaining four braces (~9:04-11:00am), each built the previous day by Peggy Whitson & George "Zambo" Zamka from existing materials (wires of specific lengths with a cufflink-like aluminum anchor on each end). Having performed the delicate surgery, Physician-Astronaut Dr. Parazynski moved back to monitor the full extension of all remaining 4B Mast bays, one-half bay at a time (completed: ~11:23am);
- Before terminating the spacewalk, the crew also completed the get-ahead task of retrieving APFR (Articulating Portable Foot Restraint) #3 for sharp-edge inspection aboard the station.
[Official start time of the spacewalk was 6:03am EDT (~32 min ahead of schedule). It ended at 1:22pm. Total EVA duration (PET = Phase Elapsed Time) was 7h 19m, bringing the EVA total for the four 10A EVAs to 27h 14m. It was the 96th spacewalk for ISS assembly & maintenance and the 68th from the station (28 from Shuttle, 46 from Quest, 22 from Pirs) totaling 407h 52m. After today's EVA, a total of 113 spacewalkers (83 NASA astronauts, 20 Russians, and ten astronauts representing Japan-1, Canada-4, France-1, Germany-1 and Sweden-3) have logged a total of 595h 16m outside the station on building, outfitting and servicing. It also was the 118th spacewalk by U.S. astronauts.]
For CDR Whitson and FE-2-16 Dan Tani, the day began with their fourth session with the INTEGRATED IMMUNE (Validation of Procedures for Monitoring Crew Member Immune Function) experiment, today collecting "dry" saliva samples five times during the day (using special filter paper). [The experiment integrates studies of neuroendocrine & immune responses in humans during and after long-term stay at ISS to provide an understanding for the development of pharmacological tools to countermeasure unwanted immunological side effects during long-duration missions in space (Moon & Mars). Immune protocol requires the collection to occur first thing post-sleep, before eating, drinking and brushing teeth, and all samples are stored at ambient temperature. Previous observations suggest that space flight might have a negative impact on different elements of the immune system; possible causes are the effects of microgravity on the body, stress and radiation exposure. However, the fact that there have been very few infections of astronauts makes it difficult to translate observations of immune system changes into a risk assessment. Integrated Immune is the first study that will comprehensively monitor the performance of the immune system before, during and after space flight missions of long and short durations.]
Before spacewalk begin, FE-2 Anderson verified powerdown of onboard ham radio equipment (Kenwood in SM & Ericsson in FGB) to prevent RF interference with the EMUs.
Afterwards, Anderson rebooted all PCS (Portable Computer System) laptops at the Lab and Cupola Robotic Workstations (RWS) to ready them for the subsequent Robotics activities.
Also in preparation for the spacewalk, FE-1 Malenchenko retrieved a PBA (Portable Breathing Apparatus), consisting of an O2 bottle and QDM (Quick-Don Mask), from a Node-1 ZSR (Zero-G Stowage Rack) locker and stowed it in the A/L EL (Airlock Equipment Lock). After the egress of the spacewalkers, Yuri returned the PBA to its storage location on the ZSR.
Clay Anderson completed several outfitting tasks, first mounting hatch handle rings at the forward and aft hatches of Node-1, then moving to the Lab for similar guide assembly installations forward and aft.
The FE-2 also performed the periodic offloading of the Lab CCAA (Common Cabin Air Assembly) dehumidifier's condensate tank, filling a CWC (Contingency Water Container, #1062) with the collected water slated for processing. [Estimated offload time before termination (leaving ~5.25 kg in the tank): ~25 min.]
Later, Anderson deactivated the IWIS (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System, first downloading the recorded data of yesterday's Shuttle ergometer workout by Doug Wheelock to the SSC-2 (Station Support Computer 2) laptop for downlink, then tearing down the four RSUs (Remote Sensor Units) in Lab, Node, FGB & SM (Service Module) as well as the fifth RSU on the Shuttle middeck and the NCU (Network Control Unit) for subsequent stowage on the station.
FE-1 Malenchenko meanwhile conducted the (currently) daily job of checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS hatchways, including the SM- and FGB-to-Soyuz tunnels, and the FGB-to-Node passageway. [This is especially important when the ventilation/circulation system has to cope with a larger crew on board, currently ten persons.].
Later, Yuri conducted the routine maintenance of the SOZh (ECLSS/Environment Control & Life Support System) system in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables.
Anderson did the daily maintenance of the IMS (Inventory Management System), updating/editing its standard "delta file", including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).
CDR Whitson again assisted the spacewalkers when they returned at ~1:25pm, handling CL (Crewlock) repress, joint A/L post-EVA ops, and setting up a DCS 760 camera for EMU glove inspection.
Also after the EVA, Malenchenko opened the protective shutter of SM window #9.
At ~2:55pm, Yuri supported the ground's reactivation of the Elektron O2 generator at 32 amps by monitoring the external temperature of its secondary purification unit (BD) for the first 10 minutes of operations to ensure that there was no overheating. [During nominal operations a gas analyzer is utilized to detect hydrogen (H2) in the O2 line (which could cause overheating) but is not included in the control algorithm until 10 minutes after Elektron startup.]
Peggy Whitson filled out the regular FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire), her second, on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer). [Erroneously reported as completed on 11/1. By means of these FFQs, U.S. astronauts keep a personalized log of their nutritional intake over time on special MEC software. Recorded are the 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.]
ISS crewmembers completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical workout program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (CDR, FE-1), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1, FE-2), and RED resistive exercise device.
Clayton then transferred the crew's exercise data file to the MEC 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).
No CEO (Crew Earth Observations) target uplinked for today.
CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov (about 700,000 NASA digital photographs of Earth are downloaded by the public each month from this "Gateway" site);
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/AstronautPhotography
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern, some changes possible. Also: Stage 10A is under reassessment):
11/04/07 -- 50-Year Anniversary of launch of female dog Laika, first living space passenger, into orbit
11/04/07 -- 2:00am: DST ends, ST begins
11/05/07 -- STS-120/Discovery/10A undocking (FD14/5:32am)
11/07/07 -- STS-120/Discovery/10A deorbit burn (FD16/10:44am EST
11/07/07 -- STS-120/Discovery/10A landing @ KSC (FD16/11:44am EST)
TBD -- relocation to Node 2 (PMA-2 umbilicals stowed on 10A EVA-4)
TBD -- Node 2 (Harmony) plus PMA-2 relocation to front of Lab
11/14/07 -- US EVA-10
11/18/07 -- US EVA-11
12/06/07 -- STS-122/Atlantis/1E launch -- Columbus Module, ICC-Lite (NET)
12/08/07 -- STS-122/Atlantis/1E docking
12/15/07 -- STS-122/Atlantis undocking
12/18/07 -- STS-122/Atlantis landing
12/22/07 -- Progress M-61/26P undocking (DC1) & reentry
12/23/07 -- Progress M-62/27P launch
12/25/07 -- Progress M-62/27P docking (DC1)
01/31/08 -- ATV-1 "Jules Verne" launch/Ariane V (Kourou, French Guyana)
01/31/08 -- 50-Year Anniversary of Explorer 1 (1st U.S. satellite on Redstone rocket)
02/06/08 - Progress M-62/27P undocking
02/07/08 -- Progress M-63/28P launch
02/09/08 -- Progress M-63/28P docking
02/14/08 -- ATV-1 docking (SM aft port)
02/14/08 -- STS-123/Endeavour/1J/A launch/1J/A -- SLP-SPDM, JEM ELM-PS (NET)
02/16/08 -- STS-123/Endeavour/1J/A docking
02/27/08 -- STS-123/Endeavour undocking
02/29/08 -- STS-123/Endeavour landing
04/08/08 -- Soyuz TMA-12/16S launch
04/10/08 -- Soyuz TMA-12/16S docking (DC1)
04/19/08 -- Soyuz TMA-11/15S undocking (FGB nadir port)
04/23/08 -- Soyuz TMA-12/16S relocation (from DC1 to FGB nadir port)
04/24/08 -- STS-124/Discovery/1J launch - JEM PM "Kibo", racks, RMS.
04/26/08 -- STS-124/Discovery/1J docking
05/02/08 -- STS-124/Discovery/1J undocking
05/14/08 -- Progress M-64/29P launch
05/16/08 -- Progress M-64/29P docking (DC1)
07/29/08 -- ATV-1 undocking (from SM aft port)
08/11/08 -- Progress M-64/29P undocking (from DC1)
08/12/08 -- Progress M-65/30P launch
08/14/08 -- Progress M-65/30P docking (SM aft port)
09/13/08 -- Progress M-66/31P launch
09/15/08 -- Progress M-66/31P docking (DC1)
09/20/08 -- (NET) STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 launch - MPLM(P), LMC
10/01/08 -- (NET) STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 undocking.
10/11/08 -- Progress M-65/30P undocking (from SM aft port)
10/14/08 -- Soyuz TMA-13/17S launch
10/16/08 -- Soyuz TMA-13/17S docking (SM aft port)
04/??/09 -- Six-person crew on ISS
04/15/09 -- Constellation's Ares I-X Launch.
Note: The daily ISS On-Orbit Status reports can also be found at
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/iss_reports/index.htm
