All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Day 150 for Clayton Anderson. Flight Day 13 for STS-120/10A; Day 11 of Joint Ops. Sunday - Farewell Day.
>>>Today 50 years ago the first living space passenger was launched into orbit: the female dog Laika on Soviet Russia's Sputnik-2.<<<
ISS/Shuttle crew wake-up: 1:08am EST. Sleeptime: 5:10pm (ISS), 6:08pm (Shuttle).
After a touching (and a bit tearful) Crew Farewell at ~2:25pm EST, hatches between ISS and Discovery were closed at 2:42pm. What an unbelievably successful mission!
Shuttle Undocking is scheduled tomorrow at 5:32am. [Since PMA-2 cabling has not been disconnected as originally planned for EVA-5, the automatic undocking software for the PMA-2 departure under Russian thruster control will still be used. The procedure provides for the crewmember to stand by with a stopwatch and to take over the automatic operational attitude control sequence manually if the software does not resume control after the period of free drift a few minutes after physical separation.]
For CDR Whitson and FE-2-16 Dan Tani, the day began with their fifth session with the INTEGRATED IMMUNE (Validation of Procedures for Monitoring Crew Member Immune Function) experiment, today collecting "dry" saliva samples for Dan five times during the morning hours (using special filter paper), plus blood samples from both, drawn by Dr. Scott Parazynski. All samples were then to be stored on the Shuttle for return. [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.]
Both crews worked busy morning hours to prepare for the hatch closing:
FE-1 Malenchenko disassembled the gas transfer equipment used for supplying Shuttle oxygen (O2) for EVA prebreathing in the Airlock (A/L).
CDR Whitson collected and restowed the recharge hoses that were used for transferring O2 and N2 (nitrogen) from the Shuttle to the high-pressure tanks outside the A/L, onto their PMA-2 (Pressurized Mating Adapter 2) stowage brackets
In the A/L, Peggy reconfigured Doug Wheelock's EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) from yesterday's EVA-4 for her own use during the EVA-5 with Dan Tani next Thursday (11/8), which was deferred from the 10A docked period. Parazynski's EMU was transferred back to the Shuttle. [EVA-5 tasks, estimated to take ~6.5 hrs, include: 1. Stow SSPTS (Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System) cabling; 2. Stow PMA-2/Lab umbilicals; 3. Retrieve Lab CETA (Crew & Equipment Translation Aid) light; 4. Temp stow Node-2 starboard tray avionics umbilicals; 5. Remove & stow ACBM (Active Common Berthing Mechanism) cover & survey CBM; 6. Install Node-2 "horseshoe" connectors on PDGF (Power & Data Grapple Fixture); 7. Mate a power cable; 8. Retrieve BSP (Baseband Signal Processor); 9. Configure PMA-1/FGB jumpers; 10. Remove & replace RPCM (Remote Power Controller Module) 4B-C on S0 truss; 11. Relocate N2 VTE (Vent Tool Extender) bag; and 12. Install Node-2 handrail.]
FE-2 Clay Anderson used part of his final day on the station for some last-minute handover activities with his successor, Dan Tani.
Clayton also turned on the VOA (Volatile Organic Analyzer) which is currently in a troubleshooting phase. [After six consecutive hard shutdowns, VOA enters a diagnostic mode where the ground cannot communicate with it for several hours. That limit has almost been reached. In addition, VOA has exhibited several "funnies" as of late. Because a controlled powerdown might reset the instrument, the FE-2 first switched it back on for allowing it to complete its activation and warm-up sequence, then commanded a "graceful" shutdown, from which ground will power-cycle the VOA RPC (Remote Power Controller) to return it to a good config.]
Afterwards, Anderson joined Shuttle crewmembers in transferring return cargo to the Shuttle, going by uplinked detailed transfer lists and drawing on tagup support by ground specialists in Houston (MCC-H) and Huntsville (POC/Payload Operations Center).
For POC, Anderson and Tani packed payload samples and ICEPACs from MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS) in two DCBs (Double Coldbags) for return on Discovery. MELFI will be powered down for undocking. [Three cold samples will be coming down: NUTRITION, TROPI, and IMMUNO.]
For the CSI-2/CGBA-5 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 5/Science Insert-02) science experiment, Clay deactivated the payload, uncabled it for accessing its interior, removed the CSI-02 hardware and restored CGBA-5 to operation, powering it back on. [POC is looking forward to forward to receiving CGBA-5's CHab and Cell Culture Hab back soon. No germination has as yet been observed in the Plant Hab but additional watering could initiate the process.]
FE-1 Malenchenko reconfigured two DCS-760 digital cameras used during the EVA, resetting them for nominal IVA use.
Yuri also 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.
Later, the FE-1 performed the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM (Service Module), including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables plus the weekly collection of the toilet flush counter (SPK-U) and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP/Moscow.
Malenchenko also gathered weekly data on total operating time & "On" durations of the Russian POTOK-150MK (150 micron) air filter unit of the SM's SOGS air revitalization subsystem for reporting to TsUP.
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 (FE-2-16), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-2), RED resistive exercise device (CDR), and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).
Clay then transferred the crew's exercise data file 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).
Weekly Science Update (Expedition Sixteen - 2nd)
ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS): A memory card exchange was performed nominally on 10/30. Radiation measurements will continue to be performed throughout the Increment 16.
ANITA: Completed.
BCAT (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test): Reserve.
CARDIOCOG-2: Completed.
CCISS (Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Control on Return from ISS): Planned.
CFE (Capillary Flow Experiment): Planned.
CHROMOSOME-2 (E14 SFP): Completed.
CSI-2/CGBA (CGBA Science Insert #2/Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus): On 11/2, the ground issued a command to the Cell Culture Hab to take the last sample on orbit before return. Once received on the ground, the specimens of CHab and Cell Culture Hab will be analyzed. Researchers found with ground testing that adding a few drops of water to the seed plugs in the Plant Hab will initiate germination due to the plugs drying out over time. They plan to implement the extra watering for future Plant Hab runs.
CGBA-2 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 2): Complete.
CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2): Planned.
EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students): Complete.
EMCH (Elastic Memory Composite Hinge): Complete.
EPO (Educational Payload Operation) Kit C: Planned.
ETD (Eye Tracking Device): First session for Yuri Malenchenko has been performed nominally on 10/18.
Integrated Immune: In Progress
IMMUNO (Saliva Sampling): Inc-15 first session samples are currently stowed in MELFI Dewar #2, to be returned on 10A.
LOCAD-PTS (Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System): Complete.
MISSE (Materials ISS Experiment): Ongoing.
MTR-2 (Russian radiation measurements): Passive dosimeters measurements in DC1 "Pirs".
MULTIGEN-1: Since last report on 10/25, the scientists have intensively observed the stem that appeared in the A2 Experiment Container. This stem grows very fast, and images acquired by EMCS indicate that there exist weak circumnutation motions in 0-g conditions. This was never observed in the past space experiments. On 10/30, side shoots have also appeared and the plant is in very healthy condition. 2D then 3D-recordings of stem circumnutation - in 0-g and 1-g conditions and in light and darkness conditions -are pursued for several days, making use of any possibility to get additional science between the planned power outages during the 10A mission. Before the end of the experiment run (scheduled on 11/08-11/10, under discussion with POIC), it is expected that flowering and pollenization will occur, leading possibly to seeds that may be collected by the science team after return with 1E mission.
MSG-SAME (Microgravity Science Glovebox): Complete.
NEOCYTOLYSIS (E14 SFP): Complete.
NOA-2 (Nitric Oxide Analyzer): Planned.
NUTRITION: Planned.
PMDIS (Perceptual Motor Deficits in Space): Complete.
SAMPLE: Samples of cosmonaut sessions #1and #2, plus Surfaces and Cultures have been downloaded on 14S and handed-over to science team for analysis.
SAMS/MAMS (Space & Microgravity Acceleration Measurement Systems: n/a
SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight): Planned.
SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellite): Planned.
Swab (Characterization of Microorganisms & Allergens in Spacecraft): In progress.
TRAC (Test of Reaction & Adaptation Capabilities): Planned.
CEO (Crew Earth Observations): Planned.
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
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:34am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude -- 342.1 km
Apogee height -- 344.05 km
Perigee height -- 340.3 km
Period -- 91.38 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.64 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0002737
Solar Beta Angle -- -56.6 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.76
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours -- 25 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) -- 51292
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Standard, some changes possible):
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)
11/08/07 -- EVA-5 (Peggy Whitson/Dan Tani)
11/12/07 -- PMA-2 relocation to Node 2 (PMA-2 umbilicals stowed on 10A EVA-5)
11/14/07 -- Node-2 (Harmony) plus PMA-2 relocation to front of Lab
11/20/07 -- US EVA-10 (Peggy Whitson/Dan Tani)
11/24/07 -- US EVA-11 (Peggy Whitson/Dan Tani)
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/Jupiter 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
