All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
Using the RSE1 laptop, CDR Volkov & FE-1 Kononenko spent three more hours on their test program with the new KPT-2 BAR-RM payload equipment begun yesterday. [Today's measurements were taken with the AU-1, Kelvin-Video, Iva-6A & TTM-2 instruments near welds along SM (Service Module) structural rings and near the shell ring in the FGB for subsequent downlinking via BSR-TM channel. At the FGB pressurized shell ring, the two cosmonauts also inspected structural elements, equipment, and cable bundles for moisture, mold, or evidence of corrosion. The BAR-RM data are being used for experimenting with ISS leak detection based on environmental data anomalies (temperature, humidity, and ultrasound emissions) at possible leak locations, in order to develop a procedure for detecting air leakage from ISS modules. The payload uses a remote infrared thermometer (Kelvin-Video), a thermohygrometer (Iva-6A), a heat-loss anemometer/thermometer (TTM-2), an ultrasound analyzer (AU-1), and a leak detector (UT2-03) to determine physical background signs of loss of ISS pressure integrity which could be indicative of leaks in the working compartments of the station. Measurements are taken in specific zones in SM PkhO, FGB and DC1, both with lights, fans & ASU pump turned on and off.]
FE-2 Reisman worked in the JLP (JEM Logistics Module Pressurized Section), setting up two A31p laptops and configuring them as SSCs (Station Support Computers) for use in the JEM (Japanese Experiment Module) "Kibo" arriving with STS-124/Discovery on 6/2.
Later, the FE-2 continued his EVA tool & equipment preparations in the US Airlock (A/L) for the 1J spacewalks. Ground commands afterwards deactivated the A/L CCAA (Common Cabin Air Assembly) air conditioner. [So far, Garrett had completed 4.5 hrs out of the 10 hrs estimated for the 1J EVA tool config. If today's planned 3 hrs do not suffice for the remainder, an additional 2.5 hrs can be made available later. The final NBL (Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory) EVA simulation run at JSC/Sonny Carter Training Facility is scheduled for 5/16.]
FE-1 Kononenko continued outfitting in the FGB with new stowage enclosures delivered by the ATV1 (Automated Transfer Vehicle 1), built in Russia to provide more efficient stowage spaces behind FGB panels and improve airflow/circulation. [Today's outfitting involved the two containers transferred yesterday in pieces from ATV stowage for installation in the FGB zones 30A & 30B (panel 421).]
In the SM, CDR Volkov continued equipping crew cabin air ducts with new mufflers, replacing US-made noise suppressors (blue) with Russian acoustic mufflers (white) and taking documentary photographs for subsequent ground inspection. The blue mufflers were prepared for disposal. [The muffler replacements were started last January by Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani on various fans in the SM.]
Volkov completed the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables. [Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists of replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers, replacement of an EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine container, replacement of the KOV EDV at the SKV-2 air conditioner for the Elektron-intended water, and processing U.S. condensate water as it becomes available in a filled CWC from the Lab humidifier.]
Sergey also performed the daily IMS (Inventory Management System) maintenance, updating/editing its standard "delta file" including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).
The crew 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), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1), RED resistive exerciser (FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1).
Afterwards, Garrett downloaded the crew's exercise data file 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 three crewmembers had their standard periodic PMCs (Private Medical Conferences) via S- & Ku-band audio/video.
Completing a voluntary item from the US "job jar" task list, Reisman recharged the battery of the PWS (Portable Workstation) in the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) and rebooted the laptop.
VolSci Program: For the Voluntary Science program on the weekend ahead (5/9-5/11), Garrett Reisman was offered two choices for his selection: (1) an "operations improvement" session with SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) with all three satellites (single-satellite experiments to test new thrusting algorithms and demonstrate safe trajectories for the inspection of space structures; two-satellite experiments to introduce new controllers and on-line path planning tools for purpose of docking to a complex tumbling satellite; three-satellite runs for formation flight experiments to test initialization of a formation and obstacle avoidance; (2) an EPO (Education Payload Operations) Demo on Space Careers, creating an educational video discussing different careers found at NASA, to be used to produce an educational product to enhance existing education resources for students in grades 9-12. Garrett's choice is required by tonight.
CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today were Ouarkziz Impact Crater, Algeria (this 3.5 km diameter impact structure in located within folded rocks of the Ouarkziz Monocline in Algeria. ISS had a near-nadir pass over the impact structure; overlapping frames, taken along track as ISS crossed the coastline and passed over the mountains were recommended. This mapping approach should have captured the crater), S. Mozambique, Africa (weather was predicted to be mostly clear over this ecological monitoring target. Development of petroleum resources over the next several years is expected to significantly alter the existing land cover and land use of the area. Overlapping nadir mapping frames, taken along track as ISS approached the coastline were requested), Harvard Forest, Vermont (this long term ecological research [LTER] site is focused on study of natural and human disturbances to forest ecosystems. Overlapping nadir frames, taken along track, were requested to obtain imagery of the forest canopy, open space, and urbanization), and High Central Andean Glaciers, S. America (the crew had an opportunity to capture context imagery of the eastern front of the Andes Mountains. Looking to the right of track for the mountains and glaciers; orbit track was parallel to the eastern mountain front).
CEO photography can be studied at this "Gateway" website:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov (as of 3/1/08, this database contained 757,605 views of the Earth from space, with 314,000 from the ISS alone).
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:39am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude -- 341.5 km
Apogee height -- 346.1 km
Perigee height -- 336.8 km
Period -- 91.36 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.64 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0006885
Solar Beta Angle -- 3.3 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.76
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours -- 106 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) -- 54195
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
05/14/08 -- Progress M-64/29P launch
05/16/08 -- Progress M-64/29P docking (FGB nadir)
05/31/08 -- STS-124/Discovery/1J launch - JEM PM "Kibo", racks, RMS (5:01pm EDT)
06/02/08 -- STS-124/Discovery/1J docking
07/10/08 -- Russian EVA-20 (7/10-11)
08/10/08 -- ATV1 undocking
08/12/08 -- Progress M-65/30P launch
08/14/08 -- Progress M-65/30P docking (SM aft port)
????/08 -- STS-125/Atlantis Hubble Space Telescope Service Mission 4 (SM4)
09/09/08 -- Progress M-64/29P undocking (from DC1)
09/10/08 -- Progress M-66/31P launch
09/12/08 -- Progress M-66/31P docking (DC1)
10/01/08 -- NASA 50 Years
10/11/08 -- Progress M-65/30P undocking (from SM aft port)
10/12/08 -- Soyuz TMA-13/17S launch
10/14/08 -- Soyuz TMA-13/17S docking (SM aft port)
10/16/08 -- STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 launch - MPLM Leonardo, LMC
10/18/08 -- STS-126/Discovery/ULF2 docking
10/23/08 -- Soyuz TMA-12/16S undocking (FGB nadir)
11/03/08 -- Soyuz TMA-13/17S relocation (from SM aft to FGB nadir)
11/20/08 -- ISS 10 Years
11/26/08 -- Progress M-67/32P launch
11/28/08 -- Progress M-67/32P docking (SM aft port)
12/04/08 -- STS-119/Discovery/15A launch - S6 truss segment
12/06/08 -- STS-119/Discovery/15A docking
12/15/08 -- STS-119/Discovery/15A undocking
2QTR CY09 -- STS-127/2J/A launch - JEM EF, ELM-ES, ICC-VLD
3QTR CY09 -- STS-128/17A/Atlantis - MPLM(P), last crew rotation
05/??/09 -- Six-person crew on ISS (following Soyuz 18S-2 docking)
3QTR CY09 -- STS-129/ULF3/Discovery - ELC1, ELC2
4QTR CY09 -- STS-130/20A/Endeavour - Node-3 + Cupola
1QTR CY10 -- STS-131/19A/Atlantis - MPLM(P)
1QTR CY10 -- STS-132/ULF4/Discovery - ICC-VLD, MRM1 (contingency)
2QTR CY10 -- STS-133/ULF5/Endeavour - ELC3, ELC4 (contingency).
