All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
FE-1 Kononenko finished up the installation of ATV PCE (Automated Transfer Vehicle/Proximity Communications Equipment; Russian: MBRL) in the Service Module (SM), installing and connecting its BUAP antenna switching control box to the BKS onboard cabling system for ground-commanding. CDR Volkov then set up the ATV control panel (PU) in the SM and activated it. [The main MBRL components are the space-to-space radio "monoblock" (PCE Z0000), the BUAP, and the PU.]
After the installations, the temporarily disconnected BITS2-12 onboard telemetry system and VD-SU control mode (which also required the Elektron O2 generator to be turned off) was re-connected and activated.
Elektron was then restarted in 32A mode by the ground, with Kononenko monitoring the external temperature of its secondary purification unit (BD) for the first 10 minutes of operations to ensure that there was no overheating.
Also, as a new regular activity after deactivation/reactivation of the VD-SU control mode, Oleg checked the BRI Smart Switch Router computer and its new Ethernet connection to assess any impact of these activities on Ethernet comm. [BRI is part of the RS OpsLAN (Russian Segment/Operations Local Area Network), with connections to the three SSC clients, the Ethernet tie-in with the US network, and a network printer in the RS.]
In preparation for the ATV "Jules Verne" undocking on Friday (9/5), Volkov and Kononenko tagged up with a ground specialist who took them through a special 45-min OBT (Onboard Training) exercise for Undocking & Departure, using an ATV OBT training tool on an SSC (Station Support Computer) laptop and a review of salient ODF (Operations Data File) tutorial material, wrapping up the exercise with a joint debriefing.
FE-2 Chamitoff meanwhile performed the periodic water sampling, collecting chemical/archival post-flight potable water samples at the SRV-K Warm and SVO-ZV taps, using jointly approved Russian sampling procedures with the U.S. WS&A (Water Sampler & Archiver) kit for collection. The samples will be returned on the ULF2 flight. The water used for flushing the sampling equipment was then reclaimed from its collection bags and wet towels in the interest of water inventory conservation.
Volkov & Chamitoff completed another monthly session (Sergey's fourth, Gregory's second) of the CHeCS (Crew Health Care Systems) emergency medical operations OBT drill, a 30-min. exercise to refresh their CMO (Crew Medical Officer)'s acuity in a number of critical health areas. The proficiency drill today focused on airway management. [The HMS (Health Maintenance Systems) hardware, including ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) equipment, may be used in contingency situations where crew life is at risk. To maintain proficiency, crewmembers some time each month reviewing HMS and ACLS equipment and procedures via the HMS and ACLS CBT (computer-based training). The training drill, each crewmember for him/herself, refreshes their memory of the on-orbit stowage and deployment locations, equipment etc. and procedures.]
Oleg performed the periodic (monthly) functional closure test of the Vozdukh CO2 (carbon dioxide) removal system's spare emergency vacuum valves (AVK), in the spare parts kit. [The AVKs are crucial because they close the Vozdukh's vacuum access lines in the event of a malfunction in the regular vacuum valves (BVK) or a depressurization in the Vozdukh valve panel (BOA). Access to vacuum is required to vent CO2 during the regeneration of the absorbent cartridges (PP).
Greg Chamitoff continued outfitting for the new Regenerative ECLSS, today installing CHeCS (Crew Health Care Systems), WRS-1 (Water Recovery System 1) and WRS-2 MTL (Moderate Temperature Loop) supply jumpers to fill them with ITCS (Internal Thermal Control System) coolant at two Lab positions. The supply lines were then removed. [The jumpers need to be filled prior to mating them to their respective racks. The WRS will be used to recycle wastewater into potable water. The Regenerative ECLSS will be required for the future six-person occupancy of the station.]
Sergey downloaded the accumulated structural dynamics data from yesterday's Progress undocking from the IWIS RSUs (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System/Remote Sensor Units).
Working in the Kibo laboratory on JAXA's CBEF (Cell Biology Experiment Facility), Greg installed special acoustic insulation/dampening material on the CBEF Incubator doors.
Afterwards, Chamitoff transitioned the ISS JSL (Joint Station LAN) network to a new Access Point in Node-1 and Node-2.
Greg then loaded three onboard PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) with new applications,- two with BCR (Barcode Reader) software (replacing the previous "Dolphin" BCRs), the third with WINS (Windows Internet Name Service) software next week. [WINS is Microsoft's implementation of NetBIOS Name Service (NBNS), a name server and service for NetBIOS computer names (equivalent to what DNS is to domain names).]
Next, in the JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), the FE-2 activated the SSC-14 laptop with its new wireless capability, performed a functionality check on it from two different JPM locations and disconnected/removed its ISL Ethernet drag-through cable which had been plugged in in Node-2. SSC-14 was then temporarily moved to COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) for testing wireless functionality (e.g., signal strength) and later returned to JPM.
Gregory wrapped up the wireless LAN survey aboard ISS by using the PDA with WINS in similar fashion from the JPM, later the U.S. Airlock, to check out its wireless functionality and correlation with the SSC survey.
Sergey completed the periodic (about twice a month) replenishing of the Elektron's water supply for electrolysis, filling the KOV thermal loops' EDV container with purified water from CWC (Contingency Water Container, #1051) collected by the U.S. CCAA (Common Cabin Air Assembly). [The 40-minute procedure is specially designed to prevent air bubbles larger than ~10 mm from getting into the BZh Liquid Unit where they could cause Elektron micropump shutdown.]
On the Russian Matryoshka-R (RBO-3-2) radiation payload in the DC1 Docking Compartment, Oleg deactivated the AST Spectrometer, removed its ALC-949 PCMCIA (Portable Computer Memory Card International Adapter) and checked out its contents on the RSK-1 laptop. AST remains off.
In the FGB (Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok), Sergey replaced the two dust filters (PS1, PS2) and cleaned the mesh screens of the central ventilation fans (TsV1, TsV2), with the fans running.
Gregory performed the periodic routine maintenance on the four CSA-CP (Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products) instruments, changing out the battery in the prime unit and zero-calibrating all four units (to eliminate drift in the combustion sensors) before returning all CSA-CPs to their original locations (prime unit at SM Central Post).
The CDR took care of the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM. [Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.]
Volkov also completed 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 had their periodic PMCs (Private Medical Conferences) via S- & Ku-band audio/video, Sergey at ~11:55am, Oleg at ~12:10pm, Greg at ~1:10pm EDT.
The station residents conducted 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-1, FE-2), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR). Later, Kononenko transferred the exercise data file to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) laptop for downlink, including 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).
As generally every day now, starting at ~9:00am and running until 3:00pm, the US CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) was activated intermittently for two half-cycles to control ppCO2 levels. This configuration for the daily ops does not require connecting & disconnecting the ITCS (Internal Thermal Control System) cooling loop. [A forward plan is in work for cycling the CSV (CO2 Selector Valve) to prevent its sticking.]
KURS Test: TsUP/Moscow has scheduled a test today of both strings of the KURS automated rendezvous radio command system for the SM aft port, in preparation for the ATV undocking on Friday (9/5).
IMMT to lose Toulouse: With the ATV "Jules Verne" slated to undock next Friday, its French ESA representative today sadly said goodbye to the globe-spanning ISS Mission Management Team (IMMT). ATV however remains a solid and important member of the ISS "family", and Toulouse will always be welcomed back gladly.
No CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today.
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).
Week 20 Scheduled Main Activities:
- Wed. (9/3): MO-7 (all); RED inspection; BMP ch.1 regen; MO-3/FE-1 (TVIS); WRS O2 purge/port install/leak check; SAMS s/w load; CGSE troubleshooting; BRTK-MBRL (PCE) test 1.
- Thu. (9/4): SOTR-KOB1 maintenance; SRVK-BRPK maintenance; BMP ch.2 regen; CWC audit; SLEEP init.; PCS s/w load-ghosting; IWIS reprogram; ATV: activate/remove equipment & SSVP docking system/close hatches/take photo+video; TVS-MPEG Ku-band test.
- Fri. (9/5): ATV Undock (5:27pm EDT); PCS reboot; microbial sampling; CGSE troubleshoot.
- Sat. (9/6): FFQ; IWIS deact.
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:45am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude -- 353.5 km
Apogee height -- 358.0 km
Perigee height -- 349.0 km
Period -- 91.61 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.64 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0006673
Solar Beta Angle -- 5.1 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.72
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours -- 54 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) -- 56070
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
09/05/08 -- ATV1 undocking, from SM aft port (~5:27pm); independent flight
09/09/08 -- Progress M-64/29P de-orbit (~5:19pm)
09/10/08 -- Progress M-65/30P launch (~3:49:45pm)
09/12/08 -- Progress M-65/30P docking (SM aft, ~5:08pm DM)
09/29/08 -- ATV de-orbit (nighttime re-entry for observation)
10/01/08 -- NASA 50 Years (official)
10/08/08 -- STS-125/Atlantis Hubble Space Telescope Service Mission 4 (SM4)
10/11/08 -- Progress M-65/30P undocking (from SM aft)
10/12/08 -- Soyuz TMA-13/17S launch (~3:03am EDT; Lonchakov, Fincke, Garriott)
10/14/08 -- Soyuz TMA-13/17S docking (FGB nadir port, ~4:51am)
10/23/08 -- Soyuz TMA-12/16S undocking (DC1 nadir) or 10/24?
11/10/08 -- STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 launch - MPLM Leonardo, LMC
11/12/08 -- STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 docking
11/20/08 -- ISS 10 Years
11/25/08 -- Progress M-65/30P undocking & deorbit
11/26/08 -- Progress M-66/31P launch
11/30/08 -- Progress M-66/31P docking
02/09/09 -- Progress M-66/31P undocking & deorbit
02/10/09 -- Progress M-67/32P launch
02/12/09 -- Progress M-67/32P docking
02/12/09 -- STS-119/Discovery/15A launch - S6 truss segment
02/14/09 -- STS-119/Discovery/15A docking
02/24/09 -- STS-119/Discovery/15A undocking
02/26/09 -- STS-119/Discovery/15A landing (nominal)
03/25/09 -- Soyuz TMA-14/18S launch
03/27/09 - Soyuz TMA-14/18S docking (DC1)
04/05/09 -- Soyuz TMA-13/17S undocking
04/07/09 -- Progress M-67/32P undocking & deorbit
05/15/09 -- STS-127/Endeavour/2J/A launch - JEM EF, ELM-ES, ICC-VLD
05/25/09 -- Soyuz TMA-15/19S launch
05/27/09 -- Six-person crew on ISS (following Soyuz 19S docking)
07/30/09 -- STS-128/Atlantis/17A - MPLM(P), last crew rotation
10/15/09 -- STS-129/Discovery/ULF3 - ELC1, ELC2
12/10/09 -- STS-130/Endeavour/20A - Node-3 + Cupola
02/11/10 -- STS-131/Atlantis/19A - MPLM(P)
04/08/10 -- STS-132/Discovery/ULF4 - ICC-VLD, MRM1
05/31/10 -- STS-133/Endeavour/ULF5 - ELC3, ELC4 (contingency).
