All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
FE-1 Kononenko terminated the recharge of the power packs for the BAR instruments "Kelvin-Video" and TTM-2 anemometer/thermometer for the Russian KPT-12 science payload EXPERT, then continued experiment activity, which Volkov began on 9/30, with another ~3 hr session. [Objective of EXPERT is to measure environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, air flow rate) and module shell surface temperatures behind SM (Service Module) panels and other areas susceptible to possible micro-destruction (corrosion), before and after insolation (day vs. night). The payload uses a remote infrared thermometer (Kelvin-Video), a thermohygrometer (Iva-6A) and a heat-loss anemometer/thermometer (TTM-2) to determine environmental data in specific locations and at specific times. Activities included documentary photography with the NIKON D2X camera and flash.]
FE-2 Chamitoff, assisted by CDR Volkov, completed the transfer of the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) rack from its US Lab position P2 to the ESA Columbus module, position F4. Having made the necessary umbilical connections and switched on rack power to enable testing, the FE-2 then performed the post-move checkout, supported by the ground (POIC/Payload Operation & Integration Center), and configured the rack's PC1 laptop for later use. [In addition, HRF-1 was set up for its use as a power source, which required utilization of a 28V power supply rather than the 120V supply to which it was previous connected. Rechecking all connections for proper seating, including the Ethernet plug-in on the back of the laptop, was to ensure two-way communication. The transfer of the MELFI rack from the Lab to the JAXA Kibo module is scheduled tomorrow. Three more racks will be relocated on 10/7.]
Kononenko & Volkov had another 4:20h scheduled between them for stowage activities on Progress M-65/30P, going by an uplinked list of items to be discarded and their stowage locations. [30P currently also contains liquid waste (urine), pumped to water tank BV1 from 8 EDV-U containers and to BV2 from 6 EDV-Us. Solid waste is stored in 10 KTO containers, besides discarded BKO & BRPK condensate hardware, 22 food ration containers, 12 used dust collector cartridges, a replaceable SPN pump unit, and other items of trash.]
The CDR started a new round of the periodic preventive maintenance of RS (Russian Segment) ventilation systems in the FGB (Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok), first removing & replacing the filter cartridges of the PS1 & PS2 dust collectors, then cleaning the grille of the TsV1 fan.
The FE-2 completed the weekly 10-min. CWC (Contingency Water Container) inventory as part of on-going WRM (Water Recovery & Management) assessment of onboard water supplies. Updated "cue cards" based on the crew's water calldowns are sent up every other week. [The current card (17-1016A), being updated, lists 29 CWCs (~1047.5 L total) for the four types of water identified on board: technical water (326.2 L, for flushing only because of Wautersia bacteria), potable water (647.8 L, incl. 194.8 L currently on hold), condensate water (56.5 L), waste/EMU dump and other (17 L). Wautersia bacteria are typical water-borne microorganisms that have been seen previously in ISS water sources. These isolates pose no threat to human health.]
Gregory also filled out the regular FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire), his 14th, on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer). [On the FFQs, NASA 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. The FFQ is performed once a week to estimate nutrient intake from the previous week and to give recommendations to ground specialists that help maintain optimal crew health. Weekly estimation has been verified to be reliable enough that nutrients do not need to be tracked daily.]
Oleg performed the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (ECLSS, Environment Control & Life Support Systems) 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.]
Later, the FE-1 also conducted 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).
Working in the JAXA Kibo module, Chamitoff removed & replaced a number of recording disks (#1025, #1026, #1027, #1028, #1029) of the IPU VRU (Image Processing Unit/Video Recording Unit), then performed troubleshooting of the used VRU #4 HDD (Hard Disk Drive), checking it for bent connector pins. [If such were found, Greg was to photograph them and notify SSIPC (Space Station Integration & Promotion Center) at Tsukuba.]
Oleg & Sergey had another hour each to themselves for the regular crew departure preparations, working on the standard end-of-increment cleanup preparatory to their return to Earth later this month. [It is usual for Russian crewmembers to be granted reduced workdays for making their departure preparations, as their return date approaches.]
The crew completed their regular daily 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/2.5h, FE-1/2.5h), and RED resistive exercise device (FE-2).
Later, the FE-2 will be transferring the exercise data file to the MEC 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).
New tasks added to Greg Chamitoff's discretionary US "job jar" are -
- Labeling a new PMIC (Portable Microphone) & HHM (Hand-Held Microphone),
- Troubleshooting the FSL VMU (Fluid Science Laboratory/Video Management Unit) in the Columbus module (only if supported by all COL-CC console personnel),
- Exchanging WAICO1 ECs (Waving & Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots at Different g-levels/Experiment Containers) on Rotor B of the BLB INC (Biolab Incubator), which requires 2-hr. prior notification of COL-CC,
- Hard-wire installing & checking out SSC-15 (Station Support Computer 15) laptop in the Kibo JPM, and
- Searching for MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) glove rings, then dividing them into old vs. new.
ISS Reboost Cancellation: This morning's planned ISS reboost by Progress M-65/30P was cancelled shortly before its scheduled time due to a post-reboost conjunction conflict. [Planning of the reboost maneuver originally looked at five options, each with its respective potential for creating a conjunction with Kosmos-2421 satellite pieces and other debris. The five options were then narrowed down to two with the least likelihood for a conjunction (they showed ~1 km radial miss distance). Both options were acceptable as of 24h before the reboost since they stayed out of the "forbidden" box, defined by 0.75 km radial miss distance, and both were pursued. But at about 2-3 h before the maneuver, the pieces' predicted flight paths had moved into the box, passing at ~0.71 km -- which triggered the cancellation for today. Backup date for the reboost is now 10/4 (Saturday), with all options being screened starting 48 hrs before. Significantly (fortunately), the cancellation occurred before attitude control authority was handed over to Russian MCS (Motion Control System). The purpose of the reboost is to set up orbital phasing for the 17S/16S Soyuz launch & landing. The number of conjunctions has increased in the recent past, both due to the Kosmos-2412 debris cloud and the currently unusually quiet sun with the resulting reduced atmospheric density at high altitudes causing less orbital drag, i.e., less orbit clean-up.]
Vozdukh Glitch: The Vozdukh CO2 removal system in the RS (Russian Segment) failed this morning due to an operational "glitch" which, according to TsUP-Moscow, happens from time to time and is non-critical. The system was restarted nominally.
HRF-2 Leak Investigation: After the successful relocation of the HRF-2 rack to the Columbus module yesterday and its subsequent power-up, ground controllers noticed the water flow through the rack to be less than expected, and the rack did not pass the required vent leak check. COL-CC and payload experts are investigating and are also deferring the leak check on the HRF-1 rack, relocated today to Columbus.
MFCV Adjustment Update: The adjustment of the final MFCV (Manual Flow Control Valve), in the Lab Aft Endcone, deferred yesterday after Greg Chamitoff reported observing a spark when the Non-invasive Flow Meter touched metal ducting, will be rescheduled next week. After reviewing the Flow Meter and the BOB (Breakout Box) power unit, engineers determined that the equipment was not properly grounded. A workaround to ground the gear is under development. Lesson learned! [Purpose of these valve adjustments is to optimize the ITCS (Internal Thermal Control System) flow throughout the USOS (US Segment) to allow for the incorporation of the Regenerative ECLSS to be launched on the ULF-2 mission.]
Week 24 Scheduled Main Activities:
- Fri. (10/3): MELFI rack relocate & mate; CDMK chck.; BRI-RSS1 data dump; JPM Panels reconfig; RS Ventilation cleaning; 30P trash stow.
- Sat. (10/4): Station cleaning; SAMS activation; SOLO Diet monitor; ISS reboost (?);
- Sun. (10/5): PFP-ODNT OBT/trng.; SODF updating.
CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today were Western Pamirs (these remote, rugged mountains are located in north-central Tajikistan and range from 19,000 to 25,000 feet in elevation. They support ice fields feeding a number of long glaciers with handsomely banded moraine features and extensive rock glaciers evident in some valleys. ISS had a clear, nadir pass in late afternoon. Trying for a detailed mapping of one or more of the longer glacier features), Luquillo Forest, Puerto Rico (this Long Term Ecological Research [LTER] site is located on the northeastern tip of the island of Puerto Rico. On this midday pass with the target just right of track, Greg was to try simply for a few short-lens context views of the area), and Palmerston Island reef, central South Pacific (this oddly shaped atoll is located in the tropical south Pacific over 2,500 miles south of the Hawaiian Islands. The lagoon is about seven miles across. As part of an international inventory and monitoring effort of the Earth coral reef resources, CEO researchers are seeking detailed, near-nadir views of the coral reef structures of this atoll system. ISS had a near-nadir pass in late morning with partly cloudy skies expected).
CEO photography can be studied at this "Gateway" website:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov (as of 9/1/08, this database contained 770,668 views of the Earth from space, with 324,812 from the ISS alone).
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 11:42am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude -- 352.0 km
Apogee height -- 356.2 km
Perigee height -- 347.9 km
Period -- 91.58 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.64 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0006225
Solar Beta Angle -- -3.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.72
Mean altitude loss in the last 48 hours -- 88 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) -- 56544
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible.):
10/04/08 -- ISS Reboost (under review)
10/12/08 -- Soyuz TMA-13/17S launch (~3:03am EDT; Fincke, Lonchakov, Garriott)
10/14/08 -- Soyuz TMA-13/17S docking (FGB nadir port, ~4:51am)
10/24/08 -- Soyuz TMA-12/16S undocking (DC1 nadir) & landing
11/02/08 -- Progress 30P reboost; Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends.
11/16/08 -- STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 launch - MPLM Leonardo, LMC (~7:02pm EST) - U/R
11/18/08 -- STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 docking - U/R
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
12/01/08 -- STS-126/Endeavour/ULF2 landing (~1:25pm EST est.)
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).
