ISS On-Orbit Status 04/03/10 All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
Saturday – crew off-duty day. Start of sleep cycle shifting: The crew is on an abbreviated wake schedule today, shortened by 5 hrs, with sleep cycle shifting to accommodate Soyuz TMA-18/22S arrival early tomorrow morning and STS-131/19A arrival on 4/7 (Wednesday, assuming launch on Monday):
- Wake – 2:00am EDT (today)
- Sleep – 12:30pm (today)
- Wake – 9:00pm (today)
- Sleep – 12:30pm (4/4)
- Wake – 10:00pm (4/4)
- Sleep – 11:30am (4/5)
- Wake – 8:00pm (4/5)
- Sleep – 11:06am (4/6)
- Wake – 7:36pm (4/6)
At wake-up (2:00am), CDR Oleg Kotov performed the regular daily early-morning check of the aerosol filters at the Russian Elektron O
2 generator which Maxim Suraev had installed on 10/19 in gaps between the BZh Liquid Unit and the oxygen outlet pipe (filter FA-K) plus hydrogen outlet pipe (filter FA-V).
[CDR again inspected the filters before bedtime this morning, currently a daily requirement per plan, with photographs to be taken if the filter packing is discolored.] FE-6 Creamer & FE-5 Noguchi completed another Reaction Self Test (Psychomotor Vigilance Self Test on the ISS) protocol.
[The RST is performed twice daily (after wakeup & before bedtime) for 3 days prior to the sleep shift, the day(s) of the sleep shift and 5 days following a sleep shift. The experiment consists of a 5-minute reaction time task that allows crewmembers to monitor the daily effects of fatigue on performance while on ISS. The experiment provides objective feedback on neurobehavioral changes in attention, psychomotor speed, state stability, and impulsivity while on ISS missions, particularly as they relate to changes in circadian rhythms, sleep restrictions, and extended work shifts.] The 3 station residents completed the regular weekly three-hour task of thorough station cleaning, including COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) and Kibo.
["Uborka", usually done on Saturdays, includes removal of food waste products, cleaning of compartments with vacuum cleaner, damp cleaning of the SM (Service Module) dining table, other frequently touched surfaces and surfaces where trash is collected, as well as the sleep stations with a standard cleaning solution; also, fan screens and grilles are cleaned to avoid temperature rises. Special cleaning is also done every 90 days on the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) bacteria filters in the Lab.] As part of the house cleaning, Kotov conducted regular maintenance inspection & cleaning of fan screens in the FGB (TsV2) and Group E fan grills in the SM (VPkhO, FS5, FS6, VP).
In preparation for the arrival of Soyuz TMA-18/22S early tomorrow morning (~1:28am), Soichi Noguchi closed the external window shutters of the Lab, Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module) and Cupola to protect the window panes against plume residual contamination.
In support of the APEX-Cambium (APXC/Advanced Plant Experiments on Orbit-Cambium) payload, Timothy Creamer inserted the KFTs (Kennedy Fixation Tubes) with yesterday’s TAGES (Transgenic Arabidopsis Gene Expression System) harvest 3D plants in the MELFI (Minus Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS) Unit 2, Dewar 2, Tray A, Tray Section 3-4, for conservation for post-flight analysis.
Later, TJ performed the regular bi-monthly reboots of the OCA Router, FS (File Server) and OpsLAN Server SSC (File Server Station Support Computer) laptops,
Soichi completed the periodic tape exchange on both VDS VTRs (Video Distribution System/Video Tape Recorders), VTR1 & VTR2, stowing the old tapes for return to Houston,
In the SM, CDR Kotov did the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS).
[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.] At ~8:00am EDT, Oleg had his weekly PFC (Private Family Conference) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop).
In line with today’s shortened duty cycle, the crew performed an abbreviated physical workout regime on the TVIS treadmill (CDR) and T2/COLBERT advanced treadmill (FE-5, FE-6). After his run, Oleg inspected the jerry-rigged retainer plate installed by Soichi during yesterday’s TVIS repair.
Weekly Science Update (Expedition Twenty-Three -- Week 2)
3-D SPACE: No report.
AgCam (Agricultural Camera): No report.
ALTCRISS (Alteino Long Term monitoring of Cosmic Rays on the ISS): Complete.
ALTEA DOSI (NASA/ASI): No report.
APEX (Advanced Plant Experiments on Orbit) -Cambium: No report.
APEX-TAGES (Transgenic Arabidopsis Gene Expression System): No report.
BCAT-4/5 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test 4/5): No report.
BIOLAB (ESA): No report.
BIORHYTHMS (JAXA, Biological Rhythms): No report.
BISE (CSA, Bodies in the Space Environment): No report.
BISPHOSPHONATES: “Soichi: thanks for completing your pill ingestion. Your next session is scheduled for early next week.”
CARD (Long Term Microgravity: Model for Investigating Mechanisms of Heart Disease, ESA): No report.
CARDIOCOG-2: Complete.
CB (JAXA Clean Bench): No report.
CBEF (JAXA Cell Biology Experiment Facility)/SPACE SEED: No report.
CCISS (Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Control on Return from ISS): No report.
CERISE (JAXA): No report.
CETSOL (ESA): No report.
CFE (Capillary Flow Experiment): Reserve.
CSI-3/CGBA-5 (CGBA Science Insert #2/Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 5): Ongoing.
CGBA-2 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 2): Complete.
CIR (Combustion Integrated Rack), MDCA/Flex: No report.
CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2): Complete.
Commercial Photo (JAXA): No report.
CW/CR (Cell Wall/Resist Wall) in EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System): Complete.
DECLIC (Device for the Study of Critical Liquids & Crystallization, CNES/NASA): “The objectives of the on-going sequence with the HTI insert have been reached. First, we successfully tested a workaround procedure in order to minimize the thermal gradient inside the sample cell. Then, we performed test steps that allowed us to find the critical temperature of water for the first time in microgravity conditions.”
DomeGene (JAXA): Complete.
DOSIS (ESA): Acquiring data. Last monthly data downlink was successfully performed on 3/30.
EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students): No report.
EDR (European Drawer Rack, ESA): No report.
ELITE-S2 (Elaboratore Immagini Televisive - Space 2): Planned.
EMCS (European Modular Cultivation System): No report.
ENose (Electronic Nose): No report.
EPM (European Physiology Module): Activated in support of CARD.
EPO (Educational Payload Operations, NASA): No report.
EPO LES-2 (ESA): No report.
EPO 3-min Video (JAXA): No report.
EPO J-Astro Report (JAXA): JAXA video (Introduction about JAXA experiments by Soichi) scheduled for the end of this week.
EPO Dewey’s Forest (JAXA): Closed out on 3/15.
EPO Space Clothes (JAXA): Complete.
EPO Hiten (Dance, JAXA): No report.
EPO Moon Score (JAXA): No report.
EPO Try Zero-G (JAXA): No report.
EPO Kibo Kids Tour (JAXA): Complete.
EPO Paper Craft (Origami, JAXA): No report.
EPO Poem (JAXA): No report.
EPO Spiral Top (JAXA): No report.
ETD (Eye Tracking Device): Completed.
FACET (JAXA): No report.
FIR/LMM/CVB (Fluids Integrated Rack / Light Microscopy Module / Constrained Vapor Bubble): “The most recent FIR/LMM/CVB operations were completed on 4/1. We have completed the entire extended test matrix. We finished operations by collecting data while holding the heater temperature constant and changing (raising) the cooler temperature. We have also collected video data of lateral oscillations. We are looking forward to starting operations with the dry/control module.”
FOAM STABILITY (ESA): No report.
FOCUS: No report.
FSL (Fluid Science Laboratory, ESA): No report.
FWED (Flywheel Exercise Device, ESA): No report.
GEOFLOW: No report.
HAIR (JAXA): No report.
HDTV System (JAXA): Was delivered by HTV1.
Holter ECG (JAXA): No report.
HQPC (JAXA): Was delivered by 34P.
HREP (HICO/Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean & RAIDS/Remote Atmospheric & Ionospheric Detection System/JAXA): HREP is operating nominally and 710 images have been taken to date.
ICE CRYSTAL (JAXA): Complete.
ICV (Integrated Cardiovascular): No report.
IMMUNO (Neuroendocrine & Immune Responses in Humans During & After Long Term Stay at ISS): Complete.
INTEGRATED IMMUNE: No report.
InSPACE-2 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions 2): No report.
IRIS (Image Reversal in Space, CSA): No report.
LOCAD-PTS (Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System): No report.
Marangoni UVP (JAXA): No report.
MAXI (Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image, JAXA): Acquiring science data.
Marangoni UVP: The 9th run using a 60mm long liquid bridge was conducted on 3/30, by ground commanding. The liquid bridge was unstable, but it did not break.
MEIS (Marangoni Experiment for ISS) in JAXA FPEF (Fluid Physics Experiment Facility): No report.
MDCA/Flex: See under CIR.
Microbe-1 (JAXA): No report.
Micro-G Clay (JAXA EPO): Complete.
MMA (JAXA/Microgravity Measurement Apparatus): No report.
MISSE7 (Materials ISS Experiment): MISSE7 is operating nominally.
MSG-SAME (Microgravity Science Glovebox): Complete.
MSL (Materials Science Laboratory, ESA): CETSOL#1 successfully processed until 3/26. CETSOL#5 SCA was inserted on 3/31 and completed on 4/2. 4 SCAs are scheduled to return on 19A. The processing of MICAST#1 started on 3/30 and successfully completed on 3/31. MICAST #5 inserted on 4/2.
MTR-2 (Russian radiation measurements): Passive dosimeters measurements in DC-1 “Pirs”.
MULTIGEN-1: Completed.
MYCO 1 (JAXA): Sample Collection and MELFI stow are complete. Sample will return on 20A using DCB (Double Cold Bag).
NANOSKELETON (Production of High Performance Nanomaterials in Microgravity, JAXA): No report.
NEUROSPAT (ESA/Study of Spatial Cognition, Novelty Processing and Sensorimotor Integration): No report.
NOA-1/-2 (Nitric Oxide Analyzer, ESA): Complete.
NUTRITION w/REPOSITORY/ProK: No report.
PADLES (JAXA, Area PADLES 3; Passive Area Dosimeter for Lifescience Experiment in Space): No report.
PASSAGES (JAXA): No report.
PCDF-PU (Protein Crystallization Diagnostic Facility - Process Unit): No report.
PCG (JAXA, Protein Crystal Growth): No report.
PCRF (Protein Crystallization Research Facility) Reconfiguration (JAXA): Complete.
PMDIS (Perceptual Motor Deficits in Space): Complete.
POLCA/GRAVIGEN (ESA): Complete.
RadGene & LOH (JAXA): Complete.
RadSilk (JAXA): Samples were returned to ground on ULF3.
RST/Reaction Self Test (Psychomotor Vigilance Self Test on the ISS): “Soichi and TJ thank you for continuing to participate in Reaction Self Test. Your sleep shift sessions will continue through both upcoming dockings.”
SAIBO Rack (JAXA): A CGSE/CBEF CO
2 leak check has been completed.
SAMS/MAMS (Space & Microgravity Acceleration Measurement Systems): No report.
SAMPLE: Complete.
SCOF (Solution Crystallization Observation Facility, JAXA): No report.
SEDA-AP (Space Environment Data Acquisition Equipment-Attached Payload, JAXA): Acquiring science data.
SHERE (Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment): Complete.
SLAMMD (Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device): No report.
SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight): “TJ, thanks for completing your first week of Sleep logging this increment. We will downlink the data later this month for the PI to review. Thanks also for completing the monthly Actiwatch data download. The data looked good from your Actiwatch and we appreciate all the troubleshooting you performed on Jeff's Actiwatch.”
SMILES (JAXA): Acquiring science data.
SODI/IVIDIL (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument/Influence of Vibration on Diffusion in Liquids, ESA): Suspect hardware is currently being planned to be brought down on 19A for trouble-shooting on the ground.
SODI/DSC (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument/Diffusion Soret Coefficient): No report.
SOLAR (Solar Monitoring Observatory): Weekly SOLSPEC calibration and SOLACES temperature check have been nominally completed on 3/30. The next Sun observation window #27 opens on 4/7.
SOLO (Sodium Loading in Microgravity): No report.
SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellite): No report.
SPICE (Smoke Point In Co-flow Experiment): No report.
SPINAL (Spinal Elongation): No report.
SWAB (Characterization of Microorganisms & Allergens in Spacecraft): No report.
THERMOLAB (ESA): No report.
TRAC (Test of Reaction & Adaptation Capabilities): Planned.
ULTRASOUND: Planned.
VASCULAR (CSA): No report.
VO2max (NASA): No report.
VLE (Video Lessons ESA): No report.
WAICO #1/#2 (Waving and Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots at Different g-levels): On 3/31, a software patch was performed for the Life Support Module (LSM), as final software configuration step prior to WAICO#2 start. WAICO#2 raw biological items will be uploaded on 19A.
YEAST B (ESA): No report.
CEO (Crew Earth Observations): Through 3/31 a total of 9,582 frames of ISS/CEO imagery were received on the ground for review and cataloging. “We are pleased to report your acquisition of imagery for the following CEO Target Requests: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - several frames are now under evaluation for completion of requirements for this target - session also included views of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to be reviewed as well. Your fine view of the Escondida Copper Mine, Atacama Desert, Chile will be published on NASA/GSFC's Earth Observatory website this weekend. This is the most productive copper mine in the world and takes advantage of both the terrain and the hyper aridity of its desert locale to facilitate the production process. Thanks for this excellent documentary and educational photo. A JEDI message referenced in the Daily Summary contains the write-up and image from last week's Earth Observatory publication on the Llullaillaco Volcano, Argentina-Chile Border. Thank you for your initiative in acquiring high-quality photography of fascinating features of our Earth.”
CEO photo targets uplinked for today were
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (looking just right at the foot of the Kopet Dag Mountains. The city reservoir may be the best visual cue), Vienna, Austria (this target and the next occur only seconds apart. The main visual cue for both is the prominent Danube River which is lined [mostly] with dark green forest. Looking left), Bratislava, Slovakia (looking left, also on the Danube River), Manama, Bahrain (looking left for the islands of Bahrain), Doha, Qatar (looking left for Doha on the east side of the Qatar peninsula), Mt. Etna (looking left: Mt. Etna, on the east coast of Sicily, lied left of track), Valletta, Malta (looking right for the islands of Malta. Valletta lies on the larger island with prominent dock facilities), and
Bamako, Mali (looking left on the Niger River, the crew’s main pointer).
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:33am EDT [= epoch])
Mean altitude – 346.7km
Apogee height – 350.8 km
Perigee height – 342.6 km
Period -- 91.47 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.64 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.000617
Solar Beta Angle -- -39.4 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.74
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours -- 181 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) – 65,171
Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time and subject to change): --------------Three-crew operations-------------
04/04/10 -- Soyuz TMA-18/22S docking –
Skvortsov (CDR-24)/Caldwell/Kornienko ~1:28am EDT --------------Six-crew operations-----------------
04/05/10 -- STS-131/Discovery/19A – MPLM(P), LMC –
launch 6:21:21am 04/07/10 -- STS-131/Discovery/19A – MPLM(P), LMC –
docking 3:46am 04/16/10 -- STS-131/Discovery/19A – MPLM(P), LMC –
undocking 4:01am 04/18/10 -- STS-131/Discovery/19A – MPLM(P), LMC –
land/KSC 8:35am 04/27/10 -- Progress M-03M/35P undock
04/28/10 -- Progress M-05M/37P launch
04/30/10 -- Progress M-05M/37P docking
05/10/10 -- Progress M-04M/36P undock
05/12/10 -- Soyuz 21S relocation (FGB Nadir to SM Aft)
05/14/10 -- STS-132/Atlantis/ULF4 – ICC-VLD, MRM-1 “Rassvet”
06/02/10 -- Soyuz TMA-17/21S undock/landing
(End of Increment 23) --------------Three-crew operations-------------
06/14/10 -- Soyuz TMA-19/23S launch –
Wheelock (CDR-25)/Walker/Yurchikhin 06/16/10 -- Soyuz TMA-19/23S docking
--------------Six-crew operations-----------------
06/28/10 -- Progress M-06M/38P launch
06/30/10 -- Progress M-06M/38P docking
07/07/10 -- US EVA-15
(Caldwell/Wheelock) 07/23/10 -- Russian EVA-25
(Yurchikhin/Kornienko) 07/26/10 -- Progress M-05M/37P undock
07/29/10 -- STS-134/Endeavour (ULF6 – ELC3, AMS-02)
08/30/10 -- Progress M-06M/38P undock
08/31/10 -- Progress M-07M/39P launch
09/02/10 -- Progress M-07M/39P docking
09/16/10 -- Soyuz TMA-18/22S undock/landing
(End of Increment 24) 09/16/10 -- STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 – ELC4, PMM)
09/18/10 -- STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 – ELC4, PMM) docking
09/22/10 -- STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 – ELC4, PMM) undock
09/30/10 -- Soyuz TMA-20/24S launch –
Kelly (CDR-26)/Kaleri/Skripochka 10/xx/10 -- Russian EVA-26
10/27/10 -- Progress M-08M/40P launch
10/29/10 -- Progress M-08M/40P docking
11/26/10 -- Soyuz TMA-19/23S undock/landing
(End of Increment 25) 12/10/10 -- Soyuz TMA-21/25S launch –
Kondratyev (CDR-27)/Coleman/Nespoli 12/15/10 -- Progress M-07M/39P undock
12/26/10 -- Progress M-08M/40P undock
12/27/10 -- Progress M-09M/41P launch
12/29/10 -- Progress M-09M/41P docking
03/16/11 -- Soyuz TMA-20/24S undock/landing
(End of Increment 26) 03/30/11 -- Soyuz TMA-22/26S launch –
A. Borisienko (CDR-28)/R, Garan/A.Samokutayev 04/01/11 -- Soyuz TMA-22/26S docking
04/27/11 -- Progress M-09M/41P undock
04/28/11 -- Progress M-10M/42P launch
04/30/11 -- Progress M-10M/42P docking
05/17/11 -- Soyuz TMA-21/25S undock/landing
(End of Increment 27) 05/31/11 -- Soyuz TMA-23/27S launch –
M. Fossum (CDR-29)/S. Furukawa/S. Volkov 06/02/11 -- Soyuz TMA-23/27S docking
06/21/11 -- Progress M-11M/43P launch
06/23/11 -- Progress M-11M/43P docking
08/30/11 -- Progress M-12M/44P launch
09/01/11 -- Progress M-12M/44P docking
09/30/11 -- Soyuz TMA-24/28S launch
10/28/11 -- Progress M-13M/45P launch
10/30/11 -- Progress M-13M/45P docking
11/25/11 -- Soyuz TMA-25/29S launch
11/27/11 -- Soyuz TMA-25/29S docking
12/??/11 -- 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) w/ERA – on Proton.
