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More Details for 2008-01-17

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CDR Whitson and FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data accumulated during the night, for logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the SLEEP session file on the HRF-1 laptop for downlink.

(To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Dan and Peggy wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days, as part of the crew's discretionary 'job jar' task list.)

Preparatory to today's pump R&R (Removal & Replacement) of the EHS VOA (Environmental Health Systems/Volatile Organic Analyzer), CDR Whitson rotated the CHeCS rack down for some AAA(Avionics Air Assembly) fan/filter and smoke detector cleaning, before FE-2 Tani performed the VOA IFM (Inflight Maintenance), with filter inspection, preceded and followed by taking CSA-O2 (Compound Specific Analyzer-Oxygen) readings in the affected rack areas. (If the O2 percentage was between 15.7% - 24.1%, Dan was Go to proceed. If not, the ground had steps to be taken to ventilate the area. Ground analysis has shown that the secondary seals in QDs (Quick Disconnects) in the Nitrogen/Oxygen systems do not always seal properly, which can result in an increased N2/O2 concentration behind panels & racks with no ventilation. The CHeCS (LAB1D4) is one of these racks.)

FE-1 Malenchenko set up the equipment for his first session with the Russian experiment DYKHANIE ('respiration', 'breathing'), tagged up with ground specialists and conducted the session, later closing down and stowing the equipment. (Dykhanie-1 gear uses two belts (PG-T/thoracic, PG-A/abdominal), a calibrator, resistor, mouthpiece, etc., to study fundamental physiological mechanisms of the external breathing function of crewmembers under long-duration orbital flight conditions. During the experiment, physiological measurements are taken and recorded with a pneumotachogram, a thoracic pneumogram, an abdominal pneumogram, and pressure data in the oral cavity. All experimentally derived plus salient environmental data along with personal data of the subject are recorded on PCMIA card for return to the ground at end of the Expedition. Objectives include determining the dynamics of the relationship between thoracic (pectoral) and abdominal breathing function reserves and their realization potential during spontaneous breathing, the coordinated spontaneous respiratory movements in terms of thoracic and abdominal components of volumetric, time & rate parameters of spontaneous respiratory cycle, identification of the features of humoral-reflex regulation of breathing by dynamics of ventilation sensitivity of thoracic and abdominal components to chemoreceptor stimuli, etc. Overall, the experiment is intended to provide a better understanding of the basic mechanisms of pulmonary respiration/gas exchange gravitational relations of cosmonauts.)

Using the Russian MO-21 'Ecosfera' air sampler & incubation equipment, the FE-1 monitored the station's sanitary-hygiene status by conducting another 40-min. microbial analysis (T+2 days) on the air samples collected on 1/15 and incubated since then in the MO-21 equipment. (MO-21 determines microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies. The equipment, consisting of an air sampler set, a charger and power supply unit, provides samples to help determine microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.)

Supported by ground specialists via tagup, Malenchenko also unloaded new equipment for the BIO-5 RASTENIYA-2 ('Plants-2') micro-G growth payload from Progress 27P and installed the new payload in the Service Module (SM) near the LADA-12 greenhouse, then reinstalled software, refilled the water canister and checked the hardware out. (The payload hardware includes a module (MIS/Module for the Investigation of Substrates), a MIS control unit (BU), a nitrogen purge unit (BPA) and other accessories. Rasteniya researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the LADA-12 greenhouse.)

At ~7:05am EST, Whitson and Tani conducted another teleconference with EVA specialists to discuss updated instructional material for the R&R of the failed BGA 1A BMRRM (Beta Gimbal Angle 1A Bearing Motor Roll Ring Module) during EVA-14 on 1/30. In preparation for the EVA, engineers are planning to conduct an illumination test on SAW (Solar Array Wing) 3A to characterize incidental illumination of a solar array during solar eclipse (Earth shadow period).

Peggy Whitson conducted the weekly 10-min. CWC (Contingency Water Container) audit as part of on-going WDS (Water Delivery System) assessment of onboard water supplies. (Updated 'cue cards' based on the crew's water calldowns are sent up every other week (currently #16-0018N).)

The crew performed the mandatory 90-min OBT (onboard training) emergency egress drill for the case of rapid cabin depressurization, with Russian and US specialists standing by at both control centers for crew questions or comments. During the drill, the crewmembers proceeded through a prescribed series of timed station checkpoints, determining and verifying valve settings, instruments measurements, hatch configurations, etc. A 20-min joint drill debrief via S-band to the ground concluded the exercise, led by TsUP/Moscow. (Background: Purpose of the drill is to practice (a) crew response procedures in the event of ISS depress, (b) communication and coordination between crew and the ground in such an emergency, and (c) communication and coordination among crew members themselves. In the RS, the crew translated along the emergency egress path to the FGB nadir port (where Soyuz 15S is currently docked), stepped through the process of preparing Progress 27P at the DC1 for undocking, etc. Soyuz and ISS communications were restored to nominal stage ops after the exercise.)

Yuri Malenchenko conducted a search, gather and setup operation of equipment for new ATV PCE (Automated Transfer Vehicle/Proximity Communications Equipment; Russian: MBRL) tests scheduled tomorrow, requiring the BUAP antenna switching control box for the 'Standing Wave Coefficient' (KSV) test using the FSH3 spectrum analyzer from the GTS (Global Timing System).

More troubleshooting on the recently (1/4) failed GTS was listed today on Malenchenko's voluntary, 'time permitting' task list.

In the Soyuz 15S spacecraft, docked at the FGB nadir port, Malenchenko turned off the gas analyzer, terminating its periodic checkup activity.

Dan Tani performed his daily status check on the BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-3) science payload, running by itself in Node-2 since 12/13/07 (briefly interrupted for EVA-13 photo support). (The status check, conducted on the last image taken by the DCS 760 digital still camera which is controlled by EarthKAM software on an A31p laptop, is to verify proper image focus and camera alignment. The SSC (Station Support Computer) is taking photography of the phase separation occurring in the BCAT Sample 3, with the photo flash going off every half hour.)

Malenchenko completed today's routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables.

Working off his discretionary job list, Malenchenko also conducted the daily 20-min. 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).

On the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation & Stabilization), Dan tested the roll-stabilizing gyro's Off command for proper function.

The crewmembers performed 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 (CDR, FE-2) , TVIS treadmill (FE-1), RED (CDR, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).

Afterwards, Dan Tani copied 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).

After Houston Flight Controllers started deactivating the CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) early this morning (5:00-10:00am) and cooling was no longer required, the CDR disconnected the ITCS LTL QD (Internal Thermal Control System/Low Temperature Loop/Quick Disconnect) jumper to the CDRA rack (LAB1D6).

Using the MPC (Multi-Protocol Converter) for downlink, the crew at ~12:15pm transmitted onboard video footage via high definition (HDTV) G1 camera going through the MPC system. (The short test allowed the ground to test this relatively new system originating live from the ISS to JSC to NASA Headquarters to the NASA TV satellite and finally to potential clients for future use.)

CEO photo targets uplinked for today were Somalia Coast, Africa (the Somalia coastline experiences significant change in vegetation patterns and sand dune morphology with climatic change (such as El Nino events). It is important to capture the existing configuration of coastal vegetation and morphology for later change detection. Overlapping nadir frames, taken along track, were requested), and Patagonian Glaciers, S. America (ISS orbit track took the crew over the southern Patagonian ranges and their summit glaciers. Of particular interest are glaciers and icefields on the western mountain front, which became visible as the station approached South America from the west. Nadir mapping frames were requested.)