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More Details for 2008-01-21

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Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday. Underway: Week 14 of Increment 16.

CDR Whitson & FE-2 Tani started out with the daily reading of SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & 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.)

FE-1 Malenchenko supported the begin of the scheduled end-to-end ASN-M Satellite Navigation System test, today installing Laptop3, connecting it to the MKO-1 (Multiplex Exchange Channel), then initializing it with its specialized software. (ASN-M is required for the arrival of the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) 'Jules Verne' later this year.)

Peggy Whitson prepared PMA-2 (Pressurized Mating Adapter 2), where STS-122/1E will dock next month, for interim ingress, first pressurizing it, then opening the Node-2 forward hatch, removing the hatch thermal cover and the CBCS (Centerline Berthing Camera System) target, then installing the HHGA (Hatch Handle Guide Ring.

With PMA-2 pressurized, Whitson ingressed the adapter from Node-2, configured its outward vestibule for the docking with STS-122/1E and closed out the radial port in the Node-2/PMA-2 vestibule. Later, after egress, Tani evacuated the PMA-2 with the depress pump and stowed the VAJ (Vacuum Access Jumper) equipment.

While in Node-2, the CDR performed a purge and leak check on the N2 (nitrogen) recharge system.

After setting up the hardware, Yuri Malenchenko conducted a run with the Russian MBI-21 PNEVMOKARD experiment, his third on-orbit session (which forbids moving or talking during data recording). The experiment is controlled from the RSE-Med A31p laptop, equipped with new software, and uses the TENZOPLUS sphygmomanometer to measure arterial blood pressure. (PNEVMOKARD (Pneumocard) is an attempt to obtain new scientific information to refine the understanding about the mechanisms used by the cardiorespiratory system and the whole body organism to spaceflight conditions. By recording (on PCMCIA cards) the crewmember's electrocardiogram, impedance cardiogram, low-frequency phonocardiogram (seismocardiogram), pneumotachogram (using nose temperature sensors), and finger photoplethismogram, the experiment supports integrated studies of (1) the cardiovascular system and its adaptation mechanisms in various phases of a long-duration mission, (2) the synchronization of heart activity and breathing factors, as well as the cardiorespiratory system control processes based on the variability rate of physiological parameters, and (3) the interconnection between the cardiorespiratory system during a long-duration mission and the tolerance of orthostatic & physical activities at the beginning of readaptation for predicting possible reactions of the crewmembers organism during the their return to ground.)

In preparation of the upcoming EVA-14 (1/30), the FE-1 recorded the 'Pille' radiation readings from the EMU-worn (plus one background) 'Pille-MKS' dosimeters in a log table for subsequent downlink to the ground.

With the Elektron-VM O2 (oxygen) generator currently off, a 5-min cabin air refresh is to be performed by the FE-1 from Progress M-62/27P storage (SrPK) as required.

Malenchenko also outfitted the FGB with a new hatch seal drive handle which he transferred from the SSVP (Docking & Internal Transfer System) accessory kit of Soyuz TMA-11/15S to the FGB's SSVP kit. The old handle was returned from the FGB kit to the Soyuz to be used in final Soyuz SU (Descent Capsule)/BO (Orbital compartment) hatch closures and subsequent disposal in the BO.

In the Service Module (SM), Yuri installed a new atmosphere purification filter (A2).

The FE-1 also performed monthly maintenance on the Russian IK0501 GA (gas analyzer) of the SOGS Pressure Control & Atmospheric Monitoring System, deactivating the unit and replacing its CO2 filter assembly (BF) with a new unit from FGB stowage (replaced last: 12/9). (After ensuring good seals on the instrument's base and no leaks around the installed filter, Yuri reactivated the GA and stowed the spent BF for disposal. IK0501 is an automated system for measuring CO2, O2, and H2O in the air as well as the flow rate of the gas being analyzed.)

Yuri 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 'time permitting' task list, the FE-1 conducted the daily 20-min. IMS 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 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 (FE-2), TVIS treadmill (FE-1), RED (CDR, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).

Afterwards, Peggy 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).

Starting a new current round of periodic preventive maintenance of ventilation systems in the RS (Russian Segment), FE-2 Tani worked in the DC1 (Docking Compartment) to replace the PF1,2 filter cartridges and clean the V1 & V2 fan grilles and VD1 & VD2 air ducts.

The CDR ran the periodic check of active U.S. payloads, i.e., cleaning the ANITA (Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air) inlet plus inspecting and filter cleaning of the CGBA-5 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 5) incubator payload. (The CGBA incubator is controlled from the ground, with automatic video downlinked to Earth. ANITA continues to collect data every six seconds and downlinks the data daily to the ground team. ANITA monitors low levels of potential gaseous contaminants in the ISS cabin atmosphere with a capability of simultaneously monitoring 32 gaseous contaminants. The experiment is testing the accuracy and reliability of this technology as a potential next-generation atmosphere trace-gas monitoring system for ISS and future spacecraft. This is a cooperative investigation with ESA.)

Peggy also prepared for tomorrow's scheduled SM window inspection & photography by unstowing a tool kit with ruler, adhesive tape, 90-deg equilateral triangle & measuring tape, the NIKON D2 X digital camera with 28-70 mm lens, a flash attachment, and sketches of the windows under scrutiny (##3,5,6,7,8) with previous detected flaws marked and flaw tables. (Purpose of the activity is to assess the condition of the window panes for deterioration as compared to the data from previous increments (appearance of new cavities, scratches, discolorations, or spots reducing transparency, or an increase in the size of old flaws), plus photography.)

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.)

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

Afterwards, Peggy Whitson 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).

Conjunction Update: Further tracking of the piece of orbital debris (Object #28099, an old Russian Strela ICBM body, NATO designation: SS-11 Sego) moved the closest approach out of the Notification Box into the 'Green', with a Pc (Probability of Collision) going below 10ex-17 (10 to the power of -17). Russian Ballistics stood down on any maneuver planned for Saturday morning (their time).

No CEO photo targets uplinked for today. (Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday tomorrow (1/21), the next CEO observations will be conducted on 1/23 (targets uplinked 1/22).)