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More Details for 2008-05-02

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CDR Sergey Volkov conducted the periodic auditing and restocking of the Russian SSVP (Docking and Internal Transfer System) accessory kits, located in the Soyuz BO (Orbital Compartment), FGB GA (Pressurized Adapter), FGB PGO (Instrumentation Cargo Compartment), Service Module PrK (SM Transfer Compartment), and DC1 (Docking Compartment).

(Support equipment in the SSVP kits includes handles, caps, screwdrivers, extenders, quick-disconnect clamps, wrenches, etc.)

FE-1 Oleg Kononenko serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated tonight at ~5:15pm EDT. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. Filter bed 1 was regenerated yesterday. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after last Tuesday's (4/29) Freon-218 spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

Before continuing with the current CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2) payload activities, FE-2 Garrett Reisman installed a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) Ethernet memory card in the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) laptop computer (MLC), attempting to solve a problem with downlinking medium-rate data from the MLC. (Should the attempt be unsuccessful, Garrett was to copy the MSG & CSLM files over to the OCA for alternate downlink as done previously.)

Afterwards, Reisman supported the CSLM-2 experiment by concluding the sample run of SPU-7 (Sample Processing Unit 7), transferring the data to the MLC and stowing the hardware. (This was the final run of CSLM-2. The equipment is planned to return to Earth with Reisman on STS-124/1J.)

Kononenko performed maintenance and functionality checks on the Russian VELO cycle ergometer (VB-3), focusing on its pedals, crank arm and internal springs and photographing, disassembling and reassembling the exercise device. (Done last: 2/17/08.)

In the FGB, the two Russian crewmembers joined up for a two-hour audit and visual inspection of available stowage spaces in the areas behind Zarya's wall panels. (The audit took down locations by stowage zone identifiers and available volume in terms of cubic meters or CTBE (Cargo Transfer Bag Equivalents), comparing with and updating existing estimates in the IMS (Inventory Management System).)

In the Lab, FE-2 Reisman meanwhile conducted his own IMS-based partial audit of the CD (Compact Disk) Library (Vol. II), checking and verifying each CD in the Vol. II Library pockets. (Discrepancies were to be reported to MCC-H for updating the IMS.)

Sergey Volkov conducted the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables.

Oleg Kononenko performed the daily 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).

To support ground-commanded access to the ELITE-S2 experiment for data transfer, the FE-2 powered on the payload's IMU (Interface Management Unit). (IMU can only be powered 5 hours per day to avoid violating an acoustic constraint. The Italian (ASI) experiment ELITE-S2 (Elaboratore Immagini Televisive - Space 2) is a human motion analysis facility for technological characterization and potential application for multifactorial movement analysis, to study the connection between brain, visualization and motion in micro-G. By recording and analyzing the three-dimensional motion of astronauts, this study should help engineers apply ergonomics into future spacecraft designs and determine the effects of weightlessness on breathing mechanisms for long-duration missions.)

Later today, Volkov & Reisman are scheduled for their first standard 30-min Shuttle RPM (R-bar Pitch Maneuver) skill training, using the DCS-760 digital still camera with 400 & 800mm lenses at SM windows 6 & 8 (facing in flight direction) to take CEO (Crew Earth Observations) target imagery with manual focusing only. The practice run involves mapping of ground features with images having 40-59% overlap and about 20 images in each sequence. Afterwards, the obtained OBT (onboard training) images are to be downlinked to the ground for analysis (~3:20pm). (The RPM drill prepares crewmembers for the bottom-side mapping of the Orbiter at the arrival of the Shuttle (STS-124/1J) on 6/2 . During the RPM at ~600 ft from the station, the 'shooters' have only ~90 seconds for taking high-resolution digital photographs of all tile areas and door seals on Discovery, to be downlinked for launch debris assessment. Thus, time available for the shooting will be very limited, requiring great coordination between the two headset-equipped photographers and the Shuttle pilot.)

Garrett is scheduled to take measurements for the regular atmospheric status check for ppCO2 (Carbon Dioxide partial pressure) in the Lab, SM (at panel 449) and COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), using the hand-held CDMK (CO2 Monitoring Kit) #1002). (The battery pack was to be replaced with the one from unit #1009 if necessary.)

Conducting his first Increment 17 run of the Russian DZZ-2 "Diatomeya" ocean observations program, the CDR used the HDV (high-definition) video camera at SM window #7, with lights in the SM turned off, aiming for areas showing bioluminescent glow in darkness in the Pacific ocean.

Reisman filled out the regular FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire), his sixth, on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer). (On the FFQs, NASA/ESA 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.)

The FE-2 performed the regular bi-weekly reboot of the SSC (Station Support Computer) OCA Comm Router laptop.

Garrett also completed the periodic checkup on 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.)

Sergey & Oleg again spent a full hour each for themselves for general orientation (station familiarization & acclimatization) as is standard daily rule for fresh crewmembers for the first two weeks after starting station residency.

Reisman had another 2h 45min reserved for more hardware gathering and prepacking for return on STS-124/1J, going by an uplinked 1J Prepack List.

The crew completed 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 (CDR, FE-1), RED resistive exerciser (FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR, FE-1). (The RED, as an anaerobic muscle exerciser, allows a variety of routines: squat, heel raises, bent-over rowing, abdominal crunches, deadlift, bench presses, upright rowing, etc. For Sergey & Oleg, who are using RED three times a week, each session features four different routines which vary from day to day to target different muscle groups.)

Afterwards, Reisman transferred the crew's exercise data file to the MEC laptop for downlinking, as well as 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).

At ~3:45am EDT, Sergey & Oleg linked up with TsUP-Moscow stowage specialists via S-band to conduct the weekly IMS tagup, discussing stowage issues and equipment locations.

At ~9:40am, Garrett Reisman supported a 10-min. PAO TV interview with WABC-TV, New York (Lori Stokes/Ken Rosato).

At ~11:30am, Volkov & Kononenko downlinked PAO TV messages of greetings and congratulations from the US Node-2 to two celebratory events in Russia: (1) the annual Radio Day ceremony held 5/5 in the State Kremlin Palace of the Russian Federation in Moscow under the auspices of the Ministry of Information Technologies & Communications, and (2) the 60th Anniversary of the Main Rocket Assembly Shop #439 of RSC-Energia on 5/8. (Radio Day, officially observed on 5/7, commemorates the first radio communication and demonstration session by Russian physicist Alexander Stepanovich Popov in 1895. Products built by the 60 year old Energia Rocket Assembly Facility and currently in use on the ISS include the 'Pirs' DC-1, cargo booms and the narrow beam antenna.)

Later tonight (~4:35pm), the ISS crew will link up with the Lead Flight Director at JSC/MCC-H via S-band/audio to conduct their first weekly tagup. (S/G-2 (Space-to-Ground 2) phone patch via SSC-10 (Station Support Computer 10)).

EMCS Update: After Reisman's replacement of water reservoirs in the MSG EMCS (Microgravity Science Glovebox/European Modular Cultivation System) on 4/22, three ECs (Experiment Containers) on rotor B have been successfully hydrated and are now showing germination in two of them. Hopefully, the third one may also respond. (The Japanese CW/RW (Cell Wall/Resist Wall) experiment operates in the EMCS facility in eight special ECs (Experiment Containers) which Garrett installed on 3/30 on the facility's centrifuges. The EMCS rack contains two rotating centrifuges, Rotor A & Rotor B, that can support a wide range of small plant & animal experiments under partial gravity conditions.)

CWC Update: A new updated CWC (Contingency Water Container) 'cue card' was uplinked for the crew's reference. (The new card (17-0002B) lists 38 CWCs (~1489.8 L total) for the four types of water identified on board: technical water (772.7 L, for Elektron, flushing, hygiene), potable water (647.2 L), condensate water (64.1 L), waste/EMU dump and other (5.8 L). Of the 38 containers, 15 CWCs with technical water (620.5 L) and 4 CWCs with potable water (176.3 L) must be cleared for Wautersia bacteria by MCC-H before use.)

CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today were Western Pamirs, central Asia (the mountains of the western Pamirs boast several impressive glaciers with banded moraines, and rock glaciers are present in some valleys. Snow cover should be starting to diminish, and the ground requested context views of the mountains and glaciers as ISS traversed the range from NW to SE), Karakoram, central Asia (as ISS left the Pamirs (preceding target), its orbit track brought it over the Karakoram Range. These mountains are also extensively glaciated, and requested were short-lens imagery taken along-track to assess the degree of snow cover), and Georgia Coastal Ecosystems, USA (weather was predicted to be clear over this long-term ecological research (LTER) site. Overlapping nadir frames, taken along track as the station approached the coast were requested. Images of coastal vegetation, beach morphology, and offshore sediment are of particular interest).