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More Details for 2008-05-14

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For the US Sleep study, currently on his voluntary 'job jar' task list, FE-2 Garrett Reisman downloaded the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data after wakeup and before breakfast from his Actiwatch to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop.

(To monitor his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, the Flight Engineer wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout this week, for the last time. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.)

For the Russian Sleep study, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko terminated his second MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session upon wake-up by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. CDR Sergey Volkov in turn will start his second overnight MBI-12 session tonight. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.)

Also before breakfast and first exercise, the three crewmembers completed a brief (15 min.) session each with the Russian MO-9/Biochemical Urinalysis assessment of the crew health monitoring program. (MO-9 is conducted every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs) and is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for U.S. crewmembers for IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) evaluation as part of the "PHS/Without Blood Labs" exam. Afterwards, the analysis results are entered in the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer)'s special IFEP software (In-Flight Examination Program).)

Sergey & Oleg completed the two-hour Part 2 of their second onboard 'Profilaktika' (MBI-8, 'Countermeasures') series of preventive health maintenance fitness testing on the treadmill, assisting each other in turn. (Today's fitness test was performed on the TVIS in unmotorized (idle) mode, with free choice of speeds within the range permitted. The test investigates the action mechanism and efficiency of various countermeasures (currently VELO and TVIS) aimed at preventing locomotor system disorders in weightlessness. The test differs from the normal TVIS session by the use of the TEEM-100 gas analyzer (via a mask equipped with a pneumotachometer sensor), measurement of blood lactate level and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test. The lactate blood samples were taken twice at the end of the session, using the ACCUSPORT analyzer and REFLOTRON-4 accessories. Results were entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data were transferred to the RSE-Med laptop, also on a tape cassette (Cardiocassette-2000), and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm.)

In the US Airlock (A/L), Garrett Reisman performed troubleshooting on the Avionics Rack (F1), assisted by Kononenko as required, going by an uplinked list of suggested steps with pictures. (Yesterday Reisman successfully replaced the failed ATU-6 (Audio Terminal Unit #6) with a spare unit (which had six fasteners on the cold plate that were not present on the failed unit). Voice checks on the ATU-6 and ATU-4 units subsequently confirmed a successful R&R of the ATU-6 - it's working again. However, Reisman was unable to rotate the rack back into place afterwards. Today's crew timeline was modified to complete the rack rotation and A/L restowage in time to have the A/L properly configured for the 29P docking on Friday.)

The FE-2 also performed a part of the scheduled adjustment of the MFCVs (Manual Flow Control Valves) for the ITCS/MTL (Internal Thermal Control System/Moderate Temperature Loop). The remaining work has been moved to tomorrow to make time for the higher-priority A/L F1 rack rotation & restowing. (The MFCVs are being adjusted in the Lab with a battery-driven non-intrusive Flow Meter in preparation for the future Regenerative ECLSS (Environment Control & Life Support System). The recently activated OGS (Oxygen Generation System), launched in 2006, is one part of the new Regenerative ECLSS, required for the future six-person occupancy of the station. The second part, the WRS (Water Recovery System), for recycling wastewater into potable water, will be launched later this year on STS-126.)

Working 2.5 hrs in the FGB, Sergey Volkov performed periodic SPOPT (Fire Detection & Suppression System) maintenance by dismantling the FGB's IDZ-2 smoke detectors, cleaning their ionizing needles and then reinstalling the sensors. (Part of the job is inspection and cleaning of surrounding areas behind panels. More SPOPT SD maintenance is scheduled tomorrow.)

Sergey Volkov had ~3 hrs set aside for the annual inspection and photo-documentation of window panes in the SM. The observed defects were recorded in image and text files on the RSK1 laptop for subsequent downlink via U.S. OCA assets. (Objective of the inspection, which uses a digital still camera (Nikon D1X w/SB-28DX flash) and voice recorder, was to assess the pane surfaces on SM windows 6, 7, 8, 12, and VP2 for any changes (new cavities, scratches, new or expanded old stains or discolorations affecting transparency properties) since the last inspection, performed by Oleg Kotov on 6/26/07. The new assessment will be compared to the earlier observations. Defects are measured with the parallax method which uses eyeball-sighting with a ruler and a right isosceles triangle to determine the defects' size and position with respect to the window's internal surface (parallax being the apparent change in an object's position resulting from changing the observer's position).)

Oleg Kononenko meanwhile performed a 2-hr audit/inventory of Russian KRP food containers in the FGB, assessing the number of unopened food rations (expired or close-to-expiration) for helping ground specialists to plan upcoming flight manifests.

After FE-2 Reisman set up and configured the necessary equipment, including activating the A31p laptop for video packet/stream conversion, he and the CDR conducted 'ping' tests of the TV downlink system in the SM, Soyuz and Node-1 for covering the Progress 29P docking on Friday. The A31p was later deactivated again. (Objective of the testing was to check out the function of the digital video/multicast downlink from the RS (Russian Segment) through Node-1 and USOS (US Segment) to Ku-band to MCC-Houston to COL-CC/Oberpfaffenhofen to TsUP-Moscow.)

The FE-1 took the periodic sensor readings of the Russian 'Pille-MKS' (MKS = ISS) radiation dosimetry experiment which has ten sensors placed at various locations in the Russian segment (DC1, SM starboard & port cabin windows, ASU toilet facility, control panel, etc.). (Nine of the ten dosimeters are read manually.)

Afterwards, Kononenko collected air samples in the SM & FGB using the AK-1M sampler kit, recording date, time & location and restowing the kits and pouches. Special AK-1M samples for Freon-218 were also taken in the SM.

Garrett performed 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 is now back up again and running in support of the on-going Freon-218 scrubbing from the cabin air, collecting data every six seconds and downlinking 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.)

Oleg completed the routine maintenance of the SM's SOZh/ECLSS system, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables. (Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists of replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers, replacement of an EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine container, and processing U.S. condensate water as it becomes available in a filled CWC from the Lab humidifier.)

The FE-1 also performed 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).

The crew 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 (FE-2), TVIS treadmill (CDR/MBI-8, FE-1/MBI-8) and RED resistive exercise device (FE-2).

Later tonight, Volkov will transfer the crew's exercise data file to the MEC for downlink, 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 11:25am EDT, Garrett conducted the periodic VHF-1 emergency communications check over NASA's VHF (Very High Frequency) stations, today at the Dryden (11:29:24am - 11:35:50am), talking with Houston/Capcom, MSFC/PAYCOM (Payload Operation & Integration Center Communicator) and Moscow/GLAVNI (TsUP Capcom) in the normal fashion via VHF radio from a handheld microphone and any of the USOS ATUs. (Purpose of the test is to verify signal reception and link integrity, improve crew proficiency, and ensure minimum required link margin during emergency (no TDRS) and special events (such as a Soyuz relocation).)

CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets uplinked for today were Arkenu 1 & Arkenu 2 Impact Craters, Libya (these two impact structures are thought to have been formed by the same impact event over 140 million years ago. The craters are located to the west of prominent rock outcrops within the extensive dune fields of southeastern Libya. Looking slightly to the left of track for the paired impact structures), Luquillo Forest, Puerto Rico (ISS had a nadir pass over this long term ecological research (LTER) site, and weather was predicted to be mostly clear. The site is comprised mainly of the forested slopes of the Luquillo Mountains in the eastern portion of Puerto Rico. Overlapping nadir frames, taken along track, were requested), and East Venezuela Land Use, S. America (the orbit track roughly paralleled the Venezuela coastline, providing an opportunity for context imagery of this land use change monitoring site. Looking to the right of track as ISS approached the northern coastline of Venezuela; the northern third of the site area should have been clear, with cloud cover increasing towards the south).