Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z

---

More Details for 2008-06-11

---

ISS and STS-124/Discovery are flying in separate orbits again.

ISS crew wake-up shifted another 30 min. to the left (4:00am EDT), and CDR Sergey Volkov, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko and FE-2 Gregory (Taz) Chamitoff will go to bed two hours earlier tonight (~5:30pm) to move their circadian cycle back to the nominal schedule.

For the Russian Sleep study, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko terminated his fourth 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 fourth overnight MBI-12 data take 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.)

After final departure preparations on both sides of the hatches (closed yesterday on ISS side at 4:24pm EDT), Discovery undocked this morning exactly at 7:42am from PMA-2 (Pressurized Mating Adapter 2) after a total docked time of 8d 17h 39m. (For undocking, the station was turned from -XVV through ~180 deg to +XVV ZLV (+x-axis in velocity vector, z-axis in local vertical, i.e., flying Shuttle in front again) at ~6:22am, put briefly on free drift for the undocking, and then moded to 1J Stage attitude of +XVV TEA (Torque Equilibrium Attitude).)

After separation, Discovery completed a 360-deg station flyaround and obtained imagery of the ISS with the newly-delivered Kibo JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module), JEMRMS (JEM Robotic Manipulator System) and relocated JLP (JEM Logistics Pressurized Module. (JPM added approximately 32,590 lb mass to the ISS.)

KSC landing is nominally expected on 6/14 (Saturday) at ~11:02am EDT. (If the landing occurs as planned, STS-124/1J mission duration will be 13d 18h. Garrett Reisman's total time in space will be 95d 8h 34m, with ~89d on board ISS.)

Before and during the undocking, CDR Volkov stood by at the Cupola A31p laptop with a stopwatch to monitor the proper performance of automatic undocking software for the PMA-2 departure under Russian thruster attitude control. (The procedure provides for the crewmember to take over the automatic operational attitude control sequence manually if the software does not resume control after the period of free drift a few minutes after physical separation. Free drift is employed to prevent a conflict between the control systems of the two vehicles (ISS & Shuttle) and to 'limp' (unload) the docking mechanisms.)

Later, the CDR powered down the Cupola RWS (Robotics Workstation) laptop.

FE-2 Greg Chamitoff used the Kodak DCS760 digital camera and PD-100 camcorder to document the undocking, backing away & separation of the Discovery.

After undocking, the FE-2 depressurized the PMA-2 to prevent humidity condensation and pressure fluctuations. Leak checking by Gregory followed after the standard one hour. Afterwards, the necessary testing equipment was torn down.

Volkov then completed the reconfiguration of the Russian telephone/telegraph subsystem (STTS) to its post-undocking settings, from its primary string back to nominal mode on the backup string. This also severed the VHS (UHF) channel to the receding Shuttle Orbiter and restored the RSA-2 S/G (Space-to-Ground) comm configuration on Panel 3. (The "Voskhod-M" STTS enables telephone communications between the SM, FGB, DC1 Docking Compartment and U.S. segment (USOS), and also with users on the ground over VHF channels selected by an operator at an SM comm panel, via STTS antennas on the SM's outside. There are six comm panels in the SM with pushbuttons for accessing any of three audio channels, plus an intercom channel. Other modes of the STTS include telegraphy (teletype), EVA voice, emergency alarms, Packet/Email, and TORU docking support.)

Greg Chamitoff, the new FE-2, deconfigured the BPSMU (Battery Powered Speaker Microphone Unit) and its long drag-through cable, used during the docked phase, and stowed the equipment.

Terminating the video setup, Chamitoff removed the J-1 VCP cap of the VDS (Video Distribution System) in Node-2 from video port S3 (camcorder port).

The CDR & FE-1 had another ~3.5 hrs set aside for more Progress 29P unloading & cargo transfers, referring to an uplinked cargo transfer list showing 231 items and logging movements in the IMS (Inventory Management System) database. Transferred items included a new Orlan spacesuit telemetry unit (BRTA) which Oleg stowed in the FGB (panel 112).

The FE-2 performed the periodic offloading of the Lab CCAA (Common Cabin Air Assembly) dehumidifier's condensate tank, filling a CWC (Contingency Water Container, #1062) with the collected water slated for processing. No samples were required. (Transferred quantity is determined by allowing tank and CWC equalize with each other. Tank quantity stabilizes at a value higher than the neutral point. Waiting time ~30 min.)

Oleg completed the periodic (about twice a month) replenishing of the Elektron oxygen generator's water supply for electrolysis, filling the KOV EDV container with water collected in CWC (Contingency Water Container) #1043 from the Lab CCAA (Common Cabin Air Assembly) dehumidifier. (The 40-minute procedure is specially designed to prevent air bubbles larger than ~10 mm from getting into the BZh Liquid Unit where they could cause Elektron shutdown.)

In the SM (Service Module), Kononenko completed the routine maintenance of the 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.)

CDR Volkov completed 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).

Kononenko conducted the periodic (currently daily) checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS (Russian Segment) hatchways, including the passageways PrK (SM Transfer Compartment) -ATV, PrK -RO (SM Working Compartment), PkhO (SM Transfer Tunnel) -RO, PkhO -DC1, PkhO -FGB PGO, FGB PGO -FGB GA, FGB GA -Node-1.

In the US A/L (Airlock), the new Flight Engineer began the bake-out/regeneration process on the METOX (Metal Oxide) canisters used in the A/L for CO2 (carbon dioxide) removal during the EVA campouts. (In the EMUs (Extravehicular Activity Units), nonregenerative LiOH (Lithium Hydroxide) filter cans were used for CO2 control.)

FE-1 Kononenko assisted with the METOX regen and then spent an additional 30 min in the A/L to deconfigure and clean up 'Quest' after its support of the recent three 1J spacewalks.

After setting up and initializing the new Bubble dosimeters of the RS radiation payload suite 'Matryoshka-R' (RBO-3-2) on 6/6, FE-1 Kononenko today collected the dosimeters for a checkout and recording of accumulated measurements (bubbles). (A total of seven Bubble dosimeter detectors (A01-A08, A05 not used) were retrieved and 'read' in the Bubble dosimeter reader in the SM. The results were reported to TsUP/Moscow via log sheet on the BSR-TM payload channel. The complex Matryoshka payload suite is designed for sophisticated radiation studies. Note: Matryoshka is the name for the traditional Russian set of nested dolls.)

Sergey Volkov began the planned use of the ATV1 (Automated Transfer Vehicle 1) 'Jules Verne' as a trash can by transferring accumulated waste and discarded equipment from the SM to the ATV. (Masses & stowage locations of discarded items are tracked carefully for adequate vehicle CG (Center-of-Gravity) analysis prior to ATV departure.)

In the Lab, FE-2 Chamitoff performed troubleshooting on the ANITA (Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air) experiment which had stopped downlinking all required spectra files. (Log files indicate that this issue is due to lack of memory. Today's troubleshooting will help the ground to determine if there is a memory issue with the A31p laptop. After this procedure was executed, ground commanding took over to continue troubleshooting.)

The ISS 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 (CDR, FE-2), TVIS treadmill (FE-1), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-1, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1). For Taz, this started his regular daily exercise regimen.

Afterwards, Chamitoff transferred 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).

At ~8:25am EDT, Volkov & Kononenko joined in downlinking two PAO TV messages of greetings & congratulations to TsUP/Moscow for later replay at two events: (1) the start of the 24-hr automobile race at Le Mans, France, on 6/14, and (2) the 10th anniversary of the Telecommunications Systems Operation Complex (TsENKIKOM) at Baikonur, Kazakhstan. ((1) For the Le Mans event, which will be attended by Jean-Loup ChrÃ(c)tien, Mark Brown, Vladimir Titov and Michel Tognini: ' €¦On the occasion of the centennial of the first flight by aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright, we are honored to take part in the start of Le Mans 2008 from the ISS €¦'; (2) ' €¦The Complex contributed tremendous efforts and energy to implementing Russia's space programs involving Baikonur launches, and to improving the reliability and quality of the entire Roskosmos communications system. The formation of the Telecommunication Systems Operation Complex marked the beginning of a civil component on the Baikonur launch site €¦'.)

Consumables Transfer Update: During the STS-124/1J docked period, a total of 783.5 lbs (355.3 L) of water was transferred to the ISS, in 7 CWCs (Contingency Water Containers, 662.0 lbs/300.1 L) and 6 PWRs (Payload Water Reservoirs, 121.5 lbs/55.2 L). Water samples were collected during each CWC fill. Nitrogen (N2) transfer to ISS: 15 lbs (6.8 kg). Fresh LiOH canisters to ISS: 14; used LiOH cans to Shuttle: 14.

WDS Update: An updated Water Delivery System 'cue card' was uplinked for the crew's reference. (The new card (17-0002K) lists 37 CWCs (~1457.2 L total) for the four types of water identified on board: technical water (694.6 L, for Elektron, flushing, hygiene, incl. 553.4 L non-usable water because of Wautersia bacteria), potable water (706.7 L, incl. 260.6 L currently on hold), condensate water (48 L), waste/EMU dump and other (7.9 L). Wautersia bacteria are typical water-borne microorganisms that have been seen previously in ISS water sources. These isolates pose no threat to human health.)

Planning for Russian EVA-20: Houston & Moscow teams are beginning work on the requirements & activities needed to support the next Russian spacewalk, to be conducted by Volkov & Kononenko in Orlan suits from the 'Pirs' DC1 Docking Compartment on 7/10 (current tentative date). RSC-Energia indicated this morning that in addition to the originally planned payload tasks the spacewalkers will also conduct an inspection of the Soyuz 16S spacecraft (behind thermal covers) in support of the on-going investigation of the Soyuz TMA-11/15S entry anomaly.

No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today.