Updates ISS UPDATES

[Orbinaut Pete]

Pete,

Where did the CTC that dextre was holding, finally end up ?

Dextre is still holding on to the CTC. On STS-135, the RRM payload will be attached to Dextre, and after STS-135, Dextre will use the CTC to perform an RPCM R&R. The CTC and RRM will then both be installed on ELC-4.

 

[Donamy]

RPCM R&R ?????

 

[DaveS]

RPCM R&R ?????

Remote Power Control Module Remove & Replace.

 

[Donamy]

Any more info on this ?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Any more info on this ?

After STS-135, a Remote Power Control Module (RPCM - basically a circuit breaker) on the outside of the P1 Truss will be Removed & Replaced (R&Rd) by the SPDM, the first time such an operation has ever been completed. The SPDM will remove the old RPCM from the P1 Truss and stow it in the CTC, and then take a new RPCM from the CTC and install it onto the P1 Truss.

This was attempted last year, but ran into some technical challenges and was eventually cancelled due to the Pump Module R&R EVAs. It is being conducted now as an "R&R of opportunity", since the SPDM is already holding the CTC from the HTV-2 ops.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 01/07/2011.

In the Lab, FE-3 Ron Garan had several hours of work, removing & replacing the failed Lab MCA (Major Constituent Analyzer) Mass Spectrometer (ORU 2), to be returned on STS-135/ULF-7. The R&R was not fully completed due to a time-consuming issue with fasteners. [For the R&R, Ron first had to remove the Lab MCA Drawer for which the Deck 6 rack had to be rotated down (away from the wall). To gain access to the MSA (Mass Spectrometer Assembly), the VGA (Verification Gas Assembly) also had to be taken out temporarily. The failed spectrometer has been removed and prepacked for return. Activities will be replanned to complete this R&R and activate the MCA.]

Meanwhile, CDR Andrey Borisenko & FE-4 Sergei Volkov spent several hours in the SM (Service Module) on the long-awaited major TVIS IFM (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation System | Inflight Maintenance). The gyroscope removal went well, and no crew calldowns were required. [After taking the TVIS out of the "pit" in the SM floor, Andrey & Sergei removed the failed treadmill gyroscope, to be returned on Atlantis. While TVIS was out of the pit, they lubricated the transfer case, vacuumed the screens, checked the Aft Right Stabilizer Witness Mark and inspected one corner. TVIS was then temporarily stowed to await the new gyro, to be delivered on ULF-7. The activities were monitored by MCC-Houston TVIS specialists.]

Reboost Update:
The 2nd one-burn ISS reboost (of 2) was performed today at 12:16 AM GMT using Progress M-11M/43P DPO rendezvous & docking thrusters, with attitude control handover to RS MCS (Motion Control System) at 10:30 AM GMT and return to US CMGs (Control Moment Gyroscopes) at 1:10 PM GMT. Due to the thruster malfunction during 43P docking, only 4 thrusters were used (instead of the usual 8). Burn duration: 29m 32s. Actual Delta-V was 1.97 m/s (6.46 ft/s) vs. predicted 1.95/6.60. New mean altitude: 388.3 km (209.7 nmi) – ready for ULF-7. Apogee height: 390.2 km (210.7 nmi); perigee height: 386.4 km (208.6 nmi). Prop consumption for the reboost totaled 296.3 kg for the burn, and 4.5 kg for attitude control. Progress 43P supplied the reboost and pitch/yaw propellant from its resupply tanks. Purpose of the reboosts was to gain altitude and set up phasing conditions for ULF-7.

Robotics Update:
The crew maneuvered the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) to release MBS PDGF-3 (Mobile Base System | Power & Data Grapple Fixture-3) and grapple the Node 2 PDGF instead. After the base change (control transfer) to the Node 2 PDGF, the MBS was released and the SSRMS maneuvered to the ULF-7 Start position. The now unoccupied MBS, along with the MT (Mobile Transporter), was moved from WS-5 (Worksite-5) to WS-4. This completes all MSS (Mobile Service Systems) preparations for ULF-7.

PMA-2 Decision:
With no more Shuttles after STS-135 arriving at ISS, the decision was made to leave the PMA-2 (Pressurized Mating Adapter-2) pressurized after ULF-7 departure so that it can be used like a closet - like PMA-3. Since it is not designed for stowage, it would require non-standard stowage. Before anything will be stowed, the thermal environment has to be determined.

 

[Wishbone]

Via: novosti-kosmonavtiki; Parabolic Arc (http://www.parabolicarc.com/2011/06/30/chart-du-jour-the-amazing-collossal-cost-of-a-soyuz-seat/) and NASA OIG (http://oig.nasa.gov/audits/reports/FY11/IG-11-022.pdf)

One thing I immediately find wrong is the vertical axis not starting off from zero. Otherwise, there's a bunch of questions to Roskosmos...

 

[Yoda]

Bend over and take it from behind NASA; you just got s.....d !
Knew from minute one that this was going to be a costly mistake to retire the shuttle !

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Are we meant to believe that the price suddenly went up by $~16 million between the first and second half of this year? Funny, isn't it, how the Soyuz price hike conveniently matches the Shuttle retirement date! :lol:

 

[Wishbone]

Now that you mention it, the horizontal scale is "interesting" as well. Reading the first few pages of OIG's report, found out that this "price" includes some lump sum towards refurbishing the production lines. The direct costs would be less; and there are several ways to interpret the allocation of this lump sum between fiscal years.

What would clear up the mud is the plain table of negotiated contract modifications, with dates when they were initialled. Otherwise, this is pure "statistics", quoting Mark Twain.

P.S. Mind you, this is in no way meant to exonerate Roskosmos, if we are to maintain the spirit of co-operation, there's no place for profiteering in the ISS.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 02/07/2011.

Solar Array Efficiency Test:
After attitude control handover to Russian MCS (Motion Control System) thrusters tomorrow at 4:25 AM GMT, the ISS will maneuver to the desired attitude at 4:30 AM GMT in support of the Russian SM (Service Module) Solar Array Efficiency test, which takes place from 4:35 AM-7:15 AM GMT. The ISS then maneuvers back to +XVV (X-axis in Velocity Vector), and attitude control authority will return to US momentum management with CMGs (Control Moment Gyroscopes) at approximately 7:50 AM GMT.

 

[orb]

Roscosmos:
ISS RS Crew Continues Progress M-11M Unloading – Sergey Volkov
:: 03.07.2011

Onboard the International Space Station, the crew continues unloading of the Progress M-11M cargo vehicle, Sergey Volkov, flight engineer of ISS-28, writes in his blog in Roscosmos web.

According to Sergey, the work is rather tough, normally scheduled for two cosmonauts, with the other crew members helping them.
"The main thing here is inventory management, in order to keep the cargo in order for the next crews”, Sergey explains.
He added that the meals of the crew include tomatoes, garlic and onions brought by the Progress.

The Russian cargo vehicle arrived at the station on June 23, delivering more than 2.6 t of cargo, including propellant, oxygen, water, food, crew parcels, scientific equipment, to the ISS.

 

[orb]

Roscosmos:

• Russian EVA Planned for August – Alexander Samokutiaev
  :: 04.07.2011
  
  Alexander Samokutiaev, flight engineer of the International Space Station’s expedition 28, informed about the planning for the upcoming Russian EVA in his blog in Roscosmos web.
  
  According to Russian cosmonaut, the EVA is slated for August, pending the launch oa the shuttle scheduled for July 8.
  Alexander will work outside the ISS with his colleague Sergey Volkov. The cosmonauts are to perform several ISS RS refurbishing tasks, as well as to launch small satellite Kedr.
  
  Russian cosmonauts onboard the International Space Station switched on small spacecraft Kedr on April 12, in order to commemorate the jubilee of Yury Gagarin’s mission.
  Small spacecraft Kedr developed under the RadioSkaf experiment bears the name adopted by Yu.A. Gagarin call sign in his historical flight, namely Kedr. The satellite’s signal will be transmitted at radio amateur frequency of 145.95 MHz. Kedr has radio amateur call sign RS1S.
  RadioSkaf is implemented in the framework of UNESCO’s student space education program.
  
  Kedr will transmit different signals, images, including the talks of famous Russian scientist Kostantin Tsiolkovsky, rocket Chief Designer Sergey Korolev conversation with the first cosmonaut during his 108-min historical mission, and famous Gagarin’s “Go!” (Poekhali!), of course.
  
  
• Operations and Experiments in the International Space Station (July 4- 10, 2011)

 

[orb]

Roscosmos: Operations and Experiments in the International Space Station (July 11- 17, 2011)

NASA: New Research and Technology Experiments Headed to the International Space Station on STS-135/ULF7

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASA Debuts Inspirational Space Station Music Video

NASA today debuts an inspirational video featuring the International Space Station and its crews set to the song “World” by recording artists Five for Fighting.

The video features imagery of both the space station and the space shuttles that have served as the workhorses of space station construction and resupply. It uses selections from orbit as well as Earth-bound training and launch activities to communicate the importance of space exploration and its benefits for future generations. Intermixed are selections of video that show the beauty of planet Earth as seen from the space station and scenes of children inspired by space exploration. The lyrics emphasize that “history starts now” and invite listeners to ask the question, "What kind of world do you want?"

The video ends with a reminder that although STS-135 is the final space shuttle mission, the International Space Station will continue an uninterrupted human presence in space. The video will air on NASA Television at 7:15 p.m. CDT. For NASA TV schedules, downlink information and streaming video, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

To watch the video online, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=100242111

NASA also has released a new 26-minute video about the history, research and promise of the International Space Station. During the past decade, 15 nations have come together, setting aside boundaries and differences, to create the largest and longest inhabited object to ever orbit the Earth. To view that video, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/multimedia/first10next10.html

For more information about the space shuttle and the space station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov

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Here's the YouTube version:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYh6BD6-Hc8"]YouTube - ‪What Kind of World Do You Want?‬‏[/ame]

Very cool video! :thumbup:

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

India is to join the ISS! :thumbup:

Source.

 

[GoForPDI]

Fantastic news!

 

[Capt_hensley]

I heard on the radio that ISS narrowly missed a disaster, Inadvertantly. What was this all about?

Why did the Atlantis mission get extended by a day?

 

[diogom]

I heard on the radio that ISS narrowly missed a disaster, Inadvertantly. What was this all about?

Maybe Sandy's sock were kinda rotten from being stored for so long :lol: Nothing happened that I know.

 

[DaveS]

Why did the Atlantis mission get extended by a day?

More time for cargo transfers.