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Orbinaut Pete

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From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 23/10/2011.

Conjunction 2 Update:
The conjunction with Object #30917 (Fengyun 1C debris) at 12:26 PM GMT this morning stayed outside the area of concern and required no action.

CSL SSC Troubleshooting:
After the crew yesterday worked the discretionary task list item of recovering the hard drives of CSL (Crew Support LAN) laptops, ground specialists got varying results on "pinging" SSC-13 (no response), SSC-17 (good response), SSC-21 (good response). Using the new SWRDFSH (Swordfish) software update, SSC-17 (Station Support Computer-17) remained unresponsive while SSC-21 reported good connection (except for the Ultrabay drive transferred from the original failed SSC-20).
 

Orbinaut Pete

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From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 25/10/2011.

CDR Mike Fossum had ~4h15m allotted for the major IFM (Inflight Maintenance) of removing the MCA VGA (Major Constituent Analyzer | Verification Gas Assembly) from the AR-1 (Atmosphere Revitalization-1) rack in the US Lab and installing it instead in Node 3 in AR-2. [The MSA (Mass Spectrometer Assembly) and DCA (Data & Control Assembly) have already been removed from the LAB MCA.]

Reboost:
Another one-burn reboost of the ISS will be performed tomorrow morning at 12:52 PM GMT, using the two KD engines of the SM's (Service Module's) ODU (Integrated Propulsion System) for a burn duration of 1m 54s and a planned Delta-V of 1.82 m/s (5.97 ft/s). The purpose of the reboost is to set up phasing for Progress M-13M/45P launch, Soyuz TMA-22/28S launch, and Soyuz TMA-02M/27S landing.
 

Orbinaut Pete

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From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 26/10/2011.

JAXA Marangoni Experiment:
The crew was advised of another Marangoni bridge building event tonight (11:00 PM-5:00 AM GMT), the 19th in 24 planned bridge buildings in Increment 29/30. The experiment is performed in the Kibo JPM during crew sleep (since the liquid bridge to be formed is sensitive to g-jitter), 4 days/week at most and 24 runs in total. After the liquid bridge has been formed, the ground imposes a temperature gradient on it to produce Marangoni convection. The crew, which is being informed regularly, has been asked to avoid any disturbances in this timeframe. Even disturbances in other modules can be transmitted and cause the liquid bridge in JPM to break up, resulting in science loss.

ISS Reboost Update:
This morning's ISS reboost by the two KD engines of the SM's (Service Module's) ODU (Integrated Propulsion System) was performed on time (12:52 PM GMT) with a burn duration of 1 min 54 sec, yielding a delta-V of 1.90 m/s/6.2 ft/s (planned: 1.82/5.9). Mean altitude gain: 3.20 km (1.73 nmi). ISS was afterwards at a mean altitude of 390.0 km (210.6 nmi), with 404.8 km (218.6 nmi) apogee & 375.2 km (202.6 nmi) perigee height. Attitude control authority handover from US Momentum Management to Russian MCS (Motion Control System) was at 11:15 AM GMT and its return at 1:30 PM GMT. No actual maneuver was required for the reboost which was performed in TEA (Torque Equilibrium Attitude). Purpose of the reboost was to set up phasing for Progress M-13M/45P launch, Soyuz TMA-22/28S launch, and Soyuz TMA-02M/27S landing.
 

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Orbinaut Pete

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From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 27/10/2011.

FE-4 Sergei Volkov prepared the Progress M-10M/42P cargo ship for its undocking on 10/29 from the DC-1 (Docking Compartment-1), first installing the docking mechanism (StM, Stykovochnovo mekhanizma) between the cargo ship and the DC-1 Nadir port, then uninstalling & removing the LKT local temperature sensor commutator (TA251MB) of the BITS2-12 onboard measurement telemetry, along with its ROM unit (Read Only Memory, TA765B) for re-use.

JAXA Marangoni Experiment:
The crew was advised of another Marangoni bridge building event tonight (11:00 PM-5:00 AM GMT), the 20th in 24 planned bridge buildings in Increment 29/30. The experiment is performed in the Kibo JPM during crew sleep (since the liquid bridge to be formed is sensitive to g-jitter), 4 days/week at most and 24 runs in total. After the liquid bridge has been formed, the ground imposes a temperature gradient on it to produce Marangoni convection. The crew, which is being informed regularly, has been asked to avoid any disturbances in this timeframe. Even disturbances in other modules can be transmitted and cause the liquid bridge in JPM to break up, resulting in science loss.
 

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From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 28/10/2011.

In Node 3, CDR Mike Fossum opened the HV01 valve to initiate MCA (Major Constituents Analyzer) vacuum pumpout. The pumpout valve will be closed again about 4 hrs later. [This is a second go at it. Yesterday the Node 3 MCA experienced a problem during start-up that caused an advisory ("MCA Vent Valve Indeterminate") and a caution ("MCA Configuration Fault"). MCA specialists believe the issue may be related to a timing error between software commanding of the vacuum vent valve and the actual valve position. Today's attempt to resolve the problem consisted of overriding the software. Evaluation is underway.]

FE-4 Sergei Volkov finished up preparations for Progress M-10M/42P (#410) undocking tomorrow morning (~9:01 AM GMT), by:
  • Downlinking the formal report on stowage completion to TsUP/Moscow.
  • Activating the spacecraft's electronics and taking out the ventilation/heating air duct.
  • Removing the QD (Quick Disconnect) screw clamps (BZV) of the docking & internal transfer mechanism (SSVP) which rigidized the joint.
  • Closing the transfer hatches.
  • Conducting the standard one-hour leak checking of the SU docking vestibule and fuel/oxidizer transfer line interface between Progress & DC-1.
  • Downlinking the video depicting the close-out activities, for review by ground specialists. [During hatch closure, leak checking and initial clamp installation, Russian thrusters as usual were inhibited due to load constraints (2:00 PM-3:40 PM GMT).]
 

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Progress M-10M/42P has undocked from DC-1.

The ISS is now in the very rare configuration of having only one Russian vehicle present (Soyuz TMA-02M/27S at MRM-1).
 

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What was the last time that there is no resupply craft docked to the ISS?
And also, the last time with just one spacecraft docked?
 

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From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 29/10/2011.

Progress M-10M/42P undocked nominally this morning at 9:04 AM GMT from the DC-1 (Docking Compartment-1) Nadir port after hooks open command at 9:01 AM GMT. An automated 15-sec separation burn with DPO-K2 thrusters followed at 9:07 AM GMT (delta-V 0.67 m/s). The cargo ship, loaded with trash, performed its 3-min. deorbit burn (99.7 m/s) at 12:10:30 PM GMT, entered the atmosphere at ~12:48 PM GMT and burned up at ~12:54 PM GMT. Surviving debris impacted in the Pacific Ocean at ~1:00 PM GMT.

Progress M-13M/45P Countdown:
L-1 activities are underway at the Baikonur/Kazakhstan launch site where the Soyuz-U launch vehicle with the Progress 45P cargo ship was rolled out yesterday to the pad for tomorrow's liftoff at 10:11 AM GMT.
 

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From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 30/10/2011.

At Baikonur/Kazakhstan, the new cargo ship Progress M-13M/45P (#413) was launched this morning on time at 10:11 AM GMT on a Soyuz-U rocket fueled with 392 tons of LO2, over 80 tons of kerosene, and nearly 70 tons of LN2, H2O2 and other elements. Ascent was nominal, and all spacecraft systems were without issues. All arrays and antennas deployed nominally (2 solar arrays, 5 KURS antennas, 1 Rassvet-M antenna for TORU, 1 SBI/M-BITS onboard measurement / telemetry system antenna). Docking to DC-1 (Docking Compartment-1) "Pirs" Nadir port is planned for Wednesday, 11/02, at ~11:40 AM GMT, to deliver 750 kg (1,653 lbs) of propellant, 50 kg (110 lbs) of oxygen, 420 kg (926 lbs) of water and 1410 kg (3,108 lbs) of dry cargo (supplies, experiment hardware, etc.)]
 

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From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 02/11/2011.

Yest kasaniya! At 11:41 AM GMT this morning, Progress M-13M/45P (#413) docked successfully to the DC-1 (Docking Compartment-1) Nadir port (vacated by Progress M-10M/42P on 10/29) under precise automatic Kurs control. [Kurs antenna retraction was nominal. Kasaniya (contact) was followed by a final DPO post-contact thrusting burn, docking probe retraction and Sborka (hook closure, ~12:00 PM GMT) after motion damp-out while the ISS was in free drift for 20 min (11:40 AM-12:00 PM GMT). At "hooks closed" signal, RS (Russian Segment) MCS (Motion Control System) returned to active attitude control, maneuvering the ISS to LVLH TEA (Local Vertical/Local Horizontal | Torque Equilibrium Attitude). Attitude control authority had been handed over to Russian MCS at 9:45 AM GMT; it returned to US Momentum Management at ~12:40 PM GMT. Next came the standard 1-hr leak checking, opening of the hatches between DC-1 & SU vestibule and SU & Progress (~2:30 PM-2:50 PM GMT) and installation of the BZV screw clamps, followed by the standard air sampling inside Progress with the Russian AK-1M air sampler, then powering down the spacecraft and installation of the ventilation/heating air duct, taking photographs of the internal docking surfaces for subsequent downlinking, and dismantling & removing the StM docking mechanism between the cargo ship and the DC-1 Nadir port.]
 

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ESA: Launch date confirmed for PromISSe mission to Space Station:
4 November 2011

ESA’s next mission to the International Space Station will be launched on 21 December: André Kuipers will ride into orbit aboard the Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft as a member of the orbital outpost’s Expedition 30.

Originally planned for late November, the launch was put on hold in August after the launch mishap of Russia’s Progress 44 unmanned freighter.

With the successful ascent of Progress 45 on Monday, a series of flight readiness meetings and the identification of the probable cause for the loss of the previous vehicle, the Soyuz rockets are again cleared to carry out human missions.

{...}
 

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Florida Today - The Flame Trench: Robonaut Tripped Up During Station Tests:
The first humanoid robot to fly in space went through a workout aboard the International Space Station today, but the checkout was halted after a few minor problems cropped up.

Working in the U.S. Destiny laboratory, outpost commander Mike Fossum took part in motion tests aimed at exercising Robonaut's hands, neck and wrists. However, the tests were stopped when neck and wrist movements were not carried out as originally planned.

NASA robot operator Phil Strawser said joint movements in the weightless space environment have proven to be different than those performed in normal gravity on Earth. Consequently, software used to operate the robot needs to be "fine-tuned," he said.

A planned handshake between the station commander and Robonaut was deferred until a later date.

{...}


Parabolic Arc: NanoRacks to Fly U.S. Student Experiment to ISS:
NanoRacks PR — The American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology (ASGSB), a U.S. non-profit 501(C)(6) scientific society, announces today an agreement has been signed with NanoRacks (Houston, Texas) to fly a student space flight experiment on-board the NASA International Space Station (ISS).

NanoRacks is an industry leader in low-earth orbit space services NanoRacks. NanoRacks, LLC is working with NASA under a Space Act Agreement for the use of the U.S. National Lab. ASGSB has entered into an agreement with NanoRacks as a result of an industry partnership agreement with the Science and Technology Corporation (STC). STC is a small, high-technology company that has experience in nano-satellite and space instrument development. www.stcnet.com/

ASGSB and the NASA Ames Research Center Space Biosciences Division are collaborating to bring an interdisciplinary team of students together to address innovative problems of Space Biology and develop the student light experiment. This past summer, a small student team was competitively selected to study Insect Flight Aerodynamics and Biology in Altered Gravity Environments.

This student experiment is being prepared to fly as the ASGSB light opportunity with NanoRacks. The summer project brought students from aeronautics, biology and engineering together and focused on the development of a novel, imaging capability to perform quantitative aerodynamic and behavioral analysis of insect light under altered gravity conditions. Several members of the student team are presenting scientific posters at the ASGSB meeting being held in San Jose, CA November 3rd, 2011.

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