Updates ISS UPDATES

[Orbinaut Pete]

My latest NASASpaceflight article: ISS managers prepare for possible de-crew – launches to resume soon.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 11/10/2011.

In the JAXA JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), FE-5 Satoshi Furukawa performed troubleshooting on the failed GHF (Gradient Heating Furnace) on the Kobairo Rack, opening its MP (Material Processing) front panel and taking close-up video with the G1 camcorder for ground inspection. Afterwards, Satoshi opened the GHF SCAM (Sample Cartridge Automatic exchange Mechanism) front door and took photos of the GHF cartridge for inspection. [An anomalous overcurrent event of the GHF Central Heater occurred on 04/12/11 & 04/20/11. Suspected cause of the short circuit is inadvertent contact between a lock wire and a heater flange. Troubleshooting will involve inspection of the end heater unit and cartridge, checking the lock wire position of the new Central Heater and fix it if needed, and attaching heaters and servicing GHF-MP in order to resume the GHF experiment.]

RS Oxidizer Transfer:
Russian ground controllers performed oxidizer (NTO/nitrogen tetroxide) transfer from the FGB (Functional Cargo Block) TBO1-4 oxidizer tankage to the SM (Service Module) "Zvezda" to refill "Zvezda's" BO1 ODU (Integrated Propulsion System) oxidizer tank 1.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 12/10/2011.

RS Propellant Transfer Update:
Propellant transfer from FGB (Functional Cargo Block) to SM (Service Module) is underway this week in preparation for the reboost on 10/19. Yesterday, 128 kg of oxidizer was transferred from FGB tanks to SM tanks. Fuel transfer started today.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 13/10/2011.

CDR Mike Fossum & FE-5 Satoshi Furukawa joined forces to conduct the 2nd onboard tests of Robonaut (after the first tests had to be aborted on 09/01). Robonaut was put in motion for the first time on-orbit. After performing a coordinated power-up with the ground, the crew maneuvered each arm joint to determine the differences of the micro-gravity environment by setting control gains through repetitive motions. They also performed an initial vision checkout of the high-def cameras to verify they are working and in focus. The ground then commanded Robonaut to move to the stow-position while you monitor the motion. [After configuring the Node 2 camcorder to capture activities, the crewmembers assembled the Robonaut hardware on its seat track in the Lab (location Port 2), connected cables and powered on Robonaut in conjunction with ground commanding from POIC (Payload Operations Integration Center). Mike then had about ~2 hrs for powered operations, to check out two sensors (JR3 & Joint Torque), the Motion Stop button, both arms (with adjustment damping) and Robonaut vision via its left & right camera. This required activation of Robonaut's GUI (Graphic User Interface) and telnet windows. (This had run into a snag on 09/01, preventing completion of the program within the allotted "thermal clock" time of ~2.2 hrs, to limit touch temperature). Afterwards, ground controllers ran runs scripts to bring Robonaut to the Stow Pose and closed the software applications prior to disassembly. Mike & Satoshi then decabled Robonaut and restowed the disassembled hardware in an M-03 bag at its stowage location.]

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 14/10/2011.

After midday meal, after a review of procedures, CDR Mike Fossum spent several hours in the JPM (Japanese Pressurised Module), building cabling for JAXA's ICS (Inter-orbit Communication System) with the G1 video camcorder set up for monitoring. [The ICS-PM (ICS-Pressurised Module) experienced a short on 07/31, tripping the RPC-5 (Remote Power Controller-5) of the JPM PDU a1 (Power Distribution Unit a1), which feeds power to the ICS rack. Part 1 of the troubleshooting, on 08/10, determined that the ICS system itself is the source of the issue and not the rack. Subsequently, Part 2, on 08/12, was to locate the shorted circuit in the power feed path from PDU a1 to the JPM ICS Rack, using the Multimeter instrument to check continuity (measuring resistances) in order to find short circuits in the cable. ICS-PM has been shut down due to possible short circuit inside the IP-PCDU (ICS-PM Power Control & Distribution Unit) and MUX (Data Multiplexer). The new cabling is intended to eliminate the short circuit.]

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: Orbital, SpaceX Face Further Delays in Space Station Resupply Programs

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 17/10/2011.

After powering down PCS (Portable Computer System) laptops in the Lab & Node 2 as well as equipment attached to UOPs (Utility Outlet Panels)-2 & -7 in Lab & UOP-1 in Node 2, CDR Mike Fossum gathered the necessary gear and began Part 1 of the lengthy IFM (Inflight Maintenance) of removing & replacing the failed RPCM (Remote Power Control Module) A4A in the Lab (to be continued tomorrow). The deactivated equipment attached to UOPs -2, -7 & -1 were then powered up again, later also the PCS laptops. [A few weeks ago RPCM A4A_C in the Lab had an RPC (Remote Power Controller) failure. The RPC provides redundant power to ER-2 (ExPrESS Rack-2) which powers the Ku-Band Receiver. RPCM A4A_C is one of several RPCMs on a power bus located at the back of the DDCU-1 (DC/DC Converter Unit-1) at LAB1P3 (Lab Port 3). Accessing the RPCM required removing the CEVIS (Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation System) exercise machine and rotating DDCU-1 at LAB1P3 for the duration of the activity.]

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 18/10/2011.

In the US Lab, with the "upstream" DDCU (DC/DC Converter Unit) B powered down yesterday for safing, CDR Mike Fossum today Removed & Replaced (R&Rd) the failed RPCM (Remote Power Control Module) LA1B-H. [The ~3hr IFM (Inflight Maintenance) required safing steps, rotating the MELFI-3 (Minus Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS-3) rack at Lab Starboard 1 down for access after demating its umbilicals, removing the shear panel in front of SPDA (Secondary Power Distribution Assembly) at LA1B, then removing the failed RPCM and replacing it with a new spare. The following close-out operation reversed the activities. The temporarily deactivated Lab UOP-6 (Utility Outlet Panel-6) will be powered up before sleeptime. The successful R&R recovers the Lab smoke detector (LABPD1). Ground teams are currently in the process of recovering the powered down LA1B loads.]

 

[orb]

Aviation Week: Robonaut 2 Moves Aboard ISS For First Time:

Oct. 18, 2011

HOUSTON — Robonaut 2 (R2), the legless humanoid developed by NASA and General Motors, has moved for the first time since its launch to the International Space Station in February aboard the STS-133 mission, the space agency reported Oct. 14.

The arm motions a day earlier were made in response to commands from NASA’s Mission Control and payload control facilities here and in Huntsville, Ala.

The muscular-looking, two-armed robot, positioned in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module, was awakened electronically for the first time on Aug. 22. Plans for first motion on Sept. 1 were postponed when ground-based engineers observed a need for further adjustments to the robot’s force sensors (Aerospace DAILY, Sept. 2). “We have his arm stretched out,” noted NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, who was floating next to R2, in a televised replay of the Oct. 13 activities. “He’s kind of like a patient undergoing physical therapy, going through a range of motions.”

The only difficulty noted was a slight binding of the fabric that forms the sleeves on R2’s outstretched left and right arms. “This is a big step,” Fossum told the flight control team. “It’s an exciting day for the R2 team.”

{...}

 

[orb]

NASA: NIH Selects Another Investigator for the International Space Station

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 19/10/2011.

Reboost Update:
The planned one-burn reboost of the ISS was performed nominally at 4:15 PM GMT, using the two KD engines of the SM's (Service Module's) ODU (Integrated Propulsion System), with a target delta-V of 1.8 m/s (5.9 ft/s).

 

[orb]

NASA:

Oct. 19, 2011​

MEDIA ADVISORY : M11-215
NASA Television to Air Next Space Station Crew Rotation

HOUSTON -- NASA Television will broadcast the launch of three new International Space Station residents and the return of three crew members in November.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank and Russian Flight Engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 10:14 p.m. CST on Nov. 13 (10:14 a.m. local time on Nov. 14).

The new crew will receive a six-day handover from Expedition 29 Commander Mike Fossum of NASA and Flight Engineers Satoshi Furukawa of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov. Expedition 30 begins when the current crew undocks.

Fossum, Furukawa and Volkov launched in June and are scheduled to return to Earth in their Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft at 8:25 p.m. on Nov. 21 (8:25 a.m. local time on Nov. 22).

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers are scheduled to launch to the station in late December, when they will join Expedition 30 as flight engineers.

NASA TV's scheduled coverage includes (all times Central):

Monday, Oct. 24

• 2 p.m. -- Video file of Soyuz TMA-22 crew news conference in Star City, Russia, and visit to Red Square in Moscow

Monday, Oct. 31

• 11 a.m.-- Video file from Star City of crew departure for Baikonur, Kazakhstan

Thursday, Nov. 10

• 11 a.m.-- Video file of crew activities in Baikonur

Friday, Nov. 11

• 11 a.m.-- Video file of rocket rollout to the launch pad in Baikonur

Saturday, Nov. 12

• 2 p.m.-- Video file of final prelaunch crew news conference and Russian State Commission meeting in Baikonur

Sunday, Nov. 13

• 8:45 p.m.-- Video file feed of the crew prelaunch activities in Baikonur
• 9:30 p.m.-- Launch coverage (launch scheduled for 10:14 p.m.), including launch replays

Monday, Nov. 14

• 1 a.m. -- Video file of prelaunch, launch and postlaunch interviews

Tuesday, Nov. 15

• 11 p.m. -- Docking coverage (docking scheduled for 11:37 p.m.), followed by the post-docking news conference from Mission Control in Korolev, Russia
• 2:30 a.m. -- Hatch opening and welcoming ceremony (hatch opening scheduled for 2:45 a.m.)
• 4:30 a.m. -- Video file of docking, hatch opening and welcoming ceremony

Monday, Nov. 21

• 8 a.m. -- Replay of change of command ceremony (occurs on Nov. 20)
• 1:15 p.m. -- Coverage of Soyuz TMA-02M farewells and hatch closure (hatch closure scheduled for 1:45 p.m.)
• 4:30 p.m. -- Undocking coverage (undocking scheduled for 4:58 p.m.)
• 7 p.m. -- Deorbit burn (deorbit burn scheduled for 7:31 p.m.) and landing (landing scheduled for 8:25 p.m.) coverage
• 11 p.m. -- Video file of landing and post-landing activities

Tuesday, Nov. 22

• 11 a.m. -- Video file of landing and post-landing activities including interviews and return to Chkalovsky Airfield near Star City.

{...}

 

[orb]

Universe Today: More Breathtaking Space Station Timelapse Videos

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 20/10/2011.

FE-5 Satoshi Furukawa spent most of his working day on major troubleshooting of the failed GHF (Gradient Heating Furnace) on the Kobairo Rack in the JAXA JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), necessary to resume the GHF experiment. [Two anomalous overcurrent events of the GHF Central Heater occurred on 04/12/11 & 04/20/11. Suspected cause of the short circuit was inadvertent contact between a lock wire and a heater flange, or an incorrect position of the End Heater with respect to the Central Heater. Satoshi's troubleshooting involved inspection of the End Heater unit and cartridge, checking the lock wire position of the new Central Heater and fix it if needed, attaching heater harnesses and servicing GHF-MPU. Today's work, with documentary HD video-shooting, focused on the lock wire of the GHF Central Heater, reconfiguring the JLP HCTL (JEM Logistics Pressurized Segment | Heater Controller) power jumper (W3002), replacing the Central Heater in the GHF MPU (Material Processing Unit) with a new unit, connecting two thermocouple harnesses to the Central Heater and vacuum-cleaning the GHF End Heater. Afterwards, the GHF MPU access door was closed temporarily (more work is scheduled tomorrow).]

Plaque Hanging:
At 6:30 PM GMT, the traditional official plaque hanging took place in ISS Mission Control/Houston for the Inc-28 Plaque with crew participation.

ISS Reboost Update:
Yesterday’s ISS reboost by the two KD engines of the SM's (Service Module's) ODU (Integrated Propulsion System) was performed on time (4:15 PM GMT) with a burn duration of 1 min 53 sec, yielding a delta-V of 1.86 m/s / 6.1 ft/s (planned: 1.80/5.9). Mean altitude gain: 3.24 km (1.75 nmi). ISS now is at a mean altitude of 388 km (209.5 nmi), with ~400 km (216 nmi) apogee & 376 km (203 nmi) perigee height. 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.

Conjunction Alert:
Flight controllers are tracking a new conjunction with Object #27700 (H-2A Rocket Body). TCA (Time of Closest Approach): 10/22 (Saturday), 10:31 PM GMT. The object is in a fairly circular orbit, large and well tracked which should provide stable tracking data throughout this event. If DAM (Debris Avoidance Maneuver) planning is required, the Go/No-Go for firing table (cyclogram) development will be tomorrow (10/21) at 11:01 PM GMT, for an estimated DAM TIG (Time of Ignition) on 10/22 at 8:13 PM GMT.

 

[Suzy]

Still NASA photos (auroras) of the above videos, starting from this page

 

[SiberianTiger]

Absolutely amazing videos and pictures!

 

[garyw]

Expedition 31 have just released their poster.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 21/10/2011.

In the JAXA JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), FE-5 Satoshi Furukawa again spent several hours on the troubleshooting IFM (Inflight Maintenance) of the failed GHF (Gradient Heating Furnace) on the Kobairo Rack, assisted in part by CDR Mike Fossum. [Two anomalous overcurrent events of the GHF Central Heater occurred on 04/12/11 & 04/20/11. Suspected cause of the short circuit was inadvertent contact between a lock wire and a heater flange, or an incorrect position of the End Heater with respect to the Central Heater. Today's work consisted of Satoshi photo documenting the two thermocouple harnesses of the Central Heater, taking measurements of the distance between the GHF End and Central Heaters, and cleaning the MPU (Material Processing Unit) with wet wipes and vacuum cleaner. Afterwards, the GHF MPU access door was shut, the GHF Cartridge cleaned of any contamination and the SCAM (Sample Cartridge Automatic exchange Mechanism) front door closed. Mike Fossum assisted with the USB camera operation and the lighting for the GHF thermocouple harness photography.]

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 22/10/2011.

Conjunction 1 Update:
The conjunction with Object #27700 (H-2A Rocket Body) at 10:31 PM GMT tonight now has a collision probability of Zero, requiring no action. Flight controllers continue to monitor subsequent tracking updates.

Conjunction 2 Alert:
Flight controllers are tracking a second conjunction, with Object #30917 (Fengyun 1C debris). TCA (Time of Closest Approach): Sunday 10/23, 12:26 PM GMT. This event is a Low concern and no action is expected at this time, although flight controllers will continue to assess updates. A DAM (Debris Avoidance Maneuver), if required, would be scheduled at 10:08 AM tomorrow morning.

 

[orb]