How NASA astronauts use IT on the International Space Station.
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From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 17/11/2010.
In final close-out activities after EVA-26, FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin worked at the SM (Service Module) Aft port to re-integrate Progress M-07M/39P, which is docked at the port, with the ISS by:
- Conducting a leak check on the SM/39P vestibule.
- Opening the SM/SU & SU/39P hatches and installing the QD (Quick Disconnect) screw clamps (BZV) of the docking & internal transfer mechanism (SSVP) to rigidize the coupling.
- Deactivating the Progress.
- Installing the ventilation/heating air duct.
- Dismantling the docking mechanism (StM, Stykovochnovo mekhanizma) between the cargo ship and the SM [StM is the "classic" probe-and-cone type, consisting of an active docking assembly (ASA) with a probe (SSh), which fits into the cone (SK) on the passive docking assembly (PSA) for initial soft dock and subsequent retraction to hard dock. The ASA is mounted on the Progress' cargo module (GrO), while the PSA sits on the docking ports of the SM, FGB, DC-1, MRM-1 & MRM-2].
In DC-1 (Docking Compartment-1), Fyodor terminated the discharge process on the first 825M3 Orlan battery pack in the ZU-S recharge unit and started it on the second pack.
Also in DC-1, FE-2 Oleg Skripochka spent ~2 hours with cleanup ops after the EVA, prepacking items slated for disposal (filters, BK-10 underwear, socks, gloves, etc.), stowing EVA equipment & tools, and restoring the DC-1 communication system to nominal configuration.
Fyodor had about an hour to begin the stowage process on Soyuz TMA-19/23S, arranging return cargo in the SA (Descent Module) for transfer to a representative at the landing site, and trash & other discarded stuff in the BO (Orbital Module). [Note: Departure of 23S with Fyodor, CDR Doug Wheelock & FE-6 Shannon Walker has been moved forward to 25/11 from 29/11, to de-conflict landing & recovery operations in Kazakhstan from a high-level Security Conference being held at Astana during the earlier time period. This schedule change is accelerating most of the ISS crew activities.]
FE-1 Alexander Kaleri relocated three standard Russian TZK-14 Thermal Protection Jackets from RS (Russian Segment) stowage Soyuz TMA-01M/24S. Such jackets are also in the other ship, Soyuz TMA-19/23S. [These warm coats, always ready for an emergency return in cold climate, are required to protect the crew after a landing Kazakhstan (or Russia) in winter time.]
Later, Doug & FE-3 Scott Kelly reviewed briefing material on the major CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) IFM (Inflight Maintenance) scheduled for them.
In Node 3, Doug & Scott then removed the WHC (Waste & Hygiene Compartment) Kabin enclosure to make room, rotated the ARS (Atmosphere Revitalisation System) rack and removed the CDRA frame from it, stowing it overnight on the rack. Doug, Scott & Shannon will conclude the IFM tomorrow and reinstall the Kabin. [The main objective for the IFM is to remove Bed 201 (the "back bed") of the CDRA and stow it for its eventual return to Earth on STS-133/ULF-5. A replacement for it will be delivered on ULF-5, and this week's activities will leave CDRA in a good configuration for Bed 201 installation in the ULF-5 stage. Today's removal of Bed 201 took longer than planned; due to the extended time, the also planned removal & replacement of the intermittently failed Selector Valve 103 may have to be deferred.]
For load protection during the Kabin removal & CDRA R&R, Doug installed the four alignment guides at the T2 COLBERT treadmill; he removed them later for the crew workouts.
Alexander performed another 1 hour refresh of the cabin air with O2 (oxygen) from Progress M-07M/39P SRPK tankage.
Oleg checked out the samples collected during EVA-26 for the "Test" experiment which obtained four samples from underneath MLI (Multi Layer Insulation) at two locations: on the SM RO (Work Compartment) LD (Large Diameter) near the Elektron hydrogen-vent, and on DC-1 [Purpose: looking for the existence of bio-organisms and FORP (Fuel/Oxidizer Reactive Products) beneath MLI].
Russian BVS Computer System:
After the TVM Terminal Computer System on the SM lost the #1 Lane of its redundant three subunits (Lane 2 having dropped out earlier), the TVM was restarted with context data on 13/11, and all three subsets are now up and running nominally.
---------- Post added 18th Nov 2010 at 06:23 PM ---------- Previous post was 17th Nov 2010 at 09:19 PM ----------
NASA TV Video: Wheels and Crew Chat with Rick and Bubba.
---------- Post added at 09:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:23 PM ----------
NASA: "NASA Television Will Air Next Soyuz Landing And Launch (Updated Copy)".
NASA Television will air the Thanksgiving Day return to Earth of three crew members from the International Space Station and the preparation, launch and docking of the newest trio of station residents three weeks later.
Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, NASA Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and NASA Flight Engineer Shannon Walker are scheduled to land in the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft on the northern steppe of Kazakhstan on Nov. 25 (Nov. 26 local time).
On Dec. 15, Soyuz Commander Dmitry Kondratyev, NASA Flight Engineer Cady Coleman and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft (Dec. 16 Baikonur time). They will join NASA Expedition 26 Commander Scott Kelly and Russian Flight Engineers Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka, who have been aboard the station since early October.
Wheelock will hand over command of the station to Kelly at 3 p.m. CST on Nov. 24.
NASA TV will air a video file on Nov. 26 that will include a prelaunch news conference by Kondratyev, Coleman and Nespoli at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, and their tour of Red Square in Moscow.
The scheduled landing, launch and docking coverage and events include (all times CST):
Thursday, November 25
3:30 p.m. -- Soyuz TMA-19 farewells and hatch closure (hatch closure at 3:50 p.m.)
7 p.m. -- Soyuz TMA-19 undocking (undocking at 7:22 p.m.)
9:30 p.m. -- Soyuz TMA-19 deorbit burn and landing (deorbit burn at 9:54 p.m., landing at 10:46 p.m.)
Friday, November 26
11 a.m. -- Video file of Soyuz TMA-19 landing in Kazakhstan, post-landing activities and interviews with NASA astronauts Doug Wheelock and Shannon Walker
Noon -- Video file of Soyuz TMA-20 crew news conference at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, Russia, and tour of Red Square in Moscow, Russia
Friday, December 3
11 a.m. -- Video file of the Soyuz TMA-20 crew departure ceremonies at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, Russia
Friday, December 10
11 a.m. -- Video file of the Soyuz TMA-20 crew activities in Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Monday, December 13
11 a.m. -- Video file of the Soyuz TMA-20 crew activities in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, and Soyuz TMA-20 vehicle mating and rollout to the launch pad
Tuesday, December 14
4 p.m. -- Video file of the Soyuz TMA-20 State Commission and final pre-launch news conference in Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Wednesday, December 15
11:30 a.m. -- Soyuz TMA-20 crew pre-launch activities in Baikonur, Kazakhstan
12:15 p.m. -- Soyuz TMA-20 launch (launch at 1:09 p.m.)
3 p.m. - Video file of Soyuz TMA-20 pre-launch activities and launch from Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Friday, December 17
1:30 p.m. -- Soyuz TMA-20 docking to ISS (docking at 2:09 p.m., followed by post-docking news conference)
4:30 p.m. -- Soyuz TMA-20 hatch opening and welcoming ceremony (hatch opening at approximately 5 p.m.)
6:30 p.m. -- Video file of Soyuz TMA-20 docking, hatch opening and welcoming ceremony
---------- Post added at 10:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:48 PM ----------
From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 18/11/2010.
In DC-1, Fyodor Yurchikhin terminated the discharge process on the second 825M3 Orlan battery pack in the ZU-S recharge unit.
After donning their Sokol flight suits, CDR Doug Wheelock, FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin & FE-6 Shannon Walker, due to return on next week (25/11, Thanksgiving Day), conducted the periodic 30 minute fit check of their Kazbek couches in Soyuz TMA-19/23S, the three contoured shock absorbing seats in the SA (Descent Module). [For the fit check, crewmembers remove their flightsuit cabin apparel and don Sokol KV-2 suit & comm. caps, get into in their seats and assess the degree of comfort and uniform body support provided by the seat liner. Using a ruler, they then measure the gap between the top of the head and the top edge of the structure facing the head crown. The results are reported to TsUP. Kazbek-UM couches are designed to withstand G-loads during launch and orbital insertion as well as during reentry and brake-rocket-assisted landing. Each seat has two positions: cocked (armed) and noncocked. In cocked position, they are raised to allow the shock absorbers to function during touchdown. The fit check assures that the crewmembers, whose bodies gain in length during longer-term stay in zero-G, will still be adequately protected by the seat liners for their touchdown in Kazakhstan, either emergency or regular return.]
In final close-out activities after RS EVA-26, FE-1 Alexander Kaleri worked at the DC-1 Nadir port to re-integrate Progress M-08M/40P, which is docked at the port, with the ISS by:
- Conducting a leak check on the DC-1/40P vestibule.
- Opening the DC-1/SU & SU/40P hatches and installing the QD (Quick Disconnect) screw clamps (BZV, bystros`ёmnykh vintovykh zazhinov) of the docking & internal transfer mechanism (SSVP) to rigidize the coupling (with Russian thrusters disabled from 10:45 AM to 12:40 PM GMT during the BZV installation for load alleviation).
- Deactivating the Progress.
- Installing the ventilation/heating air duct.
- Dismantling the docking mechanism (StM, Stykovochnovo mekhanizma) between Progress and DC-1 [StM is the "classic" probe-and-cone type, consisting of an active docking assembly (ASA) with a probe (SSh), which fits into the cone (SK) on the passive docking assembly (PSA) for initial soft dock and subsequent retraction to hard dock. The ASA is mounted on the Progress' cargo module (GrO), while the PSA sits on the docking ports of the SM, FGB, DC-1, MRM-1 & MRM-2].
FE-2 Oleg Skripochka wrapped up EVA-26 closeout activities, restoring communications and other systems in DC-1 and the SM (Service Module) PkhO (Transfer Compartment) to their nominal configurations.
In Node 3, Doug installed the four alignment guides at the T2 COLBERT treadmill for load protection during the Kabin removal & CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) troubleshooting. With FE-3 Scott Kelly, he then uninstalled the WHC (Waste & Hygiene Compartment) Kabin enclosure. Later, after the CDRA activities, the Kabin was reinstalled and the T2 alignment guides removed. [The RS ASU toilet facility was available during the no-Kabin period.]
Scott & Shannon had ~1 hour 20 minutes blocked out for assessment & data gathering for the upcoming troubleshooting of the CDRA on 19/11. [Yesterday's planned removal of the rear adsorbent Bed 201 of the Node 3 CDRA was unsuccessful. The front Bed, 202, was taken out OK, but the CDRA frame could not be fully pulled out; it is stuck, preventing closing of the rack door. Ground teams decided to return the front Bed on STS-133/ULF-5 and take more time in determining what needs to be done to get Bed 201 out. Today's activity by Scott & Shannon consisted in collecting more data and video on the current rack configuration with which, it is hoped, engineers can develop a procedure for the crew to complete CDRA removal tomorrow.]
Fyodor & Shannon joined up in Soyuz TMA-19/23S for a 2 hour descent drill, a regular procedure for returning crewmembers. The exercise uses a sophisticated computer simulation (Trenasher Spusk/"descent trainer") on the RSK1 laptop, with a descent hand controller for reentries in manual mode (RUS) at various initial reentry conditions. [For the OBT (Onboard Training) session, the crew assumed a reentry angle of -1.6 degrees, then performed three runs each on the simulator for varying exoatmospheric deorbit misses (seconds), with time speed-up where desirable to press on. The OBT included a tagup with TsUP specialists and a discussion of the Return Equipment List and Stowage.]
---------- Post added 19th Nov 2010 at 05:45 PM ---------- Previous post was 18th Nov 2010 at 10:17 PM ----------
Interesting reading, especially the table of Soyuz anomalies!
NASA Astronauts on Soyuz: Experience and Lessons for the Future (PDF, 426.07 KB).
), the ORU ops. are not being done to make room for the FHRC & CTC. There are already some open FRAM sites that could accommodate those if ELC-4 isn't present by the time HTV-2 arrives. The SPDM will pick up an ORU and move it around a bit, in order to test the SPDM's capability for HTV-2 ORU ops.
