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More Details for 2007-11-14

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...and I'm sooo happy it was all nominal!" (CDR Whitson, early this morning).

Station sleep cycle: 1:00am - 4:30pm EST.

Node-2 "Harmony"/PMA-2 (Pressurized Mating Adapter 2) relocation has been completed nominally, and the crew has ingressed Node-2 way ahead of schedule.

With CDR Peggy Whitson operating CBMs (Common Berthing Mechanisms) and FE-2 Dan Tani controlling the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System), the 17-ton Node-2/PMA-2 stack was unberthed at ~4:21am EST and transferred to the front of the station (first motion ~4:27am).. After reaching pre-mate position at the Lab Forward port at ~5:10am, full capture, with all 16 motorized bolts driven home OK, was achieved at ~5:45am -- about 2 hrs ahead of schedule.

Early after breakfast, before the transfer, Whitson terminated Node-1/Node-2 Vestibule depressurization, while Tani activated the CBCS (Centerline Berthing Camera System) and started the laptop-based DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) software to support his SSRMS ops. For the relocation, Russian thrusters were temporarily inhibited.

With Node-2/Harmony firmly attached at the Destiny Lab, Peggy Whitson initiated pressurization of the Vestibule between the two modules and conducted the usual 1-hr checking for hermeticity (leak-tightness), using the ISA (Internal Sampling Adapter), VAJ (Vacuum Access Jumper), ISA scopemeter pressure probe, and a Multimeter.

Dan Tani meanwhile powered down the CBCS and removed the camera equipment and associated electronics & power cabling from its position at the Lab forward port.

FE-1 Yuri Malenchenko, after starting the new Russian MBI-12 SONOKARD (Sonocard) payload last night for his third experiment session, this morning terminated the run right after wakeup by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket. Later, Yuri copied the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. (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.)

Afterwards, Malenchenko serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), starting the ""bake-out"" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~4:15pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods.)

After leak check termination and vestibule hatch opening, Peggy and Dan had several hours set aside for Lab/Node-2 Vestibule Outfitting/Part 1, focusing on stringing & connecting avionics data & instrumentation jumpers, secondary power 1553 cables essential for Node-2 heater activation, and installing ACBM (Active CBM)-to-PCBM (Passive CBM) grounding straps.

Since Whitson and Tani were able to complete Part 1 of Vestibule Outfitting very much sooner than expected, including steps scheduled for tomorrow, the crew was given a Go to move forward with some of the Lab/Node-2 Vestibule Outfitting/Part 2 activities that were not scheduled to be completed until later this month (e.g., installation of remaining avionics & life support jumpers plus removal of the CBM CPAs).

Continuing to stay starkly ahead of schedule, Peggy and Dan then received the Go from the ground to open Node-2 hatch and ingress Harmony at ~11:35am (originally scheduled for 11/26).

FE-1 Malenchenko meanwhile was busy completing a number of servicing tasks such as -

Continuing the current round of periodic preventive maintenance of ventilation systems in the RS (Russian Segment), first working in the DC1 (Docking Compartment) to replace the PF1,2 filter cartridges and clean the V1 & V2 fan grilles and VD1 & VD2 air ducts, then moving to the Soyuz TMA-11/15S at the FGB nadir port to clean the screen of its BVN fan/heater assembly;

Performing the periodic time synchronization between the RSS1 and the BSPN payload server, after testing functionality by checking data comm between the two computers and synching RSS1 to station time, in support of payload data transfers from the BSPN for subsequent downlink on OCA comm (via the Russian RSS1 laptop to a PCMCIA flash card). (Before RSS1/BSPN synchronization, the RSS1 is updated with the exact time as per the station clock (which in turn is synchronized daily from RGS/Russian Ground Site). Experiment control application is a payload file transfer program called ShellForKE.);

Conducting the periodic checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS hatch openings (8) in the SM, FGB and DC1;

Taking CWC (Contingency Water Container) #1069 to the RS for the periodic (about twice a month) replenishing of the Elektron oxygen generator's water supply for electrolysis, filling the KOV thermal loops' EDV container (also vom CWC #1029 if necessary). Once filled, the EDV was connected to the BPK transfer pump for processing. (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.);

Completing the routine maintenance of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including ASU toilet facilities systems/replaceables; and

Performing the daily maintenance of the IMS (Inventory Management System), updating/editing its standard "delta file", including locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Yuri also had about an hour set aside for inspecting RS onboard computer & OpsLAN/Ethernet systems, including verifying laptop equipment, familiarizing himself with cabling functions and laptop assignments, checking anti-virus signature updates on the RSS2 laptop, and checking computer spares & accessories kits. The audit was supported by ground specialist tagup. (In the RS, there are currently seven Russian computers in use: RSS1, RSS2, RSK1, RSE1, RSE-Med, TP2, and Laptop3.)

The crewmembers completed a reduced physical workout program, limited today by structural constraints during the Node-2 transfer and outfitting.

At ~2:55pm EST, Malenchenko downlinked a TV PAO message of greetings to the participants of the 12th Kachin Readings Conference, sponsored by Y.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City on 11/24. (This year's Kachin Readings, a "Scientific and Practical Conference" dedicated to the 97th anniversary of the creation of the Kachin Military Flight School, the first of its kind and recipient of the Lenin's Order and Red Banner, are being held in Star City, "not only because many cosmonauts started their careers as military pilots and Kachin School graduates, but also because aviation is a cradle of cosmonautics and has always been in the past and will continue to be in the future inextricably tied to space exploration." Kachin School history and the achievements of its alumni have become an integral part of the Russian national legacy. The school was founded by Grand Duke Alexander Michailovich following Nicholas II order using voluntary donations by the Russian public. On November 21, 1910, the School opened as the Sebastopol Officer School of Aviation and became a cradle for the air fleet, both military and civil.)

EVA Designations: The original 10A EVA-5 has now become EVA-10 "Alpha", after it was delayed to 11/9, after 10A/Discovery's departure. Consequently, the next two Stage spacewalks by the ISS crew are now known as EVA-11 "Bravo" and EVA-12 "Charlie".

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

CEO photography can be viewed and studied at the websites:

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:44am EST (= epoch)):

Mean altitude -- 341.3 km

Apogee height -- 342.6 km

Perigee height -- 340.0 km

Period -- 91.36 min.

Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.64 deg

Eccentricity -- 0.0001918

Solar Beta Angle -- -11.8 deg (magnitude decreasing)

Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.76

Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours -- 122 m

Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) -- 51449