ISS On-Orbit Status, 06-06-2004

ISS On-Orbit Status 6 Jun 2004

All ISS systems continue to function nominally except those noted
previously. Off-duty day for the crew. Ahead: Week 6 of Expedition 9.

CDR Gennady Padalka checked up on the automatic completion of the charging
of 825M3 Orlan backpack batteries for the upcoming spacewalk. He then tore
down and stowed the ZU-S charger gear.

Padalka also conducted the routine inspection of the Service Module's SOZh
life support system, with weekly data collection of toilet flush counter
readings, inspection of the SP urine collection and pretreat assembly, and
SVO water supply status counter readings, all for calldown to TsUP/Moscow.

FE/SO Michael Fincke performed the daily leak check on the Lab window
pressure test equipment.

Moving into the Soyuz TMA-4 crew return vehicle for the periodic onboard
systems monitoring, Gennady recorded routine spacecraft parameter readings
on standard Form 03 for subsequent downlink to TsUP/Moscow. (Last time
done: 5/8).

The crew worked out on TVIS treadmill and RED exerciser, in accord with
their daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise protocol.

Fincke held another private family conference (PFC) via S-band/audio and
Ku-band/NetMeeting video.

Today's optional CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets, limited in
XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the science window,
which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in
"ram"), were Lake Nasser, Egypt (nadir pass close to the dam wall. Although
the crew has acquired the Toshka imagery for this increment, the ground
still needs detailed images of Aswan lake levels since these determine the
fate of the Toshka lakes), Baghdad, Iraq (looking right for the city
center), Aral Sea (the ground still needs a few images to complete Increment
9 coverage of this site. The dust plumes starting from the central,
polluted island were most impressive in recent images), Internal waves,
Aegean Sea (looking right towards the glint point as it passes from Crete to
the coast of Turkey), Internal waves, Florida (looking right towards the
glint point as it passes from Crete to the coast of Turkey), Detroit, MI
(nadir pass), and Los Angeles, CA (good obliques of the LA basin, looking
right. Nearer nadir views for the urban study [westernmost suburbs, Ventura
region] were requested).

CEO images can be viewed at the websites.


http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

See also the website "Space Station Challenge" at


http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:20am EDT [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 362.4 km
Apogee -- 366.2 km
Perigee -- 358.6 km
Period -- 91.8 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.6331 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0005629
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.69
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 100 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 31664

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times,
see

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html



--
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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info