ISS On-Orbit Status, 30-05-2004

ISS On-Orbit Status 30 May 2004

All ISS systems continue to function nominally except those noted
previously. Second off-duty day for the crew. Ahead: Week 5 of Expedition
9.

Early in the morning, working off the Russian discretionary task list prior
to his physical exercise, CDR Padalka performed another session with the VC6
"Delta" program's ETD experiment (Investigation of the Coordination of Eye
and Head Movements). [After a calibration with the calibrating unit, the
experiment investigated eye and head movement coordination, measured
Listing's plane, and determined the orientation of the vestibulo-ocular
coordinate system. Each step required another prior calibration run, using
visual target cues or the calibration unit.]

Padalka also completed the weekly data collection of the Service Module
(SM)'s toilet flush counter readings, with inspection of the urine
collection (SP) & pretreat assembly and water supply status (SVO) counter
readings, both for calldown to MCC-M/TsUP. The task today included the
regular weekly inspection of the BRPK air/condensate water separator system.

FE/SO Fincke performed the daily leak check of the Lab window's inter-pane
space ("Volume D"), using the "Aeolus" scopemeter with pressure probe.
These tests are to continue through 6/7, at which time the leak testing
equipment will be disassembled for leak checks on the equipment itself to
characterize the "net" leakage rate of the window. [This is to be followed
by a detailed ULD (ultrasound leak detector) window inspection (to determine
if the tiny leaks found previously with the ULD are venting to Volume D or
possibly directly to space). Next will be a fit check of the new protective
box brought up by Progress 14P over window ports C & D, and finally
installation of the new U-jumper flexhose and protective shield, plus any
procedure developed meanwhile for fixing the pinhole leaks.]

Fincke had his weekly PFC (private family conference) via S-band for audio
and Ku-band/NetMeeting for video.

Both crewmembers completed their daily 2.5-hr. physical exercise program on
TVIS, RED exerciser, and VELO cycle with load trainer.

Padalka conducted the second part of the new task-listed session of the
Russian Uragan earth-imaging program, using the Kodak 760 DSC (digital still
camera) with 800mm-lens from SM windows #9, now available again in LVLH
attitude. After the activities, he commanded the external shutter of window
#9 closed again. [Today's task featured imagery of the Nureksky and
Rogunsky hydropower facilities, the Pamir glaciers Medvezhiy and RGO, and
Lakes Issyk Kul and Baikal, including panoramic shots of the latter's region
to assess ice condition.]

The CDR also performed the second part of the task-listed session of the
"Diatomeya" ocean observations program, using the DSR PD-150P video camera
and Nikon F5 digital still camera with 24/85-mm lens to collect photo and
video data on cloud cover structure and color fields of bioproductive areas
in ocean waters. [Uplinked suggested targets today specified the North
Atlantic in the South delta between Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift,
focusing on algae blooms in flight traverse.]

Using the Nikon D1 (800mm-lens), Gennady took areal photography for Russia's
Environmental Safety Agency (ECON). [Target regions for today again were
Sevastopol, Novorossiysk, Yeisk, and Volgograd, the first three to image oil
spills, the last to help assess local flooding.]

Today's optional CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets, in the current
LVLH attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the
Lab nadir/science window, except for the shutter closure and
condensation-prevention plan (limited to 90 min. in 24 hours), were Bombay,
India (looking a touch right for the bay and peninsula where Bombay is
located), Aral Sea (nadir pass over center of the depression. One or two
images to show the whole basin and complement available detailed images were
requested. Looking left and right of track), Glacial Features, SW Libya
(when Africa was centered over the South Pole around 450 million years ago,
the Sahara was occupied by a continental ice sheet. Rivers of melt water
flowed under the ice, forming meandering courses that are re-exposed by
erosion today and can be made out from orbit. Space images are key to
reconstruction of the wider sub-ice river network. Also, it is suspected
that the river channels may host hydrocarbons in places. The crew was to try
for a mapping pass of overlapping, nadir images), Internal waves, Aegean Sea
(looking left for any internal waves), Athens, Greece (nadir pass),
Istanbul, Turkey (a recent image published on NASA's Earth Observatory
website showed a wide oblique view of the Istanbul region. Weather should
hold up to allow the whole city to be imaged in one or two shots), and
Iguazu, Argentina (this city lies at the junction of Brazil, Argentina and
Paraguay and is one of the fastest growing cities in South America).

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, 7:47am EDT [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 362.9 km
Apogee -- 366.9 km
Perigee -- 358.9 km
Period -- 91.8 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.6327 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.000594
Solar Beta Angle -- 5.9 deg
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.68
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 125 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 31553

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