From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 28/07/2010:
FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin & FE-3 Mikhail Kornienko spent most of their workday on close-out activities after yesterday's EVA. Activities included:
• Holding an EVA debrief/close-out conference with ground personnel.
• Removing the BK-3 portable O2 (Oxygen) repressurization tanks (primary & backup) from the DC-1 (Docking Compartment-1) BSS (Orlan Interface Unit).
• Removing the BNP portable repress tank from the SM (Service Module) Work Compartment (RO) and relocating it to Soyuz TMA-19/23S.
• Removing the Orlan BRTA radio/telemetry unit batteries.
• Taking post-EVA radiation readings of the "Pille-MKS" dosimeters carried by the spacewalkers in their Orlan suits.
• Putting the EVA medical kits back in storage.
• Setting up the first 825M3 Orlan battery pack for complete discharge/recharge.
• Removing the US EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) lights, video cameras, REBAs (Rechargeable EVA Battery Assemblies) & electric power cables from the Orlan-MK suits for return to FE-2 Tracy Caldwell-Dyson.
• Refilling the Orlan feedwater bladders as required.
• Configuring the Orlan-MKs, umbilicals and BSS interface units for drying out & subsequent storage.
• Taking their post-EVA PMCs (Private Medical Conferences), via S-band & Ku-band audio/video.
Meanwhile, Tracy & FE-4 Doug Wheelock worked on preparatory tasks for their US EVA-15 on 05/08. Activities included:
• Gathering & configuring EVA tools.
• Installing REBA #1008 into EMU 3005 (Wheels) & REBA #1012 into EMU 3009 (Tracy).
• Installing & checking out Video Camera #19 & HL (Helmet Light) #1008 on EMU 3005 and Camera #20 & HL #1006 on EMU 3009.
• Checking out SAFER (Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue) units 1006 & 1007.
In final close-out activities after yesterday's EVA, CDR Alexander Skvortsov worked in DC-1 to re-integrate Progress M-05M/37P (docked at DC-1 Nadir) with the ISS by:
• Conducting a leak check on the DC-1/37P vestibule.
• Opening the DC-1/SU & SU/37P hatches and installing the QD (Quick Disconnect) screw clamps (BZV) of the docking & internal transfer mechanism (SSVP) to rigidize the coupling.
• Deactivating Progress.
• Installing the ventilation/heating air duct.
• Dismantling the docking mechanism between the cargo ship and DC-1.
Alexander also purged & charged the SrPK (air supply tankage) Section 2 of Progress M-06M/38P (docked at SM Aft) with N2 (Nitrogen) and later, on TsUP Go, was to repressurize the ISS cabin atmosphere with N2 from 38P to make up total pressure.
---------- Post added at 05:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:04 PM ----------
NASA's official Twitter page said:
Mission control is monitoring a piece of orbital debris that may come near the space station.
No further information at this time.
---------- Post added at 07:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:11 PM ----------
From
NASA's main ISS webpage:
The International Space Station crew members will not need to take shelter in their Soyuz spacecraft when a piece of debris from a Chinese satellite makes its closest pass by the station at 1:47 PM EDT/5:47 PM GMT today. Mission Control gave the all-clear to the Expedition 24 crew at 12:45 PM EDT/4:45 PM GMT, after additional tracking information showed the debris would not come any closer than 5 miles (8 kilometers).
Mission Control Centers in the U.S. and Russia have been keeping a close eye on the piece of orbital debris for the past several days, but the object has proven difficult to track precisely. Earlier in the week, tracking data on the debris showed that it would pass near the station, but not close enough to require a debris avoidance maneuver. Early Thursday, however, new tracking data on the object showed that it might pass close enough to require the crew members to take shelter in their Soyuz spacecraft when the debris made its closest approach. Additional tracking today showed the Soyuz sheltering was unnecessary.
SPACE.com: "Chinese Space Junk Won't Endanger Space Station Crew".
---------- Post added 30th Jul 2010 at 04:31 PM ---------- Previous post was 29th Jul 2010 at 07:04 PM ----------
From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 29/07/2010:
In preparation of the planned installation of the PDGF (Power & Data Grapple Fixture) on the exterior of the FGB (Funktsionalnyi Grusovoi Blok, English: Functional Cargo Block) during US EVA-15 by FE-2 Tracy Caldwell-Dyson & FE-4 Doug Wheelock (currently scheduled for 05/08), Doug configured the brackets for the Russian-built PDGF adapter ("rama" = frame), delivered on Progress M-05M/37P. [The additional PDGF with its power/data cabling, the first on the RS (Russian Segment), will extend the "roving" range of the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System), which moves itself inch-worm like from PDGF to PDGF.]
(NOTE: Here is an image of the "rama". The 3 brackets on the "rama" attach to the 3 mount points on the Port side of the FGB GA/Pressurized Adapter (visible in this image), and the PDGF then attaches to the "rama").
In DC-1 (Docking Compartment-1), FE-3 Mikhail Kornienko terminated the discharge process on the first 825M3 Orlan battery pack in the ZU-S recharge unit and started it on the second set.
Wrapping up their post-EVA closeout activities, Mikhail & FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin returned EVA tools & equipment to stowage, updating the IMS (Inventory Management System) appropriately.
In the JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module), FE-6 Shannon Walker successfully completed the first activation and checkout & functional test of the MELFI-3 (Minus Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS-3), which was delivered to the ISS in April on STS-131/19A. Later it was deactivated.
Payload Milestone:
An important milestone was completed today when 12 utilization racks were active at one time. Over the course of the day a combination of 12 of the following 13 payload racks were active and conducting or preparing to conduct weekly science operations: ER-1 (ExPrESS Rack-1), ER-2, ER-3, ER-4, ER-6, CIR (Combustion Integration Rack), FIR (Fluids Integrated Rack), MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), MELFI-1, MELFI-2, MELFI-3, SAIBO and RYUTAI.
Kurs MRM-1 Testing:
Following the Kurs cable installation task during Russian EVA-25 this week, TsUP-Moscow performed a Kurs test from the FGB Kurs equipment to MRM-1 (Mini Research Module-1) antennas and did not receive good results due to incorrect uplink settings. Later the test was completed with the correct settings and successful results were achieved.