Updates ISS UPDATES

[tblaxland]

Soyuz TMA-18/22S Descent Timeline Overview:
If everything proceeds nominally, the return to Earth of the TMA-18 spacecraft tomorrow, 23/09, will proceed along the following approximate event sequence (all times GMT):

For clarity, those times are GMT for 24th September, not 23rd September.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

For clarity, those times are GMT for 24th September, not 23rd September.

Oops, I forgot to change the date, thanks!

I wish Soyuz undockings/landings didn't always occur at such inconvenient times for Brits!

 

[orb]

CBS NEWS: Change of command ceremony sets stage for Soyuz landing Friday / Spaceflight Now: Soyuz to ferry three station residents back to Earth:

Outgoing Expedition 24 commander Alexander Skvortsov handed over control of the International Space Station to Douglas Wheelock Wednesday in a change-of-command ceremony that sets the stage for the departure and return to Earth of Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko and Tracy Caldwell Dyson early Friday aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule.

...

Wheelock, Walker and Yurchikhin will have the lab complex to themselves for about two weeks. Three fresh crew members -- cosmonauts Alexander Kaleri, Oleg Skripochka and former shuttle commander Scott Kelly -- are scheduled for launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 7 aboard an upgraded Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft. Docking is expected two days later.

 

[astrosammy]

A bit sad that such a cool expedition ends. I still can remember the nice sleepless April night and the morning when the first part of this expedition launched.

 

[orb]

There's Spaceflight Now's Mission Status Center for outgoing Expedition 24.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASA: [Photos] "Expedition 25 Prelaunch Preparations".

-----

Here's an Expedition 28 patch preview from Ron Garan's "Fragile Oasis" blog.

Honoring 50 Years of Human Space Flight: Introducing The Expedition 28 Mission Patch.

In the foreground of the patch, the International Space Station is prominently displayed to acknowledge the efforts of the entire International Space Station (ISS) team – both the crews who have assembled and operated it, and the team of scientists, engineers, and support personnel on Earth who have provided a foundation for each successful mission. Their efforts and accomplishments have demonstrated the Space Station’s capabilities as a technology test bed and a science laboratory, as well as a path to the human exploration of our solar system and beyond. This Expedition 28 patch represents the teamwork among the international partners – USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, and the ESA – and the ongoing commitment from each partner to build, improve, and utilize the ISS.

Prominently displayed in the background is our home planet, Earth – the focus of much of our exploration and research on our outpost in space. Also prominently displayed in the background is the Moon. The Moon is included in the design to stress the importance of our planet’s closest neighbor to the future of our world. Expedition 28 is scheduled to occur during the timeframe of the 50th anniversary of both the first human in space, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and the first American in space, astronaut, Alan Shepard. To acknowledge the significant milestone of 50 years of human spaceflight, the names “Гагарин” and “Shepard” as well as “50 Years” are included in the patch design.

Nice patch!

---------- Post added at 11:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:12 PM ----------

MDA to extend its services to support Canadarm and the International Space Station.

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., a provider of essential information solutions, announced today that it has received a $6.4 million (CAD) contract extension from NASA. This extension will continue the sustaining engineering services provided by MDA to support the Space Shuttle Canadarm and its inspection boom, as well as the Robotic Work Station and Berthing Cue on the International Space Station through to December 31, 2010. The contract includes options for an additional $8.6 million (CAD) that could extend through to 2012.

The original contract was announced in January 2008, and provided the opportunity for future options such as the above.

Steve Oldham, the vice president responsible for this business said, ‘As the preeminent supplier of robotics for manned spaceflight for nearly three decades, we look forward to applying this expertise to the next generation solutions for exciting future unmanned missions and exploration initiatives.’

---------- Post added at 11:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 PM ----------

NASA TV Video: Space Station Command Changes Hands.​

---------- Post added 24th Sep 2010 at 01:56 AM ---------- Previous post was 23rd Sep 2010 at 11:46 PM ----------

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 23/09/2010:

Crew Sleep Cycle Shift:
To accommodate tomorrow morning's Soyuz TMA-18/22S undocking (1:34 AM GMT), crew workday began at 1:30 PM GMT (shifted 7.5 hours) and ends with sleep at 6:30 AM GMT tomorrow morning. Wakeup on 24/09: 2:30 PM GMT, sleep: 9:30 PM GMT, returning to normal.

CDR Doug Wheelock worked several hours with FE-6 Shannon Walker on the MARES (Muscle Atrophy Resistive Exercise System) payload hardware, performing troubleshooting including re-checking cable connections and power verification.

Later, cleaning up after yesterday's relocation of the CQ-3 (Crew Quarters-3) rack from the JPM to Node 2, Shannon reconfigured the JPM1D3 rack bay space with its nominal stowage contents.

Preparations for the Soyuz TMA-18/22S undocking began at ~9:20 PM GMT, with the activation of the Soyuz spacecraft by FE-1 Alexander Skvortsov.

Before ingress, FE-3 Mikhail Kornienko switches the Russian STTS comm. system to "undocking" mode and verifies that the onboard amateur radio stations in the SM and FGB are deactivated, to prevent RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) with the departing spacecraft.

Mikhail & FE-2 Tracy Caldwell-Dyson then enter the Descent Module, while Alexander performs the regular communications check from TMA-18.

Next, Mikhail activates the spacecraft's GA gas analyzer, after which Alexander inside and Doug outside will close the Soyuz & MRM-2 hatches. The departing Soyuz crew then starts the standard one-hour leak check on the Soyuz to MRM-2 vestibule.

After attitude control authority has been handed over to the RS MCS (Motion Control System) at ~12:20 AM GMT, the ISS will go into Free Drift at 1:30 AM to 1:39 AM GMT for MRM-2 hooks opening and Soyuz undocking at 1:37 AM. Attitude control will return to US Momentum Management with CMGs (Control Moment Gyroscopes) at ~4:40 AM GMT.

 

[N_Molson]

Looks like there was a malfunction with the undocking system, the Soyuz was unable to undock the ISS. It seems that the problem is occuring on the station side ; the capsule is safe. The crew managed to bypass it however, and the landing should happen this night (it will be sunrise on the steppes of Kazakhstan).

The undocking system will have to be fixed in a proper way later.

From Spaceflight Now :

Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut were supposed to return home from the International Space Station Thursday night, but a problem opening hooks in the docking port prevented the Soyuz capsule's departure. Specialists hope the problem can be resolved for a Friday night undocking and landing.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 25/09/2010:

Tasks currently listed on Doug's & Shannon's "job jar" job roster are:
• MARES (Muscle Atrophy Resistive Exercise System) hardware stowing [MARES is currently in need of troubleshooting due to a power issue].

---------- Post added at 11:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 PM ----------

Shannon Walker's latest blog entry from the ISS: "Being a human test subject in space: On the perils of blood pressure monitors and urine collection in zero gravity".

Ron Garan's latest "Fragile Oasis" blog entry: "Pre-Flight Preparation & Tradition: On the Road to Baikonur" - a good first-hand account of Expedition 25 preflight activities.

---------- Post added at 10:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 PM ----------

Expedition 25 patch.

Hi-res version.

Expedition 25 crew portrait.

Hi-res version.

Soyuz TMA-01M crew portrait.

Hi-res version.

Expedition 25 poster (PDF, 294.87 KB).

---------- Post added at 10:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 PM ----------

Here's an Expedition 28 patch preview from Ron Garan's "Fragile Oasis" blog.

Honoring 50 Years of Human Space Flight: Introducing The Expedition 28 Mission Patch.

Patch now up on nasa.gov.

In the foreground of the Expedition 28 patch, the International Space Station is prominently displayed to acknowledge the efforts of the entire International Space Station (ISS) team - both the crews who have assembled and operated it, and the team of scientists, engineers, and support personnel on Earth who have provided a foundation for each successful mission. Their efforts and accomplishments have demonstrated the Space Station's capabilities as a technology test bed and a science laboratory, as well as a path to the human exploration of our solar system and beyond. This Expedition 28 patch represents the teamwork among the international partners -- USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, and the ESA - and the ongoing commitment from each partner to build, improve, and utilize the ISS. Prominently displayed in the background is our home planet, Earth - the focus of much of our exploration and research on our outpost in space. Also prominently displayed in the background is the Moon. The Moon is included in the design to stress the importance of our planet's closest neighbor to the future of our world. Expedition 28 is scheduled to occur during the timeframe of the 50th anniversary of both the first human in space, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and the first American in space, astronaut, Alan Shepard. To acknowledge the significant milestone of 50 years of human spaceflight, the names "Shepard" as well as "50 Years" are included in the patch design. The NASA insignia design for shuttle and space station flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the forms of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which is not anticipated, the change will be publicly announced.

Hi-res version.


Also, the Expedition 28 poster has been released (PDF, 800.52 KB)!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Two more nice images from Doug Wheelock via Twitter - Tracy in Cupola, and TMA-19 docked to MRM-1.

 

[tblaxland]

While waiting for a second attempt, Fyodor discovered a 7-toothed sprocket with 2 teeth missing floating behind the hatch inside the docking mechanism. It turns out that the dislodgment of the sprocket, with its rod sheared, prevented the "hatch locked" sensor from passing on its status – which in turn kept the hooks from opening...The jumper configuration will be left in place until the next Soyuz docking – which will deliver a new jumper, to be installed instead. A NASA/Moscow ISS Management Meeting reviewed the situation this morning in detail, and there are no objections to tonight's undocking or the 08/10 launch date of Soyuz TMA-01M/24S.

This failure was on the MRM-2 side, right? Does this new jumper mean that the "hatch locked" sensor will be simulated for future undockings also? I wonder if that has any operational effects and whether or not the sprocket could be repaired from within the pressurised vestibule.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

This failure was on the MRM-2 side, right? Does this new jumper mean that the "hatch locked" sensor will be simulated for future undockings also? I wonder if that has any operational effects and whether or not the sprocket could be repaired from within the pressurised vestibule.

Yep, the failure was on the MRM-2 side.

The fact that they are flying up a new jumper on Soyuz TMA-01M suggests to me that it will be a permanent solution. However, there will be obvious safety implications for essentially faking the "hatch locked" signal (what happenes if the hatch really isn't locked)? However, they may just develop some new procedures for the crew to manually check that the hatch is locked.

I think the sprocket is accessible from inside MRM-2 itself, not just the vestibule, so I really don't know why they can't just replace it. They could use the obviously working sprocket from the FGB Nadir port, now that MRM-1 is permanently docked there.

 

[tblaxland]

Thanks

I think the sprocket is accessible from inside MRM-2 itself, not just the vestibule, so I really don't know why they can't just replace it. They could use the obviously working sprocket from the FGB Nadir port, now that MRM-1 is permanently docked there.

Accessible != replaceable

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Space News: "ESA Re-entry Vehicle Tied to Station Extension".

---------- Post added at 08:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 PM ----------

Pete's note: Increment 25 officially began today!

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 27/09/2010.

For the upcoming installation of ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) PCE (Proximity Communications Equipment; Russian: MBRL) in the RS (Russian Segment), FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin unloaded a new space-to-space radio "monoblock" (PCE Z0000) from Progress M-07M/39P and gathered other necessary MBRL components. [FSH3/Spectrum Analyzer, FSH-Z2/Bridge, cables, calibration adapter), BUAP/Antenna Switching Box and ATV PU/Control Panel.]

---------- Post added 28th Sep 2010 at 01:28 AM ---------- Previous post was 27th Sep 2010 at 09:42 PM ----------

Lockheed Martin gets $13M NASA contract extension.

Lockheed Martin Corp. said Monday it received a six-month, $13 million extension from NASA for cargo mission services to the International Space Station.

The work includes planning, processing and analyzing cargo for delivery and return on a NASA shuttle, as well as vehicles for Japanese, Russian and European space agencies.

The extension brings the value of Lockheed Martin's cargo mission services contract with NASA to $405 million.

The contract started in November 2003 and is scheduled to end in March 2011.

---------- Post added at 07:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:28 AM ----------

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 28/09/2010.

Preparatory to the scheduled IFM (Inflight Maintenance), along with annual maintenance, on the T2 COLBERT treadmill in Node 3, CDR Doug Wheelock & FE-6 Shannon Walker installed the protective alignment guides on the T2 rack and removed the WHC (Waste & Hygiene Compartment) Kabin temporarily to make room. They then disassembled the VIS (Vibration Isolation System) hardware for protection, rotated the T2 rack and removed it from its bay, stowing it overnight in Node 2 (forward endcone). [The T2 IFM, including alignment, centering & ACO (Activation & Checkout) will not be completed until 30/09 (Thursday).]

In Node 2, Shannon afterwards uninstalled the T2 PAU (Power Avionics Unit) and replaced it with a the new unit, unpacked yesterday, stowing the old PAU instead. [Both PAUs have a design flaw which results in limited motorized speeds. The old unit will be returned to the ground to verify the root cause of the failure. The new unit still imposes speed limitations, maxing out in the upper range of approximately 8 mph.]

With the T2 rack absent, Shannon started the T-hose installation IFM on the WRS (Water Recovery System) WPA (Water Processing Assembly) in Node 3, today routing the hose to the back of the rotated WRS-1 rack and configuring the WRS-1 door. To be continued tomorrow. [The T-hose will provide the crew with an alternate source of potable water, by using iodinated water reserves (CWC-Is (Contingency Water Containers-Iodine)) on the USOS.]

Supporting the T-hose R&R activity, Doug set up the LFTP (Low Flow Transfer Pump) and initiated offloading condensate water from a CWC to the WPA product water storage tank, letting it fill completely to prevent air leakage into the tank during the Tee installation.

Later, Doug pre-filled some drink bags from the PWD (Potable Water Dispenser) for the crew's use tomorrow since the WPA water delivery function will be inhibited to keep the tank filled during the IFM for most of the day.

FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin continued the installation of the new PCE (Proximity Communications Equipment; Russian: MBRL) for the European ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) in the RS. [Activities included installing & connecting the BUAP/Antenna Switching Control Unit in the SM on panel 226 (left surface of medical cabinet) with the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system and VD-SU control mode deactivated, checking out the feeder lines of the MBRL AFU (Antenna Feeder Unit) for continuity with reflection measurements using the FSH3 Spectrum Analyzer, and transferring the FSH3 data to the RSE1 laptop for downlink and ground review.]

MT Translation:
At ~6:30 PM to 8:30 PM GMT, the MT (Mobile Transporter) with the SSRMS is to be moved by CSA (Canadian Space Agency) ground command (S-band) on its rails on the main truss from WS-4 (Worksite-4) to WS-6. Russian thrusters are disabled for this event from 4:35 PM to 8:35 PM GMT, and no unisolated crew exercises are allowed during the roll-over.

---------- Post added at 10:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 PM ----------

Roscosmos PAO: "Fruit Flies Return Home from the ISS".

Soyuz TMA-18 space vehicle successfully landed this weekend returned not only 3 crew members of the International Space Station, but also two containers with fruit flies. The flies born in zero-gravity are to help the scientists to study space impact risk mitigation for the genomes.
The flies studied under Polygen experiment were chosen due to their reparation system which is similar to the human’s one. In addition, the flies propagate quickly, giving the scientists the opportunity to have much material for their work.
Fruit flies were delivered to the station by Progress in mid September, 10 maggots in each of the two containers. Then, after oviposition of the flies hatched from the maggots, the second generation of the flies appeared. Several dozens of insects returned to the Earth last Saturday, in order to let scientists verifying their capabilities in zero-g, with the further on purpose to use the results for similar evaluations of the human body.

---------- Post added 29th Sep 2010 at 08:23 PM ---------- Previous post was 28th Sep 2010 at 11:25 PM ----------

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 29/09/2010.

FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin continued for several hours with the installation and configuring of the new PCE (Proximity Communications Equipment; Russian: MBRL) for the European ATV in the SM on panel 226 (left surface of medical cabinet), supported by ground specialist tagup via S-band. [Activities included completing connections on the BUAP/Antenna Switching Control Unit, installing the ATV PU/Control Panel and space-to-space radio "Monoblock" (PCE Z0000), and finally making cable connections on the Monoblock.]

CDR Doug Wheelock & FE-6 Shannon Walker finished up on the T-hose installation at the WRS (Water Recovery System) WPA (Water Processor Assembly) in Node 3, with some ground commanding stepping in temporarily to purge air from the sections of the tee. Due to some difficulty with rack rotation, the crew lost about 3 hours. [For rotating the WRS-1 rack back to the wall, pivot fittings had to be re-installed and knee braces disengaged. Potable water will be available again, when the lines have been flushed after the purge.]

Doug & Shannon also continued the IFM (Inflight Maintenance) on the T2 treadmill rack which received a new PAU (Power Avionics Unit) yesterday. [Activities include moving the rack back from its overnight stowage in Node 2 and installing it at its nominal location in Node 3 (rack bay Forward 5), followed by rack rotation and re-installation of all T2 VIS (Vibration Isolation System) hardware components, but due to the additional time required for the WPA T-hose job, the two crewmembers will likely not be able to finish the T2 IFM today.]

---------- Post added at 11:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:23 PM ----------

Aviation Week: "Cost Cited In Dextre Commissioning Delay".

NASA TV Video: Alumna Walker Quizzed by Houston School's Students.​

 

[orb]

SPACE NEWS:
Repairing Science Gear Accounts for Big Fraction of Space Station Research Time

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Astronauts at the international space station spend nearly one-quarter of the time they allot to conducting experiments to repairing or performing routine maintenance on the payload canisters that house the scientific gear, European and Japanese space station officials said Sept. 29.

Data is still preliminary, but indications are that between 20 and 25 percent of the time astronauts devote to scientific experiments is spent performing preventive or corrective maintenance on the payload racks.

More than a year after the orbital complex reached its full permanent-crew complement of six astronauts, officials said they have noticed the sharp increase in astronaut time given over to conducting the experiments that are one of the station’s principal reasons for being.

Martin Zell, head of the station utilization department at the European Space Agency (ESA), said the agency has seen a healthy demand for experiment time on the station and is now booked for many kinds of experiments until 2015 or 2016. A recent call for proposals to use the station as a platform for Earth observation sensors has yielded a large crop of ideas for what will be a new branch of science performed onboard.

Russia’s Roskosmos space agency, which organizes the use of the Russian segment of the station, has a well-defined program of more than 170 experiments that should be completed by 2015, said Boris V. Zagreev of Russia’s TSNiiMash organization. Zagreev told the 61st International Astronautical Congress here that 38 of these experiments have been completed, with 64 more on board the station and the remaining 70 on the ground in various stages of prelaunch preparation. Ten new experiments are started on board each year, he said.

The station’s orbit does not permit it to view the whole of Russian territory, making Earth observation a less-valuable area to pursue, Zagreev said, making life sciences and fluid-physics experiments, along with experiments on human physiology, the principal focus areas. He said Roskosmos is still struggling with strategies on how to evaluate experiments that will make the best use of astronauts’ time and the station’s resources.

Russia is adding new experiment space to the station that by 2014 will bring to nine the number of modules — 24 cubic meters of volume — available for experiments.

Roskosmos, he said, is concerned that too many experiments begun on the station are not brought to completion, for many reasons. He said he hoped the addition of new laboratory space will reduce the problem.

He did not spell out the causes of the premature abandonment of experiments. But a paper written by Nobuyoshi Fujimoto of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said some 10 percent of astronaut time in the Japanese experiment module is devoted to repairing experiment modules.

Carlo Mirra, space station mission integration manager at Astrium, a major space station contractor, said European astronauts spend 23 percent of the time they devote to science experiments performing maintenance on experiment racks between experiment regimes, or repairing the racks.

“We live in the real world,” Mirra said. “Things work, and things fail.” He said an analysis of the rack-maintenance and rack-repair cycles gives no reason to believe that astronauts in the future will be able to spend any less time on these chores.

He said ESA has performed 71 experiments between 2008 and mid-2010 and has seen “an incredible boost in utilization” of the experiment capacity since the station’s reached six permanent members. Mirra said he had not seen updated figures from NASA but that the data from Japan appears to be similar to that of ESA and he would be surprised if NASA’s experiments required much less, or much more, astronaut upkeep.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 30/09/2010.

FE-6 Shannon Walker wrapped up the T-hose installation IFM (Inflight Maintenance) on the WRS-1 (Water Recovery System-1) rack. [A delay of about half a workday was caused by the T-hose not fitting inside the volume of the WRS-1 rack, requiring the crew to wire-tie the T-hose mounting plate and remove some foam to make the back panel fit back on. The delay forced the major part of the T2 treadmill IFM to be deferred from yesterday to today, pushing out planned payload activities.]

CDR Doug Wheelock & Shannon then continued their work on the T2 COLBERT treadmill, checking out the PAU (Power Avionics Unit), reassembling the VIS (Vibration Isolation System) and aligning & centering the rack in its location at Node 3 bay Forward 5. [Securing the Y-axis jam nuts is scheduled tomorrow, as is the deferred annual maintenance of the T2, and both manned and unmanned ACO (Activation & Checkout) runs are still on target for this weekend. Plans are to have T2 operational by Saturday as originally planned.]

Closing out the installation & configuration of the new PCE (Proximity Communications Equipment; Russian: MBRL) for the European ATV-2 (Automated Transfer Vehicle-2) in the SM, FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin performed a final checkout of the MBRL equipment which was successful. [The test was "internal", i.e., by Russia only. A second test will be run which includes ESA ground teams.]

TVM Status:
RSC-Energia/Moscow reported that the three subsets of the TVM (Terminal Computer) systems in the SM were restarted successfully on 28/09. All three TVM lanes are again fully functioning.

---------- Post added at 11:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:34 PM ----------

Space News: "Germany First European Nation To Commit to Space Station Extension".

 

[orb]

ESA (LINK) / Arianespace (LINK) / NASA:
International Partners Update Space Station Launch Manifest

WASHINGTON -- NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) agreed on Friday to update the International Space Station launch schedule.

The target launch dates for the last planned space shuttle flight, STS-134 on Endeavour, will be Feb. 27, 2011, and the Automated Transfer Vehicle-2 (ATV-2) will be Feb. 15. Roscosmos will continue to look at Soyuz launch and landing options to provide manifest robustness.

The agencies agreed to the changes during discussions at the International Astronautical Conference in Prague. Arianespace, whose Ariane 5 rocket will launch ATV-2 into orbit from French Guiana, has confirmed its commitment to launch on Feb. 15.

The STS-134 flight will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) to the station. The AMS is a state-of-the-art cosmic ray particle physics detector designed to examine fundamental issues about matter, and the origin and structure of the universe. The flight will include three spacewalks and the installation of the AMS to the exterior of the space station using both the shuttle and station arms.

ATV-2, dubbed Johannes Kepler, is scheduled to dock on Feb. 26 to the station. The cargo craft is designed to deliver more than seven tons of experiments, fuel, water, food and other supplies to the space station. While docked, ATV-2 will use its thrusters to periodically boost the station's orbit, which decays with time. It also can be used for emergency maneuvers, such as those required if a piece of space debris is predicted to hit the station. This capability saves critical attitude control propellant for the station.

After about 3.5 months, the ATV-2 will undock from the station and burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere over an uninhabited area of the Pacific Ocean. The first ATV, Jules Verne, was launched in March 2008 and reentered the atmosphere in September 2008.

The space station launch manifest is available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html

For details about upcoming shuttle missions and crews, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For more information about ATV-2, visit ESA at:

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ATV

For more information about the Ariane 5 launch vehicle, visit:

http://www.arianespace.com/launch-services/launch-services-overview.asp

For more information about the space station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Boeing Submits Final Bid for International Space Station Cargo Contract.

Boeing today announced that it has submitted its final bid for NASA’s Cargo Mission Contract (CMC) for the International Space Station (ISS). Boeing's bid draws on more than 50 years of the company's human spaceflight experience, as well as first-hand knowledge of ISS operations and cargo processing.

The contract calls for technical support services, including analysis and physical processing of pressurized cargo and flight crew equipment to be transported between the ISS and Earth. It also includes launch preparations and post-landing activities related to processing cargo and flight crew equipment.

"Boeing sees the ISS CMC as an important opportunity to ensure the viability of the ISS with effective logistics and resupply at an affordable price," said Brewster Shaw, vice president and general manager, Boeing Space Exploration. "The Boeing CMC team offers the skills and flexibility to support NASA's ISS cargo needs as the space transportation fleet evolves.

"As NASA's partner in the development, operation and sustainment of the ISS, Boeing shares an interest in ensuring this national resource and world-class laboratory is used to its full capability and potential," Shaw added.

NASA plans to select a contractor in November. Work is expected to begin on April 1, 2011, following a 90-day phase-in period. The performance period for the contract is three years with four one-year options, for a potential total of seven years.

If selected, Boeing plans to execute the contract with its highly experienced human spaceflight work force, with support from some of the workers who are currently performing tasks on CMC predecessor contracts.

"Boeing has access to experts within our Space Exploration division and across the Boeing enterprise -- including technical experts in specialty disciplines NASA has relied on before," said Brad Cothran, Boeing capture team lead for the contract. "We will draw on our own resources and our extensive supplier network to offer a solution that is both innovative and cost-effective, while supporting NASA's priorities for safety and mission success."

Boeing encourages personnel on the predecessor contracts to the ISS CMC to visit the company's team website at www.boeing.com/cmc. Following contract award, the website will be updated with content including teammate information, staffing plans, job fairs and other information.

Boeing is the prime contractor to NASA for the ISS program in Houston as well as NASA's contractor for the Checkout, Assembly and Payload Processing Services (CAPPS) contract at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. In addition to designing and building the major U.S. elements for the ISS, Boeing also is responsible for ensuring the successful integration of new hardware and software, including components from international partners and sustaining engineering for the ISS.

The services and support Boeing provides under its CAPPS contract include planning for and receiving payloads, maintaining associated ground support systems, integrating payloads with the space shuttle, launch support and space shuttle post-landing payload activities.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

---------- Post added at 09:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 PM ----------

Discovery of an X-ray Novaby the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI).

The Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) mission team discovered an X-ray nova by MAXI's X-ray cameras, which are working on the Exposed Facility of the Japanese Experiment Module "KIBO" of the International Space Station. The team immediately reported their discovery to the world.
This X-ray nova emerged in the constellation of Ophiuchus, and the MAXI nova alert system detected its emergence at around 7:00 p.m. on September 25, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, all the following dates and times are JST.) The discovery was immediately notified to all researchers registered on the MAXI mailing list, and with their detailed analysis the MAXI team confirmed that it is an uncatalogued X-ray source. The nova was named "MAXI J1659-152," and the discovery was reported to the world through the Astronomer's Telegram, ATel, at around 1:00 a.m. on September 26.

Change of X-ray Strength over time when the nova was discovered.
The X-ray strength drastically increased on Sept. 25. At around 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 25, the MAXI nova alert system captured this increase.

Following the discovery, many astronomical observatories around the world have started observing this nova in X-ray, gamma-ray, visible, infrared, and radio wavelengths. As of 0:00 a.m. on Sept. 29, seventeen reports have been issued on this matter. Astronomers across the world are paying attention to this nova as it is likely to be a binary system with a black hole. The Japanese X-ray Astronomy Satellite "Suzaku" is also conducting detailed observations.
This discovery was led by Prof. Hitoshi Nego, a member of the MAXI team.

Comparison of all-sky images before and after Sept. 25 when the nova was found.

Mission website:
http://kibo.jaxa.jp/en/experiment/ef/maxi (MAXI mission site).
http://iss.jaxa.jp (International Space Station/Kibo Information Center).
http://maxi.riken.jp/top (Riken MAXI site).

---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:01 PM ----------

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 01/10/2010.

CDR Doug Wheelock & FE-6 Shannon Walker wrapped up the T2 IFM (Inflight Maintenance), aligning and centering the rack in its location in Node 3 while taking photography for ground verification of proper rack seating. Wheels then secured the thumbwheel and Y-axis jam nuts with tie wraps and safety wire. [The Y-axis jam nuts have been known to come loose after a while.]

Afterwards, Doug set up video camcorders in Node 1 & Node 3 to record the subsequent unmanned ACO (Activation & Checkout) run of the T2 from two angles. [Manned ACO is on schedule for tomorrow.]

Doug & Shannon then re-installed the WHC (Waste & Hygiene Compartment) Kabin enclosure in Node 3.

Other activities completed by Shannon on her very busy job list today were:
• Closing out remaining steps from the WRS-1 (Water Recovery System-1) WPA (Water Processor Assembly) T-hose & SPA (Sample Port Adapter) installation, including securing the T-hose bracket to structure.
• Troubleshooting the T2 treadmill display by replacing its suspect wireless card with a new one.

---------- Post added 2nd Oct 2010 at 04:47 PM ---------- Previous post was 1st Oct 2010 at 10:39 PM ----------

Just looking at the new ISS schedule, and the first quarter of 2011 is going to be one helluva busy time for logistics on ISS - it's a good job we'll have the PMM by then! :thumbup:

We've got HTV-2 launch on 20th Jan.
Progress M-08M will undock on 24th Jan.
HTV-2 capture & berthing will be on 27th Jan.
Progress M-09M will launch on 28th Jan., with a docking on 31st Jan.
Robonaut 2 will also be unpacked & checked out sometime in Jan.
ATV-2 will now launch on 15th Feb.
HTV-2 will be un-berthed on 24th Feb.
ATV-2 will dock on 26th Feb.
And a day later (27th Feb.), STS-134 will launch, and their work will continue throughout Feb. & Mar.
There's also a Russian EVA sometime in February.

Whoever said space would be boring without the Shuttle!

---------- Post added at 07:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:47 PM ----------

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 02/10/2010.

After setting up the KODAK DSC 760 video cameras for two standard definition views and the G1 camcorder for one HD (High Definition) view, CDR Doug Wheelock & FE-6 Shannon Walker each took the refurbished T2 treadmill in Node 3 through a manned ACO (Activation & Checkout) session. [The runs had been approved by ground engineers after yesterday's unmanned ACO.]

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 03/10/2010.

ATV PCE Test:
Early this morning during crew sleep (~4:02 AM GMT, from DO-2 to DO-3), ESA/Russia conducted a transmission test of the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) PCE (Proximity Communications Equipment; Russian: MBRL), checking out its carrier frequency over the ISS external WAS2 antenna from RGS (Russian Ground Site). [PCE, located in the SM, will be used for the approach & docking of the European ATV-2 "Johannes Kepler", currently planned to be launched 15/02/2011.]

---------- Post added at 08:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 PM ----------

Check out my debut article on NASASpaceFlight (yes, I write for them now)!

ISS updates failure investigations and future configuration challenges.

---------- Post added 4th Oct 2010 at 07:47 PM ---------- Previous post was 3rd Oct 2010 at 08:29 PM ----------

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 04/10/2010.

FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin performed major (~3 hour) IFM (Inflight Maintenance) on the SM ASU toilet facility behind panels 137, 138 & 139, changing out replaceable parts with new components, such as a receptacle, hoses, a T-connector, an elbow fitting, etc. All old parts were discarded as trash.

CDR Doug Wheelock & FE-6 Shannon Walker discussed STS-133/ULF-5 prepacking requirements with ground specialist in a telecom. Afterwards, Wheels spent ~90 minutes on prepacking activities for ULF-5.

EarthKAM Update:
EarthKAM (EK/Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students) troubleshooting last week (new firmware) ran into difficulties, and camera functionality was not recovered. EK is scheduled to operate 11/10 - 15/10; payload team is assessing options.

ATV PCE Test:
This morning at 9:50 AM GMT/DO-6 & 11:38 AM GMR/DO-8, ESA/Russia conducted more transmission testing of the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) PCE (Proximity Communications Equipment; Russian: MBRL), checking out its carrier frequency over the ISS external WAS2 antenna from ESA ground stations Villafranca (VIL, near Madrid) and Maspalomas (MAS, Canary Islands). Backup day for these tests: 06/10 (Wednesday).

 

[tblaxland]

Staff note: A bunch of posts were moved to a new Soyuz TMA-01M thread: http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=18540

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 05/10/2010.

CDR Doug Wheelock reviewed the procedures for the upcoming installation of the Sabatier reactor in Node 3, then conducted a teleconference with ground specialists to discuss the "big picture" and installation specifics. [In Node 3, the Sabatier reactor will be installed into the OGS (Oxygen Generator System) Rack at rack bay Aft 5. Once installed, the Sabatier will combine CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) coming from the Node-3 CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) with H2 (Hydrogen) from the OGS to form H2O (Water) and CH4 (Methane). The water will be sent to the WWB (Waste Water Bus) and reprocessed through the WPA. The Methane will be vented overboard.]

Doug also opened the OGA (Oxygen Generator Assembly) door in the ARS (Atmosphere Revitalization System) rack to allow thermal conditioning of the OGS components for the Sabatier work tomorrow.

In preparation for flow measurements in support of the upcoming Sabatier installation, FE-6 Shannon Walker gathered required Non-Intrusive Flow Meter equipment (instruments, accessories, power cable, probes, etc.), stowing them in Node 1 for now.

Soyuz TMA-01M/24S Launch Preparations:
At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, preparations continue for the launch of the Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft on 07/10 (11:11 PM GMT). The assembled Soyuz FG launch vehicle was rolled out from the assembly-test facility to the launch site. L-2 launch ops are underway.

---------- Post added 6th Oct 2010 at 09:27 PM ---------- Previous post was 5th Oct 2010 at 09:51 PM ----------

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 06/10/2010.

FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin completed a major IFM (Inflight Maintenance) of several hours in the FGB (Functional Cargo Block), replacing the 800A battery #4 of its PSS (Power Supply System, Russian: SES/sistema elektrosnabzheniya) with a spare AB unit. The removed battery was prepared for disposal on Progress M-07M/39P. [The ZRU charge/discharge unit #4 was deactivated by TsUP/Moscow beforehand and later reactivated. The new battery #4 is currently being conditioned in Cycle mode. This restores the full set of six FGB batteries to operation.]

With video downlink via MPC (Multi-Protocol Converter) covering their activities live, CDR Doug Wheelock & FE-6 Shannon Walker conducted the major 6 month maintenance of the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation & Stabilization), first checking its operation, then completing the required parts replacements (after its components had cooled down safely overnight after yesterday's powering down of its 20A circuit breaker). [Activities include removing TVIS from the SM Pit, vacuuming screens & checking cables, inspection of windscreen, blue bumpers & ropes on the TVIS isolator cage, also of the gyroscope wire ropes & pivot spacers plus TVIS corner components, then reinstalling TVIS in the Pit. During the inspection, the crew found a severed wire rope (one of four) in the gyro bracket assembly which was replaced. The work ran late, and completion of the maintenance was rescheduled for later (ACO (Activation & Checkout), verifying Time & Date display, performing manned speed characterization test (2 MPH, then incrementally from 1 MPH to 10 MPH), cleaning up & readying for exercise).]

After installing the four alignment guides at the T2 treadmill for protection plus temporarily removing the T2 handrail and the TOCA (Total Organic Carbon Analyzer) to make room in Node 3, Doug completed the next step in the on-going installation of the Sabatier reactor, today installing hoses. The T2 handrail was later re-installed for the exercise. [Steps included removing the CO2/CH4 (Carbon Dioxide/Methane) vent hose from its panel on the OGS (Oxygen Generation System) rack and replacing it with the Sabatier vent hose, which contains a "T" segment for routing vent gases from both the Sabatier & OGA (Oxygen Generator Assembly) H2 (Hydrogen) ORU (Orbital Replacement Unit) out of the rack through a hose connected at the UIP (Utility Interface Panel). A second Sabatier hose was then installed for supplying H2 from the rear of the OGA H2 ORU to the Sabatier volume. IFM is to be continued.]

Soyuz TMA-01M/24S Launch Preparations:
At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, preparations continue for tomorrow evening's launch of Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft (11:11 PM GMT). L-1 launch ops are underway. The crew, complementing the Exp. 25 station crew, will be Soyuz CDR/ISS FE-1 Alexander Kaleri, ISS FE-3/Exp. 26 CDR Scott Kelly & ISS FE-2 Oleg Skripochka. [Soyuz TMA-01M is the first of the new breed of Soyuz vehicles, looking unchanged from the outside but having the old computer and analog parts replaced by digital avionics. Instead of the traditional triply-redundant Argon-16 guidance computer, in use since 1974, the TMA-M type carries the new TsVM-101 CPU (Central Processing Unit)/computer. Also, five analog processors for monitoring spacecraft systems, each with its own telemetry transmitter, have been replaced with a single new unit called MBITS. This allows rapid pre-launch testing of the spacecraft instead of the previous time-consuming checkouts of each system separately, which in turn allows a doubling of the launch rate. In all, the upgrade replaced 36 old devices with 19 new ones of higher performance, lower mass and reduced power consumption, most of which have been flight-tested several times on Progress cargo ships. The new TsVM/CPU, along with modernized color displays in the cockpit, allows the new Soyuz to be flown by a single professional pilot, instead of two fully trained crewmembers.]

---------- Post added at 09:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 PM ----------

JAXA: "Japanese Experiment Module 'Kibo' awarded '2010 Good Design Award BEST 15 (Good Design Grand Award Candidate)'".

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) received the "Good Design Award BEST 15" for our Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" at the "Good Design (G-Mark) Award 2010" sponsored by the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization (JIDPO.)
The Good Design Award BEST 15 winners are candidates for the Good Design Grand Award to be selected on Nov. 10 (Wed,) 2010.
The Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" project started in 1985 as one of the facilities of the International Space Station (ISS,) which has been built on the Earth's orbit under the cooperation of 15 countries including Japan, the United States, Russia, Europe, and Canada. At that time, although Japan had already acquired development technology for satellites and a launch vehicle, it was the first time for the country to provide a safe and comfortable space facility for experiments and operations while protecting the lives of astronauts in the space environment, which is completely isolated from the Earth and extremely harsh. As a result, some 650 companies have been involved in the development of the Kibo. As it was completed in 2009, many experiments and observations that cannot be realized on Earth are carried out every day while the safety of the Kibo is maintained through control from the ground. Almost 300 researchers have utilized the Kibo to date. The Good Design Award was presented to the Kibo because its design was highly evaluated as "a universal scale good design for which a new construction method of protecting the facility from space debris was applied, while durability, safety, operability and high air tightness were pursued."
Taking this opportunity of receiving the award, JAXA would like to further promote more people to utilize the Kibo, acquire more scientific knowledge, and apply such knowledge to life on Earth, while cultivating technology and design to support Japan's future manned space activities.
The Good Design Grand Award Ceremony for 2010 will be held on November 11 (Wed.) at the Tokyo Midtown Hall (in Minato-ku, Tokyo.)

1. Award winning item
Japan Experiment Module Kibo
Evaluation
"The wide variety of experiments on the "Kibo" Japanese Experiment Module that we saw televised live from space included explanations of physical phenomena that made use of the low-gravity environment and explanations of the effects of radiation and low gravity on biological phenomena, using plants and cells. Seeing these experiments, I recall the excitement of doing chemistry experiments as a child. The results of those experiments in space are replete with oddities that would be inconceivable on Earth, and make even adults feel stirrings of wonder and curiosity. The designers of "Kibo" strove for the highest possible degrees of durability, safety, operability, and air tightness and thought up new materials and new construction methods for purposes such as protection from meteors. Its pared down, functional, realistic shape is quite beautiful. The Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" is a facility for integrating knowledge that encompasses Earth's environmental problems. American and Soviet facilities, such as Apollo and Soyuz, have taken the leading roles in developing outer space, but at present, 15 countries around the world are cooperating in the construction of facilities for the International Space Station in Earth orbit, and the recent successes of Japanese astronauts and the development of "Kibo" and its accomplishments have been exceptional. It brings dreams and hopes to a weary and lethargic society in Japan, and it is even good design on a cosmic scale, reflecting the spirit of this era."

Good Design Award Website: www.g-mark.org/english/archive/2010/best15/10d06001.html
Japanese Experiment Module Kibo Website: http://kibo.jaxa.jp/en/

2. Good Design Awards
The Good Design Awards (G Mark) is Japan's only comprehensive program for the evaluation and encouragement of design organized by the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization (JIDPO) since 1998. The award's parent organization is the Good Design Products Selection System (commonly known as the G Mark system), established in 1957 by the then Ministry of International Trade and Industry (the current Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). For over 50 years, the Good Design Award has been given to outstanding designs by both domestic and overseas companies and groups in the pursuit of prosperous lives and industrial development. The Awards' "G Mark" symbol is widely known to indicate good design.

Good Design Award Website: www.g-mark.org/english/index.html

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Aviation Week: "NASA Extends Lockheed Martin ISS Cargo Contract".

---------- Post added 7th Oct 2010 at 07:52 PM ---------- Previous post was 6th Oct 2010 at 09:42 PM ----------

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 07/10/2010.

For ground monitoring of the Soyuz TMA-01M/24S rendezvous & docking on Saturday 09/10, CDR Doug Wheelock connected the UOP (Utility Outlet Panel) DCP (Display & Control Panel) power bypass cable at the Lab RWS (Robotic Workstation) for capturing external video coverage with the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) camera system.

Doug also performed troubleshooting on the IWIS (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System) RSU (Remote Sensor Unit) which had a communication failure yesterday during ground-commanded programming for the 24S docking. The programming will be performed today.

Continuing the on-going installation of the Sabatier reactor in the OGA (Oxygen Generator Assembly) in the OGS (Oxygen Generator System) rack in Node 3, Doug today removed two protective panels from the OGS rack volume in order to make room for Sabatier.

Doug then re-installed the T2 treadmill handrail which had been temporarily removed by FE-6 Shannon Walker earlier to clear working space, and also performed the periodic inspection of the rack's limit barriers called "snubbers".

TVIS Failure:
Yesterday at the start of the speed characterization test of the TVIS (Treadmill with Vibration Isolation System) 6 months maintenance activity, the TVIS gyroscope failed to spin up on activation. Subsequent troubleshooting activities have not yet resolved the problem as of this morning. Without gyro, TVIS is No Go for exercise due to stability issues. Crew was asked to power the treadmill down and transfer data from its PC memory card to the MEC for downlink to the ground for analysis.