Updates ISS UPDATES

[Cosmic Penguin]

A detailed explanation of yesterday's Multiplexer/Demultiplexer (MDM) failure and the EVA required to replace it: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/imminent-spacewalks-external-mdm-failure-iss/

 

[MikeB]

I found the MDM explanation very informative.

I saw reference to the "Big 12" failures that astronauts are trained to repair, including this article: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a567329.pdf

However, I haven't been able to find a specific list of the failures. Does anyone have the list, or a link?

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

A detailed explanation of yesterday's Multiplexer/Demultiplexer (MDM) failure and the EVA required to replace it: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/imminent-spacewalks-external-mdm-failure-iss/

Looks like the MDM replacement EVA will be done on April 22, probably by Rick Mastracchio and Steven Swanson.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Looks like the MDM replacement EVA will be done on April 22, probably by Rick Mastracchio and Steven Swanson.

Well this EVA will occur today at 13:20 UTC! Luckily for our astronauts, the EVA should be a rather straight-forward job and will take only about 2.5 hours. :tiphat:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Well this EVA will occur today at 13:20 UTC! Luckily for our astronauts, the EVA should be a rather straight-forward job and will take only about 2.5 hours. :tiphat:

EVA walkthrough by Orbinaut Pete: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/astronauts-short-spacewalk-replace-failed-ext-2-mdm/

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Well this EVA will occur today at 13:20 UTC! Luckily for our astronauts, the EVA should be a rather straight-forward job and will take only about 2.5 hours. :tiphat:

And mission accomplished with an hour to spare and the wire lanyard cutting get-forward task complete! Woohoo!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

And mission accomplished with an hour to spare and the wire lanyard cutting get-forward task complete! Woohoo!

 

[IronRain]

From spaceflight101.com:

On Thursday, ISS experienced a power channel failure in the 3A EPS channel that is connected to the S4 solar array. In response to the failure, power was transferred seamlessly to Channel 3B that is now carrying the loads normally connected to 3A and has not shown any problems. No power to any payloads was lost at any time and the crew’s operations were not affected, but ground teams are evaluating the backup power supply of the external robotics system of ISS. While teams on the ground investigate the issue, nominal operations will continue aboard ISS.

During the Daily Planning Conference, Mission Control informed the crew that the current thinking was that the failure is similar to a problem that occurred in September 2012. Back then, power channel 3A went offline due to a DCSU (Direct Current Switching Unit) overload when ISS already had a diminished power system due to the failure of MBSU-1 that occurred in August 2012 requiring an EVA to replace the system. In 2012, the DCSU went offline due to a Remote Bus Isolator trip, whether that was the case on Thursday is being evaluated.

The DCSUs are responsible for managing and distributing the primary power coming from the Solar Arrays. During orbital day, the eight DCSUs (one for each power channel) send a portion of the primary power to the Station's MBSUs to go to the users while the other portion of the primary power is transferred to BCDUs - Battery Charge/Discharge Units that control the charging and discharging of each of the batteries - managing the available battery power. During night passes when no new power is generated by the solar arrays, power is sent from the Battery Charge/Discharge Units back to the Direct Current Switching Units which then passes it along to the Main Bus Switching Units that route power to the DC to DC Conversion Units (DDCUs).

{...}

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

From spaceflight101.com:

.....and an even more detailed article from Orbinaut Pete: NASASpaceflight.com: ISS partial power loss – suspected electrical short in external component :tiphat:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Some recent cemeronies on board the ISS - celebrating Star Wars Day (May the fourth be with you!), Russia's Victory Day, and also change in hands to the next ISS Expedition (yup that means three of the crew are returning to Earth tomorrow - see the Soyuz update thread for details:

 

[kamaz]

The ISS live stream is currently showing this mysterious device:

 

[DaveS]

The ISS live stream is currently showing this mysterious device:

That's the Dragon control panel.

 

[kamaz]

And before someone was pressing all buttons on this in sequence. Did I see the panel testing for an upcoming Dragon flight?

 

[Donamy]

Practicing for unberthing Sunday, is my guess.

 

[kuddel]

That's the Dragon control panel.

That's what THEY like you to think that is...

 

[IronRain]

Spaceflightnow.com: Crew safe after reporting smoke inside space station

The crew aboard the International Space Station reported smoke inside the research lab's Zvezda service module Tuesday, but fast-acting ground controllers resolved the problem before it endangered the outpost's six astronauts and cosmonauts, according to NASA.

Space station commander Steve Swanson told mission control in Houston there was a "very small amount" of smoke coming out of a vent inside the Russian Zvezda service module.

The crew first reported smoke at about 2:40 p.m. EDT (1840 GMT) Tuesday emanating from a vent in Zvezda, which serves as the command post of the Russian section of the complex.

"In line with standard protocol, flight controllers at mission control in Houston followed emergency procedures to isolate the Russian segment ventilation system," NASA wrote in an update on the agency's website. "Expedition 40 commander Steve Swanson reported that the smoke quickly subsided and the crew was not in any danger."

Russian officials identified the most likely source of the smoke as a heater in the Russian segment's water reclamation unit used to dining purposes.

"The crew deactivated the device, set up a fan and a filter to clear the smoke and took atmospheric readings throughout the station to assess any impacts," the NASA update said. "The team in mission control is coordinating with their Russian counterparts for any follow up actions."

"There is definitely no longer any smoke in the area," Swanson radioed mission control. "We believe it's under control at this time."

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

If you are not into the World Cup thingy, there's a Russian EVA today that will start in 1.5 hours time! I defer to the guys at JSC to report on the tasks to be done today:

 

[sorindafabico]

Researchers discover cool-burning flames in space that could lead to better engines here on earth

A team of international researchers has discovered a new type of cool burning flames that could lead to cleaner, more efficient engines for cars. The discovery was made during a series of experiments on the International Space Station by a team led by Forman Williams, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of California, San Diego. Researchers detailed their findings last month in the journal Microgravity Science and Technology.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

What to do for my birthday? Watch a Russian EVA of course!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/08/russian-spacewalkers-perform-science-oriented-eva/

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

What to do for my birthday? Watch a Russian EVA of course!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/08/russian-spacewalkers-perform-science-oriented-eva/

The cosmonauts completed all the tasks 1 hour ahead of schedule! :thumbup: