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More Details for 2008-06-09

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Flight Day 10 (FD10) of STS-124/1J.

Underway: Week 8 of Increment 17.

ISS crew work cycle shifted another 30 min. to the left: wake-up 5:02am EDT; sleep 8:02pm (Shuttle crew 30 min later: 8:32pm).

Crew activities aboard the ISS addressed five major areas: (1) IWIS Dedicated Thruster Firing, (2) JEM RMS Final Deployment, (3) R&R of two A/L BCMs (Airlock Battery Charger Modules), (4) JLP/JPM vestibule final outfitting plus JLP ingress, (5) crew media conference & photo.

For the biomed experiment INTEGRATED IMMUNE (Validating Procedures for Monitoring Crew member Immune Function), FE-2 Reisman collected a 'wet' saliva sample before breakfast while FE-2-17 Chamitoff collected his first dry saliva samples, five times during the day. (IMMUNE protocol requires the collection to occur first thing post-sleep, before eating, drinking and brushing teeth, and all samples are stored at ambient temperature. Along with NUTRITION (Nutritional Status Assessment), INTEGRATED IMMUNE samples & analyzes participant's blood, urine, and saliva before, during and after flight for changes related to functions like bone metabolism, oxidative damage and immune function to develop and validate an immune monitoring strategy consistent with operational flight requirements and constraints. The strategy uses both long and short duration crewmembers as study subjects. The saliva is collected in two forms, dry and liquid. The dry samples are collected at intervals during the collection day using a specialized book that contains filter paper. The liquid saliva collections require that the crewmember soak a piece of cotton inside their mouth and place it in a salivette bag; there are four of the liquid collections during docked operations.)

In support of ISS science, CDR Volkov installed the geophysical GFI-1 Relaksatsiya ("relaxation") experiment from six GFI-1 hardware kits, reconfigured the payload Laptop 3 for the experiment and mounted the UV (ultraviolet) camera with spectrometer unit (SP) at Service Module (SM) window #9. Purpose of the ~2.5hr experiment was to contribute to a hyperspectral space/time study of radiation patterns from the Earth atmosphere and surface from spectra recorded with the camcorder. The UV camera provided a base for the camcorder but was not activated. Afterwards the equipment was stowed again. (Relaksatsiya normally deals with the study of the chemoluminescent chemical reactions and atmospheric light phenomena (emissions, i.e., molecular relaxation processes), including those that occur during high-velocity interaction between the exhaust products from space vehicles and the atmosphere at orbital altitude and during the entry of space vehicles into the Earth's upper atmosphere.)

MS4 Hoshide, MS1 Nyberg & FE-2-17 Chamitoff completed final deployment of the JEM RMS (Japanese Experiment Module/Robotic Manipulator System) after connecting the drag-thru power cable and powering on the two RMS monitors and CCP (Camera Control Panel). (Aki, Karen & Greg first maneuvered the RMS MA (Main Arm) to the final deploy position, then to the stowed position, checked out of the arm's brakes on SY (Shoulder yaw) joint, SP (Shoulder Pitch) joint, and EP (Elbow Pitch) joint, deactivated the RMS, and put the three HRMs (Hold & Release Mechanisms) on Hold.)

Later, CDR Mark Kelly maneuvered the SRMS (Shuttle Remote Manipulator System) into the Discovery cargo bay to OBSS (Orbiter Boom Sensor Systems) Undock position.

In the Lab, Garrett Reisman set up the video camera to cover his subsequent placing of electrodes for a functional ECG (Electrocardiogram) checkout with a Holter Digital Recorder, as used for blood pressure studies. (The ECG data, taken over a period of 5 minutes, were to be downlinked and analyzed by the experiment team and flight surgeon to support research on the blood-pressure medication Midodrine.)

Reisman conducted the weekly 10-min. CWC (Contingency Water Container) audit as part of on-going WDS (Water Delivery System) assessment of onboard water supplies. (Updated 'cue cards' based on the crew's water calldowns are sent up every other week. The current cue card (17-0002J) lists 36 CWCs (~1456.4 L total) for the four types of water identified on board: technical water (693.8 L, for Elektron, flushing, hygiene, including 509.4 L non-usable water because of Wautersia bacteria), potable water (706.7 L, incl. 260.6 L currently on hold), condensate water (48 L), waste/EMU dump and other (7.9 L). Wautersia bacteria are typical water-borne microorganisms that have been seen previously in ISS water sources. These isolates pose no threat to human health.)

The FE-2 also collected ITCS (Internal Thermal Control System) fluid samples from the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) while coordinating with COL-CC/Oberpfaffenhofen on proper valve settings.

Also in the COL, Garrett removed & replaced the DPSB-2 (Delta Pressure Sensor Block 2), installed at the COL1OF4 position in a stand-off.

Reisman and Chamitoff reviewed familiarization material on the correct procedures for DCB (Double Coldbag) packing scheduled for tomorrow. (The DCB/Icepacs will be used for returning frozen samples to Earth as middeck cargo after their transfer from the MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS) dewars.)

Working in the Soyuz TMA-12/16S, Sergey Volkov removed the spacecraft's used ASU toilet collector and replaced it with an empty spare from Progress 29P. The dismantled collector was prepacked for disposal.

In the 'Quest' A/L, Kelly & Fossum removed the two aged BCMs (Battery Charger Modules) and replaced them with new BCMs in slots 1 & 2. The R&R necessitated rotating the A/L Avionics Rack forward and later returning it to its upright position. (The new BCMs, delivered on STS-124, were discovered to have a flawed LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) circuit board with a resistor which could overheat and thereby defeat the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) backlight capability of the new units. Kelly & Ham modified them on 6/6 by carefully opening up the BCMs (16 fasteners each), cutting the resistor leads and re-assembling the boxes. The BCMs are used to charge EMU batteries. The old BCMs had an increased toxicity level (Tox-4) due to their age, and the R&R today allows them to be returned on Discovery.)

Hoshide & Nyberg finished up outfitting the JPM/JLP vestibule, installing remaining utility jumpers essential to JLP activation, i.e., for IMV (Intermodule Ventilation) and ARS (Atmosphere Revitalization System). Afterwards, Aki & Karen ingressed the JLP, configured the IMV air ducting and installed a PFE (Portable Fire Extinguisher) from JPM and a PBA (Portable Breathing Apparatus) from Node-2.

Later tonight, Aki & Mark Kelly will install four soft dummy panels in the Kibo JPM (at JLP1A2, JLP1P1, JLP1P2, JLP1F2) and Hoshide will take a documentary photo of a standoff (JPM1OF6). (The latter was reported by the crew to lack Velcro for securing its soft dummy panel.)

Kelly worked with Chamitoff on accessing OGS (Oxygen Generation System) hardware stowage by temporarily removing the OGS WDS (Water Delivery System), to retrieve a failed hydrogen sensor to be returned on 1J and transferred a number of OGS items from a Lab rack to the OGS stowage volume.

The SM thruster firing test for IWIS (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System) structural dynamics data taking was conducted thids morning at 6:22am-6:38am EDT, preceded by ISS attitude moded to free drift at 6:19am. (At 6:38am, attitude control authority was handed over to RS MCS (Russian Segment Motion Control System) for maneuvering back to TEA (Torque Equilibrium Attitude), and attitude control returned to USOS momentum management at ~7:14am.)

Later, after FE-1 Kononenko downloaded the IWIS data, CDR Volkov tore down the IWIS network for stowage, including removing the RSU (Remote Sensor Unit) in the Orbiter airlock and its cabling.

Oleg also conducted the periodic (currently daily) checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS hatchways, including the passageways PrK (SM Transfer Compartment) -ATV, PrK -RO (SM Working Compartment), PkhO (SM Transfer Tunnel) -RO, PkhO -DC1, PkhO -FGB PGO, FGB PGO -FGB GA, FGB GA -Node-1. (This checkup is especially important when the ventilation/circulation system has to cope with a larger crew on board, currently ten persons, and one of the two Russian SKV air conditioners off (SKV-1).)

The FE-1 had an hour set aside on his schedule to look for a jumper cable which could not be located during the installation of VSPLESK ('Burst') science hardware on 5/27.

Later, Kononenko conducted the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM. (Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.)

Oleg also completed the daily IMS (Inventory Management System) maintenance, updating/editing its standard 'delta file' including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

The ISS crew completed their regular 2.5-hr. physical workout program (about half of which is used for setup & post-exercise personal hygiene) on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-1, FE-2, FE-2-17), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1), RED resistive exercise device (CDR, FE-1, FE-2) and VELO bike with bungee cord load trainer (CDR). Day 3 of CEVIS physical exercise for Greg Chamitoff.

Afterwards, Oleg & Greg copied the exercise data file to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) laptop for downlink, including the daily wristband HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) data of the workouts on RED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

Reisman, slated for return on the Discovery on 6/14, and Chamitoff, who replaces him as ISS FE-2, had another 1.5 hrs scheduled for standard joint handover activities.

Kelly & Ham spent several hours on cargo transfers from/to the Shuttle middeck. At ~4:32pm, Mark & Ken will have a transfer tagup with ground specialists. (Transfers are on schedule. As of this morning, the crews were 84% complete on resupply transfers, 57% complete on return cargo, and 66% complete overall. The remaining transfers were divided into today & tomorrow.)

At ~5:02pm, all ISS & Shuttle crewmembers will participate in the traditional joint TV news conference with US media at the NASA centers & Japanese media at JSC.

Afterwards, the crews have an additional 20 min. reserved to take the standard crew photo (foto ekipazha)

Note on no O2 Transfer: Based on pre-flight agreements to conserve the lifetime-limited ORCA (Oxygen Recharge Compressor Assembly), not enough ullage (free volume) was created in the ISS high-pressure tanks to make an oxygen transfer from the Shuttle worthwhile. The operational cycles allowed under Flight Rule for the ORCA's diaphragm pump have already been modified by waiver from 280,000 to 373,000 cycles. A replacement ORCA will be delivered to KSC late this year.

Preview of tomorrow's main activities: Waste water dump from the Orbiter, installation of JEM RMS Backup drive system in JPM, PAO event, crew farewell & hatches closing, ODS leak check.

No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today.