Expedition 26 thread (November 26, 2010 - March 16, 2011 - Includes Stage EVAs)

[Space Pete]

Cosmonauts to Perform 28th Russian Space Station Spacewalk.

For the second time in less than a month, two Russian cosmonauts will venture outside the International Space Station on Feb. 16 to install a pair of earthquake and lightning sensing experiments, and to retrieve a pair of spacecraft material evaluation panels.

Expedition 26 Flight Engineers Dmitry Kondratyev and Oleg Skripochka are scheduled to float outside the Pirs airlock at 8:15 a.m. EST Wednesday to begin the five-and-a-half-hour excursion. Both spacewalkers will wear Russian Orlan-MK spacesuits.

On their previous spacewalk, completed Jan. 21, they completed installation of a new high-speed data transmission system, removed an old plasma pulse experiment, installed a camera for the new Rassvet docking module and retrieved a materials exposure package. That spacewalk lasted 5 hours, 23 minutes.

Kondratyev again will be designated as Extravehicular 1 (EV1), with a red stripe on his suit, and Skripochka will be EV2, with a blue stripe on his suit. This time, both cosmonauts will wear NASA-provided helmet lights and wireless television cameras to provide live point-of-view video to Mission Control-Moscow, which will provide ground support for the spacewalk. Mission Control-Houston will monitor the spacewalk as well.

he spacewalk will focus on installation of two scientific experiments outside the Zvezda service module. The first is called Radiometria, and is designed to collect information useful in seismic forecasts and earthquake predictions. Radiometria will be installed on a portable workstation on the port side of the large-diameter section of the Zvezda module. The second is Molniya-Gamma, which will look at gamma splashes and optical radiation during terrestrial lightning and thunderstorm conditions using three sensors. The Molniya-Gamma will be installed on a portable workstation on the starboard side of the Zvezda module.

Kondratyev and Skripochka also will retrieve two Komplast panels from the exterior of the Zarya module. The panels contain materials exposed to space, and are part of a series of international experiments looking for the best materials to use in building long-duration spacecraft. Additionally, they will remove and jettison a space suit foot restraint, and deploy a small satellite named ARISSat-1.

ARISSat-1, also known as Radioskaf-V, is the first of a series of educational satellites being developed in a partnership with the Radio Amateur Satellite Corp. (AMSAT), the NASA Office of Education ISS National Lab Project, the Amateur Radio on ISS (ARISS) working group and RSC-Energia. The small satellite is a project that follows in the footsteps of SuitSat, which was built within a retired Russian Orlan spacesuit that was not longer viable for use by humans and was deployed Feb. 3, 2006, by Expedition 12 Cosmonaut Valery Tokarev and Astronaut Bill McArthur.

ARISSat satellites can carry up to five student experiments and the data from these experiments will be transmitted to the ground via an amateur radio link. In addition, ARISSat will transmit still-frame video Earth views from four onboard cameras, commemorative greetings in native languages from students around the world, and a Morse code tracking beacon. ARISSat also will function as a worldwide space communications utility for use by amateur radio operators. ARISSat-1 is expected to enter the Earth’s atmosphere within three to six months after its deployment.

As during the previous spacewalk, Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri will climb into their Soyuz 24 spacecraft, which is docked to the Poisk module on the opposite side of Zvezda from the airlock, and seal the hatches between Zvezda and Poisk. This protects against the unlikely possibility of a sudden station depressurization and also allows for the use of the forward portion of Zvezda as a backup airlock if necessary. Flight Engineers Cady Coleman and Paolo Nespoli will be in the U.S. segment and will have access to their Soyuz 25 spacecraft, which is docked to the Rassvet module adjacent to Pirs on the Zarya control module, therefore they do not need to be sequestered.

With all tasks complete, Kondratyev and Skripochka will re-enter the Pirs airlock and end their spacewalk.

The next Russian spacewalk is planned for July, when the Expedition 29 crew will be in orbit aboard the station.

› View spacewalk graphics


www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition26/russian_eva28.html

[Nicolas PILLET]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 07/02/2011.

(...)

I've also noticed this interesting fact on the RS side :

Alex Kaleri had ~4 hrs set aside for major IFM (Inflight Maintenance) on the SM SOTR/Thermal Control System, first gathering the necessary hardware & tooling, then removing both pumps (N1, N2) of the 4SPN2 replaceable pump panel in Loop 2 (KOB2). Additionally, Sasha installed a clamp on the 4GB4 hydraulic unit of KOB2.

Someone know why he did that ? I guess that the pumps will be replaced soon ?

[stockman]

Working on one of the Racks in the Lab this morning

[stockman]

now on to a different one

[arkaska]

Back working behind the first rack. Wonder if they are working on drag through cables behind the racks since they keep rotating different racks.

Edit: They are working on the SGANT cable routing that was planned for today.

[Space Pete]

You can see some of the blue-coloured Lab Aft endcone closeout panels on the deck in those shots. Is this new SGANT Co-Ax cable in support of the SGANT that was installed during STS-132?

[Space Pete]

ISS Reboost Сompleted.

In accordance with the International Space Station mission ballistics support program, ISS reboost occured on Feb. 10.
The maneuver was assisted by 8 attitude thrusters of the Progress M-07M cargo vehicle attached to the Zvezda instrumentation compartment. The engines were started at 00:37:30 Moscow time (21:37:30 GMT). After the burn of 0.5 mps, which lasted 263 sec, the altitude of the station became 0.9km higher, and achieved 352,3 km.
The operation is aimed at providing favorable conditions for further landing of Soyuz TMA-M crew vehicle scheduled for March 16.
 
Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=11345&lang=en

[Space Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 11/02/2011.

FE-2 Oleg Skripochka & FE-4 Dimitri Kondratyev continued their preparations for the Orlan EVA-28, performing further Orlan spacesuit activities in DC-1 (Docking Compartment-1).
Oleg (Orlan #4) & Dmitri (Orlan #5) today:
• Readied Orlan spacesuit replaceable elements & equipment (SMEG).
• Ran leak checks & valve functionality tests on the Orlans and their BSS interface units
  in DC-1 & SM (Service Module) PkhO (Transfer Compartment) from the EVA support
  panels (POVs).
• Conducted pressure checks on the SM BK-3 O2 (oxygen) tanks and the BNP portable
  repress O2 tank in DC-1.
• Studied EVA-28 procedures.
[Tasks for EVA-28 consist of removal of two Komplast panels (#2, #10) from the FGB (Functional Cargo Block), installation of the new RK-21-8 SVCh-Radiometriya experiment system on the URM-D portable multipurpose workstation on Plane II of the SM Work Compartment 2, removal of the Ferrozond foot restraint from its location on the SM Work Compartment 2, and assembly & connection of the Molniya-GAMMA equipment on the URM-D on Plane IV of the SM Work Compartment 2, and launching the Radioskaf-V nanosatellite delivered on Progress M-09M/41P. Two items will be jettisoned; three other items (Molniya MLI and cover) will be brought back inside.]

FE-1 Alexander Kaleri meanwhile readied the Progress M-09M/41P (#409) docked at the DC-1 Nadir port for undocking if required in an EVA-28 contingency. Steps included:
• Installing the docking mechanism (StM, Stykovochnovo mekhanizma) between the
  cargo ship and the DC-1 Nadir port.
• Activating the spacecraft's electronics and taking out the ventilation/heating air duct.
• Closing the hatches.
• Removing the QD (Quick Disconnect) screw clamps (BZV) of the docking & internal
  transfer mechanism (SSVP) which rigidized the joint.
• Starting the standard one-hour leak checking of the SU docking vestibule and
  fuel/oxidizer transfer line interface between Progress and DC-1.
• Downlinking the video depicting the close-out activities, for review by ground
  specialists. [During hatch closure, leak checking and initial clamp installation, Russian
  thrusters as usual were inhibited due to load constraints.]

In the US Lab, CDR Scott Kelly & FE-5 Paolo Nespoli continued the routing & installation of the SGANT (Space to Ground ANTenna) coaxial cabling for the spare Ku-band started yesterday, completing Part 2 of the outfitting in the Lab Port-Deck Standoff, then closing out the work sites. [This new cable provides transmit/receive capability to the redundant Ku-Band Antenna installed on STS-132/ULF-4. Once installed, the redundant Ku-Band Antenna will require two cables to be swapped whenever it is put into service. A full checkout is planned following STS-133/ULF-5.]

Afterwards, FE-5 Paolo Nespoli repositioned the CMRS (Crew Medical Restraint System) in its nominal place, from which it had to be moved out of the way for the Lab P6, D6, D4 & D2 rack rotations for the cable routing, and replaced the other equipment (e.g., OpsLAN) previously relocated. [The board-like CMRS allows strapping down a patient on the board with a harness for medical attention by the CMO (Crew Medical Officer) who is also provided with restraints around the device. The device can be secured to the ISS structure within two minutes to provide a patient restraint surface for performing emergency medical procedures, such as during ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support). It can also be used to transport a patient between the station and the Orbiter middeck. It isolates the crew and equipment electrically during defibrillations and pacing electrical discharges, accommodates the patient in the supine zero-G positions, provides cervical spine stabilization and, for a three-person crew, can also restrain two CMOs during their delivery of medical care.]

Working on the MELFI-2 (Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS-2), Scott removed the failed EU (Electronic Unit) for pre-pack & return to the ground and inserted the spare EU from MELFI-3 instead.

At MELFI-1, Scott removed the failed EU from the MELFI-1 spare location and closed out the empty rack location.

[jacqmans]

@Astro_Paolo and views from space: "It's amazing!"

11 February 2011
Paolo Nespoli, ESA's astronaut working and living on the Space Station, is sharing his experience with the world via a constant flow of beautiful photos and tweets. Let's hear from Paolo what he thinks about the photos, Twitter and being in space.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMH53MTRJG_index_0.html

[stockman]

not sure what we are looking at here.. currently from the ISS channel

[Space Pete]

Kedr to Be Switched on in the ISS on April 12.

Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Kondratiev and Oleg Skripochka won’t launch small spacecraft Kedr during their spacewalk scheduled for Feb.16, Roscosmos Stats Secretary, Deputy Head Vitaly Davydov told news media.
According to him, the idea is to switch on Kedr inside the ISS on April 12, in order to commemorate the jubilee of Yury Gagarin’s mission. Weak batteries of the RF-amateur satellite won’t let it fly and transmit signals until this date, if the satellite is launched on Feb. 16.
Small spacecraft Kedr developed under the RadioSkaf experiment bears the name adopted by Yu.A. Gagarin call sign in his historical flight, namely Kedr. The satellite’s signal will be transmitted at radio amateur frequency of 145.95 MHz. Kedr has radio amateur call sign RS1S.
RadioSkaf is implemented in the framework of UNESCO’s student space education program.

Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=11374&lang=en

[Space Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 14/02/2011.

FE-1 Alexander Kaleri spent several hours readying the Progress M-07M/39P (#407), docked at the SM Aft port, for its undocking on 20/02. Steps included:
• Uninstalling & removing the LKT local temperature sensor commutator
  (TA251MB) of the BITS2-12 onboard measurement telemetry, along
  with its ROM unit (Read Only Memory, TA765B) for re-use.
• Removing & and temporarily stowing the two handles (ruchek, sing.:
  ruchka) from 39P's external hatch surface.
• Installing the docking mechanism (StM, Stykovochnovo mekhanizma)
  between the cargo ship and the SM Aft port.
• Activating the spacecraft's electronics and taking out the
  ventilation/heating air duct.
• Closing the hatches.
• Removing the QD (Quick Disconnect) screw clamps (BZV) of the
  docking & internal transfer mechanism (SSVP) which rigidized the joint.
• Starting the standard one-hour leak checking of the SU docking
  vestibule and fuel/oxidizer transfer line interface between Progress and
  SM Aft.
• Downlinking the formal report on loading completion and the video
  depicting the close-out activities, for review by ground specialists.
  [During hatch closure, leak checking and initial clamp installation,
  Russian thrusters as usual were inhibited due to load constraints (2:25
  PM to 4:15 PM GMT).]

Alexander & FE-4 Dmitri Kondratyev spent ~30 minutes on reviewing an OBT (On Board Training) computer course dealing with ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) rendezvous, docking and undocking, on the Central Post SSC (Station Support Computer). [The material covered the main rendezvous & docking steps and also a "what-if" malfunction table. A 5 minute audio debrief with ground specialist was part of the drill.]

FE-5 Paolo Nespoli & FE-6 Cady Coleman set up and conducted a joint session with the ROBoT and DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) simulators to train themselves for the upcoming HTV (H-II Transfer Vehicle) relocation (18/02) between the Node 2 Nadir and Zenith CBMs (Common Berthing Mechanisms). With CDR Scott Kelly joining in, a debrief tagup with ground specialists was held afterwards, and Cady later re-stowed the video equipment used during ROBoT. [The training involved familiarization with CBM operations and CBM laptop displays, SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) and CBM tasks, first focusing on the operation from Pre-Install to RTL (Ready To Latch), then using DOUG to review the full SSRMS/HTV trajectory. Note: Due to extensive actual maneuver time of the relocation operation between the Nadir and Zenith locations (approx. 4 hours), running the entire trajectory on the ROBoT would have been inefficient. Instead, DOUG animations of the relocation sequence were added into the current Stage ULF-4 DOUG load onboard. ROBoT is the computer-based Robotics On Board Trainer. DOUG is a special application running on the MSS (Mobile Servicing System) RWS (Robotics Work Station) laptops that provides a graphical birdseye-view image of the external station configuration and the SSRMS arm, showing its real-time location and configuration on a laptop during its operation.]

Paolo had ~1 hour 50 minutes for relocating stowage items from Node 2 Forward to clear the forward hatch for STS-133/ULF-5 Shuttle docking. [Relocated items were reported to MCC-H (Mission Control Center-Houston) where the IMS (Inventory Management System) was updated commensurately.]

[John44]

Expedition 26 - In-Flight Interviews - February 15
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6433

[Space Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 15/02/2011.

Sleep cycle shift:
To accommodate tomorrow's early Russian EVA-28 egress (~1:15 PM GMT), crew wake/sleep cycle changes are in effect, featuring today a shortened work day (by 1 hour 10 minutes), tomorrow an extended work day (by 4 hours 10 minutes) and a shortened Thursday (by 4 hours), returning to regular times thereafter.
• Wake – 6:00 AM GMT (this morning, regular).
• Sleep – 8:20 PM GMT (this afternoon).
• Wake – 4:50 PM GMT (late tonight, 15/02).
• Sleep – 12:30 AM GMT (17/02, morning).
• Wake – 10:00 AM GMT (17/02, morning).
• Sleep – 9:30 PM GMT (17/02, regular).

CDR Scott Kelly, FE-1 Alexander Kaleri, FE-2 Oleg Skripochka & FE-4 Dimitri Kondratyev had ~90 minutes for a joint review of the updated timeline (cyclogram) for tomorrow's Orlan EVA-28. [The spacewalk by Kondratyev (EV-1) & Skripochka (EV-2) will begin with DC-1 (Docking Compartment-1) hatch opening at ~1:15 PM GMT and last about 6 hours 3 minutes (i.e., ingress & hatch closure at ~7:18 PM GMT). EVA-28 objectives consist of installation & connection of the Molniya-GAMMA monoblock on the URM-D portable multipurpose work platform on Plane IV of the SM RO (Work Compartment) LD (Large Diameter), installation, connection & deployment of the new RK-21-8 SVCh-Radiometriya experiment system on the URM-D on Plane II of the SM RO LD, removal of two Komplast panels (#2, #10) from the FGB and removal of the Yakor foot restraint (Ferrozond) from its location on the SM RO LD. The earlier planned launching of the Radioskaf-V nanosatellite will not be conducted. One item (Yakor) will be jettisoned; three other items (Molniya MLI and cover) will be brought back inside. There will be three orbital nights during the EVA, plus one each at egress and ingress. No tasks are planned for these night periods; orbital night time is a reserve in case the crew falls behind the timeline.]

Alexander & FE-5 Paolo Nespoli conducted a one-hour OBT (On Board Training) drill rehearsing procedures for various ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) rendezvous and docking malfunctions, in preparation for the arrival of the cargo ship "Johannes Kepler" on 23/02.

Later, Paolo & FE-6 Cady Coleman teamed up for ~3 hours for clearing out Node 1 (Part 1, Deck 2) for PMM (Permanent Multipurpose Module, formerly MPLM Leonardo) berthing after STS-133/ULF-5 arrival on 26/02. Equipment was removed & consolidated as per uplinked instructions. The ground was then to update the IMS (Inventory Management System) accordingly.

[Space Pete]

NASA TV Video: Flight Engineer Cady Coleman Gives Station Tour.

[The-Hammer]

Excellent. I believe this is the first time we've seen inside the "proper" stowage racks. Usually they just point at the rack and say "This is where we store stuff".

[Michael Z Freeman]

Am I in the correct place for Exp. 25 spacewalk coverage for today ?

[Chris Bergin]

NASA TV starting coverage of the Russian EVA.

Pete's article on shortly.

[Chris Bergin]

Am I in the correct place for Exp. 25 spacewalk coverage for today ?

Yes sir

[arkaska]

Cosmonauts to Perform 28th Russian Space Station Spacewalk
 
For the second time in less than a month, two Russian cosmonauts will venture outside the International Space Station on Feb. 16 to install a pair of earthquake and lightning sensing experiments, and to retrieve a pair of spacecraft material evaluation panels.

Expedition 26 Flight Engineers Dmitry Kondratyev and Oleg Skripochka are scheduled to float outside the Pirs airlock at 8:15 a.m. EST Wednesday to begin the five-and-a-half-hour excursion. Both spacewalkers will wear Russian Orlan-MK spacesuits.

On their previous spacewalk, completed Jan. 21, they completed installation of a new high-speed data transmission system, removed an old plasma pulse experiment, installed a camera for the new Rassvet docking module and retrieved a materials exposure package. That spacewalk lasted 5 hours, 23 minutes.

Kondratyev again will be designated as Extravehicular 1 (EV1), with a red stripe on his suit, and Skripochka will be EV2, with a blue stripe on his suit. This time, both cosmonauts will wear NASA-provided helmet lights and wireless television cameras to provide live point-of-view video to Mission Control-Moscow, which will provide ground support for the spacewalk. Mission Control-Houston will monitor the spacewalk as well.

The spacewalk will focus on installation of two scientific experiments outside the Zvezda service module. The first is called Radiometria, and is designed to collect information useful in seismic forecasts and earthquake predictions. Radiometria will be installed on a portable workstation on the port side of the large-diameter section of the Zvezda module. The second is Molniya-Gamma, which will look at gamma splashes and optical radiation during terrestrial lightning and thunderstorm conditions using three sensors. The Molniya-Gamma will be installed on a portable workstation on the starboard side of the Zvezda module.

Kondratyev and Skripochka also will retrieve two Komplast panels from the exterior of the Zarya module. The panels contain materials exposed to space, and are part of a series of international experiments looking for the best materials to use in building long-duration spacecraft. Additionally, they will remove and jettison a space suit foot restraint.

As during the previous spacewalk, Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri will climb into their Soyuz 24 spacecraft, which is docked to the Poisk module on the opposite side of Zvezda from the airlock, and seal the hatches between Zvezda and Poisk. This protects against the unlikely possibility of a sudden station depressurization and also allows for the use of the forward portion of Zvezda as a backup airlock if necessary. Flight Engineers Cady Coleman and Paolo Nespoli will be in the U.S. segment and will have access to their Soyuz 25 spacecraft, which is docked to the Rassvet module adjacent to Pirs on the Zarya control module, therefore they do not need to be sequestered.

With all tasks complete, Kondratyev and Skripochka will re-enter the Pirs airlock and end their spacewalk.

Graphics: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition26/graphics_eva28.html