Last shot at fixing Elektron fails

courtesy www.spaceref.com



ISS On-Orbit Status 5 May 2005 -- All ISS systems continue to function
nominally, except those noted previously or below.

After today's major Elektron repair work, the O2 generator continues to
be off. Presently (~1:00pm EDT) the O2 partial pressure (ppO2) is 157.6
mmHg. Total cabin air pressure is 753 mmHg. [As per plan, the crew worked
for several hours this morning, performing major R&R (removal & replacement)
on the electrolyzer by disconnecting the machine s Liquid Unit #5 (BZh-5)
and installing instead the previously used BZh-6 (which had been checked out
functionally on 4/6 & 4/8 by FE Sharipov and was found accep-table as a good
spare). As part of the work, Krikalev also removed the O2 end-filter (BD,
secondary purify-cation unit) from the BZh5, which is now considered failed
beyond repair , and installed it on the BZh-6, replacing its own BD.
Afterwards, the Elektron was reactivated (~11:56am EDT), running for about 3
minutes before shutting down again. Russian specialists are reviewing the
shutdown signature before deciding on a forward plan. No additional work
will be performed today.]



JimO notes: there are indeed 'deep pockets' of consumable oxygen aboard --
months and months worth, with new Elektron hardware due to be delivered in
June or so (they seem to have located a 'new' Elektron liquid-unit on the
ground), but it's been some time (how long, does anybody know) since
'candles' were activated.