ISS On-Orbit Status, 02-07-2004

ISS On-Orbit Status 2 July 2004

All ISS systems continue to function nominally except those noted previously
or below.

Update on CMG-2: Functionality restored. The wheel is spinning at 6600
rpm, its nominal state. The previously reported CMG spin motor disconnect
test (for drag torque determination) was performed OK; data are being
analyzed. The gimbal bias test was also performed, and at about 7:20am EDT
this morning the gyro was successfully introduced mathematically and
electronically into the steering law. ISS attitude is again being
controlled by three functioning CMGs.

With a wakeup time of 3:30am EDT, the crew's wake/sleep cycle has shifted
almost back to nominal schedule. Sleep begins tonight is at the regular
5:30pm and lasts through 2:00am tomorrow, i.e., bringing things back to
normal.

The crew worked post-EVA tasks on their Orlan-M spacesuits, refilling the
cooling water bladders and removing the BK-3 oxygen (O2) tanks from the
backpacks and the batteries from the BRTA radio telemetry units.

FE/SO Mike Fincke had an additional hour for transferring the U.S. EVA tools
back to the U.S. segment (USOS) for stowage.

CDR Gennady Padalka then set up each of the spacesuits for drying, in turn.
Afterwards, the Orlans and their BSS interface control units were returned
to their DC1 storage.

At 6:25am, the crew debriefed with ground specialists on Wednesday's highly
successful EVA-9B. For the debriefing plus subsequent response via email, a
list of specific post-EVA debrief questions was uplinked. [The questions
concerned EVA Ops ("Do you have any comments on the U.S. safety tether
config on the Orlan?"; "Explain the trouble you had getting the RPCM out of
202B_D."), EVA Task Training ("Was the timing of the materials uplinking
spaced about right, too far apart, or too much at one time?"), EVA Tools
("Do you have any suggestions on a better method of packing the ORU bag?"),
EVA Systems ("Did you find the EMU helmet lights helpful?"), and EVA
Communications ("Was the comm quality better or worse over Russian ground
sites?").]

Padalka set up and configured equipment for another scheduled checkout of
the Russian ASN-M satellite navigation system, today focusing on a test of
its NPM receiver module, using the ASN-2401 antenna system and Laptop 3.
Testing will continue during crew sleep tonight, requiring attitude control
handover from USOS to RS motion control at 9:15pm and back to USOS at
12:00am. [Purpose of the experiment is to test the NPM's performance under
real flight conditions, including assessment of the precision of the
acquired state vector (SV), verification of module functionality, and
evaluation of transient errors in flight conditions as well as the effects
from signals reflected off ISS structural elements. When functioning, the
ASN will use GLONASS satellites (the Russian GPS equivalent) to update the
SV without using the ground (which up to now has to uplink daily SV updates)
or requiring SV transfers from the USOS from time to time. The ASN
equipment was originally installed in the SM but was found faulty and had to
be returned to the ground. After repair it was shipped again to the station
on Progress 11P and re-installed by Yuri Malenchenko on 7/8/03, followed by
various troubleshooting attempts en suite.]

Mike Fincke conducted the monthly PEP (portable emergency provisions) audit
and inspection. [The procedure involves verification that PFEs (portable
fire extinguishers), PBAs (portable breathing assemblies), QDMAs (quick-don
mask assemblies) and EHTKs (extension hose/tee kits) are free of damage to
ensure their functionality, and to track shelf life/life cycles on the
hardware. PEPs are not removed from their locker unless obvious damage is
discovered during the inspection. There are a total of 5 PBAs in the U.S.
segment (USOS), viz., two in the Node, two in the Lab, and one in the
Airlock.]

The CDR completed another periodic replenishing of the Elektron's water
supply for electrolysis, filling the KOV thermal loops' EDV container with
water, today from the SM's Rodnik BV1 storage tank. (Last time done: 6/26)
[[The procedure is specifically designed to prevent air bubbles from getting
into the BZh liquid unit where they could cause micropump impeller
cavitation and Elektron shutdown, as in the past on numerous times. In the
procedure, the purified (deionized) EDV water is usually drawn from the BKO
multifiltration/purification column unit and the air/liquid separator unit
(GZhS) while the crewmember checks for air bubbles in the EDV (and, if
visible, estimates their number).]]

At ~7:15am, the U.S. MCA (major constituents analyzer) with its heater were
activated by ground command for another "zero" calibration run performed
several hours later (2:10pm) in order to ensure valid readings. The MCA was
subsequently returned to LEM (life extending mode) to conserve the life of
the ion pump of the mass spectrometer's vacuum chamber.

With MCA measurements as reference, Gennady took data readings with CSA-CPs
(compound specific analyzer-combustion products) #1015 & #1016 for
verification of the instruments, which were then calibrated by being
"rezeroed". [#1015 is designated prime, #1016 backup. The old #1010 has
been stowed for return to Houston.]

The crew performed the full regimen of physical exercise on RED (resistive
exercise device), TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation & stabilization)
and VELO ergometer.

Fincke also performed the routine maintenance/inspection of the RED as well
as the monthly tightening of the RED's bolts. [Mike was provided with
instructions on loosening and lubricating the lock nuts that he previously
reported as tight, in order to put them back at the proper tension to reduce
the risk of future galling.]

Gennady conducted the routine maintenance of the SM's life support system
(SOZh), today including the regular weekly checkup on the BRPK
air/condensate water separator system, while Mike performed the regular
routine status checkup of autonomous Lab payloads, currently consisting of
PCG-STES010 (Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System
#10).

Another operational session of the highly successful EarthKAM experiments
with middle schools is planned for the week of 7/12. Since the Lab science
window is not available, the plan is to set it up in the Node. [Mike
Fincke was asked to provide his input and consider moving stowage equipment,
if any, out of the way of the window.] Editor's note: If you are reading
this status report on sci.space.news - Jacques van Oene takes the text from
SpaceRef.com - but does not credit his original source.

Yesterday, specialists at MCC-Houston received failure indications for GPS-2
(Global Positioning System #2) on the ISS. A ground commanded power-cycle
(off/on) recovered the navigation system. Good state vectors have been
obtained from the system, and engineers waited for completion of
initialization before also receiving good attitude data.

Today's CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets, in the current LVLH
attitude no longer limited by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab
nadir/science window, except for the shutter closure and
condensation-prevention plan (limited to 90 min. in 24 hours), were Kure
reef, Hawaiian Island chain (nadir pass. Kure Atoll lies at the extreme NW
end of the Hawaiian archipelago (55 miles west-northwest of Midway Atoll).
It is the northern-most coral atoll in the world. Kure Atoll encloses an
oval-shaped lagoon 6 miles in diameter. Green Island is the only permanent
island in the atoll), Midway Island reefs, Hawaiian Island chain (with a
land area about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, D.C., this
atoll is a circular reef about 6 miles across, with two small islands), and
Wake Island reefs, NW Pacific (with a land area about eleven times the size
of The Mall in Washington, D.C., this atoll has a long dimension of 4.5
miles with three small islands surrounded by a coral reef. The airfield is
active and has 700 landings per year. Runways would allow a resolution test
of 400- or 800-mm lens images. This was a nadir pass).

CEO images can be viewed at the websites.


http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

See also the website "Space Station Challenge" at


http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/

U.S. & Russian Segment Status (as of today, 1:45pm EDT)

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):

Elektron O2 generator is On. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On. U.S. CDRA CO2
scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating.
SM Gas Analyzer has been calibrated and is used for ppO2 & ppCO2 monitoring.
MCA (major constituents analyzer) is in Life Extending Mode (LEM). BMP
Harmful Impurities unit: absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify
mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is Off, SKV-2 is Off (SM panel mods
completed 4/8; SKV-2 activation failed 4/20; is now functioning again).
SFOG slot #2 fan suspect (not usable).


SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --
25.7; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 159.4; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 3.9.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --
20.2.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 750; temperature (deg C) -- 21.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752.7; temperature (deg C) -- 22.1 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 755.1; temperature (deg C) -- 24.7; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 755.2; temperature (deg
C) -- 22.6; shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) -- n/a.


(n/a = data not available)


PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a.


Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B
both in directed position (dual angle/"blind" mode, non solar-tracking,
biased for drag reduction).
SM batteries: All batteries (8) are on line in "Partial Charge" mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #5 is off line; all other batteries (5) are on line
in "Partial Charge" mode.


Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is in Standby mode; PCU-2 is in Standby mode.

Command & Data Handling Systems:

C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is backup, and C&C-3 is in standby.
GNC-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is backup.
INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.
EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is Off (backup).
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-1 MDM is Off; PL-2 MDM is Operational.
APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string 1
dropped out 11/22/03).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string #3
dropped out 10/22/03).
FGB MDM-1 is Off (failed, 11/21/03); MDM-2 is Operational.

Propulsion System:

Total propellant load available: 3963 kg (8737 lb) as of 6/24/04; [SM(552)
+ FGB(2772) + Progress M(639)]. (Capabilities: SM -- 860 kg; FGB -- 6120
kg).

Attitude Control Systems:

2 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02; CMG-2's RPC-17 failed 4/21/04).
State vector source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Attitude source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Angular rate source -- RGA-1

Flight Attitude:

LVLH XVV (local vertical/local horizontal = "earth-fixed": z-axis in local
vertical, x-axis in velocity vector [yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -9 deg, roll: 0
deg]), with CMG/TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management, until 6/28,
following the EVA.

Communications & Tracking Systems:

FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.
All other Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.
S-band is operating nominally (on string 2).
Ku-band is operating nominally (may require a mask).
Audio subsystem is operating nominally (IAC-1 is prime, IAC-2 is off).
Video subsystem operating nominally.
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:

SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at Lab PDGF/LEE A, operational on redundant string,
off on prime.
MBS: KA (keep alive) power on both strings.
MT: latched and mated at WS4.
POA: KA power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is On (DCP connected); Cupola RWS is
Off.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:54am EDT [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 360.2 km
Apogee -- 363.9 km
Perigee -- 356.5 km
Period -- 91.7 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.6316 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0005484
Solar Beta Angle -- 39.2 deg
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.69
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 100 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 32071

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times,
see

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html



--
---------------------------

Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info