ISS On-Orbit Status, 22-10-2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 22 Oct 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Underway: Week 25 for Expedition 7.

For the current joint ops period the crew day begins at 1:00am EDT (i.e., an
hour earlier than usual), ending with sleep time at 4:30pm.

Handover activities between Exp. 7 and Exp. 8 are going well, and no major
issues are being worked. There were 4 hrs 15 min. allotted on today's
schedule for these activities, being performed by Lu, Malenchenko, Foale and
Kaleri. [The handover (h/o) book includes sections on h/o video recording,
checking emergency response activity readiness, details of TV and other comm
subsystems, radiogram management protocol, maintenance requirements of crew
life support and power systems, Kaleri's personal effects kit, care of
hatches and windows, medical equipment, etc.]

CDR Yuri Malenchenko collected water samples from the SVO-ZV water supply
system in the Service Module (SM) for analysis on the ground. [The samples
were taken from the EDV-ZV container filled earlier from the Progress 12P
Rodnik water tank BV1; they will be returned on Soyuz 7S in an EDP
container.]

Malenchenko collected air samples to test for ammonia (NH3), using the
Russian IPD Draeger tube air sampler.

Sampling of the cabin atmosphere was also performed by VC/FE Pedro Duque
with the SSAS (solid sorbent air sampler).

Ed Lu familiarized Mike Foale with the opening and closing of the MCA's
manual oxygen valve (HV O2), required by the crew in support of
ground-commanded full MCA calibrations. [The activity first opens the MCA's
VGA (verification gas assembly) valve and later in the day closes it again
after MCC-H go-ahead.]

Pedro Duque, assisted by Sasha Kaleri as required, again worked a packed
day's program of Cervantes experiments. [After activating the EGE2 laptop
early in the morning, he set up hardware for NEUROCOG, then did rotations in
fixed and free-float position in "virtual corridors" and turns in zero-G,
assisted and video-taped by Kaleri. Later, Pedro changed out the PromISS-2
videotape at the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) for the second time
(scientists reported seeing "really nice crystals" via the videocam) and
deactivated the NANOSLAB experiment after its 30-hr. run, when it had cooled
down. For MSS-2/MESSAGE, which investigates microbial mobility and genetic
processes in incubated Ralstonia metallidurans and Rhodosprillum rubrum
bacteria cultures in zero-G, Duque installed the third sample (of four).]

Duque and Kaleri continued taking stereoscopic (3D) photo and regular
video/photo imagery of onboard activities for documentary and PAO use on
Earth. Sasha later again had ten minutes set aside for recharging the DVCAM
camcorder battery.

FE/SO Ed Lu terminated the 24hr. charging process on EMU batteries #2032 &
#2033 in the Airlock's BSA (battery stowage assembly). Next step in the
regular maintenance cycle will be their discharge. [The periodic
charge/discharge cycle is a maintenance feature to restore the batteries'
capacity, prolonging their useful life.]

Yuri Malenchenko conducted another 55-min. training session in the "Chibis"
ODNT suit as part of his preparations for returning into gravity. Ed Lu
provided assistance. [The below-the-waist reduced-pressure device ODNT (US:
LBNP) provides gravity-simulating stress to the body's
cardiovascular/circulatory system for reestablishing the body's orthostatic
tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry reflex) after the six-month stay in zero-G.
Yuri's ODNT protocol today consisted of first imbibing 150-200 milliliters
of water or juice, followed by a sequence of progressive regimes of reduced
("negative") pressure, set at -20, -30, -35, and -40 mmHg for five minutes
each while shifting from foot to foot at 10-12 steps per minute. The body's
circulatory system interprets the pressure differential between upper and
lower body as a gravity-like force pulling the blood (and other liquids)
down.]

The four crewmembers of Expedition 7 & 8 conducted their physical exercise
on TVIS treadmill, RED exerciser and CEVIS cycle ergometer.

In preparation for tomorrow's scheduled MSS (Mobile Service System) handover
operations, Ed Lu and Mike Foale went through a one-hour review of the DOUG
(dynamic operations ubiquitous graphics) application, which is used during
Robotics/SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) operations. [DOUG
is a periodically updated software program on the MSS (mobile service
system) laptops that provides a birdseye-view graphical image of the
external station configuration and the SSRMS arm, showing its real-time
location and configuration on a laptop during its operation.]

Mike conducted the routine technical maintenance of the SM's SOZh
environment control & life support system, while Sasha prepared the daily
IMS "delta" file for automatic export/import to update the database. Ed Lu
meanwhile performed the regular routine status checkup of the autonomous Lab
payloads.

Pedro Duque had about half an hour set aside to work through and answer his
email from "down home".

CDR Yuri Malenchenko set up the equipment for the Russian MBI-2 Deuraz
("Diuresis") experiment, to be conducted by him tomorrow and on Friday.
[Deuraz requires Yuri tomorrow to record toilet use time in the morning,
perform urine sample collections throughout the day, and log meal and fluid
intake on a record card. Additional work, to be completed on Friday,
consists of collecting his venous blood samples, followed by centrifugation
to separate the blood into cells and plasma, and finally closeout and
stowage.]

Handover activities today included familiarization with the GPS (global
positioning system) receiver and Inmarsat/Iridium satellite phone for use by
the 6S crew in case of a contingency reentry and landing. [Kaleri inserted
batteries into the GPS receiver, turned it on and familiarized Malenchenko
with its operation, also reporting to the ground on its functionality. The
Motorola-9505 unit was unstowed, and one antenna was extended. Kaleri
demonstrated its use, but the unit was not turned on and its lithium-ion
battery was not installed. The kit was then stowed back in the Soyuz-212
descent module.]

At 8:45am EDT, both crews participated in an interactive TV PAO interview
with Russian media at RTR-TV in Moscow. Sasha Kaleri and Mike Foale also
downlinked cordial greetings to the staff of the Keldysh Research Center in
Moscow, a "cradle of the national rocket technology, from artillery to
intercontinental and space" (script). [Keldysh, named after renowned
Russian space scientist Mstislav V. Keldysh (1911-1978), is celebrating its
70th Anniversary, with a gala night planned for 10/31 in the large
Akademichesky Concert Hall. The Center was established on 21 Sept. 1933 as
Jet Science & Research Institute (RNII) within the People's Commissariat for
Military and Naval Issues (NKVM). RNII was formed from the Moscow Group for
Studies of Jet Propulsion (MosGIRD) and Leningrad-based Gas Dynamic
Laboratory (GDL).]

Later, at 10:25 am, Mike Foale, Yuri Malenchenko and Ed Lu supported two TV
interview downlinks, one with CNN (Miles O'Brien), the other with CBS (Bill
Harwood)

HRF computer: Mike Foale's attempt to install a new HDD (hard disk drive)
in the HRF (Human Research Facility) laptop for automatic loading of the
computer with Increment 8 integrated software failed for as-yet-unexplained
reasons. The decision was made to go back to the old HDD for the time
being, to permit payload data collection during the joint ops period.
Troubleshooting will follow when more time is available.

SSAS downmass priority: The return of the SSAS (Solid Sorbent Air Sampler)
on 6S has been given top priority among U.S. return items. But whether the
sizable unit can be fitted in the Soyuz descent module remains undecided
until end of 6S stowage operations on Monday morning (10/27). In case SSAS
cannot be accommodated, MCC-H/Toxicology Group has requested that two
additional samples be taken with GSCs (grab sample containers) as backup,
one each in Lab and SM, to be returned on 6S regardless of whether the SSAS
makes it or not. [The mandatory need for the air samples stems from the
current measurement uncertainties hampering U.S. and Russian cabin air
monitoring, usually provided by MCA (major constituents analyzer), CPA-CP
(compound specific analyzer-combustion products) and CDMK (carbon dioxide
monitoring kit) in the U.S. segment (USOS), and the IK0501 gas analyzer in
the Russian segment (RS). Ground analysis of the air samples will provide
engineers with a calibration basis for the instruments.]

BMI Payload: ESA is currently investigating the failure of Pedro Duque's
BMI blood pressure and data collection experiment, which unexpectedly lost
its pressure measurement and recording instrument. NASA has offered use of
equivalent U.S. blood pressure measuring equipment if the BMI instrument
cannot be recovered in time. The BMI failure also impacts the CARDIOCOG
experiment, which was to use BMI's blood pressure measurements. [The BMI
cuff is worn on the arm not used for blood draws; Pedro's blood pressure
measurements were to be taken every 15 min. throughout the day and every 30
min. during the night. The task also involves filling out logbook
questionnaires for each data take period. ]

Soyuz-TMA-3/7S CRV (crew return vehicle): The small leak in the helium (He)
pressurization system of the KDU Integrated Propulsion System's #2 manifold
remains isolated. Pressure values in the He and propellant tanks continue
to be stable. He pressurization line pressure also remains unchanged at
9.8-10 bars. [A typographical error was discovered in the applicable
NASA-JSC Flight Rule, which in the present situation would make the
difference between manning and demanning the station: FR D2-402 calls for
"early descent preparations and an early descent" of the Soyuz in case of an
"isolatable helium pressurization gas leak". Formal procedures have been
initiated to change the erroneous "isolatable" to "non isolatable".]

Stowage consolidation: A major Expedition 8 crew task in the new Increment
ahead will be stowage consolidation in the ISS modules, in order to clear
access to the panel fire ports as much as possible. This task is expected
to require ~40 crew-hours, to be scheduled on an already cramped timeline.
Since Moscow may decide to slip the planned Orlan spacesuit demo (suited
ingress in Soyuz from the DC-1) by a few weeks, some 9 hrs. may become
available for the stowage consolidation efforts.

SM TsVM Central Computer: Lane 3 (of three subsets) was dropped off-line
early this morning when it was voted off by the two remaining subsets.
Under assessments by RSC-Energia specialists. [If all three TsVM computer
lanes should go down, there would be a temporary loss of comm (~2 min.)
between RSA and USOS systems until the processors are automatically
restarted/reintegrated.]

No CEO (crew earth observations) during the joint ops phase.

Upcoming Soyuz-212 Events:

6S hatch closu 10/27 (Monday), 3:10pm Eastern.
6S undocking: 6:20pm Eastern, 2:20am (10/28) Moscow;
6S landing: 10/27 (Monday), 9:36pm Eastern, 5:36am (10/28) Moscow.

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:41pm EDT).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered On, 32A. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (in
Manual Mode 5/3). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Operating. TCCS (trace
contaminant control subsystem) is operating. MCA (major constituents
analyzer) is off (in Life Extending Mode). BMP Harmful Impurities unit:
absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode. RS air conditioner
SKV-1 is On; SKV-2 is Off.


SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --
27.2; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 160.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 2.4.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 765; temperature (deg C) --
21.1.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 772; temperature (deg C) -- 22.0.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 760.43; temperature (deg C) -- 22.4 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 762.80; temperature (deg C) -- 25.0; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 762.90; temperature (deg
C) -- 23.9; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.1, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) -- n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 22.4
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 16.4.

(n/a = data not available)

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B
both in Directed Position (non-suntracking).
SM batteries: Battery #8, formerly known as #7, is off, still in slot #8;
all other batteries (7) are in "Partial Charge" mode (batteries #1 and #3
are degraded).
FGB batteries: Batteries #1 & #2 are off; all other batteries (5) are in
"Partial Charge" mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 in Standby mode.

Command & Data Handling Systems:

C&C-2 MDM is prime, C&C-1 is back-up, and C&C-3 is in standby.
GNC-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup.
INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.
EXT-2 is On (primary), EXT-1 is Off (both now upgraded to R3).
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 #2
dropped out 9/26.
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational; string #3
dropped out 10/22.

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available: 3891 kg (8578 lb) as of 10/16 [SM(755) +
FGB(2784) + Progress M(352) + Progress M-1(0)]. (Capability: SM -- 860 kg;
FGB -- 6120 kg).

Attitude Control Systems:

3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).
State vector source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Attitude source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Angular rate source -- RGA-1

Flight Attitude:

LVLH YVV (y-axis in velocity vector, i.e. flying "sidewise") [yaw: -90 deg,
pitch: -8.9 deg., roll: 1.8 deg]), with CMG Momentum Management.

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.
Audio subsystem is operating nominally (IAC-2 is prime, IAC-1 is suspect).
Video subsystem operating nominally.
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:

SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF #2/LEE A, with Keep Alive (KA) power on
both strings.
MBS: KA 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, 7:14am EDT [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 379.9 km
Apogee -- 384.3 km
Perigee -- 375.4 km
Period -- 92.1 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0006571
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.63
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 160 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 28089
For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html



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

Jacques :-)

Editor: www.spacepatches.info