ISS On-Orbit Status, 08-07-2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 8 Jul 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Day 75 in space for the crew.

Using the MO-21 "Ecosfera" air sampler and incubation equipment, broken out
and set up yesterday, CDR Malenchenko spent about 40 minutes collecting air
samples for atmospheric microbial analysis. [MO-21 determines microbial
contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and
fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according to morphologic
criteria of microorganism colonies.]

Malenchenko then worked on restoring the Russian laptop 1 to functionality
by first creating a boot-up floppy disk (for Norton Ghost 5.1D) on Russian
laptop 2. Later, he activated laptop 1, installed a software patch and
"cloned" a new HDD (hard disk drive) on the machine from the Norton Ghost
5.1D disk obtained from laptop 2.

FE/SO Ed Lu meanwhile spent time in the U.S. segment (USOS) with the regular
periodic inspection of smoke detectors in the Lab module, Airlock (A/L) and
Node "Unity", as well as of the A/L's microbial filter.

Yuri Malenchenko completed the scheduled installation of new satellite
navigation equipment (ASN), delivered on Progress 11P, in the Service Module
(SM). [The ASN was connected to the onboard computer system's laptop 3,
configured for the subsequent test. After he had mated BITS2-12 onboard
measurement telemetry system connectors to the ASN, a raw data transfer test
to laptop 3 was to be conducted from TsUP by remote control.]

The CDR attended to the routine maintenance of SOZh life support systems,
while Ed Lu prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) "delta"
file for updating the IMS database and completed the regular daily status
checkup of the autonomous Lab payloads..

Ed also attended to the weekly transfer of accumulated data files with
workout data from the TVIS and RED exercise equipment to the MEC via PCMCIA
cards (personal computer memory card international association) for
subsequent downlink to Earth.

At 5:45am EDT, both crewmembers participated in an interactive televised
PAO/educational event sponsored by NASDA, with Japanese middle school
students gathered at the Tokyo FM Radio station banquet hall (Ku- & S-band).
Former NASDA Astronaut Mamoru Mohri attended.

Both crewmembers completed their daily physical exercise program (2.5 hrs.)
on TVIS treadmill, CEVIS cycle ergometer, and RED anaerobic exerciser.

The Science Officer changed lenses of the EarthKAM (EK) camera at the Lab
nadir window from 50mm to 180mm. EK team reported an excellent startup
yesterday, and the on-board system is working well. [Attending today's and
tomorrow's National Geographic Society-sponsored sessions are 25 students,
ranging from 5 th grade to college sophomores. Commented one of their
teachers: "I can't think of another program that interests and excites
students to the point that they are willing to come in during vacation (some
home from college), to work during a mission." EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge
Acquired by Middle school students) employs an ESC 460C electronic still
camera mounted at the Lab's down-facing window, normally equipped with a
50mm lens (f1.4). Powered by 16Vdc from a 120 Vdc adapter, EarthKAM takes
pictures by remote operation from the ground, without crew interaction. It
is available for Middle School-ers, who submit image requests and conduct
geographic research. The requests are uplinked in a camera control file to
an SSC (station support computer) laptop which then activates the camera at
specified times and receives the digital images from the camera's storage
card on its hard drive, for subsequent downlink via OpsLAN.]

The Kodak 760 ECS (electronic still camera) used by Ed Lu to photograph
stunning aurora images has shown some noise, due to "pixelation" or "hot
pixels" not properly removed or blended into the image by the automatic
camera procedure. The most probable cause is excessive radiation as ISS
passed through the aurora. All noise will be removed from the photos by
ground processing.

Today's CEO targets, no longer limited in the current LVLH attitude and
including the targets of the Lewis & Clark 200-year memorial locations, were
Baghdad, Iraq (nadir pass), Phoenix, AZ (NIGHT TARGET: nadir pass), Lisbon,
Portugal (nadir pass), Pomeroy, Washington (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Nadir
pass--looking on the south side of the Snake River [within the second bend
of the river upstream of its confluence with the Columbia River]), Lemhi
Pass, Mont/Idaho (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Nadir pass--shooting mountain range
crests [dark forest green, as opposed to lighter, browner river valleys] and
the crew should have gotten this now-unused pass over the continental
divide. The explorers crossed here into Idaho on August 12, 1805. Lemhi
Pass was abandoned for the westward migrations since other lower passes
exist), Denver, Colorado (nadir pass), and Los Angeles, California (nadir
and a touch left).
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. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:30pm EST).

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is powered On (16 amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is
On (in Manual Mode 5/3). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace
contaminant control subsystem) is operating. MCA (major constituents
analyzer) is operating. BMP Harmful Impurities unit: absorbent bed #1 in
Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode (unit is off). RS air conditioner SKV-1
is Off; SKV-2 is Off.

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --
27.5; ppO2 (mmHg) -- data invalid ; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- data invalid .
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --
20.4.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) -- n/a.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 741.34; temperature (deg C) -- 23.0 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.40; temperature (deg C) -- n/a; ppO2
(mmHg) -- 169.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 3.8.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.50; temperature (deg
C) -- n/a; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 22.3, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) -- n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 23.9
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 20.2.
(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):
Total propellant load available: 3803 kg (8384 lb) as of 6/26 [SM(774) +
FGB(2447) + Progress M(182) +Progress M-1(400)]. (Capability: SM -- 860 kg;
FGB -- 6120 kg).

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B
both in directed position (Blind/triple-angle mode, non solar-tracking, drag
reduction)..
SM batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected (failed 6/16); batteries #2, 6 and
8 are in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (4) are in "Partial Charge" mode.
Batteries #1, #2 and #3 showing degraded capacity.
FGB batteries: Battery #3 is offline; battery #1 is in "Cycle" mode; all
other batteries (4) are in "Partial Charge" mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 in Standby mode.

Command & Data Handling Systems:
C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-3 is in standby.
GNC-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup.
INT-1 is operating; INT-2 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-2 MDM is Off; PL-1 MDM is Operational.
APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.

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 (local vertical/local horizontal = "earth-fixed": z-axis in local
vertical, -y-axis in velocity vector [yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -9.3 deg, roll: 0
deg]), with CMG/TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management.
Solar Beta angle: 24.6 deg (magnitude increasing).

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-1 (internal audio controller #1)
being analyzed after self-test error. IAC-2 is prime.]
Video subsystem operating nominally.
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:
SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF #1 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, 8:06am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude -- 386.9 km
Apogee -- 392.3 km
Perigee -- 381.4 km
Period -- 92.29 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0008085
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.60
Solar Beta Angle -- 24.6 deg (magnitude increasing)
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 75 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 26433
For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html





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Jacques :-)

Editor: www.spacepatches.info

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