ISS On-Orbit Status, 09-07-2004

ISS On-Orbit Status 9 July 2004

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

Before breakfast and exercise, the crew completed the blood analysis part of
the current IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status)
assessment, taking turns at assisting as CMO (Crew Medical Officer) and then
at being the examined subject, using the U.S. PCBA (portable clinical blood
analyzer). Clinical evaluation of the PHS protocol followed later. Third
part of the PHS, subjective evaluation by each crewmember, was performed
later in the day. Afterwards, Mike Fincke completed IFEP data entry for
both of them and stowed the hardware. [The PHS exam, with PCBA analysis
and clinical evaluation, is guided by special software (IFEP, in-flight
examination program) on the medical equipment computer (MEC). While PCBA
analyzes total blood composition, the blood's red blood cell content
(hematocrit) is measured by the complementary Russian MO-10 protocol.]

Fincke and Padalka, in turn, completed the mandatory 30-min. CBT
(computer-based training with video and audio) to refresh their CMO
proficiency/rating. [To maintain proficiency in using HMS (health
maintenance systems) hardware including ACLS (advanced cardiac life support)
in contingency situations where crew life is at risk, these training
sessions are performed once a month to review equipment and procedures via
CBT. Besides ACLS, procedures include airway obstruction management, i.e.,
review of suction device, nasal airway, intubating laryngeal mask airway
(ILMA) with endotracheal tube, and cricothyrotomy (incision to re-enable
breathing air inflow).]

The crew also completed their first 30-min. fire drill/OBT (on-board
training), a mandatory periodic requirement specifically written for the
current two-person crew. Today's training consisted of a tabletop review of
a specific Lab fire case, supported by tagup with emergency response
specialists at MCC-H via S-band. [The fire case reviewed today was a modif
ication and continuation of the false fire event that occurred early in the
morning on 5/18/04.]

The Science Officer terminated the recharge of the MedOps defibrillator
equipment's first battery, begun yesterday, and then started the procedure
on battery #2. Later in the day, he terminated the charging and measured
the battery voltage with the Scopemeter.

Mike also floated into the U.S. Airlock (A/L) for the periodic inspection of
its single lighting unit's ELPS (emergency lighting power supply).

Foreshadowing the trash packing for Progress 14P, Gennady tagged up with IMS
(inventory management system) specialists at TsUP/Moscow to discuss his
upcoming inventory audit of Russian health maintenance system items (SGO),
used medical support items (clothes, underwear, countermeasure gear) and
sanitary-hygiene equipment (SLG) with expired shelf life. [In Stage 1 of
the inventory, Padalka will open stowage panels, check clothes and hygiene
items against an uplinked list and stow found clothes and SLGs in bags for
disposal. Stage 2, the remaining portion of the clean-up work, will be
performed in September.]

In preparation for Fluid Merging Viscosity Measurement (FMVM) payload
activities on Monday (7/12), Mike discussed the experiment with its
Principal Investigator (PI) and team members in a 15-min. teleconference.
He then set up the MWA (Maintenance Work Area) containment system in the
Lab, a portable workbench with a tabletop that measures 36 by 25 inches.
[Understanding the viscosity of molten materials is important for everything
from designing laboratory experiments to industrial production of materials.
One way to determine viscosity is to measure how long it takes two spheres
of liquid to merge into a single spherical drop: on contact a neck will from
between the two drops, increasing in thickness until the two drops become
one single sphere. On Earth, gravity distorts liquid spheres, and drops are
too heavy to be supported by strings. Drop distortion should not occur in
the ISS's microgravity environment, and the drops can be held on strings.
To verify this technique as an accurate viscosity measurement method, the
FMVM experiment uses fluids with known viscosities: honey, corn syrup,
glycerin and silicone oil. Several runs will be conducted -- some with
equal diameter drops and others with different size drops. The crewmember
releases two drops from a syringe onto strings and records digital images of
the drops as they coalesce to form one drop. The initial diameters of the
drops will be measured.]

Padalka tagged up with the PI and Co-Investigator of the ADUM (Advanced
Diagnostic Ultrasound in Micro-G) experiment for an analysis and discussion
of yesterday's "Scan B" abdominal scanning session on Mike Fincke and the
"Scan Z" bone scans taken the day before.

The crew conducted the periodic inspection of station bacterial filters and
smoke detectors in the A/L, Lab and Node. [There are one bacterial filter
and smoke detector (SD) in the A/L, plus two SDs and one filter each in the
Node and Lab.]

Gennady conducted the periodic (monthly) functional closure test of the
Vozdukh CO2 removal system's emergency vacuum valves (AVK, last time done:
6/28). [The AVKs are critical because they close the Vozdukh's vacuum
access lines in the event of a malfunction in the regular vacuum valves
(BVK) or a depressurization in the Vozdukh valve panel (BOA). Access to
vacuum is required to vent carbon dioxide (CO2) during the regeneration of
the absorbent cartridges (PP). During nominal operation, the AVK valves
remain open.]

The FE/SO performed the regular once-a-week maintenance reboot on the
operational PCS (portable computer system) laptops and the restart of the
OCA comm router laptop (every two weeks). [The PCS in the Service Module
(SM) suffered a hard drive failure early yesterday, and for ~15 min. the
station had only one PCS laptop operational, until the crew had swapped out
the failed drive with a spare to restore Flight Rule requirement.]

Fincke activated the EXPRESS rack 2 (ER2) laptop after connecting it with a
cable obtained in the morning from ER3. ER2 will be active overnight and
powered down again tomorrow.

Gennady completed the routine maintenance of the SM's SOZh environment
control & life support system and prepared the regular IMS "delta" file for
IMS database update, while Mike conducted the regular routine status checkup
of autonomous Lab payloads.

Padalka also completed the periodic replenishing of the Elektron's water
supply for electrolysis, filling the KOV thermal loops' EDV container with
purified (deionized) water from the BKO multifiltration/purification column
unit. (Last time done: 7/2) [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 EDV water is drawn from the BKO and
the air/liquid separator unit (GZhS) while the crewmember checks for any air
bubbles in the EDV (and, if visible, estimates their number).]

Mike Fincke had his weekly PFC (private family conference) via Ku-band/video
and S-band/audio.

At about 3:10pm EDT, the crew will conduct their weekly teleconference with
the ISS Flight Director at MCC-H.

Gennady and Mike completed their full daily physical exercise program on
TVIS treadmill, RED resistive expander and VELO bike with force loader.

Yesterday morning, smoke detector #10 in the FGB went off twice, with
warning light and tone triggered. U.S. segment auto isolation response was
executed. Crew and telemetry confirmed that both events were false alarms,
and all systems were restored by the ground.

Starting at 5:00am EDT this morning and running for seven hours, MCC-H and
its support group in Moscow (HSG) conducted another BCC (backup control
center) dry run in test mode, with no involvement of the ISS crew or
vehicle. Purpose of the periodic exercise is to demonstrate BCC
functionality and provide proficiency training for HSG (Houston Support
Group) personnel at the TsUP/Moscow HSR (Houston Support Room).

Update on EMU troubleshooting: The testing on 7/8 confirmed that the pumps
in both spacesuits (3013 & 3005) are seized. There is verbal agreement from
the Russian side to fly EMU hardware on next month's Progress 15P mission.
An R&R of EMU pumps or pump assemblies has never been attempted in space.
Ground specialists are drafting a plan for further testing required to
understand the rest of the "fault tree legs".

Update on Lab science window: A detailed ULD (ultrasound leak detection)
inspection of the Lab nadir window has now been added to the crew's "job
jar" task list. The inspection will verify and further characterize minute
leak points discovered around the window frame on 4/23. [The procedure
will verify old leak points and mark new leaks (if any). Additionally, the
task will determine which interface these leaks are across, i.e., either
from the redundant pressure pane frame to the hull (leak out to space) or
from the primary pressure pane frame to the redundant pressure pane frame
(leak into "Volume D" interpane space.)]

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 Internal
waves, Patagonian Shelf (this may have been the crew's best pass of several
today over this target area. Clouds were expected to remain 50-60 miles
offshore with good glint over the continental shelf from San Jorge Gulf to
Blanca Bay), and Internal waves, Tuamotu Archipelago (this was the best pass
of two over this target region today. Looking left of track for glint and
internal waves among the islands and atolls of the Austral Tuamotu
Archipelago.)

CEO images can be viewed at these websites:


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

See also the website "Space Station Challenge" at:


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

To view the latest photos taken by the expedition 9 crew visit:


http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/.../ndxpage1.html at
NASA's Human Spaceflight website.


U.S. & Russian Segment Status (as of today, 12:56pm EDT)

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

Elektron O2 generator is On (16A, =lowest setting). 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 still
considered failed). SFOG slot #2 fan suspect (not usable).


SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- n/a; temperature (deg C) --
25.9; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 172.7; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 3.7.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --
20.4.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 756; temperature (deg C) -- 21.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752.2; temperature (deg C) -- 22.5 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 753.7; temperature (deg C) -- 24.7; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 753.9; temperature (deg
C) -- 25.9; 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: Battery #6 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (7) are on
line in "Partial Charge" mode. FGB batteries: Battery #4 is off line;
battery #3 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (4) 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): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
FGB MDM-1 is Off (failed, 11/21/03); MDM-2 is Operational.

Propulsion System:

Total propellant load available: 3928 kg (8660 lb) as of 7/1/04; [SM(552) +
FGB(2772) + Progress M(639)]. (Capabilities: SM -- 860 kg; FGB -- 6120 kg).

Attitude Control Systems:

3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02; CMG-2's RPC-17 failed 4/21/04;
was replaced 6/30/04).
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:

SRMS/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, 6:48am EDT [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 359.9 km
Apogee height -- 364.0 km
Perigee height -- 355.9 km
Period -- 91.7 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.6304 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0005977
Solar Beta Angle -- 69.7 deg
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.70
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 28 m (!)
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 32181


For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times,
see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html. In addition,
information on International Space Station sighting opportunities can be
found at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ on NASA's Human
Spaceflight website. The current location of the International Space Station
can be found at http://science.nasa.gov/temp/StationLoc.html at NASA's
Marshall Space Flight Center.




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

Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info