ISS On-Orbit Status, 13-01-2004

ISS On-Orbit Status 13 Jan 2004

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

FE Alexander Kaleri had his first orthostatic endurance assessment session
with the Russian Chibis suit, conducting the MedOps MO-4 exercise protocol
in the below-the-waist reduced-pressure device (ODNT, US: LBNP). CDR Foale
assisted his flight engineer as CMO, and the one-hour session was supported
by tagup with a ground specialist via VHF. [The Chibis provided
gravity-simulating stress to the body's cardiovascular/circulatory system
for evaluation of Kaleri's orthostatic tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry
reflex) after 12 weeks in zero-G.]

Later, Sasha prepared and set up the Russian MO-21 "Ecosphera" air sampler
and incubation equipment for the atmospheric microbial air sampling
scheduled tomorrow, starting the recharge of its power supply unit. [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.]

Using the VT laptop in the Airlock (A/L), Michael Foale initiated total
discharge on spacesuit batteries #2029 and #2030 in the A/L's battery
stowage assembly (BSA), charged up in the last 24 hours as part of nominal
battery maintenance. [EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) battery
maintenance is performed every 50 days, and consists of fully charging and
then discharging the batteries to prolong their useful life.]

Kaleri continued the current round of the monthly preventive maintenance of
RS air ventilation systems, working in the Service Module (SM) to
vacuum-clean the Group A fans and grilles as well as the four dust collector
filters (PF1-4), which he had replaced on 12/9.

Sasha transferred exercise data files from the TVIS treadmill to the medical
equipment computer (MEC) for subsequent downlink. He also completed the
weekly TVIS maintenance and conducted the newly required weekly inspection
of the TVIS wire ropes for signs of fraying.

The FE performed the regular routine maintenance of SOZh life support
systems and prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) "delta"
file for updating the IMS database.

At 10:30am, both crewmembers participated in an interactive televised
educational PAO event with students from Seabrook Intermediate School and
elementary schools of Seabrook, TX. [Mike Foale's wife and two children
were also in attendance and participated in the event.]

Cabin pressure continues to hold steady, confirming that the leak at the Lab
window was successfully eliminated. [Daily monitoring of the cabin air
pressure continues with the MCA (major constituents analyzer), which is then
switched back to Life Extending Mode between data takes to preserve the ion
pump of its mass spectrometer's vacuum chamber.].

A procedure is in place for checking the "Volume D" space between the
window's pressure panes for air intrusion and evacuation to prevent
condensation and potential microbial growth. The window shutters remain
closed for now. [In addition to the two pressure panes, the window has an
outer debris protection pane and an inner scratch protection pane. The
pressure of "Volume D" will be determined with a setup using the FSS (fluid
system servicer) equipment, the ISA (internal sample adapter) and VAJ
(vacuum access jumper). The procedure will then vent the pressure overboard
through the Lab VRIV (vacuum relief isolation valve).]

Ground teams are also continuing to prepare for the upcoming isolation of
the U.S. and Russian segments, intended to rule out any other small leaks
that may be present. The current plan is to perform the isolation on
Saturday (1/17) and re-open everything no later than just before the crew's
bunk time on Sunday. [The plan is to isolate the ISS into four segments,
viz.: (1) US Lab; (2) Node + Airlock + PMA-1; (3) FGB; (4) SM + Progress +
DC-1 + Soyuz.]

Today's CEO targets, in the current XPOP attitude constrained by flight rule
to fewer near-vertical targets due to Lab window shutter closure and current
condensation-prevention plan (see above), were Congo River (Dynamic event.
Unusual atmospheric clarity: looking left for sunglint views of the Congo
River and tributaries at low-flow stage. Runoff from the present rainy
season takes months to fill the Congo River and then flood the surrounding
forest), Plankton bloom, S Indian Ocean(Dynamic event. Two opportunities
today. Views from nadir off to the right of track [until the Kerguelen
Islands came into view] may have provided useful imagery of this remote
early summer bloom. Including the landmass helps pinpoint the bloom and
provides an additional method of judging scale), Lake Eyre, Australia
(status of water levels is of interest as various multi-seasonal controls
act on filling and emptying of Australia's largest inland basin. This is a
long term monitoring site), Pilcomayo River, Argentina (nadir views [for ~90
secs] along this major river that flows off the Andes Mts. were requested.
Large canals are being engineered to lead water equally into both Argentina
and neighboring Paraguay. This river has generated the largest known inland
delta on Earth and thus has many aspects of scientific interest), Plankton
bloom, Argentina (Dynamic event. The strongest bloom of plankton at present
on the planet is mapped by the SeaWiFS along the coast of Patagonia from
Buenos Aires to Tierra del Fuego. Discoloration of coastal waters should
have been obvious left and right of track. If possible, crew was to include
coastlines for verification of position and image scale), and Patagonian
Glaciers (PRIORITY (400mm-lens): Clearing from the south and west can reveal
usually cloud-covered Pacific-slope glaciers. Detailed images of surface
texture were requested).

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 1:42pm EST).

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

Elektron O2 generator is poweredOn. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (in Manual
Mode 3). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is on Standby (ready in dual-bed mode).
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 (repair incomplete).


SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --
26.2; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 159.4; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 4.5;
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg/psi) -- 741; temperature (deg C) --
29.8.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg/psi) -- 744; temperature (deg C) -- 23.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg/psi) -- 729.69; temperature (deg C) -- 24.4 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg/psi) -- 731.58; temperature (deg C) -- 24.7; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg/psi) -- 733.52; temperature
(deg C) -- 23.6; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.1, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a;
ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 25.2
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 10.4.

(n/a = data not available)

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B
both in Autotrack (suntracking).
SM batteries: Battery #8, formerly known as #7, is still disconnected in
slot #8 for troubleshooting; all other batteries (7) are in "Partial Charge"
mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #4 is off (capacity restoration mode, ROM); 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-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-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 1
dropped out 11/22).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string #3
dropped out 10/22).

Propulsion System:

Total propellant load available:3637 kg (8018 lb) as of 1/1/04 [SM(755) +
FGB(2530) + 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:

XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = "sun-fixed" [yaw: 0.5 deg,
pitch: -9.0 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist).

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

Robotics:

SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF #1/LEE B, 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, 8:36am EST [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 371.0 km
Apogee -- 376.3 km
Perigee -- 365.6 km
Period -- 92.0 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0007908
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.66
Mean altitude loss last 24 hours -- 95 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 29390

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times,
sew http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html



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

Jacques :-)

Editor: www.spacepatches.info