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ISS On-Orbit Status, 30-06-2003



 
 
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Old July 1st 03, 06:21 PM
Jacques van Oene
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Default ISS On-Orbit Status, 30-06-2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 30 Jun 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously.
Week 9 for Increment 7 is underway. [Yesterday 32 years ago the heroic crew
of Soyuz 11 ("Yantar") died during reentry on return from their 23d 18h stay
in the first Soviet space station, Salyut 1: Georgi Dobrovolski, Viktor
Patzayev, and Vladislav Volkov. The death of the world's first space
station crew on 29 June 1971 was caused by explosive cabin air decompression
through an incompletely closed vent valve in the Soyuz Descent Module, which
upon jettisoning of the Orbital Module became exposed to the hard vacuum of
space before atmospheric entry.]

Before breakfast, both ISS crewmembers completed another session of the
periodic Russian medical experiment protocols PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume
measurement) and PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement). CDR Yuri Malenchenko
set up the MO-8 "scales" equipment and later broke it down and stowed it
away. (Last time done: 6/16). [Calf measurements (left leg only) are
taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the
calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a
rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of
countermeasures. For determining body ass in zero-G, where things are
weightless (but not massless), the Russian IM "scales" measure the inertial
forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two
helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time
period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and
comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember's mass is
calculated by the computer and displayed].

CDR Yuri Malenchenko had several sessions with the Russian Uragan
("hurricane") earth imaging program (GFI-8), focusing the Kodak DCS760
digital still camera with 800-mm lens on targets including Berlin/Potsdam
urban conglomeration, the cities of Chernobyl and Kharkov, Don River
floodplain, the Black Earth belt of Kalmykia, Port Olya south of Astrakhan,
the Himalayas, urban centers in W Europe (Brussels, Cologne-Bonn, Frankfurt
am Main, Nuremberg, Plzen, Prague, Brno, Budapest, etc.), the Carpathian
mountains, and the S coast of the Black Sea. The images were to be
downlinked later via U.S. OCA assets.

FE/SO Dr. Ed Lu powered up the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), then
supervised another experiment session with the InSPACE (Investigating the
Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment.
Afterwards, the MSG was powered down again. [Today's run was test #3 with
coil assembly (CA) 001. Current amplitude remained at 1.2 amps throughout,
but frequency changed, from initially 10 Hz to 2 Hz at the second monitor
activity. Very little was expected to be seen outside of the monitor
periods, and Ku-band coverage was unfortunately minimal, with no coverage
during the key periods.]

At 4:45am EDT, the ground initiated a 2h 40m upload of software for the new
CSLM 2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures) experiment from a compact disk
to the MSG laptop computer (MLC) hard drive.

The inspection of the Flexpacks removed last week from RED (resistive
exercise device) canisters #1009 and #1010 was performed by the crew today.
[The inspection was necessary to determine the type of maintenance required
on the Flexpacks to clear them for further use in canisters #1001 and #1003
when these expire.]

Yuri Malenchenko terminated bakeout/regeneration cycle on adsorption bed #2
of the BMP automated micropurification unit. Upon deactivation of the
regen, the BMP went to Failed mode. [The evacuation valve to vacuum closed
properly but there was no commensurate indication from the microswitch
monitoring the closure. This was annunciated by the automated program as a
system failure. The signiture has been seen before, and previous
resolutions consisted of bypassing the failure indication by introducing a
constant value in the automatic algorithm. Moscow is still evaluating. If
the microswitch is truly failed and cannot be restored to proper function,
the entire BMP cartridge will have to be replaced since the microswitch
alone cannot be R&R'd.]

After a preparatory procedures review and tagup with ground specialists via
S-band, Malenchenko worked several hours in the Service Module (SM) and DC-1
docking module, completing the periodic inspection and photo-documentation
of the window panes in the Russian segment (RS). The observations were
recorded in image and text files for subsequent downlink via U.S. OCA
assets. [Objective of the inspection, using digital still camera (Nikon D1
or Kodak 760) and voice recorder, is to assess the pane surfaces for any
changes (new cavities, scratches, new or expanded old stains or
discolorations affecting transparency properties) since the last inspection
(performed by Nikolai Budarin on 3/13/03). The new assessment will be
compared to the earlier observations. Malenchenko had extra time reserved
to study and rehearse uplinked procedures for measuring new visible defects
on the windows. Defects are measured with the parallax method which uses
eyeball-sighting with a ruler and a right isosceles triangle to determine
the formations' size and position with respect to the window's internal
surface (parallax being the apparent change in an object's position
resulting from changing the observer's position).]

In the FGB, Malenchenko installed three new fire extinguishers delivered on
Progress-259/11P, one in the pressurized adapter (GA), one on panel 404, and
the third on panel 229. The old PFEs were stowed for disposal.

In the SM, Yuri completed the periodic servicing task of changing out the
ASU toilet's urine receptacle (MP) and filter insert (F-V), disposing of the
old units.

Malenchenko also performed his regular daily checkup of the BIO-5
Rasteniya-2 ("Plants-2") experiment which investigates growth and
development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the SM's Lada-2
greenhouse.

Science Officer Lu conducted the daily routine maintenance of SOZh life
support systems and prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system)
"delta" file for updating the IMS database.

The CDR set up another operations and measurement session of the
Molniya-SM/LSO hardware from SM window #3, with the French-provided EGE1
laptop. Once Malenchenko started the recording session, the payload works
automatically until 1:00pm EDT on 7/3 (Thursday). [Objective of
Molniya-SM, similar to the French LSO experiment, is to record storm
phenomena and other related events in the Earth's equatorial regions. The
experiment is controlled from the French EGE-1 laptop, which needs to be
loaded with orbital sighting predictions using an up-to-date NORAD tracking
TLE (two-line element) provided by NASA. Objective of LSO was to study rare
optical phenomena occurring in the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere,
so-called "sprites" (i.e., puzzling glow phenomena observed above
thunderstorm clouds). LSO was originally part of Claudie Haigneré's French
"Andromeda" payload package of taxi mission 3S that could not be performed
as planned during Increment 4 due to an ISS flight attitude conflict.] Ed
Lu collected and disposed of the off-limit wipes which had been transferred
by the crew from the Shuttle to the station without proper safety clearance.
Due to high levels of ethanol in these wash and dry wipes, their use has
been discontinued, and Russian wet towels are used for the crew's personal
hygiene needs as alternatives. [The source of the high content of the
alcohol ethanol detected in the ISS condensate was unknown until a recent
call-down by the crew concerning the "Wash N Dry Wipes", each of which
contains 0.5 grams of ethanol. Usage of these wipes was estimated to
release at least 3 grams of ethanol into the ISS environment per day.
Without considering other potential sources of alcohol, this usage greatly
exceeds the ISS limit of 1 gram/day maximum release of alcohol into the air,
which was established to meet requirements for the Russian SRV-K water
processor (the scheduled change-out times of its components are based on
their capacity for alcohols).]

Yuri set up the test equipment for another session with the Russian
biochemical MO-10 "Hematokrit" assessment, scheduled for tomorrow. [MO-10
regularly measures the hematocrit (red blood cell mass) value of the blood.
As a well-known phenomenon of space flight, red blood cell mass {normal
range: 30-45%} tends to go down over time.]

At 11:53am EDT, the crew conducted an interactive educational PAO exchange
with students at the National Educational Computing Conference in Seattle,
WA, where ISS Astronaut Don Pettit supported the launching of the new NASA
Explorer Schools. [The new initiative, sponsored by NASA's Education
Enterprise in collaboration with the National Science Teachers Association
(NSTA), establishes a three-year partnership between the agency and 50 NASA
Explorer Schools' teams, consisting of teachers and education administrators
from diverse communities across the country, representing 30 states.]

Both crewmembers completed their daily 2.5-h program of physical exercise,
on TVIS treadmill, RED expander and, for Yuri, on the Russian VELO cycle
ergometer with load trainer.

Later today, at 5:15pm, a telecon will be arranged for the Honorable Linda
Lingle, Governor of Hawaii, to wish Science Officer Ed Lu Happy Birthday.
Ed celebrates his 40th birthday tomorrow, naturally wearing an Aloha shirt
(as will all of the MCC-H Flight Control Team), and in his honor Governor
Lingle has declared July 1 "Edward Tsang Lu Day" in Hawaii.

Last night's maneuver from sun-pointing XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit
plane) attitude back to earth-oriented LVLH (local vertical/local
horizontal) was completed nominally by the SM automated computer system,
after control authority had been handed over from the US motion control
system.

SM batteries #1 and #3 are now showing degradation, with sharply reduced
capacity. [The batteries were cycled and are operating currently as
stand-alones. A decision to take them off-line for a two-week storage
period, then recharge and bring them back into the loop is under discussion.
The batteries have a certified lifetime of two years but have reached only
about half that period at present, and it is hoped that they can be
restored. If not, there is still Khrunichev's 800A unit from the FGB
spares. Besides #1 and #3, battery #4 in the SM is definitely failed, but
overall power balance in the RS remains positive at this time.]

Analysis continues on the ground on the ER2 AAA (EXPRESS Rack #2/avionics
air assembly) fan which exhibited current spikes and a 20-30 RPM increase in
rotor speed. The current plan is to keep ER2 up to support this week's
checkout of a new ARIS (active rack isolation system) remote console at JSC.

At 9:00am EDT this morning, MCC-H began a 31hr. on-orbit thermal
characterization test on the station's S-band system, String 1. [The test
involves powering BSP (baseband signal processor) and XPDR (standard TDRSS
transponder) heaters off and on again after some time, to obtain temperature
readings during various orbit times, including recordings during LOS
(loss-of-signal).]

Last Thursday, during the 20-min. live educational audio/video PAO event
with education specialists at NASA MSFC, Ku-band suffered drop-outs due to a
problem with a modulator (Modulator A) at NASA's White Sands facility. [The
system failed over to Modulator B, which performed nominally. Modulator A
was reset and brought back online, after which it also operated nominally.
Cause of the anomaly is unknown and under investigation. The PAO event was
impacted but "weathered" the glitch.]

The MCC-H Flight Control Team, with U.S. SpaceCommand, continues to monitor
a conjunction (close encounter) with a Russian SL-8 rocket body (object
#7004), somewhat aggravated by last night's change in flight attitude. Time
of closest approach (TCA) is currently projected for 2:38am EDT on 7/2
(Wednesday) morning. Predicted radial miss distance at this time is 990 m.
Further tracking updates will have to be made before the need for a DAM
(debris avoidance maneuver) can be determined. Decision deadline: tomorrow
morning at 3:08am EDT. Time of DAM ignition, if required: tomorrow night at
10:48pm EDT.

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
Rome, Italy (nadir pass. The pass continued directly down the boot of
Italy), Lemhi Pass, Mont/Idaho (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Shooting mountain range
crests [dark forest green, as opposed to lighter, browner river valleys] at
nadir and a touch right, 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 never came into general use for the westward
migrations since other lower passes exist), Harpers Ferry, WVA (LEWIS &
CLARK SITE: This historic town is located at the confluence of the Potomac
and Shenandoah rivers where they break through the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Crew was advised to use the long lens for details of this small target),
Washington, D.C. (weather may have held up for views of D. C.), Alexandria,
Egypt (nadir and a touch left on Egypt's north coast. Pyramids also at
nadir, just west of the Nile about 30 secs later [Sergei's 400-mm shots of
these small features were instrumental in getting the 400/800 mm lens duo
into current use]. This pass continued all the way down the Red Sea and
over the Horn of Africa), and Congo-Zimbabwe Aerosols (the pass overflew the
center of the long Wi****ersrand complex of cities where winter smog from
coal fires has been substantially controlled in the last forty years.
Nevertheless, obliques in the region are sought, especially in the winter
season, with low sunset light). 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 1:45pm 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 3/5). 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 down). RS air conditioner SKV-1
is On; 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) --
20.7.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) -- 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.89; temperature (deg C) -- 22.5 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 746.03; temperature (deg C) -- 23.1; ppO2
(mmHg) -- 171.3; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 4.5.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 746.13; temperature (deg
C) -- 27.7; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 23.6, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) -- n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 22.9.
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 20.4.

(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 AutoTrack.
SM batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected (failed 6/16); all other batteries
(7) are in "Partial Charge" mode. Batteries #1 and #3 degraded.
FGB batteries: Battery #3 is offline; 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-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: -9.13 deg (magnitude decreasing).

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, 7:43am EDT [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 387.5 km
Apogee -- 392.7 km
Perigee -- 382.3km
Period -- 92.31 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0007644
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.60
Solar Beta Angle -- -9.13 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 130 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 26308
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

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