ISS On-Orbit Status, 03-07-2003

On-Orbit Status 3 Jul 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously.
Closing in on a long weekend...

Early in the morning before breakfast and morning inspection, CDR
Malenchenko concluded his third MBI-8 "Profilaktika" (countermeasures)
fitness session. Today he conducted the blood test part, which determines
lactate and creatine kinase levels in the blood with the AccuSport
equipment, followed later in the day by the physical exercise session on the
TVIS treadmill. FE/SO Lu assisted as crew medical officer (CMO). [The TVIS
test is identical to the MO-3 test performed on the treadmill in idling mode
with free choice of speeds within a certain specified range. In addition to
the nominal test procedure, MBI-8/Part 3 calls for the use of the TEEM-100M
gas analyzer during the test, the blood lactate measurements, and subjective
evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test. At the end of the
creatine kinase tests, the results were logged and recorded in
Cardiocassette-2000 for subsequent downlink to the ground.]

Malenchenko prepared equipment assembly and work area for the Russian
biomedical "Pilot" experiment (MBI-15) which requires a work table, ankle
restraint system and control handles for testing piloting skill. The
experiment was then conducted, for the first time, by flight engineer Ed Lu.
Yuri later deactivated, disassembled and stowed the gear. [Ed performed
three flight control modes (fixed, slow and fast free-flyer), each one five
times, after checkout and calibration of the control handles. Results were
later reported to the ground.]

Continuing and completing yesterday's IFM (in-flight maintenance) activities
on the BMP harmful impurities filtration system, Yuri Malenchenko today
removed and replaced the electrical heater of the PKF-T catalytic thermal
cartridge. The BMP was then to be activated per ground specialist go-ahead
(via S-band).

In the morning, Ed Lu performed the last of the five currently scheduled
acoustic dosimeter operations. [He took the noise measurements recorded by
the three statically deployed dosimeters during the crew's sleep over the
past 8 hours. The hardware was then stowed for future use.]

The Science Officer completed the periodic transfer of physical exercise
data files of the TVIS treadmill, RED resistive exerciser and CEVIS cycle
ergometer to the MEC (medical equipment computer), for subsequent downlink
to the ground (last time done: 6/17). [The data file transfers involve
PCMCIA (portable computer memory card international adapter) cards from TVIS
and CEVIS, plus the entries from the RED exercise log book, individually for
each crewmember.]

Later, Ed Lu also performed the periodic transfer of accumulated data files
from the wrist-worn HRM (heart rate monitor) receiving stations to the MEC
for downlink, then deleted them on the HRM (last time done: 6/13).

Ed activated the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) and removed the
videotapes and equipment for the InSPACE (Investigating the Structure of
Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment for stowage in
pre-assigned Lab and Node locker areas. The MSG was then powered down again.
[The last InSPACE run yesterday again was a full success. The second run in
the higher frequency range produced very interesting structure formation,
much more elaborate than during an earlier run with this sample (at a lower
frequency). Some interesting structure migration processes in the region
around these larger structures were also seen. All of this may provide clues
into the structure formation process and how they modify the field around
them.]

Malenchenko performed scheduled IFM on the condensate water processor
(SRV-K2M) by removing and replacing its BKO multifiltration/purification
column unit which has reached its service life limit (450 liters min.). The
old unit will be discarded on Progress. (Last time done: 3/4/03). [The
SRV-K2M converts collected condensate into drinking water and dispenses the
reclaimed water (warm and hot) for drinking and preparation of food and
beverages.]

The CDR took photographs of the internal cone of the DC-1 docking
compartment's docking assembly used for the recent Progress 11P arrival.
These images are used to refine current understanding of the docking
conditions. [The objective is to take photos of the scratch mark left by the
head of the docking probe on the internal surface of the docking cone. Yuri
used the digital still camera (Kodak 760 or Nikon D1) to take two pictures
with partially closed hatch and downlinked them later during the day via
U.S. OCA assets.]

Ed Lu supported the ongoing NGL (Next Generation Laptop) testing, which
today called for the second data collection and log file take. [Ed's support
consisted of copying the accumulated files of the automated test program
from the new laptop's microdrive over to the SSC (station support computer)
laptop for data collection and subsequent downlink. The microdrive was then
returned to the NGL and the test program restarted.]

Malenchenko's Diatomeya ocean observation program today focused on intensive
vortex formation in the Gulf Stream current and low-activity central water
areas in the Atlantic Ocean. [Nadir-pointing observations and recording with
the electronic Nikon F5 still camera (f/80 mm lens) and the DVCAM 150 for
video from the SAM windows #7 and #8 proceeded from the delta of the Hudson
river (Delaware Bay, USA) to the Bermudas and on towards the beam of the
Amazon river.]

The Russian Uragan earth imaging program, using the Kodak 760 ESC with
f/800-mm lens, today targeted large European cities (London, Antwerp,
Düsseldorf, Frankfurt on Main, Prague), the cities and ports of Odessa,
Sevastopol, and Trabzon, Lake Van with city of Van, etc. Yuri was also asked
to film, if cloud cover did not exceed 30%, a Sakhalin oil pipeline,
North-Kuril islands, and Kamchatka volcanoes.

Ed Lu performed the second carbon dioxide partial pressure (ppCO2) data
collection from the newly deployed CSA-CP (compound specific
analyzers-combustion products) brought up on 11P. [CSA-CP is a toxicology
monitoring device for early CO detection/warning and post-fire
decontamination. It also checks for HCl and other combustion products and
contaminants. Data takes are regularly collected for downlink.]

Yuri Malenchenko completed his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5
Rasteniya-2 ("Plants-2") experiment which researches growth and development
of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-2 greenhouse.

Malenchenko also terminated the test run of the Molniya-SM/LSO (GFI-10)
geophysical experiment started on 6/30, by first deactivating the two French
computers EGE 1 and EGE 2, the LSO 06 instrument and the Russian RBS power
outlet, then disassembling the equipment and stowing it. [Molniya-SM/LSO
automatically records storm phenomena and other related events in the
Earth's equatorial regions. The experiment is controlled from the EGE-1
laptop, 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.]

The CDR 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.

MCC-H continues the long-duration on-orbit thermal characterization test on
the station's S-band system String 1, which it started on 6/30. [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). The objective is to correlate actual temperatures with
thermal engineering models which were found to "underpredict" real thermal
conditions.]

As per agreement between MCC-H and MCC-M, the Vozdukh CO2 removal system was
switched to Manual Mode 5 yesterday, when the ppCO2 level reached 4.5 mmHg.
As ppCO2 drops, the system will be returned to Mode 3. [In Mode 3, Vozdukh
switches between its two regenerative adsorbent cartridges every 20 minutes.
In Mode 5, the switch cycle is reduced to 10 minutes. Vozdukh was originally
designed for three filter channels, but the third has never been fully
implemented.]

Some of the "lost" Russian equipment was found, so that planned IFMs can
proceed (e.g., antenna feeder unit installation, laptop 1 recovery, etc.)

Moscow has requested U.,S. assistance in recovering the hard disk drive
(HDD) of laptop 1. The R&R is scheduled for 7/8.

Weekly consumables tracking indicates that onboard potable water supplies
are actually 68 liters higher than thought, after residual contents of
partially filled CWCs were taken into account. Food ration supplies run at
slightly over one regular ration per day per crewmember. Propellants, RED
canister capability and TVIS roller bearing life all remain adequately on
plan.

At 12:45pm EDT, the crew participated in a TV event for PAO, downlinking an
ISS status report, to be aired on Independence Day, covering their thoughts
on life on board, getting used to the micro-G environment, outstanding
topics of science, maintenance, educational and public events, etc.

Later today, at about 4:10pm EDT, PCU (plasma contactor unit) #2 will be
deactivated to Standby mode after a 48 hrs. run for plasma environment
characterization. The present test is part of a continuing effort to
establish a relationship between the charging hazard, ambient ionosphere
conditions, and the flight configuration while in LVLH attitude. [PCU
Xenon-emission current is the sum of the electron currents collected from
the ambient ionosphere by (1) the high-voltage (160V) P6 solar arrays (when
in ram position) and (2) via low-voltage induction by the ISS structure
moving through the ionosphere. The currently used FPP (floating potential
probe) instrument data for determining the potential between ISS and the
ambient environment are very limited. A more advanced Floating Potential
Measurement Unit (FPMU) will arrive on ULF-1. The present PCU-2
characterization enables forward-work on extending and validating the plasma
charging model used by the ground for when the FPMU is in place.]

Tonight at about 9:55pm EDT, the RS (Russian segment) will transition to
refueling mode, and propellant transfer from the four tanks of Progress 11P
to the FGB tankage will commence, to last about 1.5 hrs. Prior to the
transfer, the FGB prop transfer system will be prepared and the SM tanks
configured to feed attitude control thrusters until FGB tanks are configured
for thruster feeding.

The degraded power situation in the RS continues. Appropriate USOS power
sharing and load shedding plans are in place. For the present LVLH and the
future XPOP attitudes, the immediate power support is adequate, with no
additional SNT (voltage & current transformer/stabilizer) required, if no
further deterioration occurs. [Of the eight 800A storage batteries in the
SM, one is completely unusable (#4), and three more (#1, #2, and #3) are
showing reduced capacity (i.e., inability to fully charge). TsUP/Moscow
specialists believe that the latter can be restored to normal operations.
Replacement of the failed #4 battery with the FGB spare will be scheduled in
the near future. Two more 800A accumulators will be manifested on the next
Progress cargo ship (12P).]

All three USOS/CHeCS radiation counters are currently down, unable to dump
their accumulated file data. [TEPC (tissue equivalent proportional counter),
IVCPDS (intravehicular charged particle directional spectrometer), EVCPDS
(extravehicular charged particle directional spectrometer).]

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
Delhi, India (looking a touch right. A break in the monsoon cloud masses
should have allowed an opportunity), Jakarta, Indonesia (nadir pass: looking
on the north coast of Java. ISS also passed right over Krakatau, the volcano
island that lies in the narrow strait between Java and Sumatra [just uptrack
of Jakarta]. This volcano was heard in Australia when it exploded in 1883.
It still erupts intermittently), Statue of Zeus at Olympia (nadir pass),
Alexandria, Egypt (nadir pass. Looking on the coast where the brightly
colored salt lakes were the crew's visual cue), Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
(nadir pass. Looking on the west side of the Nile at the base of the delta),
Cairo, Egypt (located at the base of the Nile delta mainly on the east side.
Nadir pass), Angolan Biomass Burning (offshore flow persists. Looking
obliquely right to document probable aerosol mass being advected into the
tropical Atlantic. Best views obtained with ocean as background and with
slight overexposure. Aerosol loadings increase in proportion to the duration
of the high pressure system, now several days), Johannesburg, South Africa
(nadir pass over this industrial heartland of southern Africa, which draws
workers from as far afield as the Congo, and traders from North Africa),
Amazonian rivers (Dynamic event. Unusually clear conditions over southern
Amazonia: crew was to try for a mapping swath for ~2 mins, looking in/near
the sunglint point [nadir], to document the poorly understood stream
patterns of the major south-side tributaries of the Amazon), Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil (nadir pass), Las Vegas, NV (nadir pass), Phoenix, AZ (nadir pass),
Tucson, AZ (nadir pass. Crew was also to look for waning smoke plumes from
the forest fire immediately north of the city), Circular cloud mass, Mexico
(Dynamic event. New storm starting up on the Pacific side of the narrow
waist of Mexico, with well developed, concentric outflow bands of cloud.
Nadir or a touch right of track), Lima, Peru (nadir pass), and Chao Lava,
Chile (mass of lava in the high desert of the Andes, famous in science for
its size, and marked by the "elephant skin" texture of the lava flow
pattern). 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 On; SKV-2 is Off.
SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) -- 27.0;
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) -- 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 741.98; temperature (deg C) -- 22.4 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- 171.2; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 4.6.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.81; temperature (deg C) -- 23.2; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.81; temperature (deg
C) -- 24.8; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 22.0, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) -- n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 23.5
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 21.8.
(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 mode, non solar-tracking, drag reduction)..
SM batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected (failed 6/16); battery #8 is in
"Cycle" mode; all other batteries (6) are in "Partial Charge" mode.
Batteries #1, #2 and #3 showing degraded capacity. 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 Discharge 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: 2.43 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, 6:48am EDT [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 387.3 km
Apogee -- 392.5 km
Perigee -- 382.0km
Period -- 92.30 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0007737
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.60
Solar Beta Angle -- 2.43 deg (magnitude increasing)
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 90 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 26354
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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