ISS On-Orbit Status, 12-08-2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 12 Aug 2003

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

After wake-up (2:00am EDT), before breakfast and exercise, CDR Yuri
Malenchenko completed the periodic Russian MedOps test "Hematokrit" (MO-10),
which measures the blood's red cell count. [The blood sample was drawn from
a finger with a perforator lancet, then centrifuged in two microcapillary
tubes in the M-1100 kit's minicentrifuge, and its hematocrit value was read
off the tubes with a magnifying glass. It is a well-known phenomenon of
space flight that red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go
down over time.]

Immediately afterwards, Malenchenko configured the Russian payload laptop 3
and performed the MBI-1 SPRUT-K experiment, part of Russian medical research
on the distribution and behavior of human body fluids in zero gravity. [The
experiment involves use of the Sprut ("squid") securing harness and skin
electrodes (cuffs), along with laptop 3, which was then reconfigured to its
nominal settings.]

FE/SO Ed Lu completed the fourth 30-day functionality ("health") test of the
HRF GASMAP (Human Research Facility/Gas Analyzer System for Metabolic
Analysis Physiology). Last time done: 7/14. [After unstowing, cabling and
powering up the equipment, he let it run for 3 hrs. in standby mode, then
performed a health check and reconfigured the system for a 2-hr. low power
rundown. Afterwards, about 6 hrs. after power-up, the GASMAP was
deactivated, disconnected and stowed again.]

Yuri Malenchenko began with the scheduled transfer of liquid waste to the
empty Rodnik water storage tanks (BV1, BV2) of 10P/Progress-247. Today's
operation transferred stored urine from 4 EDV-U containers into tank BV1,
from a total of 17 filled EDVs. The work will be continued tomorrow and
Thursday (8/14). [In preparation for this activity, on 8/4 Yuri had
pressurized the folded bladders of the 10P Rodnik water storage tanks. Each
of the two spherical tanks consists of a hard shell with a soft membrane
(bladder) composed of elastic fluoroplastic, which is used to expel water
from the tank by compressed air pumped into the tank volume surrounding the
bladder.]

The crew completed the replacement of the TVIS/treadmill roller bearing
assemblies begun yesterday. [After yesterday's swap-out of the ten
centermost bearings on the left side of the TVIS' internal truss and removal
of the corresponding ten bearings on the right side, Ed and Yuri finished
the job today with the installation of the second set of ten roller
assemblies. The crew was congratulated on doing a "fantastic job" on the
IFM (in-flight maintenance).]

Ed Lu had a 15-min. time block reserved for stowing any ancillary EMU items
that may still have been unstowed after the EMU/spacesuit #3005 resizing and
fit checking on 8/7. [The next EVA/EMU troubleshooting is scheduled for
8/15 (Friday). Even after Ed's and the ground's best attempts to date, EMU
#3013 still fails to provide any cooling. Next step will be for Ed to go
underneath the TMG (thermal micrometeoroid garment) outer layer to look for
various component failures or clogged filters. The situation for EMU #3005,
which exhibits intermittent or degraded cooling, provides a new signature
for consideration, and its data are still being analyzed. By having Ed Lu
perform water flow tests on #3013 on 8/15, component failures could possibly
be ruled out that would be unique to having no cooling flow, and converge on
a common, more generic issue related to degraded flow or filter clogging of
the spacesuits.]

During the time allotted for his TVIS troubleshooting, Ed Lu completed the
PFMI (Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation) set-up in the MSG
(Microgravity Science Glovebox). [For this purpose, the MSG was powered up
by the ground beforehand, later to be deactivated again.]

The Science Officer also had another go at setting up the EPO (Educational
Payload Operations) demonstration of EVA/IVA tools scheduled to be performed
and videotaped tomorrow. [The demo was postponed on 8/7 because of the
extended EMU activities.]

The CDR performed the regular daily routine tasks of SOZh life support
system maintenance and also the inventory management system (IMS) delta file
preparation.

Both crewmembers worked out in their daily 2.5-h program of physical
exercise, on the RED expander and TVIS treadmill.

For today's scheduled troubleshooting of the SAMS (Space Acceleration
Measurement System), currently in the MSG awaiting the PFMI experiment
initiation, Ed Lu conducted a checkout of its laptop, battery and PCB (power
conversion box). [This isolated the three major components of SAMS in the
ICU (Interface Control Unit) drawer. The results of these activities will
determine what spares need to be installed to get SAMS up and running.]

The Russian SKV-1 air conditioner continues to operate OK, as do both KOB
thermal loop pumps. [Background: Since the SKV was deactivated on 8/7 there
has been only minimal collection of condensate in the Lab module. Overall
the system has been configured to minimize US segment (USOS) condensate
collection during Expedition 7. SKV was controlling dew point to ~45F (7.2
degC) and the Lab CCAA (common cabin air assembly) air conditioner was set
to control dew point to ~53F (11.7 degC). Preliminary ground estimates were
that ~6 lbs of condensate were absorbed into the atmosphere, and that some
additional amounts are unaccounted for in the total amount of condensate
that should have been generated over the time the SKV was deactivated. The
crew checked for water on the Airlock (A/L) CCAA heat exchanger jumper hose,
to assess whether there was condensation buildup in the A/L and the heat
exchanger of the inactive A/L CCAA, one of the local "cold spots" that could
attract condensate.]

Initial USSPACECOM notification was received of a conjunction with the
second or third stage from a Chinese Long March 4B (CZ-4B) vehicle launched
10/27/02 (object #27551). Preliminary TCA (time of closest approach):
Thursday (8/14), 7:41pm EDT. The conjunction is of moderate concern due to
the relatively small radial miss distance of 172 m. Cross section: 11.2
squ.m. (120 squ.ft.). Radar tracking has been increased, and MMC-H
continues to monitor. [The purpose of the CZ-4B is to launch Chinese
sun-synchronous orbit meteorological satellites.]

Today's CEO (crew earth observation) targets, no longer limited in the
current LVLH attitude and including the targets of the Lewis & Clark
200-year memorial locations, were Lower Amazon River Basin (pass over the
big island in the center of the estuary. Pointing left and right),
Guadalajara, Mexico (nadir pass), Lahore, Pakistan (this capital of Punjab
has nearly 4.5 million inhabitants), Berlin, Germany (hot clear weather
persists), Denver, Colorado (nadir pass), Pomeroy, Washington (on their
return eastward, the Lewis & Clark explorers decided to go overland in order
to avoid battling upstream against the strong Snake River, traveling
through the village of Pomeroy, WA), Forks of Clearwater (LEWIS & CLARK
SITE: At Canoe Camp, Oct 1, 1805, one of the diarists reported that most of
the men in the party were very weak. To save them from labor, they made new
canoes using the Indian method of burning out the interior of logs rather
than using axes), Great Falls, MT (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: The Missouri River
drops more than 400 feet in ten miles here. The explorers spent more than a
month here in June-July 1805, and noted the value of this site for
hydro-power generation. Now the Ryan Dam occupies the site. The site lies
on the river, at the city of Great Falls, where the highway crosses the
river, all at nadir), and Mouth of Marias River (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: The
Marias is a large, meandering river that joins the Missouri from the
northwest (about 80 miles northeast of Great Falls). The river valley that
includes Lake Elwell Reservoir is at nadir. On the return trip of the
expedition in the summer of 1806, Lewis and nine men temporarily separated
from the main party to explore this river and valley). 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

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:25pm EST).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered Off. 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. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On; SKV-2 is Off.


SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --
26.3; ppO2 (mmHg) -- data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- data invalid.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 741; temperature (deg C) --
20.0.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 744; temperature (deg C) -- 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 735.62; temperature (deg C) -- 23.5 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- 162.4; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 3.1.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 737.95; temperature (deg C) -- 23.3; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 738.15; temperature (deg
C) -- 27.0; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 23.8, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) -- n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.7
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 16.0.

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available: 3646 kg (8038 lb) as of 7/31 [SM(774) +
FGB(2872) + Progress M(0) +Progress M-1(0)]. (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 (solar
tracking with 45 deg bias for drag reduction).
SM batteries: Battery #5 is off line(Capacity Restoration mode, ROM);
battery #6 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (6) are in "Partial
Charge" mode. Batteries #1and #3 showing degraded capacity.
FGB batteries: Battery #1 is off line (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-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:

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).Management.
Solar Beta angle: 22.2 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-2 is prime).
Video subsystem operating nominally.
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics: S

SRMS/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, 11:35am EDT [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 384.3 km
Apogee -- 389.7 km
Perigee -- 378.9 km
Period -- 92.24 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0007989
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.61
Solar Beta Angle -- 22.2 deg (magnitude increasing)
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 100 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 26982
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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