ISS On-Orbit Status, 30-12-2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 30 Dec 2003

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

Flight Engineer Kaleri continued the avionics disassembly task in the
"Zarya" module, where no-longer-required electronics boxes of the FGB's
motion control system (SUD) were removed to make room for stowage. He also
took digital photography of the exposed area for later downlink via OCA, to
be used to update container configurations for their subsequent installation
in these areas. [The teardown of electronic equipment of the FGB, not
required since arrival of the Service Module (SM) in 2000, was begun early
this year by Nikolai Budarin.]

CDR Michael Foale started preparing sample coupons for another series of
tests with the ISSI (In-Space Soldering Investigation) experiment, started
by Ed Lu in October. [Setting up at the MSG MWA (microgravity science
glovebox maintenance work area), Mike cut solder and wrapped coupons with
the solder.]

Mike also completed the scheduled transfer of IMAK (ISS medical accessory
kit) contents of fresh medications from the Soyuz TMA-3 (7S) to the AMP
(ambulatory medical pack) pallets and pockets and ALSP (advanced life
support pack) storage.

On the BMP harmful impurities unit in the Service Module (SM), Kaleri
started the regeneration cycle of absorbent bed #2 and switched channel #1
from Regeneration back to Purify mode. [The "bakeout" cycle in the filter
beds is repeated every 20 days. Each bakeout to space vacuum takes about 24
hours.]

Mike Foale completed the weekly and monthly maintenance tasks of the TVIS
(treadmill with vibration isolation) and transferred the accumulated
exercise data files from TVIS, CEVIS and RED to the medical equipment
computer (MEC).

Both crewmembers worked out according to their regular daily physical
exercise program of 2.5 hrs on the TVIS, RED, and VELO ergometer with load
trainer.

Sasha conducted 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 12:35pm EST, the crew participated in an interactive audio-only (S-band)
interview with the space.com Internet site (Jim Banke).

The monthly potable water sampling for in-flight chemistry/microbiology
analysis, which was cancelled yesterday due to unavailability of necessary
SVO-ZV hose adapters, will have to wait until an accurate inventory of
remaining adapter kits on board has been performed. An audit of WMK (water
monitoring kit), WS&A (water sampler & archiver),SSK (surface sample kit),
and MAS (microbial air sampler) kits is being planned in the next few weeks.
Also, 10 more SVO-ZV adapters are manifested for Progress 13P.

For today's CEO (crew earth observations) sessions, the ground uplinked a
list of target cities as potential photographic opportunities at the crew's
discretion.

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 12:38pm EST).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered On. 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.


SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) -- 26.5;
ppO2 (mmHg) -- 155.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 5.0 (prior to Vozdukh switch to Mode 5
later today)
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --
20.2.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) -- 23.0.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 744.52; temperature (deg C) -- 24.2 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 746.53; temperature (deg C) -- 24.9; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 746.74; temperature (deg
C) -- 26.0; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.7, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) -- n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 25.6
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 13.0.

(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:3680 kg (8113 lb) as of 12/11/03 [SM(755) +
FGB(2573) + 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, 7:26am EST [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 369.9 km
Apogee -- 374.1 km
Perigee -- 365.6 km
Period -- 91.9 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0006264
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.66
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 130
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 29170


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



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

Jacques :-)

Editor: www.spacepatches.info