ISS On-Orbit Status, 21-07-2003

ISS On-orbit Status Report 21 Jun 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Week 12 is underway. Day 88 in space for the Increment 7 crew.
Today next week, continuous manned ISS operations will reach 1000 days.

During a Russian ground site (RGS) pass, at 6:22am EDT, CDR Yuri Malenchenko
performed his third monthly session with the Russian MedOps cardio
experiment MO-1 (study of the bioelectric activity of the heart at rest),
with Ed Lu assisting as CMO (crew medical officer). [During the test,
transmittal of the Gamma-1M ECG (electrocardiogram) signal to the ground was
required for about 5-6 minutes.]

FE/SO Ed Lu undertook the monthly water sampling for in-flight
chemistry/microbiology analysis, using approved Russian sampling procedures
with the U.S. WS&A (water sampler & archiver) for collection and the WMK
(water microbiology kit) for processing within 6 hrs. of the collection.
Results will be available after a two-day incubation period. [Samples were
taken in the SM at the potable water SRV-K hot port and from the EDV
container of the SVO-ZV water supply system.]

At about 12:20pm, Malenchenko was to conducted a photo survey of the
interiors of the Service Module (SM) and DC-1 docking module "Pirs", using
the Nikon electronic still camera. [Specific targets included peeling
decorative cloth on the interior SM paneling, damaged areas, discolored
insulation, damaged labeling and connectors of the BKS onboard cable
network, soiled decorative cloth in the SM around the "kitchen" tables, the
SKK "witness" cassette #1 in SM and DC-1, portions of the DC-1 exterior
(multilayer insulation, ZVTI), handrails and other parts of the structure).
At the end of the photo survey, Yuri was to transfer the images to Laptop #1
for later downlink via OCA.]

Ed Lu activated the MSG (microgravity science glovebox) for a research
session with the CSLM (Coarsening in Solid/Liquid Mixtures) experiment
series. [Today he powered up the ECU (electronics control unit) and checked
the humidity level inside the sample chamber to ensure that no water is
vented into the VES (vacuum exhaust system). Following that, he initiated
the 24-hour vent activity and then powered down the CSLM ECU and MSG.]

Early in the morning, the Science Officer began the planned week-long EMU
(extravehicular mobility unit) battery maintenance activities. [The program
started today with charging initiation for batteries #2032 and #2033 in the
BSA (battery stowage assembly). The batteries will be charged for 24 hours
and then taken off power tomorrow for a 1-hr. cooling period. Next step
will be their discharge. This will be followed by a charge/discharge cycle
on batteries #2029 and #2030.]

The crew conducted the CHeCS (crew health care systems) emergency medical
operations CMO OBT (on-board training) drill, a 30-min. exercise to refresh
crewmembers' acuity in applying ACLS (advanced cardio life support) in an
emergency.

Yuri Malenchenko performed a 2-hr. inventory audit of 44 Russian medical
kits, food supplement kits and ointment kits, verifying their availability
and stowage locations.

Malenchenko removed an old air temperature sensor (ÒÌ168) behind panel 234
of the SM, next to his crew cabin, and replaced it with a new unit delivered
on Progress-255.

The CDR also continued the search for missing items, focusing on the
connector for hooking the BKG pressurized switcher up with the MBRL
intermodular radio communications system.

Ed Lu conducted the daily routine maintenance of the SM's SOZh life support
system (including ASU toilet facilities) and the regular Lab payload status
checkup, while Yuri prepared the daily IMS inventory "delta" file.

The CDR also conducted his regular care of the on-board nursery, i.e., the
daily monitoring/servicing of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 zero-G plant growth
experiment in the Lada-2 greenhouse.

Both crewmembers completed their daily 2.5-h program of physical exercise,
on TVIS treadmill, RED expander and CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration
isolation). Ed Lu attended to the monthly maintenance of the CEVIS.
[MCC-H requested confirmation that the only damage present includes one
frayed wire on the front left and one on the front right isolators. Also,
the Exp. 6 crew had reported that while pedaling they may have heard an
unusual "steady, smooth" noise coming from the CEVIS flywheel area. The
Increment 7 crew was asked whether they noticed any similar sound while
pedaling, or other sounds from the CEVIS flywheel that seem off-nominal or
unusual, and if so, whether they have noticed any increase/decrease in the
sound level since you began using CEVIS.] The Science Officer also
conducted the periodic (every other week) inspection of the RED (resistive
exercise device) and monthly bolt tightening (if required).

Ed completed his tenth weekly filling-out of the FFQ (food frequency
questionnaire), which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on
special medical equipment computer (MEC) software.

Message from the AA for Space Flight to the ISS crew yesterday (7/20/03):

Today, July 20th, marks the 34th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar
landing. Please know that when the histories are recorded years from now
that the role of pioneers like you and Yuri will figure prominently in
having paved the way for the human exploration which will most certainly
take place in the coming decades.

As Pres Bush said, "...it is not an option we choose, it is a destiny
written in the human heart."

As we approach 1000 days of continuously crewed operations aboard the
ISS, without your steadfast dedication and commitment to our mission of
human space exploration this impressive milestone would not have been
achievable. Implicit in that is the personal sacrifice necessary to
undertake such a noble calling. For that we applaud you and thank you for
your service.

My heartiest congratulations to you both. We're all very proud of you.
Keep up the stellar work!

Today's optional 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 Lake Eyre, Australia (first view in
months. General and detailed views of the lake and surrounding lakes were
requested, for this long-term monitoring site. El Nino is one of the major
controls of the filling and emptying of this lake), Albuquerque, New Mexico
(NIGHT PASS), Shanghai, China (NIGHT PASS. Looking right for cities of this
heavily populated mouth of the Chiang Jiang), Kuwait City, Kuwait (NIGHT
PASS), Tunis, Tunisia (NIGHT PASS), and Lower Amazon basin, Brazil (several
rivers enter the Amazon estuary, making this not only the largest, but of
the most complex estuaries in the world. The Amazon's great tidal bore,
with a wave up to 5+ meters high that moves inland at 35 miles per hour,
complicates the hydrology further, being felt 400 miles inland from the
coast). 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/

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Jacques :-)

Editor: www.spacepatches.info

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