ISS On-Orbit Status, 14-01-2004

ISS On-Orbit Status 14 Jan 2004

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

Using the MO-21 "Ecosfera" air sampler and incubation equipment, broken out
and set up yesterday, FE Alexander Kaleri performed a 40-min. data take,
collecting air samples for atmospheric microbial analysis to monitor
sanitary-hygiene status (last time done: 10/26/03). [MO-21 determines
microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total
bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according
to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies.]

Kaleri completed another monthly sensor reading of the "Pille-MKS" radiation
dosimeter, with its ten sensors placed at various locations in the RS
(Russian segment, port cabin window, starboard cabin window, ASU toilet
facility, control panel, etc.). Pille dosage values were to be called down
to MCC-M or downlinked via Regul comm. [Last time done: 12/12.]

CDR/SO Michael Foale did a further inspection of the cracked VRIV (vent
relief and isolation valve) in the Airlock (A/L). [The task included
inspecting the wiring and back panel, taping down the wire harness in its
nominal configuration, and taking additional photos. Depending on the
outcome, the ground was to cycle the VRIV valve to verify its functionality
for the upcoming segment isolation. A method to permanently secure the
connector is under development.]

After doing a very successful first data collection on the FOOT (Foot/Ground
Reaction Forces during Space Flight) on 12/3, which gained just over 6.5
hours of high quality data, Mike Foale today set up the equipment for his
second session, scheduled for tomorrow. This included preparing the
equipment for EMG (electromyography) calibration with camcorder/video
recording.

Mike also completed his second data collection with the HPA (Hand Posture
Analysis) investigation. After having set up the VTR (video tape recorder)
for documenting the activities, Mike used the posture acquisition glove
(PAG), which has delicate sensors attached to the tops of the fingers, to
operate the handgrip dynamometer (HGD). [HGD is connected to the HPA
interface box (IBOX) along with the pinch force dynamometer (PFD) and the
PAG. The research objective of the ASI/Italy (Kayser Co.)-designed HPA is
to investigate the performance degradation of the human upper limb
muscle-skeletal apparatus and its morphological-functional modifications
during long term exposition to zero-G and to study the role of gravity in
the planning and execution hierarchy of reaching, grasping, manipulating and
transporting objects. The HPA facility consists of an HGD, a PFD, and the
instrumented PAG with 15 degrees of freedom, allowing the measurement of the
bending angles on individual phalanxes. PAG is coupled to a Wrist
Electronic Box (WEB) housing an inertial tracking system in order to acquire
tri-axial acceleration and rotation of the forearm.]

Kaleri conducted an inventory audit on available videocassettes and photo
films, collecting a tally of used and blank films as well as of the stowage
locations of Russian camera equipment (two Nikon film cameras, two video
cameras [PD-1P, DVCAM 150], working recorders and maps of ocean currents).

Mike Foale started battery recharging for the "Pilobolus" scopemeter that is
used for taking pressure and temperature measurements in the cabin.

The CDR also terminated the 24-hour discharging process for spacesuit (EMU)
batteries #2029 and #2030 in the Airlock's battery stowage assembly (BSA),
then stowed them in the Airlock (A/L) after resetting their 50-day clock.
Later, Mike initiated another maintenance charging/discharging cycle on EMU
batteries #2032 and #2033 in the BSA. [The charging will again take about 24
hrs, followed by discharging. Helmet light and PGT (pistol grip tool)
batteries were not to be charged at this time.]

The FE performed the periodic functional closure test of the Vozdukh CO2
removal system's AVK emergency vacuum valves (last time done: 12/23). [The
AVKs are critical because they close the Vozdukh's vacuum access lines in
the event of a malfunction in the regular vacuum valves (BVK) or a
depressurization in the Vozdukh valve panel (BOA). Access to vacuum is
required to vent carbon dioxide during the regeneration of the absorbent
cartridges (PP). During nominal operation, the AVK valves remain open.]

Sasha attended to the regular routine maintenance of SOZh life support
systems and prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) "delta"
file for updating the IMS database, while Mike completed the regular routine
status checkup of autonomous Lab payloads..

The crew performed their regular physical exercise on TVIS treadmill, CEVIS
ergometer and VELO bike with force loader, and Mike completed the monthly
maintenance of the CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation), which
consists mostly of an examination of the wire rope isolators for damage.

The pressure check and re-evacuation of the "Volume D" space between the
window's pressure panes is scheduled for tomorrow. The evacuation of any
air down to less than 190 mmHg (torr) is to prevent condensation and
potential microbial growth. The window shutters remain closed for now. [In
addition to the two pressure panes, the window has an outer debris
protection pane and an inner scratch protection pane. The pressure of
"Volume D" will be determined with a setup using the FSS (fluid system
servicer) equipment, the ISA (internal sample adapter) and VAJ (vacuum
access jumper). The procedure will then vent the pressure overboard through
the Lab VRIV (vacuum relief isolation valve).]

Preparations continue for this weekend's planned isolation of the U.S. and
Russian segments, intended to rule out any other small leaks that may be
present and gain experience for similar events in the future. The current
plan is to perform the isolation on Friday (1/16) and re-open everything no
later than just before the crew's bunk time on Sunday. Concerns being
investigated at present apply to emergency procedures during the isolation.
[The plan is to isolate the ISS into four segments, viz.: (1) US Lab; (2)
Node + Airlock + PMA-1; (3) FGB; and (4) SM + Progress + DC-1 + Soyuz.
Proper operability and accuracy of rapid depressurization sensors in the SM
need to be ascertained. Also, "time-remaining" nomographs for a leak in the
Soyuz must be converted or updated, since the ISS volume used for
calculating reserve time will be reduced considerably by the isolation.
Crew and ground procedures need to be agreed upon also for the event that a
rapid depress occurs in one of the uninhabited modules.]

Today's CEO targets, in the current XPOP attitude constrained by flight rule
to fewer near-vertical targets due to Lab window shutter closure and current
condensation-prevention plan (see above), wereW Argentina inland deltas
(mapping swath requested just left of track for three minutes to reveal
detail of watercourses on a series of nested inland that comprise one of the
largest, flattest plains in the world),Limpopo River delta(Dynamic event.
Sunglint opportunity over southern Mozambique. Inadequate maps exist over
this poorest African nation. Long oblique views, looking left, can be used
to map surface geology over the entire southern bulge of Mozambique: the
bulge is a vast delta stretching hundreds of km back to the mountainous edge
of the continent),Plankton bloom, S Atlantic(Dynamic event. Recent CEO
images of the south Atlantic bloom [with icebergs and South Georgia island
for important location information], add much detail to the SeaWiFS images.
Weather may have allowed further views of the bloom, right of track, to
follow its continued evolution. If possible, the crew was to try to include
South Georgia in any views), andSea ice/icebergs(Dynamic event. CEO images
last week of surprisingly large ice masses just NE of South Georgia Island
are being researched. Gaps in the clouds may have allowed the crew to see
these masses again, right of track. If possible, they were to include South
Georgia in any views).

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 poweredOn. 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 (repair incomplete).


SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --
25.9; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 159.4; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 4.5;
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg/psi) -- 741; temperature (deg C) --
19.5.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg/psi) -- 744; temperature (deg C) -- 23.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg/psi) -- 729.69; temperature (deg C) -- 24.4 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg/psi) -- 731.58; temperature (deg C) -- 24.7; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg/psi) -- 733.52; temperature
(deg C) -- 23.6; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.2, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a;
ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 25.1
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 10.3.

(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:3637 kg (8018 lb) as of 1/1/04 [SM(755) +
FGB(2530) + 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, 7:33am EST [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 370.8 km
Apogee -- 376.2 km
Perigee -- 365.5 km
Period -- 92.0 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0007981
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.66
Mean altitude loss last 24 hours -- 130 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 29405

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS 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