ISS On-Orbit Status, 12-03-2004

ISS On-Orbit Status 12 Mar 2004

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Day 146 in space for Expedition 8 (144 days aboard ISS).

Good news on TVIS! After the successful three-day IFM (in-flight
maintenance), crew reports and data evaluation on the ground indicate that
the treadmill is back in operation and running "quiet as a church mouse".
This morning, the crew was congratulated on their excellent work, which
resulted in the TVIS working "in fact better than when you inherited it!"
[After evaluation of the downlinked data, theGo has been given for
TVISexercise in motorized mode, with speed restricted to 6 mph in motorized
mode and loads limited to 160 lbs in motorized mode. The crew was notified
to monitor for "Underspeed" messages, which just mean that because of the
new bearings the gyro requires a little more time until reaching its speed
(2000 rpm).]

CDR/SO Michael Foale began today's FOOT experiment (Foot/Ground Reaction
Forces during Space Flight), his third session, by donning the specially
instrumented LEMS (lower extremity monitoring suit) pants garment, opening
the Lab nitrogen (N2) valve and then conducting the data collection session
during the day. After the FOOT ops, the N2 valve was closed again.
[Wearing the black Lycra biking tights with 20 electrodes and shoes fitted
with insoles that measure impact forces on the bottom of the foot for the
12-hr session, Foale first performed electromyography (EMG) calibration
(i.e., electric muscle currents recording) on the right arm and leg, then
completed a typical on-orbit day while his reaction forces against the ISS
structure were recorded passively on 14 channels to determine how much
stress his legs and feet endure. This provides better understanding of the
bone loss and muscle mass loss experienced by astronauts in zero-G (on Mir,
for example, cosmonauts lost as much bone mass in a month as post-menopausal
women do in a year). Prior to and following TVIS exercise he needed to
perform a standing calibration with three marker button presses, to allow
the ground to identify if sensors have shifted during exercise. During
standing calibration he was to stand up as straight as he would in 1G,
keeping knees straight and heels on the footplates. At the end of the day,
he was to check whether EMG electrodes have come loose during the preceding
activities. The experiment, which is led by the biomedical engineering
department at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, was also
conducted by Ken Bowersox during Increment 6.]

FE Alexander Kaleri configured the borrowed spare U.S. IBM 760XD laptop in
the place of the Russian laptop 3 (which is currently being used with the
Service Module Central Post computer #1 [KTsP1]) to support the Russian
medical experiments MBI-8 "Pulse" and MBI-9 "Profilaktika", starting
tomorrow and running through 3/17.

Foale worked on the RED (resistive exercise device), reinstalling the
Flexpack canisters #1011 and #1012.

The FE continued the regular monthly maintenance cycle on the RS (Russian
segment) ventilation system, today cleaning the removable screens of its
three GZhT gas-liquid heat exchangers in the FGB. He also changed out the
FGB's two dust filters (PF1 & PF2).

In the SM, Alex then replaced the air ventilation system's four dust
collector filters (PF1-4).

Sasha also completed the periodic servicing task of changing out ASU toilet
system equipment, then checked out the ASU. [Replaced were the receptacle
(MP) and filter insert (F-V). The old units were stowed for disposal.]

Mike Foale initiated the charging process on battery #1 of the MedOps
cardiac defibrillator. Later, charging of #1 was terminated and initiated
on battery #2. The equipment was stowed when both batteries were done.

The FE performed maintenance on his BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 ("Plants-2") payload
and "refueled" its water storage tank. [Rasteniya studies growth and
development of plants (peas) under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-4
greenhouse. Regular maintenance involves monitoring of seedling growth,
humidity measurements, watering to moisten the substrate if necessary, and
photo/video recording.]

Mike Foale set up and worked a training session on the ADUM (Advanced
Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity) experiment's OPE (On-board
Proficiency Enhancer) to support upcoming Scan A activities. [Mike tested
running the ADUM OPE compact disk on the HRF PC/laptop and performed steps
critical for voice.]

As every week, after exercising Foale transferred data files from the
physical exercise equipment to the MEC (medical equipment computer) via
memory card and RED log entries, for downlink on OCA comm. Later, he
completed the periodic transfer of accumulated data files from the wristband
HRM (heart rate monitor) receiver stations to the MEC for downlink, then
deleting them on the HRM.

Sasha Kaleri performed the regular SOZh life support systems maintenance in
the SM, comprising the water supply equipment, food supply subsystem (SOP),
and sanitary hygiene equipment (SGO), and Foale completed the weekly status
checkup of autonomous Increment 8 payloads in the Lab.

Update on Elektron O2 generator: Continues to be failed. To check on the
possibility of an erratic pressure sensor, TsUP/Moscow today uplinked a
modified algorithm, which changes the pump outlet pressure (or voltage)
limit that triggers the Elektron shutdown. The modification will lower the
software auto shutdown pressure limit, thus, it is hoped,
eliminating/reducing the premature micropump shutdowns. [TsUP/Moscow has
stated that it is not ready to give up on the current Liquid Unit (BZh-6)
and will keep attempting to activate Elektron for the next two weeks. The
last step is to replace the BZh, but there is only one spare left on board,
the last manufactured BZh. A new unit will not be available until "sometime
in 2005". If today's recovery attempt fails, the crew will start using SFOG
(solid-fuel oxygen generator) "candles" tomorrow (Saturday). In addition to
the SFOGs, Russian and U.S. O2 gas reserves (used to support spacewalks) are
available. Progress-260/13P air and O2 supplies have been consumed.]

With solar Beta angle now exceeding 45 degrees, the ground reset the USOS
P6's solar array wings to a drag-reducing bias angle of 43 deg ("sun slicer"
mode).

Today's CEO (Crew Earth Observations) targets, limited in XPOP attitude by
flight rule constraints on the use of the science window, which is available
for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in "ram"), were
Tasmania (Dynamic event. Unusually clear weather. ISS tracked across the NW
tip of the island. Suggested was a panorama looking right to capture the
entire island), Saharan dust, Central Atlantic (Dynamic event. One of the
ISS/CEO images of the dust margin in the central Atlantic has been chosen
for coordination with satellite images and possible write-up for the NASA
website. The dust event is declining, but the crew was asked to shoot the
margin again if it appears [obliques with the limb are best]), Cyclone
Nicky, Indian Ocean (Dynamic event. Looking right for a panoramic,
low-light view of this small but well-formed Category 1 storm in the central
Indian Ocean. The storm eye is projected to be ~7 deg off track, but cloud
feeder bands will be much closer), Patagonian glaciers (nadir pass over the
north end of the ice fields. Detailed images of small glaciers were
requested, to complete the fine documentation of this remote, generally
cloud covered region), Plankton blooms, Patagonia (Dynamic event. Blooms
best developed along the coast at nadir), Cape Town, South Africa (looking
right for images of the whole urban region which stretches well east of
Table Mountain onto sandy plains known as the Cape Flats), and
Tuamotu-Austral Islands (400mm-lens. Looking left and right for detailed
images of these remote South Pacific Islands).

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/

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 3:55am EST [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 368.3 km
Apogee -- 375.5km
Perigee -- 361.0 km
Period -- 91.91 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.628 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0010739
Solar Beta Angle -- 43.9 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.67
Mean altitude loss last 24 hours -- 80 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 30312

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 :-)

www.spacepatches.info

"Jacques van Oene" writes:
Update on Elektron O2 generator: Continues to be failed. To check on the
possibility of an erratic pressure sensor, TsUP/Moscow today uplinked a
modified algorithm, which changes the pump outlet pressure (or voltage)
limit that triggers the Elektron shutdown. The modification will lower the
software auto shutdown pressure limit, thus, it is hoped,
eliminating/reducing the premature micropump shutdowns. [TsUP/Moscow has
stated that it is not ready to give up on the current Liquid Unit (BZh-6)
and will keep attempting to activate Elektron for the next two weeks. The
last step is to replace the BZh, but there is only one spare left on board,
the last manufactured BZh. A new unit will not be available until "sometime
in 2005". If today's recovery attempt fails, the crew will start using SFOG
(solid-fuel oxygen generator) "candles" tomorrow (Saturday). In addition to
the SFOGs, Russian and U.S. O2 gas reserves (used to support spacewalks) are
available. Progress-260/13P air and O2 supplies have been consumed.]

So, the Russians only have one other BZh unit, and its already on
ISS. And I thought the shuttle program was bad about keeping spares
on hand. Considering the Elektron O2 generator seems to be the most
"fussy" of all the ISS life support systems, you'd think the Russians
would have spares on the ground for this beast.

I continue to be unimpressed with Russian life support systems. We
can't go to Mars with units that continuously fail like this.

Jeff
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