ISS On-Orbit Status, 24-05-2004

ISS On-Orbit Status 24 May 2004

All ISS systems continue to function nominally except those noted previously
or below. Underway: Week 4 of Expedition 9 (another busy one).

Update on Progress: Progress 13P undocking this morning at 5:21am EDT went
smoothly, with the crew monitoring its departure from the Service Module
(SM)'s aft compartment. Later, at ~9:12am, it performed the 3-min. deorbit
burn and reentered the atmosphere over the Pacific at ~9:48am. The SM aft
docking port is now free to receive Progress 14P, set for launch tomorrow
morning at 8:34am EDT and docking on 5/27 at 9:55am. [The 13P departure
was slightly marred by some timing differences between Moscow and Houston
Flight Control, resulting in an extension of the period the ISS was in free
drift by about 20 minutes. No impact on onboard systems.]

Update on EMU Troubleshooting: Faced with both EMU 3005 & 3013 currently
being No Go for EVA due to cooling failure, Houston this morning requested
Moscow to support preparations for conducting the unscheduled RPCM
replacement EVA next month using Russian Orlan-M spacesuits, with the DC1
docking module for egress/ingress. This requires a large amount of work to
be accomplished by the joint EVA Working Group, including relevant hazard
analyses and safety certification. [For the time being, no more work is
done on the EMUs.]

FE/SO Michael Fincke restowed the Airlock (A/L), moving equipment stowage
bags from their temporary location in the Node back to the A/L, which had
been cleared for the EMU EVA dryrun.

In the SM, CDR Gennady Padalka started another regeneration cycle on
absorbent bed #1 of the BMP harmful impurities unit, leaving channel 2 in
Purify mode. [The "bakeout" cycle in the filter beds is repeated every 20
days. The regeneration was to be terminated shortly before sleep time
tonight.]

After conducting an onboard training (OBT) review of a new software package
called SNFM (Serial Network Flow Monitor) for the EXPRESS Rack 5 laptop (ER5
ELC), the Science Officer downloaded the program, which monitors network
science traffic, onto the ELC.

Mike also worked on the BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-3) experiment at
the Lab MWA (Maintenance Work Area), checking out the zooming procedure on
the DCS760 camera required at tomorrow's sample photography session, to
assure proper focus. [The 38-page crew training presentation for BCAT-3
had also been uplinked for review.]

Padalka unstowed a Russian Real-Time Monitoring Analyzer unit (BAOK) for
measuring concentration of harmful contaminants in the cabin atmosphere, and
set it up for air sampling in the Russian segment (RS). [The BAOK gas
analyzer determines concentrations of CH4 (methane), NH3 (ammonia), CO
(carbon monoxide), HCN (hydrogen cyanide), HF (hydrofluoric acid) and NO2
(nitric oxide) from air samples using electrochemical sensors, with
measurements displayed on LCD (liquid crystal display) and stored on tapes.]

Gennady performed the periodic (monthly) functional closure test of the
Vozdukh CO2 removal system's emergency vacuum valves (AVK, last time done:
4/23, with Kaleri). [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 (CO2) during the
regeneration of the absorbent cartridges (PP). During nominal operation,
the AVK valves remain open.]

Padalka verified the display of yesterday's Progress-mounted Klest-M video
system test on the SM video monitors VKU2 & Simvol-Ts.

Gennady also set up the SKV-2 air conditioner in the SM by configuring
condensate evacuation to the SBK collection tank, then initiated a 6.5-hr.
activation test of the system, which has long been inactive, using the RS
SM's internal thermal loop 2 (KOB2). A test with KOB1 is scheduled for
tomorrow.

Fincke was scheduled for a 15-min. teleconference with the ADUM Principal
Investigator to discuss the recent ADUM (Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in
Micro-G) scanning session.

Continuing the current round of the monthly preventive maintenance of RS air
ventilation systems, the CDR today worked first in the SM, replacing the air
ventilation system's four dust collector filters (PF1-4) and discarding the
old units. Later, he moved to the DC1 docking module to clean the two PF1 &
PF2 dust filters of its air duct system as well as the protective mesh
screens of the V1 & V2 ventilator fans (last time done: 4/27).

The FE prepared the daily "delta" file for updating the Inventory Management
System (IMS) database, performed the routine maintenance of SM life support
systems (SOZh), including ASU toilet system replacements, and conducted the
daily status checkup of autonomous Lab payloads (PCG-STES010).

Mike also performed the daily leak check of the Lab window's inter-pane
space ("Volume D"), using the "Aeolus" scopemeter with pressure probe.
Today's pressure reading was 591 Torr (mmHg), or 11.4 psi.

The crew started preparing for Wednesday's (5/27) robotics operation by
reviewing the current version of the DOUG (Dynamic Operational Ubiquitous
Graphics) software. [Used during Robotics/SSRMS (Space Station Remote
Manipulator System) operations, DOUG is a software program on the MSS RWS
(mobile service system robotics workstation) laptops that provides a
birdseye-view graphical image of the external station configuration and the
SSRMS arm, showing its real-time location and configuration on a laptop
during its operation.]

At 6:33am EDT, Padalka and Fincke downlinked greetings to the participants
and guests at the 4th International Conference-Exhibition on Small
Satellites, to be held May 31 through June 4 in the city of Korolev at the
Institute for Continuous Education ("Mashpribor"). This event is dedicated
to the 70th anniversary of the birth of Yuri Gagarin, and the address was
recorded at TsUP for replay.

At 9:00am EDT, both crewmembers supported two live interactive TV downlinks,
first in an interview by the Associated Press (Marcia Dunn), then by the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Byron Spice).

Continuing tasks on Gennady's Russian job list are an audit of all internal
lighting fixtures in the RS and keeping a running account of available
stowage areas in the FGB and DC1 modules, required for the upcoming
Progress-249/14P cargo transfer activities.

Today's CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo 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 Aerosols, Lower Yangtze Basin (the crew was asked to document any air
mass margins that they could see), Yangtze River Delta (tracking along the
river for the sprawl of cities and especially modifications to shorelines
where new high-rent acreage is being constructed at a fast pace), Lahore,
Pakistan (good pass for a general view of this city and surrounding area,
located on the border with India), Khartoum, Sudan (looking left at the
confluence of the Blue and White Niles. Good pass for a general view. The
crew's last attempt was foiled by the passage of a dust storm that obscured
the confluence region), and Internal waves, Tuamotu Archipelago (looking
left as the sun's glint point tracks across the southern part of the island
chain to document any wave packets set up between the atolls).

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 today, 1:05pm EDT).

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

Elektron O2 generator is On. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On. U.S. CDRA CO2
scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating.
SM Gas Analyzer has been calibrated and is used for ppO2 & ppCO2 monitoring.
MCA (major constituents analyzer) is in Life Extending Mode (LEM). BMP
Harmful Impurities unit: absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify
mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is Off, SKV-2 is On (SM panel mods completed
4/8; SKV-2 activation failed 4/20; today test-activated). SFOG slot #2 fan
suspect (not usable).


SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --
25.7; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 159.4; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 3.4;
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --
20.4.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 756; temperature (deg C) -- 22.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752.79; temperature (deg C) -- 24.0 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 754.71; temperature (deg C) -- 24.7; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 754.92; temperature (deg
C) -- 22.8; shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) -- n/a.


(n/a = data not available)


PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a.

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B
both in Autotrack (solar-tracking), with drag reduction bias (2B @ -32.5
deg, 4B @ 32.5 deg.)
SM batteries: All batteries (8) are on line in "Partial Charge" mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #5 is off line; all other batteries (5) are on line
in "Partial Charge" mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is in Standby mode; PCU-2 is in Standby mode.

Command & Data Handling Systems:

C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is backup, and C&C-3 is in standby.
GNC-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is backup.
INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.
EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is Off (backup).
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 11/22/03).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string #3
dropped out 10/22/03).
FGB MDM-1 is Off (failed, 11/21/03); MDM-2 is Operational.

Propulsion System:

Total propellant load available: 3436 kg (7575 lb) as of 5/20/04; [SM(552)
+ FGB(2884) + Progress M-1(0)]. (Capability: SM -- 860 kg; FGB -- 6120 kg).

Attitude Control Systems:

2 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02; CMG-2's RPC-17 failed 4/21/04).
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 (may require a mask).
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 Lab PDGF/LEE A, operational on redundant string,
off on prime.
MBS: KA (keep alive) 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, 7:12am EDT [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 363.5 km
Apogee -- 367.6 km
Perigee -- 359.4 km
Period -- 91.8 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.6336 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0006131
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.68
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 90 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 31459

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