ISS On-Orbit Status, 18-11-2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 18 Nov 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. As of this morning, the station has circled Earth 28512 times,
having put 755 million miles (1.2 billion km) behind it -- or roughly the
distance to Jupiter.

Today's crew activities centered on the Russian Orlan IVA training run,
involving a test of retreating, in pressurized spacesuits, from the DC-1
airlock to the Soyuz CRV (crew return vehicle) docked to the DC-1 "Pirs".
The exercise was to demonstrate, for the very first time, the crew's ability
to access the Soyuz Orbital Module (BO) in the event of a contingency during
or after the two-man EVA planned for early next year (there have been no
ground sims of this maneuver in the Russian Hydrolab).

Both spacesuits and their ancillary systems were assembled and checked out
properly. But after a preliminary fit check of an inflated Orlan suit
pushed by the crew through the DC1-to-BO hatch last night indicated marginal
clearance, TsUP/Moscow changed the training procedure by having only FE
Kaleri suit up. As it appeared on the downlinked video, his transfer to the
Soyuz BO module through the tight hatchway in the pressurized Orlan seemed
to require active pushing by CDR Foale, himself remaining unsuited. Russian
specialists are now assessing the test and are expected to develop
conclusions and further plans, which could include a relocation of the Soyuz
to the roomier FGB nadir hatch.

Today's IVA training run took more time than expected, and the option of
doing selected get-ahead tasks, provided to the crew in case of "left-over"
time on today's schedule, was not exercised. A planned ground-commanded
external video survey of the ISS with the SSRMS (Space Station Remote
Manipulator System) cameras, requiring no crew involvement, was deferred to
a future date (TBD).

Today's CEO (crew earth observation) targets, limited in the current XPOP
attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science
window, wereSabancaya volcano, Peru (this landslide research site lies just
right of track; a short mapping swath to capture the site was suggested.
Landslides cause far more destruction to communities in the Andes than
volcanoes or earthquakes per se), La Paz, Bolivia(looking left for this city
on the lip of the high Andean plateau),Lake Poopo(good pass over the Poopo
basin. The crew's recent successful images of the lake itself showed that
secondary features need to be imaged, especially the white, dry lake beds
south of Poopo, which will appear just right of rack. These usually dry
lakes receive some of the overflow from Poopo, and are a sensitive
indication of rainfall in the basin), and NE Brazil Biomass Burning(Dynamic
event. Looking mainly left for continuing fires and smoke).

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 1:00pm EST).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered On, 18A. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (in
Manual Mode 5/3). 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) --
27.8; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 156.3; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 2.8.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 757; temperature (deg C) --
20.9.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 756; temperature (deg C) -- n/a.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.89; temperature (deg C) -- 24.6 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 745.62; temperature (deg C) -- 24.8; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 745.73; temperature (deg
C) -- 29.2; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 25.3, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) -- n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 25.1
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 11.1

(n/a = data not available)

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B
both in biased Autotrack mode (suntracking).
SM batteries: Battery #8, formerly known as #7, is still in slot #8 for
troubleshooting; all other batteries (7) are in "Partial Charge" mode
(batteries #1 and #3 are degraded).
FGB batteries: Batteries #1 is off; 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-2 MDM is prime, C&C-1 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): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (all lanes
reintegrated 11/5).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational; string #3
dropped out 10/22.

Propulsion System:

Total propellant load available:3704 kg (8166 lb) as of 11/13 [SM(755) +
FGB(2597) + 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-2 is prime, IAC-1 is suspect).
Video subsystem operating nominally.
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:

SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF #2/LEE A, 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, 7:30am EST [= epoch]):

Mean altitude -- 375.5 km
Apogee -- 379.8 km
Perigee -- 371.1 km
Period -- 92.0 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0006452
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.64
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 115 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 28512
For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html




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

Jacques :-)

Editor: www.spacepatches.info

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 09:47:08 GMT, "Jacques van Oene"
wrote:

Both spacesuits and their ancillary systems were assembled and checked out
properly. But after a preliminary fit check of an inflated Orlan suit
pushed by the crew through the DC1-to-BO hatch last night indicated marginal
clearance, TsUP/Moscow changed the training procedure by having only FE
Kaleri suit up. As it appeared on the downlinked video, his transfer to the
Soyuz BO module through the tight hatchway in the pressurized Orlan seemed
to require active pushing by CDR Foale, himself remaining unsuited. Russian
specialists are now assessing the test and are expected to develop
conclusions and further plans, which could include a relocation of the Soyuz
to the roomier FGB nadir hatch.

What is the procedure for moving a Soyuz? Do they both get in wearing
less bulky flight suits and fly it to the other port? If so, doesn't that
technically leave ISS unmanned? (sorta like Dan Quayle being the 42nd
President of the US because he took over for a few hours while Bush Sr.
was under anesthesia Or does Foale stay aboard, leaving him at risk
of possibly having no "lifeboat"?

They can't move a Soyuz by remote control, can they?

Way too many questions...

Dale

What is the procedure for moving a Soyuz? Do they both get in wearing
less bulky flight suits and fly it to the other port?

Yes. If there were a failure to re-dock, they wouldn't want someone
to be stranded.

If so, doesn't that technically leave ISS unmanned? (sorta like Dan
Quayle being the 42nd President of the US because he took over for a
few hours while Bush Sr. was under anesthesia

Something like that. Or like leaving your house uninhabited because
you step out onto the front stoop to pick up the newspaper.

They can't move a Soyuz by remote control, can they?

That's actually a good question. They have the hardware, which is
used on Progress. But (a) I don't know if it is installed on Soyuz,
and (b) they'd probably feel that a human pilot would be a bit more
reliable.

Jim Kingdon wrote in
news
They can't move a Soyuz by remote control, can they?

That's actually a good question. They have the hardware, which is
used on Progress. But (a) I don't know if it is installed on Soyuz,
and (b) they'd probably feel that a human pilot would be a bit more
reliable.

a) TORU is installed in Soyuz.
b) If it fails to re-dock, the crew no longer has an escape vehicle

Bottom line: when a Soyuz leaves station, the WHOLE crew assigned to that
Soyuz goes with it.


--
JRF

Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.

On 19 Nov 2003 23:59:54 GMT, "Jorge R. Frank" wrote:

Jim Kingdon wrote in
news
They can't move a Soyuz by remote control, can they?

That's actually a good question. They have the hardware, which is
used on Progress. But (a) I don't know if it is installed on Soyuz,
and (b) they'd probably feel that a human pilot would be a bit more
reliable.

a) TORU is installed in Soyuz.
b) If it fails to re-dock, the crew no longer has an escape vehicle

Bottom line: when a Soyuz leaves station, the WHOLE crew assigned to that
Soyuz goes with it.

Sorry to ask such a basic question, but my memory isn't what it used to
be (I can't even remember what it used to be

Have ISS crews moved a Soyuz before? I know they have moved Progresses
to make room for soon-to-arrive Shuttles and such, but I can't recall them
ever getting in a Soyuz and moving it. Does moving it affect its 6 month
"shelf life" at all?

Thanks,
Dale

Dale wrote in
:

On 19 Nov 2003 23:59:54 GMT, "Jorge R. Frank"
wrote:

Jim Kingdon wrote in
news
They can't move a Soyuz by remote control, can they?

That's actually a good question. They have the hardware, which is
used on Progress. But (a) I don't know if it is installed on Soyuz,
and (b) they'd probably feel that a human pilot would be a bit more
reliable.

a) TORU is installed in Soyuz.
b) If it fails to re-dock, the crew no longer has an escape vehicle

Bottom line: when a Soyuz leaves station, the WHOLE crew assigned to
that Soyuz goes with it.

Sorry to ask such a basic question, but my memory isn't what it used
to be (I can't even remember what it used to be

No prob!

Have ISS crews moved a Soyuz before? I know they have moved Progresses
to make room for soon-to-arrive Shuttles and such, but I can't recall
them ever getting in a Soyuz and moving it.

Yes, I know the Expedition 2 crew did a Soyuz relocation, and there may
have been others I don't remember.

Does moving it affect its
6 month "shelf life" at all?

No, once the descent module propellant is loaded, the clock is ticking on
that one. It does affect the Soyuz 4.2 day "free-flight" limit, though.


--
JRF

Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.