XA/EVA Project Office Weekly Activity Report 15 Feb 2001

7A Acceptance Review Board (ARB)

On February 7, 2001 the EVA Project Office supported the 7A Acceptance Review Board (ARB) and endorsed turnover of the International Space Station Joint Airlock and High Pressure Gas Tanks from Boeing to NASA. Overall the Airlock represents a quality product that has been or will be thoroughly verified through Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory testing, Human Thermal Vacuum tests, analysis, and fit checks. Boeing’s open actions list accurately captured planned verification of external limit loads, connector spacing, and fit checks. Requirements closure is awaiting final thermal analysis and Airlock external outfitting. Of note were the atypically high percentage of EVA fit checks yet to be performed (~75 percent), which are waiting final Airlock external outfitting. These fit checks are properly scheduled in the KSC flow. These fit checks, as well as all other open ARB items, constitute a low risk of prelaunch hardware modification.

5A EVA’s

All three EVA’s scheduled for STS-98 (5A) have been executed successfully with 100 percent of the planned objectives completed. The major EVA objectives included installation of the power, data, and fluid connections for the Lab and relocation of pressurized mating adapter 2, transfer and stowage of the spare S-band antenna structural assembly, installation of the Lab power and data grapple fixture and video signal converter and preparation of the P6 starboard radiator for deploy. Additionally, the crew performed a development test objective to validate options for performing an incapacitated crew rescue. One EMU and both SAFER units have been transferred to ISS in preparation for 5A.1. During EVA 1, one EVA crewmember was exposed to ammonia from a leaking quick disconnect during the nominal Lab fluid connection tasks. The procedures developed preflight for ammonia decontamination were successfully performed and there was no evidence of any ammonia brought back into the Shuttle cabin.

7A.1 EVA Assessment

Per request from the ISS program, the EVA Project Office and Mission Operations Directorate performed an assessment on the impacts of reducing the scheduled EVA’s on ISS Flight 7A.1 from two to one and the impact of monitoring of early ammonia servicer (EAS) for 7A.1. Given the current proposed manifest of EAS, the S0 truss launch through activation umbilicals, and the Materials ISS Experiment (MISSE) payload, all EVA transfer objectives can be completed within the current plan for two EVA’s, however it does not appear feasible to complete all objectives within a single EVA. Relocating EVA tasks to alternate flights and increments was assessed, and there are opportunities available during scheduled EVA’s. Reduction of 7A.1 to a single EVA will necessitate addition of a scheduled EVA to utilization flight (UF)-1 or Increment 2 to accomplish all currently baselined Program objectives.

Human Thermal Vacuum (HTV) #10

Crewmember P. Forrester performed the HTV cold test on February 10, 2001, and crewmember J. Clervoy performed the HTV hot test on February 13, 2001. The Forward Avionics Umbilical, Keel Pin Drag Link, Keel Pin, S0/S1Mobile Transporter and Crew and Equipment Translation Aid stop, thermal radiator rotary joint (TRRJ) antirotation bolt lock and the S3 adjustable diameter pin performed nominally at both cold and hot temperature extremes. The Fluid Line Anchor Patch (FLAP) installation experienced gaps during both runs resulting in a pressure decay, which will be investigated. The FLAP will be evaluated after the HTV #10 for a final assessment. The Fluid Line Repair Kit (FLRK) did not sufficiently cut tubes and jammed in place during the cold run. The FLRK cutting head has a potential pinch point that will need forward work. Overall, HVT #10 was a very successful event.

ISS-3 EVA Status

The ISS-3 EVA baseline was presented to the EVA Configuration Control Board, February 9, 2001. Options covering Docking Compartment (DC)-1 launch in ISS-2 and ISS-3 were provided. Open work remains on the Joint Airlock/Orlan integrated systems check. A technical interchange meeting was conducted February 5-9, 2001, to discuss technical issues associated with performing a systems checkout during ISS-3. The first series of training for the crew has been completed at the Hydrolab. The ISS-3 crewmembers will return to the Hydrolab for the second series of training runs on February 28, 2001. The crew is scheduled to launch on Flight 7A.1 on July 12, 2001, and will return on Flight UF1 scheduled to launch November 1, 2001.

Original signed by

G. Allen Flynt

Deputy Manager