MRPO Daily Status Report 07-09-02

GMT Date: 190

Calendar Date: 07/09/02

Increment: 5

Stage: UF2

Week 5

Payloads currently on-board ISS: ADVASC, BSTC, InSPACE, MAMS, MEPS, MSG (facility), PFMI, SAMS, StelSys, STES-8, SUBSA and ZCG. InSpace will not operate during this increment.

Status:
MRPO payloads ADVASC, MAMS, SAMS, STES 8 and ZCG continue nominal unattended operations. BSTC and StelSys operations have been successfully completed.

EXPRESS RACKS 1, 2 and 4 (ER1, ER2 & ER4) are powered and supporting payload operations. ER3 is installed in the US Lab and will be checked out later. ER5 was checked out during Increment 4 and powered down.

The Medium Rate Communication Outage Recorder (MCOR) is operating nominally.
ADVASC is downlinking nominal health and status data and the plants have developed rapidly.

MAMS is operating nominally in the quasi-steady mode. HiRAP is turned-off. MAMS data is available on the acceleration measurement web page.

MEPS has been transferred to ER1 and initial operations are scheduled for week 6.
The MSG video system and lap-top computer checkout was completed today in preparation for SUBSA operations tomorrow.

PFMI is stowed in the US Lab and is scheduled to operate in the MSG late in this increment.

SAMS equipment in all racks is operating nominally. SAMS data is also being posted to the acceleration measurement web page.

STES-8 is downlinking nominal health and status data. Growth chamber number three was deactivated on day 180. A second growth chamber is planned for deactivation on day 200.

SUBSA video cables were connected today in preparation for initial operations planned for tomorrow.

ZCG furnace operations are nominal. Termination of ZCG operations is planned for day 196.

Near-term Outlook:

Week 5 (7/8-7/14) ) – Planning for this week was based on approximately 18 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. Progress 8 transfer operations are continuing. SUBSA initial operations inside the MSG are scheduled for tomorrow.

Week 6 (7/15-7/21) – Preliminary planning is being based on approximately 15 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. ADVASC sampling; ZCG power-down and sample removal; MEPS activation, operation and deactivation; multiple MSG/SUBSA operations; STES-8 growth chamber 6 deactivation and SAMS hard-drive and battery swap are planed.

M. Vlasse, PhD, DSc
MRPO Increment Scientist

ACRONYMS:
ADVASC – Advanced Astroculture
BCSS — Biotechnology Cell Science Stowage
BSTC– Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (General status information on this payload will include coverage of the following items of support equipment: BTR, BCSS and GSM)
BTR — Biotechnology Refrigerator
ER1– EXPRESS RACK 1
ER2 — EXPRESS RACK 2
ER3 – EXPRESS RACK 3
ER4 – EXPRESS RACK 4
ER5 – EXPRESS RACK 5
GSM — Gas Supply Module
InSPACE- Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates
MAMS — Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System
MCOR -Medium Rate Communication Outage Recorder
MEPS – Microencapsulation Electrostatic Processing System
MSG – Microgravity Science Glovebox
PFMI – Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation
SAMS — Space Acceleration Measurement System II
STES – Protein Crystal Growth – Single Thermal Enclosure System
SUBSA – Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules
ZCG – Zeolite Crystal Growth