ISS On-Orbit Status 10 Sep 2002

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously.

Early in the morning before breakfast, the crew unstowed and donned personal acoustic dosimeters, which they then carried all day (~16 hours). [Immediately before going to bed (5:30pm EDT), FE-1 Peggy Whitson will record the values on all three units and power-cycle the hardware. The dosimeters will be left on overnight (~8 hours). Upon wakeup tomorrow, Peggy will collect them and record the values. Thereafter, the batteries on all three units are to be changed out and the units deployed statically at specified locations.]

Peggy Whitson removed the forward IWIS (internal wireless instrumentation system) accelerometer in the Node. FE-2 Sergei Treschev later installed another IWIS triaxial accelerometer assembly in the Service Module (SM) to support the upcoming IWIS operations on 9/12 during the scheduled Russian thruster firing test. IWIS uses radio-linked RSUs (remote sensor units) in Node and Lab to take structural dynamics (vibratory) readings. After the accelerometer setup, an RSU (#1028) will also be installed in the SM on 9/12, to be returned to the US segment on 9/13.

CDR Valery Korzun spent about three hours with preventive servicing of the SM ventilation system, today checking and cleaning fans of Group B. Both he and Treschev, in another one-hour job, later changed out dust filters PF1-4 of the system.

Treschev also worked in the FGB on periodic maintenance of its ventilation system, changing out dust collectors on the PS1 and PS2 fans (without turning off the ventilators).

After activating the MSG (microgravity science glovebox), FE-1 Whitson completed the last SUBSA (solidification using a baffle in sealed ampoule) tasks, installing the SUBSA-01 sample into the thermal chamber, initiating the last processing run, and configuring the video camcorders for documentation. [After SUBSA-01, the MSG will be extensively cleaned and then reconfigured for the Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PMFI) during the 9A stage.]

It was also time for another microbiological air samplings on board the station. FE-1 Whitson collected cabin air samples with the GSC (grab sample container), which is performed every month in each module and coordinated with SSAS (solid sorbent air sampler) ops, FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) sampling and VOA (volatile organics analyzer) activity during common sampling sessions. [The GSC sampling is done in sync with the ground-controlled VOA performing its sampling, looking for potentially toxic volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere. The FMK monitors were then deployed and activated, two in the Lab, two in the Service Module (SM), for a 24-hour unattended sample collection period. Peggy also set up two SSAS (solid sorbent air sampler) gadgets in Lab and SM for unattended operation.]

Later, she and CDR Korzun took another general MedOps PFE (periodic fitness evaluation), which checks up on blood pressure and electrocardiogram during programmed exercise on the CEVIS in the Lab. Readings were taken with the BP/ECG (blood pressure/electrocardiograph). [BP/ECG provides automated noninvasive systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements while also monitoring and displaying accurate heart rates on a continual basis at rest and during exercise.]

Data gathered during yesterday’s CDRA (carbon dioxide removal assembly) air save pump test indicates that the check valve of the AD/DES1 (adsorbent/desorbent) bed #1 is seated properly and not leaking. Troubleshooting is now converging on one of the hydroflow couplings downstream of the AD/DES1 bed.

Daily routine maintenance tasks were performed by Peggy Whitson (SOSh life support systems servicing & Lab payload status checkup) and Sergei Treschev (IMS inventory update file preparation).

At 10:39 am EDT, the crewmembers downlinked multiple video messages of greeting for replay at the World Space Congress in Houston in October.

All station residents completed their daily physical exercise regimen.

A fire warning was annunciated yesterday on the SM caution and warning panel (PSS). The alarm cleared before the crew could tell what caused it. TsUP found that the false indication came from a smoke detector (SD) in the DC-1 docking compartment. The SD is of the induction-type, known to be overly sensitive to external "noise" (e.g., dust particles). [The sensors were redesigned and newly installed in FGB and DC-1 some time ago, and TsUP attempted yesterday to incorporate them in the SPOPT Fire Detection and Suppression Subsystem.. It appears the design changes were not enough. The SD was not part of the SPOPT algorithms, and besides the PSS annunciation, no other actions resulted, and no Russian Segment (RS) caution & warning (C&W) data was received by the US C&W system. Another SD type is being used in the RS.]

Over the weekend, both the IV-CPDS (intra-vehicular charged particle directional spectrometer) and EV-CPDS (extra-vehicular CPDS) locked up. The crew recovered the IV-CPDS by cycling power. Data concerning EV-CPDS status will be reviewed further prior to power cycling. The IV-CPDS and EV-CPDS measure and characterize the radiation inside and outside the station for documenting crew exposure.

An RPCM (remote power controller module) in the Lab indicates a low voltage condition for one of its RPCs (remote power controller #18), which powers the pump package of the ITCS LTL (internal thermal control system low temperature loop). However, the pump package is operating nominally despite this indication.

Yesterday’s major data dump from the SSMMU (space station mass memory unit) indicated that a 64k block of memory in the primary C&C-1 MDM (command and control computer #1) was declared invalid and deallocated. Analysis showed that no critical C&C MDM files were affected by this memory corruption. Investigation continues.

Yesterday the crew completed the task-listed checkout of the QDMs (quick-don masks), to verify that the PBA (portable breathing apparatus) and PHA (prebreathe hose assembly) QDMs operate in the emergency mode (positive pressure). Results were good, and certified lifetime of the devices was essentially doubled, so that no new QDMs need to be manifested on 9A.

Good news also from the MCA (major constituent analyzer), which is being zero-calibrated by the ground on a daily basis until readings stabilize (and weekly thereafter). For the time being, oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations are being read down by the crew. The MCA shows nominal performance and will soon be declared ready for normal operation. [The device is a mass spectrometer that determines partial pressures of major cabin air constituents (oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, water, and methane). After a lengthy idle period after replacement of its MSA (mass spectrometer assembly) and VGA (verification gas assembly), its recent reactivation began with startup of an ion pump to reduce the spectrometer chamber pressure and maintain it an order of magnitude lower than the ambient vacuum obtained by earlier exposure of the chamber to space via the rack’s CO2 vent valve (CVV). This ensures minimal interference of free-floating molecules with the air samples introduced in the chamber later, which are then ionized by a glow filament and broken down into their constituents by a magnetic field causing them to fly (and be counted) on known trajectories depending on their masses.]

The ISS reboost by Progress 8P will take place tomorrow (9/11) evening at 9:10pm EDT. The burn will use up all remaining Progress propellants and now is estimated to yield about 1.5 m/sec (4.9 ft/sec) delta-V, more or less.

Russian and U.S. specialists are working jointly on the ISS flight attitude schedule for the upcoming events in connection with the 9/25 launch of Progress 9P. Current flight attitude is LVLH, under CMG control, to be interrupted on 9/11 for Russian thruster testing. Russian thrusters will be in control on 9/24, to align the ISS longitudinal [x-] axis toward the jettisoned 8P vehicle at the time of its reentry burn; on 9/27, to keep the ISS in the plane of the 9P vehicle at 30 km distance for the Kurs systems test, duplicating the constellation of the two vehicles in March, when Kurs had problems; and on 9/29, to support 9P docking.

The next SSRMS robotics operation is scheduled for Thursday ( 9/12). It will feature a LEE (latching end effector) camera survey of the nadir ACBM (active common berthing system) on the Node.

Today’s targets for the U.S. CEO program were Perth, Australia (nadir pass; ESC [electronic still camera] requested), Black Ven Landslides, UK (mapping pass of steep slopes in the Cornish moors where landslides are occur. Geological study under way to examine these sudden, hazardous slope failures), Damascus, Syria (nadir pass; ESC), Western Mediterranean Dust (crew was to look obliquely left of track along the Tunisian and Libyan coastlines for possible plumes of Saharan dust being kicked up in advance of the approaching storm), Barcelona, Spain (nadir pass; ESC), Puerto Rico (nadir pass; ESC), St. Croix island (ESC; just left of nadir), Lower Amazon River Basin (crew to look left for detailed shots of the estuary and right for the lower Amazon River. Detailed views for shoreline change detection are requested. Bank cave-ins ["caidas"], in which many acres of bank suddenly slump into the river, are common as the Amazon undercuts banks on the outer bends [creating dangerous waves for smaller craft]), Pilcomayo swamplands (vast wetlands extend from the Andes mountain front up to hundreds of km east. These were recently protected by Paraguay and Argentina for their unique habitats. In the last few decades, the major Pilcomayo River has started to peter out [for unknown reasons] on the plain, drastically altering wetland dynamics, especially with recent floods. Crew to photograph detailed mapping pass of the lowland plains right of track for about 2.5 minutes), Necker Island, Hawaiian Chain (nadir pass and ideal lighting for capturing color. Detailed mapping of this remote island requested. Also, crew was requested to photograph surrounding coral reefs for mapping and bathymetric data [preliminary results suggest that consistent bathymetric data, to an accuracy of a few feet, is attainable from nadir handheld images]).

CEO images can be viewed at the website http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 2:09 am EDT):

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is powered On (16-amp mode), on backup pump. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is ON in MANUAL cycle mode #5, i.e., 10-min. cycle time (vacuum pump failed). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber on command override. BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode.

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 756, temperature (deg C) — 26.5, ppO2 (mmHg) — 141.8, ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.9.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751, temperature (deg C) — 20.8.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752, temperature (deg C) — 20.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 747.07, temperature (deg C) — 23.3 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 749.46, temperature (deg C) — 24.9, ppO2 (mmHg) — 160.6*; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 5.3*;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 749.36, temperature (deg C) — n/a; shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.3, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.6
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 19.0

(*Note: Partial pressures ppO2 and ppCO2 in Node are obtained from the recently restored MCA [major constituent analyzer] and are not considered reliable until purge of water vapor within sample lines has been completed.

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Both P6 channels fully operational. Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and BGA 4B in "Parked" (Blind) mode (non solar-tracking), for dual-angle ops.
SM batteries: Battery #1 is offline, battery #2 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (6) are in "Partial Charge" mode. Data are static.
FGB batteries: Battery #4 is in "Capacity Restoration" (ROM) mode; all other batteries (5) are in "Partial Charge" mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 in Standby mode.

Thermal Control Systems:
Air conditioner SKV-1 is Off; SKV-2 is On.

Command & Data Handling Systems:
C&C-3 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-1 is in standby.
GNC-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is Backup.
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-1 MDM is Off (cold backup); PL-2 MDM is operating as primary.
APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational; #3 dropped out on 8/29.

Attitude Source:
3 CMGs on-line.
State vector — US GPS (SIGI string 1)
Attitude — Russian segment
Angular rates — US RGA1 (rate gyro assembly 1)

Communications & Tracking Systems:
All Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.
S-band is operating nominally.
Ku-band is operating nominally.
Audio subsystem operating nominally.
Video subsystem operating nominally.
MCOR (medium-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:
SSRMS/Canadarm2 at MBS PDGF1 (mobile base system/power & data grapple fixture 1) and PDGF2, with Keep Alive power on both strings. SSRMS based on PFDGF1 (LEE A, derigidized)
MBS: Keep Alive power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:47am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 388.5 km
Apogee — 398.3 km
Perigee — 378.6 km
Period — 92.3 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0014589
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.60
Solar Beta Angle — 6.0 deg (magnitude increasing)
Altitude decrease — 200 m (mean) in last 24 hours
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 21733
Current Flight Attitude — LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal = "earth-fixed": z-axis in local vertical, x-axis in velocity vector [yaw: -10 deg, pitch: 7.8 deg, roll: 0 deg]). Transition from LVLH (Russian: OSK) back to XPOP (Russian: RSO) will be on 9/16.

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html