ISS On-Orbit Status 4 Oct 2002
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Today 45 years ago, Sergei Korolev launched Earth’s first artificial
satellite, Sputnik 1, from pad "Position 1" at Tyuratam in Kazakhstan,
today’s Baikonur. It changed the world.
MCC-H is back in business; all ISS support operations are nominal again
after a night’s worth of quick but deliberate systems reactivations.
Transition of control between MCC-H and BCC (backup control center) Moscow
went smoothly both ways. [HSG (Houston Support Group) at TsUP activated
BCC on 10/2 (Wednesday) morning. The next steps of tying in CONUS VHF
sites Wallops, White Sands and Dryden were accomplished OK, but they will
require some "streamlining" in the future. Also tied in by VHF/Voice
with the crew was MSFC/Huntsville and the JSC conference room. BCC at
first experienced problems receiving US TM (telemetry) on Daily Orbit
3 on Wednesday; they were quickly resolved by power cycling the BCC system,
but their cause remains unknown at this time. BCC ops on the US segment
(USOS) were very limited since payload activities and a large number of
systems were shut down. BCC successfully commanded the regular daily ADCO
(attitude determination and control officer) function of resetting the
onboard attitude & state determination system’s attitude filter that
supports RGA (rate gyro assembly) propagation of data coming from the
Russian attitude sensors. HSG/BCC stayed in constant contact with a skeleton
Flight Director’s team in Houston via landline. During this period, BCC
observed two problems on the USOS, none requiring troubleshooting: a Lab
RPCM (remote power controller module) health flag indication, and an HDD
(hard disk drive) problem encountered by Peggy Whitson on a Lab laptop.
Reconfiguration to normal ops and deactivation of BCC last night went
smoothly. One significant finding: monitoring the USOS from BCC proved
to be quite restricted due to the very limited US contingency TM arriving
via Russian VHF assets; this will require joint work by both sides on
how to handle Russian and US TM in the same limited "pipeline".
SSPO (Space Station Program Office) has asked MOD to initiate a comprehensive
"Lessons Learned" activity for the next couple of months to
review the experiences made with the contingency control transitions and
to develop recommended process improvements. Also under discussion: how
power-up/power-down procedures under contingency conditions can be optimized.]
MCC-M reported that BCC operations went well on the Russian side, too.
[However, since contingency changes in attitude control between the two
segments require significant use of the Russian computers, it is preferable
not to do any dynamic ops on RS (Russian segment) during this mode, such
as the Progress dynamic thruster test or the reboost, both planned originally
for yesterday and today. Power supply on the RS was down also, with only
one SNT (voltage and current stabilizer unit, i.e., transformer) in the
SM active, and one ARCU (American-to-Russian converter unit) in the FGB.]
After joint breakfast (4:40am EDT), CDR Valery Korzun checked up on the
activated BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 ("plants-2") experiment, which researches
growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions.
He and FE-2 Sergei Treschev then had another two hours set aside for
unloading and inventory auditing of Progress 258 (9P).
For FE-1/SO Peggy Whitson, this was a day of major systems maintenance
work in the Russian segment (RS), starting out in the DC-1 "Pirs"
docking compartment with cleaning the screens of the thermal control system’s
(SOTR) V1 and V2 fans and replacement of its PF1 and PF2 dust collector/filter
assemblies.
In the FGB, she then completed the monthly task of replacing the PS1
and PS2 dust filters in Zarya’s ventilation system.
Moving on to the Service Module (SM), Whitson replaced four dust collector
filters (PF1-4), done once every 20 days, and cleaned the ventilation
system fan screens (group A), done every two months.
Also in the SM, Valery Korzun was scheduled to deinstall the failed storage
battery #1 and to replace it with a new 800A unit delivered on Progress
9P. The dismantled battery is to be prepared for disposal on Progress.
This should restore the SM to its full complement of eight functioning
storage batteries.
Later in the day, FE-2 Treschev installed a hose in the SRV-K2 condensate
water processor’s separation and pumping unit (BRPK-1), which Korzun had
set up on 9/12.
Per radiogram request from TsUP, the two cosmonauts conducted an inventory
of all Increment 5 food containers (KRP) on board, checking over 60 KRPs
to update the IMS stowage list with the actual stowage locations.
Daily routine servicing tasks were performed by Treschev (SOSh life support
maintenance, with ASU toilet insert replacement; IMS "delta"
file preparation for downlink), and by Whitson (Lab payload status checkup).
The two cosmonauts set up the Russian TV equipment and downlinked greetings
to the participants of the "Second International Science and Technical
Conference of Young Scientists and Specialists", to be held 10/8
at Moscow, sponsored by RSA, TsAGI, RSC-Energia, the Russian Cosmonautics
Federation, et al. The address, recorded at TsUP, highlighted the recent
100th birthday of aviation designer V. M. Myasischyev and today’s 45th
anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1. Earlier, the crew had downlinked
an address to the participants at today’s official ceremony commemorating
Sputnik 1 in Moscow.
Yesterday the crew completed the replacement of the fine filter assembly
of the MTL PPA (moderate temperature loop–pump package assembly), a task
list item. [Putting in the unclogged filter dropped the pressure in the
line from 29 to 12.5 kPa (kilo Pascal), a much more comfortable number
for ground specialists.]
The ground refreshed two DDCUs (direct current-to-direct current converter
units) and one RPCM (remote power controller module) which had popped
health flags due to bit flips. [Background: As was known already before
Node "Unity" launch, the automatic error correction code in
the EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) microchips
of the controllers was not enabled during manufacture. Therefore, built-in
tests (background checks) detect a spurious bit flip as a change and declare
it a failure, which is usually benign and does not effect operations of
the hardware. In June last year, a technique was developed which allows
fixing ("refreshing") the EEPROM by writing into it a good copy
of the memory from SRAM (static random access memory).]
The MCA (major constituents analyzer) was power-cycled repeatedly before
the hurricane contingency, but "hiccups" occurred and functionality
was not restored. The cause was probably a Failure flag that was not properly
cleared. If so, corrective action, to be tried again next week, should
be simple and straightforward.
Ground engineers have developed a troubleshooting procedure for the new
RED (resistive exercise device) Flexpack canister that performed anomalously
last week. The procedure will be uplinked over the weekend. [The RED is
currently being used for exercise with the old canisters, which are urgently
needed back on the ground, to be refurbished for relaunch on ULF-1 next
year.]
Oxygen (O2) partial pressure on board is currently a small amount below
nominal (138.5 mmHg). However, a repress from Progress or the Airlock
(A/L) tanks is not required; arrival of 9A/STS-112 will take care of the
underpressure.
NASA experts have certified the safety of the US metox (metal oxide)
canister regeneration after the first EVA on 9A. This will be discussed
on 10/7 in a telecon with the Russian side, which still has concerns about
flammability issues in connection with the "bake-out" process
in the metox oven in the US A/L. [The recyclable metox cans take the place
of the expendable LiOH (lithium hydroxide) filters for CO2 absorption
during spacewalks.]
The Progress dynamic thruster test, to verify the recent US-21 matching
unit installation, is now scheduled for 10/8 (Sunday).
Launch of 9A/STS-112 is scheduled for 10/7 (Monday), in the mid-afternoon.
This will move docking to 10/9.
The planned Progress reboost prior to 9A has been cancelled. This will
save some propellant if the Shuttle launches as late as 10/9. For later
Shuttle launches, 9P can reboost after Shuttle undock. Atlantis will perform
two ISS reboosts. [Work is underway to schedule reboosts for maximizing
on-orbit propellant supplies, for possible shortage contingency in 2003.
This will include a reassessment of Soyuz 5S launch and landing dates,because
it affects the amount of propellant the Atlantis can use for its reboosts.]
RSC-Energia has added a third crewmember to the Soyuz 5S "taxi"
crew. It will be Cosmonaut Yuri V. Lonchakov, who flew as Mission Specialist
on STS-100/ISS-6A in April 2001. RSC-E has requested U.S. Ku-band support
during the 5S mission, for PAO purposes involving the Belgian Government.
U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:22 am EDT):
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control
(TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is powered On (32-amp mode), on backup pump. Vozdukh
CO2 scrubber is Off. U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is offline. BMP Harmful Impurities
unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode.
SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 748, temperature (deg C) —
26.4, ppO2 (mmHg) — 138.5, ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.0.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751, temperature (deg C) —
20.2.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 744, temperature (deg C) — 20.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 736.25, temperature (deg C) — 23.2 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 738.25, temperature (deg C) — 24.5, ppO2
(mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 738.25, temperature (deg
C) — 24.5; shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.1, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.2
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 17.8
(n/a = data not available)
Propulsion System (PS): Total propellant load available (SM + FGB) —
3542 kg (7809 lb) [as of 9/26].
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Both P6 channels fully operational. Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and
BGA 4B in Autotrack (solar tracking).
SM batteries: No data available.
FGB batteries: Battery #4 is in "Storage" mode (offline); battery
#3 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (4) 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 On; SKV-2 is Off.
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 off (backup).
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-1 MDM is On (primary); PL-2 MDM is off (cold backup).
EXT-2 MDM is prime; EXT-1 is off.
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): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
Attitude Source:
3 CMGs on-line.
State vector — Russian segment
Attitude — Russian segment
Angular rates — Russian segment
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 (before today’s ops):
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 PDGF1 (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, 6:58am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 385.0 km
Apogee — 396.6 km
Perigee — 373.5 km
Period — 92.2 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0017071
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.61
Solar Beta Angle — 24.1 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Altitude decrease — 275 m (mean) in last 24 hours
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 22107
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]).with CMG/Thruster Assist Momentum Management).
For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times,
see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
