ISS On-Orbit Status 18 Oct 2002

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

STS-112/Atlantis landed at KSC at 11:45 am EDT, after a highly successful
ISS-9A mission. Total mission duration was 10d 19h 58m (172 orbits), of
which 6d 21h 57m were spent in docked condition.

CDR Valery Korzun and FE-2 Sergei Treschev’s schedule called for removal
and replacement of a smoke detector (DS-7A) in the Service Module (SM).
[The routine changeout required them first to disable the fire detection
function and logic algorithm of the SIGNAL-VM computer, then demate the
involved BITS2-12 onboard telemetry connectors, replace the detector and
finally reverse the telemetry and computer operations. The task took almost
three hours and required S-band tagup with the ground for consultation
and go-aheads.]</p>

FE-1/SO Peggy Whitson collected and stowed the FMK (formaldehyde monitoring
kit) monitors deployed yesterday and deactivated the SSAS (solid sorbent
air sampler) after its 24-hr. operation.

Korzun and Whitson completed today’s robotics activities with the Canadarm2/SSRMS
(space station remote manipulator system), planned for two hours. [Primary
objectives were a checkout of MBS PDGF2 (mobile base system/power and
data grapple fixture #2) in preparation for 11A, and collecting FMS (force
moment sensor) data during LEE (latching end effector) grapple operations.
The ops began by releasing PDGF1 and performing a Joint OCAS (joint operator
commanded auto sequences) to the PDGF2 pre-grapple position that is, appropriate
joint movements were executed from pre-set commands initiated via laptop.
In the pre-grapple position, the FMS was to be calibrated, followed by
a slow automatic capture of PDGF2. The crew then was to switch SSRMS strings
and perform a slow automatic release of PDGF2. After a recalibration of
the FMS and a repetition of the automatic slow capture, the LEE umbilicals
were to be mated. At the end, the ground was to perform a checkout of
PDGF2 to confirm power, data and video connectivity through that PDGF.]

Peggy Whitson began round three of the NASA/JSC renal (kidney) stone
risk evaluation, for which Dr. Whitson is the PI (Principal Investigator).
[The experiment consists of ingestion of medication (potassium citrate)
or a placebo, collecting urine samples, keeping a log on food and fluid
intake, and monitoring exercise to account for other influences on urine
mineral components besides microgravity. After setting up the equipment,
she started out on her metabolic log to record all food and fluid consumed
for 24 hours prior to and during a renal stone urine collection period.]

Later, Whitson downloaded exercise data from the PCMCIA (personal computer
memory card international adapter) storage cards of the TVIS treadmill,
CEVIS cycle ergometer and RED resistive exerciser to the MEC (medical
equipment computer) for subsequent downlink to the ground, including EVA
prebreathe cards.

CDR Korzun, assisted by Treschev as CMO (crew medical officer), began
another exercise round with the Russian MO-3 fitness evaluation test on
the TVIS treadmill, assisted by FE-2 Treschev. After the test, the results
were transferred from the "Cardiocassette-2000" storage to laptop
3 and data diskettes for downlinking to MCC-M via U.S. OCA assets. More
testing of the Profilaktika program is scheduled for tomorrow. [MO-3 calls
for a gradually accelerating walk-jog-run up to 8 km/h speed within five
minutes, followed by a gradual slow-down. After the run, the heart rate
at rest is also recorded for three more minutes.]

Korzun completed the daily routine tasks of BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 ("Plants-2")
experiment checkup, inspection of the BRPK-1 water condensate separator,
and checkout of the VR fan of the active SKV air conditioner.

Treschev replaced the pretreat container of the SM toilet system (ASU)
with a new container. He also performed the daily SOSh life support systems
maintenance and prepared the IMS inventory update file for downlink, while
Whitson did the regular daily Lab payloads status checkup.

At 4:25am EDT, Progress 9P performed the planned reboost of the station
which was to establish proper orbital phasing for the Soyuz 5S taxi flight
rendezvous in two weeks. However, the eight DPO thrusters of the Progress
were prematurely shut down by the SM computer, and the actual delta-V
of the burn of 4.4 m/s fell short of the planned impulse (of 6.4 m/s)
by 2 m/s. Mean altitude increase was 6.86 km (3.7 nmi.). Cause of the
underspeed is under investigation, and a determination is expected by
10/21 (Monday), latest by 10/22. This is critical since another reboost
may or may not be necessary for proper 5S phasing, depending on 5S launch
date.

Soyuz 5S: Due to the Soyuz-U launch failure at Plesetsk on 10/15, the
original launch date for the Soyuz 5S taxi mission of 10/28 can in all
likelihood no longer be met. According to RSC-Energia, the findings of
the State Commission investigating the explosion are promised by 10/22.
If 5S is cleared for launch at that time, the earliest date, pending a
review by Baikonur launch personnel, could be 10/30 (the usual span between
Soyuz fueling and launch is 10 days, according to RSC-Energia). This date,
which would not require another Progress phasing reboost, would allow
5S docking on 11/1. The landing site for the 4S CRV, restricted to northern
Kazakhstan, dictates a minimum length of eight days (max. nine days) for
the taxi mission, since necessary landing support equipment could not
be deployed to the southern region in time. This stipulates a 4S undock
date of 11/9, two days short of the expiration of the CRV’s certified
lifetime, and one day before the planned 11/10 launch of STS-113/Endeavour
on ISS-11A, making an 11A launch delay unnecessary but placing considerable
workload on the ISS crew. Launch dates beyond 10/30 would require a new
launch date for 11A and at least one more Progress reboost on the order
of 2-2.5 m/s, to be executed on or about 10/23 (Wednesday next week).

NASA and RSC-Energia specialists are converging on a mutually agreed-on
plan for Metox (metal oxide) canister regeneration. The recyclable EVA/EMU
carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbers from the 9A spacewalks will be regenerated
on 10/22 (Tuesday) and 10/25 (Friday). According to the plan, the ISS
crew is to take air samples in the Airlock (AL) at 3 and 3.5 hours after
start of the procedure on Tuesday, and at 10 hours on Friday.

The task to isolate the AR (air revitalization) rack in the Lab in order
to look for an unexplained tiny leak in the internal thermal control system
(ITCS) accumulator remains uncompleted after the crew was unable to disconnect
the water return line. The current configuration is good, and the ground
is investigating a workaround.

Both newly installed ETVCGs (external TV camera groups) have been providing
excellent video imagery, but the Lab ETVCG is exhibiting off-nominal hardware
telemetry, which is under investigation.

The new S-Band comm string #1 installed by Sellers and Wolf will be activated
and used starting mid- to-late next week.

Another water transfer from the Lab condensate tank to a CWC (contingency
water container) is scheduled for 10/27 (Sunday).

Overnight MCC-H uploaded two new software patches (#3 & 4) to the
SM, LAB RWS (robotic workstation), and AL PCS laptops. The patch load
process, which did not require crew action, is planned to ensure that
at least two laptops are always available to the crew.

The video footage shot by the crew for the first game of the World Series
will be replayed this Saturday, 10/19, in Anaheim, CA, seen by millions
of television viewers courtesy of Fox Network Sports. On the videotape,
recorded by Sergei Treschev, Peggy Whitson squares up on a pitcher’s mound
more than 240 miles above the surface of the Earth to throw the first
pitch. At the opposite end of the Lab module, "catcher" Korzun
calls for the "high hard one." With a rousing "Play Ball!"
the crew then gives a Space Age "Go" for the Anaheim Angels
and San Francisco Giants to begin play,

Today’s targets for the CEO earth imaging program were E Mediterranean
Aerosol (oblique views left and right of track for smog as a "capping"
high pressure system holds pollution near the surface. The ISS images
also show possibly different directions of smog movement at different
levels in the atmosphere), Lake Eyre, Australia (crew was to look right
for a view of the water status of the usually dry lake. The Lake Eyre
basin is sensitive to El Nino-related drying in Indonesia, among other
influences. A new El Nino is slowly starting), and Mariana Islands, W
Pacific (nadir pass, for detailed views of remote coral reefs. Crew was
to look left and right of track, and also to take context views–e. g.
obliques from a distance–with detailed views to assure that images can
be located geographically).

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

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 2:00 pm 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 is offline. TCCS is operational.
BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in
Purify mode.

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 763, temperature (deg C) —
27.0, ppO2 (mmHg) — 159.1, ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.6.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 761, temperature (deg C) —
20.2.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 756, temperature (deg C) — 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 755.34, temperature (deg C) — 24.8 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 756.94, temperature (deg C) — 24.7, ppO2
(mmHg) — 163.6; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 5.1;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 756.94, temperature (deg
C) — 31.1; shell heater temp (deg C) — 26.5, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.2
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 12.6
(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS): Total propellant load available (SM + FGB + Progress)
— 4118 kg (9079 lb) [as of 10/17/02].

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Both P6 channels fully operational. Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and
BGA 4B in Autotrack mode (solar-tracking).
SM batteries: Battery #5 is offline; all other batteries (7) are in "Partial
Charge" mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #4 is 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 Backup.
EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is off.
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-1 MDM is On (primary); PL-2 MDM is off (cold backup).
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.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 4:41am EDT [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 397.5 km
Apogee — 407.2 km
Perigee — 387.7 km
Period — 92.5 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
Eccentricity — 0.001441
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.56
Solar Beta Angle — -39.4 deg (magnitude increasing)
Altitude increase — 6860 m (mean) in last 24 hours
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 22324
Current Flight Attitude — XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane =
"sun-fixed" [yaw: -5.0, pitch: -8.6 deg., roll: 0.4 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