MRPO Daily Status Report 10-31-02

GMT Date: 304

Calendar Date: 10/31/02

Increment: 5

Stage: 9A

Week 21

ISS:
Soyuz 5 is scheduled to dock with the ISS tonight at approximately 11:00
p.m. CST (Fri, Nov.1, 0500 GMT).

The launch date for STS-113/11A will be either 11/10 or 11/11. A firm
plan is expected to be announced later today. Docking with the ISS should
occur two days later.

Payloads currently on-board ISS:
BSTC, CGBA, InSPACE, MAMS, MSG (facility), PFMI, PGBA, SAMS, STES-7, SUBSA
and ZCG.

Status:
MRPO payloads CGBA, MAMS, PGBA, SAMS and STES-7 continue nominal, basically
unattended, operations. BSTC, InSpace, MSG, PFMI, SUBSA and ZCG are currently
inactive.

EXPRESS RACKS 1, 2 and 4 (ER1, ER2& ER4) are powered and supporting
payload operations. ER3 and ER5 are available to support payload operations
but are currently inactive.

CGBA health and status data is nominal. CGBA is to be returned on STS-113.

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

MSG power was turned-off yesterday after removal of PFMI hardware and
cleaning the facility. Power will remain turned-off until after Soyuz
5 docks.

PGBA health and status data is nominal. Downlink of video from the PGBA
internal cameras has not yet been successful. Video downlink trouble-shooting
procedures were performed by the crew Monday, however the problem was
not corrected. Possible additional Video downlink trouble-shooting procedures
are being evaluated. PGBA is to be returned on STS-113.

After successfully processing seven samples, one more than originally
planned, PFMI hardware was removed from the MSG and stowed yesterday.
Additional PFMI sample processing is planned during Increment 6.

All SAMS sensors in EXPRESS Racks are operating nominally. The SAMS sensor
in the MSG is currently turned-off. SAMS data is also being posted to
the acceleration measurement web page.

STES-7 health and status data is nominal. All growth chambers have been
activated. STES-7 is to be returned on STS-113.

ZCG operations have been completed. The processed autoclaves have been
removed and stowed in preparation for return on STS-113.

Near-term Outlook:

Week 21 (10/28-11/02) – Planning for this week was based on approximately
20 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. The crew
will shift their sleep period approximately 6.5 hours earlier today in
preparation for arrival of Soyuz 5 early tomorrow and the beginning of
joint operations.

Week 22 (11/03-11/09) – Preliminary planning for this week is being based
on approximately 12 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations.
Soyuz 4 will undock Saturday, November 9, for return.

M. Vlasse, PhD, DSc
MRPO Increment Scientist

ACRONYMS:

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
CGBA – Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus
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
ISS – International Space Station
MAMS — Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System
MSG – Microgravity Science Glovebox
PFMI – Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation
PGBA – Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus
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