ISS On-Orbit Status 8 Nov 2002
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. 5S, the mission of the fourth visiting crew, is nearing its end.
Wakeup was at 4:30am EST, shifted one hour from regular sleep shift. Sleep period begins tonight at 10:00pm, to extend till 8:00am EST.
VC CDR Sergei Zalyotin and VC FE-1 Frank De Winne completed the daily saliva sample collection for the VIRUS (VRS) experiment before breakfast, and later, with VC FE-2
Yuri Lonchakov, filled out the routine sleep study questionnaire for SLEEP (SLP).
Zalyotin and Lonchakov conducted the second session of the SYMPATHO (SYM) experiment, collecting venous blood samples from the entire VC-4 crew to test a hypothesis
explaining changes in the sympathoadrenal activity during spaceflight. [The blood samples were centrifuged and placed in the CRYOGEM refrigerator. The experiment was
conducted once before, on Day 2 of the joint flight.]
FE-2 Sergei Treschev disassembled the Russian long-term bioradiation dosimetry experiment BRADOZ, which Yuri Onufrienko had installed on 3/28/02, and transferred it to
Soyuz TM-34 for return to Earth. He also tore down the SKORPIO (environmental data collection inside SM) payload for return.
Later in the day, at the MSG (microgravity science glovebox) in the Lab, Frank De Winne is scheduled to install the micro disk drive in the laptop for PROMISS (protein crystal
growth monitoring by digital holographic microscope), followed by removal of the equipment from the MSG and stowage. Afterwards, the MSG facility will be powered down.
For the Uragan (“hurricane”) experiment, VC FE-2 Yuri Lonchakov focused his Kodak 760 with 800mm focal-length lens, on Nigeria and Abuja. Other landmarks of interest
along the track were Novorossiysk and Tuapse (pollution of ports), glaciers of the Caucasus, Kolka Glacier at the Kazbek-Dzhimarai mountain junction, volcanic activity of Mt.
Etna in Italy and El Reventador in Ecuador, and volcanoes in Africa.
For the Diatomeya ocean observation program, Lonchakov observed and photographed highly bioproductive South Atlantic open water areas corresponding to the convergence
of the Brazil and Falkland currents, and observed open water under sunrise conditions to determine and record the time when the dark blue background water is no longer visible.
CDR Valery Korzun completed his daily task of inspecting the Rasteniya-2 plant growth payload, then powered down the equipment.
He also performed the regular inspection of the BRPK condensate water separator and the checkup of the VR fan of the active SKV-1 air conditioner for accumulated humidity.
Korzun performed another 40-min. atmospheric microbial air sampling using the Russian MO-21 “Ecosphera” air sampler and incubation equipment, which he set up
yesterday. [It determines microbial contamination of the ISS atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora counts and microflora composition according
to morphologic criteria of microorganism colonies. Along with MO-22 surface samples to be collected tomorrow, MO-21 will be returned on Soyuz TM-34/4S. ]
Yuri Lonchakov collected samples for analysis in the biosample kit of the Russian BTKh-11 Biodegradatsiya (“biodegradation”) experiment, photographing the sampling ops
with the Nikon F5 camera.
FE-1/SO Peggy Whitson performed the periodic 2+-hr. collection of potable water for chemical and microbial analysis, first from the SRV-K hot tap (or SVO-ZV port), then
from the EDV container of the water supply system (SVO-EhV). [From each port, she collected one chemical archive sample and one microbiological archive sample. The
four archive water bags were then stowed for return on 11A. The standard sampling procedures are Russian, but U.S. water samplers are being used.]
Korzun completed the daily routine maintenance of the SOSh life support system, while Treschev prepared the IMS update file for downlink, and Peggy Whitson did the regular
status checkup of Lab payloads.
The visiting crew spent a large portion of their day with stowage of return hardware on Soyuz TM-34,
As further preparation for tomorrow’s undock, the seat liners (“loshement”) of the visiting crew were transferred to the Soyuz TM-34 orbital compartment, and Zalyotin and
Lonchakov conducted a pre-undock test of the Soyuz MCS (motion control system, “Chaika-3”).
The ISS crew completed their full daily regimen of physical exercise on TVIS, CEVIS, RED and VELO with load trainer (resistive).
The CDRA (carbon dioxide removal assembly) was successfully activated. [After studying the data, engineers found a software “feature” that caused some of the off nominal
behavior seen yesterday. The ppCO2 (carbon dioxide partial pressure) has been decreasing as expected, so no LiOH canister changeout was required this morning. The
original valve failures are still being investigated by the experts on the ground.]
The R2 software upgrade is being re-installed in the LSYS3 MDM (Lab systems computer #3) today. No action for the crew.
The ground powered up the GASMAP (gas analyzer system for metabolic analysis physiology). [During the recent 90-day health check of the GASMAP, engineers noticed
that helium had been accumulating in the ion pump, which shows up in ambient air sampling. The best way to reduce those levels is to leave the GASMAP in standby mode
for extended periods of time. Otherwise, the hardware is working fine and the PuFF (pulmonary function in flight) run was not affected.]
Yesterday’s ignition of the COSMIC reactor 4 in the MSG (microgravity science glovebox) by Frank De Winne, transmitted via video to the ground (Belgium), was spectacular
and considered a complete success. Frank was thanked for his support and coordination with capturing the COSMIC ignitions in real time.
At 2:55pm EST, De Winne is scheduled to engage in a PAO TV interview with Dutch TV station RTL-Nieuws in the RTL studio at Hilversum, Netherlands.
At 12:10pm, De Winne also participated in a voice conference with the Belgian Minister of Defense.
CDR Valery Korzun and FE-2 Sergei Treschev downlinked greetings to the staff of Central Clinic 119 in Moscow, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary today at the
Assembly Hall at Rosaviakosmos (RSA). Cosmonauts and astronauts frequently interact with medical personnel at the Clinic, and he cosmonauts expressed their appreciation
and high regard for the work of medical professionals.
