ISS On-Orbit Status 30 Nov 2002

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.  Flight Day 8 for 11A.

After wakeup at 8:50am (all times EST), 8:20am for Shuttle, the crews received kudos and “a world of thanks” for another great day of handover and transfers yesterday.

MS1 Mike Lopez-Alegria (EV1) and MS2 John Herrington (EV2) began preparations for the third spacewalk at 9:35am.  Instructions had been uplinked with modifications to one of EV1’s spacesuit boot inserts to relieve pressure points causing discomfort to its wearer. Prebreathe exercise was again conducted by both astronauts on the Shuttle ergometer, using Shuttle oxygen, before they moved to the Airlock (A/L) crew compartment for additional prebreathing at 10.2 psi.

EVA-3 got underway at 2:25pm and ended at 9:25pm, after a duration of 7 hrs after a “rocky” start, but with all objectives completed.  [The initial delay was caused by a snag in the planned pre-EVA movement of the MT (mobile transporter) on its rails from its position at work station 4 (WS4) on the S0 truss to WS7 on the end of the P1 truss.  The transfer stopped at about 12:00pm 10 ft. short of WS7 due to an obstruction.  During the spacewalk, Herrington found the obstruction to be caused by the stowed UHF (ultra-high frequency) antenna on P1 interfering with the MT’s IUA (interface umbilical assembly).  When EV2 deployed the antenna at 3:47pm (a task originally planned as a get-ahead task for the Expedition 6 EVA in December), the car was free to move.  It reached its final position at WS7 at 5:11pm where it was latched down (6:52pm), and it was decided not to return it to WS4 tonight as planned.  Because of the lost time, the  planned walk-off of SSRMS/Canadarm2 from the Lab PDGF (power and data grapple fixture) onto the MT was cancelled, but Herrington and Lopez-Alegria finished the job of installing 18 SPDs (spool positioning devices) on the RBVMs (radiator beam valve modules) of the P1 without its help.  All objectives were achieved, viz., (1) installation of 33 SPDs  on umbilical connectors; (2) reconfiguration of two CIDs (circuit interrupt devices) and the MBSU (main bus switching unit) in the S0 truss; and (3) routing and connecting umbilicals and cables from the NTA (nitrogen tank assembly) to the ATA (ammonia tank assembly) on the P1.  Two late-added tasks, both completed OK, were reconfiguring the SFU (squib firing unit, for pyrotechnically releasing the P1 radiator panels when they are deployed next year) so as to provide power to a heater and eliminate additional attitude constraints during the 11A stage, and a pull test of radiator beam launch lock #10.  It was the 49th spacewalk of station assembly, the 24th from the ISS (the others from the Shuttle), and the 15th from the Joint A/L (the others from the Russian DC-1).  Total US EVA time for ISS is now 305h 20min.]

Checkout of the SSAS (segment-to-segment attach system) at the outboard end of the P1 truss, which will connect to the P3 truss, was successful and completed nominally.

Aboard ISS, crew handovers and cargo transfer activities continued.

Expedition 5 CDR Valery Korzun and FE-2 Sergei Treschev completed another exercise session with the Russian MedOps MO-4 ODNT (lower body negative pressure, LBNP) program, working out on the VELO bicycle while wearing the Chibis suit.  The cosmonauts assisted each other as they took turns with the device.  Today’s and tomorrow’s ODNT exercises are the final LBNP sessions for Korzun and Treschev before their return.  

Expedition 6 FE-1 Nikolai Budarin performed the first MBI-9 “Pulse” experiment, scheduled before his physical exercise.  Execution of the medical cardiological assessment is controlled from the Russian laptop 3.  The Expedition 5 cosmonauts completed Pulse last time on 11/11.

Daily routine maintenance tasks were performed by Budarin (SOSh life support systems servicing), Peggy Whitson (two status inspections of the Shuttle middeck payloads), Ken Bowersox (Lab payloads status checkup), and Treschev (IMS inventory update file preparation).

FE-2 Sergei Treschev also used two RGS (Russian ground site) comm passes to downlink video footage of the recent/ongoing Elektron system maintenance work (see On-Orbit Status 11/26).

The second reboost of the Shuttle/ISS stack by Endeavour yesterday (11:50am) increased mean altitude by 1.25 km (0.7 n.mi.) during the 55-min. burn, using thrusters in Config. 4.  The third and last reboost is scheduled for tomorrow at 11:38am, lasting 45 min. for a predicted altitude increase of 4.7 km (2.5 n.mi.), in thruster Config. 3.  The two reboosts to date have raised the station stack by 5.95 km (3.2 n.mi.).

During installation of the returning PGBA (plant generic bioprocessing apparatus) on the payload mounting plate in the Orbiter only six of eight bolts could be inserted.  The minimum required bolts are one each at the four corners. Currently only three bolts are in the corners. The ground recommended removing and inserting bolts until the four corners could be secured.

Heart rate data of Peggy Whitson’s test run on the CEVIS cycle ergometer in manual mode were downlinked and reviewed by specialists.  [The data were erratic and unusable.  Data from the heart rate wristwatch monitor could not be downlinked because of a missing cable, but the crew reported that the watch data did not appear to correlate with manual heart rate monitoring.  The ground support team is looking into alternate methods to validate the CEVIS operations.]

The crew located a missing LiOH canister (#0042).  Another LiOH can (#0044), previously transferred to Shuttle for use after undocking, appears to have been used, according to the crew.  [Since the Shuttle Program has approved an option to protect landing opportunities for end of mission (EOM) plus 4 days, a swap would be performed to return #0044 to ISS and provide a fully charged LiOH canister to the Orbiter if the option is exercised.  If the EOM+4d option is not pursued, #0044 and three additional spent or old  LiOH canisters will be swapped with fresh Shuttle LiOHs.]

The first of two scheduled Metox (metal oxide) regenerations, started after EVA-2, was completed yesterday.  The second Metox regenerations is scheduled for tonight following EVA-3.

The MSG (microgravity science glovebox) troubleshooting by Whitson and Pettit was completed as planned, yielding data on continuity and resistances upstream and downstream from the failed PDC (power distribution controller).  The data were supplied to the ESA and Astrium specialists for analysis.  A decision on the return of the PDC is expected at the MMT (Mission Management Team) meeting tomorrow morning.

The planned filling of the seventh CWC (contingency water container) with water from the Lab condensate tank was completed last night.  This was the final CWC fill for 11A.

All crewmembers performed their regular daily physical exercise.

Science Update (Expedition Five — 24th):

Lead Increment Scientist Vic Cooley to crew:  “We realize it‚s been a busy docked period and appreciate the efforts on MSG.  Hopefully we‚ll know something by morning DPC on Saturday.  We‚d also like to take this time to say thanks to the E-5 crew and to let the E-6 crew know we‚re looking forward to more great science.”

Extra-Vehicular Activity Radiation Monitors (EVARM):  In progress.

GASMAP/Pulmonary Function in Flight (PuFF):  In progress.  

Renal (Kidney) Stone Experiment:  Complete (but Renal stone pill taking continues).

Interactions (NTXN):  n/a

Human Research Facility/Workstation (HRF WS):   n/a

Commercial Refrigerator Incubator Module-Commercial Stelsys (STELSYS):  Returned on 9A.

Microencapsulation Electrostatic Processing (MEPS):  Complete.  Returned on 9A.

Advanced Astroculture (ADVASC):  Complete.  Returned on 9A.

Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA):  Complete.  Returned on 9A.

Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI): Complete.

Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS):  SAMS continues to collect acceleration data for vibratory characterization of the microgravity environment.  Waiting for 11A undocking as next significant microgravity event.

Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS):  MAMS continues measurement of microgravity environment in the quasi -steady regime for general characterization.  

Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS) Support:  In progress.

Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System (PCG-STES):  STES007 is transferred to the Shuttle; STES010 is transferred to ISS (ER4).

Materials ISS Experiment (MISSE):  In progress. Deployed outside. Nominal and collecting data.

Educational Payload Operations (EPO-5):  Completed.

EarthKAM (EK):   Complete.

Zeolite Crystal Growth (ZCG):  Samples stowed at ambient temp for return on 11A.  New experiments planned.

ARCTIC Refrigerator/Freezer 1 (ARCTIC-1):  A set of four cobalt drill bits were sent up on 11A to help out with the trouble-shooting (stripped screw on access cover).

ARCTIC Refrigerator/Freezer 2 (ARCTIC-2):  ARCTIC personnel are waiting for ARCTIC-2 to return so the problems can be determined and resolved.

Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus/Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA/PGBA):  In progress.

Crew Earth Observation (CEO):  Excellent desert and glacier views have been downlinked. The double caldera of Emi Koussi volcano (Tibetsi Mts, N. Chad, Sahara Desert) has been worked up for posting on NASA‚s Earth Observatory website for the coming week.  An ISS image of strip mines and square agricultural fields near Arkalyk in N. Kazakhstan appeared this week. Camera times continue to be accurate.  

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

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 4:53am EST).

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):

• Elektron O2 generator is powered On (32 Amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (manual mode 5, cycle time 10 min). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is On.  TCCS is operational.  BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode.
• SM Working Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 753; temperature (deg C) — 25.2; ppO2 (mmHg) — 137.7; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.5.
• SM Transfer Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 19.9.
• FGB Cabin:  Pressure (mmHg) — 744; temperature (deg C) — 22.0.
• Node:  Pressure (mmHg) — 738.16; temperature (deg C) — 22.2 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — 158.8; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.5.
• U.S. Lab:  Pressure (mmHg) — 740.47; temperature (deg C) — 24.0; ppO2 (mmHg) — 158.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.4;
• Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock):  Pressure (mmHg) — 740.57, temperature (deg C) — 22.4; shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.0, ppO2 (mmHg) — 158.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.5.
• PMA-1:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.4
• PMA-2:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 20.6

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):  

• Total propellant load available (SM + FGB + Progress) — 3808 kg (8395 lb) [as of 11/21/02].

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

• Both P6 channels fully operational.  Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and BGA 4B both in Autotrack (following the Sun).
• SM batteries:  All batteries (8) are in “Partial Charge”: mode.  Data are static.
• FGB batteries:  Batteries #4 is off line; all other batteries (5) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
• Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is operating; PCU-2 is operating (supporting EVA).

Thermal Control Systems:

• Air conditioner SKV-1 is On; SKV-2 is Off.

Command & Data Handling Systems:

• C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-3 is in standby.
• GNC-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup (new patches loaded on both).
• EXT-2 is On (primary), EXT-1 is off.
• LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
• PL-1 MDM is On (primary); PL-2 MDM is off (diagnostic
• APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
• SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Lane 1 is down.
• SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.

Attitude Source:

• 3 CMGs on-line.
• State vector — U.S. SIGI-1
• Attitude — Russian segment (RS)
• Angular rates — U.S. RGA-1 (from RS attitude)

Communications & Tracking Systems:

• FGB MDM-1 failed; FGB MDM-2 is operating.
• All other 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 based at Lab PDGF in EVA-2 viewing position, with Keep Alive power on both strings.
• MBS: Keep Alive power on both strings.  POA: Keep Alive power on both strings.
• RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.

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