ISS On-Orbit Status 29 Nov 2002

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Flight Day 7 for 11A, and congrats to the crews for another
highly successful day yesterday.

EVA-2 began yesterday at 1:36pm (all times EST) and ended at 7:45pm after
a smooth performance by Mike Lopez-Alegria and John Herrington. Total
duration: 6h 10min. All objectives were accomplished, with no issues.
[The spacewalkers completed (1) installation and leak checks of two fluid
jumpers (hoses) between the S0 and P1 trusses for eventually flowing ammonia
[NH3] coolant between the trusses; (2) installation of four SPDs (spool
positioning devices) on jumper connectors; (3) removal of the keel pin
from the CETA (crew and equipment translation aid) cart and stowage; (4)
installation of the second WETA (wireless video system external transceiver
assembly) assembly on the P1, similar to the first WETA installed on the
Node on 11/26 (successful video signal was received through the P1 WETA
soon after); and (5) transfer of the CETA cart from the P1 truss to the
S1, carried by Herrington riding the SSRMS/Canadarm2 in a spectacular
180-deg sweep high over the Shuttle. In addition, three "get-ahead"
tasks were completed, viz., connecting the WETA fiber optics cable (652)
between Node and S0 (video test pattern confirmed good connection), releasing
seven radiator beam launch locks, and securing three pip pins on the hatch
thermal shroud. It was the 48th spacewalk of station assembly, the 23rd
from the ISS (the others from the Shuttle), and the 14th from the Joint
A/L (the others from the Russian DC-1). Total US EVA time for ISS is now
298h 20min.]

Regeneration of two Metox CO2 adsorbent canisters was initiated in the
Airlock (A/L) bake-out oven after EVA-2 conclusion, one from EV1’s EMU,
the other from the A/L, used during the 10.2 psi depress ops. Mike and
John will terminate the regeneration today at 2:24pm. PPCO2 (carbon dioxide
partial pressure) has peaked at 6.4 mmHg in the A/L.

As of 4:30am this morning, CDRA (carbon dioxide removal assembly) has
successfully completed 12 half cycles (11 valve transitions) and continues
to run nominally.

Endeavour performed the second auto reboost of the Shuttle/ISS stack
at 11:50am for a duration of 55 minutes, with planned altitude increase
of 1.3 km (0.7 n.mi.). A third reboost is planned for FD9 (12/1), for
45 min. Total STS-113/ISS orbit height increase will be an estimated 9.6
km (5.2 n.mi.). [A Russian request to reduce reboost-3 duration to 30
min in order to increase Shuttle post-undock flyaround capability for
photography of SM Kurs-P equipment cannot be accommodated because of the
critical need for reboost propellant conservation for ISS.]

Handovers and cargo transfers continue today on schedule.

FE-1/SO Peggy Whitson and Lopez-Alegria removed the PCG-STES007 (protein
crystal growth-single locker thermal enclosure system #7) payload from
EXPRESS rack 4 (ER4) and installed and powered it on in the Shuttle middeck.
Exp. 6 CDR Ken Bowersox in turn removed the new STES 010 from the middeck
and installed it in ER4. Later today, the ground will run a test of PCG-STES
downlink capability.

Exp. 6 FE-2 Don Pettit is scheduled to transfer the PGBA (plant generic
bioprocessing apparatus) and the PGBA mufflers from the ISS to the Orbiter
middeck.

Exp. 5 CDR Valery Korzun removed the European GCF-B (Granada Crystallization
Facility B) from its stowage location in the DC-1 module and transferred
it, stored in the ARCTIC2 unit, to the Shuttle for return to Earth. The
stowage in ARCTIC was to be photographed with the electronic Kodak 760.
[GCF-B was delivered by Progress 9P for use by ESA guest cosmonaut Frank
De Winne in experiments with counterdiffusion crystallization of biological
macromolecules, and RSC-Energia had requested NASA to carry it down on
11A.]

Handovers include the transfer of Soyuz crew return vehicle TMA-1 command
authority from Valery Korzun to Nikolai Budarin, a formal process requiring
the two Soyuz commanders to fill out and sign an official certificate.
[The document certifies condition of the spacecraft at turn-over, completion
of replacement of personal protective gear, and completion of transfer
of all delivered cargo.]

For the handover of the Diatomeya ocean observations program to Nikolai
Budarin, Korzun was to use an actual session today, targeting color features
in the surface waters of a large commercial fishing area in the Pacific,
brown-green spots in South Pacific waters, and surface waters and cloud
cover above the Peruvian upwelling.

Whitson and Pettit were allotted time today for working on the MSG (microgravity
science glovebox). [While the failed PDC (power distribution controller)
can apparently not be repaired on orbit, today’s troubleshooting procedures
check the electrical circuits both upstream and downstream of the PDC,
as well as the PDC itself, using an ohmmeter (Fluke 105B Scopemeter) for
resistance measurements. The goal is to make sure there are no other damaged
MSG electronics besides the PDC. Whether the PDC is to be returned to
Earth or left on orbit for potential use in some fashion is still open.]

At 5:34pm today, the ground, with some intermittent help by the crew,
performs the planned troubleshooting of the failed Shuttle-to-ISS hardline
intercom (ICOM-A) or DAIU (docked audio interface unit). Crew is required
for some configuration work and voice comm checks between Shuttle and
ISS.

Don Pettit will do air sampling in the Lab with GSC (grab sample container)
equipment for return to Earth, using an air sample bottle from the Shuttle,
not the station GSC.

For Bowersox, it is time again for conducting a pre-EVA EVARM (EVA radiation
monitoring) run, first powering up the EVARM badge reader at 6:50pm, and
later taking background dosage readings from all 12 badges to be used
in the suits of both spacewalkers tomorrow.

Valery Korzun is scheduled for the routine inspection of the BRPK condensate
water separator, followed by the periodic functional closure test of the
emergency vacuum valves (AVK) of the Vozdukh CO2 removal system.

The regular daily task of SOSH life support system maintenance was completed
by Exp. 6 FE-1 Nikolai Budarin, while Peggy Whitson is scheduled for two
status checkups of the STS middeck payloads, Don Pettit for the status
inspection of the Lab payloads, and Sergei Treschev for the daily IMS
inventory delta file preparation.

After extensive troubleshooting of the TEPC (tissue equivalent proportional
counter) by the ground remained unsuccessful, the instrument was declared
failed and will be returned on 11A. Rebuilding it is expected to take
1-2 months, in time to refly it on ULF-1/STS-114 (NET 3/1/03). [TEPC ("tee-pick"),
registered radiation at the zero dosage level on 11/17, then at an abnormally
reduced level. Even without TEPC, there is redundant radiation monitoring
on board.]

After evaluating CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) in
an extended test, Bowersox reported that the exercise bike appeared to
be operating OK in manual mode. In automatic (protocol) mode, he got an
intermittent flag annunciating manual mode, but the machine appears to
be operating nominally and provides correct loads.

Another two CWCs (contingency water containers), nos. 5 and 6, were filled
last night from the Lab condensate tank. CWC #7 will be filled today (3:00pm),
with silver biocide added and a sample taken. The filling takes about
52 min.

EVA-3 procedures are being reviewed by the crew for tomorrow’s spacewalk.
Mike ("L-A") Lopez-Alegria and John ("Bone") Herrington
again are scheduled to egress the A/L at about 2:20pm, for a nominal 6.5
hours of outside work. Main objectives are (1) installation of about 37
SPDs (spool positioning devices) on umbilical connectors; (2) reconfiguration
of two CIDs (circuit interrupt devices) and the MBSU (main bus switching
unit) in the S0 truss; and (3) connecting ATA (ammonia tank assembly)
umbilicals. A possible additional task is reconfiguring the SFU (squib
firing unit) to provide power to a heater and eliminate additional attitude
constraints during the 11A stage.

At 3:20pm this afternoon, the traditional formal ceremony of Change of
Command on board the station from Expedition 5 to Expedition 6 will be
video-downlinked live on Ku-band for PAO (NASA TV). Valery Korzun will
turn command over to Ken Bowersox for the new Increment 6.

Korzun, Treschev and Budarin will videotape greetings for the 130th Anniversary
of the Polytechnic Museum in Moscow, well known to alumni of Russian universities
and military academies from their student days. The Museum’s Hall of Space,
as well as the rest of the Museum, is an object of national pride. The
downlinked message will be replayed later at the Museum.

ISS was requested to repeat the recording of the symbolic lighting of
the traditional Christmas tree at New York’s Rockefeller Center, but this
time by Expedition 6. The downlink is scheduled for 12/3. They are to
perform the ceremonial plugging-in of the tree’s more than 30,000 lights,
strung over five miles of wire, by symbolizing/simulating the event with
a handheld electrical plug and socket. The event will be live on NBC on
12/4 at 7-9pm). [The repeat is required for correctness because Expedition
5 will not be on-orbit during the NBC event, as originally considered
likely.]

All crewmembers performed their regular daily physical exercise.

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 5:15am 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 Off.
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) —
25.4; ppO2 (mmHg) — 141.3; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.4.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 761; temperature (deg C) —
20.0.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 755; temperature (deg C) — 18.5.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 738.80; temperature (deg C) — 23.2 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) — 163.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.4.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 741.28; temperature (deg C) — 24.1; ppO2
(mmHg) — 163.4; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.1;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 741.38, temperature (deg
C) — 21.9; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.7, ppO2 (mmHg) — 163.2; ppCO2
(mmHg) — 3.4.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.4
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 20.8
(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