MRPO Daily Status Report 12-16-02

GMT Date: 350

Calendar Date: 12/16/02

Increment: 6

Stage: 11A

Week 3

Payloads currently on-board ISS:
BSTC, CGBA, CSLM-2, InSPACE, MAMS, MSG (facility), PFMI, SAMS, STES-10,
SUBSA and ZCG.

Status:
MRPO payloads MAMS, SAMS and STES-10 continue nominal, basically unattended,
operations. BSTC, CGBA, CSLM-2, InSpace, PFMI, and SUBSA. ZCG clear autoclave
procedures were performed today. MSG is inactive/failed, awaiting replacement
parts. The plan for the MSG repair is to launch the replacements parts
on the Soyuz 10 flight (2/2/03), carryout the repair as soon as possible,
and complete as much of the MSG operations as possible in the remaining
I6 stage. What MSG operations remain will be completed in the I7 stage.

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.

MAMS is operating nominally in the quasi-steady and HiRAP modes. MAMS
data is available on the acceleration measurement web page.

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-10 health and status data is nominal. STES-10 is configured with
diffusion-controlled chambers which require no crew operation activities.

The crew performed ZCG clear autoclave procedures yesterday to obtain
data on mixing methods to reduce bubbles. Meaningful observations from
yesterday’s activity have resulted in changes for beginning today’s
ZCG furnace operation. Insertion and activation of the autoclaves and
furnace was performed this morning. The furnace is scheduled to operate
approximately15 days.

The troubleshooting of ARCTIC #1 was not successful. It indicated that
the thermoelectric elements are not functioning. This unit will be returned
to the ground for repairs.

Near-term Outlook:

Week 3 (12/16-12/22) –Planning for this week was based on approximately
11 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. ZCG furnace
operations will continue this week. The new High-Rate Communications Outage
Recorder (HCOR), delivered by STS-113, is scheduled for installation during
this week. The HCOR will replace the Medium rate recorder (MCOR) that
has been in use since Increment 2.

M. Vlasse, PhD, DSc
MRPO Increment Scientist

ACRONYMS:

ARIS–Active Rack Isolation System
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
ESEM – Exchangeable Standard Electronic Module
GSM — Gas Supply Module
HCOR — High-Rate Communications Outage Recorder
InSPACE– Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates
ISS – International Space Station
MAMS — Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System
MCOR — Medium-Rate Communications Outage Recorder
MSG – Microgravity Science Glovebox
PDC – Power Distribution Controller on MSG
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