ISS On-Orbit Status 1 Apr 2003

After wake-up (1:00am EST), the crew received new TLC (technical living consideration) requirements, compiled in an uplink message entitled “Functional Overview On Living in Space Happily” (FOOLISH), dated as of today.

Before breakfast, FE-2/SO Don Pettit unstowed and prepared the personal acoustic dosimeters, including changing the batteries, to be carried by each crewmember for the periodic noise dosimetry.  [Tonight, after about 15 hours of measurements, data from each dosimeter will be recorded and the hardware power-cycled.]

For FE-1 Nikolai Budarin, it was again time for another round with the Russian MBI-8 Profilaktika (“countermeasures”) fitness test series, starting with Part 1 on the VELO (stationary bike) ergometer.  [The test is identical to the Russian MO-5 assessment, but in addition to the nominal test procedure, it calls for the use of  the TEEM-100M gas analyzer, measurement of the lactate level in the subject’s blood with the AccuSport device, and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test.  Results were entered on a log sheet.  TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data were transferred to Laptop 3 to a PCMCIA (personal computer memory card international association) Flashcard for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm.]

Science Officer Pettit completed another research session with the InSPACE experiment in the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), activating the payload, monitoring the run and exchanging the video tape.  Afterwards the MSG was powered down again.  [Instead of the originally planned Run 002, Run 009 was substituted today, involving ramping up the magnetic field strength and increasing frequency to the middle value.  The ground also increased the initial steady magnetic field period to five minutes before switching to pulse mode.]

CDR Kenneth Bowersox  performed a scheduled inspection of some mounting bolts of the ZCG (Zeolite crystal growth) payload in the MSG.  [In preparation for the IZECS (improved Zeolite electronic control system) replacement planned during Mission 12A.1 joint ops, ground specialists needed to ascertain whether the four non-captive mounting bolts of the IZECS can be removed and reinstalled with the ZCG furnace unit (FU) mounted in the MSG.  Sox was not required to actually loosen the bolts.]

In the Service Module (SM), Budarin worked on the Regul-OS antenna feeder unit (AFU), replacing three air filters (FPP) with new airtight filter units (FPPG).

Later, the Russian flight engineer rearranged air ducts in the SM, PkhO transfer compartment, DC-1 docking compartment and Soyuz to eliminate sharp turns, for improved intermodular ventilation (IMV).  He also was to inspect the air ducts to the Progress vehicle for ODF (operations data file) compliance.

Bowersox unstowed and set up the FOOT (foot/ground reaction forces during space flight) payload hardware equipment, preparing it for tomorrow’s EMG (electromyography, i.e., muscular electric signals recording) calibration and day-long experiment run.  Prior to the setup, a teleconference with the experiment’s Principal Investigator was arranged for the CDR.

Budarin completed his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”) plant growth experiment.

Pettit and Bowersox performed the periodic 90-min. detailed inspection of the TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization) chassis in the SM.  [The maintenance task required partial disassembly of the device (and later reassembly) in order to inspect the front and rear drum set screws, internal chassis truss rollers (50), side rollers (4),  belt interior, and proper rivet-nut alignment.]

Later, the weekly maintenance of the TVIS was performed after end of exercise, followed by routine inspection of the RED (resistive exercise device), including the monthly tightening of its bolts, as required.

Nikolai completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet facilities), and Don prepared the daily IMS inventory delta file.

A coolant refill and FSS (fluid servicing system) drain and purge activity for the ITCS LTL (internal thermal control system/low temperature loop) has been placed on the “job jar” task list.  [The activity involves ground support, thus requiring advance notice by the crew to alert the proper personnel to be in attendance at MCC-H.]

The crew downlinked a cordial greeting address to the participants of the upcoming ceremonial  event on Cosmonautics Day, April 12, in Moscow.  [Cosmonautics Day observes the date of April 12, 1961, when Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space.  John Glenn followed in February 1962 as first American and Valentina Tereshkova in June 1963 as first woman.  On April 12, 1981, John Young and Bob Crippen piloted the maiden flight of the Shuttle Columbia.  The crew’s address also deplores the tragic loss of Columbia and expresses the hope that “STS flights will resume soon and the joint US-Russian effort of assembling and operating the ISS will keep on going”.]

Veteran Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and veteran NASA astronaut Ed Lu were today named as the primary crew for the planned April 26 launch of 6S/Soyuz TMA-2 to the ISS, to replace the Expedition 6 crew which is planned to return in 5S/Soyuz TMA-1 on May 4.

A conjunction with a Delta 2 rocket body (object #21150) is predicted for Thursday (4/3) at 00:09am EST, with a projected total miss distance of about 9.8 km.  It is being monitored to determine the possible need for a debris avoidance maneuver tomorrow, 4/2.
 
Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) targets, currently restricted by flight rule constraints limiting the use of the science window in the Lab, were Tierra del Fuego (Dynamic event:  Tierra del Fuego, South America’s southernmost island, was clearer than it has been for months, as a high pressure system set in.  Good oblique morning views, right of track), Patagonian Glaciers (the southeastern margins of the South Andean ice fields are least well photographed. High atmospheric pressure over Patagonia is revealing this area of greatest interest.  Looking at nadir and right of track), Eastern Mediterranean Aerosols (looking right for possible dust plumes coming off the Egyptian coastline;  looking left for smog accumulations from southern Europe.  Margins of aerosol blankets are of greatest interest. Variable exposures also reveal different information: slight overexposure shows the lightest loadings and slight underexposure shows the structure of denser corridors within any aerosol mass[corridors also give information on trajectories of dust/smog transport]), and Lake Poopo, Bolivia (water levels should still be rising as the present ENSO [El Niño] episode runs its course).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:45pm EST).

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

• Elektron O2 generator is powered On (24 Amp).  Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (manual mode 5).  U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off.  TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating.  MCA (major constituents analyzer) is operating.  BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode.  RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On; SKV-2 is Off.
• SM Working Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 745; temperature (deg C) — 28.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — 183.1 (suspect); ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.3 (data suspect).
• SM Transfer Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 20.0.
• FGB Cabin:  Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.3.
• Node:  Pressure (mmHg) — 739.44; temperature (deg C) — 23.1 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
• U.S. Lab:  Pressure (mmHg) — 741.38; temperature (deg C) — 22.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
• Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock):  Pressure (mmHg) — 741.48; temperature (deg C) — 21.1; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.3, ppO2 (mmHg) — 167.7; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.7.
• PMA-1:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 25.4
• PMA-2:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 13.8

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

• Total propellant load available [SM(774) + FGB(2746) + Progress(474] — 3994 kg (8805 lb) as of 3/27/03.  (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

• Both P6 channels fully operational.  BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in Autotrack (sun-following).
• SM batteries:  All batteries (8) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
• FGB batteries:  Battery #2 is off line (to be replaced tomorrow); battery #6 is in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (4) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
• Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 and PCU-2 both in Standby mode.

Command & Data Handling Systems:

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

Attitude Control Systems:

• 3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).
• State vector source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
• Attitude source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
• Angular rate source — RGA-2

Flight Attitude:

• XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: -179.0 deg, pitch: -8.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management.
• Solar Beta Angle:  29.5 deg (magnitude decreasing).

Communications & Tracking Systems:

• FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.
• 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 (VTR1 is operable again).
• HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:

• SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at Lab PDGF with Keep Alive (KA) power on both strings.
• MBS: KA power on both strings. 
• MT: latched at WS4, with KA power. 
• POA: KA power on both strings.
• RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 7:26am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 389.0 km
• Apogee — 394.7 km
• Perigee — 383.3 km
• Period — 92.34 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) —  51.63 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008402
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
• Solar Beta Angle:  29.5 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 200 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98)  — 24904
• For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html