Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 12 Sep 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

September 12, 2003

Filed under ISS, ISS On-orbit status, NASA HQ, US

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 12 Sep 2003 — iss

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Week 19 of Expedition 7 coming to an end.

Performing part of his periodic general MedOps PFE (periodic fitness evaluation), FE/SO Ed Lu was the subject of the 1.5-hr. check-up on blood pressure and electrocardiogram during programmed exercise on the CEVIS in the Lab. Readings were taken with the BP/ECG (blood pressure/electrocardiograph). CDR Yuri Malenchenko assisted his crewmate as CMO (crew medical officer). (Last time done: 8/5). [BP/ECG provides automated noninvasive systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements while also monitoring and displaying accurate heart rates on a continual basis at rest and during exercise.]

Both crewmembers continued Progress 12P unloading and cargo transfer operations, today for about 1.5 hours, tracking transfers with BCR (bar code reader) for the IMS database. Directions on a container-by-container basis were provided by way of an uplinked transfer-and-stowage list.

Malenchenko set up the payload laptop 3 with the appropriate software configuration for a “raw data” transmission test of the newly installed Russian satellite navigation system (ASN). The actual testing is scheduled for 9/17 next week.

The Science Officer meanwhile worked on the ARCTIC-1refrigerator, which has been inactive since its failure on 5/2 this year. Ed Lu “decabled” the unit in EXPRESS Rack 4 in preparation for its return to the ground.

Yuri Malenchenko completed a quick (5-min.) conductivity check of the BSMM multiplex bus synchronization unit of the Russian OpsLAN network behind panel 127 of the Service Module (SM), using the Elektronika MMTs-1 multimeter instrument. [The BMM payload controller is connected to various other devices, such as the BSK common power switching unit and the Russian/German Global Timing System (GTS).]

Ed Lu performed the second of four planned comparison readings between the primary CSA-CP (compound specific analyzer-combustion products) and its backup. [MCC-H engineers are trending the data from the CSA-CP instruments in order to troubleshoot possible drifts in their oxygen (O2) sensors.]

Ed also completed his 17th weekly filling-out of the FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special medical equipment computer (MEC) software.

The crew set up and reviewed the DOUG (dynamic operations ubiquitous graphics) software version for Monday’s SSRMS/Robotics operations, using new data files uplinked overnight. [DOUG is a periodically updated software program on the MSS (mobile service system) laptops that provides a birdseye-view graphical image of the external station configuration and the SSRMS (space station remote manipulator system) arm, showing its real-time location and configuration on a laptop during its operation. Purpose of Monday’s (9/15)ops: obtaining additional characterization of the SSRMS force & moment sensor (FMS). Available FMS data so far indicate fluctuations based on heating/cooling of the exposed EVA joint angle scale on the WR joint,- a thin strip of exposed metal near the LEE/WR (Latching End Effector/Wrist Roll joint) interface. Data will be gathered during these operations to confirm this theory before work is begun to develop a thermal protection kit to cover this area. A joint OCAS (operator commanded auto sequence) will be performed to maneuver to the FMS sensitivity test start position. Then, another joint OCAS will point the LEE towards the sun and slowly rotate the wrist roll joint ±360 degrees. After that, the wrist will be reconfigured in single joint mode so the LEE/WR interface is shadowed by the wrist joint cluster, after which the ±360 deg roll is repeated. The session will end with a large joint OCAS maneuver to an MBS-PDGF-2 (Mobile Base System/Power & Data Grapple Fixture #2) pre-grapple config, followed by a grapple of MBS PDGF 2, followed by a base change by the ground for the next set of robotics operations.]

Yuri completed today’s maintenance of the SM SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet facilities), as well as the preparation of the daily IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file for automatic export/import to update the database. He also conducted the weekly IMS tag-up with MCC-Moscow via S-band radio. Ed meanwhile performed the regular routine status checkup of the autonomous Lab payloads.

Both crewmembers worked out according to their regular daily physical exercise program of 2.5 hrs on TVIS treadmill (aerobic) and RED exerciser (anaerobic), using the old RED Flexpack canisters #1001 and #1003 that were reinstalled yesterday.

Ed Lu then transferred data files from the physical exercise equipment to the MEC (medical equipment computer) via memory card and RED log entries, for downlink on OCA comm, followed by the routine transfer of accumulated data files from the wrist-band HRM (heart rate monitor) receiver stations to the MEC for downlink, then deleted them on the HRM.

Work continues at both MCCs on the identification of mutually acceptable procedural safety controls for the upcoming power-charging of the battery of the new Motorola-9505 Iridium satellite phone, which was delivered by Progress 12P with a Garmin GPS (global positioning system) locator for the mandated use on Soyuz 7S during its return on 10/28. [The charging is tentatively planned for next Friday, 9/19. Safety procedures during the activity include placement of the entire phone headset assembly in a CTB (collapsible transfer bag) container, locating the activity in an area maximizing smoke detection capability, and keeping a Russian PFE (portable fire extinguisher) readily accessible. Final decision is up to the MMT (Mission Management Team), meeting on 9/15.]

Today’s CEO (crew earth observation) targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, and including the targets of the Lewis & Clark 200-year memorial locations, were Sudd swamps, S Sudan (Dynamic event. The swamplands west of Ethiopia are still very poorly mapped, suggesting use of the 180mm lens. This pass with the glint disc ~3 degrees off track left was ideal for capturing stream patterns over a large area), Nairobi, Kenya (looking a touch right for this capital city. Crew was also to try for Mt Kilimanjaro further off track right, beyond Nairobi. A detailed image even from the ISS position would be welcome in documenting the fate of the ice cap), Kinshasa, Zaire (looking right on the south side of Stanley Pool, the great widening in the Congo River), Hurricane Isabel, W Atlantic (Dynamic event. Category 4 storm tracking west. Looking several degrees off track to the right), Atlanta, Georgia (nadir pass. The whole urban area could probably be acquired in two views, maybe one), Stream patterns, Paraguay (Dynamic event: Sunglint opportunity for documenting the largest inland delta on the planet. Suggested was a mapping pass looking left), Laysan reef, Pacific (looking a touch right), Maro reef, Pacific (looking a touch right), Gardner reef, Pacific (looking a touch left), Lake Poopo water levels (looking a touch right for this sensitive indicator of rainfall in the high desert. Levels should be declining in this inter-ENSO period), and Tuamotu Archipelago (looking mainly right as ISS passed along the axis of this famous chain of atolls).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites

See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at
http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:15pm EDT).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered Off (O2 and air being supplied by Progress 12P). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (in Manual Mode 5/3). 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) — 742; temperature (deg C) — 26.7; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 741; temperature (deg C) — 20.9.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 744; temperature (deg C) — 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 738.16; temperature (deg C) — 23.9 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 740.47; temperature (deg C) — 23.0; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 740.57; temperature (deg C) — 29.2; shell heater temp (deg C) — 25.5, ppO2 (mmHg) — 155.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.1.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.8
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 13.0.

(n/a = data not available)

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in AutoTrack mode (solar tracking, with 45 deg bias for drag reduction).
SM batteries: Battery #2 is failed and off; battery #7 is in Capacity Restoration (ROM) mode; all other batteries (6) are in “Partial Charge” mode (battery #1 is degraded).
FGB batteries: Battery #1 is disconnected; all other batteries (5) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 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-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup.
INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.
EXT-2 is On (primary), EXT-1 is Off (both now upgraded to R3).
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-2 MDM is Off; PL-1 MDM is Operational.
APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available: 4434 kg (9775 lb) as of 9/12 [SM(755) + FGB(2815) + Progress M(864) + Progress M-1(0)]. (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

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-1

Flight Attitude:

XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: 0.5 deg, pitch: -9.0 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist).
Solar Beta angle: 40 deg (magnitude increasing).

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 (on string 2).
Ku-band is operating nominally.
Audio subsystem is operating nominally (IAC-2 is prime).
Video subsystem operating nominally.
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:

SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF #1 with Keep Alive (KA) power on both strings.
MBS: KA power on both strings.
MT: latched and mated at WS4.
POA: KA power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is On (DCP connected); Cupola RWS is Off.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:14am EDT [= epoch]):