ISS On-Orbit Status 1 Aug 2002

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously.



After wake-up the crew was commended by the ground on a great job performed yesterday in reloading the OCA (Orbiter communications adapter) Router laptop, which handles the main comm traffic between ISS and MCC-Houston.



>From 4:15-4:35 am EDT, on MCC-M go-ahead, ISS cabin atmosphere was scheduled for another repress with fresh oxygen (O2) from the Progress 8P (M-46) O2 storage tanks (SRPK).



During the same time period, FE-2 configured the Progress Rodnik tank system for liquid waste (urine) transfer from the SM’s holding tank to the empty Rodnik water tanks.  The transfer, from ten EDB containers to the SM tankage and thence to the Progress, is proceeding during the day, driven by a compressor.



Later today (9:30 am EDT), CDR Korzun and FE-1 Whitson will start a very complex and busy four-hour Robotics Day activity with the SSRMS (space station remote manipulator system)/Canadarm2.  After its activation by the ground and reboot of the Lab and CUPola RWS (robotic workstation) laptops by Korzun and Whitson, the operations will attempt to complete several open OCRs (On-Orbit Checkout Requirements) for the MBS/SSRMS (mobile base system/SSRMS).  Valery and Peggy will first release PDGF 4 (power and data grapple fixture #4) on the MBS, followed by an intricate series of maneuvers, calibrations and checkouts.  Finally, PDGF 2 will be grappled and released.



At 1:24 pm EDT, ISS altitude will be reboosted with a single-burn maneuver of the Progress 8P, using its thrusters under Service Module (SM) motion control system (MCS) command via the US-21 matching units.  In preparation for the reboost, station attitude control will be handed over to the Russian MCS at 11:15 am, followed by maneuvering to reboost attitude from 12:17-12:47 pm.  Attitude control authority will be returned to the USOS at 2:35 pm, with CMGs resuming momentum management control in XPOP at 2:45 pm.



FE-1 Peggy Whitson worked on the SUBSA (solidification using a baffle in sealed ampoules), after yesterday successfully kicking off the SUBSA Eurotherm verification test.  Today, she is processing the third SUBSA sample, with sample number SUBSA-02.



As requested by Peggy Whitson, the ground agreed for her to try to adjust the temperature setpoint of the ARCTIC-2 freezer/refrigerator payload using a prescribed procedure, and to place her drinking water in there to cool off.  She was to set ARCTIC-2 to 5 deg C instead of 4 deg C (to support future ZCG autoclave stowage), and to confirm that the only item currently in ARCTIC-2 is a desiccant pack assembly.



Yesterday’s troubleshooting of both EXPRESS Rack (ER) laptops by Peggy Whitson and MCC-H was successful.  For future ER laptop reboots, she is to log into the laptop without launching any applications.



FE-2 Treschev conducted another Plasma-Crystal-3 experiment run today, first activating the turbopump, then running the plasma experiment in of two segments of 35 minutes each.  Predefined parameters are set at the beginning of each segment and remain constant during each run.  There is an approximately five-minute break between the segments to evacuate the vacuum chamber, with Sergei checking vacuum pressure using VK-316M vacuum pressure gauges.  After experiment completion, he will test and calibrate the payload, copy the data to the computer and remove the videocassette used to record the oscillating plasma cloud.  Before dinner, the turbopump was to be turned off again.



Daily routine tasks are today performed by CDR Korzun (SOSh life support systems maintenance, IMS delta file preparation) and FE-1 Whitson (Lab payload status checkup).  Valery also completed the periodic inspection of the BRPK-2 water condensate separator system.



FE-2 Sergei Treschev set up the "Urilux" equipment for the periodic Russian MedOps experiment MO-9 (urinalysis) which uses a sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus developed in Germany for the Mir program, and later today, Korzun will set up the equipment for his upcoming PHS (periodic health status) assessment.