Status Report

ISS On-Orbit Status 10 Mar 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

March 10, 2003

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

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

Week 15 for Expedition 6 started for FE-2/SO Don Pettit with continued MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) troubleshooting. Status: So far, so good. [Pettit reconnected electronic box connector P105, which powers the Work Volume side loading port sensors and the CMP test interface panel. If ESEM3 (exchangeable standard electronic module 3) current remained nominal, connector P103, for the left, center, and right fan inverters, was to be re-installed next today, in the first of several back-to-back runs slated for this week. Early analysis has shown no off-nominal current draw on ESEM3 as a result of the P106 and P101 connectors re-installed this weekend. At this phase of troubleshooting, the MSG should slowly begin to show more “visual cues” such as additional H&S LEDs (health and status light-emitting diodes) illuminating.]

FE-1 Nikolai performed the periodic air sampling in the station, first using the standard Russian AK-1M sampler device in the Service Module (SM), FGB and Lab. Then, to test the SM for Freon, he used the AK-1M-F air sampler. Later, testing for CO (carbon monoxide) levels, he collected air samples in the SM and DC-1 docking compartment with the IPD Draeger tubes sampler.

CDR Ken Bowersox completed another pre-EVA EVARM (EVA radiation monitoring) background reading, first activating the EVARM badge reader, then taking the readings. Afterwards the reader was powered down again.

In preparation for the Stage EVA2 by Bowersox and Pettit (tentatively scheduled for 3/25), Don Pettit initiated recharge of the first two (of four) EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) batteries in the BSA (battery stowage assembly). [A consumables plan for the EVA was uplinked overnight, which, besides battery management, also specifies the recyclable Metox (metal oxide) canisters to be used, as well as the ground-recommended SAFERs (simplified aid for EVA rescue, ##1003 & 1004) and a revised cooling water recharge procedure.]

Also uplinked were updated instructions for using the onboard SAFER trainer in an SSC (station support computer)-based onboard training run placed on the U.S. task list for this week.

Later in the day, in a teleconference with ground specialists, the crew was treated to a technical “refresher” course on fluid QDs (quick disconnects) and their corrective SPDs (spool positioning devices) for the spacewalk.

Budarin performed his daily status check on the Russian BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”) plant growth experiment in the SM.

Nikolai also completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOSh life support system, including ASU toilet facilities, the preparation of the IMS inventory delta file for downlink, and the regular inspection of the BRPK air/condensate separator of the SRVK water processing system. Early in the morning, Bowersox conducted the regular status checkup of the autonomous PCG-STES010 payload in the Lab.

All crewmembers performed their regular daily physical exercise on TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization), RED (resistive exercise device), and VELO ergometer with load trainer.

Uplink/upload procedures for the new software patch to correct the R3 anomaly for the GNC MDMs (guidance, navigation and control computers) are being tested at MCC-H today. If the test is successful, installation of the patch will take place next Wednesday (3/12) in conjunction with the handover of ISS attitude control to the Russian segment for the Progress thruster testing.

The test burns of the two Progress 10P thruster manifolds are still set for 3/12 (5:23pm EST) and 3/13 (6:38pm) this week, each one a mini-reboost of 1.38 m/sec delta-V for the first, 0.31 m/sec for the second burn.

Tonight during crew sleep, MCC-Moscow will conduct the video survey of the SM’s #2 solar array with the portside Kurs-P antenna (AKP) and its high-frequency feeder cable, which runs along the array’s center boom and is suspected of being damaged. [The SSRMS (space station remote manipulator system) was maneuvered in the proper position last week, and MCC-H will have the onboard MSS (mobile service system) powered up by at 4:45pm EST. This will allow subsequent camera setup during the Ku pass starting at 5:17pm. The robotarm’s Tip LEE (latching end effector), Tip Elbow and Base Elbow cameras will be used, routed to downlink via Ku-band, with the Kurs-AKP survey starting at 6:16pm for about ten minutes (backup 7:55pm), followed by a survey of the SVS (space vision system) target on the P1 truss, probably starting at 6:56pm.]

For troubleshooting the IMV (intra-module ventilation) fan, which the crew reported last week as noisy, Bowersox and Pettit worked on the Node and Lab IMV air duct system.

MCC-H Flight Surgeon requested OCA comm. downlink of accumulated MEC (medical equipment computer) files for CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation), HRM (heart rate monitor), RED, TVIS, and FFQ (food frequency questionnaire) nutrition log.

In the interest of conserving precious resources, Budarin completed another extensive 3-hr. IMS inventory audit in the FGB “Zarya” module, of up to 40 items shown on the IMS database as stowed behind Panel 227. Audit objective was to update the status of dust collector/filters and cartridges as well as U.S. hardware availability.

Today’s targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were Western Mediterranean Dust(light was low at the time of this pass, but the crew was asked to look right of track for morning, sunlit dust over the dark surface of western Med), Addis Ababa (Addis Abeba), Ethiopia (few, if any clouds were expected this nadir pass over the Ethiopian capital), Casablanca, Morocco (if coastal stratus cloud formations remained offshore, ISS/CEO had a nadir pass over this famous Moroccan coastal city), Mozambique Flooding (DYNAMIC EVENT TARGET: The remains of Tropical Cyclone Japahet lingered over central Mozambique for most of this past week dumping torrential rains. Crew was to document conditions in the Zambezi and Save River basins looking for evidence of lowland flooding, sediment plumes, and vegetation contrast from wind and water damage).
CEO images can be viewed at the website
http://eol.jsc.nasa. gov
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status(as of 1:05pm 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). 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) — 753; temperature (deg C) — 27.6; ppO2 (mmHg) — 184.0; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.3 (suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 19.6.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 743.25; temperature (deg C) — 22.6 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 745.22; temperature (deg C) — 22.5; ppO2 (mmHg) — 171.3; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.0;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 745.32; temperature (deg C) — 20.8; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.9, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.3
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 20.2

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available [SM(820) + FGB(2746) + Progress(576)] — 4142 kg (9132 lb)as of 3/6/03. (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and 4B both in dual-angle directed position (eclipse drag reduction configuration).
SM batteries: All batteries (8) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Batteries #2 is off line; all other batteries (5) 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-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 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): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Lane 1 is out of the set (as of 11/14/02).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Lane 1 is out of the set (as of 3/2/03).

Attitude Control Systems:

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

Flight Attitude:

LVLH TEA (local vertical/local horizontal = “earth-fixed”: z-axis in local vertical, x-axis in velocity vector [yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -9.1 deg, roll: 0 deg]), with CMG/ TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management).
Solar Beta Angle: 9.0 deg (magnitude increasing).

Communications & Tracking Systems: