Status Report

ISS On-Orbit Status 11 Feb 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

February 11, 2003

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

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Day 80 in space for the Expedition 6 crew.

After wake-up (1:00am EST) and before breakfast, CDR Ken Bowersox unstowed and prepared the personal acoustic dosimeters, including changing the batteries, to be carried tomorrow by the crew for the periodic noise dosimetry.

The station reboost by Progress 10P, using props from its refueling module, took place exactly on time (5:50am) but resulted in 15-16% underspeed. [Instead of the intended ~1400 sec, the burn lasted only ~200 sec, apparently due to an operator at TsUP/MCC-M not having taken into account an inhibit in the onboard computer which limits multiple-thruster (all 8) burns when performed for attitude control. Thus, as indicated by Russian telemetry on the next orbit, the delta-V was ~5.1 m/sec instead of 6 m/sec, resulting in a mean altitude increase of 7.0 km instead of 10.5 km. The error will be corrected during the next reboost, in April or May, depending on the Soyuz 6S launch date. Current ISS altitude: 401.1 x 384.5 km (249.2 x 238.9 s.mi.)]

FE-2/SO Don Pettit performed an inventory audit of batteries, in support of current efforts to conserve on-board resources for Expedition 6 in view of the expected Shuttle-standdown-imposed extension of their increment by at least one month. Inventories of food reserves, available water containers, and on-board photo and film supplies were also conducted in the past few days. [The crew was asked to clarify the status of CWCs (contingency water containers) 5088 and 5045, following their recent activities to consolidate H2O residuals in the CWCs. CWC 5088 contains ITCS (internal thermal control system) water, and CWC 5045 contains residual technical water, which may be transferred to a Russian EDB container for toilet flush water.]

CDR Ken Bowersox and FE-1 Nikolai Budarin continued Progress unloading, while tracking cargo stowage with the IMS (inventory management system).

Budarin worked on the Service Module Central Post (SM TsP), cycling the batteries of three new laptops (#6091, #6093, #6101) delivered by Progress 10P, using the TsP Laptop 2 power unit for manual control.

Budarin also performed the periodic preventive maintenance of the Group B ventilation fans in the SM, including a checkout of the ventilators and a thorough cleaning of fan screens and flexible air ducts.

In the morning and evening, Don Pettit again sampled ppCO2 (carbon dioxide partial pressure) levels in the SM and Lab with the CDMK (CO2 monitoring kit).

Pettit’s scheduled teleconference with MSG (microgravity science glovebox) specialists from ESA and MSFC was postponed until a firm and safe troubleshooting plan has been developed. This is now expected to be available not earlier than “some time next week”. [Ground preps for the on-orbit troubleshooting are taking more time than expected due to testing. Leading cause of the failure appears to be some power “bleed-over” between 12 Vdc and 5 Vdc circuits. ESA and MSFC’s MSG team are now working on a fault tree, to determine how to upgrade the MSG box by removing downstream components one at a time to isolate the problem. Once the resulting off-nominal configurations are characterized by testing, an on-orbit troubleshooting plan can be developed.]

Budarin completed his routine 24-hr. checkup and watering of the Russian BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”) plant growth experiment.

Nikolai also conducted the regular inspection of the BRPK air/condensate separator of the Russian SRV-K water processing system. [The BRPK separator contains porous cermet hydrophilic (“water attracting”) tubes through which the gas-liquid mixture from the heat exchanger moves. They separate the air from the condensate, but when the separator exceeds its service life or malfunctions, incomplete separation of the atmospheric condensate occurs, and the water then collects under the „sheet‰ of porous fluoroplastic. This is the main focus of the regular inspection.]

The eagerly awaited R&R (removal and replacement) of the CFU (condensate feed unit) of the SRV-K in the Russian segment (RS) was performed by the crew over the weekend and will be tested now with 20 liters of U.S.-collected H2O transferred today from the Lab condensate tank to a CWC.

The crew performed their regular daily physical exercise regimen, except for Nikolai Budarin, who for the second day of his current MBI-8 “Profilaktika” (countermeasures) fitness session worked out with the NS-01 load trainer. [Today’s test consisted of four types of exercise, each involving a series of 15 motions repeated twice. Load levels were selected by the ground and remained unchanged from test to test. Motion frequency for the minor muscle groups is one motion every two seconds, for major muscle groups one motion every three seconds, with 30 sec interval between each series. Recovery interval (before proceeding to the next type of exercise) is two minutes. Gas analysis, subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels, and AccuSport analyzer blood test for lactate and creatine kinase levels were also performed. Total duration of the test was 13 minutes. Results were entered on a log sheet. TEEM gas analyzer and ECG (electrocardiograph) data were transferred to Laptop 3 and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm.]

Don Pettit performed the daily routine task of SOSh life support system (incl. ASU toilet system) maintenance and prepared the daily IMS “delta” file for updating the inventory database. He also completed the weekly maintenance of the TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization) when doing his exercise session.

At 9:34am EST, the crew conducted an outstanding half-hour press conference with U.S. media at NASA field centers. [In their live TV downlink, Sox, Don and Nick found heartening and confident words in responding to media questions on such topics as the tragic loss of Columbia, the resumption of Shuttle flights and the potential difficulties associated with reducing ISS crew size to two.]

MCC-Houston is continuing IMV (intermodular ventilation) troubleshooting. The crew was asked to take more quantitative airflow measurements, this time in the Airlock. [Velocicalc measurements have found the airflow from Node and Lab to be distinctly degraded. Fans were power-cycled by the ground to verify their proper operation, and checkout of the Node “butterfly” valves by the crew showed them in the correct position. Discussions are underway on the replacement of two suspected bad IMV fans in the U.S. segment.]

Meanwhile, in the RS, Velocicalc data have indicated high humidity (ppH2O), whereas downlink telemetry from the Russian Gas Analyzer (GA) shows low humidity instead. Moscow is concerned and is starting a test of this instrument today (which also has been producing suspect ppCO2 data). [The test, which will generate some discomfort for the crew (cold air blowing in due to a wall panel being open for more than the Flight Rule limit of two hours) and possibly affect downstream gear, will be carefully monitored from TsUP console in terms of area temperatures. The test is considered important since the Russian SKV air conditioner and RS condensate collection are controlled by the GA.]

Another RPCM (remote power controller module) in the Lab, LAS62BA, has popped a Health flag. The module, which experienced this also about 96 days ago, will be refreshed shortly.

R&R of the failed-open LAP1P5 RPCM controlling VTR1 (video tape recorder #1) is planned for tomorrow (2/12). The swap-out with a degraded spare with one failed RPC (#17), which is not used, will have no impact on SSRMS and VTR operation. [Some equipment is stored in front of the RPCM location; the R&R will require additional time to clear off the area and later replace the items.]

Analysis is continuing by MCC-H/Avionics specialists on the C&C2 MDM which failed to Diagnostics mode last Sunday, due to a software condition called an ADA exception. C&C1 also failed briefly thereafter, but this was due to an erroneous command. All C&C (command and control) MDMs are back in nominal mode.

During 10P docking on 2/4 (Tuesday), a yaw thruster on the SM failed. MCC-M/TsUP is preparing a test of the thruster for the near future. [The test will involve yawing the station through a small angle (~10 deg) and seeing how the RCS (reaction control system) jet performs. TsUP expects the burn to use no more than ~5 kg prop.]

The next SSRMS/Robotics operations for Sox and Don are scheduled for 2/13 (Thursday). [Objectives: robotics proficiency, digital readouts accuracy characterization, survey of the S1 truss SVS (space vision system) targets, SSRMS OOCR (on-orbit checkout requirements), and SSRMS redundant string checkout.]

Today’s targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were Tropical Cyclone (Dynamic event target: Tropical Cyclone 16S is being monitored by the Joint Typhoon Warning center in the Indian Ocean East of Madagascar. It was forecast to be steadily strengthening to over 100 knots by the time of the ISS pass. Looking obliquely right of track to document the cloud structure and extent of this system’s cloud formations), Bombay, India (conditions were excellent for a nadir view of this mega city target. The heart of the city is situated on a tiny peninsula on the west coast of India and the Arabian Sea), Lake Nasser, Toshka Lakes; Egypt (looking right of track this pass to continue documenting the surprising expansion of these man-made lakes west of the Nile. As ISS continued N and E, sun glint views of the river and Lake Nasser were possible), Western Mediterranean Dust (with a strong cold front entering the western Med, crew was to look obliquely right of track this pass for dust plumes moving off the Algerian and Tunisian coasts in advance of this weather system), and Eastern Mediterranean Smog (crew was to continue looking right of track this pass as it crossed over northern Italy. Cold high pressure and light winds favored visible smog formations over the Adriatic Sea). CEO images can be viewed at the website
http://eol.jsc.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 (15 Amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (auto mode). 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 Off; SKV-2 is Off.

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 753; temperature (deg C) — 27.7; ppO2 (mmHg) — 160.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.5 (suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 20.2.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 746.43; temperature (deg C) — 22.7 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 748.15; temperature (deg C) — 22.5; ppO2 (mmHg) — 167.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 5.7;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 748.15; temperature (deg C) — 21.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.3, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.0
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 14.0

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available [SM(820) + FGB(2804) + Progress(868)] — 4492 kg (9903 lb) as of 2/60/03. (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 auto track (sun following) mode.
SM batteries: Battery #7 is off line; battery #6 is in “Cycle”: mode; all other batteries (6) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #1 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-3 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-1 is in standby.
GNC-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup.
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 (diagnostic
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): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.

Attitude Source:

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

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]), CMG/TA (thruster assist) momentum management).
Solar Beta Angle: -34.8 deg (magnitude increasing).

Communications & Tracking Systems: