Status Report

ISS On-Orbit Status 13 Feb 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

February 13, 2003

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

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Day 82 in space for Expedition 6.

First thing after wake-up, station inspection, and “utrennij tualet” (morning toilet), CDR Kenneth Bowersox collected the audio dosimeters from their static measurement sites and stowed them.

Later in the day, Bowersox and FE-2/SO Don Pettit completed an excellent session on the Canadian SSRMS (station remote manipulator system), running through today’s scheduled robotics operations in only three hours instead of four as blocked out by planners. [Activities focused on Robotics Proficiency (opportunity for the crew to operate the system and “fly” manual, single and auto-sequences as well as perform some LEE {latching end effector} ops); Digitals Accuracy Characterization (collecting data for engineers to characterize the accuracy of the SSRMS digitals; this involved two grapples, at PDGF4 {power and data grapple fixture #4} and PDGF1); Survey of the S1 truss SVS (space vision system) Targets (SSRMS was parked at the survey position at the end of the day‚s ops. The survey was performed by the ground using the Tip LEE camera); SSRMS OOCR/On-Orbit Checkout Requirements (to support on-going SSRMS commissioning activities, the crew performeda PDGF grapple in Fast mode, followed by a Fast LEE checkout on each LEE); SSRMS Redundant String Checkout (MCC-H switching strings and running diagnostics tests to verify the health of the SSRMS redundant string. This was performed after crew ops are complete). In addition, ground activities included SSRMS joint brake and JEU (joint electronics unit) diagnostics.]

FE-1 Nikolai Budarin worked on the U.S. SAMS (space acceleration measurement system), first powering it off in order to do the periodic cleaning of the debris filters in both RTS (remote triaxial sensor) drawers and the ICU (interim control unit) drawer in the EXPRESS rack #4 (ER4), and later re-activating the ICU. SAMS was then again commanded remotely from the ground. [Because Pettit reported last week that he was unable to login to the SAMS crew display, some troubleshooting instructions were uplinked for Budarin. To run nominally, SAMS software does not require logging into the crew displays.]

Ken Bowersox switched the Lab CCAA (common cabin air assembly) air conditioner from its portside channel over to the starboard unit. A swap-back is scheduled for tomorrow. [The last switch occurred on 1/11, 33 days ago, which is the limit for continuous CCAA operation without a dryout. The starboard CCAA has exhibited frequent “WET” indications in the past, suggesting that water is passing through the heat exchanger into the downstream ducting. Until the root cause of this problem can be identified, operation of the port-CCAA is preferred. Thus, after a sufficient dryout period, Sox is scheduled to switch the CCAA back to the port channel tomorrow.]

Budarin continued downlinking video recorded previously of the Russian “telescience” Plasma Crystal-3 (PK-3) payload, today from the 1/24/03 session. For the downlink, the ISS had to be in sight of RGS (Russian ground sites).

Afterwards, Nikolai performed another major IFM (in-flight maintenance), removing and replacing SM battery #7, one of the eight 800A storage units in the Zvezda module. The failed 800A will be disposed of in Progress 10P. The ground then switched the new storage unit to “cycling” mode. All other SM batteries are reportedly working nominally.

Bowersox prepared the data from the fourth Foot (foot/ground reaction forces during space flight) session on 2/7 and transferred the file for subsequent downlink to MCC-H.

Pettit collected his daily ppCO2 (carbon dioxide partial pressure) readings in Lab and SM, one in the morning, one in the evening, using the U.S. CDMK (CO2 monitoring kit).

For Nikolai Budarin, it was time to pack up his plant growth experiment BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”). [After copying the experiment data to memory card and storing the PCMCIA (personal computer memory card international adapter) in the Rasteniya kit, he deactivated the payload which had nurtured and supported the plant growths in zero-G.]

Later, Budarin took the Kodak 760 digital still camera to the SM/Progress docking hatch to photograph the internal surfaces of the docking assembly. [It is standard Russian procedure to record images of the scratch mark made by the Progress docking probe on the SM’s docking cone internal surface. The digital images were then transferred to a laptop for subsequent return to Earth to help refine current understanding of docking conditions.]

The crew had another tagup with IMS (inventory management system) specialists at MCC-M, via S-band from MCC-H, to discuss cargo transfers from the Progress-247, which need to be completed within the next few days, and to clarify some storage location uncertainties

Don performed the daily routine maintenance of the SOSh life support systems in the SM, while Nick prepared the IMS database update file for export/downlink.

The transition of on-board computers to the new Rev. 3 (R3) software has started and is in progress. The first files are being uploaded to the SSMMU (solid-state mass memory unit) of each C&C MDM (command and control multiplexer/demultiplexer). The actual on-orbit transition of the MDMs is scheduled for next week, 2/18-20.

Since the transition of the ISS back to XPOP attitude after the Progress reboost, the loop B NTA (nitrogen tank assembly) heater temperatures have been decreasing as expected. Ground controllers are working a procedure to preclude the violation of non-operating hardware limits.

The crew’s assistance on IMV (intermodular ventilation) troubleshooting yesterday has been very helpful. MCC-H will schedule for them a similar inspection and cleaning on the Lab aft port IMV fan and the Node starboard aft IMV fan. [Even though considerable improvement in air mixing has already been seen since the cleaning, ECLSS engineers are investigating the possibility of further improving air mixing between the US and Russian segments by diverting the air from the Node aft port IMV fan directly to the Lab. This technique has been used on the early assembly missions to improve mixing with the Shuttle. To help assess the feasibility of this option, the crew needs to locate some thin duct covers (made out of laminated cardboard)that were cut out to fit over the ventilation openings in the Node.]

Progress Water Delivery: The “Rodnik” water storage system of a Progress M vehicle can deliver 420 kg H2O. The M1 “tanker” version had the Rodnik tanks removed and replaced with propellant tanks, but it can deliver water in portable EDV containers in the pressurized Cargo Module, each EDV holding 22 kg of water. It is generally assumed that approximately 10 EDV’s can be loaded into a Progress (M and M1), but the actual number flown is a function of the other cargoes (dry, gas, propellant) that are also scheduled for that flight.

Instructions were uplinked for closing out the RED (resistive exercise device) canister inspection, during which the crew discovered that the failed canister has a damaged Flexpack. Resupply options as well as salvage/refurbishment plans are currently being considered.

Today’s targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were Angolan Biomass Burning (although this is not burning season in this part of the world, crew was advised to use this good pass in fair weather to look for burn scars from last season, primarily to the right of track), High Central Andean Glaciers (cloud cover was expected to be below normal over this target. As ISS crossed the crest of the Andes, crew was to try for context views of the snow and ice patterns either side of track), Eastern Mediterranean Dust (a series of winter storms continues to raise dust over Egypt and the eastern Med. Looking left or right of track this pass), Tigris-Euphrates, Turkey (crew was to use this break in the weather to shoot context views of the Tigris-Euphrates valley looking right of track, southeastward towards Syria and Iraq), Eastern Mediterranean Smog (as the crew tracked across southern Italy, they were to look obliquely left of track to document smog patterns over the mainland, the Adriatic Sea and the Balkan Peninsula), and Great Lake Ice (DYNAMIC EVENT TARGET: The time of maximum ice coverage of the Great Lakes is normally in February. As the crew tracked over northern Wisconsin, they were to document the ice extent of Lake Superior, left of track, and Lake Michigan, right).
CEO images can be viewed at the website
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 11:45am 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 (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 On.

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 753; temperature (deg C) — 26.7; ppO2 (mmHg) — 183.0; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.5 (suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.0.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 747.71; temperature (deg C) — 24.1 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 749.66; temperature (deg C) — 23.2; ppO2 (mmHg) — 168.7; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 5.0;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 749.77; temperature (deg C) — 21.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.6, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.3
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 12.9

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available [SM(820) + FGB(2804) + Progress(868)] — 4492 kg (9903 lb) as of 2/6/03. (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 auto track (sun following) mode.
SM batteries: Battery #7 is in “Cycle” mode (freshly installed); all other batteries (7) 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:

XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: 0 deg, pitch: -8.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG/Thruster Assist Momentum Management).
Solar Beta Angle: -43.0 deg (magnitude increasing).

Communications & Tracking Systems: