ISS On-Orbit Status 18 Feb 2002

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

The crew started the day with a 1-hour familiarization review of the SSRMS DOUG (dynamic orbital ubiquitous graphics) video software, which provides a 3-D representation of the external robotarm positions on a laptop display. Later in the day CDR Yuri Onufrienko and FE-1 Carl Walz maneuvered the SSRMS/Canadarm2 to EVA viewing position.

For Onufrienko, assisted by FE-2 Dan Bursch, it was that time again for testing and calibrating the Russian BINS strap-down inertial guidance system in the SM. In order to use reference stars for checking the optical alignment of the BINS (and thereby the entire ISS), Yuri first installed the combined optical collimator device PUMA/pilot sight VP-2 at SM window no. 8 and began calibration of the two using the three reference stars Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris), Mirzam (Beta Canis Majoris) Êand Zeta Puppis. Coordinates for this reference points were entered in PUMA and VP-2 from a special star map program stored on the Russian “Wiener” power laptop. The system provides the capability of correcting station attitude with the optical alignment sight to within a fraction of a degree, tested for the first time by Michael Tyurin last year. [BINS is a platform-less inertial navigation system (or “strap-down guidance” in NASA parlance), which uses a complex mathematical model of spatial relationships (axes, rotations, angular velocities and accelerations) instead of the gyro-stabilized and gimbaled platform of a more conventional inertial navigation system.

Walz and Bursch today conducted another session of the PuFF (Pulmonary Function in Flight) research program, which was also the scheduled pre-EVA assessment. After Bursch had unstowed the equipment and connected it to the HRF (human research facility) Rack, which the ground had configured overnight, for the test, Carl performed initial calibration and then the standard test, followed by Dan with a second standard run, each taking about half an hour. PuFF was later deactivated but not disconnected from the HRF since another run is scheduled post-EVA for Thursday, 2/21.

Dan Bursch took pre-EVA readings of the Canadian EVARM (EVA radiation monitoring) experiment in two parts today. The monitors are carried in outside pockets of the EMU spacesuits. For the pre-EVA assessment, a series of up to six badge readings are intended to characterize the on-board radiation environment in the weeks and days prior to the EVA. For post-EVA, a single badge reading shortly after the spacewalk is intended to measure the level of radiation exposure experienced during EVA. In addition, background radiation readings are taken monthly from all 12 badges. These and the post-EVA badge readings are downlinked to the ground through HRF weekly batch downlinks.

The two Flight Engineers completed EVA tool configuring in the Joint Airlock (JAL), essentially unstowing and readying the gear they will require during the EVA on Wednesday. Before the activity, they set up a camcorder to allow video coverage of their work. The tape playback was downlinked later via S-band. The camcorder will be left in the JAL, as it will be used again on Wednesday. Walz also started recharging EMU batteries.

Onufrienko meanwhile replaced a gas mask (IPK-1) in the FGB, made ready for use.

All crewmembers did their regular physical exercise. The standard program calls for 1 hour aerobics (treadmill and cycle), and 1.5 hour anaerobics (resistive expander).

Last night, the ISS was maneuvered to XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane) as scheduled, to accommodate the currently high solar beta angle (angle between the normal to the orbit plane and the Earth-Sun line).

Today’s targets for the CEO (crew earth observations) program were Industrialized Southeastern Africa (good mapping pass over the industrialized corridor in South Africa, with nadir views requested of industrial activity, especially around Johannesburg), Angolan Biomass Burning ( a good pass in fair weather to look for smoke plumes and aerosols either side of track. Crew was advised to begin off shore and continue inland), E. Mediterranean Dust and Smog (of interest: Saharan dust being swept northward in advance of a large Mediterranean storm, looking to the right of track as ISS crossed the Egyptian coastline), Eastern United States (with this pass up the spine of the Appalachian Mountains, the crew could either look for aerosols the left of track over the Ohio River valley or to the right of track over the eastern seaboard of the US), Gulf of St. Lawrence (the best pass of the day over this area. Of interest: nadir views of pack ice accumulation on both the western and northern coasts of the island of Newfoundland), and American Samoa (a fairly small target area, but the beautiful volcanic islands are large enough to be easily seen. Crew to use the ESC to document the reef structures fringing these islands).

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1.27 pm EST today):

• Elektron O2 generator is On (16 Amp mode, the lowest possible setting). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is in MANUAL cycle mode #5 (vacuum pump failed). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is in Standby.
  
• BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Both absorbent beds (Filters #1 & #2) in Purify mode.
  
• SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 747, temperature (deg C) — 26.7, ppO2 (mmHg) — 157.2, ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.5 (? see Notes below and above)
  
• SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 752, temperature (deg C) — 21.5; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
  
• FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752, temperature (deg C) — Ên/a; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
  
• Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 741.34, temperature (deg C) — 23.3 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
  
• U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 741.48, temperature (deg C) — n/a, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
  
• Joint Airlock (equip. lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 741.18, temperature (deg C) — n/a; shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.6, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
  
• PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.0.
  
• PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 11.5.
  

(Note: Partial pressures ppO2 and ppCO2 in U.S. segment (USOS) not available because MCA [major constituent analyzer] is failed and in Extended Life mode [= a state that preserves mass spectrometer vacuum but produces no pp data]. Russian GA (gas analyzer) readings of ppCO2 in the SM are invalid).

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

• Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B in Autotrack mode, BGA 4B in Autotrack mode.


• SM batteries: all batteries (8) in “partial charge” mode.


• FGB battery #5 is offline; battery #1 is cycling; all other (4) batteries are in “partial charge” mode.


• Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 in Standby mode.

Thermal Control Systems:

• Air conditioner SKV-1 is Off (Freon leak). SKV-2 is On.

Command & Data Handling Systems:

• C&C-2 MDM is prime, C&C-3 is back-up, and C&C-1 is in standby.


• GNC-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is back-up.


• LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.


• 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): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.

Communications Systems:

• S-band is operating nominally.


• Ku-band is operating nominally in open loop pointing mode.


• Audio subsystem operating nominally.


• Video subsystem operating nominally.


• MCOR (medium-rate communications outage recorder) operating nominally.

Robotics:

• SSRMS/Canadarm2 at new position to view the EVA, with Keep Alive power on both strings.


• RWS (robotics workstations) are Off.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 5:58am EST):

• Mean altitude — 382.1 km


• Apogee — 385.5 km


• Perigee — 378.7 km


• Period — 92.2 min.


• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg


• Eccentricity — 0.0005025


• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.62


• Decay rate Ê390 (mean) in last 24 hours


• Solar Beta Angle: -40.0 deg (magnitude increasing)


• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. â98) — 18551


• Current Flight Attitude — XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane [yaw: ~0 deg, pitch: 5 deg., roll: 0 deg])

For more on ISS orbit and naked-eye visibility dates/times, see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html