Status Report

ISS On-Orbit Status 18 Feb 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

February 18, 2003

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

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Day 87 in space for Expedition 6.

During a Russian ground site (RGS) pass on Daily Orbit 2, FE-1 Nikolai Budarin completed another session with the Russian MedOps cardio experiment MO-1 (Study of the Bioelectric Activity of the Heart at Rest), with CDR Ken Bowersox assisting as CMO (crew medical officer). [During the test, transmittal of the Gamma-1M ECG (electrocardiogram) signal to the ground was required for about 5-6 minutes.]

Later, Budarin performed repair work on the Russian Potok-150MK (150 micron) air filter unit of the SOGS air revitalization subsystem in the SM, installing a new circuit card delivered by Progress M-47/10P, after the troubleshooting on 12/27/02 for a failed fan. The IFM (in-flight maintenance) was supported by tag-up with ground specialists.

FE-2/SO Don Pettit yesterday successfully removed and replaced the LAB1P5 RPCM (remote power controller module), which controls the VTR1 video recorder in the Lab RWS (robotics work station). [This R&R was deferred from last week (2/12), when the ground, upon trying to perform a preemptive refresh of the RPCM, received an unexpected health flag. While the event was thought to be fully understood, engineers wanted to assess it completely before proceeding yesterday.]

Bowersox completed another EVARM (EVA radiation monitoring) badge reading, moving the four pouches from the IV-CPDS (intravehicular charged particle directional spectrometer) to the EVARM reader and later returning the badges to their former location. He then downloaded the data from the reader to the HRF (human research facility) PC for later downlink.

The Foot (foot/ground reaction forces during space flight) experiment activities scheduled for Ken Bowersox for today and tomorrow are being rescheduled. [Foot team has determined that data from Bowersox’s last session was recorded on only half of the channels. Some data are missing, and Sox’s marker button presses were also not recorded. Since the problem is not understood yet, the activities were deferred.]

The upload of the new Rev. 3 (R3) software to the SSMMUs (solid state mass memory units) of the C&C MDMs (command & control computers) began this morning and is currently underway, having started with the standby C&C (#1). [C&C1 was then swapped with the backup C&C MDM (C&C2), followed by uploadings for the backup INT-1 (internal systems) and GNC2 (guidance, navigation and control) MDMs. Actual transition of the computers is scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday. For transitioning two of the PCS (portable computer system) laptops, Bowersox assisted by swapping their HHDs (hard disk drives) with the new software, after “go” from MCC-H due to the sequential nature of the R3 transition. MCC-H also uplinked procedures for contingency communications configurations, involving manual TDRS tracking, to restore comm with MCC-H in case that unexpected C&C or GNC MDM transitions occur at certain times during the three-day R3 transition period.]

Don Pettit completed the daily routine maintenance of the SOSh life support system, incl. ASU toilet subsystem, as well as the preparation of the IMS inventory database for automated file import/export.

Budarin continued the disinfection and washing of the Russian SVO-ZV water supply system equipment started yesterday, using a hand pump and special receptacles with a disinfectant solution delivered on Progress-247/10P and water.

Pettit took the daily ppCO2 (carbon dioxide partial pressure) readings in Lab and SM with the CDMK (CO2 monitoring kit), after breakfast and again before dinner.

The Vozdukh CO2 (carbon dioxide) removal system failed overnight, but it is now again up and running. Failure signature was like the preceding one in late January, and suspected cause is “something with the electrical currents in the system”. ppCO2 (CO2 partial pressure) in the Russian segment (RS) was back down at 3.5 mmHg this morning. The U.S. CDRA (CO2 removal assembly) was powered on last night when ppCO2 in the Lab reached 6 mmHg. It is presently still on, with ppCO2 this morning down at 4.2 mmHg and decreasing.

IMV (intermodular ventilation) troubleshooting is finished, after the crew cleaned out the Lab starboard forward fan assembly, finding not much lint this time, but “plastic wrapping”.

The two-man EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) suit donning/doffing demonstration is being scheduled for the crew this week, after the procedures were successfully completed on the ground last Friday (2/14). Photographic records of the ground run will be uplinked to the crew. [Purpose of the activity is to demonstrate that two crewmembers can conduct a contingency EVA in U.S. EMU equipment from the Joint Airlock without the aid of a third crewmate (IV). The demo by Bowersox and Pettit will involve donning and doffing of suits and helmets, including hose connections, but neither prebreathing nor suit pressurization.]

Development of troubleshooting procedures for the MSG (microgravity science glovebox) continues on the ground. [A special “tiger” team at POC (Payload Operations Center, Huntsville) has looked into the feasibility of using the MSG’s MWA (maintenance work area) to operate on-orbit payloads during the time the MSG is inoperable. It was determined that it is not possible, for multiple reasons, to operate the CSLM (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures), InSpace (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) and PFMI (P{ore Formation and Migration Investigation) payloads in the MWA. Science has to wait for the MSG to be restored to full service.]

During inspection of the RED (resistive exercise device), the crew found that Flexpack canister #1009 is exhibiting noises indicating a little metal-on-metal contact. The crew recommends using the can as a spare. Issue is under investigation by the ground.

When performing maintenance of the TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization) over the weekend, the crew had to tighten two loose screws on the port and starboard brackets holding the treadmill in the SM pit. They also discovered that one screw on each bracket is missing. After analysis, ground engineers found no issue with the situation, giving the go-ahead for the crew to use the TVIS without any restrictions.

Yesterday’s dynamic test of the SM ODU manifold-2 yaw thruster (RZ, plane II), which failed during the recent Progress 10P docking, showed no problems with the systems involved. Calculated delta-velocity and burn time of the test were nominal, and sensors reported no pressure irregularities in the entire thruster/manifold system. The problem may have been with signal transmission in the associated electronics and is being investigated further.

A smoke alarm and a dP/dt (pressure differential) alarm went off in the RS yesterday but were found to be false, after other indicators reported neither smoke nor pressure drop.

The recent underspeed performance of the Progress M-47/10P thrusters during the ISS reboost is still under investigation. [1.1 m/sec of the 1.8 m/sec deficit in delta-V has been identified to be due to a known operator’s error, and steps are being taken with documentation and procedures to prevent re-occurrence. The remaining 0.7 m/sec variance still unaccounted for. Propulsion designers may soon propose two dynamic tests of the Progress thrusters, one for each four-jet manifold, each one “like a small reboost”. In view of other current issues such as software upgrading, large Beta angles, etc., the need for these tests is being re-evaluated. A proposal may be forthcoming next Friday, 2/21.]

Early in the morning, at 2:59am EST, amateur radio operator Don Pettit chatted with students of Hirano Elementary School in Kobe, Japan, during a 10-min. ham radio pass. [Hirano Elementary School, opened in 1876, is a small school with only 180 students now, located in the western part of Kobe-city.]

The crew participated in a PAO TV interview with the Russian HTB TV program “Morning Channel”, via SM video and audio downlink to TsUP (subject: ISS assembly plans).

Late in the day, Budarin set up the equipment for tomorrow’s planned Russian biochemical urine test (PZE MO-9), which uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic “Urolux” apparatus developed years ago for the Mir program. [MO-9 is one of several Russian medical assessments that have been accepted by US MedOps officials in the interest of working more jointly as an Integrated Medical Group (IMG). It is performed every 30 days, also before and after Orlan EVAs.]

Today’s targets for the CEO (crew earth observations) program were Lake Chad in Sun Glint (after nearly disappearing completely during the Sahelian drought of the 1980’s, this once-large lake has been making a slow recovery during the past decade. Crew was to take advantage of this sunglint-enhanced view well to right of track to help detect and map water between sand dunes on the lakebed), Dakar, Senegal (the city of Dakar may not have been visible this pass, but oblique views to the left of track should have picked up dust moving westward out to sea. Crew was asked to try to include landmarks in your views, if possible), Eastern Mediterranean Dust (with a winter storm tracking eastward from the western Med, dust from Libya is expected to move northward toward Italy. Looking left of track to document this event), and Newfoundland Ice Floes (a major winter storm is approaching from the SW, but crew was to try looking right of track this pass to capture the massive, swirling ice floe pattern off of Newfoundland’s jagged eastern coastline).
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 (32 Amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (auto mode). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is On. 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) — 26.9; ppO2 (mmHg) — 183.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.3 (suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 20.7.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.0.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 747.71; temperature (deg C) — 24.0 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 748.55; temperature (deg C) — 22.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — 170.9*; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.1*;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 748.65; temperature (deg C) — 20.8; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.8, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.6
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 11.5

(n/a = data not available)

(* = sample location currently unavailable until completion of R3 s/w upload on 2/20)

Propulsion System (PS): T

otal propellant load available [SM(811) + FGB(2777) + Progress(444)] — 4032 kg (8889 lb) as of 2/14/03. (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 #4 is in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (7) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #1 is off line; battery #4 is in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (4) 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.
INT-2 MDM is On (primary); INT-2 is Off
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): 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-2 (GPS)
Angular rates — U.S. RGA-1

Flight Attitude:

XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: 0.5 deg, pitch: -8.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG/Thruster Assist Momentum Management).
Solar Beta Angle: -60.0 deg (magnitude increasing).

Communications & Tracking Systems: