ISS On-Orbit Status 19 Mar 2002
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.
After a 1-hr-shifted wakeup at 2:00 am and before breakfast, the crewmembers completed the periodic blood analysis event, performed every 60 days Êin conjunction with the “PHS (physical health evaluation) with Blood Labs” protocol. Taking turns at being subject or CMO (crew medical officer), Êthey used the PCBA (portable clinical blood analyzer), entering the blood chemistry data into the MEC (medical equipment computer). Later, all three completed the rest of the PHS with blood labs protocol.
Todayâs major event, undocking of 6P/Progress M1-7 (#256), was nominal and on time (12:43 pm EST), after yesterdayâs hatch closing, transfer compartment depressurization and hatch leak checked had also gone very well (reactive moment on the station from the venting was only 65% of the expected value for the CMGs, and attitude moding to free drift was not required). [Physical separation of the cargo ship was effected by spring force (delta-V ~0.123 m/s), followed after three minutes by a thruster burn (0.69 m/s). A second separation burn is scheduled for 4:40 pm, before ejection of the Russian/Australian “Kolibri” micro satellite at 5:28 pm. Progress will then deorbit itself into destructive reentry tonight between 8:30 and 9:00pm.]
Launch of 7P/Progress M1-8 (#257) from Baikonur/Kazakhstan is scheduled for 3/21 (Thursday) at 3:13pm EST, with docking at the SM aft port on 3/24 (Sun=80,29 at 4:00pm. The docking will be carried live on NASA TV.
After Progress departure, ISS maneuvered to a special attitude for gathering data on solar array efficiency, periodically required to evaluate performance of the Russian SM and FGB photovoltaic cells over time. Attitude later returned to the nominal LVLH under CMG control.
CDR Onufrienko and FE-2 Dan Bursch disassembled the TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization) to clear the “pit” in the SM floor for accessibility to the hull section where some fungal mildew deposits had accumulated. Protected with safety goggles and respirators, Yuri and Dan then spent about an hour to collect four samples of the deposits for return to Earth and cleaned the area with dry wipes. They finally reinstalled the TVIS at its proper location.
Yuri initiated regeneration mode for absorbent bed #1 of the BMP micropurification unit. Filter #2 continues in Purify mode, and its regenerative bake-out will commence tomorrow. He also performed the daily maintenance on the SOSH life support system as well as inspection of the BRPK water condensator separator.
Carl Walz meanwhile completed routine status checks of the active Increment 4 payloads and also checked out the HMS defibrillator. Updating the IMS “delta” file for today was scheduled for Dan Bursch.
FE-1 Carl Walz inventoried and reconfigured BCSS (biotechnology cell science stowage) components in preparation for operations during stage UF-2, starting in May. [The task involved swapping BSTC (biotechnology specimen temperature controller) BCSS caddies as well as an inventory to assure that components are in place. Some supplies and syringes will stay onboard, while the cryodewar/fixative caddy will be returned on 8A. These components are part of the CBOSS (cellular biotechnology operations support system), which during its operation provides a controlled environment for the cultivation of cells into healthy, three-dimensional tissues that retain the form and function of natural, living tissue thanks to their zero-G environment.]
FE-2 Dan Bursch returned to the PCG-STES007 (Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System 7), today activating cylinder #11 of the self-contained, automated payload.
After further troubleshooting of the EXPPCS (Experiment of the Physics of Colloids in Space), specialists at NASA GRC (Glenn Research Center) have identified corrupted BIOS (basic input/output system) data as cause for preventing the experimentâs computer from properly booting up. They were able to recreate the boot-up signature observed during the crewâs last troubleshooting sessions in the lab and then fix the problem by repairing the corrupted BIOS data. Procedures have been developed to return EXPPCS to proper operation, and the crew will attempt the onboard recovery of the payload tomorrow.
All crewmembers completed their daily physical exercise program on TVIS, RED, VELO and CEVIS.
Instructions were uplinked for the installation of a second mass storage device, called MACE Silo II, onto the station computer systemâs Ops LAN (operations local area network) file server. [The 1-hr task, during which clients like the file server, MEC and printer have to be shut down, can be performed by one crewmember. It has been added to the “job jar” task list, to be done at the crewâs convenience (with prior notification of MCC-H).]
A procedure for a comprehensive photo survey of the P6 solar array wings (SAWs) 2B (starboard) and 4B (port) has been developed by MCC-H and uplinked. Photos taken earlier appear to indicate some deformations, possibly damage to the portside SAW, at rows 61 and 62. Since there is concern about other potential damage on the arrays, as well as impacts to the planned array retractions on Flights 12A.1 and 13A, better understanding of the present state of SAW hardware is required. [For the photo survey, with the Kodak 760 electronic camera with 180 mm and 400 mm lenses, the arrays will be moded to autotrack, i.e., they will rotate slowly at through 360 degrees per orbit or, with an orbital period of 92 min, at about 4 deg/min.]
Carl Walz verified correct “arrival” and upload of the new SSRMS robotics GUI (graphical user interface) configuration for 8A, uplinked during the crewâs launch hour via S-band.
The scheduled major ISS PAO event at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the movie “ET”, went off as planned with great success. The crew was tied in live on Ku-band (video) and S-band (audio) to “facilitate” a “phone home” from the ET character on stage before an audience and film cameras, assisted by Astronaut Janice Voss and supported by Steven Spielberg on remote link from Los Angeles, CA.
After the recent post-EVA problem with the regeneration of one of the new Metox (metal oxide) canisters, replacing the more conventional LiOH (lithium hydroxide) filters for absorbing CO2, analysis of the system has been completed at MCC-H. The testing ensured that the canisters are ready for safe regeneration, without any flammability or toxicity issues. From an U.S. perspective, the canisters are Go to be used for the upcoming EVAs on 8A, and the data has now been provided to the Russian side of the “safety community” to obtain their concurrence.
After the 6DOF software patch for the SSRMS/Canadarm2 becomes available by end of this month, and after the newly-developed modifications to the S0 transfer trajectory, MCC-H considers the arm to be fully redundant again for the 8A mission. Details and conclusions will be presented at a special operational readiness review tomorrow (3/20) and at the 8A/STS-110 FRR (Flight Readiness Review) on 3/26. CSA reviews the diagnostics of the WR (wrist roll) joint failure this afternoon.
MCC-Moscow has plans for removing and replacing the failed SKV-1 air conditioner in the SM in the near future, possibly before arrival of 8A. Since this requires considerable crewtime (two crewmembers for 6 hours, plus another 1.5 hours for two later for installing insulation), there could be a time conflict on the crowded crew schedule before 8A. Since the CCAAs (common cabin air assemblies) in the Lab plus the humidity removal capability of the Shuttle Orbiter could maintain the onboard air quality during the docked phase even if the SKV-2 fails also, NASA suggested to hold off on the R&R until after mission UF-2 (May). A joint team is taking a close look at the issue, to see whether the IFM should be done on 4/3-4/4, as MCC-M suggested, or after UF-2.
Todayâs target areas for CEO (crew earth observations) were Angolan Biomass Burning (of interest: point sources for smoke from early fires to the left (NE) of ISS track. Oblique photos of smoke palls, particularly of the margins of smoke masses, are needed), Congo-Zimbabwe Biomass Burning (both regional smoke palls and individual fires [point sources of smoke] are the objectives. Of interest: observing and photographing the region to the left [NE] of track, shooting toward the lakes of the East African rift) and Parana River (the Pantanal and Ibera marshlands were along track to the left [NE]. Crew was asked to document stream courses and marshes in this expanse of the Parana drainage basin, where land use is rapidly changing — particularly the increase in land clearing for agriculture).
U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:392 pm EST today):
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
- Elektron O2 generator is On (32 Amps mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is ON in MANUAL cycle mode #5 (vacuum pump failed). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is in Standby.
- BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Regeneration mode, #2 in Purify mode.
- SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 761, temperature (deg C) — 27.4, ppO2 (mmHg) — 159.6, ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.6.
- SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 762, temperature (deg C) — 20.5; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 756, temperature (deg C) — 22.7; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 755.61, temperature (deg C) — 22.7 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 758.55, temperature (deg C) — 24.9, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
- Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 758.25, temperature (deg C) — 22.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.8, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.3.
- PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 17.9.
(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]).
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
- Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B in Autotrack mode, BGA 4B in Autotrack mode.
- SM batteries: #4 offline in “capacity restoration” mode (ROM); all other batteries (7) in “partial charge” mode.
- FGB battery #1 is in “cycle” mode; all other batteries (5) 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 (was Off to allow acquisition of vibration data during TsUPâs SM/FGB solar array efficiency test).
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 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.
- Audio subsystem operating nominally.
- Video subsystem operating nominally.
- MCOR (medium-rate communications outage recorder) operating nominally.
Robotics:
- SSRMS/Canadarm2 at PMA-3 clearance position, with Keep Alive power on both strings.
- RWS (robotics workstations) are Off.
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:06 am EST):
- Mean altitude — 393.4 km
- Apogee — 395.9 km
- Perigee — 390.9 km
- Period — 92.4 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0003649
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.58
- Altitude decrease — 325 m (mean) in last 24 hours
- Solar Beta Angle: +27.0 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 19004
- Current Flight Attitude — LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal = “earth-fixed” [yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -7 deg., roll: 0 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
