Status Report

ISS On-Orbit Status 2 Apr 2002

By SpaceRef Editor

April 2, 2002

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

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

Onboard preparations for new station visitors accelerate as the crew has
entered the home stretch to 8A/STS-110 (Atlantis) arrival this weekend.
There are no ISS issues to constrain launch as scheduled on Thursday (4/4)
afternoon (today’s KSC weather forecast: 70% chance of no scrub due to
weather). Docking would then occur on 4/6 (Saturday).

The much-debated regeneration of Metox (metal oxide) canisters is currently
underway. They are to be used on the upcoming EVAs as CO2/contaminant
absorbers instead of the conventional nonrecycleable LiOH (lithium
hydroxide) canisters. Regeneration was started by the crew at about 5:30am
EST this morning. As per joint agreement, air samples were taken before
initiation of the 14-hour regeneration process, as well as 2.5 and 9.5 hours
after initiation, using the U.S. GSC (grab sample container) and the Russian
AK-1M sampler systems (the latter sampling for such contaminants as carbon
monoxide, formaldehyde, ammonia, prussic acid, hydrochloric acid, fluorine
hydride and nitrogen oxides). Metox regeneration in the special Airlock
(A/L) oven is being performed with the Node starboard forward IMV
(inter-module ventilation) valve open and the Node starboard hatch closed
(but not latched).

All EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) checkouts, including EMU comm tests,
were successfully completed by FE-1 Carl Walz and FE-2 Dan Bursch. Walz
initiated charging of two EMU batteries (#2020 & 2021) from the PSA (power
supply assembly) utility outlet, after termination of the BSA (battery
stowage assembly) charging which indicated two failed batteries: one each
for HL (helmet light) and PGT (pistol grip tool). This has no impact on 8A.

Walz was scheduled to deactivate the TEPC (tissue equivalent proportional
counter) radiation equipment and relocate it to the center of the Lab on the
S3 rack, making sure that its detector and spectrometer were not next to
each other (to avoid self-shielding from the latter). The IV-CPDS
(intravehicular-charged particle directional spectrometer) was to be moved
to a lower position in the rack.

While CDR Onufrienko and FE-1 Walz performed the Progress 7P unloading
scheduled for today, FE-2 Bursch undertook the lengthy process of ingressing
into the Z1 dome. This vestibular space between the Node and the Z1 truss
is being used for stowage. [Before he could open the Node overhead hatch to
the dome, Dan had to remove the mounting plate of the IRED (interim
resistive exercise device). After hatch opening, he inspected and
photographed the hatch seals (to ascertain whether the hatch had “burped”
during depress/repress cycles of the cabin, with possible seal damage).
After ingress, Bursch swapped eight old LiOH canisters with five new ones,
retrieved one RPCM (remote power controller module) Type V, retrieved a
desiccant bag for the Orbiter docking system (ODS) and verified the part
number of a Lab forward hatch thermal cover, required for 10A, suspected to
be in the dome.]

The daily routine tasks were performed by Bursch (Lab payload status
checks), Walz (SOSH life support systems), and Onufrienko (IMS delta file
preparation).

Early in the morning, MCC-Moscow ran a remote test of the Russian “Wiener”
power laptop OpsLAN connection (BSMM), a part of the onboard equipment
control system (SUBA). SUBA is used to control, monitor, and diagnose SM
onboard systems status by employing sensor output signals, command radio
link SM functional outputs and other units.

Later in the day, MCC-Houston remotely commanded a swap/transition of C&C
MDMs to C&C-3 as primary computer, without handover to the Russian control
systems required, then reconfigured the standby C&C-1 MDM.

Early last Sunday (3/31) the prime GNC MDM (guidance, navigation and control
computer) failed briefly, transitioning to Diagnostic mode. Attitude
control was handed over to the Russian segment (RS) before the back-up GNC
was brought up. Preliminary analysis indicated that the error was transient
in nature, with the “signatures” of the failure indicating a “watchdog timer
timeout”, and an SPD card failure. The MDM was recovered without problems
and is currently operating nominally, as backup GNC. The event is under
investigation.

The condensate transfer from the US Lab collection tank to a CWC was
completed yesterday as scheduled, in about 50 minutes. The tank was showing
45.4 kgs of condensate before and 8.96 kgs of condensate after the
activity. MCC-Moscow suggested that the CWC be transferred to the RS for
regeneration (which should be done before Shuttle departure, to keep the
water “fresh”). A second CWC with “older” water will be transferred to the
Shuttle and dumped from there. Two additional water dumps are planned from
Atlantis: one minor one (of about 15 lbs) with water used in the EMU cooling
systems, and a regular waste water dump on FD6. [Clarification to
yesterday’s report: condensate is just water, while “technical water” is
Shuttle water that is transferred to ISS with no Iodine as biocide added but
Silver instead. Also, the Lab condensate tank could hold more than 100 lbs
but is limited to that amount due to life-cycle considerations because of a
failure of the tank bellows during ground ops at KSC. And thirdly: the water
to be transferred to ISS from the Shuttle is generated as a byproduct of the
power-generating fuel cells and is not brought up to orbit as cargo.]

MCC-Moscow reported that batteries #4 and #8 in the SM have failed, leaving
six operating. Two new batteries were brought up by Progress 7P, and the
crew is now scheduled to replace the #8 battery on 4/4, in time to have
seven functioning storage units at 8A arrival. The removal and replacement
will take 1.5 hours and has been done numerous times before without
problems. If the R&R is successful, the #4 battery is to be replaced on
4/10 (FD6 of 8A).

TsUP has also reported that the FGB spare batteries are reaching the end of
their certified shelf life and has asked Khrunichev (responsible for the
FGB) to recertify the batteries in order to extend their shelf life.
Another option under consideration by TsUP is installation of the spare
batteries.

For tomorrow (4/3), MCC-M has scheduled the crew to repair the SKV-1 air
conditioner by replacing its heat exchanger with a new unit brought up by
7P.

MCC-M has requested U.S. support in a test of the onboard KURS
rendezvous/approach radio system which showed very low signal strength from
one of its two antennas during the Progress docking. The first test, run
closed-loop without the antenna to ensure that it is not a hardware problem,
will not require crew involvement. The failure is believed to be with the
cable going from the SM along the central mast of the #4 solar array to the
KURS antenna at its tip, and its inspection will require use of the SSRMS
wrist camera. The task is not urgent but should be done before arrival of
the next Soyuz.

The crew reported yesterday that they have completed both 8A and UF-2
prepacking. Status files were available for downlink at MCC-H convenience.

An additional task has been added to the EVA-1 timeline for 8A: inspection
of the GPS antennas on the S0 truss to ascertain whether blankets are
protruding above the antenna plane.

CEO (crew earth observation) target areas today were Irrawaddy River Delta
(the Irrawaddy delta is a region where land use changes rapidly and
population pressures are intense. The wetlands of the delta were just left
of track; crew was asked to document any land clearing, draining and filling
of wetlands, and the condition of agricultural lands just prior to monsoon
season. The pass went directly over Rangoon, but XPOP attitude may have
prevented photographing the city. Light was be a bit low, so the crew may
have had to overexpose somewhat to record the darker vegetated areas),
Bombay, India (ISS passed just south of the megacity of Bombay. Urban
expansion and conversion of coastal agricultural lands are of concern here.
Light was a bit low, so some overexposure may have been necessary to record
details), Congo-Zimbabwe Biomass Burning(crew was to record any fall
burning, as well as signs of the regional drought that has been affecting
Zambia and Mozambique, and to record the condition of wetlands around Lake
Mweru as well), Rukwa Transform, Tanzania(the intensely faulted junction of
the southern Lake Tanganyika rift valley and the NW Rukwa transform fault
valley were just to the left [NW] of track. Considering the present Station
attitude, oblique context views of this complex structural knot should have
been obtainable. Crew could will see fault escarpments that trend primarily
N and NW; shadows from the higher scarps should have helped to define the
northerly structures. Dynamic event: Rare clear conditions should prevail
over Lake Victoria, providing a chance to record the lake level and
surrounding shores), Parana River(clear weather should have permitted to
document the broad river valley from the great N-ward bend in the river near
the town of Parana, northward to the easterly right-angle bend at the
Parana-Pilcomayo confluence. This expanse of the alluvian plain was to the
left of the track. Harvest is under way, and crew was asked to record
existing agricultural lands as well as clearing of native vegetation. Beyond
there the weather will likely deteriorate) .
NASA gateway for Earth photography from space: http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/

U.S. and Russian Segment Status(as of 2:05 pm EST today):

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is On (24 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 Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode.
SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 760, temperature (deg C) —
27.2, ppO2 (mmHg) — 151.1, ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.9.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 767, temperature (deg C) — 21.26.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 756, temperature (deg C) — 23.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 753.43, temperature (deg C) — 23.4 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 755.22, temperature (deg C) — 24.1, ppO2
(mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 754.92, temperature (deg C)
— 20.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.1, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.1
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 13.4

(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: batteries #8 and #4 are off-line; all other batteries (6) in
“partial charge” mode.
FGB batteries #1 and #6 are offline (capacity restoration mode [ROM]); all
other batteries (4) are in “partial charge” mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 in Standby mode.

Thermal Control Systems: