Status Report

ISS On-Orbit Status 22 Apr 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

April 22, 2003

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

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Day 150 for Expedition 6 (since STS-113 launch, 11/23/02).

FE-1 Nikolai Budarin performed the third experiment run of the Russian Plasma Crystal-3 (PK-3, Plazmennyi Kristall 3) payload, after activating the turbopump for evacuating the work chamber and setting up for video recording. The pump will be turned off in the evening. [During the day, Budarin monitored the experiment, which involved, first, warming up the ZB experiment unit for at least 3 hrs, followed by three parts: (1) studying particle agglomeration (no plasma, 25 min); (2) studying isolated negative pressure wave distribution in structures (20 min); and (3) studying the residual charge of minute particles after charge deactivation (relaxation) under varying pressures (40 min).]

The photos of the disassembled ARCTIC-1 refrigerator/freezer equipment taken by FE-2/SO Don Pettit yesterday are being analyzed. Based on yesterday’s discussion, instructions were uplinked for Pettit to attempt to bypass/work around failed TEDs (thermoelectric devices) with jumpers which must be soldered in place. Today’s schedule had 2h 15m reserved for this IFM. [Each of the TEDs (i.e., the heat pumps providing the refrigeration function) consists of many (~100) semiconductor cells (crystalline Bismuth Telluride, Bi2Te3) in series, arranged in two stages in form of a double-decker sandwich between aluminum oxide ceramic plates. If the two stages are no longer correctly connected, possibly due to corrosion, new solder junctions are required.]

CDR Kenneth Bowersox completed the periodic inspection and cleaning of bacteria filters and smoke detectors (SDs), today in the Node (Lab and Joint Airlock were done Sunday, 4/20), using pressurized N2 (nitrogen) gas for SD cleaning. The activities were video-recorded and the video equipment stowed after the inspection/cleaning. [Last time done: 11/18/02, by Peggy Whitson.]

Budarin worked on the Service Module (SM) plumbing, today removing and replacing the gas-liquid mixture filter (FGS) as well as the filter-reactor unit (F-R) in the powered-down SRV-K condensate water processor. Both filters were then prepared for disposal on Progress. [FGS was replaced last on 11/5/02 by Sergei Treschev.]

After the R&R, Budarin installed a new condensate separator and sample container in the SKV-K2M upstream of the FGS. The SKV-K was then turned on again, and later in the day (4:40pm EDT), Nikolai is to return to the SKV to check behind a wall panel to make sure that the SKV1 fan (VR) is not spreading moisture.

Don Pettit performed the daily routine maintenance of the SOZh life support system (including the ASU toilet facility) and prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file for updating the IMS database.

Nikolai completed his regular daily 5-min. inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”) plant growth experiment.

The crew continued their preparations for the upcoming handover activities to the Expedition 7 crew on 4/28-5/3 and their own return on Soyuz TMA-1 on 5/4.

All crewmembers worked out on the RED resistive trainer, CEVIS cycle ergometer and TVIS treadmill, completing their daily physical exercise program. On the treadmill in motorized mode, Sox is limited to 5.5 mph maximum speed, Nikolai to 7 mph and Don to 6 mph. Budarin and Pettit also performed the weekly TVIS maintenance.

Shortly before dinner time (3:45pm), Nikolai Mikhailovich will break out and set up the equipment required for the Russian MedOps Reflotron biochemical blood test (MO-11), consisting of the Reflotron IV analyzer, with accessories, power supply and Reflotron IV kit. [Budarin will undergo the tests tomorrow (4/23), preceded by imbibing 250 ml of warm water or plain (unsugared) tea 20 minutes before taking the blood samples.]

At 12:10am EDT, the three crewmembers engaged in an excellent PAO/educational TV Q&A session with students and teachers assembled at the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center in Mobile, Alabama. [“Cosmonaut Budarin, as the only Russian on the station, is your work different from the work the Americans do?”; “On a given day when I look outside my window, I might see a neighbor walking her dog or kids playing basketball. Can you give a description of what you see when you look out your window? “]

The successful checkout of the cardiac defibrillator by the CDR last week earned words of praise from the Flight Surgeon. As a result, the defib can be left in its current configuration, plugged in with the PDIM (power data interface module) off and the batteries stowed for their protection.

Don is scheduled today to discuss possible additional InSPACE (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) payload operations in the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) in a telecon with the experiment’s Principal Investigator (PI) from MIT.

Because of the Russian MBI-4 “Farma” drug assessment session scheduled for 4/24, Budarin was advised to suspend ingestion of all pharmacological preparations from today through Thursday.

The R3 software upgrade of the two EXT MDM (external systems computers) was successfully accomplished, without any hitches in the transition. Checksums are nominal. [The step-up is required to support P3 and P4 truss installation on Mission 12A operations. The new functionality remains inhibited until truss activation procedures on 12A.]

Launch preparations for 6S/Soyuz at the Baikonur Cosmodrom remain on schedule. Rollout of the Soyuz launcher plus spacecraft will take place next Thursday (4/24). Launch of 6S is currently still set for 11:54pm EDT on 4/25 (Friday night).

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) targets, currently restricted by limited the use of the science window in the Lab including near-vertical targets from the city target list due to the current XPOP attitude, were Rome, Italy (nadir pass; ESC [electronic still camera]), Havana, Cuba (nadir pass; ESC), Monterrey, Mexico (nadir pass; ESC), and Northern Europe (Dynamic event. Weather predicted clear from Britain to Germany. Suggested panoramic views north and south of track).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:27pm 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 (manual mode 5). 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 On; SKV-2 is Off.

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 742; temperature (deg C) — 27.2; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 21.1.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.0.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 741.34; temperature (deg C) — 23.7 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 743.50; temperature (deg C) — 23.8; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 744.01; temperature (deg C) — 23.7; shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.1, ppO2 (mmHg) — 164.5; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.1.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.6
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 12.9

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available: 3668 kg (8086 lb) as of 4/17/03 [SM(774) + FGB(2642) + Progress(252)]. (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in Autotrack (sun-following).
SM batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected, in stand-alone ops; all other batteries (7 are in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #5 is disconnected; all other batteries (5) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 and PCU-2 both in Standby mode (after the EVA)

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 Backup.
INT-1 is operating; INT-2 is Off.
EXT-2 is On (primary), EXT-1 is Off (both now upgraded to R3).
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
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): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being upgraded.
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being upgraded.

Attitude Control Systems:

3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).
State vector source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Attitude source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Angular rate source — RGA-2

Flight Attitude:

XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: 0.5 deg, pitch: -8.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management.
Solar Beta Angle: -39.5 deg (magnitude decreasing).

Communications & Tracking Systems:

FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.
All other Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.
S-band is operating nominally.
Ku-band is operating nominally.
Audio subsystem operating nominally.
Video subsystem operating nominally (VTR1 is operable again; VTR2 in troubleshooting).
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics: