ISS On-Orbit Status 23 Sep 2002
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Today the crew completed 110 days on orbit.
Starting out on a week that promises to be very busy, CDR Valery Korzun and FE-2 Sergei Treschev concentrated on final preparations of Progress M-46/8P for its undocking tomorrow morning. [After MCC-M powered off the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry system, Korzun demated the BITS connector from the US-21 matching unit, i.e., the electronic interface between the SM and the Progress propulsion system. The box with US-21 was then removed from the cargo ship for return to Earth and reuse. Later in the day, the Progress probe-and-cone docking mechanism was to be installed, Progress will be activated and the air duct taken out of the hatchway to the SM, followed by removal of the QD [quick disconnect] screw clamps. The docking interface was to be video-recorded with the US DVCAM and the images downlinked before hatch closure. A final SM/Progress interface leak check concludes the preparations.]
Progress M-46/8P physical undocking is scheduled for 9:59am EDT tomorrow, preceded by separation command at 9:56am. 8P will then maneuver into its own orbit for another week of observing NE Russia via its onboard video camera. During its second separation burn at 12:58pm, its thruster plumes will be observed from the ISS with the UV camera, spectrometer and camcorder of the Russian geophysical “Relaksatsiya” experiment (GFI-1). The equipment has been installed at SM window #9, and prior to the observation, at 12:33pm, the ISS will maneuver to the proper observation attitude. [Relaksatsiya deals with the study of the chemoluminescent chemical reactions and atmospheric light phenomena that occur during high-velocity interaction between the exhaust products from space vehicles and the atmosphere at orbital altitude and during the entry of space vehicles into the Earth’s upper atmosphere. After Progress has moved out of sight, the experiment will be torn down and stowed again.]
The gaseous oxygen (O2) supply from the Progress has been allowed to “bleed down” to repress and refresh the ISS atmosphere.
In the Node, the two flight engineers removed the failed RPCM (remote power controller module ) N13B A and replaced it with a spare, a 40-min. task. The R&R was preceded by MMC-H isolating the upstream power source to the RPCM, supported by the crew in deactivating UOP2 (utility outlet panel #2).
FE-1/SO Peggy Whitson worked on the MSG (microgravity science glovebox), running the second PFMI (Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation) experiment. [After installing SCN (succinonitrile) sample PFMI-01 in the thermal chamber and preparing video tapes, she activated the hardware, selected the appropriate experiment file, fine-focused the image, activated sample processing and started the counter. The actual processing proceeded unattended, i.e., under remote control from the ground. The successfully processed first sample, PFMI-12, showed that its melting released bubbles from the “centerline crack”, an included casting defect similar to those that occur upon shrinkage of metals during solidification. Real-time observations showed that the bubbles moved up the applied temperature gradient with their velocity dependent upon size, in qualitative agreement with theory. Subsequent re-solidification of the sample provided insight regarding formation of “pipes” and “rat tails”, which are other types of casting defects that can occur in samples both on earth and in micro-G.]
Peggy Whitson set up and then took the monthly O-OHA (on-orbit hearing assessment) test, an EHS (environmental health systems) examination to assess the efficacy of acoustic countermeasures. The two other crewmembers also took their OHA audiograms. Afterwards, the equipment was stowed again. [The O-OHA test involves minimum audibility measurements for each ear over a wide range of frequencies and sound pressure levels, with the crewmembers using individual-specific Prophonics earphones, Bose ANC headsets and the SLM (sound level meter). To conduct the testing, the experimenter is supported by special “EarQ” software on the MEC (medical equipment computer). The baseline test is required for about Flight Day 14 for the Expedition and is then performed once per month.]
FE-1/SO Whitson performed a controlled power-down of the VOA (volatile organics analyzer) instrument. [This sometimes repeated power-cycling is required to ensure adequate nitrogen flow to VOA. Later in the day, after warming up, the ground commanded VOA to perform a calibration run of approximately 3.5 hours. This will be followed by a sampling run for another 3.5 hours.]
Whitson completed routine inspection of the RED (resistive exercise device) and tightened its bolts, a monthly maintenance task. The weekly servicing of the TVIS treadmill was meanwhile done by CDR Korzun.
All crewmembers did their daily physical exercise on TVIS, RED and VELO with load trainer.
The daily routine tasks of SOSh life support systems maintenance and Lab payloads status checkup were performed by Peggy, while Sergei prepared today’s delta file for the IMS (inventory management system)
Peggy Whitson filled a CWC (collapsible water container) with about 20 kg of condensate from the Lab collector tank, taking water samples as per prescribed procedure for return on Mission 9A.
In the evening, she also made her weekly entries in the formal FFQ (food frequency questionnaire) on the MEC (medical equipment computer) laptop, a requirement of the U.S. HMS (health maintenance systems) program to monitor U.S. crewmember nutrition.
The GNC MDM (guidance, navigation and control multiplexer/demultiplexer, i.e., computer) suffered a failure yesterday. Dump data indicates that this was due to a “watchdog” timer exception. Specialists are analyzing the data.
Due to current disastrous conditions in northern Ossetia, the cosmonauts were requested by MCC-Moscow to check previous Uragan earth-observation photos of the Caucasus region and look for, then downlink via Regul-Packet a picture of the Kolka glacier and Mt. Kazbek.
Today’s targets of the U.S. CEO (crew earth observations) program were Industrialized Southeastern Africa (light was low, but adequate for nadir views of this major South African city), Johannesburg, South Africa (in morning light, crew was to look right of track for indications of smog over the Orange River Valley), Patagonian Glaciers (crew focus on this first pass over this target area were the glaciers on the Pacific side of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. On the second pass, with good lighting and the absolute bottom of the orbital track, the crew should have had good nadir views of the smaller glaciers of the southern end of the Southern Patagonian ice field and even those of Tierra del Fuego further south. On the third pass, the crew was to try for oblique context views of the southern Andes, either side of track). Early this morning Earth reached the autumnal equinox when illumination is about the same in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. However, in the high latitudes the sun angle is changing rapidly with darkening north and lightening south. The crew was advised to look for visible lighting changes for targets in these parts of the world.
CEO images can be viewed at the website http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:37 am EDT):
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
- Elektron O2 generator is powered On (16-amp mode), on backup pump. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is ON in MANUAL cycle mode #5, i.e., 10-min. cycle time (vacuum pump failed). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is offline. BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode.
- SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 764, temperature (deg C) — 26.4, ppO2 (mmHg) — 168.7, ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.8.
- SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 761, temperature (deg C) — 20.0.
- FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752, temperature (deg C) — 22.7.
- Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 759.16, temperature (deg C) — 23.4 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 761.48, temperature (deg C) — 25.0, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
- Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 761.48, temperature (deg C) — 25.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.1, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.0
- PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 20.5
(n/a = data not available)
Propulsion System (PS):
- Total propellant load available (SM + FGB) — 3639 kg (8023 lb) [as of 9/19].
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
- Both P6 channels fully operational. Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and BGA 4B in Autotrack mode (solar-tracking).
- SM batteries: Battery data not available.
- FGB batteries: Battery #4 is in “Storage” mode (offline); 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 On; SKV-2 is Off.
Command & Data Handling Systems:
- C&C-3 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-1 is in standby.
- GNC-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is Backup.
- LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
- PL-1 MDM is On (primary); PL-2 MDM is off (cold backup).
- 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): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
Attitude Source:
- 3 CMGs on-line.
- State vector — US GPS (SIGI string 1)
- Attitude — Russian segment
- Angular rates — US RGA1 (rate gyro assembly 1)
Communications & Tracking Systems:
- All Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.
- S-band is operating nominally.
- Ku-band is operating nominally.
- Audio subsystem operating nominally.
- Video subsystem operating nominally.
- MCOR (medium-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.
Robotics:
- SSRMS/Canadarm2 at MBS PDGF1 (mobile base system/power & data grapple fixture 1) and PDGF2, with Keep Alive power on both strings. SSRMS based on PDGF1 (LEE A, derigidized)
- MBS: Keep Alive power on both strings.
- RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:38am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 387.9 km
- Apogee — 399.8 km
- Perigee — 376.0 km
- Period — 92.3 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0017575
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.60
- Solar Beta Angle — 51.0 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Altitude decrease — 240 m (mean) in last 24 hours
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 21935
- Current Flight Attitude — XVV (x-axis in velocity vector, 5.0 deg roll bias [yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -9.5 deg, roll: -5 deg], with CMG momentum management).
For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
