ISS On-Orbit Status 26 Apr 2002

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted
previously or below.   Day 540 of continuous station
occupancy.

The flight of Soyuz TM-34 continues, with all systems reported
nominal.  Spacecraft performed two orbital correction maneuvers
yesterday (DV1 & DV2, at 6:10 am EDT & 7:00 am) and one this
morning (DV3 at 3:22 am).  Docking is tomorrow morning at 3:57
am EDT, with hatch opening at about 5:05 am.

Plans are in place for good TV coverage of the Soyuz arrival.
 At 3:15 am EDT, CDR Yuri Onufrienko undertook a test of the
video link to the Republic of South Africa, with SM video and audio
setup automatically activated by the Russian SPP Automated Daily
Timeline system.  On Daily Orbit 2 tomorrow, images of the
Soyuz-208 console display are to be relayed via Ku-band, and the
final docking will then be covered with the SSRMS video cameras.
 [During the Soyuz proximity/approach phase between 300 m and
150 m (flyaround & station-keeping prior to Go for docking),
Moscow wants the Ku-band deactivated to prevent radio interference
with Soyuz systems (Ku to end at 3:45 am, until 3:56 am, immediately
before docking).]

The Elektron oxygen generator system aboard the SM sustained a
failure yesterday.  CDR Onufrienko spent several hours today
replacing the failed part, the Liquid Unit (BZh), with a spare unit
(which had been located with some difficulty yesterday).  Yuri
was assisted by FE-1 Carl Walz to complete the complex and lengthy
operation.  As of now, the Elektron has not been activated and
checked out yet, since ISS needs to be within Russian communications
range for that (i.e., early tomorrow morning).  If the repair
proves successful, ISS on-orbit operations will be back to nominal;
if unsuccessful, MCC-Moscow plans to use oxygen from the Progress 7P
tanks.  Along with O2 in Soyuz and the station cabin, there
appears to be sufficient oxygen available for the duration of the
six-person occupancy during the eight-day period of the visiting
crew’s stay. In addition, there is an ample supply of TGK solid
oxygen generator "candles" in storage, which use thermal
decomposition of potassium perchlorate (KClO4) as supplemental O2
source.  [The failed BZh Liquid Unit contains the principal
subsystems for the electrolysis process and hydrogen/oxygen (H2/O2)
phase separation. It is a cylindrical capsule of 127 kg (280 lbs)
mass, the heaviest part of Elektron, and is divided into a
nitrogen-pressurized, hermetically sealed capsule and an
unpressurized chamber. It contains a circulating loop of 33% of
potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte solution in water. The BZh has
a design life of one year, after which is supposed to be
replaced.]

CDR Onufrienko completed the Russian biomedical test MBI-4
"Farma" (study of specificities of pharmacological effects
under long-duration space flight conditions).  The experiment
involves onboard analysis of blood and saliva samples after taking
specific pharmaceuticals.  To preserve samples, later in the day
he switched on the Kriogem-03 refrigerator. [As "before"
blood sample, Onufrienko used a Reflotron 4 sample collected
yesterday during the MO-11 experiment.  The second blood sample
was taken today two hours after ingesting the pharmaceutical
Paracetamol.  For analyzing saliva samples collected several
times during the day, Yuri used a special kit delivered on Progress
7P.]

Before starting on the Elektron repair job, Onufrienko also
performed the periodic maintenance on the ASU toilet in the SM,
replacing the urine receptacle and filter insert.

FE-1 Carl Walz and FE-2 Dan Bursch completed the weekly
housecleaning, one day ahead of the usual schedule because of
tomorrow’s VC3 arrival (nobody wants to receive visitors in a
cluttered home).

Bursch inspected the proper operation of the emergency vacuum valves
of the Vozdukh automatic control unit.  [The redundant
valves, open during nominal operation, close the vacuum regeneration
lines of the carbon dioxide (CO2) system in the event of a
malfunction in the BVK vacuum valve group or a depressurization in
the valve panel. Testing their closure function is a periodically
performed maintenance task.]

Two of the onboard SSC (space station computer) laptops, SSC1
& SSC5, received virus-infected files from the ground.  The
Norton anti-virus software did its job, protecting their hard drives,
registry files and the onboard Ops LAN network from any corruption.
 After appropriate verification, the ground added the task of
reloading the laptops to the crew’s "job jar" task list, to
be conducted at their convenience.

Bursch continued his work on the BPS (biomass production system)
payload, again cross-pollinating Brassica plants in PGC4 (plant
growth chamber #4).  According to POC (Payload Operations
Center), pictures showed a few less flowers, but there were still
enough to pollinate.  A third pollination will be added next
week, so Dan was asked to delay collecting the gas sample until
then.

Onufrienko inspected the ZCG (Zeolite crystal growth) experiment for
alert lights or error messages on the display, now part of the
regular daily Lab payload status check routine.

Walz power-cycled the TEPC (tissue equivalent proportional counter)
radiation instrument to allow data download.  He also performed
a "controlled power-down" of the VOA (volatile organic
analyzer) which has been experiencing random reboot/lockups due to an
internal software conflict.  The power-down should prevent this
annoyance.  

The scheduled reconnection of the RWS DCP (robotics
workstation/display and control panel) power cable by Walz proved not
necessary, since it was left connected yesterday.

Planning is underway for troubleshooting the failed MCOR (medium-rate
communications outage recorder), such as switching out the battery
and rebooting the laptop. If attempts at correcting the problem fail,
the system will be replaced with the spare unit next week.

CSA (Canadian Space Agency) reports readiness of the SSRMS robot arm
to support the video imaging of tomorrow’s 4S arrival.
 Preparations are underway for the next "Robotics Day"
on 5/2.

Structures and mechanics specialists at MCC-H are continuing to plan
for troubleshooting the stuck safing bolt of the TUS 2 IUA (trailing
umbilical system #2/interface umbilical assembly) of the 28mobile
transporter) on the S-Zero truss, which did not release during the 8A
EVA-2 on 4/13.  With this bolt in, the TUS 2 cable cutter cannot
be actuated remotely from the cabin.  Options are being
considered, including a replacement (R&R) as soon as it can be
done during an upcoming EVA.  The R&R, involving only four
bolts and three connectors, is rated as an "easy" EVA task
and may be considered for UF-2.

Today’s CEO (crew earth observation) target areas were W.
Mediterranean Dust/Smog (a front has passed through western
Europe creating clear conditions across Iberia, France and Germany.
As ISS crossed northernmost Portugal/NW Spain, crew was to look along
the coast of the Bay of Biscay toward the Aquitaine Basin of southern
France, taking note of any newly developing aerosol accumulations
there. The Rhine urban-industrial complex were on track; possibly
with aerosols in the lowlands north of the Alps), Cuban
Wildfires (Dynamic Event:  This pass across west-central
Cuba permitted the crew to look both left  and right to document
individual fires/smoke plumes. Wildfires have been burning along the
length of the island for several days; photos of the extent of the
smoke pall are needed as well), Eastern United States
(from Tennessee through Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, clouds
have moved through, giving the station residents a clear view of the
Lake Erie-Lake Ontario industrial corridor. Cleveland, Buffalo,
Rochester, etc. was immediately left of track), W.
Mediterranean Dust/Smog (of interest as ISS crossed the
Aquitaine Basin of southern France: documenting any newly
accumulating aerosols along the Pyrenean front [right]. The
Marseilles urban area and wetlands of the Rhone delta were left of
track.  From Sardinia, across Sicily and the southern
Mediterranean the crew could probably see dust streaming NE-ward out
of Libya. New smoke signals from Mt. Etna  the volcano was right
on track), L. Nasser, Toshka Lakes; Egypt (on this pass
the crew had lower light over the bright, reflective desert
surrounding the Toshka Lakes.  Contrast between newly
water-covered areas and the sands was good, and the crew should also
have been able to capture subtle topographic features, as well as new
roads and construction activities).

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 2:20 pm EDT
today):

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and
Thermal Control (TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is Off.  Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is ON in
MANUAL cycle mode #5 (vacuum pump failed).  U.S. CDRA CO2
scrubber is Off.  BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1
in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode.

SM Working Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 758,
temperature (deg C) — 26.7, ppO2 (mmHg) — 152.5, ppCO2 (mmHg) —
2.6.
SM Transfer Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 762,
temperature (deg C) — 20.8.
FGB Cabin:  Pressure (mmHg) — 756, temperature (deg C)
— 22.7.
Node:  Pressure (mmHg) — 752.16, temperature (deg C) —
22.5 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab:  Pressure (mmHg) — 754.11, temperature (deg C)
— 25.4, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock):  Pressure (mmHg) — 753.91,
temperature (deg C) — 23.3; shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.3, ppO2
(mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.2
PMA-2:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 17.6

(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]). MSA (mass spectrometer assembly)
and VGA (verification gas assembly) have been removed for return to
Earth.

Above ECLSS values not updated by MCC/IMC since yesterday!

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B in Autotrack mode, BGA 4B in
Autotrack mode.
SM batteries: Battery #2 is in cycle mode; battery #4 is offline; all
other batteries (6) are in “partial charge” mode.
FGB: Battery #1 is 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 (repaired). 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-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup.
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-1 MDM is operational; PL-2 MDM is Off (under investigation after
failure on 4/24).
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:
All Russian communications & tracking (C&T) 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 non-operational.
Troubleshooting underway, with R&R possible.

Robotics:
SSRMS/Canadarm2 at Progress viewing position, with Keep Alive
power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations) are Off.
Troubleshooting continues on SSRMS Prime string Wrist Roll (WR)
joint.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:15 am EDT):
Mean altitude — 393.1 km
Apogee — 397.8 km
Perigee — 388.4 km
Period — 92.4 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0006963
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.58
Altitude decrease  230 m (mean) in last 24 hours
Solar Beta Angle:  -36 deg (magnitude increasing)
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 19595
Current Flight Attitude — LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal =
“earth-fixed”: z-axis in local vertical, x-axis in velocity vector
[yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -9 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