ISS On-Orbit Status 27 Mar 2003

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

Again kudos for breakfast, this time for the CDR’s downlinked videos which demonstrated yesterday’s
FOOT (foot/ground reaction forces during space flight) harness use on the TVIS and RED exercise machines, to help PDs (payload developers) understand the interaction between the FOOT hardware and daily crew activities.

FE-1 Nikolai Budarin, with CDR Ken Bowersox assisting, completed the scheduled installation of connections between the Kurs radio rendezvous systems of 10P/Progress M-247 and the Service Module (SM) for a test of the linkage which ties the Progress’ Kurs-A (active) AKR-VKA antenna into the Kurs-P (passive) system of the SM by hard wire.  The cabling was then removed and stowed, to be re-installed one day before Soyuz 6S docking.  [According to MCC-M/TsUP, this configuration provides a third (“cold”) backup to the SM Kurs system, whose #1 antenna on the portside SM solar array had worked only intermittently during the recent Progress docking.  For Soyuz 6S, the nominally operating #2 antenna is prime, with #1 second backup and the Progress Kurs antenna in standby as third backup.]
 
Later, Budarin removed and replaced a component (TA746, OTsPLG-A) of the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system’s primary BD database monoblock (TA985M).  The BD had caused a problem on 2/27 during the Russian computer software upgrade to vers. 7.01, delaying the activity.  The deinstalled TA746 was prepared for return.  [The BD receives and stores data from local groups and also outputs data to the data acquisition program or onboard users in response to an address request.]

Budarin then completed another test measurement of the hydraulic resistance in the SRV-K2M condensate water processor’s gas-liquid line, with the NOK condensate evacuation pump running.  The test was last performed on 3/20.   [The objective of this activity is to determine the pressure change in the SRV-K2M line with the BPK compressor power unit powered off and gas-liquid mixture filter (FGS) and filter-reactor (FR) active.  The test requires the attachment of an empty EDV water container, later removed again.  Data were then taken with a vacuum pressure gauge connected to the EDV.]

FE-2/SO Don Pettit worked on the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) rack, preparing it for regular science operations, scheduled to begin next week. [Today Pettit removed and stowed the PFMI (Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation) hardware in order to prepare for the upcoming InSPACE (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) operations which investigate the effects of short magnetic pulses on the microstructure of paramagnetic fluids in zero-G.]

Bowersox transferred yesterday’s FOOT experiment data from the PCMCIA (personal computer memory card international association) Flashcard to the HRF HDD (human research facility hard disk drive) for subsequent downlink.

Sox later terminated the discharging of the EMU storage batteries, started yesterday.  The discharge proceeded nominally, after some initial startup anomalies on battery chargers BC-3 and -4 which required re-initiation of the process by the crew. [The same anomaly occurred on Expedition 5 and also required restart of a particular charger.  The root cause of the anomaly was never found as the failure could not be duplicated on the ground.]

Flight Engineer Budarin conducted his regular daily checkup of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”) plant growth experiment.  He also performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet inserts replacement), while Don prepared the daily IMS inventory delta file.
 
All crewmembers completed their daily physical exercise program on RED (resistive exercise device), TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization), CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation), and VELO bike with load trainer.  Pettit performed the monthly CEVIS maintenance which consist of an inspection of the wire rope isolators for damage.

At 9:40am EST, the crew participated in a 20-min. live TV downlink in support of an educational/PAO event with the Region 12 Education Center in Waco, Texas.  A list of questions culled from the students and teachers assembled at Goldthwaite Middle School in Goldthwaite, TX, was uplinked before the event.

MCC-H this morning experienced log-on problems with one of its servers.  This was a flight-critical issue since it caused command capability to be only intermittent.  Remedial work was underway.

TsUP is developing a training program (syllabus) for Soyuz TMA descent, to be used in upcoming on-board training (OBT) of the crew for their return with 5S/Soyuz TMA-1 in early May.  [With the Expedition 5 crew training manuals as basis, the training emphasizes the difference between the “old” Soyuz TM and the new TMA version as well as off-nominal scenarios.  Total training time is estimated to be 6 hours, in  two 3-hr. sessions, plus 1.5 hrs. for review of procedures.  The first session on the Soyuz Descent Module’s new “Neptune” panel will probably be on 4/14, the second after arrival of 6S/Soyuz TMA-2 whose CDR will have had in-depth training on the TMA.]

Moscow will switch to summer time this weekend, springing forward one hour (at 3am local time on 3/30).
 
Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) targets, currently restricted by flight rule constraints limiting the use of the science window in the Lab, were Industrialized Southeastern Africa (excellent conditions for aerosol buildup have developed over southern Africa.  Looking right to document the extent and thickness of smog as it banks against the Great Karroo and Drakensberg mountain ranges to the SE), Angolan Biomass Burning (this was a good pass with fine weather to detect burn scars from previous season over central Angola. Looking right of track), and High Central Andean Glaciers (the small ice fields and glaciers of this target area remain an illusive target due to frequent cloud cover.  Although detailed nadir views are required, good context shots are also useful.  Crew was to take advantage of less than usual cloudiness to look right of track, SE, for such context views).
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 1:45pm EST).

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):

• Elektron O2 generator is powered On (24 Amp).  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 Off; SKV-2 is Off.
• SM Working Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 745; temperature (deg C) — 26.9; ppO2 (mmHg) — 183.1 (suspect); ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.4 (data suspect).
• SM Transfer Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 21.1.
• FGB Cabin:  Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.3.
• Node:  Pressure (mmHg) — 739.44; temperature (deg C) — 23.4 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
• U.S. Lab:  Pressure (mmHg) — 741.48; temperature (deg C) — 22.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — 165.0; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.3;
• Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock):  Pressure (mmHg) — 741.58; temperature (deg C) — 21.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.3, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
• PMA-1:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.0
• PMA-2:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 12.3

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

• Total propellant load available [SM(774) + FGB(2746) + Progress(474] — 3994 kg (8805 lb) as of 3/27/03.  (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 Directed Position (278 deg & 82 deg) to minimize aerodynamic drag.
• SM batteries:  Battery #3 is in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (7) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
• FGB batteries:  Battery #2 is off line; all other batteries (5) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
• Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 and PCU-2 both in Standby mode.

• Command & Data Handling Systems:
• C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-3 is in standby.
• GNC-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is Backup.
• INT-1 is operating; INT-2 is Off.
• EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is Off.
• 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: -179.0 deg, pitch: -8.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management.
• Solar Beta Angle:  47.1 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).
• HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:

• SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at Lab PDGF with Keep Alive (KA) power on both strings.
• MBS: KA power on both strings. 
• MT: latched at WS4, with KA power. 
• POA: KA power on both strings.
• RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 7:23am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 390.0 km
• Apogee — 395.6 km
• Perigee — 384.3 km
• Period — 92.35 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) —  51.63 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0008391
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
• Solar Beta Angle:  47.1 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 80 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. í98)  — 24826
• For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html