ISS On-Orbit Status 28 Feb 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Space Day 97 for Expedition 6.

At wake-up (1:00am EST), the crewmembers were lauded on their good troubleshooting
work yesterday on the Foot and MSG equipment (see below).

Due to a problem with the BITS2-12 measurement telemetry system, yesterday’s
scheduled activities for the Russian onboard computer system (BVS) upgrade
to the new version 7.01 software got behind schedule, particularly the
uploading to the US-21 matching units. Replanning of the software transition
is underway. [The problem appeared to be with the BITS database (BD).
The two BD "monoblocks", located behind an SM panel, receive
data from local subsystems and store it, and also output data to the
data acquisition program or onboard users in response to an address request.]

Because of the BITS problem, the Elektron oxygen generator, Vozdukh
carbon dioxide (CO2) scrubber and SKV-1 air conditioner became inoperative
last night. They are now back up again.

After the Vozdukh deactivation, MCC-Houston turned on the Lab CDRA (CO2
removal assembly) in dual-channel mode this morning after ppCO2 (CO2
partial pressure) reached a peak of 6.2 mmHg. To support CDRA ops, the
crew enabled the ITCS LTL (internal thermal control system/low temperature
loop) in the Lab. CDRA is now deactivated again. [CDRA ops plan is to
maintain ppCO2 below 5 mmHg as requested by the crew and to run CDRA
when required to accomplish this, but to minimize its run time because
CDRA, based on the performance of its air selector valves (ASVs), must
be considered a "limited lifetime" item.]

The ground performed a remote calibration run of the MCA (major constituents
analyzer) instrument. MCA CO2 measurements differ slightly from the readings
of the CDMK (CO2 monitoring kit), showing a 0.4 mmHg higher ppCO2.

At the BMP micropurification system in the Service Module (SM), FE-1
Nikolai Budarin terminated regeneration mode for absorption bed #1, switching
it back to Purify mode. Later, he initiated the 24-hr. regenerative bake-out
of catalyst bed #2.

CDR Ken Bowersox started another in-flight session of the PuFF (pulmonary
function in flight) experiment, activating the hardware, then performing
its initial calibration. FE-2/SO Don Pettit then underwent the standard "huff
and puff" breathing test. During the day, his two crewmates followed
suit. Additional data were gained from an abbreviated repetition of the
test sequence. Pettit finally powered the PuFF equipment down and stowed
it. [PuFF supports the continuing investigation of the effects of long-term
micro-G exposure and EVAs on the pulmonary (lung) function. Each monthly
PuFF session involves five lung function tests. It utilizes the GASMAP
(gas analyzer system for metabolic analysis physiology) in the Human
Research Facility, along with a variety of other PuFF equipment such
as a manual breathing valve, flowmeter, pressure-flow module, pressure
and volume calibration syringes and disposable mouthpieces. Today’s PuFF
activities were photo/video-recorded for historical documentation, including
the GASMAP CA (calibration module) tank gauges.]

Yesterday’s troubleshooting of the Foot (foot/ground reaction forces
during space flight) payload by Bowersox was successful in fixing the
previously encountered data recording problem. The next experiment run
for Sox is scheduled for Tuesday/Wednesday next week (3/4-5).

MSG (microgravity science glovebox) troubleshooting is proceeding on
schedule. [After Don Pettit rotated the MSG rack yesterday to access
its electronics box and disconnect thirteen of eighteen electronics cables,
the facility was uprighted again and run for about two hours in minimum
configuration, again without tripping a circuit breaker (CB). This allows
further troubleshooting — which could require up to 13 rack rotations
and cable reconnections, unless a point is reached before that where
the CB trips or data analysis pinpoints the problem. The issue will be
time required between rotations and availability of Ku-band comm access,
needed for the data acquisition by the ground. Appropriate procedures
will be ready for uplink tonight and will then be timelined for Pettit.]

Don Pettit stowed the FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) monitors, deployed
by Sox two days ago.

Pettit also completed the routine maintenance of the SOSh life support
system and prepared the IMS inventory file system for auto export/import,
while Bowersox performed the regular daily checkup of Lab payload status.

The new Rev. 3 (R3) software is performing well in TDRS autotrack pointing
of the S-band and Ku-band antennas.

The patch for the GNC (guidance, navigation & control) software
has successfully passed ground testing and is being prepared for uplink
this afternoon. [The patch adjusts the GNC R3 code for an "RGA (rate
gyro assembly) data staleness" anomaly that caused a small attitude
divergence in the GPS (global positioning system) system, requiring attitude
and state (position, velocity) updates to be switched to Russian sources.
The patch uploading involves swapping between the two GNC MDMs, attitude
control handovers between US and Russian segments, and regaining communications
with GPS1 &2 and RGA 1&2.]

R3 step-up software files for the Canadian MSS (mobile service system)
are being uplinked today. They will support the planned SSRMS (space
station remote manipulator system) robotics activities next week.

Work continues on plans for the Expedition 6 EVA planned for late March
(on or about 3/20). A review is scheduled for 3/12 before go-ahead commitment.

Preparations are also in work to support the return of Expedition 6
on 5S/Soyuz TMA-1 for a Kazakhstan landing, after the arrival of the
two-man Expedition 7 crew at the ISS on 6S/Soyuz TMA-2 in early May.
[The crew rotation is made possible by ESA’s agreement this week to postpone
by six months the participation of one ESA astronaut each on the next
two Soyuz vehicles.]

All crewmembers performed their regular daily physical exercise on TVIS
(treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization), RED (resistive
exercise device) and VELO with load trainer.

Today’s targets for the CEO (crew earth observations) program were Ganges
River Delta (since most of this target area lied left of track, the crew
was to use oblique views to document the land use and vegetation changes
in the lower delta and note the color and extent of sediment plumes in
this dry, winter season of low river flow), Singapore (crew was probably
not able to see much of this city from the current XPOP attitude; however,
they were to look obliquely right of track towards the large island of
Sumatra. Smoke plumes from numerous fires there are visible in weather
satellite imagery), Nairobi, Kenya (the crew’s view of the Kenyan capital
was too oblique this pass, but they were to continue looking left of
track a few seconds longer for a fair opportunity for snow capped Kilimanjaro.
Investigators have no recent photos of the vanishing ice fields and small
glaciers of this volcanic peak), Industrialized Southeastern Africa (with
high pressure and light winds over southern Africa, looking right of
track this pass towards the industrialized cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg
for smog layers), Mexico City, Mexico (as ISS tracked east of Mexico
City, crew was to look right of track for views of Popocatepetl, still
venting after last week’s eruption), and Eastern Mediterranean Smog (cold
high pressure has settled over the Balkan Peninsula resulting in winter
smog formation over much of the region. On the crew’s long pass down
the Adriatic Sea, they were to look obliquely left of track to document
this phenomenon).

CEO images can be viewed at the website
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:20pm EST).

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is powered On (24 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 Regeneration
mode, bed #2 in Purify mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On; SKV-2
is Off.

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 753; temperature (deg C)
— 25.2; ppO2 (mmHg) — 170.8; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.4 (suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C)
— 19.5.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 21.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 738.16; temperature (deg C) — 24.0 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) — 164.2; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.7.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 740.17; temperature (deg C) — 21.8; ppO2
(mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 740.27; temperature (deg
C) — 21.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.8, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.5
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 13.0
(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS): Total propellant load available [SM(820) + FGB(2753)
+ Progress(576)] — 4149 kg (9147 lb) as of 2/27/03. (Capability: SM
— 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Both P6 channels fully operational. Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and
4B both in auto track (sun following) mode.
SM batteries: All batteries (8) are in "Partial Charge" mode.
FGB batteries: All batteries (6) 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): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Lane
1 is out of the set (as of 11/14/02).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.

Attitude Control Systems:
3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).
State vector source — Russian
Attitude source — Russian
Angular rate source — U.S. RGA-1

Flight Attitude:
XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = "sun-fixed" [yaw:
0 deg, pitch: -8.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG/Thruster Assist Momentum
Management).
Solar Beta Angle: -39.2 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 MBS PDGF2 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, 7:31am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 390.9 km
Apogee — 399.0 km
Perigee — 382.7 km
Period — 92.37 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0012027
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
Solar Beta Angle: -39.2 deg (magnitude decreasing).
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 150 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 24405

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times,
see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html