ISS On-Orbit Status 28 Oct 2002
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Week 21 for Expedition Five and their 145th day in space (of
a planned 168-day stay).
After wakeup at the regular 8:30 GMT (3:30am EST), CDR Valery Korzun
began today’s schedule with his status check of the Rasteniya-2 plant
growth payload, while FE-2 Sergei Treschev did a battery check of the
Russian MMTs-01 multimeter instrument in preparation for tomorrow’s use
(for resistance measurements) during a functional test of the SNZh water
level indicators.
The two cosmonauts then completed the two-hour plumbing job of installing
a new prototype GZhS gas-liquid water separation unit in the Elektron
electrolysis system (oxygen generator) in the Service Module (SM).
The PFMI (pore formation and mobility investigation) run with sample
PFMI-10, which Peggy Whitson set up yesterday during her time off, went
well. [This sample was "alloyed" with water and the experiment
was conducted at very slow growth rates in order to investigate the dynamics
of steady state growth morphologies. Today, Whitson removed the finished
PFMI-10 sample, loaded the run data on a PCMCIA (portable computer memory
card international adapter) and removed the video tape. The MSG (microgravity
science glovebox) was then powered off. This brings the total of processed
PFMI samples during Increment 5 to seven.]
FE-1/SO Peggy Whitson also acted in the role of Space Farmer by harvesting
the pine tree plantings of the PGBA (plant generic bioprocessing apparatus).
[The activity was preceded by setting up the video camcorder for recording
portions of the harvesting operation. Besides the video, CDR Korzun also
used the ESC (electronic still camera) for historical documentation of
Peggy performing a harvesting operation and stowing the harvested planting
in the CGBA (commercial generic bioprocessing apparatus.]
Subsequently Whitson spent some time with the FFQ (food frequency questionnaire),
filling out the computerized log of her nutritional intake over time.
Sergei Treschev meanwhile started regeneration for absorbent bed #1 of
the BMP harmful impurities unit, leaving channel 2 in Purify mode. [The
"bakeout" cycle in the filter beds is repeated every 20 days.
Each bakeout to space vacuum takes about 24 hours.]
The crew completed the TVIS treadmill SDTO (station development test
objective) of measuring the structural dynamics (vibratory) excitation
of the ISS during an operational run on the treadmill. The test required
careful coordination by ground and crew. [First, Whitson set up and readied
the radio-linked RSUs (remote sensor units) of the IWIS (internal wireless
instrumentation system) in Node and Lab for taking the readings, followed
by Treschev installing an additional RSU (#1028) at an accelerometer in
the SM. Meanwhile, Korzun prepared the TVIS and its surroundings with
photogrammetric targets for the recording by four strategically placed
PD100 camcorders. Also operational during the test were the vibration-sensing
payloads SAMS (space), MAMS (microgravity acceleration measurement system)
and ARIS ICE (active rack isolation system isolation characterization
experiment). The exercise run itself was conducted by Korzun, with the
normal restriction of passive mode only (not motor-driven) lifted. Maximum
speed still was not to exceed 6 mph. Afterwards, all the equipment was
torn down again and the original configuration reestablished ]
In the evening, Peggy Whitson is to perform a controlled power-down of
the VOA (volatile organics analyzer) instrument, before MCC-H reactivates
it remotely. [This sometimes repeated power-cycling is required to ensure
adequate nitrogen flow to VOA. Overnight, after warming up, the VOA will
be ground-commanded to perform a calibration run of approximately 3.5
hours, followed by a sampling run for another 3.5 hours.]
Peggy also is scheduled to collect the data accumulated by the CSA-CP
(compound specific analyzer-combustion products) for downloading.
Today the crew began with preparations for their departure on 11A in
November, when Increment 5 comes to an end. For the last two weeks of
their increment, the crew will have 1.5 hours every work day set aside
to prepare their return to Earth. This time includes prepacking.
Treschev performed the daily routine tasks of SOSh life support systems
maintenance and IMS inventory update file preparation for downlink. Whitson
conducted her daily checkup of the autonomous Lab payloads (PCG-STES007,
CGBA, PGBA).
After the ground deactivated the ZCG (Zeolite crystal growth) heater
yesterday, the samples are cooling down today and will be ready for Peggy
to perform the ZCG IZECS (improved Zeolite electronic control system)
powerdown tomorrow, with video setup and furnace unloading.
Dr. Whitson chatted with amateur radio fans at Silverheels Middle School,
Fairplay, Colorado, during a ten-min. ham radio pass starting at 10:54am
EST.
In the evening before bunk time (7:00pm EST), Korzun is to perform the
Russian MedOps MO-4 protocol, working with the "Chibis" suit
(a Russian below-the-waist reduced-pressure device to provide gravity-simulating
stress to the body’s cardiovascular/circulatory system) for evaluation
of the body’s orthostatic tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry reflex) after
20 weeks in zero-G. Treschev assisted his commander as CMO. [The device
applies suction to the lower part of the body and legs, thereby exerting
specific functional loadings to test the body’s adaptation to prolonged
exposure to microgravity. Chibis data and biomed cardiovascular readings
are recorded. The Chibis suit (not to be confused with the Russian "Pinguin"
suit for spring-loaded body compression, or the "Kentavr" anti-g
suits used during reentry) is quite similar to the U.S. LBNP (lower-body
negative pressure, Russian: ODNT) device used for the first time on Skylab
in 1973/74, although it appears to accomplish its purpose quicker.]
Early in the morning, the Russian contractor COMCOR performed maintenance
on the ISS backup communications circuit in Moscow, part of the fiber
optics links between TsUP (MCC-M) and the Russian communication (NISN)
hub in Moscow’s Ostankino Tower. During the outage, the circuit was routed
through the microwave link, with no impact on ISS operations.
Today’s targets for the CEO program were Western Mediterranean Dust and
Smog (as ISS tracked across northeastern Spain, the crew was to begin
looking left of track towards the mountainous islands of Corsica and Sardinia.
Their higher elevations were expected to stand above the smog layers over
the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas), Eastern Mediterranean Dust and Smog
(of interest: blowing dust left of track as the station approached the
coast of northern Libya), Mekong River Delta (of interest on this descending
pass: off-nadir context views of this target region either side of track.
Of particular interest were the location and extent of the river’s sediment
plume after heavy rains over Indo-China last week caused serious flooding
in the Mekong watershed), and Lower Amazon River Basin (since the pass
was directly over this target area, the crew was to try for oblique views
either side of track. To the left, they were to document the extensive
sediment plume of the Amazon as it pours into the Atlantic, and to the
right of track, they were to look for evidence of the numerous fires reported
this season over eastern Brazil).
CEO images can be viewed at the website
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 12:56 pm EST).
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control
(TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is powered On (32 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. TCCS is operational.
BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Regeneration mode, bed
#2 in Purify mode.
SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 763; temperature (deg C) —
26.5; ppO2 (mmHg) — 157.4; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.7.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 761; temperature (deg C) —
21.1.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 21.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 756.61; temperature (deg C) — 25.3 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) — 167.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 5.8.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 758.15; temperature (deg C) — 25.0; ppO2
(mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 758.90, temperature (deg
C) — 32.3; shell heater temp (deg C) — 27.3, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.3
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 12.1
(n/a = data not available)
Propulsion System (PS): Total propellant load available (SM + FGB + Progress)
— 3903 kg (8605 lb) [as of 10/24/02].
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 #1 is offline; battery #2 is in "Cycle"
mode; all other batteries (4) 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 Off; SKV-2 is On.
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.
EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is off.
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-1 MDM is On (primary); PL-2 MDM is off (diagnostic
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 — Russian segment
Attitude — Russian segment
Angular rates — U.S. RGA-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 PDGF3 (mobile base system/power & data grapple
fixture 3) and 11A park position, with Keep Alive power on both strings.
MBS: Keep Alive power on both strings. POA: Keep Alive power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:40am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 395.0 km
Apogee — 405.2 km
Perigee — 384.8 km
Period — 92.46 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0015027
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.57
Solar Beta Angle — -59.4 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Altitude loss — 180 m (mean) in last 24 hours
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 22476
Current Flight Attitude — XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane =
"sun-fixed" [yaw: -5.0, pitch: -8.6 deg., roll: 0.4 deg]),with
CMG/Thruster Assist 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
