ISS On-Orbit Status 30 May 2002

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted
previously or below.   Day 175 on orbit for Expedition
4.  As launch of STS-111/UF-2 remains scheduled for tonight at
7:44 pm EDT, the ISS crew continued preparations for their return
home.

STS-111 is the 14th Shuttle mission in support
of ISS.  Besides its crew of four (CDR Ken Cockrell, PLT Paul
Lockhart, MS1 Franklin Chang-Diaz, French CNES astronaut Phillipe
"Pepe" Perrin), it carries the fifth station crew (CDR
Valery Korzun, FE-1 Peggy Whitson, FE-2 Sergei Treschev), the MPLM
(Multi-Purpose Logistics Module) Leonardo on its third flight,
Service Module Debris Panel (SMDP) shields, the MBS (Mobile Base
System), a replacement SSRMS wrist roll joint, and a PDGF (Power and
Data Grapple Fixture).  Leonardo’s 5600 lbs (2540 kg) of cargo
includes eight RSRs (Resupply Stowage Racks), five RSPs (Resupply
Stowage Platforms), and two new payload racks, viz., the ESA-built
rack-sized MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) and EXPRESS Rack #3
(ER3), the fifth ER to be delivered to the ISS Lab module. Expedition
5’s research complement involves 24 new and continuing
investigations, including the first two materials science
experiments, two new plant experiments, a commercial bioreactor for
studying human liver cells, facilities for growing biological
crystals and Zeolite crystals used in petroleum processing, and
numerous experiments for studying human body adaptation to
long-duration space flight.

CDR Yuri Onufrienko completed another major IFM (in-flight
maintenance) by replacing the failing SM storage battery #2 with a
new 800A battery from FGB spares.  After the approximately
one-hour job, the charge/discharge unit (ZRU) #2 was activated
remotely via Russian ground station (RGS).

 FE-1 Carl Walz performed a last set of ARIS ICE (active rack
isolation/isolation characterization experiment) hammer tests. 
New locations on the ARIS rack for applying the taps were provided,
but other than the hammer tests were executed exactly as last time,
including an inspection by Carl to assure no umbilical interference
(touching).  The last hammer test video had been very useful to
the experimenters; this time they wanted it to capture a little wider
angle view to see all the tap locations without having to readjust
the camera for each one.  At pre-specified times during the day,
Walz performed three separate hammer tests at four locations, each
time tapping rapidly for 10 seconds, waiting five sec and repeating
five more times.  After the last series, he stowed the
equipment.

FE-2 Dan Bursch again worked on the BPS (biomass production system),
starting out with gas calibration and sampling for PGC1 and 3 (plant
growth chambers #1 and #3).  Later, the procedure was repeated
for PCG2 and PGC4.  After the gas sampling, Bursch refilled
(primed) the BPS NDS (nutrient delivery system) and HCS (humidity
control system) reservoirs with water as well as the Transfer Pump,
collecting water samples from both reservoirs when finished. 
Afterwards, on request from the ground, he recorded his assessment of
the procedures to aid in the design of the next generation plant
facility.
Carl Walz deactivated the BTR (biotechnology refrigerator) and
prepared it for return to Earth on UF-2.  After its transfer,
its place in ER4 will be taken by the ARCTIC refrigerator/freezer.

Later, Walz transferred 20 kg of water from the Lab condensate tank
to another CWC (#1022), taking samples of the condensate. The CWC was
transferred to the SM and installed on the CFU (condensate feed unit)
of the Elektron oxygen generator for processing.  The water
samples will be returned to Earth. On special request by MCC-H, Walz
was videotaped during the CWC fill and CFU install procedure. 
This will be quite valuable for MCC-H as evidenced by a similar video
taken by Expedition 2 of the CWC installation to the Elektron.

Walz also collected potable water samples for chemical and
microbiological analysis in flight, using the WS&A (water sampler
& archiver) and the WMK (water microbiology kit).  Samples
were taken in the SM at the heated-water SRV-K port and at the
warm-water SVO-ZV outlet.  He then flushed the system and
performed the chemical analysis. After heating SRV-K again, he then
took the microbiology sample.

Yuri Onufrienko tagged up (via VHF) with medical specialists from
IBMP (Institute of Biomedical Problems) on gravity effects and later
underwent another hour of ODNT (Lower Body Negative Pressure)
training.  During the UF-2 docked phase, Russian medical
protocol prescribes for Yuri three full sessions with the ODNT
"Chibis" suit to prepare him for landing. [“Chibis” is
the Russian below-the-waist reduced-pressure device designed to
provide gravity-simulating stress to the body’s
cardiovascular/circulatory system. The suit forms an airtight seal
around the waist and applies suction to the lower body. The training
generally consists of first imbibing 150-200 milliliters of water or
juice, followed by a sequence of progressive regimes of reduced
(“negative”) pressure, set at -20, -30, -35, and -40 mmHg for five
minutes each while shifting from foot to foot at 10-12 steps per
minute.  The body’s circulatory system interprets the pressure
differential between upper and lower body as a gravity-like force
pulling the blood (and other liquids) down.  It prepares the
body’s orthostatic tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry reflex) after
Yuri’s six-month stay in zero-G.  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 suit worn during
reentry) is quite similar to the U.S. LBNP device used for the first
time on Skylab in 1973/74, although it appears to accomplish its
purpose quicker.]

Daily routine servicing tasks were performed by CDR Onufrienko
(SOSH life support/toilet replacement maintenance, BRPK-2 condensate
separator inspection, and IMS inventory delta file preparation), and
FE-1 Walz (Inc. 4/8A payloads status checks).

A planned optical PUMA correction of the BINS (strapdown guidance
system) was again not necessary, due to availability of good updates
from the GPS system.

At the request of RSC-Energia, Onufrienko and Walz downlinked a
televised greeting and message on the 70th
Anniversary Celebration of the Founding of the Academician N. N.
Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgery, one of the largest and most
authoritative institutes for neurosurgery, neurology,
neuropsychology, neuromorphology, and neurophysiology in the
world.  Personalities at the event at the Hotel Rossiya’s Cinema
and Concert Hall in Moscow included I. Klebanov, Yuri Koptev (RSA),
and Yuri P. Semyonov (RSC-Energia).

Late in the day Onufrienko was to conduct an information/data
exchange test with the scientific research ship (KVP) "Cosmonaut
Viktor Patsayev", including telemetry transfer and comm with the
ship’s crew.

The Russian ocean-bioproductivity experiment Diatomeya today focused
on the Indian Ocean, west of Cape Leeuwin in SW Australia
(commercial fishing area for Indian sardines above a large
underwater plateau, indicated by blooms throughout the area, random
concentration and sailing directions of fishing vessels), and the
Pacific Ocean, SW of Easter Island (a large belt of blooms,
once observed by the Salyut-7 crew, stretches toward South America,
Easter Island and surrounding waters).

Today’s U.S. CEO (crew earth observation) targets were New
Guinea (this was a rare opportunity to use the electronic
still camera [ESC], with 400 mm lens and 2x extender, to record the
extent of ice in the mountain glaciers of New Guinea. Throughout the
world, many alpine glaciers within the equatorial belt are rapidly
receding, and this is an area of concern for those modeling global
climate change), Angolan Biomass Burning (clear
conditions prevail over interior Angola, providing a chance to
document individual fires and smoke blankets from agricultural
burning there. The Cuanza  and Kasai drainage basins were right
of track), Patagonian Glaciers (although clouds were
beginning to return to the fjord lands of the west coast, the crew
should still have been able to look left (N) up the length of the
South Patagonian ice field and document the extent of new snow and
glaciers. Satellite images indicate  new snow on the eastern
flank of the Andes; glaciers feeding the lakes on this side of the
range should be visible), S. American Drainages, African
Dust (Dynamic Event: In the wake of rains throughout the South
American interior, a high pressure system now sits over the region.
Rare cloud-free conditions offer a good opportunity to get panoramic
views of agricultural clearing in this rapidly changing landscape.
The drainages of the Araguaia/Tocantins and the Xingu Rivers were
right of track. As the ISS exited the coast at the Amazon River delta
, crew may have been able to see Saharan dust that has moved across
the central Atlantic by now. They were to look left, toward the
Caribbean, to record dust from the recent strong blows off Senegal
and Morocco), High Central Andean Glaciers (once again,
conditions were clear over the High Andes of Peru. Atmospheric
conditions and ISS attitude favored shooting right, down the Andean
crest, to record these small alpine glaciers), Nicaragua
Floods, Volcano (Dynamic Events: There were still clouds in
western Nicaragua but, if at all possible, the crew was to shoot
through the clouds to document the current flooding around the city
of Managua  of Lago Nicaragua. Crew was to look farther left for
ash or smoke issuing from volcano San Cristobal, which has been
active during the past few days).
CEO images can be viewed at the website http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 2:00 pm
EDT):

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and
Thermal Control (TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is powered 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) — 759,
temperature (deg C) — 28.3, ppO2 (mmHg) — 149.3, ppCO2 (mmHg) —
2.5.
SM Transfer Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 762,
temperature (deg C) — 21.0.
FGB Cabin:  Pressure (mmHg) — 756, temperature (deg C)
— 22.0.
Node:  Pressure (mmHg) — 750.25, temperature (deg C) —
23.7 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab:  Pressure (mmHg) — 752.49, temperature (deg C)
— 25.2, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock):  Pressure (mmHg) — 752.29,
temperature (deg C) — n/a; shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.5, ppO2
(mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.6
PMA-2:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 11.6

(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.

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B in Autotrack mode, BGA 4B in
Autotrack mode.
FGB: Battery #3 is offline (ROM mode). 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 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-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 on Standby.
APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.

Communications 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 Progress viewing position, with Keep Alive
power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations) are Off.
SSRMS Prime string Wrist Roll (WR) joint to be replaced on UF-2.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:17 am EDT [=
epoch]):
Mean altitude — 387.3 km
Apogee — 391.8 km
Perigee — 382.8 km
Period — 92.3 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0006666
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.60
Altitude decrease — 140 m (mean) in last 24 hours
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 20126
Current Flight Attitude — XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit
plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: ~180 deg, pitch: -5.6 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