ISS On-Orbit Status 31 Mar 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Begin of Week 18 for Expedition 6.

FE-2/SO Don Pettit conducted the first MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox)
science session. The facility worked fine. Results of the 2-hr. run of
the InSPACE experiment are inconclusive at this time since the magnetorheological
(MR) fluid, much more concentrated than that used in crew training, reportedly
remained opaque to the eye. After the run, MSG was powered down. [Today’s
test was exploratory in nature as it was the first time the experiment
was conducted in micro-G; its results will possibly serve as the basis
for planning the balance of the tests. Because of the thick optical path
of the paramagnetic fluid, microstructures were not visible, but they
may become discernable much later in their development, to show their
final state (equally of interest to science) instead of their evolution.]

After the InSPACE session, Pettit and CDR Ken Bowersox were scheduled
to perform a photo survey of the MSG, as per ground specifications. [Desired
views were straight-on from the front, looking down into the glovebox
without operator, and the MSG in operation with operator arms in the
gloves.]

Bowersox completed another EVARM (EVA radiation monitoring) badge reading,
activating the reader, waiting ~15 minutes, then performing the badge
readings and powering down the hardware afterwards. [The scheduled downloading
of the data from the reader to the HRF (human research facility) PC was
deferred.]

FE-1 Nikolai Budarin performed another in-flight maintenance (IFM) on
the SRV-K2 water processing system in the Service Module (SM), to recover
the BPK condensate pumping unit. [The 3.5-hr. task involved disassembly
of the unit, replacing a pipe conduit plus check valve and, with MCC-Moscow
support, checking out the unit’s micropump, replacing it if it proved
failed.]

In the process, Budarin also conducted the periodic inspection of the
BRPK air/condensate separator of the SRV-K.

Later, Budarin worked on the Molniya-SM geophysics payload to troubleshoot
its computer. [On 1/16/03, a test of the VFS-3M twin-lens video-photometric
system had revealed a failure of the computer subsystem of the VFS electronics
module (ME). Today’s task was to attempt isolation of the failure cause
by activating the payload with an external AGAT monitor for displaying
and capturing any error messages generated during BIOS boot-up and/or
software start-up. The Molniya VFS-3M is used for studying atmospheric,
ionospheric and magnetospheric electromagnetic interaction related to
storms and seismic activities.]

Don Pettit initiated another recharge on the EMU (extravehicular mobility
unit) batteries. They require about 24 hours for the recharge and must
be freshly charged before the EVA, scheduled for Tuesday next week (4/8).
Also scheduled was a review by Sox and Don of the spacewalk procedures.
The EVA checklist had been updated earlier.

Pettit conducted a photo survey of the IWIS (internal wireless instrumentation
system) accelerometers installed in the SM.

Bowersox completed another 2-hr. installment of audit work in the Lab,
the second of three parts of a 6-hr. inventory. [Goal of the time-consuming
but very necessary activity is to audit various stowage locations in "Destiny" and
provide the ground information to update the IMS (inventory management
system) database on the basis of the actual on-orbit situation. The audit
is a continuation of the previous stowage location audits, using an uplinked
table organized the same as for the recent Node audit, with the crew
simply filling in "yes" or "no" for the presence
of an item in each location.]

Both Sox and Don performed another session with the psychological MedOps
WinSCAT (Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool) experiment. [This is
a time-constrained questionnaire test of cognitive abilities, routinely
performed by astronauts aboard the ISS every 30 days before or after
the PHS (periodic health status) test or on special CDR’s, crewmember’s
or flight surgeon’s request. Last done: 3/3.]

Nikolai did his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2
("Plants-2") plant growth experiment.

Don Pettit completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh
life support system (including ASU toilet facilities) and 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), and VELO bike with load trainer.

Coming up: First of two reboosts by Progress, on Friday, 4/4, at 7:59am
EST (delta-V: 1.8 m/sec).

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 SE Africa (good pass along the SE coast
of South Africa. This region has been identified as the major southern "exit" point
for continental aerosol accumulations. Crew was to shoot obliques to
capture this seldom photographed phenomenon which should be in progress
as a new cold front approaches. [Southern African aerosols from this
exit are sensed in air chemistry as far east as Australia]), Angolan
Biomass Burning (the ISS passed over the thickest most fire-prone part
of the dry forest [savanna] immediately south of the rainforest. Shooting
any early-season fires), Eastern Mediterranean Dust (obliques were best
for capturing lighter loadings of aerosol. Dust ahead of the approaching
front was likely coming off the North African coast), and High Central
Andean Glaciers (clearer weather should persist. Looking for the small
volcano-top ice fields. Mainly left of track).

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 On; SKV-2
is Off.

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 745; temperature (deg C)
— 27.2; ppO2 (mmHg) — 183.1 (suspect); ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.1 (data suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C)
— 21.1.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 23.0.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 740.07 temperature (deg C) — 23.2 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 742.49; temperature (deg C) — 22.0; ppO2
(mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 742.59; temperature (deg
C) — 20.9; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.5, ppO2 (mmHg) — 167.4;
ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.0.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.3
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 13.6
(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 Autotrack (sun-following).
SM batteries: Battery #8 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries
(7) are in "Partial Charge" mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #2 is off line; battery #1 is in "Cycle" mode;
all other batteries (4) 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: 33.5 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, 10:43am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 389.2 km
Apogee — 394.9 km
Perigee — 383.5 km
Period — 92.34 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0008415
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
Solar Beta Angle: 33.5 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 220 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 24890

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