ISS On-Orbit Status 4 Apr 2002
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below.
At 9:27 am EST this morning, launch of STS-110/Atlantis on mission 8A was
scrubbed during tanking operations due to a blowing GH2 (gaseous hydrogen)
leak on the MLP (mobile launch platform) from a failed weld on an external
16-inch diameter low-pressure GH2 vent pipe leading to the flare stack. The
length of the launch delay will depend on the results of the on-going engineering
evaluation and the repair method chosen (one of three options are being looked
at) but will at least extend until Sunday afternoon (4/7), i.e., a 72-hr.
turn-around.
After wakeup at the regular 1:00 am EST and before breakfast, all ISS crewmembers
completed the periodic Russian medical experiment protocols of calf volume
measurement (PZEh-MO-7) and body mass measurement (PZEh-MO-8). [Calf
measurements (left leg only) are taken with the ISOG device, a custom-sewn
fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed
reference points, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and
effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G (where
things are “weightless” but not massless), Russian IM “scales” measure the
inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven
by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring
the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember)
and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember’s mass is
calculated by the computer and displayed].
FE-1 Carl Walz terminated battery charging in the EVA BSA (battery stowage
assembly) as well as the charging of EMU batteries 2022 and 2018 from the
PSA (power supply assembly) utility outlet. While #2018 charged OK, battery
#2022 charging shut down prematurely (an understood event) and was reinitiated
by Walz on MCC-H advise.
CDR Yuri Onufrienko recovered functionality of the #8 battery in the SM by
replacing the failed storage block with a new 800A unit delivered on 7P/Progress-257.
The R&R took about 1.5 hours. Its charge/discharge electronics (ZRU)
was deactivated by MCC-Moscow via command radio link (KRL) and later reactivated.
The old battery was prepared for deorbiting in the Progress cargo ship.
Yuri also closed the AVK vacuum valves of the Vozdukh CO2 removal system
were for maintenance of the equipment, a periodic 20-minute task.
Both he and Carl Walz continued Progress cargo transfer/unloading.
FE-2 Dan Bursch was scheduled to power down the ELC (EXPRESS laptop computer)
of EXPRESS rack #2 (ER2), which initiates subsequent power-down of the ER2
itself by the ground due to power constraints during 8A joint ops. Other
payload operations scheduled for him (PCG-STES010, ARIS-ICE) were deferred.
Bursch completed his weekly entries in the FFQ (food frequency questionnaire)
on the MEC (medical equipment computer), which keeps track of the crewmembers’
nutrition intake.
Today’s routine maintenance/inspection tasks: SOSH life support system and
IMS delta file preparation (both FE-2), TVIS weekly maintenance (FE-1).
Carl Walz also completed scheduled power-down of the EHS VOA (Environmental
Health Systems Volatile Organic Analyzer), which determines the concentration
of a targeted list of volatile organic compounds in the cabin air. [It
consists of dual sample concentrators, dual gas chromatographs (GC), and
dual ion mobility spectrometers (IMS), a detection system, and an on-line
data controller and processor.]
At 9:35 am EST, the crew downlinked a PAO video message for the “National
Salute to the U.S. Military” events in May, an annual campaign consisting
of numerous programs to support the military and recognize the thousands
of men and women serving this country throughout the world. The message
was taped on the ground for showing on a large screen during a performance
event on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman at Fort Lauderdale, Florida
on 5/2. The event will be filmed for a TV special on the CBS network, to
be aired on the evening of 5/25 (Memorial Day weekend).
The replacement of the heat exchanger in the Russian #1 air conditioner (SKV-1)
yesterday appears to have been successful. SKV-1 is operating now, while
SKV-2 has been turned off.
In the U.S. Lab, the portside CCAA (common cabin air assembly) dehumidifier
is now operating. The starboard CCAA is off, drying out (change from yesterday).
All crewmembers performed their prescribed daily physical exercise program.
Target areas for the U.S. CEO (crew earth observation) program today were
Malaysia(weather conditions appeared good for taking detailed photos
of coral reefs along and offshore from the SE Malay Peninsula. If XPOP attitude
prevented taking nadir mapping views, more oblique context photos are still
needed. ISS intercepted the Peninsula near the large city of Kuala Lumpur;
while over land the crew probably saw fires that should also be documented.
Burning is widespread throughout SE Asia at present), Mekong River
Delta(the wetlands of the Mekong delta and the city of Saigon lie
immediately to the left [NW] of track. This is one of the last major Asian
rivers to be dammed and dam construction is a politically volatile issue.
Crew was to document the present distribution of natural vegetation on the
delta, as well as canals and other structures built to drain the marshes.
Population pressure from Saigon should be reflected in progressive land clearing
outward from the city and conversion of agricultural lands for settlement
and other urban use. Photos of the delta prior to dam construction on the
river are needed before monsoon season begins), Angolan Biomass Burning
(wildfires are raging in the dark, swampy portions of the Okavango river
delta in Botswana. Oblique views to the right of track [SE] are needed to
document smoke palls, as well as individual fires/smoke sources where possible)
, Nile River Delta(light was somewhat low but adequate for documenting
expansion of irrigated agriculture westward from the natural delta margin.
Crew was to look left of track for pivot-irrigated [round] and other green
patches west of the solidly vegetated delta. Detailed views are also needed
of salt evaporation ponds, which can be pink to red, in the western delta
fringe around Alexandria. Agricultural expansion is also occurring east of
the Suez Canal, which was immediately on the right [SE] of track),
High Central Andean Glaciers(weather has improved over the northern
Andean Altiplano, so crew should have had a clear view of the small but significant
alpine glaciers there. Although the station is in XPOP attitude, the crew
may have been able to get good context views), Galapagos Greening
(if a new El Nino cycle is beginning to develop, the earliest signs will
be greening of the Galapagos Islands. There is no particular seasonal influence
on Galapagos precipitation — the dominant control is exerted by sea-water
temperature. Greening has been observed in recent images from ISS and from
STS 109; of interest: documenting the present state of Galapagos vegetation)
.
NASA gateway for Earth photography from space:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/
U.S. and Russian Segment Status(as of 1:51 pm EST today):
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal
Control (TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is On (24 Amps mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber
is ON in MANUAL cycle mode #5 (vacuum pump failed). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber
is in Standby. BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode,
bed #2 in Purify mode.
SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 758, temperature (deg
C) — 28.4, ppO2 (mmHg) — 150.0, ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.6.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 767, temperature (deg
C) — 23.3.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 756, temperature (deg C) — 23.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 752.79, temperature (deg C) — 23.1 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 754.51, temperature (deg C) — 23.9,
ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 754.31, temperature
(deg C) — n/a; shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.0, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2
(mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.1
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 14.3
(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]).
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B in Autotrack mode, BGA 4B in Autotrack
mode.
SM batteries: All batteries (8) are in “partial charge” mode.
FGB battery #6 is offline (capacity restoration mode [ROM]); 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 On (repaired). SKV-2 is Off.
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.
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): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
Communications Systems:
S-band is operating nominally.
Ku-band is operating nominally.
Audio subsystem operating nominally.
Video subsystem operating nominally.
MCOR (medium-rate communications outage recorder) operating nominally.
Robotics:
SSRMS/Canadarm2 at Progress viewing position, with Keep Alive power
on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations) are Off.
ISS Orbit(as of this morning, 9:08 am EST):
Mean altitude — 388.6 km
Apogee — 390.9 km
Perigee — 386.3 km
Period — 92.3 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0003432
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.60
Altitude decrease — 300 m (mean) in last 24 hours
Solar Beta Angle: 41.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 19255
Current Flight Attitude — XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane
= “sun-fixed” [yaw: ~180 deg, pitch: -5 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
