Status Report

ISS On-Orbit Status 4 Apr 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

April 4, 2003

Filed under ISS On-orbit status, Johnson Space Center, US

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.

The first reboost burn by Progress M-47/10P took place as scheduled, with nominal performance (delta-V: 1.8 m/s, delta-altitude: 3.1 km). The second reboost burn is planned for next Thursday, 4/10. [Est. delta-V: 1.6 m/s; delta-altitude: 2.7 km].

After wakeup and breakfast, the crew started their fourth in-flight session of the PuFF (pulmonary function in flight) experiment. FE-2/SO Don Pettit set up and activated the hardware, followed by its initial equipment calibration. All three crewmembers then performed the standard test. At about 10:30am, Pettit powered it down (no stowing). [Today’s activity served double-duty in meeting both monthly and pre-EVA requirements of this test in the continuing investigation of the effects of EVA and long-term micro-G exposure on the pulmonary (lung) function. It lays the groundwork for future experiments which are key to understanding and maintaining crew health. Each PuFF session involves five lung function tests. It utilizes the GASMAP (gas analyzer system for metabolic analysis physiology) in the Human Research Facility (HRF), 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.]

For next week’s EVA video coverage (4/8), Pettit set up and checked out the VTR (video tape recorder) bypass cable configuration on the CVIU (common video interface unit) to provide additional camera views on two separate Sony V10 monitors located at the Lab RWS (robotic work station). [Necessary VDS (video distribution system) routing to two VTRs and VBSPs (video baseband signal processors) was performed via S-band by the ground.]

In other spacewalk preparations, Pettit installed batteries and Metox (metal oxide) CO2 absorber canisters, as specified by the ground, in his and the CDR’s EMU (extravehicular mobility unit)/spacesuits. He and Bowersox also checked out the secondary oxygen pack (SOP) of each EMU, then powered off the suit backpacks. Preparations also included set-ups in the A/L (Airlock) equipment lock. A space-to-ground tag-up with specialists wound up today’s pre-EVA activities.

FE-1 Nikolai Budarin conducted the periodic inspection of porthole windows in the Service Module (SM) and Docking Compartment (DC-1). [Using measuring equipment, a digital camera and a voice recorder, he assessed the condition of the exterior panes on windows 1, 3, 5, 12, VL1 and VL2, to ascertain whether their appearance has changed (new dents, scratches, spots or discolorations reducing transparency, or whether old defects have grown larger. The results were then compiled in file tables and transferred to the central computer for downlink.]

Budarin also performed preventive maintenance in the Russian segment (RS), cleaning the V3 fan mesh screen in the DC-1 and later changing the filter cartridges in the PS1 and PS2 dust collectors of the FGB’s ventilation system (last time done: 3/3).

CDR Ken Bowersox conducted another inventory audit of on-board CWCs (condensate water containers), recording changes in CWC status over the last few days (last time done: 3/28). [The new two-man crew of Expedition 7 will observe drinking water rationing (without detriment to health maintenance, e.g., renal stone risk), but potable water isn’t the only concern here. Enough “technical” water needs to be kept in reserve besides drinking water in case of unexpected recharge requirements for the ITCS (internal thermal control system). In order to maintain good chemistry in the cooling loops, technical water for ITCS does not contain the minerals that are added to potable water for its safe use.]

Bowersox collected the FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) monitors deployed two days ago in the Lab and stowed them.

Budarin completed his regular daily 5-min. inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”) plant growth experiment.

Today’s routine servicing of the SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet facilities) in the SM fell to Sox. He also did the regular Lab payload status checkup as well as the preparation of the daily IMS inventory delta file.

All crewmembers completed their daily physical exercise program on TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization), CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation), RED (resistive exercise device), and VELO ergometer cycle with load trainer.

After yesterday’s deletion of the old HRM (heart rate monitor) data files on the MEC (medical equipment computer), Bowersox today transferred the accumulated TVIS and RED files to the computer for subsequent downlink to the ground.

A software patch for the MEC has been delivered to Flight Control for OCA uplink to the station. [The software patch should fix a problem with the MEC, which has not been capable of supporting real-time data downlink.]

At 1:30 pm EST, Bowersox set up and supported a ham radio pass with students of Rushey Mead Secondary School (National Space Center) at Leicester, England. [The school’s amateur radio club has been in the Science Department for 20 years and has previously engaged in communications with the Shuttle and the UK astronaut Helen Sharman when she was aboard the Mir station. Ground station used today is in the nearby National Space Center, frequented by thousands of visitors.]

At Johnson Space Center, the ISS Program Office today is holding the formal 6 Soyuz Stage Operations Readiness Review (6S SORR). [Objectives of the SORR include certification of the station’s readiness for 2-crew vs. 3-crew operations, of Expedition 7 for launch on 6 Soyuz TMA-2 (ISS-6S) and on-orbit stage operations, and of 6S cargo for launch. Also covered are such topics as sufficiency of the 6S manifest to meet minimum necessary cargo requirements, consumables planning for the new increment, and the de-manning plan if required. Special topics include post-flight planning for the returning Expedition 6 crew on 5 Soyuz TMA-1 (ISS-5S).]

Launch of Soyuz 6S from Baikonur, Rep. of Kazakhstan (Central Asia), continues to be set for 4/26 (Saturday). Expedition 7 crew assignments (announced 4/1) are Ed Lu (US) and Yuri Malenchenko (Russia), with backups Michael Foale (US) and Alexander Kaleri (Russia). In addition to the crew, 6S will carry 155 kg logistics, including food rations and high priority US cargo (such as crew health support items, CDRA valves and filter, TVIS parts, and computer disks). Russian cargo will comprise 28 items, including 11 for science experiments. [The Soyuz spacecraft is currently in final operations before tanking. Subsequent launch preparation steps are crew fit checks (4/10), weighing/balancing (4/11-4/15), spacecraft tanking (4/16), final ops and upper stage assembly (4/17-4/22), mating with Soyuz launcher (4/23) and launch pad ops (4/24-4/26).]

If launched nominally, rendezvous and docking with ISS will be on 4/28 (Monday), at the FGB nadir port. Undocking of 5 Soyuz TMA-1 with the current Expedition 6 crew will follow on 5/4, landing on the same day in Kazakhstan (first landing of the new Soyuz TMA version). [Plans are being made for Russian and NASA personnel to be in place at the landing site, staging out of Astana City via MI-8 helicopters.]

Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) targets, currently restricted by flight rule constraints limiting the use of the science window in the Lab, were East Asian smoke (Dynamic event: Fires in eastern Russia are giving rise to a smoke pall between 40N and 50N north of Japan. Shooting obliques left and right of track), Eastern Mediterranean Dust (dust blowing off North Africa yesterday should continue today), Lake Poopo, Bolivia (good nadir pass to document lake shorelines), and Smoke in the southern US (Dynamic event: Looking left and right for fires and smoke in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri, shooting obliques).
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 12:45pm EST).

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is powered On. 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 an

alyzer) 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) — 738; temperature (deg C) — 27.4; ppO2 (mmHg) — 183.1 (suspect); ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.3 (data suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 741; temperature (deg C) — 19.8.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 755; temperature (deg C) — 19.8.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 736.89; temperature (deg C) — 23.8 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — 165.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.0.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 739.16; temperature (deg C) — 22.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 739.16; temperature (deg C) — 20.8; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.0, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.7
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 19.7

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available [SM(774) + FGB(2746) + Progress(474] — 3994 kg (8805 lb) as of 4/3/03. (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 dual-angle (“blind”) mode.
SM batteries: All batteries (8) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #5 is disconnected; battery #3 is in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (5) 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: 16.6 deg (magnitude decreasing).

Communications & Tracking Systems: