Status Report

ISS On-Orbit Status 5 March 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

March 5, 2003

Filed under ISS On-orbit status, NASA HQ, US

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Space Day 102 for Expedition 6 (from STS-113 launch on 11/23/02).

After wake-up (1:00am EST), the crew received rave reviews of their Robotics operations yesterday. Not only did they accomplish all objectives with the SSRMS robotarm, but they also got ahead on tomorrow’s objectives as well.

In the FGB module, FE-1 Nikolai Budarin deinstalled another no-longer-required electronics box of the SUD motion control system, to make room for stowage, then took digital photographs of the exposed area for later downlink via OCA. [This time it was the UPLU-2 relay users input/output adapter of the program-logic control assembly, the former interface of the assembly to relay-controlled components.]

CDR Kenneth Bowersox conducted another session with the FOOT (foot/ground reaction forces during space flight) experiment, which he had prepared yesterday, starting with video setup for taping his subsequent standing EMG calibration (after TVIS harness donning, after running and harness removal, and at end of day), before completing the data collection session. [Wearing black Lycra biking tights with 20 electrodes, and shoes fitted with insoles that measure impact forces on the bottom of the foot for the 12-hr session, Sox completed a typical on-orbit day while reaction forces against the ISS structure were recorded passively to determine how much stress his legs and feet endure. This provides better understanding of the bone loss and loss of muscle mass experienced by astronauts in zero-G (on Mir, for example, cosmonauts lost as much bone mass in a month as post-menopausal women do in a year). The experiment is led by the biomedical engineering department at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.]

FE-2/SO Don Pettit continued assisting the ground with MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) troubleshooting, today re-installing the P108 connector on the E-Box after rotating the rack. [This activity, one step further toward hopefully pinpointing the root cause soon, mirrored the P107 connector re-install he performed on Monday (3/3). The ground watched the Center Filter Tube Sensor, the Center Delta P Sensor Box and the MTL (moderate temperature loop) Out-Temperature Sensor Conditioner.]

Pettit also performed the daily routine inspection of the SOSh life support system, incl. ASU toilet system, while Bowersox conducted the regular routine checkup of the autonomous PCG-STES010 (protein crystal growth-single locker thermal enclosure system #10) payload in the Lab. Budarin worked on the IMS (inventory management system) delta file, tagging up with a ground specialist to straighten out IMS database incongruities which have cropped up.

In the interest of conserving videotape resources, Bowersox was provided, on his request, with a plan for reusing MiniDV videotapes (up to a total of 6 times). [The plan includes a process designed to help him stay organized on board and keep the ground in sync with the onboard resources status.]

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

Don Pettit conducted the periodic RED inspection, including retightening of its bolts (if required).

On the TVIS, Pettit performed IFM (in-flight maintenance) by replacing and properly torquing the treadmill’s 16 clamp rope assembly screws. [These screws, which are coated with a sealant called Vibratite, are intended for one-time installation only. They were not replaced during a prior IFM — which explains theproblem the crew encountered with a TVIS corner bracket.]

After yesterday morning’s troubleshooting of the DOUG (dynamic operations ubiquitous graphics) failure to properly connect with the Lab RWS (robotics workstation) laptop, additional work on the ground has isolated the problem. Its fix will not be available for tomorrow’s SSRMS ops. [The problem was caused by a mismatch between the PCS laptop R3 load version, i.e., upgraded for 12A, and a not-yet-updated data file on the SSC (station support computer) system. Correction is in work.]

The crew downlinked a message of greeting to the 30th Anniversary Public-Scientific Readings dedicated to the memory of Yuri Gagarin, a traditional annual event.

U.S. and Russian Segment Status(as of 1:20pm EST).

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):

Elektron O2 generator is powered On (32 Amp mode). 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) — 753; temperature (deg C) — 27.2; ppO2 (mmHg) — 183.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.3 (suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 21.0.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 741.34; temperature (deg C) — 23.7 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 743.50; temperature (deg C) — 22.0; ppO2 (mmHg) — 178.2; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.3;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 743.60; temperature (deg C) — 21.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.5, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 26.0
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 17.1

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available [SM(820) + FGB(2753) + Progress(576)] — 4149kg (9147 lb)as of 2/27/03 . (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and 4B both in auto track (sun following) mode.
SM batteries: All batteries (8) are in “Full Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Batteries #2 and #6 are offline; battery #3 is in “Cycle” mode; all batteries (3) 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-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 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): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Lane 1 is out of the set (as of 11/14/02).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Lane 1 is out of the set (as of 3/2/03).

Attitude Control Systems:

3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).
State vector source — Russian
Attitude source — Russian
Angular rate source — Russian.

Flight Attitude:

XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: 0 deg, pitch: -8.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG/Thruster Assist Momentum Management).
Solar Beta Angle: -15.6 deg (magnitude decreasing).

Communications & Tracking Systems: