ISS On-Orbit Status 5 Nov 2002

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.  Yet another extremely busy day for the Expedition 5 trio and the VC-4 visiting crew.

CDR Valery Korzun and FE-2 Sergei Treschev completed the last day ops of the Russian MBI-2 Deuraz (“Diuresis”) experiment, which today featured the end of urine sampling and instead collection of capillary blood specimen for hematocrit (red blood cell mass) determination and venous blood samples, followed by centrifugation for BIOTEST.  Deuraz was then closed out.

At about 6:30am EST, the 24-hr. Holter cardiac activity monitoring ended for Sergei Treschev.  He then assisted Korzun with the donning of the ECG (electrocardiograph) harness for his turn in this medical examination.

For the visiting crew (VC-4), science activities continued with a packed schedule, starting off with the daily collection of saliva samples for VIRUS and filling out of a study questionnaire for SLEEP.

VC FE-1 Frank De Winne worked on the MSG (microgravity science glovebox) in the Lab, replacing the video tape for PROMISS (protein crystal growth monitoring by digital holographic microscope) and powering down DCCO (diffusion coefficients in crude oil), with removal of its video tape and subsequent equipment stowage.

Later he activated the MSG payload NANOSLAB (study of aggregation mechanisms and kinetics of ZSM-5 and Silicate-1nanoslabs into hybrid phases under micro-G conditions).  The fourth MSG experiment conducted in the MSG, COSMIC (study of microstructure formation in titanium-aluminum-beryllium powder using self-propagating high-temperature combustion synthesis [SHS]) will be started tomorrow.

VC CDR Sergei Zalyotin performed temperature checks (37 degC) of the running AQUARIUS-B experiment several times during the day.

The CARDIOCOG experiment (to study the effects of microgravity on the cardiovascular system expressed in the peripheral arteries, and the vegetative regulation of arterial blood pressure and heart rate) will have its final run by De Winne, Zalyotin and VC FE-2 Yuri Lonchakov tomorrow.  The hazardous thionyl chloride batteries will then be sealed and stored safely in the Soyuz TM-34 OM (orbital module).

Lonchakov had another session with the Tekh3 AKUSTIKA-M  experiment, taking sound level measurements in the cabin.  [AKUSTIKA characterizes the total acoustic loading of the ISS interior including noise generated by vehicle systems, voice communications, and interference during voice comm passes.  Today, Yuri again took sound measurements near the SM Central Post (at the intercom site) both during and between two voice comm passes over RGS (Russian ground sites).]

FE-2 Sergei Treschev completed another plumbing job in the SM, removing and replacing the gas-liquid mixture filter (FGS) in the powered-down SRV-K condensate water processor, and the column unit (BK) in the BKV water conditioning unit.  Both spares were delivered on Progress M-46 (8P).  The SRV-K was then reactivated.

Later, Treschev also replaced the separator unit in the condensate separation and pumping subsystem (BRPK-2) with a new unit delivered on Progress 8P.

Valery Korzun completed his daily task of inspecting the Rasteniya-2 plant growth payload.  After Treschev’s R&R, he performed the weekly inspection of the BRPK-2 as well as the VR fan in the SKV-1 air conditioner.
 
Korzun also did the daily routine maintenance of the SOSh life support system, while Treschev prepared the IMS (inventory management system) delta file for downlink, and FE-1/SO Peggy Whitson conducted the regular status checkup of Lab payloads.

Whitson worked on the exercise equipment, completing the monthly maintenance of the CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) and, with Korzun, of the TVIS treadmill.  Valery also performed the weekly inspection of the TVIS stabilizing gyro system.

Lonchakov worked on the Diatomeya program of world ocean observations, performing still photography with the Nikon-F5 camera during two observing sessions.  [Targets of interest included fields of organic and mineral suspended matter in the dynamically active Atlantic waters off the coast of Africa.]

Lonchakov also took photos, with the Kodak 760 with 800mm focal-length lens, for the Uragan program, targeting the Kolka Glacier, the active Mt. Etna (Italy) and El Reventador (Ecuador) volcanoes.

A special “symbolic activity” of the visiting crew with a large number of commemorative items was recorded with video camcorder and Nikon D1 still photography before the backdrop of a large Belgian cotton flag.  The items, delivered by Progress 9P, included mission patches, postcards and envelopes, small ESA flags, new Euro coins and notes, seeds and bulbs, mission certificates, educational items, etc.

At 4:00 am EST, as part of the ARISS amateur radio program, Frank De Winne conducted a ham session with a group of youngsters at the Space Camp at the Euro Space Center in Redu, Belgium.

Later in the day, De Winne is scheduled to continue his daily PAO TV downlinks to Belgium, replaying scenes of his research activities aboard the station.

The CDRA (carbon dioxide removal assembly) in the US segment has failed and is currently inoperative.  Troubleshooting efforts are underway with high priority.  Failure signatures point to two valves which cycle during normal operations but now do not seem to reach their appropriate positions in the expected travel time interval.  If recovery efforts are unsuccessful in the near term, chemical CO2 absorption by means of LiOH (lithium hydroxide) canisters will have to be employed for the remainder of the taxi crew mission (1-2 canisters).  [The Russian Vozdukh system is operating, but on only two of its three channels since several months.  Its absorption performance is adjusted automatically in accordance with a preset ppCO2 limit setting (currently 3.5 mmHg) but it is unable to support a six-person crew adequately.  At the current configuration, the station atmosphere is about 12 hours away from reaching the Flight Rule limit of 7.6 mmHg, and while reduced physical exercise may extend that time, flight surgeons do not favor this option.  If CDRA cannot be recovered by tomorrow, LiOH cans will be used.]

The C&C MDMs were successfully swapped, with C&C1 back in primary, C&C2 as backup and C&C3 in standby.

All required checkouts of the MSS (mobile service system) have been completed successfully, including the last open items with the MT (mobile transporter).  CSA reports the SSRMS ready for 11A.

After the ARCTIC-2 refrigerator/freezer was determined to be unrepairable in orbit, the planned testing of ARCTIC-1 yesterday could not be done because of inability to access the electronic bay.  Further troubleshooting is going on but ARCTIC-1 may also turn out to be unrepairable in orbit.

The PGBA (plant generic bioprocessing apparatus) is at last showing plant growth.

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:37 pm EST).

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

• Elektron O2 generator is powered On (48 amp mode; on backup pump).  Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is ON in AUTO air flow mode (ppCO2 limit: 4 mmHg).  U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off. TCCS is operational.  BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode.

• SM Working Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 756; temperature (deg C) — 28.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — 145.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.7.
• SM Transfer Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 761; temperature (deg C) — 19.8.
• FGB Cabin:  Pressure (mmHg) — 756; temperature (deg C) — 22.7.
• Node:  Pressure (mmHg) — 749.61; temperature (deg C) — 24.9 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
• U.S. Lab:  Pressure (mmHg) — 751.08; temperature (deg C) — 25.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — 161.5; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 5.9;
• Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock):  Pressure (mmHg) — 751.08, temperature (deg C) — 32.4; shell heater temp (deg C) — 26.3, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
• PMA-1:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 25.6
• PMA-2:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 12.8

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS): 

• Total propellant load available (SM + FGB + Progress) — 3903 kg (8605 lb) [as of 10/24/02].

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

• Both P6 channels fully operational.  Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and BGA 4B in Autotrack mode (solar-tracking).
• SM batteries:   Battery data not available.
• FGB batteries:  Battery #1 is offline; 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; SKV-2 is Off.

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 (new patches loaded on both).
• EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is off.
• LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
• PL-1 MDM is On (primary); PL-2 MDM is off (diagnostic
• 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): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.

Attitude Source:

• 3 CMGs on-line.
• State vector — U.S. SIGI-1
• Attitude — Russian segment (RS)
• Angular rates — U.S. RGA-1 (from RS attitude)

Communications & Tracking 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 MBS PDGF3 (mobile base system/power & data grapple fixture 3) and 11A park position, with Keep Alive power on both strings.
• MBS: Keep Alive power on both strings.  POA: Keep Alive power on both strings.
• RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 9:03am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 393.1 km
• Apogee — 402.8 km
• Perigee — 383.4 km
• Period — 92.42 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0014378
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.58
• Solar Beta Angle — -27.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Altitude loss — 260 m (mean) in last 24 hours
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 22602
• Current Flight Attitude — XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: -5.0, pitch: -8.6 deg., roll: 0.4 deg]),with CMG/Thruster Assist Momentum Management).

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