ISS On-Orbit Status 6 Apr 2002
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted
previously or below.
First day of a quiet and enjoyable weekend for the crew. FCT
(flight control team): "Surely the calm before the [8A]
storm."
As always on Saturdays, the crew performed ISS complete
housecleaning, today budgeted at three hours instead of the usual two
hours.
CDR Onufrienko performed the routine checkout/maintenance of the SM 92s
condensate separation pumping unit (BRPK-1) and life support system
(SOSH), while FE-2 Bursch did the daily UF-1 payloads status 20
checks.
All crewmembers had their weekly private family conference (PFC), via
audio for Onufrienko and Walz, and video for Bursch (always dependent
on
time-of-day and available comm path).
FE-1 Walz Carl performed an EVARM (EVA radiation monitoring) badge
reading, because the change in the Shuttle launch schedule necessitated
another EVA-minus-7-day reading of the badges. These
pre-EVA
recordings help characterize the on-board radiation trends prior to the
8A spacewalks next week. Carl’s activity was to unstow and power
up
the EVARM reader, read all badges and then power down the reader.
Yuri Onufrienko used the LIV video camcorder and the Kodak 760 still
camera for today’s sessions of the Russian Uragan Earth imagery
program. Target priorities during overflights were the Indian
coastline, Cape Town and other South African population centers, Lagos
in
Nigeria, tracks across South America, particularly from the Andes to
the
Amazon, and ocean currents along the Chilean coastline.
CDR Onufrienko received directions for collecting air samples in SM,
FGB
and Lab about one to two hours prior STS-110/8A arrival and during the
docked phase, using the Russian AK-1M adsorber and IPD sampler (the
latter for CO [carbon monoxide] analysis).
Onufrienko completed picture-taking for the Kromka experiment, by using
the Nikon F-5 from the window of the DC-1 EV hatch #1 to photograph the
Kromka-1 tablet installed on the GZU plume deflector on the SM +T-side
yaw thrusters.
Science Update (Expedition Four — 17th):
Hoffman-Reflex: Completed.
Extra-Vehicular Activity Radiation Monitors (EVARM): Due
to
the 8A launch slip, the EVARM badge readings are being rescheduled
accordingly (see above). Prior to next week 92s activities, the
ground will uplink some 8A joint ops "big picture" words with
daily updates as required.
Ultrasound: In progress.
GASMAP/Pulmonary Function in Flight (PuFF): In
progress.
Renal (Kidney) Stone Experiment: In progress.
Interactions (NTXN): In progress.
Human Research Facility Workstation (HRF WS): n/a
Human Research Facility/PC (HRF/PC):
n/a
Cellular Biotechnology Support Systems
(CBOSS): Complete. The CBOSS team extended their thanks
to the crew for "keeping an eye" on the BTR (biotechnology
refrigerator). The ground appears to have run out of options and is
awaiting the arrival of 8A/Atlantis.
Physics of Colloids in Space (EXPPCS): Any further
on-orbit recovery actions for the EXPPCS flight hardware have been
terminated. The ground is formulating plans to de-orbit the Avionics
Section and Test-section hardware on UF-2. Approximately 75% of all
science that had been hoped for prior to flight was completed. On-orbit
measurements resulted in an additional 5+% that was not expected prior
to
flight. A significant amount of data has yet to be fully assessed;
thus,
the final percentage of science completed will likely increase
somewhat.
Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS): Tests were
conducted this week with TeSS (temporary sleep station) and SAMS sensor
F05 (top of Rack 2). The ground observed correlation between TeSS
entry/exit and SAMS acceleration data. A big thanks to the crew
for
moving the offending TeSS buckle to alleviate contamination of SAMS
data.
Preparations are now underway for 8A docking measurements. The
ground team also continues to support general characterization in the
vibratory regime of the microgravity environment.
Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS): MAMS
OSS sensor continues collection and archival of low-frequency
acceleration data for the characterization of the ISS quasi-steady
microgravity environment. This sensor will also measure attitude
changes
and docking-related maneuvers. HiRAP will be enabled to capture the 8A
docking.
Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System
(PCG-STES): In progress. STES-010 deactivation was delayed because
the crystals are more stable and better preserved while in the growth
state. Once the PCAMs have been deactivated, the crystals start
to
degrade due to an uncontrolled environment.
Materials ISS Experiment (MISSE): Nominal and collecting
data.
Educational Payload Operations (EPO): Complete.
Active Rack Isolation System – Isolation Characterization Experiment
(ARIS-ICE): With the launch delay, the ground team is trying
to
get in some more testing before the rack must be powered down.
EarthKAM: Currently complete. All EarthKAM images
are
available for public access on the EarthKAM data system at:
http://EarthKAM.sdsc.edu/cgi-bin/datasys/ek_images_st
ation
Advanced Astroculture (ADVASC): The ADVASC Plant Tissue
Sample and Remove Excess Condensate Fluid activities were completed
this
week. All that 92s left is a final gas sample, deactivation, and cable
disconnects.
Zeolite Crystal Growth (ZCG): Planned. Hardware is
ready to process samples to be launched on ISS 8A.
Crew Earth Observations (CEO): Today’s optional CEO
target areas were Calcutta, India (the sprawling city of
Calcutta was right of track; of interest: documenting urban expansion
outward from this burgeoning city), Ganges River Delta
(the
broad delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers, defined in part by
the
dark vegetated Sunderbans, was right of track. Crew was to document the
pre-monsoon condition of the wetlands, as well as sediment plumes
entering the sea), Somalia Coast (this pass along the
Somalian coast permitted the crew to record the condition of coastal
dune
fields and the vegetated valley that lies seaward of the dunes),
Lahore, Pakistan (Lahore is another city with an exploding
population. Emigrants from neighboring war-torn areas are contributing
to
the already rapid growth), E Mediterranean Dust/Smog
(Italy, the Adriatic and much of Greece should be clear in the wake
of
storms that moved through yesterday. Satellite data and ground reports
have indicated smog concentrations over Europe in recent days. As ISS
crossed Italy and the Adriatic, the crew was to shoot left of track to
record any new masses of urban-industrial smog drifting southeastward
from the Po valley).
NASA gateway for Earth photography from space:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:09 am EST):
Mean altitude — 388.0 km
Apogee — 390.1 km
Perigee — 385.9 km
Period — 92.3 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0003096
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.60
Altitude decrease — 300 m (mean) in last 24 hours
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 9298) — 19285
Current Flight Attitude — LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal 3D
“earth-fixed”: z-axis in local vertical, x-axis in velocity vector
[yaw:
-10 deg, pitch: -7 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
