ISS On-Orbit Status 6 Feb 2003
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Day 75 in space for the Expedition 6 crew.
Kudos went up to the crew for their great work yesterday in tracking
down all consumables on board. This gives MCC-H and MCC-M a head start
on developing plans for the remainder of this increment and continued
manned station occupancy.
CDR Ken Bowersox yesterday also took an inventory audit of CWCs (contingency
water containers). With water being the limiting consumable in the current
Shuttle stand-down situation, onboard water storage and getting the Russian
SRV-K H2O processing system to work for U.S. condensate are of prime
importance.
Bowersox and FE-1 Nikolai Budarin continued unloading Progress 10P/M-47,
accompanied by careful bookkeeping for the IMS (inventory management
system) database, using an uplinked extensive cargo list for 10P with
assigned ISS stowage locations. Unpacking a Progress, with its often
surprising "care packages", is always a thrill for a station
crew.
FE-2/SO Don Pettit worked on the MSG (microgravity science glovebox),
which tripped a circuit breaker upon activation yesterday, very similar
to what was seen before the MSG failure on 11/20/02. As MSG specialists
from ESA and NASA are developing a troubleshooting plan, Pettit’s activities
today focused on salient data gathering, following specific instructions
uplinked last night in an EFN (electronic flight note).
Nikolai Budarin performed preventive maintenance on the FGB ventilation
system, replacing its two dust filters (PS-1 and 2).
Budarin also conducted his regular daily checkup and watering, as required,
of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 ("Plants-2") plant growth experiment.
Later, he copied its accumulated photo/data files to a floppy disk for
transfer to the Russian laptop 3 and subsequent downlink via Regul-Packet.
Bowersox took the two daily carbon dioxide (CO2) readings in the Service
Module (SM) and Lab with the CDMK (CO2 monitoring kit), in support of
the currently ongoing investigation of the discrepancy between the CO2
readings of the MCA (major constituents analyzer) in the U.S. segment
and the CO2 measurement in the Russian segment with the SM gas analyzer
(GA). [At issue are not only the suspect data of the GA, but also the
lack of proper IMV (intermodular ventilation) between the segments.]
Sox also set up for tomorrow’s scheduled Foot (foot/ground reaction
forces during space flight) experiment run, preparing the equipment for
EMG (electromyography) calibration with video recording, and for the
actual data take in the specially equipped outfit.
Budarin transferred newly arrived Russian med/tech Bradoz A3 hardware
from the Progress and deployed it in the SM, after taking pictures of
the hardware for the record and saving them from the Nikon CompactFlash
card to a laptop HDD (hard-disk drive). [Bradoz (RBO-2) is a bio-radiation
dosimetry experiment that uses kits deployed in specific SM locations
with minimum, maximum or average levels of radiation protection within
two days after delivery. After the completion of the experiment, the
samples must be isolated from exposure to electromagnetic radiation as
much as possible.]
Bowersox and Pettit conducted another session for the general MedOps
PFE (periodic fitness evaluation), which checks up on blood pressure
and electrocardiogram during programmed exercise on the CEVIS in the
Lab. Readings were taken with the BP/ECG (blood pressure/electrocardiograph).
Each of the two in turn assisted his crewmate as CMO (crew medical officer).
[BP/ECG provides automated noninvasive systolic and diastolic blood pressure
measurements while also monitoring and displaying accurate heart rates
on a continual basis at rest and during exercise.]
Nikolai performed the daily routine maintenance of the SOSh life support
system as well as the preparation of the IMS "delta" file for
downlink.
MCC-M/TsUP performed a smoke detector test in the DC-1 docking compartment
via S-band, then deactivated the "cycle" mode of FGB battery
#5 and activated it for battery #6. SM battery #6 was also set to cycling
mode. [In cycle mode (RTs), the battery is twice discharged down to 24
volts, then recharged to 32.5V at least once every two weeks. Each battery
requires about 18 hours for the process. Cycle mode is performed to rid
the battery of its "memory" and restore the electrical characteristics
of the storage unit. It also resets accumulated errors in the battery’s
charge/discharge current integrator (MIRT).]
The Cupola RWS PCS (robotic workstation/portable computer system) suffered
a hard failure over last weekend. PCS spares are on board but are not
usable until after the pending 12A software transition.
The Russian LiOH (lithium hydroxide) canister test performed over the
weekend, lasting more than 38 hrs, was deemed successful by MCC-M.
The test was in support of re-certification of the LiOH canisters’
lifetime.
Next ISS reboost, by Progress 10P, is scheduled for 2/11 (Tuesday),
at 6:49am EST. The burn will last 21 min 48 sec and provide a delta-V
of 6 m/sec, increasing station altitude by 10.4 km.
Today’s targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were Red
Basin, China (Dynamic event. The break in cloudy weather continues with
high pressure promoting continued smog buildup: these conditions allow
comparative views of this site from two days ago. The circular Red Basin
[oblique left of track] has 100 million people and major cities. Suggested
were obliques and short lenses [or series of tighter views] to capture
the full span of the basin and the smog event. Any flow lines in the
smog indicating a sense of the transport direction would be interesting
to document), Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze R. (nadir pass. Mapping swath
requested (i.e., overlapping views). The dam wall lies in a dark and
deep canyon and can be difficult to discern, but the vast construction
sites on both banks should stand out), Kinshasa, Congo (this capital
city lies a touch right on the south bank of the Congo River [where the
river widens at "Stanley Pool"]), Baghdad, Iraq (nadir pass;
ESC [electronic still camera]. Also, this was an opportunity to shoot
sun glint views of the complex river pattern in Mesopotamia, and the
new dusting of snow on the Zagros Mts and other ranges in Iran [for about
1.5 mins after Baghdad]), Eastern Mediterranean Dust (gusty winds were
kicking up dust off the coast of Egypt. [Then there was an opportunity
to shoot Crete in sun glint–right of track]), Algiers, Algeria (nadir
pass for this coastal city; ESC), Bogotá, Colombia (nadir pass;
ESC. The city appears as an elongated gray mass in the valley [valley
reported cloud free compared with mountain ranges to east and west cloudy]),
St. Louis, Missouri (a touch left of nadir; ESC), and Detroit, Michigan
(nadir pass; ESC).
CEO images can be viewed at the website
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:50pm 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 (auto mode). 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)
— 27.6; ppO2 (mmHg) — 160.8; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.3 (suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C)
— 19.2.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 20.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 741.98; temperature (deg C) — 22.4 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 743.91; temperature (deg C) — 22.7; ppO2
(mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 744.01; temperature (deg
C) — 20.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.4, ppO2 (mmHg) — 165.07;
ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.5.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.1
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 18.3
(n/a = data not available)
Propulsion System (PS): Total propellant load available [SM(820) + FGB(2898)
+ Progress(0)] — 3718 kg (8197 lb) as of 1/30/03. (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 "blind" dual-angle mode (directed position).
SM batteries: Battery #7 is off line (failed); battery #6 is in "Cycle" mode;
all other batteries (6) are in "Partial Charge" mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #1 is off line; battery #6 is in "Cycle mode";
all other batteries (4) are in "Partial Charge" mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 and PCU-2 both in Standby mode.
Command & Data Handling Systems:
C&C-2 MDM is prime, C&C-3 is back-up, and C&C-1 is in standby.
GNC-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup.
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 (diagnostic
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): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
Attitude Source:
3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).
State vector — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Attitude — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Angular rates — U.S. RGA-1
Flight Attitude:
LVLH TEA (local vertical/local horizontal = "earth-fixed":
z-axis in local vertical, x-axis in velocity vector [yaw: -10 deg, pitch:
-9.1 deg, roll: 0 deg]), CMG/TA (thruster assist) momentum management).
Solar Beta Angle: -12.0 deg (magnitude increasing).
Communications & Tracking Systems:
FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.
All other Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.
S-band is operating nominally.
Ku-band is operating nominally.
Audio subsystem operating nominally.
Video subsystem operating nominally, but VTR1 is off.
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.
Robotics:
SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF2 with Keep Alive (KA) power on both
strings.
MBS: KA power on both strings.
MT: latched at WS4, with KA power.
POA: KA power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:27am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 386.5 km
Apogee — 390.3 km
Perigee — 382.7 km
Period — 92.28 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0005568
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.60
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 200 m
Solar Beta Angle — -12.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 24061
For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times,
see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
