ISS On-Orbit Status 7 Feb 2002
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.
Major task for CDR Yuri Onufrienko today was to set up for the second run of the Russian GFI-10 “Molniya-M” payload, after the first on 1/29. The experiment, which had come up with Progress 6P, was installed at window #1 of the SM. After its installation at the porthole, CDR powered it up on Go from MCC-Moscow, and the equipment started taking automatic measurements for several hours, controlled from the SM on-board equipment control system (SUBA). ÊIn the afternoon, it was deactivated and stowed away. [The GFI-10 experiment is intended for the geophysical study of atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere electromagnetic interaction related to storms and seismic activities, using video-photometric systems (VFS-3M). It is being conducted periodically in a total of six sessions during the current increment].
CDR then performed the regular servicing tasks, i.e., maintenance of life support (SOSH), inspection of fluid lines and connectors, ending the regeneration process on filter cartridge #2 of the BMP micropurification unit, and status-checking of Increment 4 payloads in the U.S. Lab module.
FE-1 Carl Walz and FE-2 Dan Bursch completed their food frequency questionnaires on the MEC (medical equipment computer) desktop, which keep a running account of the crewâs nutrition for the HMS (health maintenance system).
It was time again for the weekly maintenance of the TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization), with Bursch acting as observer for the first part while Walz was doing his physical exercise session. The maintenance essentially is an inspection of the SLD (subject load device) cables. ÊThe user then records time and date at the end of all maintenance steps.
CDR Onufrienko, with an assist by Carl Walz, video-recorded a commercial for the OGP-2 “Konstruktor” experiment. ÊThe childrenâs toy called “Jitter Robot” was demonstrated by Yuri in weightlessness in various “functions” in accordance with an uplinked script designed to “get kids acquainted with modern technologies”. ÊThe video cassette will be returned on Soyuz TM-33.
Meanwhile, as part of regular periodic function checks of the HRF (human research facility), Dan Bursch set up and powered the facility, to run a check on its Ultrasound Imaging System, which provides three-dimensional image enlargement of the heart and other organs, muscles and blood vessels. It is capable of high resolution imaging in a wide range of applications, both research and diagnostic, such as: echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart), abdominal u/s (deep organ ultrasound), vascular u/s, gynecological u/s, muscle and tendon u/s, transcranial u/s, u/s contrast studies, and small parts u/s. The only maintenance required on the Ultrasound system, besides the function checks, is vacuuming an inlet air debris screen as necessary. More Ultrasound system evaluation to come tomorrow.
Onufrienko completed the periodically necessary calibration test of the SM air revitalization system’s gas analyzer (GA) with the GA calibration assembly (BKGA) and its GA status indicator (IG-3). The GA is an important monitor of the composition (partial pressures) of the atmosphere, providing independent automatic measurements of CO2, O2, H2 and H2O as well as the flow rate of the gas being analyzed. ÊAfter purging the instrument, Onufrienko took O2 readings from the IG-3 and laptop and adjusted the setting at a specific calibration voltage level. ÊDuring the next comm pass over Russia, he reported to MCC-M on IG-3 readings for H2O (water), CO2 (carbon dioxide), H2 (hydrogen) and O2 (oxygen), taken before and after the calibration adjustment.
Carl Walz completed troubleshooting the MACE Silo 1 mass storage device in the Lab, by modifying it with strips of Kapton tape so that it can be used to copy MACE files to compact discs. To test the fix, Carl then “burned” a CD on the device.
Specialists stood by in MCC-H for consultation when the two Flight Engineers spent about an hour with a careful familiarization/inspection of the Lab nadir window for flaws and/or particulate/contamination depositions on its surfaces. ÊThe inspection, with window shutter open, was scheduled during a night pass in order for surface flaws to be visible in the images and reflections of a handheld flashlight. ÊIf done properly, the crewmember can distinguish eight different and partially superimposed images of the light source, one for each pane of glass making up the window. Ê[The Lab nadir window is comprised of four panes of glass, each one a pair: the innermost scratch pane assembly (SPA), the primary pressure pane assembly (PPA), the secondary PPA and the outermost debris pane assembly (DPA). The window is protected with a shutter, which is operated from the inside by means of a hand wheel, an inner shaft and a gearbox. ÊTo open the shutter takes 1.5 clockwise revs on the hand wheel. The high-optical-quality window has very high transmittance over a wide spectral range (low absorption glass and anti-reflection coatings), good wave front quality (homogenous material and very flat surfaces), and known optical characteristics. Preserving these qualities is crucial to successful science operations].
Carl Walz took pre-EVA radiation readings for the Canadian EVARM (Astronauts in EVA Radiation Study) experiment in two parts about one hour apart, then deactivated and stowed the equipment.
On the ground, preparations continue for the transition of ISS software to Release 2 (R2), still scheduled for around 2/14. A “R2 Transition Readiness Review” will be held at JSC on 2/12. ÊThe crew was informed that the transition to R2, required for 8A, will entail a significant change in the number of C&W (caution and warning) events being monitored by the stepped-up software. ÊNew C&W books have been prepared which list the events and the appropriate procedures for the crew to execute.
At 8:21-8:35 am EST, all crewmembers participated in a live television interview from the Lab on CNN (Miles OâBrien).
The Russian Uragan earth imaging experiment today focused on Indonesia (Java and Sumatra islands, Malay Peninsula) and then Philippines with the Kodak DSC (400 mm focal length), as well as Nicaragua, Cuba, and the Bahamas with the LIV video cam.
Targets for the CEO program were Yangtze River Delta and Shanghai (illumination was still a little low, but the weather looked good this pass for mapping both the dynamic Yangtze River Delta, at low water, and the megacity of Shanghai. ISS approached this double target from the SW, and the crew was to begin mapping shots from city then continue NE-ward over the delta), Calcutta and the Ganges Delta, India (an excellent, dry-season pass over India’s largest city and seconds later the delta of the Ganges to the right of track. Of interest: careful mapping of the city and then the wetlands of the delta during low river flow), Dhaka, Bangladesh (within a minute of Calcutta, to the NE on this pass, to right of track, crew was to map the megacity of Dhaka situated at the northern edge of the Ganges delta in Bangladesh), Congo-Zimbabwe Biomass Burning (the rainy season is ending in Zimbabwe. Of interest: oblique views to either the left or right of track to detect any smoke plumes signaling the start of fire season on this region), Somalia Coast (pass was well offshore along the coast this pass, but with good light and nearly clear skies, crew was to try to detect color differences in the coastal and interior vegetation patterns to the left of track), and North Patagonian Glaciers (weather looked good for this pass over the less well-photographed, Northern Patagonian Ice Field. Of interest: use of the ESC [electronic still camera] to document the exit glaciers of this smaller ice field, especially those on the western and northern flanks).
U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:54 pm EST today):
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS):
- Elektron O2 generator is On (16 Amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is in MANUAL cycle mode #5 (vacuum pump failed). ÊU.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off.
- SM Working Compartment: ÊPressure (mmHg) — 748, temperature (deg C) — 26.3, ppO2 (mmHg) — 160.8, ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.5.
- SM Transfer Compartment: ÊPressure (mmHg) — 745, temperature (deg C) — 21.0; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- FGB Cabin: ÊPressure (mmHg) — 744, temperature (deg C) — 22.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- Node: ÊPressure (mmHg) — 740.07, temperature (deg C) — 22.6 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- U.S. Lab: ÊPressure (mmHg) — 741.89, temperature (deg C) — 22.2, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
- Joint Airlock: ÊPressure (mmHg) — Ê741.48, temperature (deg C) — 22.5.
(Partial pressures ppO2 and ppCO2 in U.S. segment (USOS) not available because MCA [major constituent analyzer] is failed and in Extended Life mode [= a state that preserves mass spectrometer vacuum but produces no pp data]).
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
- Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B in Autotrack mode, BGA 4B in Directed position (125 degrees).
- SM battery #7 is cycling; all other ( 7) SM batteries are in “partial charge” mode.
- FGB battery #3 is cycling; all other (5) batteries 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 Off (Freon leak). SKV-2 is On.
Command & Data Handling Systems:
- C&C-2 MDM is prime, C&C-1 is back-up, and C&C-3 is in standby.
- GNC-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is backup.
- SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
- SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
Communications Systems:
- S-band is operating nominally, and Ku-band is operating nominally in open loop pointing mode.
- Audio subsystem operating nominally (except for ATU #2).
- Video subsystem operating nominally (but VTR2 is non-functional).
- MCOR (medium-rate communications outage recorder) operating nominally.
Robotics:
- SSRMS/Canadarm2 at Port stow position (on Keep Alive power on both strings).
- RWS (robotics workstations) are Off.
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 12:09 am EST):
- Mean altitude — 386.7 km
- Apogee — 390.8 km
- Perigee — 382.6 km
- Period — 92.3 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0006078
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.60
- Decay rate Ê480 (mean) in last 24 hours
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. â98) — 18375
- Solar Beta Angle — +8.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
- Current Flight Attitude — LVLH +XVV ZLV (local vertical/local horizontal: +X-axis in velocity vector; Z-axis in local vertical), with TEA (torque equilibrium attitude [pitch: -10 deg, yaw: -7 deg, roll: 0 deg]).
For more on ISS orbit, see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
