Status Report

ISS On-orbit Status 7 Mar 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

March 7, 2003

Filed under ISS On-orbit status, Johnson Space Center, US

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.

FE-1 Nikolai Budarin, assisted by CDR Ken Bowersox, uninstalled and removed the Kurs-A rendezvous and approach radar system from the 10P/Progress M-247 motion control and navigation system (SUDN), a three-hour job. [These valuable components will be returned to Earth for “recycling”, but only after Shuttle flights have resumed. Until then, the possibility of procuring a new Kurs system from the Ukrainian manufacturer is one of the issues our partner Rosaviakosmos (RSA) is faced with at this time.]

For FE-2/SO Don Pettit, troubleshooting of the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) continued. [Today, Pettit re-installed another connector (P121) for the ground to monitor ESEM3 (exchangeable standard electronic module 3) current draw with power applied to the Left Filter Tube Sensor, the Left Delta P Sensor Box and the MTL (moderate temperature loop) IN-Temperature Sensor Conditioner. Afterwards, Don was to rotate the rack again and connect the next cable (P106) for another round of troubleshooting. POC (Payload Operations Center) is still evaluating the data gathered so far and hopes to have an MSG update soon.]

The crew completed a scheduled review of the uplinked Stage EVA2 timeline and activities overview. Later in the day, they tagged up with EVA specialists in Houston to discuss the upcoming spacewalk tasks. A “refresher course” on fluid QDs (quick disconnects) and their corrective SPDs (spool positioning devices) is scheduled for Monday (3/10). Final go-ahead for the EVA is expected by the MMT (Mission Management Team) on 3/11, followed by formal EVA readiness review on 3/18. [The EVA will probably be no earlier then 3/25; however, more detailed planning is required since the solar Beta angle will peak at that time (52 deg), necessitating some “interesting” tradeoffs between environmental parameters with EVA impacts. Objectives of the EVA are (1) S0/S1/P1 truss segment tasks like reconfiguring electrical connectors to provide additional inhibit to prevent SSAS (segment-to-segment attachment system) release, and NTA (nitrogen tank assembly) inspection to troubleshoot its heater problem; (2) R&R of the failed MT RPCM 3A (mobile transporter/remote power controller module #3A); (3) reconfiguring of CMG (control moment gyroscope) connections to ensure that no single EPS (electrical power system) failure will result in the loss of two of the three operating CMGs; (4) installation of two SPDs on Lab HX (heat exchanger) fluid QDs; (5) re-installing and securing of a QD thermal cover on the S1 RBVM (radiator beam valve module); (6) freeing the S1 CETA (crew equipment translation aid) railcart light stanchion and completing the light installation aborted during Stage EVA1; (7) and get-ahead tasks as time permits, such as tool retrievals and photo ops.]

Budarin started another round of routine 24-hr. checkup and watering of the Russian BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”) plant growth experiment which he had set up yesterday. [The regular daily maintenance of the powered payload consists of monitoring seedling growth, humidity measurements, moistening of the substrate when required, and photo/video recording.]

Don Pettit completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOSh life support system, including ASU toilet facilities, and later prepared the IMS inventory delta file for downlink. Bowersox conducted the regular status checkup of the autonomous PCG-STES010 payload in the Lab.

Nikolai Budarin meanwhile conducted the weekly inspection of the BRPK air/condensate separator of the SRVK water processing system.

In the continuing assessment of Station resources, Nikolai later in the day did an inventory audit of Russian DVCAM and LIV audio/video equipment such as cables, MiniDV tapes and plug-in adapters. More audits to come. [Some of the items, which he was to search for, are listed in the IMS database as “lost”.]

Bowersox prepared the data from the 5th Foot (foot/ground reaction forces during space flight) session yesterday (3/6) and transferred the file for subsequent downlink to MCC-H.

Early in the morning (2:37am EST), amateur radio operator Don Pettit chatted with students of Istituto Tecnico Industriale (ISIS) Malignani in Cervignano del Friuli, Northern Italy, a technical high school with more than 300 students directly involved with the amateur radio contact.

Later (11:58am), Pettit supported a second ham radio pass, this time with students of Krueger School of Applied Technologies (K-SAT) in San Antonio, TX, with a curriculum that features hands-on learning centered on aerospace.

At 9:36am, Bowersox and Pettit participated in two live TV-interactive PAO interviews of about 10 minutes each, with KPAM Radio, Portland, OR, and with the Indianapolis Star.

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.

In a crew telecon, exercise specialists discussed possible approaches to troubleshoot the CEVIS, which has its control panel failed and can only be used in the unpowered mode. [No spare parts are being manifested on the upcoming Progress resupply flight, but it is hoped that troubleshooting by the crew can solve the problem.]

For the RED, Bowersox has advised against a suggested configuration change involving installation of the used Flexpack canister #1010, due to potential asymmetric loading. RED engineers uplinked a number of questions to better characterize the current status of this canister for closer analysis.

In the Russian segment (RS), both SM computers (TVM/Terminal and TsVM/Central) continue on two out of three mutually redundant channels. Full reinitialization/reconfiguration is scheduled for 3/17, right before they receive the 7.01 software upload which is currently on hold. This date depends on the restoration of GNC (guidance, navigation & control) functionality in the U.S. segment (USOS) with the second R3 software patch.

The new GNC patch will be delivered to MCC-H by tonight. The mandatory mission configuration (uplink) test is scheduled for Monday (3/10). If successful, installation of the patch will follow on 3/12 in conjunction with the handover of ISS attitude control to the RS for the Progress thruster testing.

The test burns of the two Progress 10P thruster manifolds are set for 3/12 (5:23pm EST) and 3/13 (6:38pm) next week, each one a mini-reboost of 1.38 m/sec delta-V for the first, 0.31 m/sec for the second burn.

The next larger Station reboost, of about 6 m/sec, is scheduled for 4/14. Its objective is to adjust the ISS in-orbit phasing angle for the launch of 6S/Soyuz TMA-2 in early May and the next two Soyuz flights as well (7S and 8S). [The 4/14 burn is part of the longer-term altitude strategy being developed by Moscow since after the Shuttle stand-down. The tentative strategy extends to December 2004 and is based on the “most pessimistic” assumptions, including ULF-1 not flying before August 2004. Under these conditions, best propellant-savings are obtained by early maximizing ISS orbit altitude to the extent allowed by Soyuz and Progress capabilities.]

CMG-2 experienced a transient communications loss last night. This has happened before and is “not completely unusual”. The CMG recovered correctly by the automatic program and has since been back in the steering law.

The second part of the SSRMS (space station remote manipulator system) ops yesterday was successful. [Its survey of the P1 truss showed both RBVM thermal booties to be properly in place. The previous survey of the S1 truss was inconclusive for two of the seven thermal covers inspected. A second SSRMS inspection is being planned.]

The minor troubleshooting performed by Sox and Don yesterday on the SSRMS Lab DCP (display and control panel) Pause/Proceed switch, showed that in order to work OK, the switch needs to be thrown a bit more forcefully, in order to establish firm contact. [The two crewmates received some quick pertinent Canadian switch training, and no further action is required.]

The SSRMS was left in a position designed to perform the Moscow-requested survey of the #2 solar array of the Service Module (SM) with the portside Kurs-P antenna and its high-frequency feeder cable, which is suspect of being damaged. This survey is scheduled for 3/10.

Good news: TsUP reported that Moscow will probably be able to meet all NASA downmass manifest requests for 5S/Soyuz TMA-1 (see also yesterday’s status report).

CO2 (carbon dioxide) level in the Lab this morning was at 4.2 mmHg. Vozdukh is running nominally, and CDRA is not required. ppCO2 variance between USOS and RS continues to be on the order of only 0.2 mmHg.

Yesterday’s ISS attitude change from XPOP to LVLH was successfully executed, including the handovers between USOS and RS motion control systems. However, during the maneuver an RGA (rate gyro assembly) “Caution” message was annunciated. Since the U.S. RGAs were (and currently are) not tied into the controlling navigation/steering loop, the event is somewhat puzzling; it is presently being investigated to provide better understanding.

The crew reported a noisy IMV (intra-modular ventilation) fan, with the air duct configuration as probably cause. Ground is busy on an appropriate troubleshooting plan.

In the interest of conserving precious resources, POC payload specialists have agreed to add 20 of their valuable MSG MiniDV tapes to the crew’s limited tape supply for general systems use, as long as the last (6th) reuse is saved for science. [An appropriate plan was developed and uplinked, and Sox sent down his appreciation of this gracious gesture first thing this morning.]

Also in the spirit of resource conservation, Sox offered to eat more Russian food. Since it turns out that the next Progress, 11P, will carry less American food than previously expected, the CDR’s willingness to increase conservation by utilizing Russian cuisine more than to date is being highly appreciated. (Chefs, Gourmets and Russia Travellers, take note!)

Today’s targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were Hyderabad, India (ISS had a nadir pass today over this Indian mega city in the Deccan Plateau about 150 miles NW of the Godavari River delta), Tropical Cyclone Kalunde (DYNAMIC EVENT TARGET: This small tropical cyclone lied to the right of track at the time of this pass. It continued to become better organized and with 90-knot winds should have developed an eye. The crew was to document the eye and cloud banding features of this weather system), Barcelona, Spain (this major city on the coast of northeastern Spain lied just to the right of track this pass), Tunis, Tunisia (the Tunisian capital is located on the coast just to the right of track this pass), and Khartoum, Sudan (the Sudanese capital is located at the convergence of the White and the Blue Nile Rivers. ISS had a nadir view this pass).
CEO images can be viewed at the website
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 2:22pm 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) — 27.0; ppO2 (mmHg) — 183.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.4 (suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 19.3.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 21.0.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 740.71; temperature (deg C) — 22.4 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 743.20; temperature (deg C) — 26.9; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 743.30; temperature (deg C) — 20.8; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.2, ppO2 (mmHg) — 168.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.2.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.2
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.4

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available [SM(820) + FGB(2746) + Progress(576)] — 4142 kg (9132 lb) as of 3/6/03. (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 dual-angle directed position (eclipse drag reduction configuration).
SM batteries: All batteries (8) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Batteries #2 and #6 are offline (#6 is in Capacity Restoration Mode/ROM); battery #4 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 — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Attitude source — Russian
Angular rate source — Russian.

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]), with CMG/ TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management).
Solar Beta Angle: -6.0 deg (magnitude decreasing).

Communications & Tracking Systems: