ISS On-Orbit Status 8 May 2003
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. First medical tests for the new crew today.
Before breakfast, both crewmembers completed their first session of the periodic Russian medical experiment protocols PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement). CDR Yuri Malenchenko set up the MO-8 “scales” equipment and later broke it down and stowed it away. [Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body ass in zero-G, where things are weightless (but not massless), the Russian IM “scales” measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember’s mass is calculated by the computer and displayed].
Also before breakfast, Malenchenko completed the periodic Russian MedOps test “Hematocrit”, measuring the red blood cell count (hematocrit) of his blood. Science Officer Edward Lu assisted by performing the blood draw from his finger with a perforator lancet. [The samples were then centrifuged in two microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit’s minicentrifuge and its hematocrit value was read off the tubes with a magnifying glass. It is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go down over time., probably as a function of (rich) oxygen partial pressure in the onboard atmosphere.]
Later in the day, Yuri Malenchenko performed his first biomedical “Pulse” experiment, scheduled before his physical exercise. These MBI-9 tests are done monthly. [Execution of the medical cardiological assessment is controlled from the Russian payloads laptop 3 (see below), using a set respiration rate (without forced or deep breaths) and synchronizing respiration with computer-commanded “inhale” commands. Before the experiment, arterial blood pressure is measured with the “Tensoplus” sphygmomanometer. After the test, laptop 3 was to be reconfigured to its original settings.]
As part of regular (monthly) preventive maintenance of ISS ventilation systems, Ed Lu worked an hour in the FGB (funktsionalnyi-grusovoi blok) module for a thorough cleanup of the removable screens of its three GZhT gas-liquid heat exchangers (done last by Budarin on 3/26).
Also in the FGB/Zarya module, Malenchenko cleaned ventilation grilles behind interior panels, while Lu cleaned up the protective mesh screens of the module’s ventilation fans.
MCC-M/TsUP reported that laptop 3 in the Russian segment (RS) has failed and is presently under analysis. [No critical functionality has been lost, but since the laptop is used for a number of Russian payload operations, the failure creates inconvenience for the crew in using alternate means.]
Three other station laptops have exhibited problems this week. One had a CMOS error and was successfully recovered. Instructions were uplinked for troubleshooting the failed Service Module PCS (portable computer system), an IBM 760XD laptop (#6060). [The test sequence, using a known good laptop and some HDDs (hard disk drives), is designed to help determine which component of the PCS prevented it from booting up correctly.]
CDR Malenchenko tagged up with a ground expert at MCC-M/TsUP to discuss his upcoming sessions with the Russian Diatomeya ocean bioproductivity observing program.
The crewmembers also tagged up with Russian specialists on the IMS (inventory management system). [A prepared cargo table was uplinked to assist Yuri and Ed with the unloading and logging of 6S/Soyuz-212 (TMA-2) cargo, stowed both in the Orbital Module and Descent Module. Since all scheduled activities aboard the ISS (R&Rs, installations) are also pre-planned in the IMS plans, the crewmembers were asked to confirm or change equipment entries listed in the IMS in accordance with last week’s activities.]
Ed Lu performed the daily routine maintenance/inspection of SOZh life support systems, which includes the ASU toilet facility, food containers (KRP), water containers (EDV) and solid waste containers (KTO). Ed also prepared the daily IMS delta file to update the IMS database.
Yuri completed the regular inspection of the BIO-5 “Rasteniya-2/Lada-3” (Plants-2) zero-G plant growth experiment and took pictures of the plants (acacia-leaf peas). Later, he copied the accumulated photo/data files to a floppy disk for transfer to the Russian laptop 3 and subsequent downlink via Regul-Packet.
The crew again had one hour set aside on their schedule for ISS familiarization, i.e., to adjust to their new surroundings and activities
Ed and Yuri also completed their daily physical exercise program, on TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization), RED (resistive exercise device), CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) and, for Yuri, on the Russian VELO ergometer with load trainer. [TsUP uplinked the standard restrictions recommended for use of the NS-1 load trainer. Its use is limited by ISS structural constraints during crewmember workouts. Prescribed are medium tempo (0.33 Hz, one full motion in three seconds) and fast tempo (0.5 Hz, one full motion in two seconds), with medium tempo allowed for rowing, lean forward/back and trunk flexing exercises, and fast tempo for hammer throw and lower arm flexing/extending.]
The crew reported that it encountered a problem with the RED aft canister which, at a higher power setting, suddenly exhibited high resistance. [While ground specialists are looking into the issue, the crew was advised to stay below that setting. It is likely that the canister will be swapped out for the time being, deferring disassembly and repair attempts to a later date.]
Regular TVIS inspection time will be increased to one hour next Monday (5/12) to allow a closer look at the “frayed ropes” reported by the crew. [For this purpose, the treadmill will have to be partially lifted out of the Service Module “pit”.]
At 9:20am EDT, Malenchenko and Lu supported two interactive televised interviews (Ku-band and S-band) on KXTV-TV, Sacramento, CA, and Channel One News, Los Angeles, CA, each one lasting about nine minutes.
The onboard File Server backup files are now on the ground, and Expedition 6 personal email files are being extracted for restoration.
The Soyuz TMA-1 Descent Module has been returned to RSC-Energia in Korolev near Moscow, and its flight data/voice recorder was found to be intact, containing all its reentry data and voice records. The freshly appointed commission has been given two weeks for the investigation, counting from 5/5.
Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) targets, including cities during daylight and at night (again available as targets in the current LVLH attitude) were Athens, Greece (nadir pass; ESC [electronic still camera]), Eastern Mediterranean aerosols (pass from Greece to Sinai: looking left for smog buildup), Nile River Delta (land use patterns are the center of interest. Looking nadir and right for the new developments along the Suez Canal), Cape Town, South Africa (looking left for South Africa’s second largest port; ESC), Midwest tornado damage (Dynamic event. Recent tornadoes have killed ~40 people. Looking left for about two minutes for swaths, up to a mile wide and 10-20 miles long, in Kansas and Missouri, oriented ENE), Miami, Florida (nadir pass; ESC), Las Vegas, Nevada (nadir pass; ESC), Phoenix, Arizona (nadir pass; ESC), Tucson, Arizona (nadir pass; ESC), Lake Poopo, Bolivia (handheld images suggest that Lake Poopo is a proxy for precipitation in the high, dry Andes. Lake levels tend to drop during El Niños and should therefore be approaching their lowest as the present El Niño winds down), and El Paso, Texas (city at night; nadir and a touch right).
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:25pm EST).
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
- Elektron O2 generator is powered On (24 Amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (manual mode 3). 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) — 742; temperature (deg C) — 27.8; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
- SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 19.8.
- FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 744; temperature (deg C) — 21.0.
- Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 740.71; temperature (deg C) — 22.2 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — 170.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.3.
- U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 743.00; temperature (deg C) — 22.4; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 743.10; temperature (deg C) — 22.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.8, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.6
- PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 20.7
(n/a = data not available)
Propulsion System (PS):
- Total propellant load available: 3607 kg (7952 lb) as of 5/1 [SM(774) + FGB(2581) + Progress(252)]. (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
- Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in directed position (Blind mode, non solar-tracking, drag reduction).
- SM batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected, in stand-alone ops; battery #2 in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (6) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
- FGB batteries: Battery #5 is disconnected; all other batteries (5) 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-2 is On (primary), EXT-1 is Off (both now upgraded to R3).
- 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): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being upgraded.
- SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being upgraded.
Attitude Control Systems:
- 3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).
- State vector source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
- Attitude source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
- Angular rate source — RGA-2
Flight Attitude:
- LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal = “earth-fixed”: z-axis in local vertical, x-axis in velocity vector [yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -7.2 deg, roll: 0 deg]), with CMG/TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management.
- Solar Beta angle: 14.7 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 (VTR1 is operable again; VTR2 in troubleshooting).
- HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.
Robotics:
- SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF #1 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, 7:55am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 390.2 km
- Apogee — 394.6 km
- Perigee — 385.8 km
- Period — 92.36 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0006636
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
- Solar Beta Angle: 14.7 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 110 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 25481
- For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
