ISS On-Orbit Status 9 Dec 2002

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.  Beginning Week 2 for Expedition 6.

After wake-up at 3:00am EST (adjusted yesterday in another sleep cycle shift), the crew’s main activities today focused on preps for the Stage EVA next Thursday (12/12). 

First on schedule was a one-hour timeline review for the spacewalk, beginning at about 10:00am EST (egress).  [Major tasks on the EVA timeline are:  (1) configure SFU (squib firing unit) on P1 to launch condition; (2) release 10 launch restraint locks (5 zenith, 5 nadir) on the P1 radiator beam; (3) inspect radiator beam and monitor its deployment; (4) reconfigure SFU; (5) clean Node nadir CBM (common berthing module); (6) install a tool box on CETA (crew and equipment translation aid) cart #2; (7) relocate and reconfigure CETA foot restraints; (8) install a light fixture on CETA #2; and (9) perform get-ahead tasks as open time permits.  It will be the 50th EVA for ISS assembly, with 25 from Shuttle and 25 from station (16 of these from the Joint Airlock).]

After the timeline/procedures review, CDR Ken Bowersox and FE-1 Nikolai Budarin, who are to conduct the spacewalk, checked out and tested their two SAFER (simplified aid for EVA rescue) units, #1004 and #1006.

At the Service Module (SM) BMP micropurification system, Budarin terminated regeneration mode for adsorption bed #1, switching it back to Purify mode.  Later, he initiated the regenerative bake-out of catalyst bed #2.  [The regeneration of the filter beds is repeated every 20 days.  Each bakeout to space vacuum takes about 24 hours.]

FE-2/SO Don Pettit reviewed the CBT (computer-based training) lesson for the PuFF (pulmonary function in flight) experiment, scheduled to have its first crew session tomorrow.  [PuFF investigates human lung performance over time in zero-G.  Using the HRF GASMAP (gas analyzer system for metabolic analysis physiology), the PuFF equipment periodically measures and analyzes the inhaled and exhaled breath stream of each crewmember.]

After familiarizing himself with the procedures for setting up and running the ZCG (Zeolite crystal growth) experiment, Bowersox loaded the metal autoclaves into the EXPRESS Rack 2 (ER2) furnace.  [Before configuring the autoclaves for operation, Sox removed the ER2 MRB (microgravity rack barrier) and reinstalled it after completion of the procedure.  Per POC (Payload Operations Center) request, the activity was to be taped with the Lab camcorder.]

Pettit started the ER2 laptop computer, after POC had powered up the rack itself.  Bowersox then removed the ARIS (active rack isolation system) snubber cup isolators from ER2, so that ARIS can be calibrated from the ground.

The daily routine task of IMS (inventory management system) delta file preparation was performed by Don Pettit, while Bowersox did the regular (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) status checkup of autonomous Lab payloads, currently just the PCG-STES010 (protein crystal growth-single locker thermal enclosure system #10).

For the purpose of obtaining additional EVA video coverage, Pettit reconfigured the cabling of the Lab VTRs (video tape recorders).  In support of the recabling effort, the crew first had to reconfigure UOP (utility outlet panel) power plug-ins, activate the two VTRs, and configure video settings.

All crewmembers performed their daily physical exercise regimen. 

For Bowersox and Budarin, a special 30-min. work-out session on the CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) provided pre-EVA practice in manual mode, according to the denitrogenation pre-breathe protocol.  [Instead of having the pedaling workload called for by the protocol during the pre-breathe session adjusted automatically, the manual mode requires manual adjustment by turning a control knob while monitoring the load displayed on the control panel.  The goal is to transition between called-for workloads in less than 20 seconds, wearing the heart rate monitor watch and its transmitter, while breathing pure O2.]

Early in the morning (DO 12), MCC-Moscow conducted a test of  the LKT1G2 primary and backup signal commutator to the SM thermal mode control system (SOTR).

Other scheduled Russian activities included TV tests on Soyuz and Progress.

The Vozdukh CO2 removal system is currently down, unpowered, and will remain so for an estimated one day.  Current CO2 partial pressure (ppCO2) is 5.11 mmHg, and the Flight Rule limit of 7.6 mmHg will be reached in about 18 hours.  Instructions were uplinked for the crew to support the activation of the U.S. CDRA (carbon dioxide removal assembly) later today, i.e., connecting LTL (low temperature loop) lines to the AR (air revitalization rack) in the Lab and reconfiguring the CCAA (common cabin air assembly) air conditioner to the alternate (portside) channel.
 
Sleep period begins tonight at 6:30pm EST.  There will be another adjustment on Saturday (12/14) to 2:00am-4:30pm and on Sunday (12/15) to 1:00am-4:30pm.

Today’s targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (weather was expected to clear for this nadir pass of the Saudi capital), Alexandria, Egypt (nadir pass over this ancient port city. Rapid urban expansion is modifying the wetlands area of the Nile delta. Of interest: documenting the extent of urban infrastructure), Patagonian Glaciers (this may have been the best pass for a while to continue photo surveys of the glaciers of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. Of particular interest are the smaller glaciers on the northern and eastern flanks where rapid retreat is occurring. Crew was to use the long lens of the DCS [digital camera system] for detailed, nadir views), High Central Andean Glaciers (this target area is rarely cloud-free. However, the crew was to take advantage of the ideal lighting nadir pass to look between the clouds for the small ice fields and glaciers located here), and Mexico City, Mexico (with a nadir pass in good weather and light, crew was to update our imagery of the sprawling metropolis).
CEO images can be viewed at the website
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of this morning).

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):

• Elektron O2 generator is powered On (24 Amp mode).  Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is Off.  U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off (to be activated). TCCS is operational.  BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Regeneration mode.

Propulsion System (PS): 

• Total propellant load available (SM + FGB + Progress) — 3792 kg (8360 lb) [as of 12/5/02].

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

• Both P6 channels fully operational.  Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and BGA 4B both in dual-angle mode (directed position)..
• SM batteries:  Battery #6 in “Cycle” mode.  All other batteries (7) are in “Partial Charge”: mode.  FGB batteries:  Batteries #4 is off line; battery #1 is in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (4) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
• Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is in Standby; PCU-2 is in Standby.

Thermal Control Systems:

• Air conditioner SKV-1 is On; SKV-2 is Off.

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 (new patches loaded on both).
• EXT-2 is On (primary), EXT-1 is off.
• LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
• PL-1 MDM is On (primary); PL-2 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 down (as of 11/14).
• 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
• Attitude — U.S. SIGI-1
• Angular rates — U.S. RGA-1

Communications & Tracking Systems:

• FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operating.
• 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.
• MCOR (medium-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:

• SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF3 with Keep Alive (KA) power on both strings.
• MBS: KA power on both strings.  MT: at WS7, 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, 6:18am EST [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 395.8 km
• Apogee — 398.1 km
• Perigee — 393.5 km
• Period — 92.47 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0003389
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.57
• Solar Beta Angle — -17.0 deg (magnitude increasing)
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 23130
• Current 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]) until December 11, then XPOP.

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see
 http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html