ISS On-Orbit Status 9 Jan 2003

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

After wake-up, morning inspection, personal hygiene and breakfast, FE-1
Nikolai Budarin checked out the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 ("Plants-2")
payload which studies plant growth and development under spaceflight
conditions. Later, he copied the photo/data files to a floppy disk and
then transferred them to the Russian Laptop 3 for subsequent downlink
through Regul packet comm.
.
Afterwards, Budarin prepared for and completed the removal and replacement
(R&R) of the Vozdukh carbon dioxide (CO2) removal system’s VN vacuum
pump with a Progress-delivered spare. Prior to the R&R, the SKV-1
air conditioner had to be deactivated by the ground via S-band, followed
by deactivation of the BITS onboard telemetry connection, Elektron oxygen
generator and BMP micropurification unit. These systems were powered
up again after completion of the vacuum pump replacement. Vozdukh is
now back in operation. [The VN pumps air from the CO2 absorption cartridges
into the station atmosphere before vacuum regeneration of the filters,
to minimize air loss. The VN can pump down the cartridge to a pressure
of 50 mmHg, and its operation is monitored by observing the residual
pressure in the cartridge.]

FE-2/SO Don Pettit crew started another in-flight session of the PuFF
(pulmonary function in flight) experiment, activating the "huff
and puff" hardware and completing its initial calibration. During
the day, all three crewmembers then performed the standard test, and
Pettit finally powered it down, leaving the hardware set-up for next
week’s post-EVA session. [Today’s activity served the continuing investigation
of the effects of EVA and long-term micro-G exposure on the pulmonary
(lung) function, laying the groundwork for future experiments which are
key to understanding and maintaining crew health. Each monthly PuFF session
involves five lung function tests. It utilizes the GASMAP (gas analyzer
system for metabolic analysis physiology) in the Human Research Facility,
along with a variety of other PuFF equipment such as a manual breathing
valve, flowmeter, pressure-flow module, pressure and volume calibration
syringes and disposable mouthpieces.]

CDR Ken Bowersox and Don Pettit completed today’s planned MSS (mobile
service system) robotics operations with the SSRMS (space station remote
manipulator system). Nikolai Budarin participated to re-familiarize himself
with camera operations in support of the robotic activities. [Objective
of the SSRMS session was to conduct several external surveys, which where
recorded with the VTR (video tape recorder) for ground study. The surveys
focused on (1) an open quick-disconnect MLI (multi layer insulation)
cover on the thermal bootie attached to one of the four RBVM (radiator
beam valve module) flexhoses, (2) the Z1 RPDA ORU (remote power distribution
assembly/orbit replaceable unit) heat pipe radiator, (3) the aft radiator
baseplate, and (4) the aft radiator itself, all with the purpose to look
for any noticeable damage such as scuff marks, tears, bubbles, etc.]

Afterwards the crew conducted measurements of RWS (robotic work station)
monitor video and electronic CBCS (centerline berthing camera system)
overlay alignment by photographing each monitor with the carefully aligned
Kodak 760 camera, to verify the overlays for Mission ULF-1.

The crew completed R&R of an RPCM (remote power controller module)
in the Node (N14B). [The ground had diagnosed a "hybrid" failure
of RPC 17 (remote power controller 17), which feeds the Node cabin fan,
causing it to eventually cause RPC 17 to fail open. The signature usually
seen in these cases occurs in two steps: first, there is an apparent,
but false RPC trip (no overcurrent); then, usually within five days,
the RPCM suffers a POR (power-on reset), and the RPC can no longer be
closed.]

Nikolai Budarin checked out the G1 antenna heater indicator in the Soyuz
TMA-1 integrated control panel (InPU), while tagging up with a ground
expert on Daily Orbit 13 (~12:00pm EST). The troubleshooting investigated
the failure of the indicator to light up.

Budarin also worked through another session of the Russian MBI-8 Profilaktika
(preventive health maintenance) fitness program, today on the NS-1 load
trainer. Don Pettit provided assistance and took digital photos of Nikolai
in his exercise gear positioned on the load trainer. [This fitness test
consists of four types of exercise, viz., neck tilting (back/forward),
simultaneous forearm flexing, trunk extension, and trunk flexes. Each
type of exercise consists of a series of 15 motions repeated two times.
Load levels are selected by the ground and do not change from test to
test. Gas analysis, subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels,
and blood test for lactate and Creatine Kinase levels are also performed
as a part of this test.]

CDR Bowersox conducted the periodic inspection of the RED (resistive
exercise device), including retightening of its bolts (if necessary).

Sox also completed the daily routine maintenance tasks of SOSh life
support systems servicing, Lab payload status checkup, and IMS inventory
delta file preparation.

Both he and Pettit performed their daily physical exercise program.
They also filled out their weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire),
a special software log on the MEC (medical equipment computer) to track
nutritional intake.

Yesterday, the crew completed the planned checkout of the PGTs (pistol
grip tools) for the EVA next week, a task list item. Further clarification
was requested by MCC-H whether they also reprogrammed all three PGTs
for the radiator deploy contingency (in case of failure of automated
deployment).

Today’s targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were Eastern
Mediterranean Aerosol (looking right for buildup of smog from Europe.
High obliques [over the sea, with limb] are best for documentation of
these subtle features), Damascus, Syria (nadir pass; ESC [electronic
still camera]), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (nadir pass; ESC), Puerto Rico (detail
of coastal land use of special interest. Nadir pass), St. Thomas Island,
Caribbean (fringing coral reefs. For purposes of location, crew was to
provide a mapping series of views or a context view), St. John Island,
Caribbean (fringing coral reefs. For purposes of locating detailed views,
crew was to provide a mapping series of views or a context view), St.
Croix, Caribbean (fringing coral reefs. For purposes of locating detailed
views, crew was to provide a mapping series of views or a context view),
Lower Amazon River Basin (it was recently shown that islands in the estuary
move relatively quickly in the flow regime of the Amazon River. This
is an unusual place on the planet due to the largest river flows on the
planet), Albuquerque, New Mexico (nadir pass; ESC), Costa Rica (DYNAMIC
EVENT: "remarkably clear" weather: crew was to shoot a mapping
swath of nadir views with 400 mm lens to complement shorter focal length
views. Land use patterns are of particular interest in this country with
its very high levels of biodiversity and fast deforestation), Gardner
Island, Hawaiian chain (nadir pass. Crew was to shoot coral reef detail
for mapping project), Necker Island, Hawaiian chain (nadir pass. Crew
was to shoot coral reef detail for mapping project), and Patagonian Glaciers
(documentation of glacier shape and surface morphology [crevasse fields
appear as aligned cracks], and color, which ISS photography reveals on
some glaciers for reasons as yet unknown).

CEO images can be viewed at the website
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 11:44pm 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. U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off. TCCS is operational. BMP Harmful
Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify
mode.

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 742; temperature (deg C)
— 25.08; ppO2 (mmHg) — 159.9; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 0.9 (suspect).
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C)
— 19.3.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 21.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 736.89; temperature (deg C) — 22.2 (shell);
ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 739.36; temperature (deg C) — 20.8; ppO2
(mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 739.36, temperature (deg
C) — 26.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.2, ppO2 (mmHg) — 159.3;
ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.3 (suspect).
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.2
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 16.8
(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS): Total propellant load available (SM + FGB +
Progress) — 3703 kg (8164 lb) [as of 1/2/03].

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Both P6 channels fully operational. Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and
BGA 4B both in Autotrack mode (following Sun).
SM batteries: Battery data unavailable.
FGB batteries: Batteries #3 is off line; all other batteries (5) 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 Off, 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

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]).
Solar Beta Angle: -3.7 deg (magnitude decreasing)

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 Lab PDGF 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, 7:47am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude — 391.2 km
Apogee — 394.6 km
Perigee — 387.8 km
Period — 92.38 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0005021
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
Solar Beta Angle — -3.7 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Altitude loss — 150 m (mean) in last 24 hours
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 23629

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