MRPO Daily Status Report 06-12-02
GMT Date: 163
Calendar Date: 06/12/02
Increment: 5
Stage: UF2
Week 1
The 8A/UF2 joint operations period is progressing as planned. The STS performed the second reboost of the ISS to a higher orbit today. All MRPO payloads delivered by UF-2 have been transferred to the ISS.
MRPO payloads to be returned on STS-111 are: BTR, CGBA, CPCG-H, PCG-EGN, PCS, and ZCG samples.
Payloads currently on-board STS: CGBA, CPCG-H, ZCG return Samples
Payloads currently on-board MPLM: PCS
Payloads currently on-board ISS: ADVASC, BSTC, InSPACE, MAMS, MEPS, MSG, PCG-EGN, PFMI, SAMS, StelSys, STES-8, SUBSA and ZCG and the resupply samples
Status: EXPRESS RACK 4 (ER4) is powered and supporting payload operations. ER1 & ER2 were powered down Friday to conserve electrical energy needed during joint operations. ER1 was repowered for approximately 12 hours today to support SAMS recording acceleration data. ER3 was transferred/installed in the US Lab Saturday. ER5 was checked out during Increment 4 and powered down.
The Medium Rate Communication Outage Recorder (MCOR) is experiencing occasional over-temperature conditions requiring it to be turned-off. When MCOR is turned-off, payload data is lost during loss of signal periods.
ADVASC was activated yesterday and is downlinking nominal health and status data. The initial nutrient replenishment procedure was performed soon after activation.
All BSTC equipment is currently inactive. BTR, the biotech refrigerator, which had one of its cooling elements inoperative, will be returned to the ground on UF2 for anomaly analysis. BSTC operations will begin next week using the Stelsys samples.
CGBA and CPCG-H have been transferred to the STS mid-deck with only five minute power interruptions.
InSpace hardware has been transferred to ER5 for stowage. InSpace will not operate during UF-2.
MAMS is currently turned-off but is scheduled to be repowered Friday to record acceleration data during undocking. MAMS data is available on the acceleration measurement web page.
MEPS was transferred to the US Lab with ER3 Saturday. It will be transferred from ER3 to its planned operational location in ER1 during week 3 and initial operations are scheduled for week 6.
MSG was transferred/installed Sunday. Checkout will occur in week 4.
PCG-EGN is a passive payload and will operate undisturbed until it is returned on UF-2. PCG-EGN is scheduled for transfer to the STS on Friday.
PCS failed on day 056 and has been transferred to the MPLM for return and anomaly analysis. The failure will result in a 5%-15% loss of science.
PFMI was transferred to a stowage location in the US Lab Sunday. PFMI will operate in the MSG late in the UF-2 stage.
Four SAMS sensors were powered up late yesterday to record acceleration data. After approximately 12 hours SAMS was turned-off and ER1 was also powered down. SAMS is also scheduled to be repowered Friday to record acceleration data during undocking. SAMS data is available on the acceleration measurement web page.
StelSys samples have been transferred to the ARCTIC Refrigerator Freezer-1 in ER4. The dewar containing Stelsys samples has also been transferred to the ISS. Stelsys samples will be processed in the BSTC next week.
The six STES-8 growth chambers were activated Sunday and the payload is downlinking nominal health and status data.
SUBSA was transferred to ER5 Sunday for stowage. SUBSA is scheduled for operation in the MSG during week 4.
ZCG operations were successfully completed during Increment 4 and the resulting samples have been transferred to the STS for return. ZCG resupply samples for processing during this increment have been transferred from the STS to ER5 for stowage. Samples will be placed in the ZCG furnace during week 3 for processing.
Near-term Outlook:
Week 1 (6/10-6/16) – Much of the crew time is being devoted to transfer operations. ER1 is scheduled to be powered up on Friday to remain on and allow MAMS and SAMS to record acceleration data during undocking scheduled for Saturday, 6/16. One additional EVA and one reboost of the ISS to a higher orbit will be conducted during this week.
Week 2 (6/17-6/23) – Preliminary planning for this week is being based on approximately 12 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. The crew will have a half day off Monday, 6/17, and all day off Tuesday. BSTC activation is scheduled for Tuesday and BSTC crew operations for the next 3 days.
M. Vlasse, PhD, DSc
MRPO Increment Scientist
ACRONYMS:
ADVASC – Advanced Astroculture
ARIS–Active Rack Isolation System
ARIS-ICE — ISS Characterization Experiment
BCSS — Biotechnology Cell Science Stowage
BSTC– Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (General status information on this payload will include coverage of the following items of support equipment: BTR, BCSS and GSM)
BTR — Biotechnology Refrigerator
CGBA – Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus
CPCG-H #1 – Commercial Protein Crystal Growth High Density Unit.
ER1– EXPRESS RACK 1
ER2 — EXPRESS RACK 2
ER3 – EXPRESS RACK 3
ER4 – EXPRESS RACK 4
ER5 – EXPRESS RACK 5
EVA – Extra-Vehicular Activity
GSM — Gas Supply Module
InSPACE- Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates
ISS – International Space Station
MAMS — Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System
MCOR -Medium Rate Communication Outage Recorder
MEPS – Microencapsulation Electrostatic Processing System
MPLM – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
MSG – Microgravity Science Glovebox
PCG-EGN – Protein Crystal Growth-Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar
PCS — Physics of Colloids in Space
PFMI – Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation
SAMS — Space Acceleration Measurement System II
STES – Protein Crystal Growth – Single Thermal Enclosure System
ZCG – Zeolite Crystal Growth
