MRPO Daily Status Report 08-21-02
GMT Date: 233
Calendar Date: 08/21/02
Increment: 5
Stage: UF2
Week 11
Payloads currently on-board ISS:
ADVASC, BSTC, InSPACE, MAMS, MEPS, MSG (facility), PFMI, SAMS, StelSys, STES-8, SUBSA and ZCG. InSpace will not operate during this increment.
Status:
MRPO payloads ADVASC, MAMS, SAMS and STES 8 continue nominal, basically unattended, operations. BSTC, MEPS, StelSys, and ZCG operations have been successfully completed.
EXPRESS RACKS 1 and 4 (ER1 & ER4) are powered and supporting payload operations. ER2 is powered but is not currently supporting any active payloads. ER3 is installed in the US Lab and will be checked out later. ER5 was checked out during Increment 4 and powered down.
ADVASC is downlinking nominal health and status data.
MAMS is operating nominally in the quasi-steady and HiRAP modes. MAMS was able to capture acceleration data during EVA7. MAMS data is available on the acceleration measurement web page.
The MSG facility is currently powered-down following completion of a nominal support period for a SUBSA on 8/9/02. Problems with removal of the SUBSA sample from the thermal chamber resulted in the MSG work volume being restricted for use until clean-up procedures are implemented.
SUBSA completed their third sample run 8/9/02. When removal of the SUBSA sample ampoule was attempted on 8/10/02, the ampoule broke and released glass particles into the MSG work volume and left some particles inside the thermal chamber. The crew performed clean-up procedures, however there is concern that additional clean-up may be needed. Clean-up procedures have been developed and are in a review cycle for approval and implementation. The SUBSA team is preparing to meet with the Payload Safety Review Panel concerning follow-on operations.
PFMI is stowed in the US Lab and is scheduled to operate in the MSG during Stage 9A.
SAMS equipment in all EXPRESS racks is operating nominally. The SAMS sensor in MSG is currently powered down. SAMS data is also being posted to the acceleration measurement web page.
STES-8 is downlinking nominal health and status data. Four of the six growth chambers remain activated.
Near-term Outlook:
Week 11 (8/19-8/25) – Planning for this week was based on approximately 8 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. The majority of crew time will be devoted to preparation for, and implementation of, an EVA on 8/26. The EVA was planned for 8/23 but has been delayed to accomplish tasks that were not performed as planned during EVA 7. Post EVA activities will also require significant crew time.
Week 12 (8/26-9/1) – Preliminary planning for this week is being based on approximately 7 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. This week is being replanned to accommodate the delayed EVA on Monday 8/26. ADVASC samples of nutrients, condensate and gas are currently planned to be taken by the flight crew on Wednesday, 8/28.
M. Vlasse, PhD, DSc
MRPO Increment Scientist
ACRONYMS:
ADVASC – Advanced Astroculture
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
ER1– EXPRESS RACK 1
ER2 — EXPRESS RACK 2
ER3 – EXPRESS RACK 3
ER4 – EXPRESS RACK 4
ER5 – EXPRESS RACK 5
GSM — Gas Supply Module
InSPACE- Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates
MAMS — Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System
MEPS – Microencapsulation Electrostatic Processing System
MSG – Microgravity Science Glovebox
PFMI – Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation
SAMS — Space Acceleration Measurement System II
STES – Protein Crystal Growth – Single Thermal Enclosure System
SUBSA – Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules
ZCG – Zeolite Crystal Growth
