MRPO Daily Status Report 09-05-02
GMT Date: 248
Calendar Date: 09/05/02
Increment: 5
Stage: UF2
Week 13
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.
R2 remains powered-down. Following the successful change-out of a faulty smoke detector, the rack grounding strap broke and must be replaced before rack power can be restored. 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. Photographs inside the growth chamber are planned for Saturday, 9/7.
MAMS is operating nominally in the quasi-steady mode. HiRAP remains turned-off. MAMS data is available on the acceleration measurement web page.
The MSG facility is powered following completion of a SUBSA run yesterday. When the crew removed the SUBSA sample today, unexpected debris was released into the work volume. Procedures are being developed to clean-up the MSG work volume.
A SUBSA sample was successfully processed yesterday. When the sample was removed from the thermal chamber this morning, residual debris from the previously failed SUBSA ampoule, was released into the MSG work volume. The sample was secured inside the MSG and the crew was requested to stand-down from further SUBSA activities, pending development of follow-on procedures. An initial clean-up plan has been developed and coordinated for implementation as soon as the crew is available.
PFMI is stowed in the US Lab and is scheduled to operate in the MSG following completion of SUBSA operations.
All SAMS sensors in EXPRESS Racks and the MSG are operating nominally. SAMS data is also being posted to the acceleration measurement web page.
STES-8 is down-linking nominal health and status data. Four of the six growth chambers remain activated.
Near-term Outlook:
Week 13 (9/2-9/8) – Planning for this week was based on approximately 4 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. The crew is performing robotic arm exercises and post EVA activities. ADVASC photos inside the growth chamber are planned and additional SUBSA activity may occur this week.
Week 14 (9/9-9/15) Preliminary planning for this week is being based on approximately 16 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. The crew will perform robotic arm procedures during this week. Additional SUBSA runs are scheduled.
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
