MRPO Daily Status Report 09-18-02

GMT Date: 261

Calendar Date: 09/18/02

Increment: 5

Stage: UF2

Week 15

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, SUBSA and ZCG operations have been successfully completed.

EXPRESS RACKS 1 and 4 (ER1 & ER4) are powered and supporting payload operations. ER2 is powered to support ARIS adjustments. 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 down-linking nominal health and status data. The payload has been configured to dry-out the plants and seed pods during the final phase of operations for this stage.

MAMS is operating nominally in the quasi-steady mode. HiRAP is turned-off. MAMS data is available on the acceleration measurement web page.

MSG power was turned-on yesterday to support a PFMI test run. All systems operated nominally and the power was turned-off following completion of the test run. MSG will be powered-on tomorrow to support a PFMI operation.

The PFMI hardware checkout was successfully completed yesterday. PFMI science operations are ready to begin tomorrow.

All SAMS sensors in EXPRESS Racks are operating nominally. The SAMS sensor in MSG is turned off. 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 15 (9/16-9/22) – Planning for this week was based on approximately 9 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. The crew will review plans for 9A joint operations, begin 9A pre-packing activities and prepare Progress 8 for undock in week 16. An additional PFMI operation is planned.

Week 16 (9/23-9/29) – Preliminary planning for this week is being based on approximately 6 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. Progress 8 will undock on Tuesday, 9/24. Progress 9 launch is planned on Wednesday, 9/25, and docking on Sunday, 9/29. The crew will perform EVA preparation activities including practicing robotic arm procedures. One PFMI sample run is scheduled during this week.

M. Vlasse, PhD, DSc
MRPO Increment Scientist

ACRONYMS:

ADVASC – Advanced Astroculture
ARIS–Active Rack Isolation System
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
EVA – Extra-vehicular Activity
GSM — Gas Supply Module
InSPACE- Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates
ISS – International Space Station
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