MRPO Daily Status Report 09-25-02

GMT Date: 268

Calendar Date: 09/25/02

Increment: 5

Stage: UF2

Week 16

ISS Information: ISS auto pointing was lost for several hours Monday due to failure of a Guidance Navigation and Control Multiplexer/Demultiplexer. Emergency pointing procedures were implemented using active thruster controls until the auto pointing system could be recycled. During this period KU and S band communications were very unpredictable.

Progress 8 undocked from the ISS yesterday and was later destroyed as it entered earth’s atmosphere. Progress 9 is scheduled for launch today at approximately 12:00 noon CDT and docking with the ISS Sunday, 9/29.

The 9A Launch is planned for Wednesday, 10/2, and docking with the ISS Friday, 10/4, to begin the Joint operations period. EVA-1 will occur on Saturday, 10/5.

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 for plant and seed pod dry-out. The crew performed fluid removal procedures yesterday to assist the dry-out process.

MAMS is operating nominally in the quasi-steady mode. HiRAP is currently turned-off. HiRAP will be turned on prior to Progress 9 docking. MAMS data is available on the acceleration measurement web page.

The MSG power was turned-off yesterday after removal of the second PFMI sample. MSG power will be turned-on tomorrow to support PFMI trouble-shooting.

The second PFMI science operation was terminated early Monday due to the unplanned loss of KU band communications that was required to send commands to the payload (see ISS Information above). PFMI had encountered a problem with the gradient stage motor prior to termination of the run and is planning to trouble-shoot the problem tomorrow. The next PFMI run is scheduled for Monday, 9/30.

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 16 (9/23-9/29) – Planning for this week was based on approximately 6 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. The crew is performing EVA preparation activities including practicing robotic arm procedures.

Week 17 (9/30-10/6) – Preliminary planning for this week is being based on approximately 12 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. An additional PFMI run will be conducted, ADVASC samples and deactivation will occur, STES 8 will be deactivated and STES 7 will be activated.

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