MRPO Daily Status Report 10-01-02

Calendar Date: 10/01/02

Increment: 5

Stage: UF2

Week 17

ISS Information:
The 9A Shuttle launch remains planned for tomorrow, 10/2, at approximately
4:45 p.m. CDT. Concern is developing about the possible impact hurricane
LILI might have on the Mission Control Center at JSC.

Docking with the ISS is planned Friday, 10/4, at approximately 12:15
p.m. CDT, to begin the Joint operations period. EVA-1 is planned for Saturday,
10/5.

Payloads being launched on 9A:
CGBA, PGBA, STES-7, Seed Culture (sortie), and ZCG Samples

Payloads being returned on 9A:
ADVASC, MEPS Samples, SAMS Hard Drive/Battery, Seed Culture (sortie),
StelSys, STES-8, and ZCG Samples

Payloads currently on-board ISS:
ADVASC (HW), BSTC, InSPACE, MAMS, MEPS, MSG (facility), PFMI, SAMS, SUBSA
and ZCG. InSpace was not planned to operate during this stage.

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 activities. 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 dry-out for return on 9A. Photographs
of the plants were recorded yesterday. Gas samples are to be taken tomorrow
and the payload will be deactivated if the 9A launch occurs as planned.

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 the third PFMI sample operation.
All systems operated nominally. MSG continues to be powered to support
PFMI sample #4 operations later today. MSG power will be turned-off tomorrow
after PFMI sample #4 is removed.

PFMI sample run #3 operation was completed yesterday as planned. Sample
#3 was removed and stowed and sample #4 was installed. Sample #4 operations
were started shortly after noon today and are scheduled to last approximately
11 hours.

All SAMS sensors, in EXPRESS Racks and in 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. The four remaining
activated growth chambers are to be deactivated after launch of 9A but
before 9A docks with ISS.

Near-term Outlook:

Week 17 (9/30-10/6) – Planning for this week was based on approximately
12 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. An additional
PFMI run is being conducted today. ADVASC samples and deactivation will
occur, STES 8 will be deactivated and transferred to the Shuttle mid-deck
and STES 7 will be transferred to the ISS and activated. StelSys samples
will be transferred to the Shuttle mid-deck.

Week 18 (10/7-10/13) – Preliminary planning for this week is being based
on approximately 8 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations.
ISS will be re-boosted twice to a higher orbit and two additional EVA’s
will be conducted. ZCG processed and unprocessed samples will be transferred
and ZCG will be activated. MEPS samples and SAMS equipment will be transferred
to the Shuttle mid-deck. CGBA and PGBA will be transferred into the ISS
and PGBA will be activated. 9A undock will occur on Friday 10/11.

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