MRPO Daily Status Report 12-06-02

GMT Date: 340

Calendar Date: 12/06/02

Increment: 6

Stage: 11A

Week 1

The STS-113 landing continues to be delayed due to adverse weather conditions
at KSC. Weather conditions today are once again not encouraging. Landing
has now been delayed until Saturday at either KSC or Edwards Air Force
Base, California.

Payloads being returned on STS-113:
PGBA, STES-7, ZCG Autoclaves & Hard drives, MSG PDC & ESEM-3,
SUBSA samples and PFMI Video Tapes.

Payloads currently on-board ISS:
BSTC, CGBA, CSLM-2, InSPACE, MAMS, MSG (facility), PFMI, SAMS, STES-10,
SUBSA and ZCG.

Status:
MRPO payloads MAMS, SAMS and STES-10 continue nominal, basically unattended,
operations. BSTC, CGBA, CSLM-2, InSpace, MSG, PFMI, SUBSA and ZCG are
currently inactive.

EXPRESS RACKS 1 and 4 (ER1 & ER4) are powered and supporting payload
operations. ER2, ER3 and ER5 are available to support payload operations
but are currently inactive.

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

MSG is disabled and un-powered. MSG will not be able to support payload
operations until replacement parts can be delivered to the ISS in the
February-March 03 timeframe.

All SAMS sensors in EXPRESS Racks are operating nominally. The SAMS sensor
in the MSG is currently turned-off. SAMS data is also being posted to
the acceleration measurement web page.

STES-10 health and status data is nominal. STES-10 is configured with
diffusion-controlled chambers which require no crew operation activities.

Near-term Outlook:

Expedition 6 Week 1 (12/2-12/8) – The crew continues un-stowing baggage
delivered by STS-113 and they have begun preparation for an EVA next week.
No crew time is scheduled during the remainder of this week for MRPO payloads.

Week 2 (12/9-12/15) – Preliminary planning for this week is being based
on approximately 13 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations.
On Monday, 12/9, the crew will perform ZCG preparation procedures to support
initial furnace operations on 12/17. The crew will prepare for and conduct
an EVA on Thursday, 12/12. Two crewmen will go outside and the third crewmen
will operate the robotic arm. The EVA is designed to perform a number
of miscellaneous tasks on previously delivered hardware to prepare for
future station assembly.

M. Vlasse, PhD, DSc
MRPO Increment Scientist

ACRONYMS:

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
CGBA – Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus
ER1– EXPRESS RACK 1
ER2 — EXPRESS RACK 2
ER3 – EXPRESS RACK 3
ER4 – EXPRESS RACK 4
ER5 – EXPRESS RACK 5
ESEM – Exchangeable Standard Electronic Module
EVA – Extra Vehicular Activity
GSM — Gas Supply Module
InSPACE– Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates
ISS – International Space Station
KSC – Kennedy Space Center
MAMS — Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System
MSG – Microgravity Science Glovebox
PDC – Power Distribution Controller on MSG
PFMI – Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation
PGBA – Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus
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