MRPO Daily Status Report 12-09-02

GMT Date: 343

Calendar Date: 12/09/02

Increment: 6

Stage: 11A

Week 2

STS-113 was finally able to land on Saturday, 12/7, at 12:37 p.m. CST.
All payloads appeared to be in good condition. All time critical payloads
were successfully removed at the runway within approximately 3 hours after
landing and delivered to the respective payload team representatives within
approximately 5 hours. Payload removal was completed yesterday.

Payloads 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, and SUBSA are currently
inactive. Preparations for ZCG operations were performed today.

EXPRESS RACKS 1, 2 and 4 (ER1, ER2 & ER4) are powered and supporting
payload operations. 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.

ZCG autoclaves were loaded into the furnace today in preparation for
operations to begin next week. Furnace power was not turned on today.

Near-term Outlook:

Week 2 (12/9-12/15) – Planning for this week was based on approximately
13 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. Following
loading of the ZCG autoclaves today, ARIS calibrations will be conducted
on ER2 over a two day period to support ZCG operations next week. The
crew is preparing to conduct an EVA Thursday, 12/12. Post EVA activities
will extend into the following week..

Week 3 (12/16-12/22) – Preliminary planning for this week is being
based on approximately 11 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload
operations. Monday, 12/16, the crew will perform mixing procedures on
a clear ZCG autoclave and record mixing times. The science team will use
the data to support ZCG furnace operations that are planned to begin on
Tuesday.

M. Vlasse, PhD, DSc
MRPO Increment Scientist

ACRONYMS:

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
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