MRPO Daily Status Report 12-11-02

GMT Date: 345

Calendar Date: 12/11/02

Increment: 6

Stage: 11A

Week 2

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, PFMI, SUBSA and ZCG are currently
inactive. MSG is inactive/failed, awaiting replacement parts.

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: European Space Agency testing of the PDC/ESEM returned on STS-113
has successfully reproduced the failure observed on-orbit and analysis
is continuing.

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 Monday in preparation for
operations next week. Health and status data is not available due to the
payload being un-powered. The ARIS team is performing calibrations on
ER2 after the autoclave loading in preparation for actively isolating
ZCG from disturbances during the first twenty hours of operation.

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. The EVA
planned for Thursday, 12/12, has been delayed until January. All Crew
activities for MRPO payloads planned for this week have been accomplished.

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 planned to begin next Tuesday.
The new High-Rate Communications Outage Recorder (HCOR), delivered by
STS-113, may be installed during this week. The HCOR will replace the
Medium rate recorder (MCOR) which has been in use since Increment 2.

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
HCOR — High-Rate Communications Outage Recorder
InSPACE– Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates
ISS – International Space Station
MAMS — Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System
MCOR — Medium-Rate Communications Outage Recorder
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