MRPO Daily Status Report 12-26-02

GMT Date: 360

Calendar Date: 12/26/02

Increment: 6

Stage: 11A

Week 4

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, STES-10 and ZCG continue nominal, basically
unattended, operations. BSTC, CGBA, CSLM-2, InSpace, PFMI, and SUBSA are
inactive. MSG is inactive/failed, awaiting replacement parts. The first
opportunity for replacements parts to be launched to the ISS will be on
Progress 10, tentatively scheduled for February 2nd.

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.

ADVASC relocation to ER4 was accomplished Tuesday in preparation for
operations during ULF-1.

MAMS is operating nominally in the quasi-steady mode. HiRAP is currently
inactive. MAMS data is available on the acceleration measurement web page.
The MAMS team is assessing the success of the recently installed High
Rate Communications Outage Recorder to capture MAMS data.

All SAMS sensors in EXPRESS Racks are operating nominally. The SAMS sensor
in the MSG is currently turned-off. Plans are being developed to obtain
SAMS data during a crew exercise activity from a sensor mounted on the
exercise device. 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 furnace operations were initiated on 12/17 and the payload is continuing
to down-link nominal health and status information. The furnace is scheduled
to operate until New-Years Day. A second furnace operation is planned
immediately after the first run ampoules are removed.

Near-term Outlook:

Week 4 (12/23-12/29) –Planning for this week was based on approximately
10 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload operations. ZCG furnace
operations are continuing. BSTC and GSM will be relocated to ER3 tomorrow
in preparation for ULF-1 operations.

Week 5 (12/30-1/05) – Preliminary planning for this week is being
based on approximately 10 hours of crew time availability for NASA payload
operations. ZCG furnace operations will continue until 1/1/03. The 2nd
run for ZCG will start on 1/3/03 to process spare autoclaves from the
last two flights.

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
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
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