MRPO Daily Status Report 3-17-03

GMT Date: 076

Calendar Date: 03/17/03

Increment: 6

Stage: 11A

Week 16

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

Status:
MAMS, SAMS and STES-10 continue nominal, basically unattended, operations.
BSTC, CGBA, CSLM-2, InSpace, PFMI, SUBSA and ZCG are inactive. MSG
is in a trouble-shooting mode.

EXPRESS RACKS 1 and 4 (ER1 & ER4) are powered and supporting payload
operations. ER2, ER3 & ER5 are currently powered down.

Evaluation of the MSG circuit breaker problem continues, and troubleshooting
procedures are being implemented. Thirteen sensor cables were disconnected
from MSG on day 59, leaving five sensors connected that were verified
to cause no problem with MSG powered. The disconnected cables have been
reconnected one at a time to isolate the connection that is causing an
MSG circuit breaker to trip. Reconnection of the thirteenth cable was
performed Friday with no apparent anomalous result. The planned fan replacement
activity was also performed, and the new fan appears to be operating
nominally. Continuation of MSG troubleshooting tomorrow will include
power cycling ESEM 4A outlet 2 (MLC), ESEM 4B outlet 2, and ESEM 4A outlet
1 (Video drawer) sequentially, allowing each outlet an hour of operation.

InSpace Coil assemblies may need to be inspected again prior to beginning
test operations if it becomes feasible to install the payload in the
MSG.

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

PFMI hardware removal from the MSG is contingent upon success of MSG
trouble-shooting.

All SAMS sensors in EXPRESS RACKS are operating nominally. The SAMS
sensor in the MSG is currently turned-off. SAMS data is also available
on the acceleration measurement web page.

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

Near-term Outlook:

Week 16 (3/17-3/23) – Planning for this week was based on approximately
22 hours of crew time for NASA payload operations. The crew is spending
today replacing a thermal control loop pump that failed yesterday. The
flight crew will continue preparations for the recently defined EVA now
being planned for week 18. Time is being allocated on several days of
this week to continue MSG trouble-shooting.

Week 17 (3/24-3/30) – Preliminary planning for this week is being based
on approximately 2 hours of crew time for NASA payload operations. The
primary focus during this week will be preparation for the EVA during
week 18.

M. Vlasse, PhD, DSc
PSR 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
ESEM Exchangeable Standard Electronic Module
ER1 EXPRESS RACK 1
ER2 EXPRESS RACK 2
ER3 EXPRESS RACK 3
ER4 EXPRESS RACK 4
ER5 EXPRESS RACK 5
GSM Gas Supply Module
InSPACE Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates
MAMS Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System
MSG Microgravity Science Glovebox
OCR Operations Change Request
PAO Public Affairs Office
PFMI Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation
PGB Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus
PSR NASA Code U Physical Sciences Research Division
RIC Rack Interface Controller
SAMS Space Acceleration Measurement System II
SPD NASA Code U Space Products Development Division
STES Protein Crystal Growth – Single Thermal Enclosure System
SUBSA Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules
ZCG Zeolite Crystal Growth