MRPO Daily Status Report 3-20-03

GMT Date: 079

Calendar Date: 03/20/03

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

Evaluation of the MSG circuit breaker problem continues. Over the past
20 days many tests have been systematically conducted in an attempt to
isolate the circuit that caused a circuit breaker to trip. No anomalies
have occurred during these tests and plans for follow-on MSG activities
are now contingent on the results of an ESA Control Board meeting today.

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 currently 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.

SAMS data flow from all sensors in EXPRESS Racks was recovered yesterday
following the unplanned power down of ER1 and ER4. The SAMS sensor in
MSG is turned-off. SAMS data is also available on the acceleration measurement
web page.

STES-10 health and status data has been nominal since it was re-powered
yesterday following an unplanned power down of ER4. 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 continuing
to spend considerable time correcting a thermal control loop problem
that occurred last Sunday. All PSR/SPD payload activities planned for
this week have been accomplished.

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
crew will continue preparations for the recently defined EVA now being
planned for week 19. Time can be allocated for MSG trouble-shooting if
it is needed.

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