MRPO Daily Status Report 3-3-03

Calendar Date: 03/03/03

Increment: 6

Stage: 11A

Week 14

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.

The MSG circuit breaker problem is continuing to be evaluated and troubleshooting
procedures are being carefully implemented. Today, one of the thirteen
sensor cables disconnected last Friday was reconnected and MSG power
was turned-on for several hours. Near the end of the crew day, data will
be down-linked from the MSG laptop computer and MSG power will be turned-off.
Similar add-back sensor cable procedures will be implemented in follow-on
trouble-shooting activities during this week.

InSpace Coil assemblies have been confirmed to be ready to begin test
operations when it is 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. Following
an ER1 RIC reboot on Friday, SAMS rack-to-rack communications and data
down-link were restored by a power cycle of the SAMS equipment in ER1.
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 14 (3/3-3/9) – Planning for this week was based on approximately
7 hours of crew time for NASA payload operations. MSG trouble-shooting
will continue during this week.

Week 15 (3/10-3/16) – Preliminary planning for this week is being based
on approximately 1 hour of crew time for NASA payload operations. A SAMS
sensor will be mounted on a cycle ergometer that will be operated while
hard mounted to the US LAB structure to assess the effects it will have
on the micro-gravity environment. The crew will spend much of this week
preparing for a newly planned EVA during week 16.

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
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
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