NASA Space Station ISS On-Orbit Status 28 May 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.

Before breakfast and physical exercise, CDR Yuri Malenchenko and FE/SO Edward Lu conducted their first round of the Russian crew health-monitoring program’s medical assessment MO-9/Urinalysis.  Tomorrow, the crew will complete the PHS (periodic health status) exam and perform the clinical evaluation.  After the sessions, Malenchenko stowed the equipment.  [MO-9 is biochemical urinalysis, conducted regularly every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs), and it is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for US crewmembers for PHS evaluation as part of the “PHS/Without Blood Labs” exam.  The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus “Urolux” developed originally for the Mir program. ]

Later in the day, the CDR set up and installed the equipment for tomorrow’s PHS without blood labs exam, the first for Expedition 7. [PHS, guided by the IFEP (in-flight examination program) software on the MEC (medical equipment computer), is performed once every 30 days for each crewmember and two weeks before landing and as clinically indicated.  PHS evaluations alternate between the one with blood labs and the one without (today’s).  The tests are recorded on the MEC (medical equipment computer), and physical exercise should then follow.]

Ed Lu performed the 24-hr. data registration of the body-worn acoustic dosimeters deployed yesterday, along with a third unit set up statically.  Readings will again be taken tonight before sleep time.

Lu retrieved the two previously (5/26) deployed sampling badges of the FMK (formaldehyde monitorin kit) and returned them to storage.

Yuri Malenchenko worked in the Service Module (SM) where he removed the failed no. 8 storage battery and replaced it with the spare 800A from the FGB.  The ZRU charge/discharge unit #8 was deactivated by TsUP/MCC-Moscow beforehand and later reactivated.  [The old battery was pre-packed for disposal in Progress.  The SM has one more battery failed (#4) and one with degraded capacity (#2), out of eight total.]

The crew terminated the EMU battery discharge cycle started yesterday, installed the METOX (metal oxide) CO2 absorption canisters in the EMU/spacesuits, and set up the video camcorder, with tapes in both VTRs (video tape recorders), while the ground configured the EVA communications and tracking system preparatory to the EMU fit check and don/doff dry-run in the Airlock.

The EMU test began at about 8:50am EDT and lasted several hours.  Objective was to check out the equipment and provide the crew with training for preparing for a two-person EVA without IV (intravehicular crewmember) support, should it become necessary during Increment 7.  Ed Lu ran into a problem with his LCVG (liquid cooling ventilation garment), for which he could not establish cooling water flow,- perhaps due to a kinked tube in the slightly oversized garment.  The exercise was terminated, and the issue is being looked at on the ground.  Having become quite hot, Ed Lu also had difficulty with solo doffing of the HUT (hard upper torso), requiring assistance from Yuri (whose LCVG worked well and who accomplished all don/doff objectives).

In the SM, Malenchenko completed battery cycling for the Russian segment (RS) laptop #2.

Yuri also performed his regular daily monitoring/servicing of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 zero-G plant growth experiment, checking water level in the Lada-2 greenhouse water container and the seed status.

Ed Lu conducted the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet facilities), and completed the regular status checkup of the autonomous Lab payloads (PCG-STES010, SAMS, MAMS).

The reason for yesterday’s curtailment of the Science Officer’s session with the InSPACE (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment was an offnominal pressure indication of the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) during its activation.  The test run was deferred for lack of time until a full run can be completed.  [After activation, telemetry indicated a lower-than-expected delta-pressure for the MSG work volume.  The MSG work volume usually exhibits a slight increase in pressure after fans are turned on.  In this case, no increase was indicated.  Additional data files were downloaded, and an assessment is underway.]

MCC-H, with SpaceCommand, is closely monitoring three predicted conjunctions (close encounters) with the Megsat satellite (object #25722) on Friday, 5/30.  [Times of closest approach (TCAs) are 3:22pm EDT (20.8 km), 4:55pm (1.2 km), and 6:27pm (23.8 km).  Relative speed: 6000 m/s.]

With solar Beta angle now under 60 deg and decrasing, ISS continues in XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane) flight attitude.  Next planned attitude change, back to LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal) is on 6/7 (Saturday), followed by an adjustment to docking attitude for the Progress 11P docking on 6/11.

After the TsUP-controlled test of the on-board Kurs automatic approach/docking radar, scheduled for today, fueling of the next Progress vehicle at Baikonur can begin.  Launch of 11P/Progress M1-259 (M1-10) is set for 6/8 (Sunday) at 6:34am EDT.  The cargo ship will fly a three-day ascent profile, with docking scheduled for 6/11 (Wednesday) at 7:11am EDT.  Linkup will be radially at the FGB nadir port (Progress 10P remains at the axial SM aft-end port).  Total mass of 11P: 6934 kg (15287 lbs).

One of the station’s two PCUs (plasma contactor units) has been on Discharge for a number of days, for characterization of its performance, viz., discharge current, under multiple flight attitude conditions, both in and out of eclipse (Earth’s shadow).

Today’s CEO targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were La Paz (nadir pass over this high city.  The airport is on the high plateau, even though most of the population lives in a warmer adjoining canyon.  Very clear views N and especially S, over the salt lakes of the high Andean desert.  The salt lakes appear bright white due to salt accumulation–which is mined and shipped out by burro to population centers), Mariana Islands (as ISS passed over this island chain, crew was to look also for the active Anatahan volcano right of track about 1.5 degrees), Nairobi, Kenya (although the city was at nadir and not viewable through the science window, the crew may have been able to get an oblique view of the Kilimanjaro volcano right of track about 1 degree [a formal science site for tropical glacier studies].  The southern footslopes of the volcano are the center of Tanzania’s coffee industry, which was set up in German colonial times before WWI), and Puerto Rico (obliques may have been obtainable of the urban growth along the coast, and the coral reefs).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:15pm EST).

Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):

• Elektron O2 generator is powered On (20 amp mode).  Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (manual mode 5).  U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off.  TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating.  MCA (major constituents analyzer) is operating.  BMP Harmful Impurities unit: absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode.  RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On; SKV-2 is Off.
• SM Working Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 742; temperature (deg C) — 26.5; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
• SM Transfer Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 21.1.
• FGB Cabin:  Pressure (mmHg) — 744; temperature (deg C) — 23.3.
• Node:  Pressure (mmHg) — 741.98; temperature (deg C) — 24.2 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
• U.S. Lab:  Pressure (mmHg) — 743.81; temperature (deg C) — 23.1; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
• Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock):  Pressure (mmHg) — 743.91; temperature (deg C) — 24.5; shell heater temp (deg C) — 25.0, ppO2 (mmHg) — 171.5; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.5.
• PMA-1:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.6.
• PMA-2:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 11.7.

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

• Total propellant load available: 3573 kg (7877 lb) as of 5/22 [SM(774) + FGB(2547) + Progress(252)].  (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

• Both P6 channels fully operational.  BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both “directed” (non-solar tracking) mode (“sun slicer” position, for drag reduction).
• SM batteries:  Batteries #4 is disconnected (failed); battery #8 has been replaced, in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (6) are in “Partial Charge” mode (battery #2 is exhibiting degraded performance).
• FGB batteries:  Battery #4 is disconnected; battery #6 is in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (4) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
• Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 in Discharge mode.

Command & Data Handling Systems:

• C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-3 is in standby.
• GNC-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup.
• INT-1 is operating; INT-2 is Off.
• EXT-2 is On (primary), EXT-1 is Off (both now upgraded to R3).
• LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
• PL-2 MDM is Off; PL-1 MDM is Operational.
• APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
• SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being upgraded.
• SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being upgraded.

Attitude Control Systems:

• 3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).
• State vector source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
• Attitude source — U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
• Angular rate source — RGA-1

Flight Attitude:

• XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = “sun-fixed” [yaw: 0.5 deg, pitch: -6.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist).
• Solar Beta angle:  54.9 deg (magnitude decreasing).

Communications & Tracking Systems:

• FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.
• All other Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.
• S-band is operating nominally (on string 2).
• Ku-band is operating nominally.
• Audio subsystem is operating nominally [IAC-1 (internal audio controller #1) being analyzed after self-test error.  IAC-2 is prime.]
• Video subsystem operating nominally.
• HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:

• SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF #1 with Keep Alive (KA) power on both strings.
• MBS: KA power on both strings. 
• MT: latched at WS4, with KA power. 
• POA: KA power on both strings.
• RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 6:37am EDT [= epoch]):

• Mean altitude — 388.8 km
• Apogee — 392.9 km
• Perigee — 384.7 km
• Period — 92.33 min.
• Inclination (to Equator) —  51.63 deg
• Eccentricity — 0.0006929
• Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
• Solar Beta Angle — 54.9 deg (magnitude decreasing)
• Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 100 m
• Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98)  — 25792
• For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html