Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 1 Jul 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

July 1, 2003

Filed under ISS, ISS On-orbit status, NASA HQ, US

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 1 Jul 2003 — iss

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

For Science Officer Ed Lu it’s a big day: his 40th birthday. Well-wishers throughout the day included NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, Ed’s entire family in California, his fiancée, the MCC-H Flight Control Team (FTC), TsUP/Moscow, and friends of Ed’s at JSC. Happy Birthday, Ed! [Of course, FTC/Houston personnel wore their best Aloha shirts today, as did stalwart ISS top management at HQ/Washington (for a while).]

After wake-up (2:00am EDT), CDR Yuri Malenchenko completed another session with the periodic Russian MedOps test “Hematokrit” (MO-10), which measures red blood cell count of the blood. FE/SO Ed Lu assisted. [The sample was centrifuged in two microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit’s minicentrifuge, and its hematocrit value was read off the tubes with a magnifying glass.]

Malenchenko then set up the Russian payload laptop and performed the MBI-1 SPRUT-K experiment, part of Russian medical research on the distribution and behavior of human body fluids in zero gravity. [The experiment involves use of the Sprut (“squid”) securing harness, skin electrodes (cuffs) and the new laptop 3 with a US power supply unit from the old one, now called laptop-Packet, which was then readied again for Regul-Packet comm.]

Later in the day, Yuri spent 2.5 hrs. with a new round of the Russian MBI-8 “Profilaktika” (countermeasures) fitness test series, today starting with the VELO (stationary bike ergometer). FE/SO Edward Lu assisted. (Last time done: 6/5) [Tomorrow, Day 2, the test will be performed on the Load Trainer, followed by the TVIS treadmill on Day 3 (Friday). The test is identical to the Russian MO-5 assessment, but in addition to the nominal test procedure, it calls for the use of the TEEM-100M gas analyzer, measurement of the lactate level in the subject’s blood with the AccuSport device, and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test. Results were entered on a log sheet. TEEM and ECG (electrocardiograph) data were transferred to Laptop 3 and prepared for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm.]

Malenchenko again conducted several sessions of the Russian Uragan (“hurricane”) earth imaging program (GFI-8), using the Kodak DCS760 digital still camera with 800-mm lens. [Targets included the city of Chernobyl and the junction of the Pripyat and Dnepr rivers, the Kursk biosphere, forest and flood plains of the Don and Ural rivers, the Volga-Don channel, dust storms at the Aral Sea/Kazakhstan, the central Pamir mountain range, RGO, Medvezhy, and Kolka glaciers, large glaciers of Karakoruma, the Himalayas, the cities of Den Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, open coal mines near Leipzig, etc. The images were to be downlinked later via U.S. OCA assets and transferred to Moscow.]

Early in the morning, right after breakfast, Ed Lu again deployed the acoustic dosimeters, being worn by each crewmember for 24 hours (with a microphone on the shirt collar). A third dosimeter was deployed in the Lab for a 24-hr. static data take (last time done: 5/27-29). Later in the day, Ed took photos of the crew-worn instrumentation for documentation. [Tonight, after about 12 hours of measurements, data from each dosimeter will be recorded and the hardware power-cycled. Acoustic data must be taken twice per Increment, each time for the duration of the 16-hour crew work day.]

The crew began the lengthy task of stowing discarded equipment in Progress-259/11P, using the IMS (inventory management system). A stowage list for 43 items was uplinked to assist with proper placement of the discarded equipment in the cargo ship. [For proper stability and control of the fully automated spacecraft, operating on pre-stored command algorithms, it is crucial that center of gravity and mass moments of inertia of the ship remain within prescribed limits. Careful documentation, also involving images and video, is used to assure proper ballasting.]

Science Officer Dr Lu powered up the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), then supervised another experiment session with the InSPACE (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment. Afterwards, the MSG was powered down again. [Today’s run was test #29. Initially, it was performed at the highest field strength (1.2 amps) and highest frequency (20 Hz). At the second monitor activity, the current amplitude was reduced to 1.048 A; frequency remained unchanged. Yesterday’s InSPACE run was stopped when the interactions of the smallest particles were so weak that no structures were observed, even at the highest field strength during steady mode. The structures seen in previous runs with the larger particles were formed from the particle interactions, which depend on field strength (current amplitude) and particle size.]

Yuri Malenchenko conducted his second periodic (every two months) visual inspection of the pressure hull in the SM Working Compartment (RO) behind panels 130, 134, 135, 138, and under the TVIS treadmill in the “floor pit”, looking for any moisture, residue, mold, corrosion and pitting. [Yuri focused on hull shell and cold plates under the SNT voltage and current stabilizers and STR thermal control system pipes, using surface wipes to clean the area in question, describing any discovered mold as to color, consistency (solid, crumbly, powdery) and location, and photographing the hull surface with the digital camera before and after the treatment. Pictures were prepared for downlink to MCC-H for forwarding to TsUP. The last hull inspection was performed by him on 5/6.]

Ed Lu started the periodic process of transferring the water collected in the Lab condensate tank to CWCs (contingency water containers). This depleted the tank to its neutral point. The necessary jumper/plumbing setup was then removed again.

The CDR conducted the daily routine maintenance of SOZh life support systems, and the SO prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file for updating the IMS database.

Both crewmembers completed their daily 2.5-h program of physical exercise, on TVIS treadmill, RED expander and, for Yuri, on the Russian VELO cycle ergometer with load trainer (as required by the Profilaktika protocol).

Ed Lu completed his eighth weekly filling-out of the FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special medical equipment computer (MEC) software.

At 9:35am EDT, Ed set up and conducted a ham radio session with amateur fans of FDARSM at Aramda School of the city of Rouen, France. [Every four years, Rouen organizes an international sailing meeting in its port. The local association, with the help of FDARSM (Federation départementale des associations de radioamateurs de Seine Maritime), has had a contact in 1999 from one of the sailing ships with the Shuttle (Astronaut Jean-Pierre Haigneré), and now with ISS.]

Tomorrow’s conjunction threat has disappeared, without requiring an avoidance maneuver. Based on late SpaceCommand tracking of Object #7004, predictions show the Russian SL-8 rocket body passing by the ISS outside the notification box at time of closest approach (TCA) tomorrow morning (2:38am EDT).

Today’s CEO targets, no longer limited in the current LVLH attitude and including the targets of the Lewis & Clark 200-year memorial locations, were Tel Aviv, Israel (nadir view), Amman, Jordan (nadir view), Dakar, Senegal (nadir and a touch left), Mouth of Marias River (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: The Marias is a large, meandering river that joins the Missouri from the northwest about 80 miles northeast of Great Falls: looking a touch right of track for this river valley that includes Lake Elwell Reservoir. On the return trip of the expedition in the summer of 1806, Lewis and nine men temporarily separated from the main party to explore this river and valley), Pompey’s Pillar, MT (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Looking right of track towards the Yellowstone River where it flows east northeastward from the city of Billings. This 200 foot-high rock formation is on the south bank of the river near the point where Interstate Highway 94 converges to within half a mile of the river and then runs parallel with it. Captain Clark’s dated signature is engraved in the rock), Missouri R. sites (LEWIS & CLARK SITES: Track followed the Missouri on the Nebraska-South Dakota border at nadir. The crew was advised to do a continuous detailed mapping swath to capture a series of sites in this sector upstream of Sioux City), and Gila Wilderness fires, NM (Dynamic event: Satellites show heat signatures in several places in New Mexico and Arizona. Looking left and right of track for smoke plumes. The 400 and 800-mm lenses are capable of capturing flames at the source of the smoke plumes).

CEO images can be viewed at the websites

See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:48pm EST).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered On (16 amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (in Manual Mode 3/5). 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 (unit is down). RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On; SKV-2 is Off.

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 742; temperature (deg C) — 26.7; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 20.7.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 743.89; temperature (deg C) — 22.5 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — 171.2; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.6.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 745.62; temperature (deg C) — 23.2; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 745.73; temperature (deg C) — 26.1; shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.1, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.7.
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.6.

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available: 3803 kg (8384 lb) as of 6/26 [SM(774) + FGB(2447) + Progress M(182) +Progress M-1(400)]. (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in AutoTrack.
SM batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected (failed 6/16); battery #6 is in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (6) are in “Partial Charge” mode. Batteries #1, #2 and #3 showing degraded capacity.
FGB batteries: Battery #3 is offline; all other batteries (5) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 in Standby 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.
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.

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:

LVLH -YVV (local vertical/local horizontal = “earth-fixed”: z-axis in local vertical, -y-axis in velocity vector [yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -9.3 deg, roll: 0 deg]), with CMG/TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management.
Solar Beta angle: -5.55 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 and mated at WS4.
POA: KA power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is On (DCP connected); Cupola RWS is Off.

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:08am EDT [= epoch]):