Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 12 jan 2004

By SpaceRef Editor

January 12, 2004

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

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 12 jan 2004 — iss

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Week 12 of Increment 8 is underway, and today is the crew’s 86th day in space (84 aboard ISS).

Pressure Leak Isolation — Update and Preview:

Current indications are that the crew yesterday successfully identified and eliminated the source of the small air leak, located with the ULD (ultrasound leak detector) at the U.S. Lab science window, specifically: in the braided section of a flexible stainless steel jumper hose connected to ports in the window frame. The jumper was removed and both port QDs (quick disconnects) capped. MCA (major constituent analyzer) readings have since steadily indicated stable pressure. They continue to be watched. By late 1/13 (Tuesday) we will know more definitely, but all data indicate that the jumper was the source of the leak. However, in order to verify that there are no additional leaks and to set a baseline for any future problems, the planned “big” isolation of the U.S. and Russian segments will still take place. The isolation, with crew residing in the SM, is now scheduled to begin on 1/17 (Saturday) and to run until 1/18 at crew sleep, to minimize impact to science and the crew. [Purpose of the vacuum “U-hose” jumper is to keep the space between the window’s two pressure panes (“Volume D”) airless, thus preventing condensation and commensurate degradation of optical quality. Only one cap was readily available for closing the ports; the second one was obtained from another spare part several hours later. Steps are now being taken to return Volume D to vacuum and keep it there until a new U-hose jumper is brought up on Progress 13P.]

After Soyuz TMA-3 and the DC-1 docking compartment were isolated yesterday, pressure monitoring confirmed their hermeticity. The U.S. Airlock (A/L) was also closed off yesterday and exonerated. Progress 12P was isolated on Saturday and found to be airtight, too.

Last night, after the Soyuz/DC-1 leak checks, ISS cabin interior was repressurized with fresh oxygen from Progress 12P storage, raising total pressure to 14.16 psi (as of this morning). Cabin pressure never got down to the 13.91-psi cutoff limit selected to protect hardware not certified below that value.

No SFOG candles were burnt yesterday.

On the failed Elektron oxygen generator, FE Alexander Kaleri this morning replaced the Fluid Unit (BZh) #05 with the onboard spare, #06. The electrolysis machine was later activated in 32-amps mode and has since run without problems. [For the R&R, the crew disconnected (later reconnected) the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system and its VD-SU control mode.]

The Russian SKV-1 air conditioner, temporarily commanded off, then on for the Elektron R&R, subsequently experienced a nominal shutdown because of low temperature in the Freon loop. It was to be reactivated when temperature had increased again.

As part of regular monthly preventive maintenance of RS air ventilation systems, Alex Kaleri worked 1.5 hrs. in theFunktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok (FGB) for another cleanup of the VT7 and VT8 fan screens of the three SOTR (thermal control system) gas-liquid heat exchangers (GZhT4). The fans were powered off for the task, later turned on again.

CDR/SO Michael Foale initiated another maintenance charge/discharge cycle on two of the EMU/spacesuit batteries in the Airlock’s BSA (battery stowage assembly), today on batteries #2029 and #2030. [The charging will take about 24 hrs and will be followed by discharge. Helmet light and PGT (pistol grip tool) batteries were not charged at this time and had to be removed from the BSA beforehand.]

Mike also performed the routine payload status checkup in the Lab, while Sasha prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file for updating the IMS database.

At 9:35am EST, the crew held a teleconference with MCC-H/Flight Control.

Both crewmembers worked out with their daily 2.5-h program of physical exercise, on TVIS treadmill, RED expander, and VELO cycle with load trainer.

During yesterday’s pressure monitoring activities in the A/L, the crew discovered a cracked J1 hose connector on the VRA (vent relief assembly). Presumably, a panel had pushed against it and cracked the solder. Digital photography was downlinked, and ground specialists are studying further steps to resolution or workaround.

Today’s CEO targets, in the current XPOP attitude constrained by flight rule to fewer near-vertical targets due to Lab window shutter closure and current vacuum jumper problem (see above), wereJohannesburg, South Africa (looking right for the western parts of this major urban region), andGreat Barrier Reef(Dynamic event. Low sun angles provided a larger sunglint disc. Looking left for various water circulation features, especially currents moving between the ocean and the lagoons behind the reef).

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 2:35pm EST).

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

Elektron O2 generator is poweredOn. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (in Manual Mode 3). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is on Standby (ready in dual-bed mode). TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating. MCA (major constituents analyzer) is off (in Life Extending Mode). 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 (repair incomplete).

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 742; temperature (deg C) — 26.5; ppO2 (mmHg) — 159.46; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.36;
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg/psi) — 736; temperature (deg C) — 20.06.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg/psi) — 736; temperature (deg C) — 25.06.
Node: Pressure (mmHg/psi) — 731.17; temperature (deg C) — 24.01 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg/psi) — 733.30; temperature (deg C) — 24.8; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg/psi) — 731.08; temperature (deg C) — 23.6; shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.3, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 25.6
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 11.8.

(n/a = data not available)

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in Autotrack (suntracking, biased 45 deg. for drag reduction).
SM batteries: Battery #8, formerly known as #7, is still disconnected in slot #8 for troubleshooting; all other batteries (7) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #4 is off (capacity restoration mode, ROM); 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-2 is operating; INT-1 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-1 MDM is Off; PL-2 MDM is Operational.
APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string 1 dropped out 11/22).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string #3 dropped out 10/22).

Propulsion System:

Total propellant load available:3637 kg (8018 lb) as of 1/1/04 [SM(755) + FGB(2530) + Progress M(352) + Progress M-1(0)]. (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

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: -9.0 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist).

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 is prime, IAC-2 is off).
Video subsystem operating nominally.
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:

SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF #1/LEE B, 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, 6:36am EST [= epoch]):