Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 18 Jun 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

June 18, 2003

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

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 18 Jun 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Day 53 since launch of Expedition 7. >>> Today twenty years ago Astronaut Sally Ride became the first U.S. woman in space when STS-7/Challenger launched with a five-member crew on a six-day mission and circled Earth 97 times.

Early in the morning, right after breakfast (2:40am EDT), CDR Yuri Malenchenko switched the Vozdukh carbon dioxide (CO2) removal system from Manual Mode 3/5 to Automatic, in support of the subsequent BSMM troubleshooting activity. Later in the day, Vozdukh was to be transitioned back to Manual Mode on ground specialist recommendation. [In Automatic Mode, the Vozdukh is controlled by the SM’s BVS onboard computer complex in conjunction with the BA automatic/control unit, operating in closed-loop control with the IK0501 gas analyzer.]

Afterwards, Malenchenko worked on the Russian BSMM payload computer to troubleshoot its connections and interface with the BSV-M time synchronization unit (both strings). As part of the BSMM testing, MCC-M/TsUP activated/deactivated the program-logic control assembly (UPLU). [Using the Electronica multimeter (MMTs-01), Yuri tested connectivities by measuring electrical resistance between cable connector pins, reporting results to MCC-M.]

The CDR then deactivated the IK0501 gas analyzer (GA) in the Service Module (SM) and replaced its CO2 filter assembly (BF) with a new unit. GA was reactivated and the spent BF stowed for disposal (replaced last: 5/7). [IK0501 is an automated system for measuring CO2, O2, and H2O in the air as well as the flow rate of the gas being analyzed.]

In preparation for the upcoming transfer of potable water from the Progress 11P Rodnik tanks to the SM Rodnik water tank, Malenchenko worked on the transfer equipment, using a special solution from an EDV container to disinfect water hoses (A-R, R-R) and coupling adapters. [To enable the cleaning job by means of a hand-operated pump and catch containers, the hoses and adapters had to be filled first and any air inside evacuated. The equipment was then flushed and stowed.]

Later, Malenchenko pressurized the bladder of tank #2 of the SM Rodnik water storage system, in order to move its water content to an EDV container in preparation for the upcoming water transfer from Progress 11P.

FE/SO Ed Lu supported another ground-commanded full calibration of the MCA (major constituents analyzer) by first opening its VGA (verification gas assembly) valve and later in the day closing it again after MCC-H go-ahead.

Ed Lu also completed the second audit of the TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization) Assembly and Malfunction Kits for Increment 7, to determine the components and component quantities contained within the two kits. [Recent anomalies related to the TVIS have shown that it is uncertain exactly what the two kits contain, after they were used off and on for intentional stowage, stowage of leftover TVIS items and as a source of spare parts for special maintenance activities. The audit will also show up any possible shortage of spare hardware assumed to be in the kits. Lu was provided with an uplinked inventory list calling out individual items for logging their quantities.]

The Science Officer 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 switched off again. [Today’s activity with coil assembly CA006 was Test 19. Current amplitude of 0.875 amps remained unchanged throughout the test, while frequency initially was 10 Hz, then changed to 2 Hz for the second monitoring period. During his video tape exchanges, Ed was to relabel the tapes according to ground spec, because some of the used tapes were originally planned for tests with other coil assemblies, since eliminated. Due to good Ku-band coverage today, InSPACE and MSG teams worked to perform commanding of the downlink camera views as well as to potentially command the recorders between the monitor activities.]

Malenchenko conducted his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment which researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-2 greenhouse.

Yuri also completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system and prepared the daily IMS “delta” file, while Ed conducted the regular status checkup of the autonomously running Increment 7 payloads.

Both crewmembers continued cargo transfer operations from Progress 11P, tracking the movements with the IMS (inventory management system).

The crew also performed their regular daily exercise regimen on TVIS, CEVIS, RED and VELO bike with load trainer (for the CDR).

Early in the morning, at 3:40am EDT, Yuri and Ed participated in a 10-min. exchange via ARISS ham radio system with amateur radio fans at Kuise Elementary School in Amagasaki, Japan. [Kuise School, the “pleasant school with a dream”, is striving to foster students’ curiosity and interest in science and research. Amagasaki is part of the large city of Osaka. ARISS background: Ham radio activities are spearheaded by an organization formed by national and international ham radio groups called ARISS (Amateur Radio International Space Station). Russia has provided ports on the SM for radio antennas, and ISS crews have trained to operate the equipment. ISS operations at present use voice and Packet, the Russian text messaging device. The first initial radio station was flown on STS-106/2A.2b in September 2000 and transferred to the ISS.]

In a radiogram from TsUP, the crew was tasked with searching the ISS for three missing floppy diskettes which are required for troubleshooting the Russian Laptop1.

The troubleshooting of OCA (orbital communication adapter) on Monday (6/16) by Ed Lu restored full capability to the OCA system. [The onboard network checked out fine; the problem was traced to a ground multiplexer, which was then reset to recover operability.]

MCC-H, with U.S. SpaceCommand, is monitoring a predicted conjunction (close encounter) with debris from an Indian PSLV launch vehicle (object #27099) on Friday, 6/20. [Time of closest approach (TCA) is 9:08pm EDT, with a radial miss distance currently predicted to be 16.5 km.]

Today’s CEO (crew earth observation) targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, and including the targets of the Lewis & Clark 200-year memorial locations, were Tigris-Euphrates, Turkey (on this descending pass the ISS ran the length of the valley of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers. Of interest here are the numerous ongoing construction of water control structures, especially dams and reservoirs. The crew should have found these features either side of track), The Dalles and Cascade Locks (LEWIS & CLARK SITES: The pass today was to the south of these two targets on the Columbia River. Looking left of track towards the great southward arch of the river before it plunges westward through the Cascade Range), Idaho and Montana Passes (LEWIS & CLARK SITES: Using this break in the weather to document the passes used by the expedition as it crossed the Continental Divide on the Idaho-Montana border. Looking either side of track, concentrating on the terrain that appeared the most rugged and lacking vegetation), Gulf of Maine plankton (with much improved weather this pass, the crew had a good opportunity to document this active area of plankton blooms. Research vessels are “chalking” the plankton and then tracking it with satellite and ship as they are physically mixed and biologically grazed from the system. The patches are several kilometers in length, and should be quite visible from space), and Saharan Dust Event (DYNAMIC EVENT TARGET: Weather satellite imagery and surface observations continue to indicate significant dust moving off the coast of Mauritania. As the ISS approached the African coast from the southwest, the crew was to look obliquely left of track up the coast north of Cape Verde to document this event).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at
http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 2:03pm EST).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered On (18 amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (temporarily in Auto Mode). 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) — 28.3; 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) — 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 744.52; temperature (deg C) — 24.3 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 746.43; temperature (deg C) — 23.1; ppO2 (mmHg) — 171.8; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.8.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 746.63; temperature (deg C) — 30.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.9, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.4.
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 14.1.

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available: 3832 kg (8448 lb) as of 6/12 [SM(774) + FGB(2476) + 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; all other batteries (7) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected (failed); 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-2 (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).Management.
Solar Beta angle: -26.2 deg (magnitude increasing).

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, 7:45am EDT [= epoch]):