NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 18 Sep 2003
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.
Before breakfast and exercise, CDR Yuri Malenchenko and FE/SO Edward Lu conducted another round of the Russian crew health-monitoring program’s medical assessment MO-9/Biochemical Urinalysis. After the sessions, Malenchenko stowed the “Urolux” equipment. [Last time done: 8/19.]
Both crewmembers then underwent the IMG PHS (Integrated Medical Group/Periodic Health Status) assessment without blood labs, each one acting first as CMO (crew medical officer) and then being the examined subject. Afterwards, Ed Lu completed data entry for both crewmembers and stowed the hardware. [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.]
As part of regular monthly preventive maintenance of Russian Segment air ventilation systems, Yuri Malenchenko worked one hour in the Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok (FGB) for a thorough cleanup of the vent grills of the three SOTR (thermal control system) gas-liquid heat exchangers (GZhT4). The fans were powered off for the task, later turned on again.
Yuri also exchanged the two PF1/PF2 dust collector filters in the FGB, disposing of the old filters. He later finished the job by cleaning ventilation louvers on FGB panels as well as the protective mesh screens of the TsV ventilation fans (last time done: 8/8).
Science Officer Lu activated the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) for another session with the PFMI (Pore Formation & Mobility Investigation) experiment, today installing the PFMI-15 sample into the thermal chamber for the sixth of seven planned PFMI runs in Increment 7. [PFMI deals with defects generated in solidifying (crystallizing) materials that compromise desired material properties and science (for example, measurement of microstructural features, i.e., dendrite arm spacing, is inaccurate). The MSG investigation is intended to promote our understanding of detrimental porosity formation and mobility during controlled directional solidification processing in a microgravity environment. This is studied by utilizing a transparent material, Succinonitrile (SCN), so that direct video observation and recording of pore generation and mobility during controlled directional solidification can be made.]
After the successful in-flight repair of the RED (resistive exercise device) canister #1010 on 9/16, the crew has reinstalled the older canisters #1009 and #1010 for continued use. They are expected to be good for at least another month.
In the Service Module (SM), the CDR started another regeneration cycle on absorbent bed #1 of the BMP harmful impurities unit, leaving channel 2 in Purify mode. [The “bakeout” cycle in the filter beds is repeated every 20 days. Each bakeout to space vacuum takes about 24 hours.]
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.
Yuri performed today’s maintenance of the SM’s SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet facilities) and prepared the daily “delta” file for automatic export/import to update the four IMS (inventory management system) databases. The CDR also conducted the weekly inspection of the BRPK air/liquid condensate separator unit.
The crew completed another periodic one-hour fire drill/OBT (on-board training), a mandatory periodic requirement specifically rewritten for the current two-person crew. Primary goal of this exercise is to provide the station residents with the most realistic emergency training possible. (Last time done: 5/15). [OBT objectives are to (a) practice fire response procedures (FRPs) and all incorporated actions for the case of a software-detected fire to locate, extinguish, and verify extinguishing attempts; (b) practice crew communication and coordination between crew and MCCs (Mission Control Centers) necessary to perform emergency FRPs; (c) practice coordination necessary between MCC-H and MCC-M to assist crew in performing emergency FRPs; (d) ensure familiarity with support equipment (CSA-CP {compound specific analyzer/combustion products }, PBAs {portable breathing apparatus} and PFEs {portable fire extinguishers}) used in FRPs; and (e) ensure familiarity with PCS/laptop displays and automatic software responses associated with a fire scenario. The exercise does not actually use any fire equipment but simulates such actions to the maximum extent possible. After the OBT, a post-training summary report is to be prepared.]
Ed Lu reviewed procedures and necessary preparations for tomorrow’s planned EPO (Educational Payload Operations) activity, to be taped on the ground, which this time will demonstrate the difference between weight and mass.
Malenchenko had another comm “window” for downlinking footage recorded on the Russian/German Plasma Crystal-3 (PK-3) payload on 8/1. There are several of these video downlinks scheduled. [The experiment looked at plasma inside an evacuated work chamber, i.e., fine particles charged and excited by RF/radio frequency power.]
(Because of server outage at HQ and GSFC due to Hurricane Isabel, ISS systems data and orbital parameters are not available today, but there were no onboard anomalies reported by the IMC).
