Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 19 May

By SpaceRef Editor

May 19, 2004

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

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 19 May — iss

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

In preparation for the RPCM replacement spacewalk on 6/10, the crew began the U.S. EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) self-don/doff test as scheduled but had to abort it due to a cooling failure of CDR Padalka’s suit (#3005). There was no problem with donning or doffing the EMUs without IV (intravehicular crewmember) assistance, including SAFER (simplified air for EVA rescue) units, but the prebreathe dryrun of the test could not be done. [The crew reported slow coolant flow on EMU 3005, with visible air bubbles. After a number of troubleshooting steps were tried out unsuccessfully, investigation of the issue by EMU engineers is now underway on the ground. No decisions regarding fault fixing or exercising the Orlan alternative have been made as yet.]

For the EMU don/doff dry run, the Airlock’s air conditioner (CCAA, common cabin air assembly) was activated early in the morning, with LTL (low temperature loop) coolant flow established, and later shut down again. To prevent RF interference during the suit operations, TsUP/Moscow also turned off the 400 MHz (megahertz) transmitter (PRD) of the Russian/German Global Timing System (GTS), re-activating it afterwards. [The GTS has two transmitters broadcasting a time signal at 400.1 MHz (1 watt) and 1428 MHz (0.5 watt) straight downward (nadir) for worldwide clock synchronization. Because the 400 MHz signal interferes with the WVS (Wireless Video System) and very likely also the SSCS (Space-to-Space Communication System), both used for spacewalks, the GTS 400 MHz transmitter is inhibited during EVAs, including EMU checkouts, involving the Airlock).]

Gennady Padalka completed the regular daily maintenance/inspection of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support systems, including ASU toilet system replacements, while Mike Fincke performed the regular routine status checkup of autonomous Lab payloads, today attending to the PCG-STES010 (Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System #10).

Working off the Russian discretionary task list, the CDR downloaded new accumulated Matryoshka parameter tables from the Matryoshka server (BSPN) to the ISS Wiener laptop. New files for setting Matryoshka equipment mode operations will be transferred from the Wiener to the BSPN tomorrow. [Matryoshka automatically takes measurements in the SM and DC-1 docking compartment for studies of on-orbit radiation and long-term dose accumulation, using six SPD dosimeters deployed throughout the RS (Russian segment) as well as in a spherical body-simulating Matryoshka-R “phantom” and a human torso model outside on the SM hull, mounted there during EVA-9.]

A second job on Gennady’s task list is an audit/evaluation of available stowage areas in the FGB and DC1 modules, required for the upcoming Progress-249/14P cargo transfer activities.

Mike performed the daily leak check of the Lab window’s inter-pane space (“Volume D”), using the “Aeolus” scopemeter with pressure probe. Today’s pressure reading was 539 Torr (mmHg), or 10.4 psi.

The crew completed their daily physical exercise program, today one hour each on CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) and VELO bike with load trainer.

Yesterday’s station reboost went off as planned. The 7min 27s burn of the Progress thrusters yielded a delta-V of 2.25 m/s (7.38 ft/s), resulting in a mean altitude increase of 3.84 km (2.39 mi.) and an inclination change of 0.006 degrees. Orbit values for this morning see below.

The crew’s first ultrasound session with the ADUM (Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Micro-G) equipment yesterday was a great success, and the Principal Investigator was reportedly “very pleased”. The bone scans will be done monthly. The second ADUM session is on tomorrow’s schedule, this time involving abdominal scans on one of the crewmembers.

The monthly recharging of the Motorola-9505 Iridium satellite phone was completed successfully yesterday, with no issues.

Yesterday morning (4:06am EDT), the CHeS rack smoke detector annunciated a fire emergency that, on crew investigation, proved to be false. Measurements taken with the CSA-CP (compound specific analyzer-combustion products) showed zero values for CO (carbon monoxide), HCl (hydrogen chloride) and HCN (hydrogen cyanide). [Smoke detectors are sometimes set off by aerosols stirred up by crew action.]

Today’s CEO targets, limited in XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in “ram”), were Jakarta, Indonesia (nadir pass over this capital city [9.4 million in the city proper in 2002] on Java’s north coast. Overpopulation in Java has led to the policy of encouraging emigration to Borneo and other islands. Looking left in the narrow Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra for islands that are the remnants of Krakatau Volcano [Krakatoa] which erupted on 26-7 August 1883. The biggest explosion was heard 4500 km away. Krakatau lofted the equivalent of 20 cubic kilometers of rock into the atmosphere in a column of smoke and ash 26 kilometers high. Movement of the seafloor caused tsunamis that killed 36,000 people. Remnants of the giant waves were measured in the English Channel), Supertyphoon Nida (Dynamic event. Supertyphoons are Category 5 storms, the strongest. Nida has sustained winds of 130 knots with gusts as high as 160 kts. The storm will weaken to Cat. 4 by the time ISS overflew its eastern side: looking left for the eye), Aerosols, Ganges River Basin (looking left up the Ganges valley which is home to the largest population cluster in south Asia, some hundreds of millions depending on where you draw the boundary. Visibilities are reported down to 3-6 km at local airports, with dust blowing west to east [toward the orbiter] from the desert in India’s northwest. Crew was to shoot any sharp margins of the aerosol mass [a combination of dust, smoke, industrial haze]. India’s aerosols are starting to attract attention [in NASA studies] for their density and size), Muglad Basin Fans, Sudan (after the crew’s recent excellent mapping series over this remote and interesting site, the ground now requested context shots from any angle. Since ISS passed across the center of the site, they were to shoot left and right. These will assist in assembling a map of the images so far gathered so the ground can direct the crew’s attention to any remaining gaps), Khartoum, Sudan (another opportunity for the Khartoum-Omdurman area: looking right at the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. These cities are difficult to see since they are built, like so many cities, of the local surface materials), and Lower Amazon River Basin (as good as weather gets on the equator. ISS passed along the 200-300 north bank of the estuary where many islands are moving downstream under the impress of the vast discharge of the Amazon).

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 today, 1:02pm EDT).

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

Elektron O2 generator is On. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On. U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating. SM Gas Analyzer has been calibrated and is used for ppO2 & ppCO2 monitoring. MCA (major constituents analyzer) is in Life Extending Mode (LEM). 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 panel mods completed 4/8; SKV-2 activation failed 4/20). SFOG slot #2 fan suspect (not usable).

SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 742; temperature (deg C) — 24.8; ppO2 (mmHg) — 159.3; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 2.6;
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 747; temperature (deg C) — 20.1.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 756; temperature (deg C) — 23.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 750.89; temperature (deg C) — 22.7 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 752.69; temperature (deg C) — 24.6; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 752.8; temperature (deg C) — 20.9; shell heater temp (deg C) — n/a, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.

(n/a = data not available)

PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — n/a
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — n/a.

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in Autotrack (solar-tracking), with drag reduction bias (2B @ -32.5 deg, 4B @ 32.5 deg.)
SM batteries: All batteries (8) are on line in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #5 is off line; all other batteries (5) are on line in “Partial Charge” mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is in Standby mode; PCU-2 is in Standby mode.

Command & Data Handling Systems:

C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is backup, and C&C-3 is in standby.
GNC-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is backup.
INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.
EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is Off (backup).
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 11/22/03).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string #3 dropped out 10/22/03).
FGB MDM-1 is Off (failed, 11/21/03); MDM-2 is Operational.

Propulsion System:

Total propellant load available: 3689 kg (8133 lb) as of 5/13/04; [SM(755) + FGB(2934) + Progress M-1(0)]. (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

Attitude Control Systems:

2 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02; CMG-2’s RPC-17 failed 4/21/04).
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 (may require a mask).
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 Lab PDGF/LEE A, operational on redundant string, off on prime.
MBS: KA (keep alive) 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, 7:49am EDT [= epoch]):