Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 21 Aug 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

August 21, 2003

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

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 21 Aug 2003 — iss

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Fifty years ago yesterday, on August 20, 1953, the Redstone missile, America’s earliest rocket, was launched on its first test flight. [Developed by the Wernher von Braun team at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL for the U.S. Army from V-2 (A-4) heritage, Redstone rockets later carried America’s first Earth satellite, Explorer 1, and our first Mercury astronaut, Alan Shepard, into space, becoming the forerunner of NASA’s family of big Saturn launch vehicles. Several A-4s and the A-4 modification Bumper/WAC were launched from U.S. soil before Redstone.]

CDR Yuri Malenchenko and FE/SO Ed Lu continued transferring approved deorbit items to the Progress 10P cargo vehicle and loaded its cargo module, keeping track of items with the IMS (inventory management system). [Today’s timeline had 5 hrs. of crewtime blocked out for the two crewmembers. Ground specialists had uplinked a 45-entries list of items identified for disposal and coordinated through the normal process. U.S. items that will be placed on board for deorbit are currently being identified at MCC-H.]

During a Russian ground site (RGS) pass, at 6:13am EDT, Malenchenko performed his fifth session with the Russian MedOps cardio experiment MO-1 (Study of the Bioelectric Activity of the Heart at Rest), with Ed Lu assisting as CMO (crew medical officer). [During the test, the crew tagged up with ground specialists and downlinked data from the Gamma-1M ECG (electrocardiogram) for about 5-6 minutes.]

Later, the Science Officer unstowed and installed the equipment for the U.S. PHS/PCBA (periodic health status/portable clinical blood analyzer) with blood labs exam. He also prepared the test equipment for the periodic Russian MO-10 “Hematokrit” testing. Both sessions are scheduled for tomorrow. [While PCBA analyzes total blood composition, MO-10 particularly measures the hematocrit (red blood cell mass) value of the blood (it is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that red blood cell mass {normal range: 30-45%} tends to go down over time).

Ed Lu conducted another work session on the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) with the PFMI (Pore Formation & Mobility Investigation) experiment, after backing up PCMCIA memory card data to the MLC (MSG laptop computer). [Yesterday’s session was aborted at the beginning of the run when the TGS (thermal gradient stage) heater ring refused to translate (travel) along the sample ampoule as commanded. Early this morning, Ed Lu found the translation working fine, exonerating the mechanism itself. The transient failure is suspected to have been caused by the firmware associated with the drive system, possibly by a limit switch terminating the movement of the heater ring (under investigation). Later today, Ed reinstalled sample ampoule #04 for another try and completed the run.]

On Daily Orbit 3 (5:15am), while Dr. Lu was working on the PFMI, Malenchenko tagged up with ground specialists to discuss and test the function of a payal’nik (soldering iron).

Later, Yuri removed the separator unit of the BRPK-1 condensate separation and pumping unit in the Service Module (SM), which is getting close to the end of its statistical service life, and replaced it with a new unit. He also removed a fluid transfer hose from the BRPK-1 plumbing and prepared it for rinsing and disinfecting, scheduled for tomorrow.

Ed performed the monthly maintenance of the CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation), which consists mostly of an examination of the wire rope isolators for damage. Ed was also asked to provide the location of frayed CEVIS isolators removed earlier.

Both crewmembers completed their daily 2.5-h program of physical exercise (aerobic & anaerobic) on TVIS treadmill, CEVIS, RED expander and on the Russian VELO cycle ergometer with load trainer.

Yuri Malenchenko prepared the daily IMS update (“delta”) list and completed the routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system.

In the Joint Airlock, Ed Lu terminated the discharge procedure of the EMU batteries #2029 and #2030, which was initiated yesterday as part of nominal battery maintenance. [On the ground, meanwhile, new steps are being planned for troubleshooting the two spacesuits #3005 and #3013.]

MCC-Moscow will make another attempt at transferring fuel (unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine, UDMH) from Progress 10P to the FGB, via SM, after the fuel line purge had to be aborted due to what appears (“with 99% certainty”) to be a human error in ground control. Transfer of oxidizer (nitrogen tetroxide, NTO) went without issue.

The USOS MCA (major constituents analyzer) is activated daily by remote command for a 15 min. rapid atmospheric sampling of the Airlock (A/L) prior to the station oxygen (O2) repress from Progress 10P. [During past O2 represses, the ppO2 (oxygen partial pressure) caution limit was reached in the Lab. This made the MCA go automatically into rapid sampling, which caused communications problems between it and the INT MDM. Commanding the MCA to rapid A/L sampling before the repress prevents these problems.]

Today, the station atmosphere was repressed with gaseous O2 from Progress 10P to 15 mmHg ppO2 (oxygen partial pressure). The Elektron oxygen generator continues to be off, conserving water and service life. Oxygen from 10P will be used in this fashion until shortly before undocking next week. After that, O2 will also be transferred from Progress 11P on two occasions. [According to current Russian planning, about 28 kg O2 will have to be left on board when 12P is separated, but alternatives are being studied at MCC-H. The represses are designed to keep ppO2, limited by Flight Rule not
to exceed 21 mmHg, at about 15 mmHg.]

On 8/19, during the INT-1 MDM to INT-2 transition, two external RPCs (remote power controllers) in two separate RPCMs (RPC modules) on the Z1 truss experienced “overcurrent” trips, shutting off power to two of six Lab shell heaters. A troubleshooting plan is in place, to be implemented on 8/23. [It is theorized, and was successfully tested on the ground, that a specific command rate of the INT MDM could have caused the false overcurrent response trips.]

Yesterday, BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B, followed by 4B this morning, stopped briefly in tri-angle mode. There was no increase in BGA motor current to indicate a hardware problem. Both BGAs are operating nominally.

The attitude transition maneuver from XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane) to LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal) yesterday was nominal. It consumed approximately 19 kg of SM thruster props.

Next week’s launch of 12P/Progress M-248 at Baikonur/Kazakhstan is currently scheduled for 8/28 at 9:47pm EDT. Docking at the SM aft end will then take place at 11:43pm on 8/30 (Saturday). The docking will be covered live on NASA TV. [If necessary, contingency docking, by CDR Malenchenko on the manually teleoperated TORU system, would be attempted one orbit later, at 1:15am on 8/31 (Sunday).]

Today’s CEO (crew earth observation) targets, taking into account the current XPOP attitude and the change to LVLH at 1:20pm EDT, and including the targets of the Lewis & Clark 200-year memorial locations, were Madrid, Spain (nadir pass), Berlin, Germany (nadir pass and a touch left), Washington, D.C.(looking a touch left of track), Lancaster, PA (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Pointing a touch left of track. Lewis spent three weeks with Andrew Ellicott, mathematician and astronomer, who instructed him in the technique of determining latitude and longitude and advised him on the purchase of navigational instruments), Philadelphia, PA (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: After being commissioned by President Jefferson, Lewis moved to Philadelphia in early 1803. He took crash courses in medicine, botany, zoology, and celestial observation. He studied maps and journals of traders and trappers who had already reached as far up the Missouri River as the Mandan villages in North Dakota. By the time he set out he knew as much about the West as any man in America), Gulf of Maine plankton (nadir pass over the area of greatest interest. Crew was asked to shoot the water surface regardless of color variations, for comparative purposes), Rome, Italy (pointing a touch right near the coast in the Tiber River valley. ISS pass continued right down the boot of Italy), Statue of Zeus at Olympia (nadir pass. Looking inland of the coast in the main west-coast valley of the Peloponnes peninsula), Athens, Greece (looking a touch left), Fortunate Camp (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Looking left of track, on the east side of a small lake. On August 13, 1805, Lewis made contact with more of Sacagawea’s tribe, the Shoshone. When Clark arrived later with Sacagawea, a woman of the tribe recognized her immediately. The Shoshone chief turned out to be her brother. These events helped Lewis negotiate for horses to cross the mountains ahead, and he duly named the spot “Camp Fortunate”), Pompey’s Pillar, MT (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Nadir pass over the Yellowstone River where it flows ENE from the city of Billings), Fort Ramon, MT (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Nadir pass), and Montana Box (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Nadir pass over the lower Yellowstone River valley, where it joins the Missouri).

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 12:50pm EST).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered Off. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (in Manual Mode 5/3). 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) — 26.4; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 20.7.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 744; temperature (deg C) — 22.0.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 748.98; temperature (deg C) — 21.9 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 751.28; temperature (deg C) — 23.7; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 751.38; temperature (deg C) — 23.8; shell heater temp (deg C) — 25.0, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 20.7
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 19.6.

(n/a = data not available)

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B is in directed (“blind”) mode. and 4B is in Autotrack (solar tracking with 45 deg bias for drag reduction).
SM batteries: Battery data are not available.
FGB batteries: Battery #1 is off line (Capacity Restoration mode, ROM); battery #43 in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (4) 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-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: -9.4 deg, roll: 0 deg]), with CMG/TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management.

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-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,7:47am EDT [= epoch]):