Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 24 Sep 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

September 24, 2003

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

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 24 Sep 2003 — iss

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Day 152 since launch of Expedition 7.

CDR Yuri Malenchenko performed the second part of the current MBI-8 Profilaktika (“countermeasures”) fitness test series, today with the NS-01 load trainer on the VELO (stationary bike) ergometer, and tagged up with medical support personnel at MCC-Moscow/TsUP. Science Officer Lu assisted. [This fitness test consists of four types of exercise, viz., neck tilting (back/forward), simultaneous forearm flexing, trunk extension, and trunk flexes. Each type of exercise consists of a series of 15 motions repeated two times. Load levels are selected by the ground and do not change from test to test. Total duration of the test is 13 min. Gas analysis, subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels, and blood test for lactate and Creatine Kinase levels are also performed as a part of this test, using the TEEM-100M gas analyzer, AccuSport analyzer, and Reflotron-IV blood analyzer.]

Malenchenko then continued the latest maintenance cycle on the Russian segment (RS) ventilation system (SV) in the Service Module (SM), today cleaning the VV2RO airduct fan grilles (last time done: 7/28), then the Group B ventilation fans (last time done: 7/29).

Ed Lu activated the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) rack for the last session of the PFMI (Pore Formation & Mobility Investigation) experiments, installing sample #9 into the thermal chamber, monitoring proper computer startup and sample processing, and at the end removing the important videotape with the results. This concludes PFMI for this Increment.

The SO then began official work with the new CBOSS-FDI (Cellular Biotechnology Operations Support System/Fluid Dynamics Investigation) experiments, after spending some time to familiarize himself. [He first inspected the glass camera filters to ensure they are not broken. Then he conducted three important experimental procedures: (1) mixing the polystyrene bead TCMs (tissue culture modules), as they may have settled during launch, (2) making and imaging a PBS “control” TCM, that all experimental TCMs are contrasted against and (3) determining the rate of injection to be used by him throughout all other CBOSS-FDI procedures.]

Malenchenko continued downlinking videotaped payload data from the TEKh-20 Plasma Crystal 3 (PK-3) experiment in the SM, obtained during its run on 8/1. [The transmission, via “Telescience” equipment to Russian ground sites (RGS), began on 9/10 and goes on over several more TV downlink opportunities.]

Ed Lu completed the scheduled Week 21 water sampling for in-flight chemistry/microbiology analysis, using approved Russian sampling procedures with the U.S. WS&A (water sampler and archiver) for collection and the WMK (water microbiology kit) for processing within 6 hrs. of the collection. [In-flight microbial analysis of these samples with the WMK was conducted later in the day, after the crew’s lunch break.]

Yuri meanwhile completed a change-out of the EDB water bag adapter and dispenser (PrU) with new units. [Objective of the activity is to determine why microbes are being detected regularly by in-flight water analysis. Ground tests have not detected pathogenic organisms, and there are no constraints on the use of water.}

Ed also unstowed and activated the SSAS (solid sorbent air sampler) for another air sampling take, today in the center of the SM (after yesterday’s Lab sampling).

The CDR performed the periodic inspection and functionality checkup of the BRPK-2 air/liquid condensate separator in the SM. He also attended to the daily routine maintenance of the SM SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet facilities), while Ed Lu conducted the daily IMS delta file preparation for automatic export/import to update the database and conducted the regular routine status checkup of the autonomous ISS-7 Lab payloads (PCG-STES010, SAMS, MAMS).

The crew was commended by MCC-H and CSA/Canada on their good job with yesterday’s Robotics operations, which obtained the desired the data for the FMS (force & moment sensor) in the various positions in which the SSRMS (space station remote manipulator system) was maneuvered, for evaluation by the specialists. A number of new “lessons” were learned in the process. [The ground team also performed remotely a successful SSRMS base change and checkout. New electronic base of the robotarm is MBS PDGF 2 (Mobile Base System/Power & Data Grapple Fixture #2), holding LEE A (Latching End Effector A).]

At 1:56pm EDT, the crew supported a 20-min. interactive PAO/educational TV event with the AIAA “Space 2003” Conference at the Convention Center of Long Beach, CA, responding to questions from assembled students, hosted by Carlo Cayetano, NASA Aerospace Education Services Program representative.

Ed Lu worked out with his daily 2.5-h physical exercise program on TVIS treadmill and RED (resistive exercise device). Malenchenko conducted his exercise as part of the Profilaktika MBI-8 session.

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, were Patagonian Glaciers (progressively clearer weather in this stormy region: looking left and right for detailed views of glacier tongues to complete the best set of images yet acquired of the region), Singapore (pointing right of track at the extreme south end of the Malay Peninsula for this island and city nation-state. Some patchy cloud, but better viewing conditions than we have seen for weeks), Mekong River Delta (agricultural land use patterns in modernizing southern Vietnam are the subject of interest), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (nadir and slightly left of track), Aerosols, SE Africa (good pass along the southeastern coast of southern Africa: looking left for obliques that should indicate different aerosol loadings at different altitudes [coastal plains nearer track, versus interior plateau further off track]), Congo-Zimbabwe Biomass Burning (pointing left and right of track for fires. Fire/smoke images are data points in our ongoing world survey of biomass burning. Also, trying for glint views left of rack for major rivers in the Congo basin), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (clearer than we have seen the region for many weeks. Looking right of track), Brazilian smoke pall (Dynamic event. Pointing left for images of smoke streaming southwards around the bend of the Andes Mountains), and Saharan Dust (Dynamic event. Pointing right for oblique images of a continuing outblow of dust from West Africa into the Atlantic basin).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites

See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at
http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/

You know you live on the ISS when…
…your life is strangely like a Reality TV show but there is no Grand Prize at the end. (Upbeat uplink from Flight Control).

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 2:00pm EDT).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered On, 24A (air also being supplied by Progress 12P). 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) — 26.9; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 21.1.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 750.25; temperature (deg C) — 23.8 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 752.19; temperature (deg C) — 23.6; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 752.29; temperature (deg C) — 30.1; shell heater temp (deg C) — 25.9, ppO2 (mmHg) — 150.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.1.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.9
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.4.

(n/a = data not available)

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in AutoTrack mode (solar tracking, with 45 deg bias for drag reduction).
SM batteries: Battery #3 is in “Cycle” mode; battery #7 is on line, pending continued troubleshooting; all other batteries (6) are in “Partial Charge” mode (battery #1 is degraded).
FGB batteries: Battery #6 is disconnected; 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-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.

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available: 3922 kg (8646 lb) as of 9/18 [SM(755) + FGB(2815) + 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-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, 5:43am EDT [= epoch]):