NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 26 Aug 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below.
The crew’s day started out with another session of the periodic Russian medical protocols PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement). CDR Yuri Malenchenko set up the MO-8 “scales” equipment and later broke it down and stowed it away. (Last time done: 8/11).
After breakfast, Malenchenko worked inside the Progress 10P cargo vehicle to continue undock preparations by dismantling and removing its LKT local temperature sensor commutator (TA251M1B) of the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry system and its ROM (read-only memory) unit (TA765B), now no longer required and to be reused in the future.
After a thorough checkup and cleaning of the SAMS (space acceleration measurement system) filters in all drawers, FE/SO Ed Lu swapped out the faulty SAMS ICU (interim control unit) laptop with a new machine,- an IBM 760XD laptop that had been the original SSC (station support computer) fileserver until it was replaced on 7/17 by an NGL (next generation laptop, IBM ThinkPad A31P). [The swap-out involved the removal of the 30Gb SAMS hard drives, battery and PCMCIA memory card from the original laptop (which had stopped sending acceleration and systems health data on 7/31) and installing them in the new machine.]
Ed Lu activated the MSG (microgravity science glovebox) and took up work again with the PFMI (Pore Formation & Mobility Investigation) experiment, today running PFMI sample 03 in the MSG work volume. [Defects generated in solidifying (crystallizing) materials 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.]
Continuing his task-listed Russian Uragan earth imaging program, the CDR today focused the Kodak DCS760 digital camera with 800-mm lens on new targets. [They included large cities on the southern coast of England and on the European continent all the way to Lodz and Warsaw in Poland, the Chernobyl area and mining towns in the Ukraine, forests south of Kharkov, the western bank of the Tsimlianski Reservoir, the Volga-Don Canal, “black soil” in Kalmykia, oil slicks in the Caspian Sea, Dzharkuduk, the Salang Pass, and the city of Kabul.]
Also working off the Russian task list, Yuri conducted another session of the Diatomeya ocean research program. [He used the Nikon F5 with f/80 mm lens and the DVCAM 150 digital camcorder for continual recording of video and voice-over audio of highly bioproductive waters of the North Atlantic.]
Ed Lu had about an hour reserved to review and prepare for tomorrow’s planned activation of the CGBA (commercial generic bioprocessing apparatus) payload in Locker 7 in EXPRESS rack 4. [CGBA ops will support fundamental space biology research. Background: A systems check was conducted on the CGBA and its ICM (isothermal containment module) earlier this year (April) to make sure that nothing, radiation or otherwise, had compromised the performance of the equipment, after its nominal operation on Stage 9A. Originally, CGBA was stymied by a human error committed during ground ops that did not let it get to the expected temperature at a certain point in the mission. The ground team worked around the issue as best as it could and got reasonable results from experiments with yeast and renal cells, but a salmonella experiment was lost.]
The Science Officer also reviewed the upcoming installation of the NASDA Granada Crystallization Facility (GCF) payload to be delivered by Progress 12P.
Malenchenko terminated the current run of the Molniya-SM/LSO experiment at SM window #3 and dismantled its hardware for stowage. [This latest session was started on 8/22. Molniya-SM records storm phenomena and other related events in the upper atmospheric layers over Earth’s equatorial regions with a VFS-3M video-photo spectrometer, should they happen to occur during the automated recording session.]
Yuri also completed the routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system and tagged up with MCC-M via S-band in the weekly IMS (inventory management system) conference, while Ed later prepared the regular IMS “delta” file for automatic export/import for database update.
The crew performed their regular daily physical exercise on TVIS treadmill, CEVIS cycle, RED resistive exerciser and VELO ergometer with load trainer. Ed also transferred the accumulated TVIS/RED data files to the MEC (medical equipment computer). Progress 12P will deliver two new RED canisters (#1011 & 1012) next week, hard-mounted within Russian-built brackets. [Instructions for removing the brackets from the Progress and the cans from the brackets will be supplied by Moscow after docking. Installation of the cans will depend on the continued performance of the current RED canisters.]
Last weekend, during filter cleaning, smoke detector #2 (SD2) in the Node triggered a false fire alarm due to dust obscuration. The recovered smoke detector was not re-enabled but will be scheduled for a cleaning in early September. Meanwhile, SD1 in the Node is OK.
To better adjust to tomorrow’s M-247/10P undocking, the crew’s sleep cycle will shift back by one hour tonight, with sleep time beginning at 4:30pm EDT instead of 5:30pm, and wake-up at 1:00am tomorrow morning. Undocking is scheduled for 6:45pm. [In preparation for the undocking, at 1:50am the crew will activate the Progress and then remove the threaded QD (quick disconnect) screw clamps of the SM’s docking and internal transfer mechanism (SSVP), which rigidize the mating surfaces. The interface will be visually inspected and video-recorded to make sure that there is no damage to the cords, snap hooks or rings on the latches and to the slots for the clamps in the internal flanges of the SSVP. The TV tape will be downlinked via U.S. Ku-band at 2:40am, followed by hatch closure and an hour’s worth of leak checking of the SM-to-Progress vestibule.]
ISS cabin atmosphere was repressurized with fresh GOX (gaseous oxygen) from Progress 10P, to a max limit of 24.1% O2 concentration (Flight Rule limit, based on flammability considerations). [With Moscow’s estimate of presently remaining GOX, the use of the 24.1% criterion will use up all 10P supply by the time of undocking.]
Today’s CEO (crew earth observation) targets, taking into account the current LVLH attitude, and including the targets of the Lewis & Clark 200-year memorial locations, were Typhoon Krovanh, China (large cloud mass as the typhoon breaks up, probably without an eye by the time of the ISS pass), Berlin, Germany (just left of track), Kabul, Afghanistan (nadir pass), Rome, Italy (nadir pass), Western Mediterranean Dust (dust tendrils extending out into the Mediterranean will probably be activated in northern Algeria by the approaching cool front), Lemhi Pass, Mont/Idaho (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Two pass opportunities. Shooting mountain range crests [dark forest green, as opposed to lighter, browner river valleys] at nadir and a touch right, and the crew should get this now-unused pass over the continental divide. The explorers crossed here into Idaho on August 12, 1805), Fortunate Camp (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Two pass opportunities. A touch right on the east side of a small lake. On August 13, 1805, Lewis made contact with more of Sacagawea’s tribe, the Shoshone), Upper Missouri R, Montana (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Nadir pass and a touch left. This section of the Missouri is almost unchanged since the Lewis and Clark expedition. The upper Missouri River revealed a wide array of animals and beautiful landscape to the expedition. An attacking grizzly nearly caught up with one man before a shot to the head brought the animal down. The explorers also reported that sudden gusts of wind, funneled through the high cliffs would cause boats to tip over), Detroit, Michigan (nadir pass), Harpers Ferry, WV (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Nadir pass. This historic town is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers where they break through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Crew was to use the long lens for details of this small target), Washington, D.C. (nadir pass), Lancaster, PA (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: 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), Pomeroy, Washington (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: On their return eastward, the explorers decide to go overland in order to avoid battling upstream against the strong Snake River. The image shows how far off the Snake River the village of Pomeroy lies, through which they traveled. Nadir pass), and Idaho and Mountain Pass (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Nadir pass. There are a series of sites in this box, especially Lolo MT and Kamiah, ID. Lolo is a point along the Bitterroot River south of present-day Lolo used as a camp on both legs of the trip. The explorers rested here at the mouth of Lolo Creek in 1805 before setting out on another grueling trip. The hospitable Nez Perce native Americans apparently see white people for the first time at Kamiah).
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 1:40pm EDT).
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) — 27.1; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
- SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 761; temperature (deg C) — 20.2.
- FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.3.
- Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 755.34; temperature (deg C) — 21.3 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 757.04; temperature (deg C) — 23.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 757.14; temperature (deg C) — 22.1; shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.2, ppO2 (mmHg) — 182.8; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.4.
- PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 20.9
- PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 20.0.
(n/a = data not available)
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
- Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in dual-angle “blind” mode (non-solar tracking).
- SM batteries: Battery #2 is failed and off; all other batteries (7) are in “Partial Charge” mode; battery #1 is degraded.
- FGB batteries: Battery #1 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: 3657 kg (8062 lb) as of 8/21 [SM(755) + FGB(2902) + Progress M(0) +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:
- 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,7:28am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 382.9 km
- Apogee 387.7 km
- Perigee — 378.1 km
- Period — 92.21 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0007053
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.62
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 100 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 27198
- For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see
- http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html