Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 27 Jun 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

June 27, 2003

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

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 27 Jun 2003 — iss

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Another full day for the ISS crew. [Quote uplinked this morning: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).]

Before breakfast and physical exercise (and undoubtedly with enthusiasm), CDR Yuri Malenchenko and FE/SO Edward Lu conducted the Russian crew health-monitoring program’s medical assessment MO-9/Urinalysis, part 2 of their current PHS (periodic health status) assessment and their second round of it. After the sessions, Malenchenko stowed the Urolux equipment. [MO-9 is biochemical urinalysis, conducted regularly every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs), and it is one of five nominal Russian medical tests adopted by NASA for US crewmembers for PHS evaluation exams (with or without blood labs). The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus “Urolux” developed by Boehringer/Mannheim in Germany for the Mir program. The device is first calibrated with prepared calibration strips (if not used for more than seven days), then receives the measuring strips with the subject’s urine samples for automatic (photometric) analysis. LEDs indicate immediately if the data are within (green) or outside (red) the physiological norm, and they are also printed on a tape for report to MCC-M (actually to IBMP, the Moscow Institute of Biomedical Problems). ]

Science Officer Dr. Lu activated the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) for another session of the InSPACE (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment, on CA006 (coil assembly #5) with the largest particles in suspension yet tested (0.66 microns) The MSG was later powered down again. [Today’s InSPACE session was test #28, with current amplitude of 0.875 amps remaining unchanged throughout the test and an initial frequency of 1 Hz. For the second monitor period, the frequency was changed to 0.66 Hz. The test represented the last nominally planned experiment with the largest particles. Afterwards, Ed Lu performed a coil exchange in the MSG, replacing CA006 with the as yet unused CA001. CA006 was then stowed.]

Ed Lu performed the second data collection and file indexing on the NGL (Next Generation Laptop) machine, for downlink. [The NGL, a Notebook equipped with a 2GHz Pentium-4 processor, 60 GB hard disk drive (HDD), 1 GB RAM memory, and a 2-hr. Li-Ion battery, is currently on a three-week zero-G shakedown test.]

On the operational PCS (portable computer system) laptops in the ISS, Ed Lu performed the regular weekly maintenance reboot.

Yuri Malenchenko completed the planned liquid waste transfer from nine EDV container bags with collected urine to the Progress 11P Rodnik water tank for eventual disposal. This standard transfer was prepared yesterday by pressurization of Rodnik’s expulsion bladder.

Ed Lu conducted the regular bimonthly inspection/maintenance of the TVIS treadmill.

Ed also completed the weekly transfer of accumulated data files with workout data from the TVIS and RED exercise equipment to the MEC via PCMCIA cards (personal computer memory card international association) for subsequent downlink to Earth.

Afterwards, he transferred HRM (heart rate monitor) data files to the MEC, then deleted them on the HRM receivers. [Last time done: 6/20.]

The SO completed his seventh weekly filling-out of the FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time on special medical equipment computer (MEC) software.

Ed collected ppCO2 carbon dioxide partial pressure) readings in the Lab from the newly deployed CSA-CPs (compound specific analyzers-combustion products). [CSA-CP is a toxicology monitoring device for early CO detection/warning and post-fire decontamination. It also checks for HCl and other combustion products and contaminants. Data takes are regularly collected for downlink.]

The crew was advised to retire the old Structures and Mechanisms procedures book launched originally on 11A, now out of date. For all Structures and Mechanisms procedures, the crew will henceforth refer only to the computer-based MPV (manual procedure viewer), which lets them read the manuals from an SSC (station support computer) client laptop for quick and easy reference.

Ed Lu conducted the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system and did the regular status checkup of autonomous Increment 7 Lab payloads (SAMS, MAMS, PCG-STES010), while Malenchenko prepared the daily “delta” file for the inventory management system (IMS). Yuri also conducted the weekly IMS tagup with ground specialists via S-band.

Malenchenko tended to his BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment which researches growth and development of plants under space flight conditions in the Lada-2 greenhouse.

Ed conducted another weekly inventory audit of the available CWCs (contingency water containers) and their contents. [Last time done: 6/20].

The crew completed their regular daily 2.5-h program of physical exercise, on TVIS treadmill, RED expander and, for Yuri, on the Russian VELO cycle ergometer with load trainer.

At 4:40am EDT, the ISS Commander downlinked a televised congratulatory address to the Chelyabinsk Iron and Steel Works (OAO Mechel) on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the huge industrial concern, a recognized industry leader for high-quality steel and alloy production, which has always been tightly linked to the history of Russian/Soviet cosmonautics. [Mechel-produced steels and alloys have been and are widely used in the rocket engines of Proton, Soyuz, Zenit, Cosmos, and the coming Angara launch vehicles.]

One of the two missing upgraded BRPK condensate separation & pumping units has been located behind an SM panel. Its installation is planned for the week of July 7, the second (if the unit is found) a week or two later. [The plan is to replace the old pipe conduits, including safety valves, with the new units. The latter have no filters and use higher safety valve trip pressures. Purpose of the upgrade is to prevent unwanted flow of the fluid through the bypass line during condensate transfer cycles.]

To support normal operations of the Russian “Packet” laptop and the new laptop-3, a U.S. power supply unit has been provided by NASA, to be used with the Packet machine. The installation of the unit with its cables and the stowage of the old unit has been added to Malenchenko’s optional task list.

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, and including the targets of the Lewis & Clark 200-year memorial locations, were Lisbon, Portugal (nadir pass), Berlin, Germany (nadir pass. Good weather persists. Panoramas of the North European plain and Baltic Sea also possible), Gulf of Maine plankton (pass along the coast: look right into the gulf for any discoloration in the water due to plankton blooms), Tucson, Arizona (major wildfire coming under control. High satellite images of the long smoke plume are making the news. A handheld image would be posted on the web immediately to complement these), Albuquerque, New Mexico (looking right for a view of the urban region, sited along the easy-to-see Rio Grande), Montana sites (LEWIS & CLARK SITES: A swath of detailed nadir views should have captured several close-spaced sites along the Missouri River. Here in the spring of 1805, the explorers opted to use the Missouri. By taking the Yellowstone their journey could have been shortened by two months), Baghdad, Iraq (good pass along the Zagros mountain front: looking right for views of cities and the Mesopotamian plain), Western Mediterranean Haze (haze loadings are increasing left of track in the Genoa/Pisa region of northern Italy [visibilities reduced to 1-3 mi.]. Then Rome immediately left of track. Then Etna volcano immediately right), Angolan Biomass Burning (offshore flow continues: the crew had an ideal vantage point on this southeasterly pass to document aerosolic haze from the subcontinentwhich is mainly smoke from biomass burning, but now after several days of this weather pattern, includes industrial haze from the distant Witwatersrand line of cities. Images of this haze phenomenon are of great interest. Okavango swamp delta appears as a dark green “hand” in the dun colors of the desert just left of track), San Francisco, California (panorama of The Bay region off right of track), and Los Angeles, California (nadir pass over the basin).
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 1:45pm EST).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered On (16 amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (in Manual Mode 3/5). 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) — 28.5; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 20.7.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 21.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 745.16; temperature (deg C) — 23.8 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 746.74; temperature (deg C) — 23.0; ppO2 (mmHg) — 172.2; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.5.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 746.84; temperature (deg C) — 29.5; shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.5, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.1.
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 16.3.

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available: 3803 kg (8384 lb) as of 6/19 [SM(774) + FGB(2447) + Progress M(182) +Progress M-1(400)]. (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in AutoTrack.
SM batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected (failed 6/16); all other batteries (7) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #1 is in “Cycle” mode; 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-1 is operating; INT-2 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:

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).Management.
Solar Beta angle: -18.9 deg (magnitude decreasing).

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-1 (internal audio controller #1) being analyzed after self-test error. 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, 7:46am EDT [= epoch]):