Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 4 Sep 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

September 4, 2003

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

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 4 Sep 2003 — iss

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

Progress 11P undocked from the DC-1 nadir port today at 3:40pm EDT without issues. At separation, the trash-filled cargo ship still contained 25 kg of unused gaseous oxygen (O2). [After the spacecraft backed away from the station, its docking interfaces were visually inspected from SM window #7, to observe the condition of both rubber seals and any angular attitude deviation during departure. Later today, the cargo ship will maneuver in its own orbit to observe targets in northern Russia with the Klest-M TV camera for several days before deorbiting. Progress vehicles have been used before for such observational activities, the last time in September 2002 by M-46/8P, which orbited Earth separately for 21 days.]

CDR Yuri Malenchenko continued integration of the newly arrived Progress M-48/12P into the ISS/Service Module (SM) systems, today installing the US-21 matching unit which he had taken out of Progress 11P two days ago. [After bolting down the container with the US-21 electronics, which provides the interface between the SM MCS (motion control system) and the Progress propulsion system, in the cargo module, Yuri mated the connectors of the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement subsystem to the box.]

In preparation for their return on Soyuz 6S next month, the two crewmembers conducted the scheduled fit check of the “Kazbeks”, the contoured shock-absorbing seats in the Soyuz descent capsule (SA). This required them to don their Sokol pressure suits, get in their seats and use a ruler to measure the gap between the top of the head and the top edge of the structure facing the head. The results were reported to MCC-M. [The Kazbek-U couches are designed to withstand g-loads during launch and orbital insertion as well as during reentry and brake-rocket-assisted landing. Each seat has two positions: cocked (armed) and noncocked. In the cocked position, they are raised to allow the shock absorbers to function during touchdown. The fit check assures that the crew, whose bodies gain in length during longer-term stay in zero-G, will still be adequately protected by the seat liners for their touchdown in Kazakhstan on 10/20. The third passenger, Soyuz 7S Flight Engineer Pedro Duque from Spain, will bring his own form-fitted seat liner.]

FE/SO Ed Lu worked on the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), which had successfully completed sample 13 of the PFMI (Pore Formation & Mobility Investigation) experiment. [Ed removed the sample from the thermal chamber and returned it to its polycarbonate tube and plastic bag. The MSG was then powered down. The next run, with sample #6, is scheduled for 9/11.]

The crew had time scheduled to print out and review the uplinked procedures and instructions for tomorrow’s planned EMU/spacesuit #3005 troubleshooting and mid-term checkout, a 4 hr. task for both crewmembers. [Certification of the U.S. EMUs (extravehicular mobility units) is dependent on regular maintenance. While on orbit this is defined as a modified (mid-term) checkout within 369 days of the latest EVA, last mid-term checkout or ground-based PIA (pre-installation acceptance test). EMU #3013 was used last time in April this year and is not due for its checkout at this time, although more troubleshooting on its cooling system is required.]

Ed also completed his 16th 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.

Yuri Malenchenko conducted a functional test of the Russian BSMM onboard payload controller, using the ISS Wiener laptop for a BSMM connectivity check via Ethernet. [The BSMM controller, which had experienced problems, was activated by Moscow at about 12:11am EDT for this purpose.]

Ed Lu conducted the routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system and prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file for automatic export/import to update the database.

Yuri had his weekly tagup with IMS planners at TsUP, today discussing the status of Progress 12P unloading (officially scheduled for next week but already started by the crew early), and the location of various equipment items.

At 9:35am, Ed Lu set up and conducted a ham radio session with students at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. [Amateur radio has been active at Cornell, a member of the Ivy League, since 1913, continuing into the present as W2CXM, The Cornell Amateur Radio Club.]

Later, the Science Officer downlinked a message of greetings to the 2003 World Championship of Freestyle Wrestling, to be played on 9/12 at the three-day event at Madison Square Garden, New York City. [Ed Lu himself is a long-time wrestler and former wrestling coach. In the current Astronaut Corps, there are 11 wrestlers, 7 of whom have competed at the collegiate level, and 5 who had served as high school wrestling coaches at some time.]

Yuri had another observation session for the Diatomeya ocean research program on his optional task list, to collect photo and video imagery depicting highly bioproductive waters of the Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. [Both visual observations and photo/video shooting were to be done in nadir, using the NIKON F5 digital still camera with 80-mm lens to shoot 1-2 frames per each target, and the DVCAM 150 digital camcorder for video imagery, while recording running voice commentary using the camcorder’s mike. For the still photography, Yuri was to use SM window #8, for the continually running camcorder window #7. Specific targets included the highly bioproductive waters of the Atlantic along the W coast of Africa (Canary and Benguela upwellings near Dakar and large commercial fishing areas near the Orange River mouth of South Africa).]

Preparatory to Progress 11P undocking, the crew installed IWIS (internal wireless instrumentation system) data recorders in the Lab, Node and SM modules, configuring the radio-linked RSUs (remote sensor units) plus their radio antennae for recording of structural dynamics (vibratory) resulting from the Progress undocking. [Ground engineers use data of the IWIS accelerometers and strain gauges in the modules, via RSUs to obtain acceleration (force) and strain (elongation) measurements during many dynamic activities, such as today’s undocking.]

Also in preparation for the undocking, Malenchenko installed the geophysical GFI-1 Relaksatsiya (“relaxation”) experiment, reconfiguring the Russian payload laptop 3 for the experiment and mounting the UV (ultraviolet) camera with spectrometer unit at SM window #9. Purpose: to observe the Progress 259/11P thruster plumes during the separation maneuvers and, if possible, the emission layer of the atmosphere at the Earth’s limb. [Relaksatsiya deals with the study of the chemoluminescent chemical reactions and atmospheric light phenomena (emissions, i.e., molecular relaxation processes) that occur during high-velocity interaction between the exhaust products from space vehicles and the atmosphere at orbital altitude and during the entry of space vehicles into the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Objective of the current experiment is to record the Progress thruster plumes (by UV-video). After 11P has moved out of sight, the equipment will be left in place for tomorrow’s “Fialka” experiment.]

The station’s cabin atmosphere is now periodically refreshed with gaseous oxygen (O2) from Progress 12P O2 tanks (no repress required today).

The crew was congratulated on yesterday’s successful deployment of the four new New Generation Laptop (NGL) machines brought up by 12P, and both crewmembers expressed their great delight with the increased performance and speed of the ThinkPad A31p machines. [Two of the NGLs have been installed in the Lab as SSC-4 and SSC-5 clients, one in the Node as new MPSD (multi-purpose support drive) with functions like IP Phone and photo editing and storage, and the fourth, in the Lab, is awaiting testing next week as new SSC VT (videoconference terminal) machine.]

MCC-H ballistics specialists continue keeping watch on a possible conjunction with orbital debris tomorrow at a TCA (time of closest approach) of ~10:22am EDT. Currently predicted radial miss distance is above 800 m and the probability of collision 1.9 x 10-16, i.e., extremely small. The TCA timeframe closely coincides with the planned maneuver to the XPOP attitude.

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 Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (nadir pass), Tel Aviv, Israel (nadir pass), Amman, Jordan (nadir pass), Nairobi, Kenya (looking left for the city. Also, the crew was to try for an oblique shot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the other formal site in Kenya that is seldom cloud free. This peak was further off track left beyond Nairobi. Any image with a long lens would be welcome as scientists track the shrinking of its ice cap), Great Falls, MT (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: The Missouri River drops more than 400 feet in ten miles here. The explorers spent more than a month here in June-July 1805, and noted the value of this site for hydro-power generation. Now the Ryan Dam occupies the site. The site lies on the river, at the city of Great Falls, where the highway crosses the river, all at nadir), Mouth of Marias River (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: The Marias is the large, meandering river that joins the Missouri from the northwest about 80 miles northeast of the city of Great Falls), Fort Ramon, MT (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Nadir pass. A trading post of the St. Louis Missouri Fur Co. located at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Bighorn rivers), Hurricane Fabian, W Atlantic (Dynamic event. High category 3 storm threatening Bermuda. Although a few degrees left of track, this storm was well formed and should have been photogenic), and La Paz, Bolivia (
nadir pass).
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 1:25pm EDT).

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

Elektron O2 generator is powered Off (O2 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 Off; 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) — 761; temperature (deg C) — 19.1.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 21.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 744.52; temperature (deg C) — 22.4 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 746.84; temperature (deg C) — 23.0; ppO2 (mmHg) — 170.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.1.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 746.94; temperature (deg C) — 24.5; shell heater temp (deg C) — 22.8, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.4
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 and 4B both in AutoTrack mode (solar tracking).
SM batteries: Battery #2 is failed and off; battery #7 is in Discharge mode; all other batteries (6) are in “Partial Charge” mode (battery #1 is degraded).
FGB batteries: Battery #1 is disconnected; battery #2 is 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.

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available: 3657 kg (8062 lb) as of 8/28 [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,4:57am EDT [= epoch]):