Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 5 Aug 2003

By SpaceRef Editor

August 5, 2003

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

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 5 Aug 2003 — iss

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

Early this morning (3:14am EDT), during troubleshooting of the Service Module’s KOB thermal loops by MCC-Moscow, both KOB-1 & KOB-2 cooling loops went down. The loss of cooling triggered an automatic load shed routine which powers off systems. By 6:00am, cooling had been restored and all critical equipment repowered. ISS is operating nominally on KOB-1. [Communication with the crew, attitude contro, and pointing were never lost during the event. KOB-1 was recovered almost immediately after it went down. Status of KOB-2 is under investigation. Suspected: KOB pump panel.]

After breakfast (2:40am EDT), FE/SO Ed Lu performed the 24-hr. data registration of the body-worn acoustic dosimeters deployed yesterday. Readings will again be taken tonight before sleep time. [Before turning the dosimeters back on again, their batteries were changed out. The dosimeters were then statically deployed for approximately 16 hrs. in specified locations.]

CDR Yuri Malenchenko installed the VFS-3M video-photometric system of the Molniya-SM/LSO experiment at window #1, aligning its line-of-sight at 27 degrees below local horizon for Earth viewing. Later tonight, Molniya will be torn down and stowed again. [The Molniya VFS-3M is used for studying atmospheric, ionospheric and magnetospheric electromagnetic interaction related to storms and seismic activities. Today, the VFS was activated by SUBA (onboard equipment control system) command at entry into eclipse (Earth’s shadow) and deactivated at eclipse exit.]

Ed Lu conducted the monthly inspection of the PBAs (portable breathing apparatus) and PFEs (portable fire extinguishers). [There are a total of five PBAs in the U.S. segment (USOS), viz.: two in the Node, two in the Lab and one in the Joint Airlock (A/L). Last time done: 7/2.]

Yuri Malenchenko harvested, then deactivated the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment, which studies growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-2 greenhouse. [Experiment data were copied to a memory card for return to the ground, and the plants were videotaped for documentation. After deactivation, Yuri opened the Lada-2’s leaf chamber window.]

The station’s cabin atmosphere is periodically repressurized with fresh oxygen from Progress 10P O2 tanks, which held 50 kg of the gas. Repress to 170 mmHg oxygen partial pressure (ppO2) is performed by the crew by cycling a valve when ppO2 has decreased to 160 mmHg. [The Elektron oxygen generator is currently off, to conserve its service life, and the cycling relies on the U.S. MCA (major constituents analyzer) or CSA-CP (compound specific analyzer-combustion products) instruments to measure the 10mmHg pressure difference.]

The Science Officer collected air samples with the GSC (grab sample container) from the center of the SM, then deployed two passive FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) sampling badges in the Lab and SM, to catch any atmospheric formaldehyde on a sampling substrate for analysis in JSC lab facilities (last time done: 6/23).

Ed Lu activated the MSG (microgravity science glovebox) for another session of the CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid/Liquid Mixtures-2) experiment. At the end of the day, the MSG will be powered off. The CSLM ground team was very pleased with yesterday’s humidity and temperature readings. [Today, venting to vacuum of the CSLM-2 sample chamber continued. Dr. Lu also cycled the water valve, opening it twice for 1-2 hr durations, in order to evacuate the area of the water line upstream of the water valve. After MSG power-down, venting of the sample chamber will continue for one more night. Ed’s activities were time-critical due to opening/closing of valves and necessary call-downs.]

Malenchenko conducted a one-hour inventory audit of docking assembly (StA) accessories kits flown in the Russian segment (RS). [For the audit, Yuri looked for, and checked off, items such as hatch cranks, crank extensions, handles, clamps, wrenches, screwdrivers and valve plugs in the various RS modules (SM, FGB, DC-1, and Soyuz OM). Last time done: 5/16/03.]

Malenchenko also performed a consumables audit of Russian SGO health maintenance system items, verifying location of a large number of SLG sanitary-hygiene equipment with expired shelf life and used underwear which had been stowed by the Expedition 6 crew (on 2/20/03). [All used-up items were stored in bags and moved to Progress-259/11P for disposal.]

The CDR was provided with a list of log files for transfer from RS laptop and downlink to TsUP via Regul-Packet or OCA (on Moscow’s Go).

Ed Lu was up for another 1.5-hr. session of the periodic general MedOps PFE (periodic fitness evaluation), which checks up on blood pressure and electrocardiogram during programmed exercise on the CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) in the Lab. Readings were taken with the BP/ECG (blood pressure/electrocardiograph). Yuri Malenchenko assisted his crewmate as CMO (crew medical officer). [BP/ECG provides automated noninvasive systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements while also monitoring and displaying accurate heart rates on a continual basis at rest and during exercise.]

Malenchenko conducted his seventh session of the Russian Uragan (“hurricane”) earth imaging program (GFI-8), using the Kodak DCS760 digital still camera with 800-mm lens where cloud cover did not exceed 30%. [Targets included the Jarkuduk region, town of Dushanbe, the Nurek Hydro-Electrical Power Station, glaciers such as RGO and others, highest mountains in the Altai range, Sinai Peninsula, Israeli, Palestinian and Syrian towns, pits at Jezkazga, Temirtau and Karaganda, and the flood in Tuva. The images were stored on the removable hard disk drive (HDD) #4 of the French EGE-2 laptop.]

Yuri also conducted another photography session for the Diatomeya ocean observations program, using the DVCAM 150 digital video camera and the Nikon-F5 electronic still camera with 80-mm lens. [Today’s observations again presented an opportunity to investigate bioproductive waters in the Northern Atlantic and its surrounding seas (Caribbean, Mediterranean and Black Sea) which are being actively researched by ships.]

Ed attended to the daily routine maintenance of the SM SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet facilities) and prepared the daily IMS delta file for automatic export/import to update the database.

Both crewmembers worked out in their daily 2.5-h program of physical exercise, on TVIS treadmill and RED expander, and Ed Lu took care of the periodic transfer of data files from the TVIS to the MEC (medical equipment computer).

MCC-M is continuing the checkout tests of the newly installed Russian ASN-1 satellite navigation antenna system which has encountered technical problems. Today’s test started the ASN-1 in “GPS-only” mode.

At 9:00am EDT, MCC-H began transitioning the MDMs/computers of the S1 and P1 truss segments to software version R2, starting on MDM S1-1 and P1-1 today, and finishing off with S1-2 and P1-2 tomorrow. [The new software adds TCS (thermal control system) capability required for Mission 12A.1 and thus has no significant impacts to the crew or their procedures for the duration of Increment 7. While some C&W (caution & warning) annunciations are expected during this process, the ground will do everything necessary to keep them suppressed.]

Starting today through 8/10, MCC-H and POC (Payload Operations Center) are conducting a Ku-band 150 MBPS (megabytes per second) evaluation test, during which the IP Phone and OCA transfer capabilities are temporarily out of service. [Currently, MCC-H and POC use the 50 Mbps capability of Ku-band. The purpose of this test is to demonstrate that the ISS Ku-band 150 Mbps and 75 Mbps can be effectively utilized for future day-to-day operations.]

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 Industrialized SE Africa (the pass tracked along the SE coast of South Africa. This should have offered a prime view of the coastal plain, the escarpment, and the plateau beyond. Oblique views left of track requested for ~1.5-2.0 minutes), Tashkent, Uzbekistan (looking a touch left of track at the foot of the mountains), Pyramids of Giza, pyramids (looking a touch left on the west side of the Nile [at the base of the Nile delta opposite Cairo]), Cairo, Egypt (just left of track), Tel Aviv, Israel (nadir pass), Statue of Zeus at Olympia (right of track on the west coast of the Peloponnesos peninsula [opposite the southernmost large island]), Athens, Greece (general view of the Athens area, right of track on the opposite [east] side of Greece from the ISS view angle), Brasilia, Brazil (right of track), Casablanca, Morocco (right of track on the coast), Barcelona, Spain (nadir pass), Tessina, Italy (this is a landside research site in the Alps. On this nadir pass, the ground suggested a mapping swath for about 60 secs, to capture this elusive site. A general view from a distance would assist in locating the images), Northern France (Dynamic event. Clear weather right of track), London, England, Great Britain (another clear slot with good summer [high sun] lighting), El Paso, Texas (looking a touch left where the Rio Grande breaks through the line of mountains. The sister city of Juarez in Mexico on the south side of the river is even larger than El Paso, and is considered part of the urban system), Oshkosh, Wisconsin (on the west shore of Lake Winnebago. Left of track), and Chicago, Illinois (conurbation right of track).

CEO images can be viewed at the websites

http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:50pm 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) — 27.6; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 19.8.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 23.7.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 742.6; temperature (deg C) — 22.3 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — 165.3; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.6.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 744.51; temperature (deg C) — 23.4; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 744.61; temperature (deg C) — 22.4; shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.7, ppO2 (mmHg) — 168.3; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.3.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.9
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 21.3.

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

Total propellant load available: 3646 kg (8038 lb) as of 7/31 [SM(774) + FGB(2872) + Progress M(0) +Progress M-1(0)]. (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 (~45 deg bias for drag reduction).
SM batteries: Battery #5 is off line (Capacity Restoration mode, ROM); all other batteries (7) are in “Partial Charge” mode. Batteries #1and #3 showing degraded capacity.
FGB batteries: Battery #1 is off line; battery #5 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-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: -179 deg, pitch: -9.0 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist).Management.
Solar Beta angle: 12.8 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-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, 1:43am EDT [= epoch]):