Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 5 Jun 2003

By SpaceRef Editor
June 5, 2003
Filed under , ,
NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 5 Jun 2003
iss

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

Early in the morning, before breakfast, CDR Malenchenko concluded his third MBI-8 “Profilaktika” (countermeasures) fitness session.  Today he conducted the blood test part, which determines lactate and creatine kinase levels in the blood with the AccuSport equipment, followed by the physical exercise session on the TVIS treadmill.  FE/SO Lu assisted as CMO (crew medical officer).  [The TVIS test is identical to the MO-3 test performed on the treadmill in idling mode with free choice of speeds within a certain specified range.  In addition to the nominal test procedure, MBI-8/Part 3 calls for the use of the TEEM-100M gas analyzer during the test, the blood lactate measurements, and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels during the test.  At the end of the creatine kinase tests, the results were logged and recorded in Cardiocassette-2000 for subsequent downlink to the ground.]

The crew conducted the mandatory CHeCS (crew health care systems) emergency medical operations OBT (on-board training) drill, a one-hour U.S. training exercise designed to refresh crewmembers’ acuity in applying ACLS (advanced cardio life support) in an emergency.  [Deploying (without actually operating/manipulating) onboard equipment such as the RSP (respiratory support pack), CMRS (crew medical restraint system), ALSP (advanced life support pack) and defibrillator stowed in the Lab CHeCS (crew health care systems) rack, the space dwellers went step-by-step through the ACLS manual.  Among else, Yuri and Ed performed CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) on a jerry-rigged “human chest” dummy, using the CMRS (crew medical restraint system), unfolded and secured to the seat track anchors in the Lab floor.  Objectives of the exercise include practicing communication and coordination necessary to perform medical emergency procedures, locating appropriate emergency medical components, and determining each crewmember’s individual method of CPR delivery in zero-G.  After the drill, Ed Lu stowed the equipment]

Completing the T+2d analysis of water samples collected on 6/3 from all three potable water ports with the WMK (water monitoring kit), Science Officer Lu entered the microbiological data in the MEC (medical equipment computer) and called them down to the ground.  [Preliminarily, it appears that at least on one port some microbial colonies are growing.  A joint team of Houston and Moscow specialists are looking into this.]

Ed Lu reconfigured the Airlock BSA (battery stowage assembly) and used the SSC6 (station support computer #6) laptop to initiate the discharge cycle of the two remaining charged EMU batteries, for their maintenance.

Malenchenko began another maintenance cycle on the RS (Russian segment) ventilation system, today performing the periodic preventive servicing of the Group B ventilation fans in the SM, including a checkout of the ventilators and a thorough cleaning of fan screens and flexible air ducts.

Later, the CDR completed the periodic replacement of the SM toilet (ASU) hose behind wall panels 137 & 139, discarding the old hose.

Yuri also performed his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment which researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-2 greenhouse.  Later, he transferred the accumulated data files to a floppy disk for storage, and took digital photos of the plants.  [The experimental seeds of two types of peas are planted between wicks in a root tray, with environmental control powered on.  Regular daily maintenance of the experiment involves monitoring of seedling growth, humidity measurements, moistening of the substrate if necessary, and photo/video recording.]

In addition, Malenchenko completed the regular preparation of the daily IMS inventory “delta” file and the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control and life support system.  He also conducted the weekly inspection of the BRPK-1 air/liquid condensate separator system.

The crew was congratulated on yesterday’s successful robotics operations with the Canadian SSRMS (space station remote manipulator system).  Today, Ed Lu disconnected the UOP/DCP (utility outlet panel/display & control panel) power bypass cable again.  [Everything went very smoothly yesterday, with Ed and Yuri completing both grapples without aborting during the joint rigidization, as has happened in the past. This indicates that CSA’s (Canadian Space Agency’s) new latching end effector (LEE) parameters are working OK.  At the end of each grapple, however, the arm experienced a “delimp timeout”, which caused automatic safing.  This happens if execution of the “unlimp” command is delayed by having to wait until the arm has completely stopped moving.  Since at this point grappling has been accomplished, there is no impact on safety.]

The last run with coil assembly 5 (CA005) of the InSPACE (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment in the MSG (microgravity science glovebox) was successfully finished yesterday, and CA005 has been exchanged with the new CA006, containing the largest particles of the InSPACE experiment (0.66 microns).  The next test is scheduled for tomorrow.  [During start-up yesterday, the MSG again showed the pressure irregularity observed earlier, with a negative pressure differential of 0.3 mb, instead of 1.3 mb.  The MSG rack’s delta-P mode was switched to a higher software setting, and the negative differential established itself at an acceptable 5.2 mb.  Similar to (but opposite to) ground-based “clean rooms”, the negative pressure differential between the outside and the interior of the MSG’s work volume would prevent any gas outflow in case of a leak.]

The new TVIS treadmill harness straps are in Moscow, to be hand carried to Baikonur by a member of HSG (Houston Support Group).  It is hoped that they can be loaded on 11P/Progress-259, although they may lack sufficient critical priority to support a Russian decision to reopen the cargo ship’s side hatch.

Preparations for the launch of 11P at Baikonur are progressing on schedule.  Liftoff time on 6/8 (Sunday) is set for 6:34am EDT (1:34pm DMT = TsUP time), docking on 6/11 (Wednesday) at 7:17am EDT (2:17pm DMT).  All ground teams are reported ready to support the launch.  Aboard the station, the testing of both Kurs strings on the DC-1 “Pirs” side on 5/20 was successful.  The standard test of the backup TORU (teleoperated approach and docking system) in the SM is scheduled for tomorrow, along with a test of the command capability of 10P/Progress-247 from the SM’s control panel (with Progress thrusters inhibited, of course).  On 6/9 (Monday) a final crew training session will complete all preparations for the docking.

Extensive work has been done by Houston and Moscow specialists on the ISS flight attitude for the Progress docking.  [Because of the necessary feathering of the P6 solar arrays (to protect them from thruster plume contamination as well as prevent their interference with Kurs radio signals), onboard energy balance will require switching to U.S. P6 storage batteries and powering down some systems.  For a nominal automated Kurs docking, these deactivations will involve Lab, Node and PMA-1 shell heaters and the TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) from channel 2B; and Lab and Airlock shell heaters plus one of the two power strings of the SSRMS’ MBS (mobile base system) from channel 4B.  For a second docking attempt one orbit later, the EXPRESS Rack 1 (ER1) would also be turned off.  Lowest state of charge (SOC) of the batteries would in this case occur on the 4B side, with 67% (still above the flight rule limit of 65%).  In the RS, on 6/7 (Saturday) TsUP will attempt to bring the failed SM battery #4 back on line, but even if successful, it probably will provide only minimal support.  All SM batteries will carry a full charge two orbits before docking, and both the Elektron oxygen generator and the SKV-1 air conditioner will be deactivated during the docking, to reduce loads by about 1000 watts.]

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, also excluding any night target viewing, were Angolan Biomass Burning (prime pass over the burning zone south of the rainforest), Congo-Zimbabwe Biomass Burning (prime pass over the burning zone south of the rainforest), Brasilia, Brazil (nadir pass), High Central Andean Glaciers (shooting any ice-capped volcanoes that appear near nadir), Western Mediterranean Haze (the ISS track followed the coast of Spain and southern France: looking right for any haze masses held in the Med basin.  Shooting margins of haze bodies if possible, since these indicate subtle smaller circulations in the atmosphere.  [A Turkish researcher has just requested handheld views to illustrate a major new analysis of Saharan dust transport in the Med basin; such “visualization” images are often chosen ahead of other kinds of illustrative materials, even in page-limited publications]), and Cloud field dynamics, Baja (Dynamic event.  Looking for vortices generated in the stratus cloud field as the cloud field moves past the Guadalupe Islands, off Baja).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:15pm EST).

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

  • Elektron O2 generator is powered On (20 amp mode).  Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (manual mode-5/day, mode-3/night).  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) — 27.7; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
  • SM Transfer Compartment:  Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 21.4.
  • FGB Cabin:  Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 23.3.
  • Node:  Pressure (mmHg) — 745.16; temperature (deg C) — 23.6 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — 171.5; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.1.
  • U.S. Lab:  Pressure (mmHg) — 747.04; temperature (deg C) — 23.1; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
  • Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock):  Pressure (mmHg) — 747.14; temperature (deg C) — 29.0; shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.4, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) –n/a.
  • PMA-1:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 25.0.
  • PMA-2:  Shell heater temp (deg C) — 17.2.

(n/a = data not available)

Propulsion System (PS):

  • Total propellant load available: 3573 kg (7877 lb) as of 5/29 [SM(774) + FGB(2547) + Progress(252)].  (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 autonomous Autotrack (45 deg biased for drag reduction).
  • SM batteries:  Batteries #4 is disconnected (failed); all other batteries (6) are in “Partial Charge” mode (battery #2 is exhibiting degraded performance).
  • FGB batteries:  Battery #4 is disconnected; all other batteries (5) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
  • Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 in Discharge 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. Being upgraded.
  • SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being upgraded.

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: -6.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist).
  • Solar Beta angle:  18.2 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 at WS4, with KA power. 
  • POA: KA power on both strings.
  • RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.

ISS Orbit  (as of this morning, 3:48am EDT [= epoch]):

  • Mean altitude — 389.8 km
  • Apogee — 394.1 km
  • Perigee — 385.5 km
  • Period — 92.35 min.
  • Inclination (to Equator) —  51.63 deg
  • Eccentricity — 0.000637
  • Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
  • Solar Beta Angle — 18.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
  • Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 85 m
  • Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98)  — 25915
  • For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html

SpaceRef staff editor.