Status Report

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 6 Apr 2004

By SpaceRef Editor

April 6, 2004

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

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 6 Apr 2004 — iss

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

Update on Portable Computer System (PCS) Laptops: Instructions were uplinked for CDR Foale to convert an SSC (station support computer) laptop into a PCS (portable computer system) machine, which he completed early this morning. The laptop selected for this conversion was SSC6, an IBM ThinkPad 760XD used as MPSD2 (multi-purpose support drive #2). [The conversion involved changing out the HDD (hard disk drive) with HDD #6029 and running an installation floppy diskette to change the CMOS settings for PCS ops. By troubleshooting two previously replaced suspect shells (#6066 & #6057) tomorrow, it is hoped to regain a second MPSD machine.]

Update on Ku-band Antenna: A mask has been defined for insertion in the Ku-band SGANT (space-to-ground antenna) steering program, which limits the range of gimbal motions so as to prevent physical contact of the dish with a handrail and launch lock on the Z1 truss boom, as has occasionally happened since SGANT deployment in 2000.

FE Alexander Kaleri continued the latest round of periodic preventive maintenance of Russian segment ventilation systems, today in the “Pirs” DC-1 docking compartment, where he cleaned the V3 ventilator fan screen.

Time again for recharging the Motorola-9505 Iridium satellite phone: Alex Kaleri unstowed it from its location in the Soyuz TMA-3 descent module (DM) and started the charging of its lithium-ion battery. [For safety, before powering up the recharge unit, the telephone, as before (3/3/04), was put into a single CTB (crew transfer bag), which then was placed inside a triple CTB. The charging was monitored every 30 minutes without taking the satphone out of the containment. Upon completion (~6:30am EDT), Kaleri removed the phone, placed it inside its SSSP Iridium kit and stowed it back in the DM’s operational data files (ODF) container.]

Mike Foale terminated the final PFMI (Pore Formation & Mobility Investigation) run at the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) with sample #5, processed untended since yesterday. [After medium-rate data downlink, Mike removed the PFMI g-Limit (Glovebox Integrated Microgravity Isolation Technology) sample and videotape, then disassembled and stowed all the experiment hardware, a 3-hr. task. The MSG was powered off. Following instructions from the ground, Mike also used Kapton tape on the PFMI hardware to secure some “Lemo” cable-to-cable connectors, mated on the ground, to prevent them from coming apart, as happened before on a broken connector (P404).]

In preparation for his final session with the FOOT (Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight) experiment, scheduled for tomorrow, the CDR set up the equipment in the Lab. This included preparations for the EMG (electromyography) calibration with camcorder/video recording, which is to precede the daylong ops.

In the Soyuz TMA-3, the FE took routine spacecraft parameter readings (Form 03) for calldown to TsUP/Moscow.

Mike Foale continued getting organized for the approaching return to Earth. [Starting tomorrow, each crewmember will have an additional hour per day for coming-home preparations, and the crew’s formal workday is accordingly reduced to 5 hrs. 30 min. through 4/20.]

Alex downloaded accumulated log files from the Russian payload computer (BSMM) and Matryoshka payload server (BSPN) on the “Wiener” power laptop, after first installing an appropriate download application on it.

In the Service Module (SM), Sasha removed and replaced the current converter (PTAB-1M) of battery #8, which has been off-line for quite a while. [The PTAB is part of each battery’s charge/discharge unit (ZRU), along with the PTAB controller (BUPT-1M) and current integrator (MIRT-3). PTABs control the charge/discharge modes of the 800A storage batteries, stabilize the charge/discharge unit output voltage (28.5 V), and set up preventative modes to preserve the battery’s life and performance.]

Kaleri completed the periodic replenishing of the Elektron’s water supply for electrolysis. [The KOV thermal loops’ EDV container was refilled with purified water from the multifiltration/purification column unit (BKO) and the air/liquid separator unit (GZhS) while checking for any air bubbles in the EDV (and, if visible, estimating their number). This recently introduced new procedure, intended to prevent gas bubbles from getting into the BZh liquid unit, now requires that the water, coming from a CWC (contingency water container) via the pump unit (BP), first passes through the BKO and GZhS before its introduction into the BZh. Formerly, when tapping a CWC supply, this was not the case.]

Sasha conducted his regular weekly inspection of the BRPK air/condensate water separator system. He also performed the daily routine technical maintenance of the SM’s SOZh environment control & life support system, incl. the toilet equipment (ASU), as well as the regular daily preparation of the IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file for automatic export/import to update the database.

The crew had their daily workouts on the TVIS treadmill, RED resistive exerciser, CEVIS cycle ergometer and VELO stationary bike with load trainer.

Alex Kaleri completed the regular transfer of treadmill data files to the medical equipment computer (MEC), as is usually done when more than four sessions have been performed on the TVIS since last download.

At 6:10am, Kaleri engaged in a PAO interview with “gazeta.ru”, a leading website of the Russian Internet, which has an active interest in space research (see http://www.gazeta.ru/english/ ). The FE responded to questions collected from readers, uplinked beforehand. [“Best wishes on the upcoming Cosmonautics Day (4/12)! Tell us, do you still have romantic feelings about space flights?”; “According to the media, the Chinese Taikonaut did not see the Great Wall of China. Can you see it?”; “Do you believe in UFOs? Have you seen UFO or anything that resembles UFO? Or is it a secret?”]

Several hours after PCU-2 (plasma contactor unit #2) was commanded to Shutdown mode last night (via Standby mode), continuing discharge pressure (>27 psi) indicated that latch valve #1 may be leaking. This means that the PCU tank is losing Xenon since latch valve #2 nominally remains open in Shutdown mode. [To resolve the issue, PCU must be power-cycled, followed by latch valve #1 commanded closed and checked 10 hours later to ensure no leak. If it fails to seat, latch valve #2 will be closed (its usual position when the PCU is in Standby mode). A previous failure to close was observed for valve #2 on 10/17/2000.]

Today’s CEO (Crew Earth Observations) targets, limited in XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the science window, which is available for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in “ram”), were Lake Nasser, Toshka Lakes; Egypt (ISS had a nadir pass over the recent, unplanned, man-made lakes forming in the desert west of the Aswan Dam. Trying for a mapping pass of these dynamic features), Athens, Greece (a fine view of the ancient Greek city and modern capital lied just left of track), Istanbul, Turkey (this famous, strategically located city sits astride the Bosporus, just left of track), La Paz (looking just right of track for a good view of the Bolivian capital city, situated in a mountain valley southeast of Lake Titicaca), Puerto Rico (400mm-lens. As ISS tracked over the western end of Puerto Rico, the crew was to use the long lens to document details of the coral reef formations there), and Florida East & West Coast (as ISS tracked northeastward across the Florida peninsula this pass, the crew was to look right of track towards the northern Bahamas for sun glint views to revealing internal wave patterns).

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 today, 1:48pm EDT).

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

Elektron O2 generator is On. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On. U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is on Standby (ready in dual-bed mode). TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating. SM Gas Analyzer has been calibrated and is used for ppO2 and ppCO2 monitoring. MCA (major constituents analyzer) is in Life Extending Mode (LEM). 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 (repair not completed; to be tested ASAP). SFOG slot#2 fan suspect (not usable).
SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 742; temperature (deg C) — 26.1; ppO2 (mmHg) — 160.2; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 3.2;
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 761; temperature (deg C) — 20.4.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 756; temperature (deg C) — 24.0.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 758.52; temperature (deg C) — 24.6 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 759.56; temperature (deg C) — 25.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 759.87; temperature (deg C) — 25.3; shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.9, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
(n/a = data not available)
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.6
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 11.0

Electrical Power Systems (EPS):

Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both in Autotrack (solar-tracking, “sun slicer”, i.e., drag reduction-biased by 47 deg).
SM batteries: Battery #8 is off-line; battery #1 is in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (6) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #6 is off-line (capacity restoration mode, ROM); all other batteries (5) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is in Standby mode; PCU-2 is 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-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is Backup.
INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.
EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is Off.
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-1 MDM is Off; PL-2 MDM is Operational.
APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string 1 dropped out 11/22/03).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string #3 dropped out 10/22/03).
FGB MDM-1 is Off (failed, 11/21/03); MDM-2 is Operational.

Propulsion System:

Total propellant load available: 3926 kg (8655 lb) as of 3/26/04; [SM(755) + FGB(2512) + Progress M-1(659)]. (Capability: SM — 860 kg; FGB — 6120 kg).

Attitude Control Systems:

3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02).
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), until 4/14.

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 (may require a mask).
Audio subsystem is operating nominally (IAC-1 is prime, IAC-2 is off).
Video subsystem operating nominally.
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.

Robotics:

SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at Lab PDGF/LEE A, operational on redundant string, off on prime.
MBS: KA (keep alive) 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, 7:37am EDT [= epoch]):