NASA Space Station On-orbit Status Report 21 Jul 2003
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Week 12 is underway. Day 88 in space for the Increment 7 crew. Today next week, continuous manned ISS operations will reach 1000 days.
During a Russian ground site (RGS) pass, at 6:22am EDT, CDR Yuri Malenchenko performed his third monthly session with the Russian MedOps cardio experiment MO-1 (study of the bioelectric activity of the heart at rest), with Ed Lu assisting as CMO (crew medical officer). [During the test, transmittal of the Gamma-1M ECG (electrocardiogram) signal to the ground was required for about 5-6 minutes.]
FE/SO Ed Lu undertook the monthly water sampling for in-flight chemistry/microbiology analysis, using approved Russian sampling procedures with the U.S. WS&A (water sampler & archiver) for collection and the WMK (water microbiology kit) for processing within 6 hrs. of the collection. Results will be available after a two-day incubation period. [Samples were taken in the SM at the potable water SRV-K hot port and from the EDV container of the SVO-ZV water supply system.]
At about 12:20pm, Malenchenko was to conducted a photo survey of the interiors of the Service Module (SM) and DC-1 docking module “Pirs”, using the Nikon electronic still camera. [Specific targets included peeling decorative cloth on the interior SM paneling, damaged areas, discolored insulation, damaged labeling and connectors of the BKS onboard cable network, soiled decorative cloth in the SM around the “kitchen” tables, the SKK “witness” cassette #1 in SM and DC-1, portions of the DC-1 exterior (multilayer insulation, ZVTI), handrails and other parts of the structure). At the end of the photo survey, Yuri was to transfer the images to Laptop #1 for later downlink via OCA.]
Ed Lu activated the MSG (microgravity science glovebox) for a research session with the CSLM (Coarsening in Solid/Liquid Mixtures) experiment series. [Today he powered up the ECU (electronics control unit) and checked the humidity level inside the sample chamber to ensure that no water is vented into the VES (vacuum exhaust system). Following that, he initiated the 24-hour vent activity and then powered down the CSLM ECU and MSG.]
Early in the morning, the Science Officer began the planned week-long EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) battery maintenance activities. [The program started today with charging initiation for batteries #2032 and #2033 in the BSA (battery stowage assembly). The batteries will be charged for 24 hours and then taken off power tomorrow for a 1-hr. cooling period. Next step will be their discharge. This will be followed by a charge/discharge cycle on batteries #2029 and #2030.]
The crew conducted the CHeCS (crew health care systems) emergency medical operations CMO OBT (on-board training) drill, a 30-min. exercise to refresh crewmembers’ acuity in applying ACLS (advanced cardio life support) in an emergency.
Yuri Malenchenko performed a 2-hr. inventory audit of 44 Russian medical kits, food supplement kits and ointment kits, verifying their availability and stowage locations.
Malenchenko removed an old air temperature sensor (ÒÌ168) behind panel 234 of the SM, next to his crew cabin, and replaced it with a new unit delivered on Progress-255.
The CDR also continued the search for missing items, focusing on the connector for hooking the BKG pressurized switcher up with the MBRL intermodular radio communications system.
Ed Lu conducted the daily routine maintenance of the SM’s SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet facilities) and the regular Lab payload status checkup, while Yuri prepared the daily IMS inventory “delta” file.
The CDR also conducted his regular care of the on-board nursery, i.e., the daily monitoring/servicing of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 zero-G plant growth experiment in the Lada-2 greenhouse.
Both crewmembers completed their daily 2.5-h program of physical exercise, on TVIS treadmill, RED expander and CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation).
Ed Lu attended to the monthly maintenance of the CEVIS. [MCC-H requested confirmation that the only damage present includes one frayed wire on the front left and one on the front right isolators. Also, the Exp. 6 crew had reported that while pedaling they may have heard an unusual “steady, smooth” noise coming from the CEVIS flywheel area. The Increment 7 crew was asked whether they noticed any similar sound while pedaling, or other sounds from the CEVIS flywheel that seem off-nominal or unusual, and if so, whether they have noticed any increase/decrease in the sound level since you began using CEVIS.]
The Science Officer also conducted the periodic (every other week) inspection of the RED (resistive exercise device) and monthly bolt tightening (if required).
Ed completed his tenth 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.
Message from the AA for Space Flight to the ISS crew yesterday (7/20/03):
Today, July 20th, marks the 34th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Please know that when the histories are recorded years from now that the role of pioneers like you and Yuri will figure prominently in having paved the way for the human exploration which will most certainly take place in the coming decades.
As Pres Bush said, “…it is not an option we choose, it is a destiny written in the human heart.”
As we approach 1000 days of continuously crewed operations aboard the ISS, without your steadfast dedication and commitment to our mission of human space exploration this impressive milestone would not have been achievable. Implicit in that is the personal sacrifice necessary to undertake such a noble calling. For that we applaud you and thank you for your service.
My heartiest congratulations to you both. We’re all very proud of you. Keep up the stellar work!
Today’s optional CEO (crew earth observation) targets, no longer limited in the current LVLH attitude and including the targets of the Lewis & Clark 200-year memorial locations, were Lake Eyre, Australia (first view in months. General and detailed views of the lake and surrounding lakes were requested, for this long-term monitoring site. El Nino is one of the major controls of the filling and emptying of this lake), Albuquerque, New Mexico (NIGHT PASS), Shanghai, China (NIGHT PASS. Looking right for cities of this heavily populated mouth of the Chiang Jiang), Kuwait City, Kuwait (NIGHT PASS), Tunis, Tunisia (NIGHT PASS), and Lower Amazon basin, Brazil (several rivers enter the Amazon estuary, making this not only the largest, but of the most complex estuaries in the world. The Amazon’s great tidal bore, with a wave up to 5+ meters high that moves inland at 35 miles per hour, complicates the hydrology further, being felt 400 miles inland from the coast).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites
See also the website “Space Station Challenge” at
http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/
