Space Station On-Orbit Status 14 May 2003
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Day 19 in space for Expedition 7.
As a standard task after Russian docking events, CDR Yuri Malenchenko took photos of the internal FGB (funktsionalnyi-grusovoi blok) module nadir docking assembly (StA) used for the 6S/Soyuz TMA-2 linkup. These images will be used to refine current understanding of docking conditions. [The goal is to take photos of the scratch or scuff mark left by the head of the docking probe on the internal surface of the docking cone ring. As other cosmonauts before him, Yuri used the Kodak 760 digital still camera to take two pictures with the hatch closed down and downlinked them later (4:55am EDT) via OCA.]
FE/SO Edward Lu performed a checkout of the MedOps cardiac defibrillator, a routine task that is performed as soon as possible from Expedition start and every 60 days thereafter. [For the checkout, the defib is connected to the 120V outlet, equipped with its battery and then allowed to charge, for about five seconds, to a preset energy level (e.g., 100 joules). After the button-triggered discharge, a console indicator signals success or failure of the test.]
Science Officer Ed Lu conducted surface sample swabs in Lab, SM and Node with the EHS SSK (environmental health systems/surface sample kit) for cultivation. [The colony growth on the sampling slides will be analyzed after two and five days of incubation.]
Lu then used the MAS (microbial air sampler) kit to collect air samples for bacterial and fungal analysis. [As for the SSK, the analysis is usually performed on Days 2 and 5 of incubation in Petri dishes.]
Ed Lu also transferred the BSTC (Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller Functional Test) experiment and its GSM (gas supply module) from EXPRESS rack 3 (ER3) to ER4. This positioned the hardware for a functional checkout later in the Increment. [BSTC is part of NASA/JSC’s Cellular Biotechnology Program that develops ground-based and space bioreactor technology to support investigations in cell biology and tissue engineering by providing the proper thermal and gas environment plus employing the weightless environment to form three-dimensional, functional tissue equivalents. CBOSS (cell biotechnology operations support systems) includes the BSTC, which houses stationary bioreactors called QTCMAs (quad tissue culture module assemblies), maintained at a specified temperature in a controlled atmosphere. Growth, morphology and function of mammalian cells in the BSTC are monitored by the crew by means of pH and chemistry analysis of media samples and postflight analysis of “fixed” cell samples. The GSM provides carbon dioxide (CO2) gas for purging the incubation chambers after sessions, and the BCSS (biotechnology cell science stowage), which includes a supercold cryo-dewar, will supply the consumables and tools.]
Malenchenko completed his regular daily 5-min. inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”) plant growth experiment.
Both crewmembers again had an hour reserved on their schedule for ISS familiarization and adjustment to their new surroundings and activities.
The CDR completed the daily routine maintenance on the SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet facility, KRP food containers, EDV water containers and KTO solid waste containers).
He also prepared the regular IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file for updating the IMS database, while Ed Lu conducted the daily status checkup of Lab payloads (PCG-STES, SAMS, MAMS).
Yuri and Ed performed their daily physical exercise program on the TVIS treadmill, RED expander, CEVIS cycle and VELO ergometer with load trainer.
Yesterday, the Science Officer downlinked his first on-air responses to specific questions about his and Malenchenko’s experiences and impressions, which were submitted on the Internet by the public. [The answers, with the questions, are to be posted on
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/feedback/expert/answer/isscrew/index.html .]
At 9:50am EDT, the crewmembers downlinked two TV messages via Ku- and S-band for videotaping on the ground, one for generic PAO purposes, the other for playing at various NASA Visitors Centers around the U.S.
Starting at 9:55am EDT, MCC-Moscow began a six-hour remote-commanded test of transmitting a time signal between the BSV-M time synchronization unit on one of the system power panels (PPS) master clock units and the BSMM payload computer (multiplexer/demultiplexer). [The synchronization test was repeated twice for the two BSV-M sets. New software was loaded into the SUBA BSMM a month ago, and troubleshooting, begun by Nikolai Budarin, continues.]
New pages for the on-board Emergency procedures (EMER-1) book were uplinked for the crew to be substituted in the onboard hard copies. [While performing the emergency equipment OBT (on-board training) on 5/12, the crew discovered that one of the three EMER-1 books had been left in the Soyuz 5S orbital module, now burnt up (nominally, there should be three copies on board, one each in the Russian segment, U.S. segment, and Soyuz). Instructions were uplinked for building a new book, incorporating previous pages and the new material.]
Instructions were also uplinked for the crew to observe and photograph the total Lunar Eclipse (by Earth’s shadow) tomorrow night, 5/15. Since it will occur during crew sleep time, the activity is at crew’s choice. [Preceded by partial eclipse, total eclipse begins at 11:14pm EDT and ends at 12:07am, followed by another hour of partial eclipse. The crew will be able to see it best from the Soyuz spacecraft, since the Lab window must remain shuttered most of the time due to the current XPOP attitude.]
Yesterday at about 2:00pm EDT, MCC-Houston suffered an outage of its command server and its backup, remaining without station commanding or telemetry reception until the system was restored after about 64 min.. An investigation of the cause is underway.
Today’s CEO (crew earth observations) targets, severely restricted by limited the use of the science window in the Lab due to the current XPOP attitude, were Anatahan volcano, N Marianas (this island volcano may still be erupting. Looking right ~1 degree off track. Anatahan lies ~200 miles north of Guam), Madrid, Spain (nadir pass), Algiers, Algeria (nadir pass), El Paso, Texas (nadir pass), Monterrey, Mexico (nadir pass), Angolan Biomass Burning (fires rage in north central Angola. Shoot obliques for best capturing of the smoke palls, both sides of track), and Amazon Basin, Brazil (Dynamic event. Unseasonably clear weather over the Amazon allows sunglint views left of track of the vast wetlands that flank the river on its wide floodplain. The ground suggested a mapping strip for about 3 mins).
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
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 (16 Amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (manual mode 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) — 28.7; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
- SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 20.4.
- FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 748; temperature (deg C) — 22.7.
- Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 744.52; temperature (deg C) — 23.5 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — 172.2; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.1.
- U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 746.63; temperature (deg C) — 22.3; ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) — 746.74; temperature (deg C) — 23.4; shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.4, ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 24.2
- PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 12.0
(n/a = data not available)
Propulsion System (PS):
- Total propellant load available: 3588 kg (7910 lb) as of 5/8 [SM(774) + FGB(2562) + 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 solar-tracking Auto mode (“sun slicer” position).
- SM batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected; battery #8 suspected failed; battery #5 in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (5) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
- FGB batteries: Battery #1 is in “Cycle” mode; battery #4 is in ROM (capacity restoration) mode, in parallel with #1; all other batteries (4) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
- Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 and PCU-2 both 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 On (primary); PL-1 MDM is Off
- 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-2 (GPS)
- Angular rate source — RGA-2
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: 43.6 deg (magnitude increasing).
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 operating nominally.
- 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, 7:15am 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 — 0.0006382
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
- Solar Beta Angle: 43.6 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 50 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 25574
- For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
