Space Station On-Orbit Status 15 May 2003

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below. Day 20 in space for Expedition 7.
Yesterday’s video downlink by the crew was well received on the ground
(“you looked mighty good”.)
At about 9:35am EDT, CDR Yuri Malenchenko and FE/SO Edward Lu began with
the scheduled one-hour fire drill/OBT (on-board training), mandatory for
every Increment but a “first” in its present realistic form and also
re-written for a two-person crew. Primary goal of this exercise is to
provide the station residents with the most realistic emergency training
possible. [OBT objectives are to (a) practice fire response procedures
(FRPs) and all incorporated actions for the case of a software-detected
fire to locate, extinguish, and verify extinguishing attempts; (b)
practice crew communication and coordination between crew and MCCs
(Mission Control Centers) necessary to perform emergency FRPs; (c)
practice coordination necessary between MCC-H and MCC-M to assist crew in
performing emergency FRPs; (d) ensure familiarity with support equipment
(CSA-CP {compound specific analyzer/combustion products }, PBAs {portable
breathing apparatus} and PFEs {portable fire extinguishers}) used in FRPs;
and (e) ensure familiarity with PCS/laptop displays and automatic software
responses associated with a fire scenario. The exercise does not actually
use any fire equipment but simulates such actions to the maximum extent
possible. NASA, GCTC (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center) and RSC-Energia
specialists were present at both MCCs during the exercise, monitoring
flight loops and standing by to provide guidance if needed to keep the OBT
moving forward. After the OBT, a post-training summary report is to be
prepared.]
The crew started another round of periodic preventive maintenance of
Russian segment ventilation systems. [Ed Lu had three hours allocated in
the Service Module (SM) for cleaning grilles of Group C ventilators, while
Yuri Malenchenko changed out the four dust collector filters (PF1-4) in
the SM (last time done: 4/10).]
Malenchenko transferred the CGBA (commercial generic bioprocessing
apparatus) payload from Locker 4 to Locker 7 in EXPRESS rack 4
(ER4). [This pre-positioned the hardware to support operations in the
ADSEP (advanced separation) payload facility planned for later in the
Increment, part of fundamental space biology research.]
After the reconfiguration, Ed Lu performed POSSUM photo documentation on
ER4. [POSSUM is a payload photo activity which obtains electronic still
shots of any subrack and locker payload that is moved or reconfigured.]
Yuri performed his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5
Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (“Plants-2”) experiment and transferred the accumulated
data files to a floppy disk, preparing them for downlink via
Regul-Packet. [Rasteniya-2 researches growth and development of higher
plants under spaceflight conditions. The experimental seeds of acacia-leaf
type pea 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, computer logging, and photo/video recording.]
As part of regular daily tasks, Malenchenko inspected the BRPK-1
air/liquid condensate separator of the SM’s SRVK water processing system,
conducted the maintenance of SOZh life support systems and prepared the
daily IMS (inventory management system) “delta” file for updating the IMS
database.
The crew downlinked two TV messages for PAO use, one for a major league
baseball client and the other for playing at Centennial of Flight
celebrations around the country (starting with “NASA Day” in Fayetteville,
NC, on 5/20).
Both crewmembers again had an hour reserved on their schedule for ISS
familiarization and adjustment to their new surroundings and activities.
Yuri and Ed performed their daily physical exercise program on the TVIS
treadmill, RED expander, CEVIS cycle and VELO ergometer with load trainer.
Ground analysis of data from the TVIS inspection by Ed Lu on 5/12
indicates that the treadmill is not sitting level in the SM floor “pit”
and shows some fraying of its wire ropes. [The cables have been wrapped
in these places with tape to prevent spalling-off of particulates. This
is allowable by established criteria, and the treadmill is cleared for
continued use.]
The CCAA (common cabin air assembly) air conditioner in the Airlock
(AL)has been deactivated in an effort to help extend the hardware’s
operational life. It will remain deactivated unless required by AL
operations or extended crew presence. [AL CCAAhas been operating with
minimum LTL (low temperature loop) flow and the TCCV (temperature control
check valve) in the full HX (heat exchanger) bypass position, i.e.,
providing almost no cooling. Thus, it is felt that the deactivation will
have minimum effect on crew comfort (unless crew feedback indicates the
contrary).]
The microbiological samples collected yesterday with the SSK (surface
sampler kit) and MAS (microbial air sampler) are currently in incubation
for Day 5 analysis (5/19). Because of downmass limitations due to the
Shuttle stand-down, they cannot be returned to the Microbiology Lab for
further analysis on the ground, as usual, but will be discarded after the
analysis. [Contained within Ziploc bags, they are classified as
non-hazardous and can be disposed of in the wet trash.]
Four PCS laptop HDDs (hard disk drives) in the U.S. segment, including two
corrupted ones, still need to be provided with the same software loads and
configs of the new CCS R3 (command and control software, version R3) for
the 12A stage. [The re-imaging of the four laptop HDDs, to be performed
with the “ghosting” process, has been placed on the “job jar” task list
for the crew’s choice.]
Two of the eight SM batteries have failed. Until they can be recovered or
replaced, U.S. power will be provided to the RS via two of the SM’s four
SNTs (voltage and current stabilizer units, i.e., transformers). Should a
third SM battery fail, the SM will be powered down to allow time for MCC-H
to reconfigure systems to support a third SNT.
Tonight’s total Lunar Eclipse (by Earth’s shadow) will be observable from
the ISS. [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.]
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 Casablanca, Morocco (nadir pass), Salt Lake City, Utah
(nadir pass), Congo-Zimbabwe Biomass Burning (fires may have spread from
Angola into central southern Africa. Looking left and right of track), SE
Africa aerosols (fires reported on the southernmost ranges of South
Africa), and Patagonian Glaciers (oblique “context” views of the two ice
fields of the southern Andes are useful in locating small glacier tongues,
especially on the cloudier west slopes).
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) — 27.8; ppO2 (mmHg) — data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) — data invalid.
- SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) — 751; temperature (deg C) — 20.7.
- FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) — 752; temperature (deg C) — 22.7.
- Node: Pressure (mmHg) — 745.16; temperature (deg C) — 23.8 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) — n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) — n/a.
- U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) — 747.24; 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) — 25.3, ppO2 (mmHg) — 172.2; ppCO2 (mmHg) — 4.2.
- PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 23.5
- PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) — 11.8
(n/a = data not available)
Propulsion System (PS):
- Total propellant load available: 3576 kg (7884 lb) as of 5/8 [SM(774) +
- FGB(2550) + 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 “directed” (non-solar tracking) mode (“sun slicer” position, for drag reduction).
- SM batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected; battery #8 suspected failed;
- battery #6 in “Cycle” mode; all other batteries (5) are in “Partial Charge” mode.
- FGB batteries: Battery #6 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: 48.4 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 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.
Payloads:
- HRF: Off.
- MSG: Off.
- ER-1: MAMS — On; SAMS — On.
- ER-2: ARIS POP — Off; ZCG — Off.
- ER-3: Off.
- ER-4: On (ARCTIC-1 — Off; PCG-STES — On; CGBA — Off; BSTC — Off; GSM — Off).
- ER-5: Off.
- EarthKAM: Off.
- CEO : On.
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:38am EDT [= epoch]):
- Mean altitude — 389.7 km
- Apogee — 394.0 km
- Perigee — 385.4 km
- Period — 92.35 min.
- Inclination (to Equator) — 51.63 deg
- Eccentricity — 0.0006298
- Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.59
- Solar Beta Angle: 48.4 deg (magnitude increasing)
- Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours — 70 m
- Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. ’98) — 25590
- For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html