ISS On-Orbit Status 8 Sep 2003<br /><br /> All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously<br />or below. Begin of Week 19 of Increment 7, and Day 136 for the crew's stay<br />in space.<br /><br />After station inspection and morning hygiene, before breakfast and first<br />exercise, CDR Yuri Malenchenko and FE/SO Edward Lu underwent another session<br />of the periodic Russian biomedical assessments of Body Mass Measurement/BMM<br />(PZEh-MO-8) and Calf Volume Measurement (PZEh-MO-7). (Last time done:<br />8/26). [Malenchenko set up the BMM "scales", which uses calibrated springs<br />to determine the subject's mass in weightless space, and stowed it away<br />after the tests. Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the ISOG<br />device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee<br />and lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a rough index of<br />deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures.]<br /><br />Ed Lu began another round of EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) battery<br />maintenance, initiating recharge on batteries #2032 and #2033 in the BSA<br />(battery stowage assembly). The charging is expected to last about 24<br />hours. Batteries for helmet light and PGT (pistol grip tool) are not<br />included in the maintenance.<br /><br />Yuri Malenchenko deactivated the Service Module's (SM) IK0501 gas analyzer<br />(GA) and replaced its carbon dioxide (CO2) filter assembly (BF) with a new<br />unit. GA was reactivated and the spent BF stowed for disposal (replaced<br />last: 7/29). [IK0501 is an automated system for measuring CO2, O2, and H2O<br />in the air as well as the flow rate of the gas being analyzed.].<br /><br />The Science Officer conducted the fifth 30-day functionality ("health") test<br />of the HRF GASMAP (Human Research Facility/Gas Analyzer System for Metabolic<br />Analysis Physiology). Last time done: 8/12. [After unstowing, cabling and<br />powering up the equipment, Ed let it run for 3 hrs. in standby mode, then<br />performed a health check and reconfigured the system for a 2-hr. low power<br />rundown. Afterwards, about 6 hrs. after power-up, the GASMAP was<br />deactivated, disconnected and stowed again.]<br /><br />Malenchenko performed Part 2 of troubleshooting/checkout of the ham radio<br />packet module timelined for today (originally on the Russian task list).<br />[Part 2 of the task consisted of power-cycling the ham radio system from the<br />FGB and establishing packet comm above the US and Russia territories. The<br />restart and power-cycling of the packet module was to be conducted over the<br />ground stations in the continental US, where this procedure will be followed<br />by the ham operators on the ground.]<br /><br />Yuri also cycled the batteries of Russian laptop #2, discharging and<br />recharging them for maintenance.<br /><br />Ed prepared the daily IMS delta file for automatic export/import to update<br />the database and performed the regular routine status checkup of the<br />autonomous Lab payloads, while Yuri took care of the daily maintenance of<br />the SM SOZh life support system (including ASU toilet facilities).<br /><br />At 12:29pm EDT, the crew downlinked a message for the 54th Congress of the<br />International Astronautical Federation (IAF), 9/29-10/5, in Bremen, Germany.<br />The greetings from the ISS will be shown at the opening session of the<br />Congress.<br /><br />The crew began with Progress 12P unloading and cargo transfers, to continue<br />over the next few days. An updated list was uplinked to support the<br />transfer and stowage operations.<br /><br />Among the cargo items brought up by 12P are several European experiments for<br />ESA astronaut Pedro Duque after his arrival with Soyuz TMA-3/7S on 10/20.<br />The Spaniard will be performing a number of physical science, human<br />physiology, biology and education experiments. [Experiment equipment<br />delivered for the Spanish mission includes PROMISS-2 (study of fundamental<br />processes underlying protein crystallization) and three life sciences<br />experiments, viz., NEUROCOG (study how humans perceive space, what role the<br />sensory information of sight, balance, motion and position plays in this,<br />and how human perception is affected by weightlessness), CARDIOCOG (study of<br />changes in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of humans in zero-G),<br />and BMI (monitoring changes in blood pressure rhythms over 24 hours).<br />Also included are WINOGRAD, a European student experiment, already active,<br />which investigates differences between the growth of Winogradski columns in<br />weightlessness and on Earth (a Winogradski column is a colony of different<br />types of bacteria in which the waste products of one bacterium serve as<br />nutrients for another and vice versa, as is found on Earth in pond or lake<br />water, requiring only light for photosynthesis), and a biology activation<br />unit for the ROOT and GENE experiments.]<br /><br />Both crewmembers worked out with their daily 2.5-h program of physical<br />exercise, on TVIS treadmill, RED expander, and VELO cycle with load trainer.<br /><br />Later today, Moscow is scheduled to conduct the standard firing tests of the<br />Progress approach and attitude control thrusters (DPO), after last week's<br />(9/4) installation of the electronic US-21 matching unit in the Progress<br />vehicle, which connects its motion control and DPO systems to the SM so that<br />they can be commanded by the latter's computer system (BVS),. [Station<br />attitude will be handed over from USOS to the Russian segment MCS (motion<br />control system) for the tests at 3:55 pm EDT, conducted from the SM MCS via<br />the US-21. Thruster manifold #1 (four jets) will be tested first with brief<br />bursts at 6:06 pm and 6:09pm, followed by manifold #2 (four jets) at 7:31pm<br />and 7:35 pm. Afterwards, control authority will be returned to the U.S.<br />CMGs for Momentum Management in XPOP. The tests are used to determine which<br />thruster manifold will be considered the primary one for reboosting and<br />debris avoidance burns.]<br /><br />Before sleep time tonight, the CDR will set up the test equipment for the<br />periodic Russian MO-10 "Hematokrit" testing scheduled for tomorrow. [MO-10<br />measures the hematocrit (red cell mass) value of the blood (as a well-known<br />phenomenon of space flight, red blood cell mass {normal range: 30-45%} tends<br />to go down over time).]<br /><br />Last Friday's (9/5) troubleshooting of RPCM (remote power controller module)<br />Z14B-A on the Z1 truss by the ground was successful, exonerating it in its<br />operation with the power converter units (transformers) in the FGB (ARCU<br />#53) and SM (SNT #21). The RPCM has been reset and returned to normal<br />operational status. [The module's RPC-1 had indicated an overcurrent trip<br />(i.e., a "blown fuse") on 8/20.]<br /><br />The crew was instructed that the U.S. CSA-CP (compound specific<br />analyzer-combustion products) instrument's ppO2 (oxygen partial pressure)<br />readings should not be relied upon for determining O2 repressurizations from<br />Progress 12P's gaseous O2 tank.<br /><br />TsUP/Moscow reported that the next O2 repress won't be done until shortly<br />before arrival of the Soyuz 7S crew. In the meantime, the cabin atmosphere<br />will be refreshed with air from 12P, to raise nitrogen partial pressure<br />(ppN2). [N2 is an inert gas used for O2 dilution in the breathing air. It<br />does not get used up by the human metabolism and has no effect on it (except<br />in case of dysbarism ("bends" or caisson sickness) during too-rapid<br />decompressions.]<br /><br />The checkout of EMU #3005 last Friday was judged successful. Data are still<br />being analyzed, but the spacesuit has been declared ready to support EVA.<br /><br />The failed battery #2 in the SM is slated for removal and replacement next<br />week (9/17). [Three spare 800A's were delivered by Progress 12P (two for<br />the SM, one for the FGB).]<br /><br />Today's CEO (crew earth observation) targets, limited in the current XPOP<br />attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science<br />window, and including the targets of the Lewis & Clark 200-year memorial<br />locations, were Lake Nasser, Toshka Lakes, Egypt (nadir pass over these<br />important sites. Looking left and right), Lisbon, Portugal (nadir pass),<br />Chicago, Illinois (looking a touch south for the urban region stretched<br />along the south side of Lake Michigan), Marietta, Ohio (LEWIS & CLARK SITE:<br />Nadir pass. Marietta is noted as the oldest settlement on the Ohio River.<br />It is located about ten miles upriver from Parkersburg, West Virginia where<br />the Muskingum River enters from the north and the Ohio makes a large meander<br />north. In the summer of 1803, on their way to St. Louis, Lewis and Clark<br />stopped here since it was one of the few settlements they encountered on<br />their way west), Moundsville, W. VA. (LEWIS & CLARK SITE: Looking a touch<br />left on the Ohio River at a major bend. Lewis stopped near present day<br />Moundsville, West Virginia, to view "a remarkable artificial mound of earth"<br />called the Indian Grave. He described it as being 700 paces from the river<br />situated on a small hill in a large bottom. It was 310 feet in circumference<br />at the base and 65 feet high), Denver, Colorado (nadir pass), Dallas, Texas<br />(looking a touch left), Amazon smoke (Dynamic event. Looking left and right<br />for numerous fires and a smoke pall that has evolved at the height of this<br />burning season), and Jarvis Island reef (looking a touch left for this coral<br />reef located on the equator).<br /><br />CEO images can be viewed at the websites<br /><br />http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov<br />http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov<br /><br />See also the website "Space Station Challenge" at<br />http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/<br /><br />U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:46pm EDT).<br /><br />Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):<br /><br />Elektron O2 generator is powered Off (O2 being supplied by Progress 12P).<br />Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (in Manual Mode 5/3). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is<br />Off. TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating. MCA (major<br />constituents analyzer) is operating. BMP Harmful Impurities unit: absorbent<br />bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is<br />On; SKV-2 is Off.<br /><br /><br />SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --<br />28.0; ppO2 (mmHg) -- data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- data invalid.<br />SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --<br />20.0.<br />FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) -- 24.0.<br />Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 739.44; temperature (deg C) -- 23.4 (shell); ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 741.28; temperature (deg C) -- 23.1; ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- 162.6; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 4.0.<br />Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 741.48; temperature (deg<br />C) -- 26.8; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.2, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a.<br />PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.5<br />PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 15.6.<br /><br />(n/a = data not available)<br /><br />Electrical Power Systems (EPS):<br /><br />Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B<br />both in AutoTrack mode (solar tracking).<br />SM batteries: Battery #2 is failed and off; battery #7 is in Discharge<br />mode; all other batteries (6) are in "Partial Charge" mode (battery #1 is<br />degraded).<br />FGB batteries: Battery #1 is disconnected; all other batteries (5) are in<br />"Partial Charge" mode.<br />Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 in Standby mode.<br /><br />Command & Data Handling Systems:<br /><br />C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-3 is in standby.<br />GNC-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup.<br />INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.<br />EXT-2 is On (primary), EXT-1 is Off (both now upgraded to R3).<br />LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.<br />PL-2 MDM is Off; PL-1 MDM is Operational.<br />APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.<br />SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.<br />SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.<br /><br />Propulsion System (PS):<br /><br />Total propellant load available: 3998 kg (8814 lb) as of 9/4 [SM(755) +<br />FGB(2891) + Progress M(352) + Progress M-1(0)]. (Capability: SM -- 860 kg;<br />FGB -- 6120 kg).<br /><br />Attitude Control Systems:<br /><br />3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).<br />State vector source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)<br />Attitude source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)<br />Angular rate source -- RGA-1<br /><br />Flight Attitude:<br /><br />XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = "sun-fixed" [yaw: 0.5 deg,<br />pitch: -9.0 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist).<br /><br />Communications & Tracking Systems:<br /><br />FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.<br />All other Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.<br />S-band is operating nominally (on string 2).<br />Ku-band is operating nominally.<br />Audio subsystem is operating nominally (IAC-2 is prime).<br />Video subsystem operating nominally.<br />HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.<br /><br />Robotics:<br /><br />SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF #1 with Keep Alive (KA) power on both<br />strings.<br />MBS: KA power on both strings.<br />MT: latched and mated at WS4.<br />POA: KA power on both strings.<br />RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is On (DCP connected); Cupola RWS is<br />Off.