ISS On-Orbit Status 18 Feb 2004<br /><br /> All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously<br />or below.<br /><br />Onboard sleep cycle continues with 9:00pm wakeup and 12:30pm bedtime through<br />Friday (2/20).<br /><br />Before breakfast and physical exercise, CDR/SO Michael Foale and FE<br />Alexander Kaleri conducted the Russian crew health-monitoring program's<br />medical assessment MO-9/Urinalysis. After the sessions, Kaleri stowed the<br />Urolux equipment. [MO-9 is biochemical urinalysis, conducted regularly every<br />30 days and also before and after EVAs. It is one of five nominal Russian<br />medical tests adopted by NASA for US crewmembers for PHS evaluation exams<br />(with or without blood labs). The analysis uses the sophisticated in-vitro<br />diagnostic apparatus "Urolux" developed for the Mir program. The device is<br />first calibrated with prepared calibration strips (if not used for more than<br />seven days), then receives the measuring strips with the subject's urine<br />samples for automatic (photometric) analysis. LEDs indicate immediately if<br />the data are within (green) or outside (red) the physiological norm, and<br />they are also printed on a tape for report to MCC-M/TsUP (actually to IBMP,<br />the Moscow Institute of Biomedical Problems). ]<br /><br />After breakfast, the crew also completed the MO-5 MedOps protocol of<br />cardiovascular evaluation during graded exercises on the VELO cycle<br />ergometer, each assisting the other in turn. [The assessment uses the<br />Gamma-1 ECG equipment with biomed harness, skin electrodes and a blood<br />pressure and rheoplethysmograph cuff wired to the cycle ergometer's<br />instrumentation panels. For the graded exercise, Alex and Mike worked the<br />pedals after a prescribed program at load settings of 125, 150, and 175<br />watts for three minutes each. All measurements were recorded and telemetered<br />during Daily Orbits 2 and 3 to TsUP, where a specialist controlled the<br />workout.]<br /><br />At 12:40, the crew conducted a teleconference with MCC-Houston via S-band,<br />during which critical details of the upcoming EVA-9 were discussed.<br />[Specific tag-up topics were the new flight rules (FRs) written jointly by<br />U.S. and Russian specialists for this EVA, the use of special EVA gear such<br />as retractable equipment tethers (RETs), the swing arm, wire ties, and the<br />disposable in-suit drink bags (DIDBs), as well as contingency ingress in the<br />U.S. Airlock, which will be configured as a backup ingress path in the<br />unlikely event of multiple failures. The new FRs address EVA termination<br />criteria for specific ISS systems failures (including loss of one of the two<br />U.S. internal thermal cooling loops, a fire on board, depressurization of<br />the ISS, etc.), safety procedures in case of Service Module (SM) thruster<br />firings, should they become necessary, avoidance and clean-up of toxic<br />residues from jet firings, etc.]<br /><br />Foale and Kaleri reviewed the timeline for tomorrow's exercise in<br />translating from the DC-1 to the Soyuz orbital module (BO) in Orlan suits,<br />tagging up with ground specialists for discussion. The crew also had more<br />time scheduled for equipment preparations in the DC-1, such as configuring<br />the BK-3 onboard oxygen tank and BNP portable O2 repress bottle, performing<br />height adjustments on the suits, leak and valve functionality checks, etc.<br />Kaleri also had a separate tag-up with specialists on the necessary<br />preparations of the Soyuz BO. [The demo will start tonight at ~11:15pm EST<br />with teardown & removal of the air ducts between the DC-1 and BO, followed<br />by ingress in the Orlan-Ms, checkout of comm & biomedical telemetry via the<br />BSS interface system for vital signs and equipment monitoring, final tests<br />of Soyuz TMA-3 systems, valve functionality, etc. Sealing of the Orlan<br />backpack "doors" is scheduled for about 4:00am tomorrow morning. After more<br />leak checks and a final height fit check at reduced pressure, the actual<br />translation will begin at ~4:40am. Ingress into the Soyuz BO, hatch closing<br />and Orlan doffing inside the BO are estimated to take about an hour.<br />Translation through the narrow DC1-BO hatch opening will be done head first,<br />with one arm extended forward and the other pressed alongside the body.<br />Kaleri will be first, with Foale assisting and pushing if necessary. Sasha<br />then assists Mike, if required, by pulling his hand or putting a pry bar in<br />his gloved hand for squeezing through. The hatch cover will then be closed<br />(which could cause loss of comm with MCC and between the two). FE and CDR<br />then exit from the Orlans one at a time, at ~5:20am. Post-training<br />activities back in the ISS will follow at ~5:35am.]<br /><br />Sasha attended to his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2<br />("Plants-2") experiment which studies growth and development of plants<br />(peas) under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-4 greenhouse. [Regular daily<br />maintenance of the experiment involves monitoring of seedling growth,<br />humidity measurements, moistening of the substrate if necessary, and<br />photo/video recording.]<br /><br />Mike Foale transferred exercise data files from the TVIS treadmill to the<br />medical equipment computer (MEC) for subsequent downlink and completed the<br />weekly TVIS maintenance, including the regular inspection of the wire ropes<br />for signs of fraying. He also did the regular (every other week) inspection<br />of the RED (resistive exercise device).<br /><br />The CDR completed his 13th weekly filling-out of the Food Frequency<br />Questionnaire (FFQ), which keeps a log of his nutritional intake over time<br />on the medical equipment computer (MEC).<br /><br />Mike conducted the daily routine maintenance on the SOZh life support<br />system, comprising the water supply equipment, food supply subsystem (SOP),<br />and sanitary hygiene equipment (SGO). He also completed the regular routine<br />status checkup of autonomous Increment 8 payloads.<br /><br />The crew worked out according to their regular daily physical exercise<br />program on TVIS and CEVIS cycle (aerobic), VELO ergometer with force loader<br />and RED (anaerobic).<br /><br />At dinnertime (10:30am), as every day, the crew supported the Renal Stone<br />prevention experiment by taking the test medication (either potassium<br />citrate or placebo tablets) until the next sample collection phase in early<br />April this year.<br /><br />Moscow's logic change to the Elektron buffer tank to increase supply line<br />pressure (see yesterday's status report) did not have the desired effect to<br />keep the MNO and MNR micropumps from shutting down. Kaleri took some voltage<br />measurements on the pumps today, but the Elektron O2 generator is still<br />down.<br /><br />As planned, several hours ago the cabin atmosphere was repressurized with O2<br />from Progress 13P, raising ppO2 by 8 mmHg. As shown by the MCA (major<br />constituents analyzer), ppO2 is currently at 162 mmHg.<br /><br />The Russian SKV-1 air conditioner is operating with the #2 internal heating<br />loop (KOB-2), which collects more condensate than KOB-1, keeping ppH2O<br />(humidity) levels nominally between 7 and 8.5 mmHg.<br /><br />The crew's sleep time began at 12:30pm EST, to extend until tonight, 9:00pm,<br />with a very busy day ahead.<br /><br />Moscow has offered to accept some useful U.S. return cargo as ballast in the<br />Soyuz TMA-3 descent module for a contingency return, should it become<br />necessary.<br /><br />Today's CEO targets, in the current LVLH attitude no longer limited by<br />flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, except<br />for the shutter closure and condensation-prevention plan (limited to 90 min.<br />in 24 hours), were Taiwan Smog (pass across the northern tip of Taiwan:<br />smog reported in cities only in the southern half of the island. Trying to<br />shoot obliques that capture a margin of the smog mass), Internal waves,<br />Vietnam (looking right toward the glint point for internal waves off the<br />coast of South Vietnam. The zone of mapping interest stretches from Hainan<br />Island [southern China] to Borneo. The glint point crosses the southern half<br />of this zone), Gulf of St Lawrence (Dynamic event. Two opportunities.<br />Looking for cloud streamers as the cold dry air mass flows out over the<br />water and picks up moisture. Cloud is channeled east by the gulf as air<br />flows between the higher coasts. Also looking for newly formed ice), Dust,<br />Niger and Chad (continuing the crew's documentation of the present major<br />dust event, looking left towards the Tibesti massif from this descending<br />track over Lake Chad. Recent ISS/CEO images show that a wide roughly linear<br />band of lighter surface materials [muds of the ancient floor of paleo-lake<br />Megachad] is the main supplier of dust to the atmosphere during this event.<br />This contradicts accepted geological wisdom that dry lake floors do not<br />supply dust because fine material is cemented by clay and salts. Dust source<br />points ["hotspots" in the jargon] are a major topic of interest in aerosol<br />studies), and Bamako, Mali (this hard-to-see town lies on the Niger River at<br />the head of the Niger inland delta. Transportation routes focus on the town<br />that may also lie in the center of a de-vegetated patch).<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 /><br />http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/<br /><br />U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 2:46pm EST).<br /><br />Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):<br /><br />Elektron O2 generator is powered Off. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (in<br />Automatic Mode). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is on Standby (ready in dual-bed<br />mode). TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating. SM Gas<br />Analyzer has been calibrated and is used for ppO2 and ppCO2 monitoring. MCA<br />(major constituents analyzer) is On to verify CSA-CP readings and support O2<br />repress (was in Life Extending Mode). 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 (repair now completed; to be tested ASAP).<br /><br /><br />SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --<br />26.0; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 146.8; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 2.5;<br />SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --<br />20.7.<br />FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 744; temperature (deg C) -- 22.7.<br />Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742.62; temperature (deg C) -- 23.5 (shell); ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 744.72; temperature (deg C) -- 24.8; ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 744.82; temperature (deg<br />C) -- 23.5; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.2, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a.<br />PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 22.8<br />PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 11.3<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 Directed Position (2B: 235 deg; 4B: 125 deg); non-suntracking,<br />"night glider"/"sun slicer" drag reduction mode.<br />SM batteries: Battery #8, formerly known as #7, is failed (to be replaced);<br />all other batteries (7) are in "Partial Charge" mode.<br />FGB batteries: Battery #3 is off (capacity restoration mode, ROM); battery<br />#5 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (4) are in "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-1 MDM is Off; PL-2 MDM is Operational.<br />APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.<br />SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string 1<br />dropped out 11/22).<br />SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string #3<br />dropped out 10/22).<br /><br />Propulsion System:<br /><br />Total propellant load available: 4070 kg (8972 lb) as of 2/12/04 [SM(755) +<br />FGB(2656) + Progress M(0) + Progress M-1(659)]. (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 />LVLH YVV (local vertical/local horizontal = "earth-fixed": z-axis in local<br />vertical, y-axis in velocity vector [yaw: -90 deg, pitch: -9 deg, roll: 1.7<br />deg]), with CMG/TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management.<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-1 is prime, IAC-2 is off).<br />Video subsystem operating nominally.<br />HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.<br /><br />Robotics:<br /><br />SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at Lab PDGF/LEE A, 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.<br /><br />ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:46am EST [= epoch]):<br /><br />Mean altitude -- 366.8 km<br />Apogee -- 371.4km<br />Perigee -- 362.1 km<br />Period -- 91.88 min.<br />Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.628 deg<br />Eccentricity -- 0.0006898<br />Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.67<br />Mean altitude loss last 24 hours -- 80 m<br />Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 29954<br /><br />For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times,<br />see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html