ISS On-Orbit Status 4 Mar 2004<br /><br /> All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously<br />or below.<br /><br />The crew worked in the DC-1 docking compartment, returning its systems to<br />the original pre-EVA configuration. The activity was supported by tagup<br />with ground specialists.<br /><br />Later, FE Alexander Kaleri spent time in the Soyuz-213/TMA-3 to reconfigure<br />it to pre-EVA condition, e.g., removing and stowing Orlan restraint devices,<br />detaching and stowing an Orlan pressure release valve, installing a payload<br />pallet, etc.<br /><br />Kaleri also terminated the discharging of the second Orlan spacesuit battery<br />(825M3), then disconnected and deinstalled the ZU-S charging unit. [Prior<br />to the activity, the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system and its<br />VD-SU control mode were turned off; afterwards they were reactivated.]<br /><br />Using the SSC7 (station support computer #7) laptop in the Airlock (A/L),<br />CDR/SO Michael Foale initiated another maintenance charge/discharge cycle on<br />two EMU/spacesuit batteries (#2029 & #2030) in the A/L's BSA (battery<br />stowage assembly). [Prior to initiating the activity, Foale updated a<br />table of values in three of the four BCMs (battery charger modules), then<br />started a new software procedure on the SSC that takes each of the batteries<br />through an entire charge/discharge maintenance cycle automatically, with no<br />crew involvement. The charging takes about 24 hrs and will be followed by<br />discharge. Helmet light and PGT (pistol grip tool) batteries are not<br />involved. The EMU battery maintenance is performed every 50 days,<br />consisting of fully charging and then discharging the batteries to prolong<br />their useful life.]<br /><br />Kaleri conducted a lengthy maintenance procedure on the condensate water<br />processor (SRV-K2M) and its non-potable water container (KTV), with the<br />objective to prevent further re-occurrences of false "KTV is full"<br />indications. [The outcome of the IFM will now be monitored for 24 hours<br />before further steps are taken.]<br /><br />Foale collected the regular ppCO2 (carbon dioxide partial pressure) readings<br />in the SM and Lab with the CDMK (carbon dioxide monitoring kit). [These<br />weekly readings in both modules, using the same CDMK unit, are now being<br />conducted for the next few weeks to help the ground better assess if IMV<br />(intermodular ventilation) flow between the U.S. and Russian segments has<br />become degraded. The ground is also considering to have the crew take up<br />again the weekly air constituent measurements with the new CSA-CPs (compound<br />specific analyzer-combustion products) that were delivered on 13P and have<br />been deployed now for four weeks of decontamination.]<br /><br />Continuing the procedure started yesterday on the Russian "Wiener" power<br />laptop and the Matryoshka payload server (BSPN), Alex Kaleri today<br />downloaded software files from the server to a flash card via the laptop,<br />after first installing an appropriate download application on it.<br /><br />The FE completed the regular periodic download of data & imagery collected<br />of the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 ("Plants-2") experiment to the computer for<br />subsequent downlink to the ground. [Rasteniya studies growth and<br />development of plants (peas) under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-4<br />greenhouse.]<br /><br />The crew worked out with their daily 2.5-h physical exercise program.<br /><br />Mike performed the monthly maintenance of the TVIS treadmill and of the RED<br />(resistive exercise device), including its bolts, to tighten them as<br />required.<br /><br />Sasha performed the daily routine maintenance of the SM's SOZh life support<br />system, including the weekly inspection of the active BRPK air/liquid<br />condensate separator system. He also prepared the daily IMS "delta file"<br />for automatic export/import to update the databases.<br /><br />The Elektron oxygen (O2) generator is still down. Troubleshooting has<br />stopped to await further recommendations from the special Commission<br />(Romanov), established to study the current problems with the electrolysis<br />machine.<br /><br />A repress of the ISS interior with fresh O2 from Progress 13P was performed<br />yesterday, raising O2 partial pressure (ppO2) by 8.5 mmHg (torr). 13P still<br />holds ~12mmHg worth of O2, good for two more represses. [If Elektron<br />operation is not restored soon, one repress will be scheduled this weekend<br />and the other some time middle of next week. Total atmospheric pressure<br />this morning was 743 mmHg, with a ppO2 of 153 mmHg.]<br /><br />The Science Officer received thanks from POIC (Payload Operations &<br />Integration Center Huntsville) for his work with the HRF (Human Research<br />Facility) yesterday. The subsequent downlinking of stored data of the FOOT<br />experiment (Foot/Ground Reaction Forces during Space Flight) appears to have<br />been successful but will have to be confirmed by the PI (Principal<br />Investigator).<br /><br />During the 7S/Soyuz SUD (motion control system) thruster testing on 2/16,<br />the existence of a "microleak" (TsUP/Moscow) was confirmed in manifold #1<br />(DN1) of the propulsion pressurization system. The leak in this section,<br />used for the 7S docking, depleted 20 atm of helium (He) line pressure down<br />to 0 within 30 hours after valve closings. The small leak in the<br />pressurization system's other manifold, section #2 (DN2), which was<br />discovered during Soyuz free flight before docking, had taken 10 days to<br />bleed pressure to 0 atm. At present, helium valves in both sections<br />continue to be closed. [DN2, which has not been used since detection of<br />its leak before docking, will be pressurized for a thruster test before 7S<br />undocking next month, and the leak rate will then be monitored. Due to lack<br />of onboard telemetry, both leaks' exact locations and conditions cannot be<br />determined, but the leak rates that were observed are not high enough to be<br />a worry at this time. The He amount lost overboard is about 20 liters out<br />of a total of 15,000 liters in storage bottles. The deorbit burn will be<br />performed by the main engine and, according to TsUP, even if there were no<br />He gas admitted to the tanks as pressurant, they would have enough ullage<br />pressure for prop blowdown. Also, as stated by TsUP, if the thrusters<br />should become unavailable, Soyuz would use its vernier jets as backup for<br />attitude control.]<br /><br />While SM thrusters were disabled during EVA-9, the U.S. momentum management<br />controller (MMC) experienced several large unexpected peaks in momentum to<br />be countered by the CMGs (control moment gyros). Specialists are reviewing<br />the data to identify possible sources of disturbance. Resolution of this<br />anomaly is required to understand the ability to support the three planned<br />Increment 9 EVAs. [Whereas nominal start-up transients for this MMC peak<br />at approximately 35% of maximum, and steady-state momentum percentage is<br />nominally 30%, two peaks reached 64%, and a third peak was rising toward 75%<br />when the thrusters were enabled. If the momentum had reached 100%, there<br />would have been a loss of attitude control resulting in a delay or possible<br />termination of the EVA in order to regain control.]<br /><br />Some anomalous performance of the U.S. CMG-3 is being closely watched since<br />two days. [Immediately following three nominal automatic CMG desaturations<br />on 2/2 after attitude control handover from RS thrusters to U.S. CMGs,<br />CMG-3's SMCC (spin motor commanded current) rose, accompanied by<br />vibrationspikes on this gyro to approximately 0.054g, 0.046g, and 0.03g<br />before returning to nominal steady-state values (which are less than<br />0.015g). This signature reappeared following a manual desaturation per<br />nominal procedures on 2/2. They are similar to the event reported on<br />11/6/03. No immediate changes in operating procedures are recommended at<br />this time.]<br /><br />Last night (~7:00pm EST), when replacing a computer ATM (asynchronous<br />transfer mode) communications card, all communications between MCC-Houston<br />and MCC-Moscow were lost for ~54 min, until their restoration.<br />[Originally, no service disruption was expected during this maintenance<br />activity, since comm traffic was rerouted to backup microwave circuits.<br />However, Moscow's microwave station on Ostankino Tower unfortunately<br />sustained a temporary loss of power at this very time.]<br /><br />Today's CEO (Crew Earth Observations) targets, limited in XPOP attitude by<br />flight rule constraints on the use of the science window, which is available<br />for only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in "ram"), were Nile<br />River Delta (although winters are mild in this region, the growing season is<br />nearly year round. Looking either side of track for good views of seasonal<br />changes in crop patterns and vegetation color), Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya<br />(weather is looking better than usual over east Africa for this pass. As<br />ISS approached from the NW, the crew was to look left of track after passing<br />Nairobi to acquire more long-lens views of the snow and ice fields of Mount<br />Kilimanjaro), Angolan Biomass Burning (summer rains appear to have ended<br />earlier than usual over southwestern Africa and this may portend an early<br />onset of the burning season. Looking left of track for smoke plumes as ISS<br />passed southeastward over Angola), Caracas, Venezuela (near-nadir view of<br />the Venezuelan capital. As ISS approached the rugged northern coast of<br />Venezuela, the crew was to look just inland for this city of 5 million<br />plus), and Lake Poopo (after recent summer rains in the Altiplano region<br />researchers are looking for water color changes in the lake and especially<br />the large bright playas to the SW).<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 today, 1:15pm EST).<br /><br />Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):<br /><br />Elektron O2 generator is Off. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On. U.S. CDRA CO2<br />scrubber is on Standby (ready in dual-bed mode). TCCS (trace contaminant<br />control subsystem) is operating. SM Gas Analyzer has been calibrated and is<br />used for ppO2 and ppCO2 monitoring. MCA (major constituents analyzer) is in<br />Life Extending Mode (LEM). BMP Harmful Impurities unit: absorbent bed #1 in<br />Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On, SKV-2<br />is Off (repair now completed; to be tested ASAP).<br /><br /><br />SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --<br />26.1; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 146.6; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 2.6;<br />SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 741; temperature (deg C) --<br />20.0.<br />FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 748; temperature (deg C) -- 23.0.<br />Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.89; temperature (deg C) -- 23.8 (shell); ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 745.73; temperature (deg C) -- 24.8; ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 745.83; temperature (deg<br />C) -- 24.1; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.2, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a.<br />PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 25.0<br />PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 12.2<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 in Autotrack (suntracking) and bias-angled 43 deg. for drag<br />reduction.<br />SM batteries: All batteries (8) are in "Partial Charge" mode.<br />FGB batteries: Battery #6 is off-line (capacity restoration mode, ROM);<br />battery #2 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (4) are in "Partial<br />Charge" mode.<br />Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is in Standby mode; PCU-2 is 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: 4036 kg (8898 lb) as of 2/27/04 [SM(755) +<br />FGB(2622) + 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 />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-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, powered on both 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, 7:25am EST [= epoch]):<br /><br />Mean altitude -- 369.0 km<br />Apogee -- 376.6km<br />Perigee -- 361.4 km<br />Period -- 91.93 min.<br />Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.628 deg<br />Eccentricity -- 0.0011298<br />Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.66<br />Mean altitude loss last 24 hours -- 115 m<br />Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 30189<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