ISS On-Orbit Status 9 Apr 2004<br /><br /> All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted<br />previously or below.<br /><br />FE Alexander Kaleri concluded Part 3 of his current MBI-8 Profilaktika<br />("countermeasures") fitness test series, first with the usual blood tests<br />(to determine lactate and creatine kinase levels in the blood with the<br />AccuSport equipment), then by a physical exercise session on the TVIS<br />treadmill, supported by tagup with a ground specialist. CDR Foale was<br />available to assist as CMO (crew medical officer) as required. (Last time<br />done: 3/17) [The TVIS test is identical to the MO-3 test performed on the<br />treadmill in idling (non-motorized) mode with free choice of speeds within<br />certain specified ranges (idle/walk/slow run/moderate run/fast<br />run/walk/recovery). In addition to the nominal test procedure, MBI-8/Part 3<br />calls for the use of the TEEM-100M gas analyzer during the test, the blood<br />lactate measurements, and subjective evaluation of physical exertion levels<br />(using the "Borg Perceived Exertion Scale", viz., 10 steps from "very. very<br />light" over "hard" and "very hard" to "maximum") during the test. At the end<br />of the creatine kinase tests, the results were logged, copied from<br />Cardiocassette-2000 recording to OCA for downlink, and reported to the<br />ground.]<br /><br />Continuing the current round of monthly Russian Segment (RS) air ventilation<br />systems preventive maintenance, Kaleri worked one hour in the<br />Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok (FGB) for a cleanup of the protective mesh<br />screens of its central ventilation fans (TsV1 & TsV2). The fans were powered<br />off for the task by ground command, later turned on again. (Deferred from<br />3/15)<br /><br />CDR/SO Michael Foale completed the fifth and final imaging session of the<br />BCAT-3 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-3) experiment, photographing the sample<br />sequentially with the Kodak 760 digital still camera and then stowing it,<br />with the data stored on a PCMCIA 1GB micro drive. Afterwards, the BCAT MWA<br />(maintenance work area) hardware was disassembled and stowed.<br /><br />The Science Officer also transferred ~8 hours worth of FOOT (Foot/Ground<br />Reaction Forces during Space Flight) science data from his final session on<br />4/7 to the HRF (human research facility) downlink list and started the<br />downlink process on the HRF PC. [The files were pulled down by ground<br />command from POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center) over a period of<br />~5hrs. Afterwards, the HRF was turned off again.]<br /><br />Alex Kaleri downlinked log files transferred on 4/6 to the "Wiener" power<br />laptop from the Russian payload computer (BSMM) and Matryoshka payload<br />server (BSPN). The S-band downlink was supported by tagup with a ground<br />specialist.<br /><br />Kaleri also completed the regular task of transferring data files from the<br />physical exercise equipment to the MEC (medical equipment computer) via<br />memory card and RED log entries, for downlink on OCA comm. Afterwards, he<br />performed the periodic transfer of accumulated data files from the wristband<br />HRM (heart rate monitor) receiver stations to the MEC for downlink, then<br />deleting them on the HRM.<br /><br />Later, when the MEC was no longer occupied, Mike Foale used it for<br />performing two activities on the U.S. TEPC (tissue equivalent proportional<br />counter), which has been having irregularities. [First, Mike checked out<br />all spectrometer & detector connectors of the instrument to confirm that<br />they are undamaged and securely mated. Then, in the evening, he initiated a<br />nominal data transfer to the MEC, which takes ~12 hours. The data files will<br />be useful in determining the integrity of the data coming down on S-band &<br />Ku-band via data dump commanded from the ground. They will also aid in the<br />continuing investigation of the current TEPC anomalies.]<br /><br />The FE conducted the periodic functional open/close test of a spare<br />emergency vacuum valve (AVK) of the COA (atmosphere purification system)<br />Vozdukh carbon dioxide (CO2) removal system. He then restowed the valve<br />assembly behind a Service Module (SM) panel. [The AVKs are critical<br />because they close the Vozdukh's vacuum access lines in the event of a<br />malfunction of the regular vacuum valves (BVK) or a depressurization in the<br />Vozdukh valve panel (BOA). Access to vacuum is required to vent CO2 during<br />the regeneration of the absorbent cartridges (PP). During nominal operation,<br />the AVK valves remain open.]<br /><br />Sasha Kaleri pulled the previously discarded Liquid Unit-5 (BZh-5) of the<br />Elektron O2 generator from storage and re-installed its pressure setting<br />device, which had been removed on 1/9/04. [This is in preparation for the<br />upcoming attempt to restore the BZh-5 to operation by bypassing its two<br />internal micropumps with a new external pump package to be delivered on<br />Soyuz 8S on 4/21. If successful, this IFM (in-flight maintenance) would<br />yield a spare Elektron BZh for the station, as backup to the current BZh-7.]<br /><br />Mike Foale had two hours reserved for Soyuz 7S pre-packing activities for<br />NASA items, using an uplinked list of equipment approved for return to Earth<br />in the Soyuz DM (descent module). [The 7S down-cargo identified at this<br />time totals 52.7 kg mass and 90.0 liters volume. Return cargo is classified<br />as Station Status Monitoring, Russia, NASA, Japan, Holland, and ESA items.<br />There are about 10 NASA return items, e.g., a crew personal dosimeter, DST<br />dual sorbent tubes (6) with reference kit, water samples, 24 FMK<br />(formaldehyde monitoring kit) badges with reference kit, GSC (grab sample<br />container) with April samples, 16 local radiation dosimeters, etc.]<br /><br />Sasha Kaleri performed the regular once-a-week maintenance reboot on the<br />operational PCS laptops and also restarted the OCA comm router laptop (every<br />two weeks).<br /><br />Mike conducted the regular routine status checkout of autonomously running<br />Lab payloads, while Sasha took care of the daily routine technical<br />maintenance of the SM's SOZh environment control & life support system,<br />incl. ASU toilet equipment, and prepared the daily IMS (inventory management<br />system) "delta" file for automatic export/import to update the database.<br /><br />Earlier in the day, the FE had his regular IMS (inventory management system)<br />and cargo accommodations conference with ground specialists via S-band,<br />today addressing potentially available FGB stowage volume to support<br />finalization of the cargo delivery plan for Soyuz 8S.<br /><br />Sasha also collected the periodic CO2 partial pressure reading in the SM and<br />Lab using the U.S. CDMK (CO2 monitor kit), for calldown to MCC-Houston<br />(along with the battery status) for use in trending analyses.<br /><br />The crew conducted a transmission/coverage test of a planned PAO address to<br />the residents of the city of Engels, Saratov Province, for downlink on<br />Cosmonautics Day, 4/12 (Monday). [The Engels region in Saratov Oblast<br />became a part of Russian cosmonautics history when on April 12, 1961, Yuri<br />Gagarin landed on his parachute here on a farm field, after having ejected<br />from the Vostok-1 capsule at 7 km altitude in concluding his 100-min. orbit<br />flight as the world's first human in space. Today called Gagarin Field, the<br />landing site is attracting a growing number of visitors every year on this<br />holiday. It is located about 1500 km west of Baikonur's longitude (then<br />called Tyuratam), i.e., Yuri's orbit was not completely "closed",<br />geographically speaking.]<br /><br />At 4:25am EDT, the crew downlinked greetings from ISS during the by-now<br />traditional annual comm pass with the participants of the XIVth Aerospace<br />Festival for Ulyanovsk schoolchildren. [The festival is sponsored by the<br />Soyuz All-Russian Young Aerospace Association (VAKO). VAKO President is<br />Alexander A. Serebrov, a former Soyuz/Mir cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-17, 1993).]<br /><br />Preparations continue on the ground for the CMG-3 (control moment gyroscope<br />3) lubrication test scheduled for next week (4/14-17). [In order to<br />characterize the solar effect in the intended heating of the CMG-3's gimbal<br />bearings from an electronic box, the gimbal angles of the failed CMG-1 would<br />be changed on 4/11-12 such that sun-induced temperatures can be measured<br />with a CMG thermistor. Preparations are also addressing the two-CMG<br />operation for ISS attitude control during the testing period.]<br /><br />Safety experts have approved (and uplinked) revised crew emergency<br />procedures for the eventuality of ammonia (NH3) release from the HEAT<br />experiment, which is part of the "Delta" science program of VC-6 (Visiting<br />Crew 6). [HEAT deals with the investigation of heat transfer performance of<br />grooved heat pipes in microgravity. The HEAT experiment module, with a<br />liquid NH3 coolant heat pipe inside, was delivered on Progress-260/13P and<br />stowed in the Node. It will be performed in the MSG (Microgravity Science<br />Glovebox) in the U.S. Lab. If NH3 is released, safety procedures call for<br />donning PBAs (personal breathing apparatus), retreating from the affected<br />module to "safe haven" behind the closed Node aft hatch, and performing<br />atmosphere analysis until the air is safe again.]<br /><br />Safety personnel have also cleared the "Delta" program's experiment ARGES,<br />which collects plasma density measurements in micro-G using<br />radial-resolution emission spectroscopy on 20 high-intensity discharge (HID)<br />lamps filled with xenon, mercury and iodides of various metals, also<br />delivered on 13P and stowed in the Node.<br /><br />Yesterday's Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for 8S Launch/7S Return/Increment<br />9 at NASA/JSC showed no major issues and cleared both Soyuz vehicles and ISS<br />for flight. [Increment 9 begins with Soyuz 8S launch on 4/18 (EDT, CDT)<br />and extends until 8S undock on 10/19, for a total time on orbit of 183 days<br />(181 days onboard ISS). Expedition 9 crewmembers are Gennady Padalka (CDR) &<br />Mike Fincke (FE/SO). There are two Russian Orlan-EVAs planned for Increment<br />9, on 7/22 and 8/24. As currently planned, the onboard science program will<br />include 20 U.S.-sponsored experiments and 39 experiments in the Russian<br />Segment. The VC-6 "Delta" program for the 9-day joint phase consists of 22<br />experiments, plus two conducted in the Soyuz during free flight. ]<br /><br />The 8S crew returned yesterday to Star City's GCTC (Gagarin Cosmonaut<br />Training Center) from spending time at Baikonur/Kazakhstan for fit checks on<br />capsule, seat liners, suits, etc. Following the standard Soyuz launch<br />template, the spacecraft was fueled today and will undergo upper stage<br />assembly tomorrow through 4/15. Mating of the upper stage to the Soyuz-U<br />launcher takes place on 4/16, followed by rollout & launch pad ops<br />(including propellant loading) through 4/18. Launch remains at 11:18pm EDT<br />on 4/18, with docking on 4/21 at 1:00am. [For latest status check<br />http://www.energia.ru/english/index.html .]<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<br />Khartoum, Sudan (the Sudanese capital is situated at the confluence of the<br />White and the Blue Nile Rivers), Dakar, Senegal (this city sprawls over the<br />slopes Africa's westernmost promontory), Rome, Italy (sunny Italy may have<br />stayed so just long enough for the crew to spot the Eternal City), Caracas,<br />Venezuela (crew was to take advantage of the early morning pass [few clouds]<br />to view of the Venezuelan capital. Looking just left of track and inland<br />from the coast), Bahamas (400mm-lens: Only fair weather cumulus clouds are<br />expected for the time of the ISS pass. Using the long lens for near-nadir<br />views of details of the coral reef structures of these islands), and Red<br />River Valley Flooding (DYNAMIC EVENT: Seasonal flooding from snow and ice<br />melt is being reported in North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba, especially<br />in the Red River Valley. Looking left of track this pass for views of this<br />event. As the crew proceeded a bit further east and looked back, sun glint<br />enhanced views may also have been possible). CEO images can be viewed at the<br />websites.<br /><br /><br />http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov<br />http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov<br /><br />See also the website "Space Station Challenge" at<br /><br /><br />http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/<br /><br />U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of today, 1:14pm EDT).<br /><br />Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):<br /><br />Elektron O2 generator is On. 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 is<br />Off (SM panel mods completed 4/8; SKV-2 activation TBD). SFOG slot#2 fan<br />suspect (not usable).<br /><br /><br />SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --<br />26.1; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 160.2; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 3.7;<br />SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 761; temperature (deg C) --<br />19.9.<br />FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 756; temperature (deg C) -- 23.0;<br />Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 757.88; temperature (deg C) -- 24.5 (shell); ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 759.76; temperature (deg C) -- 24.9; ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 759.97; temperature (deg<br />C) -- 26.2; shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a.<br /><br />(n/a = data not available)<br /><br /><br />PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a<br />PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a.<br /><br />Electrical Power Systems (EPS):<br /><br />Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B<br />both in Autotrack (solar-tracking, "sun slicer", i.e., drag reduction-biased<br />by 47 deg).<br />SM batteries: Battery #6 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (7) are in<br />"Partial Charge" mode.<br />FGB batteries: Battery #6 is off-line (capacity restoration mode, ROM); all<br />other batteries (5) are in "Partial 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-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is Backup.<br />INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.<br />EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is Off.<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 11/22/03).<br />SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string #3<br />dropped out 10/22/03).<br />FGB MDM-1 is Off (failed, 11/21/03); MDM-2 is Operational.<br /><br />Propulsion System:<br /><br />Total propellant load available: 3884 kg (8563 lb) as of 4/8/04; [SM(755) +<br />FGB(2470) + Progress M-1(659)]. (Capability: SM -- 860 kg; FGB -- 6120 kg).<br /><br />Attitude Control Systems:<br /><br />3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02).<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), until 4/14.<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 (may require a mask).<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, operational on redundant string,<br />off on prime.<br />MBS: KA (keep alive) 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, 7:27am EDT [= epoch]):<br /><br />Mean altitude -- 364.4 km<br />Apogee -- 371.8 km<br />Perigee -- 356.9 km<br />Period -- 91.83 min.<br />Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg<br />Eccentricity -- 0.0010995<br />Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.68<br />Mean altitude loss last 24 hours -- 110 m<br />Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 30753<br /><br />For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times,<br />see<br /><br /> http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html