ISS On-Orbit Status 16 Nov 2003 <br /><br /> All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Sunday -- second rest day this weekend. Ahead: Week 4 for Expedition 8. <br /><br />The crew received thanks for yesterday's "terrific" on-board video tour and especially for the look at fire-port accessibility."Your living and working space there looks vastly improved in comparison to when you first arrived" (Flight Control). <br /><br />Standard Sunday tasks performed by FE Kaleri today were the weekly data readings of the Service Module (SM)'s toilet flush counter readings, with inspection of the SP urine collection and pretreat assembly, and SVO water supply status counter readings, both for calldown to MCC-M/TsUP. <br /><br />Sasha also conducted the periodic inspection of the Elektron oxygen generator's VM gas/liquid system for obstructing air bubbles and performed the daily routine maintenance on the SOZh life support system that comprises the water supply equipment, food supply subsystem (SOP), and sanitary hygiene equipment (SGO). [Maintenance generally consists of inspection of fluid lines/connections and filter replacement.] <br /><br />CDR Michael Foale took the daily cabin air ppO2 (oxygen partial pressure) measurement of the CSA-CP (compound specific analyzer-combustion products) for calldown to the ground, where it is used for trending analyses. <br /><br />For current ppO2 management, a lower limit of 140 mmHg has been approved until the Soyuz Orlan demo on 11/18 is completed, to provide Flight Control with operational flexibility. Normal ppO2 range specified by Flight Rule is 146-178 mmHg. [Rationale: On 11/14, ppO2 level was 157 mmHg as measured by the SM Gas Analyser (GA). Since the GA's error band (tolerance band) is 12 mmHg, applying worst case sensor error would yield a ppO2 of 145 mmHg for that day. This is predicted to probably go down to 143 mmHg<br /> by 11/18, the day the crew will ingress the Orlan suits and use Orlan O2, which increases the ppO2 level. Other consistent data in support of the temporary choice of 140 mmHg as lower limit: The U.S. MCA (major constituents analyzer), when it was activated on 11/11, measured a ppO2 of 159.42 mmHg. On the same day, SM GA showed 159.3 mmHg, and the CSA-CP's reading was 159.65 mmHg. CSA-CP on 11/14: 158 mmHg.] <br /><br />Both crewmembers completed their daily physical exercise program (2.5 hrs.) on TVIS treadmill, CEVIS cycle ergometer, and RED anaerobic exerciser. <br /><br />ISS continues to fly in XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane) attitude, with Yaw: -0.5 deg, Pitch: -9 deg, Roll: 0 deg. Return to LVLH is on 11/27. <br /><br />Mike had his weekly PFC (private family conference), via S-band. Sasha's PFC took place yesterday. <br /><br />Today's optional CEO (crew earth observation) targets, limited in the current XPOP attitude by flight rule constraints on the use of the Lab nadir/science window, were Lake Eyre, Australia (looking just left for this major dry lake that lies slightly below sea level. The lake is a proxy for rainfall events over an enormous watershed that covers 20% of arid Australia),Patagonian Glaciers(pass was across the north end of the northern ice field: looking for smaller glacier tongues on the cloudfree [desert] s<br />ide), andChao lava dome, Chile(this lava flow/dome is 8 miles long and uneroded since it is less than 10,000 years old. It has steep flow fronts more than 1000 feet high and is unique enough on the planet to warrant scientific interest by coworkers at the Smithsonian. Crew was to look left of track about one degree for a wrinkled, convex surface. A mapping swath for 30 seconds would likely have included the dome. <br /><br />CEO images can be viewed at the websites. <br /><br /><br />http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov <br />http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov