ISS On-Orbit Status 2/19/03<br /><br />All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously<br />or below. Day 88 in space for Expedition 6.<br /><br />Before breakfast and first physical exercise, the crew completed another<br />round of the medical assessment MO-9 of the Russian crew health-monitoring<br />program. The last session was held on 1/24. [MO-9 is biochemical urinalysis,<br />conducted regularly every 30 days (and also before and after EVAs), using<br />the sophisticated in-vitro diagnostic apparatus "Urolux" developed<br />originally for the Mir program. The device is first calibrated with prepared<br />calibration strips (if not used for more than seven days) and then receives<br />the measuring strips with the subject's urine samples for automatic<br />(photometric) analysis. LEDs (light emitting diodes) indicate immediately if<br />the data are within or outside (green or red) the physiological norm, and<br />they are also printed on a tape for report to MCC-M. If the unit fails, test<br />parameters can also be visually evaluated with a color-coded scale. MO-9 is<br />one of several Russian medical assessments that have been accepted by US<br />MedOps as part of the U.S. "PHS (periodic health status) with blood labs"<br />exam, scheduled for tomorrow.]<br /><br />FE-2/SO Don Pettit set up and installed the equipment for tomorrow's PHS<br />exam using the PCBA (portable clinical; blood analyzer), along with the<br />periodic Russian MO-10 "Hematokrit" (red blood cell count) testing.<br /><br />R3 Transition: The upload of the new Rev. 3 (R3) Stage 12A software to the<br />SSMMUs (solid state mass memory units) of the C&C MDMs (command & control<br />computers), INT MDMs (internal systems computers) and PCS (portable computer<br />system) laptops yesterday did not go as smoothly as expected. Therefore,<br />today's task items related to the R3 transition were deferred until<br />tomorrow. Plans are to resume R3 software transition tomorrow, to be<br />complete on Saturday (2/22). The onboard C&C MDMs will be on the R3 load as<br />of Friday (2/21). [Yesterday, both the C&C1 and the INT-1 computers failed<br />to Diagnostics mode during the upload. Both MDMs were then brought back in a<br />safe configuration. The nominal loading procedure for the PCS also did not<br />work at first, requiring crew intervention late in the day to complete<br />loading the laptops with sufficient 12A software to allow pressing ahead<br />with the PCS transition. The C&C MDM and INT MDM software problems were<br />associated with checksum errors, and several workarounds were being<br />discussed.]<br /><br />Detailed instructions were uplinked for recovering the U.S. motion control<br />system's (MCS's) primary Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) MDM in case of<br />failure. [The procedure, which can take from one to three hours, would<br />return the primary GNC MDM to a nominal state and mode the U.S. MCS to free<br />drift, but would not return the station to U.S. attitude control.]<br /><br />FE-1 Nikolai Budarin worked on the RS (Russian segment) computer system,<br />connecting the ISS "Wiener" laptop to a different power outlet -- viz., from<br />RBS-335 to one of the outlets on PPS (systems power panel) 26 -- in order to<br />free up an onboard outlet in the Service Module (SM). [To do this, a new<br />cable was required, which was delivered two weeks ago by Progress M-47/10P.]<br /><br />CDR Ken Bowersox concluded this week's water sampling by visually analyzing<br />the MCD (microbial capture device) samples for their T+2 days reading. His<br />microbiological analysis data were then transferred to the MEC (medical<br />equipment computer). [Bowersox also was to take digital images of the WMK<br />(water microbiology kit) colony growth results if they were above specified<br />limits.]<br /><br />Nikolai Budarin performed preventive maintenance on the SM air ventilation<br />system, changing out the four dust filter inserts (PF1-4). [After removing<br />the old replaceable cartridges in the dust collectors, he installed a soft<br />cover and decorative frame on the PF1 & 2 (lower) filters and a decorative<br />frame on the PF3 & 4 (upper) dust filters, followed by installation of the<br />new filter cartridges. Frames and cover were delivered two weeks ago by<br />Progress M-47/10P.]<br /><br />Later, Budarin completed the three-day activity of washing and sterilizing<br />SVO-ZV water supply equipment, using disinfectant delivered on 10P.<br /><br />Don Pettit took the daily ppCO2 (carbon dioxide partial pressure) readings<br />in Lab and SM with the CDMK (CO2 monitoring kit), after breakfast and again<br />before dinner. The readings are regularly reported down during the daily<br />planning conferences (DPCs).<br /><br />MCC-H/EVA specialists tagged up with the crew to discuss the upcoming<br />Two-Man EVA DTO (development test objective), scheduled for next Friday<br />(2/21). DTO objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of conducting a<br />contingency EVA in U.S. equipment for the case where ISS is crewed by only<br />two persons. [The three procedures that will be performed by Bowersox and<br />Pettit during the donning exercise are EMU (extravehicular mobility unit)<br />donning, EMU prebreathe, and post-EVA, all without IV (intravehicular<br />crewmember) assist. Preliminary versions of these procedures were uplinked<br />overnight, but although they were verified on the ground last Friday, final<br />signoff is awaiting the 2/21 demo in zero-G for possible changes. The<br />procedures assume four hours of in-suit prebreathing for simplicity and<br />conservation of oxygen (O2). Suits are donned in the Airlock's EDDA (EMU<br />don/doff assembly), with special attention to putting on helmets and gloves<br />without IV help. The suits need to be pressurized in order to verify the<br />ability to don the SAFER (simplified aid for EVA rescue). EMU purge will be<br />waived in order to conserve O2. Biomedical electrodes are not required, but<br />the Metox (metal oxide) CO2 filtration canister changeout will be practiced.<br />The activities will be videotaped by Nikolai Budarin for future increment<br />training and for procedures improvement.]<br /><br />Don prepared the daily IMS database update file for export/downlink, and Sox<br />did the payload status checkup in the Lab (PCG-STES010).<br /><br />After the LAB1P5 RPCM replacement by Pettit on 2/17, the RWS VTR1 (robotics<br />workstation/video tape recorder #1) is operating nominally again.<br /><br />Today's targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were Eastern<br />Mediterranean Dust (as ISS approached the Egyptian coast from the SW, the<br />crew was to look left of track for dust clouds being drawn northward over<br />the sea by winds of a storm over the central Mediterranean), Nile River<br />Delta (trying for oblique views right of track of the Nile River Delta<br />noting land use, and color changes from Cairo to the Suez Canal),<br />Tigris-Euphrates, Turkey (taking advantage of a break in the weather over<br />this region and using sun glint to enhance water features. Looking right of<br />track, southeastward into Iraq), Western Mediterranean Dust (a compact storm<br />system over the western Med is pushing slowly eastward. As the crew crossed<br />the Tunisian coast and headed for Sicily, they were to look right of track<br />for dust plumes over the Gulf of Sirte), Presidents Day Snow Cover (a<br />massive snowstorm struck the eastern US on Presidents Day [2/17] with the<br />heaviest snowfall since at least the mid-90's. Clearing weather was expected<br />by the time of this pass, and the crew was to look left of track from West<br />Virginia to Maine to document the extent and density of snow cover), and<br />Alpine Snow Pack (as ISS tracked southeastward over the western Alps, crew<br />was to look left of track to document the extent of the winter snow pack).<br /><br />CEO images can be viewed at the website<br />http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov<br /><br />U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:45pm EST).<br /><br />Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):<br />Elektron O2 generator is powered On (24 Amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is<br />On (auto mode). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace contaminant<br />control subsystem) is operating. MCA (major constituents analyzer) is<br />operating. BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed<br />#2 in Purify mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On; SKV-2 is Off.<br /><br />SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 753; temperature (deg C) -- 26.7;<br />ppO2 (mmHg) -- 183.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 1.7 (suspect).<br />SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --<br />20.7.<br />FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) -- 22.0.<br />Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 746.43; temperature (deg C) -- 24.0 (shell); ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 748.55; temperature (deg C) -- 22.0; ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- 170.9*; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 3.3*;<br />Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 748.65; temperature (deg<br />C) -- 21.4; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 22.4, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a.<br />PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.8<br />PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 11.6<br />(n/a = data not available)<br />(* = sample location currently unavailable until completion of R3 s/w upload<br />on 2/20)<br /><br />Propulsion System (PS): Total propellant load available [SM(811) + FGB(2777)<br />+ Progress(576)] -- 4164 kg (9180 lb) as of 2/14/03. (Capability: SM -- 860<br />kg; FGB -- 6120 kg).<br /><br />Electrical Power Systems (EPS):<br />Both P6 channels fully operational. Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and 4B<br />both in auto track (sun following) mode.<br />SM batteries: Battery #7 is in "Cycle" mode (freshly installed); all other<br />batteries (7) are in "Partial Charge" mode.<br />FGB batteries: Battery #1 is off line; all other batteries (5) are in<br />"Partial Charge" mode.<br />Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 and PCU-2 both in Standby mode.<br /><br />Command & Data Handling Systems:<br />C&C-3 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-1 is in standby.<br />GNC-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup.<br />INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is in standby.<br />EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is off.<br />LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.<br />PL-2 MDM is On (primary); PL-1 MDM is off (diagnostic<br />APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.<br />SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Lane 1 is<br />out of the set (as of 11/14/02).<br />SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.<br /><br />Attitude Source:<br />3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).<br />State vector -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)<br />Attitude -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)<br />Angular rates -- U.S. RGA-1<br /><br />Flight Attitude:<br />XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = "sun-fixed" [yaw: 0 deg,<br />pitch: -8.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG/Thruster Assist Momentum<br />Management).<br />Solar Beta Angle: -62.0 deg (magnitude increasing).<br /><br />Communications & Tracking Systems:<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.<br />Ku-band is operating nominally.<br />Audio subsystem operating nominally.<br />Video subsystem operating nominally (VTR1 is operable again).<br />HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.<br /><br />Robotics:<br />SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF2 with Keep Alive (KA) power on both<br />strings.<br />MBS: KA power on both strings.<br />MT: latched at WS4, with KA power.<br />POA: KA power on both strings.<br />RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.<br /><br />ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:12am EST [= epoch]):<br />Mean altitude -- 391.8 km<br />Apogee -- 400.1 km<br />Perigee -- 383.5 km<br />Period -- 92.39 min.<br />Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg<br />Eccentricity -- 0.0012257<br />Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.58<br />Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 120 m<br />Solar Beta Angle -- -62.0 deg (magnitude increasing)<br />Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 24265<br /><br />For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see<br />http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html