ISS On-Orbit Status 2/24/03<br /><br />All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously<br />or below. Day 93 in space for Expedition 6. Week 13 is underway.<br /><br />The crew has half a day off in honor of Russia's "Defenders Day" holiday.<br /><br />FE-1 Nikolai Budarin performed scheduled maintenance on the Elektron oxygen<br />(O2) generator, replacing its BKO water purification column unit with a new<br />spare. [The standalone BKO removes contaminants from the water to make it<br />suitable for electrolysis into O2 and H2 (hydrogen) by the Elektron. This<br />BKO unit is identical with the BKO used in the condensate water recovery<br />system (SRV-K). The purified water is stored in a dedicated EDV container<br />(also referred to as the KOV) with a volume of 22 L. One liter of water<br />produces about 25 liters of O2, enough for one crewmember for one day.]<br /><br />Budarin also turned off the gas analyzer in the Soyuz TMA-1 Descent Module<br />which he had activated on 2/20 for air sampling.<br /><br />CDR Ken Bowersox and FE-2/SO Don Pettit successfully completed the scheduled<br />EVA DTO (development test objective), demonstrating the use of the U.S. EMU<br />(extravehicular mobility unit) by two crewmembers without assist by a third<br />IV person. The crew then tagged up with ground specialists to discuss<br />results. [The three procedures performed by Sox and Don were EMU donning,<br />in-suit prebreathe, and post-EVA. Suits were pressurized to verify ability<br />to don SAFERs (simplified aid for EVA rescue) and exchange Metox (metal<br />oxide) CO2 adsorbent canisters. After a successful ground demo on 2/14, some<br />open questions had remained for the DTO to answer, such as: in case one of<br />the EV crew is incapacitated after EVA, can EMU be doffed without any<br />assistance? The demo showed it to be possible (albeit with some difficulty),<br />by free-float "swimming" out of the HUT (hard upper torso). The DTO was<br />accomplished inside the Airlock (A/L), with opening and closing of the IV<br />hatch from the A/L Crewlock one of the demo objectives. To provide cooling<br />for working in EMUs in the A/L, the ITCS LTL (internal thermal control<br />system/low temperature loop) in the Node first had its RFCA's (rack flow<br />control assembly's) flow setpoint raised (to 113.4 kg/hr); after the DTO, it<br />was lowered again (45.4 kg/hr).]<br /><br />Yesterday's replacement of the failed BVK-1 vacuum valve group on the<br />Vozdukh carbon dioxide (CO2) scrubber by Nikolai Budarin was successful.<br />Since yesterday afternoon, Vozdukh is up and running in Manual mode 5.<br /><br />The U.S. CDRA (CO2 removal assembly) has been deactivated. [The check valve<br />in adsorbent bed 2 apparently is stuck open, which required single-bed<br />operation over the weekend until Vozdukh was recovered. Investigation<br />continues.]<br /><br />Two ppCO2 (CO2 partial pressure) readings were again taken by FE-2/SO Don<br />Pettit with the CDMK (CO2 monitoring kit) in the Lab and SM, one in the<br />morning, the other in the evening.<br /><br />Bowersox completed the daily payload status inspection in the Lab, checking<br />up on the PCG-STES010 (Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal<br />Enclosure System #10) payload.<br /><br />All crewmembers performed their regular daily physical exercise (2.5 hrs.)<br />on TVIS treadmill, RED resistive device, CEVIS bike and VELO cycle plus load<br />trainer.<br /><br />R3 software upload operations in the U.S. segment have been successfully<br />completed. Remaining activities are the corresponding upgrade of the Russian<br />segment. Step-up of its onboard computer system (BVS) with the Version 7.01<br />software is scheduled for the week of 3/3, preceded by procedure review on<br />2/26.<br /><br />Steps are being taken to correct an error detected in on-board emergency<br />procedures for the case of a fire in the A/L, which automatically triggers a<br />shutdown of the O2 system. The procedural change will assure that<br />reactivation of the O2 system after the fire is extinguished will not reopen<br />a hazardous situation.<br /><br />Replacement of storage battery #1 in the FGB, which has been off-line for<br />quite a while, is scheduled for tomorrow.<br /><br />Today's targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were Taiwan<br />Smog (this highly industrialized island generates a high volume of aerosols.<br />The ISS pass is ideal to view the entire island from the North to detect the<br />development of smog plumes. Looking right of track), Lake Nasser, Toshka<br />Lakes; Egypt (oblique context views of the new lakes growing to the west of<br />the Nile are useful for monitoring change. Looking right of track), Seattle,<br />Washington (where weather permits, the crew was to use this pass to document<br />the snow pack of the Cascade Mountains to the right of track), and Denver,<br />Colorado (although Denver itself may not have been visible this pass, crew<br />was to look right of track to document the snow pack on the Front Range of<br />the Rocky Mountains).<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 1:15pm 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 (Manual mode 5). 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) -- 26.3;<br />ppO2 (mmHg) -- 183.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 1.0 (suspect).<br />SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --<br />20.7.<br />FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) -- 21.7.<br />Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742.62; temperature (deg C) -- 24.4 (shell); ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 744.92; temperature (deg C) -- 22.2; ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a;<br />Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 745.02; temperature (deg<br />C) -- 21.7; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.1, ppO2 (mmHg) -- 168.6; ppCO2<br />(mmHg) -- 3.0.<br />PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.8<br />PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 12.2<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 #3 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-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-1 is operating; INT-2 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-2 MDM is On (primary); PL-1 MDM is Off<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: -55.3 deg (magnitude decreasing).<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, 6:38am EST [= epoch]):<br />Mean altitude -- 391.3 km<br />Apogee -- 399.4 km<br />Perigee -- 383.3 km<br />Period -- 92.38 min.<br />Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg<br />Eccentricity -- 0.0011914<br />Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.59<br />Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 100 m<br />Solar Beta Angle -- -55.3 deg (magnitude decreasing)<br />Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 24342<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