ISS On-Orbit Status 2/27/03<br /><br />All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously<br />or below. Space Day 96 for Expedition 6.<br /><br />In the Station's Russian segment, today's upgrading of the onboard computer<br />system (BVS) to the new version 7.01 software was deferred after the initial<br />loading of the KTsP-1 Central Post Computer 1 (for the TVM Terminal and TsVM<br />Central Computer systems as well as four US-21 matching units) ran into a<br />problem. Ground specialists want more time for analysis.<br /><br />Nikolai Budarin performed routine maintenance on the SM toilet system (ASU),<br />replacing its E-K pretreat container with a new unit. [E-K contains five<br />liters of pre-treat solution, i.e., a mix of H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), CrO3<br />(chromium oxide, for oxidation and purple color), and H2O (water). The<br />pre-treat liquid is mixed with water in a dispenser (DKiV) and used for<br />toilet flushing.]<br /><br />Budarin also started the regeneration cycle in filter bed #1 of the BMP<br />micropurification unit, an important part of the SM's atmosphere<br />revitalization system (SOGS). Channel #2 remains in Purify mode. The 24-hr.<br />"bakeout" process of the reusable adsorbent beds is repeated every 20 days.<br /><br />CDR Ken Bowersox worked in the FGB "Zarya" module, cleaning the ventilation<br />screens on seven interior closeout panels.<br /><br />FE-2/SO Don Pettit stepped in again to assist in the ground's MSG<br />(microgravity science glovebox) troubleshooting. [He started out by stowing<br />MSG video cables and equipment until all troubleshooting for the rack is<br />complete, then temporarily stowed the MLC (MSG laptop computer) to enable<br />rotation of the rack. After rotating the MSG facility down to access its<br />electronics box at the rear, Pettit was to disconnect thirteen of eighteen<br />cables from the rack, to eliminate many 12V and 5V power paths from numerous<br />MSG sensors. Next, the rack was to be rotated upright again and power<br />applied to it in "Main ON" for a minimum of two hours while the MLC captured<br />all data for downlinking after the testing. Purpose of these steps is to<br />isolate and pinpoint the root cause behind the recent repeated PDC (power<br />distribution controller) circuit breaker trip.]<br /><br />CDR Ken Bowersox supported the scheduled interim checkout of the cardiac<br />defibrillator, requested by MCC-H after Flight Surgeons had noticed noise in<br />the ECG (electrocardiogram) tracings recorded during the regular monthly<br />checkout. The checkout was ground-commanded via S-band. [The onboard<br />defibrillator is normally checked out by the ground every 60 days and as<br />needed.]<br /><br />Bowersox also performed the planned troubleshooting of the Foot (foot/ground<br />reaction forces during space flight). [During the last Foot session, six of<br />eight data channels were not recorded, and ground engineers were afterwards<br />unable to duplicate the failure. A new procedure was uplinked for testing<br />the same hardware used by Sox for the last Foot session, with additional<br />steps added to check the number of channels recorded before and after start<br />of recording. This may indicate whether the problem is with the hardware or<br />software.]<br /><br />In support of the ongoing Renal (Kidney) Stone experiment, Don Pettit took<br />digital photographs of the Renal log book entries and pill pallets' exterior<br />labels and contents for downlink to the ground as sensitive data, thus<br />saving vital space for science downmass on Soyuz 5S.<br /><br />Ken Bowersox recorded his weekly HMS FFQ (health maintenance systems/food<br />frequency questionnaire), a special software log on the medical equipment<br />computer to track nutritional intake. Don Pettit had already completed his<br />turn as a "job jar" task list item.<br /><br />Closing another item on the optional task list, Bowersox has checked out<br />both Epson printers in the U.S. segment to verify their firmware versions.<br />[This confirmed that only the Lab SSC (station support computer) printer<br />needs to have its firmware upgraded after completion of the SM Ethernet<br />reconfiguration next week (3/3). Crew support will be required in these<br />US/Russian joint procedures to connect the U.S. SSC OpsLAN to the Russian<br />SmartSwitch router (SSR, Russian: BRI) in the SM.]<br /><br />Bowersox yesterday also completed the periodic hatch seal inspection in the<br />Node (forward, aft starboard), Lab (aft) and Joint Airlock, in support of<br />ACS (atmospheric control system) maintenance.<br /><br />Pettit completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM's SOSh life support<br />system, and the CDR prepared the regular IMS inventory delta file for<br />downlink.<br /><br />All crewmembers performed their normal daily physical exercise on TVIS, RED,<br />CEVIS and VELO with load trainer.<br /><br />MCC-H reported to the crew that the new Rev. 3 software was successfully<br />tested for S-band and Ku-band TDRS Autotrack functionality. This should<br />provide better communications coverage with less operator intervention.<br /><br />At 5:21am EST, amateur radio operator Don Pettit chatted with students of<br />Hochwald Gymnasium in Wadern/Saarland, Germany, during a 10-min. ham radio<br />pass. [Hochwald Gymnasium Wadern is a large high school with about 1100<br />students of ages 10 to 19 years, plus 60 teachers, with special focus on new<br />media and communications techniques.]<br /><br />Today's targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were Sea of<br />Azov Ice (this large, shallow bay is mostly cut off from the northern Black<br />Sea and is subject to winter icing. With the current break in the weather,<br />the crew was to look right of track to document water conditions), Lake<br />Superior Ice (the crew was to use this break in the weather to document the<br />extent and distribution of ice in this, the largest of the Great Lakes,<br />looking right of track), Seattle, Washington (although the city may not have<br />been visible this pass, the crew was to look right of track down the spine<br />of the Cascades to visually document the lack of snow pack there during this<br />El Nino Winter), and Lake Nasser, Toshka Lakes; Egypt (ISS photography of<br />this target is used to monitor the surprising development and spread of<br />these man-made lakes in the desert west of the Nile. Looking right of track<br />with good illumination for seasonal changes in water conditions as the<br />weather continues to warm up here).<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 1:10pm 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 Regeneration<br />mode, bed #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) -- 183.0; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 2.4 (suspect).<br />SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --<br />20.4.<br />FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) -- 22.3.<br />Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 741.98; temperature (deg C) -- 24.0 (shell); ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 744.21; temperature (deg C) -- 21.9; ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a;<br />Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 744.31; temperature (deg<br />C) -- 21.1; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 22.3, ppO2 (mmHg) -- 167.2; ppCO2<br />(mmHg) -- 4.1.<br />PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.2<br />PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 12.7<br />(n/a = data not available)<br /><br />Propulsion System (PS): Total propellant load available [SM(820) + FGB(2753)<br />+ Progress(576)] -- 4149 kg (9147 lb) as of 2/27/03. (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: All batteries (8) are in "Partial Charge" mode.<br />FGB batteries: All batteries (6) are in "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 Control Systems:<br />3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).<br />State vector source -- Russian<br />Attitude source -- Russian<br />Angular rate source -- 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: -43.2 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, 7:05am EST [= epoch]):<br />Mean altitude -- 391.0 km<br />Apogee -- 399.2 km<br />Perigee -- 382.8 km<br />Period -- 92.38 min.<br />Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg<br />Eccentricity -- 0.0012128<br />Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.59<br />Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 130m<br />Solar Beta Angle -- -43.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)<br />Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 24389<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