ISS On-Orbit Status 3/18/03<br /><br />All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously<br />or below.<br /><br />CDR Ken Bowersox and FE-2/SO Don Pettit again spent several hours supporting<br />troubleshooting of the failed ITCS MTL (internal thermal control<br />system/moderate temperature loop). Resolution of the problem is temporarily<br />on hold. [During the water filling/priming of the replacement PPA (pump<br />package assembly) accumulator, the fill quantity, as shown by the movement<br />of the accumulator bellows, did not respond to pressure changes in the<br />system as expected. However, this morning the crew got the green light to<br />press ahead with filling and subsequent installation of the PPA in the LAB-1<br />rack. When powered up afterwards, an unexpected signature was noticed which<br />appears to indicate a failed-open, i.e., leaking, check valve. The issue is<br />currently under assessment, and troubleshooting is on hold until after the<br />Russian software transition is complete. The ITCS continues in single-loop<br />mode (LTL, low temperature loop), with a nominally working LTL pump. In case<br />of its failure, leaving the USOS (U.S. segment) without internal cooling, a<br />contingency plan is in place for controlled load shedding to reduce heat<br />production, i.e. power-down of a larger number of RPCMs (remote power<br />controller modules) in the USOS. In this event, ISS flight attitude would be<br />moded to "XPOP tumble", until 3/28.]<br /><br />In the Service Module (SM), FE-1 Nikolai Budarin continued to reconfigure<br />the Russian OpsLAN network, viz., incorporating the "telescience" payload<br />into it, supported by tag-up with a ground specialist. [This involved,<br />first, the installation of a number of cables to connect the TMO data<br />exchange transformer (unit FL-001) to onboard power, then linking the TMO to<br />the BRI SmartSwitch, the BSMM array matching unit laptop and the TVS<br />television subsystem, with concurrent reconfiguring of the TVS connection of<br />the PK-3 Plasma Crystal "telescience" payload. Later in the day, Budarin<br />installed a hard disk drive (HDD) in the TMO FL-001.]<br /><br />Transition of the SM's Terminal and Central computers (TVM and TsVM) to the<br />new software version 7.01 began on schedule. The procedure, largely<br />controlled by TsUP "launching" pre-loaded cyclograms during Daily Orbits 14,<br />15, 1 & 2, started early in the morning and is planned to take 9-10 hours.<br />[To support the transition, ISS flight control was moded to CMG-only at<br />9:10am EST, to be returned to CMG-TA (thruster assist) at 3:45pm. Systems<br />deactivated for the process include Vozdukh, Elektron, SKV-1 air<br />conditioner, and BMP micropurifier. Yesterday, the two computers were<br />restarted successfully on all three lanes (subsets), running the old vers.<br />5.04 software, and each is being reloaded today with the new software on<br />lane #3 first. After a test (verifying checksums), lanes #1 and #2 are then<br />restarted, and an exchange program is launched to execute the software 7.01<br />transfer to them, followed by more checkups. Both TVM and TsVM should be<br />ready for reboot in operational mode (RRP) by 3:20pm EST.]<br /><br />USOS GNC (guidance, navigation & control) is working nominally on its new<br />software patches. GPS (global positioning system) and RGA (rate gyro<br />assembly) are prime for navigational source data, i.e., attitude, attitude<br />rates, and state vector (position, velocity). The configuration is good to<br />support the 7.01 transition.<br /><br />In the SM, Nikolai Budarin changed out the CO2 filter unit (BF) in the<br />IK0501 gas analyzer, an automated system for measuring CO2, O2, and H2O in<br />the air as well as the flow rate of the gas being analyzed (replaced last:<br />2/5).<br /><br />Later, after obed/lunch (8:00am), Nikolai completed the monthly preventive<br />maintenance on the SM air ventilation system, today cleaning Group A fans<br />and grilles.<br /><br />Don Pettit continued his support of the ongoing MSG (Microgravity Science<br />Glovebox) troubleshooting. All E-Box connectors have been remated, but<br />identification of the fault remains elusive. The next step, starting today,<br />is restoration of MSG to its nominal operational configuration, pausing<br />between steps for ground commanding/evaluation. This will continue for the<br />next few days as time permits around the ITCS/MTL troubleshooting. [Today's<br />activities included a laptop reconfiguration, followed by powered facility<br />runs with sequential adding of MSG MLC (MSG laptop computer) and a powered<br />video drawer. Seven short-duration on-board activities were planned, with<br />associated ground commanding between each on-board activity.]<br /><br />The next Foot (foot/ground reaction forces during space flight) experiment<br />activities have slipped by a day due to the MTL/PPA R&R. EMG<br />(electromyography, i.e., muscular electric signals) calibration for Foot and<br />the subsequent day-long experiment run is scheduled for tomorrow, and Ken<br />Bowersox today unstowed, set up and prepared the payload equipment for it.<br /><br />Pettit conducted the daily routine maintenance of the SM's SOZh life support<br />system, including ASU toilet facilities, while Budarin prepared the daily<br />IMS inventory delta file.<br /><br />Nikolai performed his daily status check on the Russian BIO-5<br />Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 ("Plants-2") plant growth experiment in the SM.<br /><br />All crewmembers completed their daily physical exercise program on RED<br />(resistive exercise device), TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and<br />stabilization), and VELO with load trainer. Don performed the weekly routine<br />maintenance on the treadmill, and Sox conducted the bi-weekly inspection of<br />the RED after his resistive exercise session. CEVIS (cycle ergometer with<br />vibration isolation) control panel continues failed.<br /><br />At 10:40am, Bowersox and Pettit fielded media questions in two live TV press<br />interviews of about 10 minutes each, with WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN, and the<br />Silverton, OR, Appeal Tribune.<br /><br />Lab ppCO2 (carbon dioxide partial pressure) level this morning was 4.2 mmHg.<br />Vozdukh CO2 scrubber in the SM is deactivated for the duration of the<br />Russian software transition. CDRA (CO2 removal assembly) in the Lab was<br />later powered up by MCC-H.<br /><br />Vozdukh's failure last Friday (3/14) was due to a damaged power cable, as<br />suspected. After repair by the crew (there was no spare on board), the<br />system was back up in operation on Saturday. A set of spare cabling is now<br />being prepared for launch on 11P/Progress.<br /><br />Moscow has reported the results of the two Progress thruster dynamic tests<br />last week. The first test reboost on 3/12, with the #2 thruster manifold,<br />was perfectly nominal. However, the firing on 3/14 of the suspected #1<br />manifold showed the same abnormal signature as it did during the original<br />reboost on 2/11 (ref. also Status Report 2/14). [The burn spent nearly equal<br />amounts of fuel and oxidizer (8 kg ea.), indicating an oxidizer underuse of<br />30% from the nominal. Thrust was only 70% of nominal. There will be a report<br />by the investigating Commission. As of now, the major reboost in April will<br />be on manifold #2 only, with #1 to be used solely in an emergency. The burn<br />will use up all remaining Progress fuel (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine,<br />UDMH), but it is still to be decided whether the left-over oxidizer<br />(nitrogen tetroxide, N2O4) will be transferred to the ISS or jettisoned with<br />the vehicle.]<br /><br />The Stage EVA2 by Bowersox and Pettit is now set for 4/8 (Tuesday). On the<br />day before, the GNC MDM will receive a software load to support one of the<br />tasks planned for the spacewalk (the CMG patch panels reconfiguration at the<br />Z1 truss).<br /><br />The prop savings (if any) incurred from the recent period of "night glider"<br />attitude (U.S. solar array wings feathered on the night side to reduce<br />aerodynamic drag) are being determined at present.<br /><br />Today's targets for the CEO (crew earth observations) program (no Cities at<br />Night included until LVLH attitude) were Dakar, Senegal (shooting left of<br />track to document Dakar in morning sunlight), Lower Amazon River Basin (crew<br />was asked to image the islands in the Amazon river to help detect change in<br />size), and Plankton off S. Argentina (Dynamic Event: Document any visible<br />plankton, right or left of track.<br /><br />CEO images can be viewed at the websites<br />http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and<br />http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov<br /><br />U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 1:32pm EST).<br /><br />Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):<br />Elektron O2 generator is powered Off. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is Off. U.S. CDRA<br />CO2 scrubber is On. TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating.<br />MCA (major constituents analyzer) is operating. BMP Harmful Impurities unit:<br />both filter beds are off. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is Off; SKV-2 is Off.<br /><br />SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- n/a; temperature (deg C) -- 23.9;<br />ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --<br />21.2.<br />FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) -- 22.0.<br />Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 741.34; temperature (deg C) -- 24.2 (shell); ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.<br />U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.60; temperature (deg C) -- 22.2; ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- 167.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 5.3;<br />Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.70; temperature (deg<br />C) -- 21.1; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 22.1, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a.<br />PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 24.5<br />PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 12.9<br />(n/a = data not available)<br /><br />Propulsion System (PS):<br />Total propellant load available [SM(786) + FGB(2746) + Progress(490)] ---<br />4022 kg (8867 lb) as of 3/13/03. (Capability: SM -- 860 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 Autotrack (sun-following).<br />SM batteries: All batteries (8) are in "Partial Charge" mode.<br />FGB batteries: Batteries #2 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): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being<br />upgraded.<br />SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being<br />upgraded.<br /><br />Attitude Control Systems:<br />3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).<br />State vector source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)<br />Attitude source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)<br />Angular rate source -- RGA-2<br /><br />Flight Attitude:<br />XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = "sun-fixed" [yaw: -179.0 deg,<br />pitch: -8.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG Momentum Management).<br />Solar Beta Angle: 43.0 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 Lab PDGF 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, 7:56am EST [= epoch]):<br />Mean altitude -- 390.8 km<br />Apogee -- 396.4 km<br />Perigee -- 385.1 km<br />Period -- 92.37 min.<br />Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg<br />Eccentricity -- 0.0008354<br />Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.59<br />Solar Beta Angle: 43.0 deg (magnitude increasing)<br />Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 155 m<br />Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 24686<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