ISS On-Orbit Status 3 Apr 2003<br /><br /> All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously<br />or below.<br /><br />At 3:55am EST, still in general XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane)<br />orientation, the station maneuvered to a specific test attitude, after<br />which, at 4:15am, motion control was handed over to the Russian segment (RS)<br />for the subsequent efficiency test of the Service Module (SM) and FGB solar<br />arrays. Control returned to the U.S. CMGs (control moment gyroscopes) after<br />5hr 40 min, at 9:55am, and ISS maneuvered back to XPOP TEA (torque<br />equilibrium attitude). [The periodic Russian efficiency testing keeps track<br />of the energy-output performance of the photovoltaics over time under the<br />degrading effects of the space environment (mostly from ultraviolet<br />radiation and atomic oxygen).]<br /><br />FE-2/Donald Pettit collected the static noise dosimeters after 8 hrs of<br />acoustic sleep measurements, recorded their accumulated data and stowed the<br />instruments<br /><br />Later in the day, Pettit unstowed the joint US/Russian sound level meter<br />(SLM) hardware and took readings at 41 different locations in the Lab, Node,<br />Airlock, FGB, Service Module (SM) and Docking Compartment (DC-1), following<br />instructions uplinked recently for the current Week 18. The noise data were<br />then transferred to the MEC (medical equipment computer), and the SLM<br />equipment was stowed. [Last SLM survey taken: 2/14/03]<br /><br />Before breakfast, FE-1 Nikolai Budarin concluded his current MBI-8<br />"Profilaktika" (countermeasures) fitness session, today conducting the blood<br />test part, measuring lactate and creatine kinase levels with the AccuSport<br />equipment, and the physical exercise on the TVIS treadmill. [The TVIS test<br />is identical to the MO-3 test performed on the treadmill in idling mode with<br />free choice of speeds within a certain specified range. In addition to the<br />nominal test procedure, it calls for the use of the TEEM-100M gas analyzer<br />during the test, the blood measurements, and subjective evaluation of<br />physical exertion levels during the test. Gas analyzer and ECG<br />(electrocardiograph) data were transferred to Laptop 3 and prepared for<br />later downlink via Regul-Packet comm.]<br /><br />Budarin performed another deployment check of the IP-1 airflow sensors which<br />are installed in the various RS hatchways. [Last check done: 3/28.]<br /><br />Nikolai also performed inspection and tightening of the QD (quick<br />disconnect) screw clamps of the SM's docking and internal transfer mechanism<br />(SSVP), where Progress M-247 is linked up.<br /><br />CDR Ken Bowersox and the Russian flight engineer worked another consumables<br />and "pantry" audit, today inventorying on-board personal hygiene items,<br />using updated instructions uplinked earlier. [In FGB and SM, they collected<br />sanitary-hygiene items (SLG, dry and moist towels, napkins and wipes) to be<br />used first, stowing them behind a suitable panel, then those with an expired<br />shelf life, which they prepared for disposal in Progress.]<br /><br />Budarin completed his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5<br />Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 ("Plants-2") plant growth experiment.<br /><br />Bowersox prepared the data from the seventh Foot (foot/ground reaction<br />forces during space flight) session yesterday (4/2) and transferred the file<br />for subsequent downlink to MCC-H.<br /><br />The daily routine maintenance of the SM's SOZh life support system<br />(including ASU toilet facilities) was today assigned to Budarin, while<br />Pettit prepared the daily IMS inventory delta file. Nikolai also performed<br />the periodic inspection of the BRPK air/condensate separator of the SRVK<br />water processing system.<br /><br />In preparation for next week's (4/8) spacewalk and preceding positioning of<br />the SSRMS (space station remote manipulator system) for<br />situational-awareness viewing, the crew conducted a software review of the<br />DOUG (dynamic operational ubiquitous graphics) application. [DOUG is a<br />sophisticated program on a standalone PC at the robotics workstation which<br />provides a birdseye-view graphical image of the SSRMS, showing its real-time<br />location and configuration on the display during its operation.]<br /><br />MCC-H uplinked helpful instructions for the EVA tool retrieval "get-ahead"<br />task during next week's spacewalk, specifying bags and stowage<br />configurations for accommodating and transferring the numerous tools.<br /><br />Sox and Don filled out their weekly FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), a<br />special software log on the MEC (medical equipment computer) to track<br />nutritional intake.<br /><br />After the recurring transfer of accumulated data files from the HRM (heart<br />rate monitor) to the MEC (medical equipment computer), for subsequent<br />downlink to the ground, Sox deleted them on HRM.<br /><br />MCC-M/TsUP conducted another 20-min. IMS (inventory management system) tagup<br />with the crew via S-band, to discuss disposition and location of specific<br />items for clarification of the updated IMS database.<br /><br />The crew downlinked a message of greeting to the participants of the Fifth<br />International Science/Technical Conference in Russia. ["We hope that the<br />findings shared at this conference will find appropriate practical<br />application in space flight preparation and operation."]<br /><br />At 10:55am EST, the crew engaged in an interactive exchange (S-band/audio<br />only) with the National Public Radio (NPR) program "All Things Considered".<br />[The event on this third most listened-to radio program in the U.S., carried<br />by about 600 stations nationally with a weekly audience of more than 10<br />million, lasted about 20 minutes.]<br /><br />Coming up: Tomorrow (4/4), at 7:59am EST, first of two "stand-alone"<br />reboosts by Progress M-247. Est. delta-V: 1.8 m/s; altitude increase: 3.1<br />km (1.9 miles).<br /><br />Today's CEO (crew earth observations) targets, currently restricted by<br />flight rule constraints limiting the use of the science window in the Lab,<br />were Industrialized SE Africa (good pass parallel with SE coast of South<br />Africa. This is the exit zone for polluted air masses from the<br />subcontinent. Crew was to try to document any smog plumes going out into<br />the southern Indian Ocean. Researchers are most interested in actual<br />visuals of this recently discovered phenomenon), Patagonian Glaciers<br />(weather remained clear: crew was to look especially for glacier tongues on<br />the W side of the Andean ice fields), Mekong River delta (excellent sun<br />glint detail for acquiring delta coast detail), Delhi region, India (Dynamic<br />event: Sun glint opportunity left of track of the highly enigmatic stream<br />patterns in the Delhi region. Sanskrit literature suggests that Delhi's<br />river [the Yamuna] flowed SW into the Arabian Sea 4000 years ago [instead of<br />SE into the Ganges]. Glint views are the most accurate and detailed mapping<br />method for remnant stream patterns), Angolan Biomass Burning (looking left<br />and right for early-season burning. Crew was also asked to try for sun<br />glint views of the major wetlands along the upper Zambezi River, left of<br />track), Southeast Sudan wetlands (Dynamic event. Extremely remote wetlands<br />[in civil-war-torn southern Sudan] on the lowlands at the foot of the<br />Ethiopian mountains. Looking left for sun glint opportunity), and Eastern<br />Mediterranean Dust (dust predicted again off north Africa [E coast of<br />Libya/W coast of Egypt] in advance of the big storm entering the western<br />Mediterranean). CEO images can be viewed at the websites<br />http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov<br /><br />U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 12:45pm EST).<br /><br />Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):<br /><br />Elektron O2 generator is powered On. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On (manual<br />mode 5). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace contaminant control<br />subsystem) is operating. MCA (major constituents analyzer) is operating.<br />BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in<br />Purify mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On; SKV-2 is Off.<br /><br /><br />SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 740; temperature (deg C) --<br />29.0; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 183.1 (suspect); ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 2.4 (data suspect).<br />SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --<br />20.0.<br />FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) -- 23.3.<br />Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 738.16; temperature (deg C) -- 23.4 (shell); ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- 165.6; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 4.3.<br />U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 740.07; temperature (deg C) -- 22.5; ppO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a;<br />Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 740.17; temperature (deg<br />C) -- 21.1; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 21.5, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2<br />(mmHg) -- n/a.<br />PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 25.8<br />PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 16.6<br /><br />(n/a = data not available)<br /><br />Propulsion System (PS):<br /><br />Total propellant load available [SM(774) + FGB(2746) + Progress(474] ---<br />3994 kg (8805 lb) as of 4/3/03. (Capability: SM -- 860 kg; FGB -- 6120 kg).<br /><br />Electrical Power Systems (EPS):<br /><br />Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B<br />both in Autotrack (sun-following).<br />SM batteries: All batteries (8) are in "Partial Charge" mode.<br />FGB batteries: Battery #2 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (5) are<br />in "Partial Charge" mode.<br />Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 and PCU-2 both in Standby mode.<br /><br />Command & Data Handling Systems:<br /><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 /><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 /><br />XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = "sun-fixed" [yaw: -179.0 deg,<br />pitch: -8.8 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist) Momentum<br />Management.<br />Solar Beta Angle: 21.0 deg (magnitude decreasing).<br /><br />Communications & Tracking Systems:<br /><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 /><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, 3:59am EST [= epoch]):<br /><br />Mean altitude -- 388.6 km<br />Apogee -- 394.2 km<br />Perigee -- 383.1 km<br />Period -- 92.33 min.<br />Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg<br />Eccentricity -- 0.0008156<br />Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.60<br />Solar Beta Angle: 21.0 deg (magnitude decreasing)<br />Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 200 m<br />Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 24933<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