ISS On-Orbit Status 27 November 2002
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or below. Week 25 and Day 175 in space for Expedition 5. Flight Day 5 for 11A/STS-114, and Week 1 for Expedition 6.
After wake-up at 8:20am (all times EST) for the ISS crew and 8:50am for the Shuttle crew, the crewmembers received rave reviews for their outstanding work yesterday "both inside and outside".
After its flawlessly conducted installation, the P1 truss was activated last night with no issues. The successful activations included its two MDMs (multiplexer/demultiplexer) computers P1-1 and P1-2.
EVA-1, begun yesterday at 2:49pm EST, was completed in an exceedingly smooth performance by Mike Lopez-Alegria and John Herrington at 9:35pm, after a duration of 6h 45 min. [All objectives were accomplished with complete success and no issues: (1) power, data and fluid umbilicals between the S0 and P1 trusses were connected; (2) 24 launch lock bolts on the new CETA (crew and equipment translation aid) cart were released; (3) six SPDs (spool positioning devices) were installed on ammonia line quick disconnects (NH3 QDs); (4) two "drag links" (large metal launch restraint rods) were removed; and (5) the first WETA (wireless video system external transceiver assembly) was installed, which relays video imagery from EVA helmet cameras (ERCAs) to the inside of the station and thence to Earth without requiring the presence of a docked Shuttle, as before. It was the 47th spacewalk of station construction (22 from the station itself), dating back to December 1998. Total time for station spacewalks is now at 292h 10 min.]
The planned activation/checkout of the WETA (wireless video system external transceiver assembly), could not be performed, due to an unmated connector in the Node's "swing arm" between its forward end cone and the S0 cable tray. The swing arm was deployed as a "get-ahead" task on 8A, but the three connectors in the S0 tray, one of which (P652/J652) provides video/sync-2 data, were not mated to the Node end cone. The missing connections will most likely be finished tomorrow during EVA-2.
Other minor EVA items being attended to today in preparation for tomorrow's spacewalk include (1) non-working biomed instrumentation on both spacewalkers; (2) one of the two light bulbs in EV1/Lopez-Alegria's spacesuit helmet requiring replacement.
The SSRMS/Canadarm2 "walk-off" to the Lab PDGF (power and data grapple fixture) was successfully completed last night by Whitson, Bowersox and Pettit. MBS (mobile base system) was released, and the arm is now in the EVA-2 viewing position.
The ISS CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) was not used during yesterday's pre-breathe procedure for EVA-1, as reported last night. During her test run yesterday morning, Peggy Whitson encountered periodic transitions between protocol (automatic) mode and manual mode. Due to the lengthened times required at each CEVIS load level (because of the transitions back and forth from manual mode), the Shuttle bike/ergometer was selected for the prebreathe protocol. As troubleshooting of the failed microswitch of the ISS CEVIS continues, a procedure is being developed to allow easier setting of workloads (Watts) by the crew in manual mode. Whitson is scheduled to perform a checkout run of the procedure tomorrow.
Most of today's crew schedules are taken up by handovers and transfer operations. Walkthroughs and handover include the onboard laptops, which the Expedition 5 crewmembers show and demonstrate to their replacements for the various modes, applications and procedures, such as communications on OCA and Regul-Packet, and the new integrated OpsLAN network. Logistics transfer operations are proceeding well, having approximately reached the halfway point.
The first of three reboosts was performed today at 12:10pm for 45 min., to increase mean ISS altitude by 4.5 km. Total altitude boost during 11A is planned to be 10.5 km (5.7 n.mi.).
Expedition 5 CDR Valery Korzun and FE-2 Sergei Treschev had another exercise session with the Russian MedOps MO-4 ODNT (lower body negative pressure, LBNP) program, working out while wearing the "Chibis" suit. The cosmonauts assisted each other as they took turns with the device.
Expedition 6 CDR Ken Bowersox performed his first payload activity on board when he conducted the post-spacewalk EVARM (EVA radiation monitoring) badge reading. After taking dose data from all 12 badges, Sox restowed the four pouches in the EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) servicing kit in preparation for EVA-2 tomorrow.
Expedition 6 FE-2 Don Pettit did the daily status checkup of the Shuttle middeck payloads.
As he had done countless times before, Korzun completed the daily routine task of SM life support system (SOSh) maintenance, while Sergei Treschev prepared the IMS inventory delta file for downlinking, and Peggy Whitson performed her routine status checkup of the autonomous Lab payloads (PCG-STES007, CGBA, PGBA).
Jim Wetherbee, Paul Lockhart, Mike Lopez-Alegria, John Herrington and Valery Korzun are scheduled tonight for a detailed procedures review of tomorrow's EVA-2. The spacewalk will begin at approximately 2:20pm EST and last nominally 6:30h. Major tasks for EVA-2 are (1) installation of two fluid jumpers (hoses) between the S0 and P1 trusses (for conducting ammonia [NH3] between them); (2) installation of four SPDs (spool positioning devices) on jumper connectors; (3) removal of the keel pin from the CETA (crew and equipment translation aid) cart and stowage; (4) installation of the second WETA assembly on the P1 (similar to the first WETA installed yesterday on the Node); and (5) transfer of the CETA cart from the P1 truss to the S1, moving it around the MT (mobile transporter) on the S0 segment.
EVA-2 and -3 will be using recyclable Metox (metal oxide) canisters for carbon dioxide (CO2) resorption. [Regarding the issue of Metox regeneration in the Airlock (A/L) oven, both partner sides are in agreement that CO2 levels in the A/L after Metox regen must be less than 6 mmHg before crew ingress, measured by both the TCCS (trace contaminant control subassembly) and CSA-CP (compound specific analyzer-combustion products) simultaneously. CDRA (carbon dioxide removal assembly) in the Lab is also planned to be operating during this time.]
MCC-H uploaded new software patches to the EXT MDMs (external computers) to account for the SSAS (segment-to-segment attach system) installation of the P1 truss and MT ops PPL (prepositioned load) files. [In the process, both EXT MDMs were swapped and reinitialized. The new backup EXT was brought up and then powered off after the loads were completed.]
C&DH (command and data handling) software patches were also to
be
uploaded to the P1 MDMs later tonight.
CDRA has become
increasingly
difficult to restart after shutdowns, due to its recalcitrant ASV
valves.
Earlier today, it failed to restart altogether. Spare ASV assemblies
have
been delivered by 11A, and R&R (removal & replacement) is
tentatively planned for later tonight.
VOA (volatile organics analyzer) shut itself down due to apparent fluctuation in N2 (nitrogen) sensor readings. Flight controllers have verified that N2 levels had remained constant.
Troubleshooting of the failed Shuttle-to-ISS hardline intercom (ICOM-A) is planned for 11/29. Since this activity will require voice checks, some crewtime may be required.
Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG): Ground testing and data review continue to better understand the situation associated with the failed PDC (power distribution controller). The review, which also focuses on the possibility of additional hardware impacted by the failure besides PDC, will determine by tonight if the PDC is to be returned to Earth on 11A or is to remain on board for in-space troubleshooting (which appears to be difficult). If additional hardware is affected, it probably will require rotating the MSG rack for equipment access and removal.
U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of 3:15am EST).
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal
Control
(TCS):
Elektron O2 generator is powered On (32 Amp mode).
Vozdukh
CO2 scrubber is On (manual mode 5, cycle time 10 min). U.S. CDRA CO2
scrubber is Off. TCCS is operational. BMP Harmful Impurities unit:
Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2 in Purify mode.
SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 753; temperature (deg C)
--
25.5; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 140.7; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 2.5.
SM Transfer
Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 756; temperature (deg C) --
20.0.
FGB
Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) -- 18.7.
Node:
Pressure (mmHg) -- 738.80; temperature (deg C) -- 22.0 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- 161.3; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 4.1.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) --
737.53; temperature (deg C) -- 24.5; ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg)
--
n/a;
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 739.87,
temperature (deg C) -- 21.8; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 21.8, ppO2
(mmHg) -- 165.5; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 3.7.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg
C)
-- 23.5
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 20.9
(n/a = data not
available)
Propulsion System (PS): Total propellant load available (SM + FGB + Progress) -- 3808 kg (8395 lb) [as of 11/21/02].
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Both P6 channels fully
operational. Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B and BGA 4B both in
dual-angle
mode (directed position).
SM batteries: All batteries (8) are in
"Partial Charge": mode.
FGB batteries: Batteries #4 is off line;
battery #1 is in "Cycle" mode; all other batteries (4) are in "Partial
Charge" mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in operating; PCU-2 is
operating (supporting EVA).
Thermal Control Systems:
Air conditioner SKV-1 is On;
SKV-2
is Off.
Command & Data Handling Systems:
C&C-1 MDM is
prime,
C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-3 is in standby.
GNC-1 MDM is
prime;
GNC-2 is Backup (new patches loaded on both).
EXT-2 is On
(primary),
EXT-1 is off.
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-1
MDM
is On (primary); PL-2 MDM is off (diagnostic
APS-1 (automated
payload
switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 2
redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Lane 1 is down.
SM Central
Computer
(TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
Attitude Source:
3 CMGs on-line.
State vector -- U.S.
SIGI-1
Attitude -- Russian segment (RS)
Angular rates -- U.S.
RGA-1
(from RS attitude)
Communications & Tracking Systems:
FGB MDM-1 failed;
FGB
MDM-2 is operating.
All other Russian communications & tracking
systems are nominal.
S-band is operating nominally.
Ku-band is
operating nominally.
Audio subsystem operating nominally.
Video
subsystem operating nominally.
MCOR (medium-rate communications
outage
recorder) is operating nominally.
Robotics:
SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at Lab PDGF in EVA-2
viewing
position, with Keep Alive power on both strings.
MBS: Keep Alive
power
on both strings. POA: Keep Alive power on both strings.
RWS
(robotics
workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.
For background on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility
dates/times, see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
Source: NASA