ISS On-Orbit Status 8 May 2003
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously or
below. First medical tests for the new crew today.
Before breakfast, both crewmembers completed their first session of the periodic
Russian medical experiment protocols PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume measurement) and
PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement). CDR Yuri Malenchenko set up the MO-8
"scales" equipment and later broke it down and stowed it away. [Calf
measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn
fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed
reference points, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and
effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where
things are weightless (but not massless), the Russian IM "scales" measure the
inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two
helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time
period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it
to the period of a known mass, the crewmember's mass is calculated by the
computer and displayed].
Also before breakfast, Malenchenko completed the periodic Russian MedOps test
"Hematocrit", measuring the red blood cell count (hematocrit) of his blood.
Science Officer Edward Lu assisted by performing the blood draw from his finger
with a perforator lancet. [The samples were then centrifuged in two
microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit's minicentrifuge and its hematocrit value
was read off the tubes with a magnifying glass. It is a well-known phenomenon
of space flight that red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go
down over time., probably as a function of (rich) oxygen partial pressure in the
onboard atmosphere.]
Later in the day, Yuri Malenchenko performed his first biomedical "Pulse"
experiment, scheduled before his physical exercise. These MBI-9 tests are done
monthly. [Execution of the medical cardiological assessment is controlled from
the Russian payloads laptop 3 (see below), using a set respiration rate (without
forced or deep breaths) and synchronizing respiration with computer-commanded
"inhale" commands. Before the experiment, arterial blood pressure is measured
with the "Tensoplus" sphygmomanometer. After the test, laptop 3 was to be
reconfigured to its original settings.]
As part of regular (monthly) preventive maintenance of ISS ventilation systems,
Ed Lu worked an hour in the FGB (funktsionalnyi-grusovoi [sic! Correctly "gruzovoi"] blok) module for a
thorough cleanup of the removable screens of its three GZhT gas-liquid heat
exchangers (done last by Budarin on 3/26).
Also in the FGB/Zarya module, Malenchenko cleaned ventilation grilles behind
interior panels, while Lu cleaned up the protective mesh screens of the module's
ventilation fans.
MCC-M/TsUP reported that laptop 3 in the Russian segment (RS) has failed and is
presently under analysis. [No critical functionality has been lost, but since
the laptop is used for a number of Russian payload operations, the failure
creates inconvenience for the crew in using alternate means.]
Three other station laptops have exhibited problems this week. One had a CMOS
error and was successfully recovered. Instructions were uplinked for
troubleshooting the failed Service Module PCS (portable computer system), an IBM
760XD laptop (#6060). [The test sequence, using a known good laptop and some
HDDs (hard disk drives), is designed to help determine which component of the
PCS prevented it from booting up correctly.]
CDR Malenchenko tagged up with a ground expert at MCC-M/TsUP to discuss his
upcoming sessions with the Russian Diatomeya ocean bioproductivity observing
program.
The crewmembers also tagged up with Russian specialists on the IMS (inventory
management system). [A prepared cargo table was uplinked to assist Yuri and Ed
with the unloading and logging of 6S/Soyuz-212 (TMA-2) cargo, stowed both in the
Orbital Module and Descent Module. Since all scheduled activities aboard the
ISS (R&Rs, installations) are also pre-planned in the IMS plans, the crewmembers
were asked to confirm or change equipment entries listed in the IMS in
accordance with last week's activities.]
Ed Lu performed the daily routine maintenance/inspection of SOZh life support
systems, which includes the ASU toilet facility, food containers (KRP), water
containers (EDV) and solid waste containers (KTO). Ed also prepared the daily
IMS delta file to update the IMS database.
Yuri completed the regular inspection of the BIO-5 "Rasteniya-2/Lada-3"
(Plants-2) zero-G plant growth experiment and took pictures of the plants
(acacia-leaf peas). Later, he copied the accumulated photo/data files to a
floppy disk for transfer to the Russian laptop 3 and subsequent downlink via
Regul-Packet.
The crew again had one hour set aside on their schedule for ISS familiarization,
i.e., to adjust to their new surroundings and activities
Ed and Yuri also completed their daily physical exercise program, on TVIS
(treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization), RED (resistive exercise
device), CEVIS (cycle ergometer with vibration isolation) and, for Yuri, on the
Russian VELO ergometer with load trainer. [TsUP uplinked the standard
restrictions recommended for use of the NS-1 load trainer. Its use is limited
by ISS structural constraints during crewmember workouts. Prescribed are medium
tempo (0.33 Hz, one full motion in three seconds) and fast tempo (0.5 Hz, one
full motion in two seconds), with medium tempo allowed for rowing, lean
forward/back and trunk flexing exercises, and fast tempo for hammer throw and
lower arm flexing/extending.]
The crew reported that it encountered a problem with the RED aft canister which,
at a higher power setting, suddenly exhibited high resistance. [While ground
specialists are looking into the issue, the crew was advised to stay below that
setting. It is likely that the canister will be swapped out for the time being,
deferring disassembly and repair attempts to a later date.]
Regular TVIS inspection time will be increased to one hour next Monday (5/12) to
allow a closer look at the "frayed ropes" reported by the crew. [For this
purpose, the treadmill will have to be partially lifted out of the Service
Module "pit".]
At 9:20am EDT, Malenchenko and Lu supported two interactive televised interviews
(Ku-band and S-band) on KXTV-TV, Sacramento, CA, and Channel One News, Los
Angeles, CA, each one lasting about nine minutes.
The onboard File Server backup files are now on the ground, and Expedition 6
personal email files are being extracted for restoration.
The Soyuz TMA-1 Descent Module has been returned to RSC-Energia in Korolev near
Moscow, and its flight data/voice recorder was found to be intact, containing
all its reentry data and voice records. The freshly appointed commission has
been given two weeks for the investigation, counting from 5/5.
Today's CEO (crew earth observations) targets, including cities during daylight
and at night (again available as targets in the current LVLH attitude) were
Athens, Greece (nadir pass; ESC [electronic still camera]), Eastern
Mediterranean aerosols (pass from Greece to Sinai: looking left for smog
buildup), Nile River Delta (land use patterns are the center of interest.
Looking nadir and right for the new developments along the Suez Canal), Cape
Town, South Africa (looking left for South Africa's second largest port; ESC),
Midwest tornado damage (Dynamic event. Recent tornadoes have killed ~40 people.
Looking left for about two minutes for swaths, up to a mile wide and 10-20
miles long, in Kansas and Missouri, oriented ENE), Miami, Florida (nadir pass;
ESC), Las Vegas, Nevada (nadir pass; ESC), Phoenix, Arizona (nadir pass; ESC),
Tucson, Arizona (nadir pass; ESC), Lake Poopo, Bolivia (handheld images suggest
that Lake Poopo is a proxy for precipitation in the high, dry Andes. Lake
levels tend to drop during El Niños and should therefore be approaching their
lowest as the present El Niño winds down), and El Paso, Texas (city at night;
nadir and a touch right).
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of
1:25pm EST).
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control (TCS):
SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) -- 27.8;
ppO2 (mmHg) -- data invalid; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- data invalid.
(n/a = data not available)
Propulsion System (PS):
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
SM batteries: Battery #4 is disconnected, in stand-alone ops; battery #2 in
"Cycle" mode; all other batteries (6) are in "Partial Charge" mode.
Command & Data Handling Systems:
Attitude Control Systems:
Flight Attitude:
Communications & Tracking Systems:
Robotics:
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:55am EDT [= epoch]):
Elektron O2 generator is powered On (24 Amp mode). Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On
(manual mode 3). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace contaminant
control subsystem) is operating. MCA (major constituents analyzer) is
operating. BMP Harmful Impurities unit: absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode, bed #2
in Purify mode. RS air conditioner SKV-1 is On; SKV-2 is Off.
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 751; temperature (deg C) --
19.8.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 744; temperature (deg C) -- 21.0.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 740.71; temperature (deg C) -- 22.2 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- 170.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 3.3.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.00; temperature (deg C) -- 22.4; ppO2 (mmHg)
-- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 743.10; temperature (deg C)
-- 22.0; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 22.8, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) --
n/a.
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 23.6
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 20.7
Total propellant load available: 3607 kg (7952 lb) as of 5/1 [SM(774) +
FGB(2581) + Progress(252)]. (Capability: SM -- 860 kg; FGB -- 6120 kg).
Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B both
in directed position (Blind mode, non solar-tracking, drag reduction).
FGB batteries: Battery #5 is disconnected; all other batteries (5) are in
"Partial Charge" mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 and PCU-2 both in Standby mode.
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.
INT-1 is operating; INT-2 is Off.
EXT-2 is On (primary), EXT-1 is Off (both now upgraded to R3).
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-2 MDM is On (primary); PL-1 MDM is Off
APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being
upgraded.
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational. Being
upgraded.
3 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed).
State vector source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Attitude source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Angular rate source -- RGA-2
LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal = "earth-fixed": z-axis in local
vertical, x-axis in velocity vector [yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -7.2 deg, roll: 0
deg]), with CMG/TA (thruster assist) Momentum Management.
Solar Beta angle: 14.7 deg (magnitude increasing).
FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.
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 (VTR1 is operable again; VTR2 in
troubleshooting).
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.
SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at MBS PDGF #1 with Keep Alive (KA) power on both
strings.
MBS: KA power on both strings.
MT: latched at WS4, with KA power.
POA: KA power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is Off; Cupola RWS is Off.
Mean altitude -- 390.2 km
Apogee -- 394.6 km
Perigee -- 385.8 km
Period -- 92.36 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0006636
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.59
Solar Beta Angle: 14.7 deg (magnitude increasing)
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 110 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 25481
For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
Source: NASA