ISS On-Orbit Status 3 June 2004
All ISS systems continue to function nominally except those noted previously or
below.
Update on Orlan EVA: The actual date of the spacewalk is still under discussion,
with a decision due next Monday (6/7). Two options are under consideration, both
overnight for the U.S.: Tuesday, 6/15, from 9:35pm EDT to 3:05am, and Wednesday,
6/16, from 10:05pm to 3:35am. A joint US/RS EVA simulation run is scheduled for
6/8, an Orlan suit dry run for 6/11. The two additional Increment 9 Orlan-EVAs
are being planned for 7/22 and 8/24.
In preparation for the upcoming spacewalk, CDR Gennady Padalka installed
portable oxygen repress bottles (BNP) in the DC1 docking module and the Service
Module (SM)'s work compartment (RO) repress lines.
The crew also prepared the DC1 itself for the EVA, removing temporarily stowed
equipment not needed for the spacewalk and recording its interim stowage
locations in the station with the IMS (inventory management system).
FE Fincke continued preparing batteries for the EVA. After reconfiguring an SSC
(station support computer) laptop for automated battery maintenance, Mike
initiated the discharge/recharge cycle on two EMU batteries (##2047, 2048) in
the BSA (battery storage assembly). The SSC was then reset for nominal ops. Due
to the trip failure of BC2 (battery charger 2), the two remaining charged PGT
(pistol grip tool) batteries are meanwhile being discharged in the PGT itself
(taking 4-5 hours each), prior to another charging of all three.
FE/SO Michael Fincke completed the periodic one-hour task of inspecting and
cleaning hatch seals and hatch plate sealing surfaces in the U.S. segment,
working on six hatches, viz., Node (forward, aft & starboard), Lab (aft), and
Airlock, in support of regular ACS (atmospheric control system) maintenance.
[Hatch seals are lubricated with Braycote-601, which is also deposited on the
sealing surfaces. Dust and particles (FOD, foreign object debris) can stick to
the lubricant and to both seals and sealing surfaces. These are regularly
inspected with a magnifying glass for FOD, nicks, burrs, cuts or gouges that
would impair a proper seal, and are cleaned, as required, with brushes, dry
wipes and Kapton tape. (Last time done: 3/15/04).]
In the DC1's caution & warning system (ASS), Padalka installed a spare LKT local
temperature sensor commutator (TA251MB) for the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry
system, replacing the old unit but retaining its installed ROM (read-only
memory) unit (PZU/TA765B). The work was supported by tagup with a ground
specialist, and a test of the LKT was later conducted by TsUP/Moscow remotely
via U.S. S-band.
Padalka and Fincke took turns in performing the mandatory Russian pre-EVA MedOps
procedure MO-6 (hand-cycle ergometry), each providing pomosh' (assistance) to
the other during the individual's 30-min. test run. [Previous cosmonauts have
shown noticeable decrease in arm muscle tone, and TsUP/IBMP (Institute of
Biomedical Problems) physical fitness experts have made the tolerance handgrip
test analysis (hand ergometry) a standard pre-Orlan EVA requirement. MO-6 today
required the CDR, later the FE, to don the ECG (electrocardiogram) biomed
harness, attach three skin electrodes and plug the harness into the PKO medical
exam panel on the cycle ergometer. The exercise itself started after 10 seconds
of complete rest, by manually rotating the cycle's pedals, set at 150 W,
backwards until "complete exhaustion". It was supported by tagup with ground
specialists.]
Fincke conducted an inventory/audit of ITCS (internal thermal control system)
leak safing jumpers and quick disconnect caps and plugs. [Caps, plugs and
jumpers are required to configure the ISS for uncrewed operations (i.e., Soyuz
relocation, EVAs, unmanning) and leak safing. Goal of the audit was to locate
and consolidate the ITCS equipment.]
Mike performed the daily leak check on the Lab window pressure test equipment.
The FE also conducted for the third time the regular weekly task of filling out
the FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), which keeps a log of his nutritional
intake over time on special MEC software. [From the "job jar" task list.]
The CDR completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM's SOZh life support
system, and prepared the daily "delta" file for updating the IMS (inventory
management system) database(s).
At 9:53am EDT, the station maneuvered from LVLH to XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to
orbit plane) attitude. [Necessary steps leading up to the attitude change
included: inhibit RGAC (radiator goal angle calculation) software, reset filters
in the U.S. segment (USOS) attitude system from the Russian segment (RS)
attitude, update ACS (attitude control system) parameter tables, dump stored CMG
(control moment gyro) data to the ground, and hand over attitude control to the
RS (at 9:40am). After the maneuver, the U.S. SAWs (solar array wings) were set
to solar autotrack, with a bias of 47 deg for both BGAs (beta gimbal assemblies)
to reduce orbital drag, and attitude control authority was returned to U.S. CMGs
at 10:25am.]
Full calibration of one (#1010) of the two CSA-CPs (compound specific
analyzer-combustion products) that arrived with 14P is scheduled for tomorrow.
[The MCA (major constituents analyzer), to provide calibration reference, will
need to operate for ~6 hours prior to the calibration. It will be activated
overnight and configured from LEM (life extension mode) to Operate.]
All U.S. SSC laptops (A31p ThinkPads) and the SSC file server will receive new
software loads (version 7.1; plus 3.1 for the server), scheduled on Saturday
(6/5) per crew suggestion.
Yesterday's checkout of Backup Control Center (BCC) swing and activation
procedures, used in the event of a contingency, was successfully completed, with
no crew or station involvement.
As a test of backup communications the crew's evening DPC (daily planning
conference) on Friday (6/4) will be conducted via the U.S. CONUS VHF (very-high
frequency) comm stations at Dryden, White Sands and Wallops.
Moscow reported Progress 14P unloading complete.
Progress M1-11/13P did not reenter on 5/24 after separation but continued in
free flight for engineering tests conducted by Moscow until today. Its 79.4 m/s
deorbit burn was this morning at 5:50am EDT, and its destructive reentry began
at ~6:26am.
Today's CEO (Crew Earth Observations) photo targets, limited in XPOP attitude by
flight rule constraints on the use of the science window, which is available for
only ~1/4 of each orbit when not facing forward (in "ram"), were Delhi, India
(chance for a shot of India's capital. Nadir pass. Looking along the Yamuna
River at the focus point of several transport routes. Delhi's population is 13.8
million), Cairo, Egypt (Nadir pass. Greater Cairo [which includes the city of
Giza on the west bank of the Nile opposite Cairo] has an estimated population of
13.1 million [20% of Egypt's population]. More than one 180 mm-image may be
needed for this expansive city), Tel Aviv, Israel (nadir pass. Tel Aviv's
population is 369,000. Looking right for views of the Dead Sea), Aral Sea (pass
along the NW shoreline of the sea: this may allow broader views of the sea), and
Madrid, Spain (ISS tracked SE of the city. Looking left. Madrid proper has a
population of 3.3 million).
CEO images can be viewed at the websites
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov.
See also the website "Space Station Challenge" at
http://voyager.cet.edu/iss/.
U.S. and Russian Segment Status (as of
today, 12:50pm EDT).
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Thermal Control
(TCS):
Electrical Power Systems (EPS):
Command & Data Handling Systems:
Propulsion System:
Attitude Control Systems:
Flight Attitude:
Communications & Tracking Systems:
Robotics:
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:36am EDT [= epoch]):
For more on ISS orbit and worldwide ISS naked-eye visibility dates/times, see
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html
Elektron O2 generator is On. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is On. U.S. CDRA CO2
scrubber is Off. TCCS (trace contaminant control subsystem) is operating. SM Gas
Analyzer has been calibrated and is used for ppO2 & ppCO2 monitoring. MCA (major
constituents analyzer) is in Life Extending Mode (LEM). 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 panel mods completed 4/8; SKV-2 activation failed
4/20; is now functioning again). SFOG slot #2 fan suspect (not usable).
SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 742; temperature (deg C) --
25.6; ppO2 (mmHg) -- 157.1; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- 3.4;
SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752; temperature (deg C) --
20.7.
FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 756; temperature (deg C) -- 22.3.
Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 750.89; temperature (deg C) -- 23.0 (shell); ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752.9; temperature (deg C) -- 24.7; ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a.
Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 753.10; temperature (deg C)
-- 21.6; shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) --
n/a.
(n/a = data not available)
PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a
PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- n/a.
Both P6 channels fully operational. BGA (beta gimbal assembly) 2B and 4B
both in Autotrack (solar-tracking, "sun slicer", i.e., drag reduction-biased by
47 deg).
SM batteries: Battery #3 is on line in "Cycle" mode. All other batteries
(7) are on line in "Partial Charge" mode.
FGB batteries: Battery #5 is off line; all other batteries (5) are on line
in "Partial Charge" mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 is in Standby mode; PCU-2 is in Standby mode.
C&C-1 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is backup, and C&C-3 is in standby.
GNC-2 MDM is prime; GNC-1 is backup.
INT-2 is operating; INT-1 is Off.
EXT-1 is On (primary), EXT-2 is Off (backup).
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-1 MDM is Off; PL-2 MDM is Operational.
APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string 1
dropped out 11/22/03).
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational (string #3
dropped out 10/22/03).
FGB MDM-1 is Off (failed, 11/21/03); MDM-2 is Operational.
Total propellant load available: 3436 kg (7575 lb) as of 5/20/04; [SM(552)
+ FGB(2884) + Progress M-1(0)]. (Capability: SM -- 860 kg; FGB -- 6120 kg).
2 CMGs on-line (CMG-1 failed, since 6/6/02; CMG-2's RPC-17 failed 4/21/04).
State vector source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Attitude source -- U.S. SIGI-1 (GPS)
Angular rate source -- RGA-1
XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane = "sun-fixed" [yaw: 0.5 deg,
pitch: -9.0 deg., roll: 0 deg]), with CMG TA (thruster assist).
FGB MDM-1 is powered Off; FGB MDM-2 is operational.
All other Russian communications & tracking systems are nominal.
S-band is operating nominally (on string 2).
Ku-band is operating nominally (may require a mask).
Audio subsystem is operating nominally (IAC-1 is prime, IAC-2 is off).
Video subsystem operating nominally.
HCOR (high-rate communications outage recorder) is operating nominally.
SSRMS/Canadarm2 based at Lab PDGF/LEE A, operational on redundant string,
off on prime.
MBS: KA (keep alive) power on both strings.
MT: latched and mated at WS4.
POA: KA power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations): Lab RWS is On (DCP connected); Cupola RWS is
Off.
Mean altitude -- 362.7 km
Apogee -- 366.6 km
Perigee -- 358.8 km
Period -- 91.8 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.6337 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0005741
Solar Beta Angle -- -10.1 deg
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.69
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 50 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 31615
Source: NASA