STATUS REPORT Date Released:
Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Source: NASA HQ
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted
previously or below. Another full work day aboard the station,
29 years after the launch of Skylab, first U.S. space station
(1973).
Elektron update: A commission to look into the
failure of the Elektron oxygen generator is now at work in Moscow.
Under investigation are two leading probable causes: (a) less likely:
air in the system from an as yet unknown source, perhaps a CWC water
container; (b) more likely: failure of the electronics box (signal
and command matching unit, BSSK), which, if found faulty, could be
replaced with an available spare on board. MCC-M recommends
continued use of the TGK solid-fuel oxygen generator (SFOG) candles
for the next few days while troubleshooting goes on (according to
MCC-M, there are no certified SFOG spares available on the ground at
the present time). The Russians intend to launch the next two
Progress cargo ships (8P, 9P) with a full oxygen load, each of which
would last 12 days for a crew of three. They are also looking
into the possibility of carrying additional oxygen in the Progress'
pressurized cargo bay (for which they apparently are not equipped at
present), and they are investigating, jointly with MCC-H, other means
of delivering stored O2 to the ISS. If the current repair
attempts are not successful, Moscow requests Shuttle return of the
Liquid Unit, measuring 300 mm dia, 1100 mm high, 90 kg mass.
CDR Yuri Onufrienko again installed the Molniya-SM geophysics payload
(GFI-10) at SM window 1, in time for Russian ground comm to initiate
its operation. Molniya-SM uses the twin-lens BFS-3M
video-photometric system for the study of atmospheric, ionospheric
and magnetospheric electromagnetic interaction related to storms and
seismic activities. Later today, after about ten hours
of unattended operation, Onufrienko is to remove the equipment and
stow it until the next session.
Onufrienko, assisted by FE-1 Carl Walz, then completed a major
maintenance/repair task of removing and replacing one of the four
SNT-50MP voltage and current stabilizer units (transformers) under
the SM "floor". To gain access to the system, they
first had to remove the TVIS treadmill from the floor
"pit", a one-hour task. After replacing the failed
SNT (A23), guided by ground specialists via S-band, Onufrienko
connected the new unit to the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry system for
checkout by the ground. Finally, the TVIS was reinstalled in
the "pit". [The four SNT-50MPs, at this stage of
assembly, connect the Russian segment (RS) electrical power supply
system (SZP) with the U.S. orbital segment (USOS), converting the 120
V dc electrical power coming from the PMA-1 (pressurized mating
adapter #1) to 28.5 V dc used in the RS (after mission 12A, USOS
voltage goes up to 160 V).]
Onufrienko, Walz and Bursch conducted a one-hour teleconference
with the STS-111 and Expedition 5 crews, tagging up on the upcoming
UF-2 mission, its timeline, getting EVA equipment and the Airlock
(A/L) ready for the three spacewalks, including the A/L contingency
tool kit contents and size, and the planned cargo transfers.
[After docking on Flight Day 3 (FD3), FEs Carl Walz and
Sergey Treschev will officially "rotate" (swap places),
followed on FD4 by the exchange of FE Dan Bursch with FE Peggy
Whitson and CDR Yuri Onufrienko with CDR Valery Korzun. MPLM
Leonardo will be berthed on FD4; its unloading begins on FD5. The
three EVAs, by Franklin Chang-Diaz and Philippe Perrin, will be
conducted on FD5, FD7 and FD9. Their main objectives: install a PDGF
(power and data grapple fixture) on the P6 module, transfer SM MMOD
(micrometeoroid/orbital debris) shields from the Shuttle to a
temporary location on PMA-1, install the MBS (mobile base system) on
the MT (mobile transporter), and replace the wrist roll (WR) joint of
the Canadian SSRMS with a new joint.]
Prior to the telecon, detailed instructions on EMU
(extravehicular mobility unit) preparations for UF-2 were uplinked to
the crew. The U.S. spacesuits must be resized and fitted for
their new wearers, which involves some rotation of suit hardware
between suits. The uplinked material was developed for the crew
to keep track of this exacting swap-out. Also uplinked were
detailed pre-packing lists of EMU items and EVA tools for UF-2.
Walz and Bursch continued the final session of the renal (kidney)
stone prevention research experiment, logging food and fluid intake
and collecting urine samples during the day. After each
collection, the sample's ID was scanned with the bar code reader and
the sample then stowed.
FE-2 Bursch continued his work on the BPS (biomass production system)
test facility, today priming the Brassica root module for
planting in PGC2 (plant growth chamber #2). These are
second-generation seeds from a seed pod, i.e., seeds from plants
grown in microgravity, and it is of considerable scientific interest
whether such seeds are capable of germination. [ Based on the
Principal Investigator's observation of the Brassica plants
from yesterdayâs video downlink, the seeds may be still be too young
to germinate, but it is worth the effort because this opportunity
will not be available post-flight.]
FE-1 Walz took radiation readings with the EVARM (EVA radiation
monitoring) badges, as necessary to meet the EVA minus 21 days
protocol requirement.
He also prepared the equipment for tomorrow's planned PHS (periodic
health status) evaluation with blood labs. [This involves setting
up the AMP (ambulatory medical pack) and the MEC (medical equipment
computer) and opening the IFEP (in-flight examination program) on the
MEC laptop. The PHS is performed every 30 days by each
crewmember and two weeks before landing and as clinically
indicated.]
All crewmembers completed the weekly data collection for the NTXN
"Interactions" interpersonal psychology program.
Other tasks completed were the regular daily SOSH life support system
maintenance (Dan) and Inc. 4/8A payload status checks (Carl).
At 7:06 am EDT, Bursch conducted a ham radio session with Bordertown
Primary School in Bordertown, South Australia, via telebridge
stations in South Africa and Honolulu. The school draws a large
number of students from surrounding farms,- some students traveling
up to 50 km one way. They had submitted 15 questions ahead of time
["How do you bathe in the Space Station?", and of
course: "Why do we need a Space Station?"]
A conjunction (close encounter) with an SL-8 rocket body (object
#23279) is predicted for 5/16 (Thursday), with a TCA (time of closest
approach) of 2:42 pm EDT. Currently estimated overall miss distance
is 7 km; no avoidance maneuver is required at this time.
However, MCC-H and MCC-M ballistic specialists are going
through initial planning for a maneuver to be ready, should it be
necessary.
The U.S.-proposed test of using the CMGs with TA (control moment
gyros with thruster assist) for maneuvering the ISS from the current
flight attitude from earth-fixed LV/LH (local vertical/local
horizontal) to the solar-oriented XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit
plane) remains scheduled for 5/17 (Friday). MCC-Moscow (TsUP)
concurs in the test which, for the first time, uses the CMGs instead
of SM thrusters for the maneuver.
On 5/22 (Wednesday), TsUP plans to conduct an orbit
correction/reboost maneuver, i.e. before UF-2, using Progress 7P. The
burn, planned to yield a delta-V of 1m/s, was concurred in by
Houston.
The U.S. CEO program had the following target areas today:
E. Mediterranean Dust and Smog(from the toe of the
Italian boot ISS passed west of Greece and Crete and encountered the
African coast at NW Egypt. A front had moved through the
Mediterranean, clearing out the clouds, so the crew should have been
able to look ahead and to the left for Saharan dust, which is still
being carried out over the eastern Mediterranean), Lake
Nasser, Toshka Lakes; Egypt(once past the Qattara Depression,
crew was to look right to photograph the Toshka Lakes. The Aswan Dam
was on track, then the pass went along the Red Sea coast over the
coral reefs of the Dhalak Archipelago), W. Mediterranean Dust
and Smog(conditions have cleared over France from Paris
across the southern Rhone valley through the Maritime Alps. From the
Riviera, crew was to look ahead [S] toward Corsica, then left along
the Italian coast to record any newly developing aerosol masses over
Italy. The volcanic island of Stromboli and Sicily, with Mt. Etna,
were just to right of track), Rukwa Transform, Tanzania(another uncommonly clear period in south-central Africa
crew was asked to look right and take a mapping strip [10%
overlap of frames] along the Lake Rukwa valley. Details of the Rungwe
volcanic field were requested. Then, looking south down Lake Malawi
to record the long, straight faults bounding the rift valley and its
continuation into coastal Mozambique), Angolan Biomass
Burning(fire season in Angola is under way, and weather is
clear over the entire region. Crew to look left of track to record
individual fires, where possible, as well as smoke palls),
Industrialized Southeastern Africa(Johannesburg and
Pretoria were just left of track; and the crew was to look for smog
accumulations the valleys. The Vredefort meteor impact crater was
just left of track. As ISS left the coast just south of Durban, they
were to record any smog extending over the southern Indian
Ocean), Salton Sea Water Levels(the crew should have
had excellent weather as they reached Southern California, permitting
them to take detailed photos of the Salton Sea. Their photos will be
baseline data for significant changes in water availability that are
expected there), Parana Wetlands, Post-Flooding (as ISS
approached the great right-angle bend in the Parana River, the city
of Rosario was just left of track. Of interest: looking left and
documenting the condition of Parana wetlands following recent heavy
rains. Also, taking near-nadir views of the upper estuary, where the
Uruguay and Parana Rivers reach the estuary. Buenos Aires was just
right of track and Montevideo, Uruguay just to the left).
CEO images can be viewed at the website http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
U.S. and Russian Segment Status(as of 2:00 pm
EDT):
Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and
Thermal Control (TCS): Elektron O2 generator is Off (failed); SFOG candles (TGKs)
are being used. Vozdukh CO2 scrubber is ON in MANUAL cycle mode
#5 (vacuum pump failed). U.S. CDRA CO2 scrubber is Off.
BMP Harmful Impurities unit: Absorbent bed #1 in Purify mode,
bed #2 in Purify mode.
SM Working Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 759,
temperature (deg C) -- 27.4, ppO2 (mmHg) -- 152.8, ppCO2 (mmHg) --
2.5 (probably invalid) SM Transfer Compartment: Pressure (mmHg) -- 762,
temperature (deg C) -- 20.5. FGB Cabin: Pressure (mmHg) -- 756, temperature (deg C)
-- 20.3. Node: Pressure (mmHg) -- 750.25, temperature (deg C) --
22.7 (shell); ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a. U.S. Lab: Pressure (mmHg) -- 752.49, temperature (deg C)
-- 24.9, ppO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a; Joint Airlock (Equip. Lock): Pressure (mmHg) -- 752.39,
temperature (deg C) -- 22.4; shell heater temp (deg C) -- 22.6, ppO2
(mmHg) -- n/a; ppCO2 (mmHg) -- n/a. PMA-1: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 23.0 PMA-2: Shell heater temp (deg C) -- 17.7
(Note: Partial pressures ppO2 and ppCO2 in U.S. segment [USOS] not
available because MCA [major constituent analyzer] is failed and in
Extended Life mode[= a state that preserves mass spectrometer
vacuum but produces no pp data]). MSA (mass spectrometer assembly)
and VGA (verification gas assembly) have been removed for return to
Earth.
Electrical Power Systems (EPS): Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) 2B in Autotrack mode, BGA 4B in
Autotrack mode.
SM batteries: Battery #6 is offline (failed); battery #7 is in cycle
mode; all other batteries (6) are in "partial charge" mode.
FGB: Battery #2 is in cycle mode; all other batteries (5) are in
"partial charge" mode.
Plasma Contactor Unit PCU-1 in Standby mode; PCU-2 in Standby
mode.
Thermal Control Systems: Air conditioner SKV-1 is Off. SKV-2 is Off.
Command & Data Handling Systems: C&C-3 MDM is prime, C&C-2 is back-up, and C&C-1
is in standby.
GNC-1 MDM is prime; GNC-2 is Backup.
LA-1, LA-2 and LA-3 MDMs are all operating.
PL-1 MDM is operational; PL-2 MDM on Standby.
APS-1 (automated payload switch #1) and APS-2 are both On.
SM Terminal Computer (TVM): 3 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
SM Central Computer (TsVM): 2 redundant lanes (of 3) operational.
Communications Systems: All 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 at Progress viewing position, with Keep Alive
power on both strings.
RWS (robotics workstations) are Off.
SSRMS Prime string Wrist Roll (WR) joint to be replaced on UF-2.
ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:12 am EDT [=
epoch]):
Mean altitude -- 388.3 km
Apogee -- 394.0 km
Perigee -- 382.7 km
Period -- 92.3 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.64 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0008328
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.59
Altitude decrease -- 220 m (mean) in last 24 hours
Solar Beta Angle -- 18.4 deg (magnitude increasing)
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 19877
Current Flight Attitude -- LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal =
"earth-fixed": z-axis in local vertical, x-axis in velocity vector
[yaw: -10 deg, pitch: -7.25 deg., roll: 0 deg]).
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted
previously or below. Another full work day aboard the station,
29 years after the launch of Skylab, first U.S. space station
(1973).
