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4 July 2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 2 Jul 2003

Part 1 of 3

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted
previously. 

FE/SO Ed Lu continued the latest round of periodic preventive
maintenance of Russian segment (RS) ventilation systems, today in
the "Pirs" DC-1 docking compartment where he cleaned the VD1 and VD2
air ducts and the V3 ventilator fan screen.

Also in the DC-1, CDR Yuri Malenchenko completed his third regular
(monthly) checkup of circuit breakers (AZS) on the BVP amp switch
panel -- they should all be On -- and the 14 LEDs of the fuses in
fuse panels BPP-30 and BPP-36 (last time done: 6/2).

Malenchenko then tackled a major IFM (in-flight maintenance) on the
Service Module (SM) life support system (SOZh) when he removed and
replaced the catalyst cartridge (PKF) of the micropurification
filtration system (BMP). The PKF-T installation was photographed and
the images downlinked via S-band.   [For the change-out, the ground
had to deactivate (later reactivate) the Elektron and the SKV air
conditioner and turn on (later turn off) real-time transmission from
the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system via S-band.  The
BMP will remain off until completion of an additional maintenance
(replacement of the PKF-T's electrical heater) scheduled for
tomorrow (4/3).  The BMP maintains the level of potentially hazardous
atmospheric contaminants below Russian SMACs (spacecraft maximum
allowable concentrations) for specific contaminants, using low
temperature catalytic oxidation, with a combination of expendable and
regenerable sorbent beds.  The catalyst cartridge, which was replaced
with an improved PKF-T type, uses an electrically heated catalyst to
remove CO (carbon monoxide) and H2 (hydrogen) from the cabin air,
where the air stream has combined downstream of the regenerable
beds.  Russian SMAC for CO is 5 mg/cu.m. and the BMP removes 390 mg
CO per day.] 

Ed Lu powered up the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), then
supervised another experiment session with the InSPACE (Investigating
the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions)
experiment.  Afterwards, the MSG was powered down again.  [Today's
run was  #30, the final InSPACE test planned for the near term.
Using coil assembly (CA) 006, the test was run at an initial field
strength of 1.2 amps and an initial frequency of 15 Hz.  At the
second monitor activity, the electric field frequency was set at the
highest level selected to date (30 Hz), while current amplitude
remained unchanged.  Yesterday's test provided some of the best and
most striking images to date, especially in the right angle view
which showed the structures appearing as long, corrugated columns.
Sweeping activity during the second monitor indicated that some of
the columns extended the width of the vial.  Extending the tests to
include the larger particles and higher frequencies has proven
invaluable.] 

In between his InSPACE monitoring periods, Ed Lu conducted other
tasks, such as the monthly inspection of the PBAs (portable breathing
apparatus) and PFEs (portable fire extinguishers).  [There are a
total of five PBAs in the U.S. segment (USOS), two in the Node, two
in the Lab and one in the Joint Airlock (A/L).  During the last
audit, the Node extension hose kit was not found.  Ed was asked to
check the Node port PBA/PFE locker for this kit and, if found, move
it to the Node starboard PBA/PFE locker.] 

Malenchenko continued the recently (6/25) initiated work on the
Russian Molniya-SM (GFI-10) geophysical experiment payload, to
restore the functionality of its VFS-3M video-photometric system.
[Today's objectives were: assembly of the equipment, running an
equipment test and monitoring the measurements obtained, then
disconnecting the "Agat" display monitor and keyboard from the VFS
videophotospectrometer, taking data in automatic mode as commanded by
the SUBA (onboard equipment control system), and finally disassemble
the equipment.  The Molniya VFS-3M is used for studying atmospheric,
ionospheric and magnetospheric electromagnetic interaction related to
storms and seismic activities, and Nikolai Budarin had attempted the
restoration of its VFS-3M already as early as 3/31.] 

Ed Lu conducted another weekly inventory audit of the available CWCs
(contingency water containers) and their contents, to keep track of
onboard potable water supplies.  [Last time done: 6/27].

The CDR performed the second part of the current MBI-8 Profilaktika
("countermeasures") fitness test series, today with the NS-01 load
trainer on the VELO (stationary bike) ergometer, and tagged up with
medical support personnel at MCC-Moscow/TsUP.  Science Officer Lu
assisted.   [This fitness test consists of four types of exercise,
viz., neck tilting (back/forward), simultaneous forearm flexing,
trunk extension, and trunk flexes. Each type of exercise consists of
a series of 15 motions repeated two times.  Load levels are selected
by the ground and do not change from test to test. Total duration of
the test is 13 min.  Gas analysis, subjective evaluation of physical
exertion levels, and blood test for lactate and Creatine Kinase
levels are also performed as a part of this test, using the TEEM-100M
gas analyzer, AccuSport analyzer, and Reflotron-IV blood analyzer.]

Yuri and Ed performed their daily physical exercise program on the
TVIS treadmill, RED expander, CEVIS cycle and VELO ergometer with
load trainer. The crew also performed the periodic calibration of the
RED load settings. [This is done by each every 24,330 cycles and
after cable replacements.] 

The CDR completed the regular periodic inspection of the BRPK-1
air/liquid condensate separator in the SM.

Yuri also performed his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5
Rasteniya-2 ("Plants-2") experiment which researches growth and
development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the Lada-2
greenhouse. 

Malenchenko again conducted a session of the Russian Uragan
("hurricane") earth imaging program (GFI-8), using the Kodak DCS760
digital still camera with 800-mm lens where cloud cover did not
exceed 30%.  [Targets included the greatest agglomeration of European
cities (7 cities, with overlapping frames), Berlin-Potsdam, the Dnepr
river valley and the Don river floodplain, Kalmykia, shore lines and
shelf of the Caspian Sea, with focus on oil spots on the water, the
Karakum channel, and the Gindukusha mountains (Hindukush).  The
images were stored on the removable hard disk drive (HDD) #4 of the
French EGE-2 laptop.] 

Early in the morning, Ed Lu performed the 24-hr. data registration of
the body-worn acoustic dosimeters deployed yesterday, along with a
third unit set up statically.  Readings will again be taken tonight
before sleep time. The SO conducted the daily routine maintenance of
SOZh life support systems and performed the regular status checkup of
the autonomous Lab payloads, while Malenchenko prepared the daily
IMS (inventory management system) "delta" file for updating the IMS
database.

Yuri also tagged up with TsUP in an S-band-teleconference on IMS
(inventory management system) database issues.  [Items for discussion
were the status of data logging/editing on Progress 11P unloading,
status of discarded equipment stowage and location of moved stuff,
missing elements of AK-1M and IPD air sampling equipment, and filing
of used underwear and napkins.] 

 - Continued -

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