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21 Jun 2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 20 Jun 2003

Part 1 of 2

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

Starting at about 4:15am EDT, the crew dismantled the Kurs-A
rendezvous and approach radar system of the 11P/Progress M1-10's
motion control and navigation system (SUDN), and removed it from the
cargo drone, a three-hour job.  These valuable components, which
include the BTsVK onboard digital computer, will be returned to Earth
for "recycling" (when Shuttle flights have resumed).  [KURS-A is the
active half of the Russian space program's proven S-band radar system
for automated flight, which measures relative motion parameters
between Progress (or Soyuz) and the ISS during rendezvous operations,
to enable the autopilot's calculation of corrective impulses. There
are two sets of KURS-A electronics (for redundancy) housed in a
common container in the Cargo Module.  The passive counterpart
(KURS-P) of the system is on the Service Module (SM), with one
antenna each at the tip of the two solar array wings.]

CDR Yuri Malenchenko performed a final checkup of the Rodnik line
configuration between Progress 11P, the DC-1 docking compartment and
the SM Rodnik tankage, then initiated the automated transfer of the
potable water from the cargo ship to the ISS.  [After the 6.5-hr.
transfer, he will close down the activity, without disassembling the
transfer hardware (scheduled for tomorrow).]

After his successful installation and test initiation of the NGL
(Next Generation Laptop) machine yesterday, Science Officer Ed Lu
today supported the first data collection and log file take of the
automatic DOS program. [Ed's recurring routine task is to remove the
microdrive from the NGL and insert it in a SSC (station support
computer) laptop for downloading and later downlinking via OCA comm,
then return it to the NGL and restart the test program.  The NGL,
currently under zero-G assessment for the next three weeks, has a
2GHz Pentium-4 processor, a 60 GB hard disk drive (HDD), 1 GB RAM
memory, a 2-hr. Li-Ion battery and a mass of less than 8 lbs.] 

Malenchenko and Lu completed the mandatory 30-min. CBT exercise
(computer-based training with video and audio) to refresh their Crew
Medical Officer (CMO) proficiency.  [Objective of today's exercise,
which is regularly scheduled once a month, was to re-familiarize the
crew with airway obstruction management, i.e., review of suction
device, nasal airway, intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) with
endotracheal tube, and cricothyrotomy (incision to re-enable
breathing air inflow).] 

FE/SO Ed Lu completed his sixth weekly filling-out of the FFQ (food
frequency questionnaire), which keeps a log of his nutritional intake
over time on special medical equipment computer (MEC) software.

Ed also conducted the weekly transfer of accumulated exercise data
files from the TVIS and RED workout equipment to the MEC via memory
cards for subsequent downlink to Earth.

Afterwards, he transferred storage files from the CMS HRM (crew
medical systems/heart rate monitor) to the MEC, then deleted them on
the HRM.  [Last time done: 6/13/03.]

Yuri completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM's SOZh
environment control & life support system and prepared the daily IMS
"delta" file, while Ed Lu conducted the regular status checkup of the
autonomously running Increment 7 Lab payloads (PCG-STES01, SAMS,
MAMS).

The CDR tagged up with the ground via S-Band to discuss IMS
(inventory management system) updates.  [At issue were usage and
location of moist wipes & towels (now that Shuttle-transferred
high-ethanol wipes are banned on board), and location identification
for diverse items such as laptops, camcorder, and power supply.]

A 30-min. task of Ed Lu's today was to reboot all onboard PCS
(portable computer system) machines, a regular weekly maintenance
activity. 

Malenchenko 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.   The crew conducted another weekly inventory audit of
the available CWCs (contingency water containers) and their
contents.  [Last time done: 6/13]. 

After the MCA (major constituents analyzer) failed an attempted full
calibration on 6/10, the activity was repeated on 6/18, as reported,
this time successfully.  [The MCA had been functional after the
failed full calibration, but its accuracy was reduced by 0.1%.  The
analyzer's accuracy is now back to nominal.  MCA measures critical
partial pressures of cabin air components such as O2 and CO2.]

Both predicted conjunctions (close encounters) with space debris have
"gone away", i.e., moved out of the notification box, with no
avoidance maneuvers required.  [The first encounter is with Indian
PSLV launch vehicle debris (object #27099), predicted for 10:40pm EDT
tonight, the second with Electron 1 debris (object #19993) tomorrow
morning at 8:23am EDT.] 

Overnight, MCC-Moscow ran a test of the Russian OpsLAN (SUBA BSMM)
network's capability to downlink large file sizes via the SM BRTK-TVS
television system, similar to downlinking files via U.S. OCA comm on
Ku-band. 

After yesterday's standard leak checks on the propellant lines
between the Progress 11P, DC-1 docking compartment and SM,
TsUP/Moscow today commanded further preparations for the upcoming
remotely-controlled fuel and oxidizer transfer activities.  [Today's
procedures, during the Daily Orbit 5 (DO5) Russian ground site comm
pass, called for de-inhibiting the pyrotechnic valve system of the SM
ODU integrated propulsion system, closing FGB valves (to protect
Zarya propellant lines from hydraulic shock after pyro valves open),
firing the SM pyro valves for pressurizing the fuel and oxidizer
tanks and lines in Progress 11P, re-opening FGB valves, and
re-inhibiting the SM pyro valves.]

The crew performed their regular daily exercise regimen on TVIS
treadmill, CEVIS cycle, RED expander and VELO bike with load trainer
(for the CDR).

Yesterday's "ISS status report" interview of Ed and Yuri by CBS News
Television got excellent media coverage on the ground.   [Quote from
Science Officer Lu: "Spaceflight is important and I wouldn't be here,
Yuri wouldn't be here, if we didn't believe that.  I think
exploration in general is important and while this is a small step, I
think this is a step that's necessary for when we really do head out
into the solar system.  I think that is our destiny someday.  It's
important that we look at these setbacks that we have, learn the
lessons we need to learn from them, and move on. Because if you don't
have that spirit, and that's a very unique spirit to Americans and
Russians in particular, this spirit of moving on in adversity and
exploration, then I think that is a bad sign if you just say OK,
we're packing up and we're going home."]

 - Continued -

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