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17 May 2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 15 May 2003

Part 1 of 2

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted
previously or below. Day 20 in space for Expedition 7.

Yesterday's video downlink by the crew was well received on the
ground ("you looked mighty good".)

At about 9:35am EDT, CDR Yuri Malenchenko and FE/SO Edward Lu began
with the scheduled one-hour fire drill/OBT (on-board training),
mandatory for every Increment but a "first" in its present realistic
form and also re-written for a two-person crew. Primary goal of this
exercise is to provide the station residents with the most realistic
emergency training possible. [OBT objectives are to (a) practice fire
response procedures (FRPs) and all incorporated actions for the case
of a software-detected fire to locate, extinguish, and verify
extinguishing attempts; (b) practice crew communication and
coordination between crew and MCCs (Mission Control Centers)
necessary to perform emergency FRPs; (c) practice coordination
necessary between MCC-H and MCC-M to assist crew in performing
emergency FRPs; (d) ensure familiarity with support equipment
(CSA-CP {compound specific analyzer/combustion products }, PBAs
{portable breathing apparatus} and PFEs {portable fire
extinguishers}) used in FRPs; and (e) ensure familiarity with
PCS/laptop displays and automatic software responses associated with
a fire scenario. The exercise does not actually use any fire
equipment but simulates such actions to the maximum extent possible.
NASA, GCTC (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center) and RSC-Energia
specialists were present at both MCCs during the exercise, monitoring
flight loops and standing by to provide guidance if needed to keep
the OBT moving forward. After the OBT, a post-training summary report
is to be prepared.] 

The crew started another round of periodic preventive maintenance of
Russian segment ventilation systems. [Ed Lu had three hours allocated
in the Service Module (SM) for cleaning grilles of Group C
ventilators, while Yuri Malenchenko changed out the four dust
collector filters (PF1-4) in the SM (last time done: 4/10).]

Malenchenko transferred the CGBA (commercial generic bioprocessing
apparatus) payload from Locker 4 to Locker 7 in EXPRESS rack 4
(ER4). [This pre-positioned the hardware to support operations in the
ADSEP (advanced separation) payload facility planned for later in the
Increment, part of fundamental space biology research.]

After the reconfiguration, Ed Lu performed POSSUM photo documentation
on ER4. [POSSUM is a payload photo activity which obtains electronic
still shots of any subrack and locker payload that is moved or
reconfigured.] 

Yuri performed his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5
Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 ("Plants-2") experiment and transferred the
accumulated data files to a floppy disk, preparing them for downlink
via Regul-Packet. [Rasteniya-2 researches growth and development of
higher plants under spaceflight conditions. The experimental seeds of
acacia-leaf type pea are planted between wicks in a root tray, with
environmental control powered on. Regular daily maintenance of the
experiment involves monitoring of seedling growth, humidity
measurements, moistening of the substrate if necessary, computer
logging, and photo/video recording.]

As part of regular daily tasks, Malenchenko inspected the BRPK-1
air/liquid condensate separator of the SM's SRVK water processing
system, conducted the maintenance of SOZh life support systems and
prepared the daily IMS (inventory management system) "delta" file for
updating the IMS database. 

The crew downlinked two TV messages for PAO use, one for a major
league baseball client and the other for playing at Centennial of
Flight celebrations around the country (starting with "NASA Day" in
Fayetteville, NC, on 5/20).

Both crewmembers again had an hour reserved on their schedule for ISS
familiarization and adjustment to their new surroundings and
activities.

Yuri and Ed performed their daily physical exercise program on the
TVIS treadmill, RED expander, CEVIS cycle and VELO ergometer with
load trainer. 

Ground analysis of data from the TVIS inspection by Ed Lu on 5/12
indicates that the treadmill is not sitting level in the SM floor
"pit" and shows some fraying of its wire ropes. [The cables have been
wrapped in these places with tape to prevent spalling-off of
particulates. This is allowable by established criteria, and the
treadmill is cleared for continued use.] 

The CCAA (common cabin air assembly) air conditioner in the Airlock
(AL)has been deactivated in an effort to help extend the hardware's
operational life. It will remain deactivated unless required by AL
operations or extended crew presence. [AL CCAAhas been operating with
minimum LTL (low temperature loop) flow and the TCCV (temperature
control check valve) in the full HX (heat exchanger) bypass position,
i.e., providing almost no cooling. Thus, it is felt that the
deactivation will have minimum effect on crew comfort (unless crew
feedback indicates the contrary).] 

The microbiological samples collected yesterday with the SSK (surface
sampler kit) and MAS (microbial air sampler) are currently in
incubation for Day 5 analysis (5/19). Because of downmass limitations
due to the Shuttle stand-down, they cannot be returned to the
Microbiology Lab for further analysis on the ground, as usual, but
will be discarded after the analysis. [Contained within Ziploc bags,
they are classified as non-hazardous and can be disposed of in the
wet trash.] 

Four PCS laptop HDDs (hard disk drives) in the U.S. segment,
including two corrupted ones, still need to be provided with the same
software loads and configs of the new CCS R3 (command and control
software, version R3) for the 12A stage. [The re-imaging of the four
laptop HDDs, to be performed with the "ghosting" process, has been
placed on the "job jar" task list for the crew's choice.]

Two of the eight SM batteries have failed. Until they can be
recovered or replaced, U.S. power will be provided to the RS via two
of the SM's four SNTs (voltage and current stabilizer units, i.e.,
transformers). Should a third SM battery fail, the SM will be powered
down to allow time for MCC-H to reconfigure systems to support a
third SNT. 

Tonight's total Lunar Eclipse (by Earth's shadow) will be observable
from the ISS. [Preceded by partial eclipse, total eclipse begins at
11:14pm EDT and ends at 12:07am, followed by another hour of partial
eclipse. The crew will be able to see it best from the Soyuz
spacecraft, since the Lab window must remain shuttered most of the
time due to the current XPOP attitude.] 

Today's CEO (crew earth observations) targets, severely restricted by
limited the use of the science window in the Lab due to the current
XPOP attitude, were Casablanca, Morocco (nadir pass), Salt Lake City,
Utah (nadir pass), Congo-Zimbabwe Biomass Burning (fires may have
spread from Angola into central southern Africa. Looking left and
right of track), SE Africa aerosols (fires reported on the
southernmost ranges of South Africa), and Patagonian Glaciers
(oblique "context" views of the two ice fields of the southern Andes
are useful in locating small glacier tongues, especially on the
cloudier west slopes). http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

 - Continued -

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