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23 May 2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 22 May 2003

Part 1 of 2

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

After a 2:00am (EDT) wake-up and before breakfast, CDR Yuri
Malenchenko completed the periodic Russian MedOps test MO-10
"Hematocrit", measuring the red blood cell count (hematocrit) of his
blood.  Science Officer Edward Lu assisted by performing the blood
draw from his finger with a perforator lancet.  [The samples were
then centrifuged in two microcapillary tubes in the M-1100 kit's
minicentrifuge and its hematocrit value was read off the tubes with a
magnifying glass.  It is a well-known phenomenon of space flight that
red blood cell count (normal range: 30-45%) tends to go down over
time., probably as a function of (rich) oxygen partial pressure in
the onboard atmosphere.]

Malenchenko also conducted the MBI-1 SPRUT-K experiment, part of
Russian medical research on the distribution and behavior of human
body fluids in zero gravity.  [The experiment involves use of  the
Sprut ("squid") securing harness, skin electrodes (cuffs) and the new
laptop 3 with the power supply unit from the old one, now called
laptop-Packet, which was then readied again for Regul-Packet comm.]

Malenchenko's planned session with the MO-5 MedOps protocol of
cardiovascular evaluation during graded exercises on the VELO cycle
ergometer was deferred to a later date.

FE/SO Ed Lu performed the in-flight T+2d analysis of the water
samples collected on 5/20, taking pictures of the samples after their
incubation/growth period.  The pictures were then downlinked to MCC-H
for chemistry/microbiology analysis.  [The images turned out to be
somewhat corrupted with air, which had been allowed to enter.
Results sufficed, however, to clear the potable water for use.  The
next microbial analysis with the U.S. WS&A (water sampler & archiver)
for collection and the WMK (water microbiology kit) is scheduled in
one month.] 

Research/science lead personnel at MCC-H and POC (Payload Operations
Center) successfully conducted the first science conference with the
crew, discussing the payload program planned for Increment 7 with
Science Officer Lu.

POC personnel also tagged up with the crew to discuss the upcoming
on-orbit demonstrations of the NASA HQ-sponsored EPO (Educational
Payload Operations) program.

Yuri Malenchenko conducted an extensive inventory audit of RS
(Russian segment) equipment and supplies, checking items and their
locations off against a lengthy list uplinked by MCC-M overnight.

The crew set up their video equipment to record a TVIS (treadmill
with vibration isolation and stabilization) exercise video, following
specific instructions on video shots required by the medical ground
team.  They conducted the regular physical exercise protocol on the
treadmill, followed by workout sessions on the RED (resistive
exercise device) and the Russian VELO bike with load trainer.

Ed performed the daily routine maintenance of SOZh life support
systems, while Yuri prepared the daily IMS (inventory management
system) "delta" file for updating the IMS database.

At 10:55am EDT, Malenchenko and Lu configured the video equipment to
conduct a live-TV downlink in an interactive 20-min. educational Q&A
session with middle school students and Nichelle Nichols ("Lt. Uhura"
from Star Trek) at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, IL.  A list of
student questions had been uplinked beforehand.  ["What is the
process for a person to be considered for a spaceflight and how long
do you have to wait to go?"; "What interested you in going into space
and what convinced you to be an astronaut?"; "Do you ever get scared
in space?"] 

Ed Lu was thanked by the InSPACE (Investigating the Structure of
Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) experiment's PI for
yesterday's highly successful session in the MSG (Microgravity
Science Glovebox), in particular also for the quality of images
provided to the ground for first-look analysis.  [InSPACE did not
require use of the MSG gloves.  Next run is scheduled for tomorrow,
two more runs for next week.] 

The outboard lower (nadir) external TV camera (ETVC) on camera port
3 (CP3), is not responding to Tilt Down commands.   Current angles
are 83 deg pan, 91 deg tilt.  [This behavior has been observed before
and may be attributable to a connector cable that is caught on
structure.  The ground has ceased any further attempts to tilt the
camera down and is developing a plan to obtain imagery to help
determine the cause of the problem, but the SSRMS (space station
remote manipulator system) is currently not in a favorable position
for observing with its video cameras.]

All four EMU/spacesuit batteries have now been recharged
successfully.

Carbon dioxide partial pressure (ppCO2) readings in the Lab module
show 4.8 mmHg, with slowly rising trend.  Measurements in the Service
Module (SM) are only 2 mmHg.  [The discrepancy, encountered already
in the past, may be due to (1) faulty instrument readings in the RS;
and (2) obstructed air flow between the modules.  Before the crew is
asked to inspect the air ducts, they were cleared by Moscow to use
the U.S. CDMK (carbon dioxide monitoring kit) for taking measurements
in the SM, to help determine whether Vozdukh should be reset to lower
Lab CO2 level.] 

ISS attitude continues to be LVLH -YVV/"barbecue".  Thermal
conditions remain well inside limits.  [Transition to -YVV resulted
in far greater temperature drop (~30 degC) than expected (5 deg),
which suggests that it may be prudent to take a closer look at the
math model used for the structural/thermal predictions.]

The failed SM battery #8 will be replaced with the remaining 800A
spare from the FGB on 5/28 (Wednesday).

On the same day, TsUP will conduct a fully automated test of the SM's
Kurs rendezvous/docking radar system, preparatory for the upcoming
Progress 11P docking on 6/10.  This allows fueling of the launch
vehicle 10-12 days before the launch, as is standard for Progress
launches. 

Also on 5/28, Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko are scheduled to perform the
two-person EMU donning/doffing test, requiring several hours.
Timeliners have made sure that crew time is not "double booked"
between this task and the SM battery R&R.

 - Continued -

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