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20 May 2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 19 May 2003

Part 1 of 2

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted
previously or below.   Week 3 for Increment 7.
 
After station inspection and morning hygiene, before breakfast and
first exercise, CDR Yuri Malenchenko and FE/SO Edward Lu underwent
their second session of the periodic Russian biomedical assessments
PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement) and PZEh-MO-7 (calf volume
measurement).  [Malenchenko set up the BMM mass measuring device,
which uses calibrated springs to determine the subject's mass in
weightless space, and stowed it away after the tests. Calf
measurements (left leg only) are taken with the ISOG device, a
custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and
lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a rough index of
deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures.]

After a familiarization period with the InSPACE (Investigating the
Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions)
experiment,  Science Officer Lu activated the MSG (Microgravity
Science Glovebox) for another InSPACE run.  Today's was the fifth of
nine planned tests with CA005 (coil assembly #5), containing 0.4
micron particles, using one field strength and two electric field
frequency values during the all-day monitoring and switching of the
video cassette.  The MSG was later powered down.  [InSPACE obtains
basic data on magnetorheological fluids, i.e., a new class of "smart
materials" that can be used to improve or develop new brake systems,
seat suspensions robotics, clutches, airplane landing gear, and
vibration damper systems.  Today's run included two monitor
activities instead of the originally planned one at the mid-point of
the run, during which the mode was switched from "Pulse" to
"Steady".]

In the Service Module (SM), Yuri Malenchenko started another
regeneration cycle on absorbent bed #1 of the BMP harmful impurities
unit, leaving channel 2 in Purify mode.  [The "bakeout" cycle in the
filter beds is repeated every 20 days.  Each bakeout to space vacuum
takes about 24 hours.] 

Ed Lu initiated nominal maintenance recharge on two EMU batteries
(#2029 & #2030) in the BSA (battery stowage assembly), expected to
take about 24 hours.  [Helmet light and PGT (pistol grip tool)
batteries are not included in the recharge process.]

Lu also completed the microbial analysis of the air and surface swab
samples collected last week with SSK (surface sampler kit) and MAS
(microbial air sampler) at the T+5d incubation point.  [Because of
downmass limitations due to the Shuttle stand-down, the samples
cannot be returned to the Microbiology Lab for further analysis on
the ground, as usual, but were discarded as wet trash after the
analysis.] 

The two crewmembers began preparations for next week's planned
EVA/EMU spacesuit don/doff dry-run (5/28) for a two-person spacewalk,
should it become necessary.  Today's task was to review training
files and video from a CD, among else on how to adjust suit sizes and
conduct a fit check. 

Malenchenko performed the daily routine maintenance of SOZh life
support systems and prepared the daily IMS (inventory management
system) "delta" file for updating the IMS database, while Ed Lu
checked up on the status of Lab payloads (PCG-STES, SAMS, MAMS).

Yuri also completed the weekly maintenance of the TVIS treadmill, and
both crewmembers performed their daily physical exercise program on
TVIS, RED expander, CEVIS cycle and VELO ergometer with load trainer.

Last Friday's attempted transition at MCC-Houston from primary to
backup ground support hardware did not go well.  Some systems
temporarily lost their functionality, viz., space-to-ground (S/G)
communications for 3h, onboard telemetry for about 1 hr and command
capability for 10 min.  By midnight Friday, full capability was
regained.  All systems are currently back on prime string.  The
failure is under investigation. 

The RPCM (remote power controller module ) of the 4B PCU (plasma
contactor unit) has failed with a health flag.  Recovery is underway.

MCC-Moscow is preparing to have Malenchenko replace the failed #8
battery in the SM with the spare 800A from the FGB module in the next
few days. 

Moscow is also getting ready to begin work in preparation for the
arrival of the next Progress cargo ship, 11P, on 6/10 (launch 6/8).
The mission reportedly will involve new procedures.

The crew was requested to "yellow-tag" and stow a Sony digital camera
launched on Soyuz TMA-2/6S without proper safety certification.
[Yellow caution tags designate onboard equipment for which the safety
certification process for USOS (U.S. segment) or RS (Russian segment)
has not been completed.]

The reboot of the EXPRESS Rack 1 (ER1) last Friday, 5/16, by POC
(Payload Operations Center) was successful.  [ER1 had stopped
communicating with its two autonomous payloads, SAMS (space
acceleration measurement system) and MAMS (microgravity acceleration
measurement system).] 

POC is also working at capturing data dumps from the ER4 laptop, to
troubleshoot the "hang-up" between the ER4 RIC (rack interface
controller) serial card and the laptop HRDL (high rate data link)
card. 

Today's CEO (crew earth observations) targets, now no longer
restricted by the Lab science window ruled off-limit due to flight
attitude, were Johannesburg, South Africa (nadir pass), Havana, Cuba
(nadir pass), Amazon basin (Dynamic event.  Sun glint opportunity to
capture detail of waterways on the Amazon's wide floodplain [lakes,
swamplands and prior courses of the Amazon River]), Sao Paulo, Brazil
(nadir pass), Guadalajara, Mexico (nadir pass), Lima, Peru (nadir
pass), Johnston Island Reef (nadir pass over this remote coral reef.
Detailed views needed for a global mapping project), Anatahan
Volcano, W Pacific (volcano just left of track, is part of the
Northern Mariana Island chain.  It may have been visible between
cloud masses), Detroit, Michigan (city at night; nadir pass),
Beijing, China (city at night; a touch left of track), Tianjin,
China (city at night; nadir pass. This is Beijing's major port city
on Bohai Gulf), Bombay, India (city at night; nadir pass), and
Brasilia, Brazil (city at night; nadir pass). CEO images can be
viewed at the websites http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

 - Continued -

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