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3\11 ISS On-Orbit Status 11-03-2003
Part 1 of 2

ISS On-Orbit Status 3/11/03

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

Before breakfast, all crewmembers completed another one round of the 
monthly Russian medical experiment PZEh-MO-8 (body mass measurement, 
BMM), after FE-1 Nikolai Budarin set up the MO-8 "scales" equipment 
(IMT). [MO-8 determines the inertial forces caused by the oscillatory 
motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known 
spring constant. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of 
the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a 
known mass, the crewmember's mass is calculated by the computer and 
displayed.]

Later in the day, before breaking down the IMT and stowing it away, 
Budarin also determined the mass of 14 CO2 absorbent cartridges (PP) 
by fastening each cartridge to his back before mounting the BMM device 
and logging the difference to his own without-cartridge mass. [The 14 
PPs in the Service Module (SM) have a guaranteed shelf life through 
January 2003. In order to extend the shelf life, their absorption 
capacity must be ascertained.  Increased mass would indicated reduced 
capacity.]

Along with MO-8, the crew also completed the monthly PZEh-MO-7 (calf 
volume measurement) assessment. [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.]

FE-2/SO Don Pettit continued to work with the Payload Operations 
Center (POC) in troubleshooting the Microgravity Science Glovebox 
(MSG). The troubleshooting is being accelerated by modifying 
Wednesday's and Friday's crew timeline to allow more power path runs. 
[After yesterday's re-installation of the P105 and P103 connectors, 
early analysis has shown again no off-nominal current draw on ESEM3 
(exchangeable standard electronic module 3). Today Pettit is to 
reconnect E-Box connector P104 and, if nominal, connector P110. As of 
now, eight of 13 power connectors have been remated without locating 
the fault. In the event that the remaining re-connections also remain 
fruitless, the possibility of additional fault isolation steps will be 
worked. If the problem is still not found after that, the fault tree 
leads to the conclusion of "nominal configuration", and normal MSG 
operations would then be requested next week. Also, before the MSG 
back panel is finally closed, the failed left filter-bank fan would be 
replaced with an onboard spare.]

In the continuing interest of conserving precious onboard resources 
and reducing upmass required on future Progress flights, CDR Ken 
Bowersox today conducted an inventory audit of crew clothing. [The 
audit was broken into several parts: counting unopened bags (contents 
are known to the ground) and then reporting the contents of any opened 
or repacked bags, by filling out tables uplinked overnight.]

Nikolai Budarin performed his daily status check on the Russian BIO-5
Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 ("Plants-2") plant growth experiment in the SM.

Later, he completed the daily routine maintenance of the SM's SOSh 
life support system, including ASU toilet facilities, while Pettit 
prepared the daily "delta" file of the IMS (inventory management 
system) database.

At 11:15 am EST, via ARISS "telebridge" station in Kingston, 
Australia, the Science Officer fielded questions during an amateur 
radio exchange with Grade 3-5 students at Eugene Field School in Park 
Ridge, Illinois, with which he already had a very successful ham 
exchange back in January (1/23).  [More than 600 students attend this 
school, which counts as its most famous alumni U.S. Senator Hilary 
Clinton and actor Harrison Ford.]

Later, at 12:54 pm, the crew participated in an educational Q&A 
downlink for the NASA Langley Research Center, to be used in an 
upcoming segment of the NASA Science Files television show, a distance 
learning initiative airing on more than 80 PBS stations and seen by 
more than three million public schools students.

All crewmembers performed their daily physical exercise program on 
RED, TVIS and VELO with load trainer. Subsequently, after his run on 
the treadmill, Budarin performed the weekly TVIS maintenance.

The Russian/French experiment LSO, using Molniya-SM equipment, 
continues to operate at SM window #3, looking for thunderstorm clouds 
and the very rare glow phenomenon of a "sprite".

Don Pettit was thanked by the ground for successfully troubleshooting 
BC-1 (battery charger #1) of the BSA (battery stowage assembly) 
yesterday after initiating recharge of EMU batteries. [BC-1 has a 
history of shutting down unexpectedly, due to a known software timing 
issue. It will eventually be swapped out with a new unit with upgraded 
software.]

Last night's survey of the portside SM solar array (#2) with the SSRMS
(space station remote manipulator system), in particular the Kurs-P 
feeder cable on the array's reverse side, was completed successfully. 
[Only half of the coverage could be viewed live at MCC-H due to a 
ground systems "hiccup", but the full video record was transmitted to 
TsUP/MCC-Moscow early this morning, to a grateful "Spasibo bolshoe!"]

Yesterday's Mission Configuration Uplink test of the new R3 GNC 
(guidance, navigation & control) MDM "stale RGA data" software patch 
was successfully completed. Its upload is scheduled for tomorrow 
(3/12), in conjunction with the handover of ISS attitude control (AC) 
to the Russian segment (RS) at 2:00pm for the first Progress thruster 
test reboost at 5:23pm, and the return of AC from RS to USOS (U.S. 
segment) thereafter. The mini-reboost is planned to produce a delta-V 
of 1.38 m/sec. The second Progress thruster manifold will be tested on 
3/13, at 6:38pm, for 0.31 m/sec.

(continued)

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