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4 Apr 2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 3 Apr 2003

Part 1 of 2

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

At 3:55am EST, still in general XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit
plane) orientation, the station maneuvered to a specific test
attitude, after which, at 4:15am, motion control was handed over to
the Russian segment (RS) for the subsequent efficiency test of the
Service Module (SM) and FGB solar arrays.  Control returned to the
U.S. CMGs (control moment gyroscopes) after 5hr 40 min, at 9:55am,
and ISS maneuvered back to XPOP TEA (torque equilibrium attitude).
[The periodic Russian efficiency testing keeps track of the
energy-output performance of the photovoltaics over time under the
degrading effects of the space environment (mostly from ultraviolet
radiation and atomic oxygen).] 

FE-2/Donald Pettit collected the static noise dosimeters after 8 hrs
of acoustic sleep measurements, recorded their accumulated data and
stowed the instruments

Later in the day, Pettit unstowed the joint US/Russian sound level
meter (SLM) hardware and took readings at 41 different locations in
the Lab, Node, Airlock, FGB, Service Module (SM) and Docking
Compartment (DC-1), following instructions uplinked recently for the
current Week 18.  The noise data were then transferred to the MEC
(medical equipment computer), and the SLM equipment was stowed.
[Last SLM survey taken: 2/14/03]

Before breakfast, FE-1 Nikolai Budarin concluded his current MBI-8
"Profilaktika" (countermeasures) fitness session, today conducting
the blood test part, measuring lactate and creatine kinase levels
with the AccuSport equipment, and the physical exercise on the TVIS
treadmill.  [The TVIS test is identical to the MO-3 test performed on
the treadmill in idling mode with free choice of speeds within a
certain specified range.  In addition to the nominal test procedure,
it calls for the use of the TEEM-100M gas analyzer during the test,
the blood measurements, and subjective evaluation of physical
exertion levels during the test.  Gas analyzer and ECG
(electrocardiograph) data were transferred to Laptop 3 and prepared
for later downlink via Regul-Packet comm.] 

Budarin performed another deployment check of the IP-1 airflow
sensors which are installed in the various RS hatchways.  [Last check
done: 3/28.] 

Nikolai also performed inspection and tightening of the QD (quick
disconnect) screw clamps of the SM's docking and internal transfer
mechanism (SSVP), where Progress M-247 is linked up.

CDR Ken Bowersox and the Russian flight engineer worked another
consumables and "pantry" audit, today inventorying on-board personal
hygiene items, using updated instructions uplinked earlier.  [In FGB
and SM, they collected sanitary-hygiene items (SLG, dry and moist
towels, napkins and wipes) to be used first, stowing them behind a
suitable panel, then those with an expired shelf life, which they
prepared for disposal in Progress.] 

Budarin completed his regular daily inspection of the BIO-5
Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 ("Plants-2") plant growth experiment.

Bowersox prepared the data from the seventh Foot (foot/ground
reaction forces during space flight) session yesterday (4/2) and
transferred the file for subsequent downlink to MCC-H.

The daily routine maintenance of the SM's SOZh life support system
(including ASU toilet facilities) was today assigned to Budarin,
while Pettit prepared the daily IMS inventory delta file.  Nikolai
also performed the periodic inspection of the BRPK air/condensate
separator of the SRVK water processing system.

In preparation for next week's (4/8) spacewalk and preceding
positioning of the SSRMS (space station remote manipulator system)
for situational-awareness viewing, the crew conducted a software
review of the DOUG (dynamic operational ubiquitous graphics)
application.  [DOUG is a sophisticated program on a standalone PC at
the robotics workstation which provides a birdseye-view graphical
image of the SSRMS, showing its real-time location and configuration
on the display during its operation.] 

MCC-H uplinked helpful instructions for the EVA tool retrieval
"get-ahead" task during next week's spacewalk, specifying bags and
stowage configurations for accommodating and transferring the
numerous tools. 

Sox and Don filled out their weekly FFQ (food frequency
questionnaire), a special software log on the MEC (medical equipment
computer) to track nutritional intake.

After the recurring transfer of accumulated data files from the HRM
(heart rate monitor) to the MEC (medical equipment computer), for
subsequent downlink to the ground, Sox deleted them on HRM.

MCC-M/TsUP conducted another 20-min. IMS (inventory management
system) tagup with the crew via S-band, to discuss disposition and
location of specific items for clarification of the updated IMS
database. 

The crew downlinked a message of greeting to the participants of the
Fifth International Science/Technical Conference in Russia.  ["We
hope that the findings shared at this conference will find
appropriate practical application in space flight preparation and
operation."] 

At 10:55am EST, the crew engaged in an interactive exchange
(S-band/audio only) with the National Public Radio (NPR) program "All
Things Considered". [The event on this third most listened-to radio
program in the U.S., carried by about 600 stations nationally with a
weekly audience of more than 10 million, lasted about 20 minutes.]

Coming up:  Tomorrow (4/4), at 7:59am EST, first of two "stand-alone"
reboosts by Progress M-247.  Est. delta-V: 1.8 m/s; altitude
increase: 3.1 km (1.9 miles).

Today's CEO (crew earth observations) targets, currently restricted
by flight rule constraints limiting the use of the science window in
the Lab, were Industrialized SE Africa (good pass parallel with SE
coast of South Africa.  This is the exit zone for polluted air masses
from the subcontinent.  Crew was to try to document any smog plumes
going out into the southern Indian Ocean.  Researchers are most
interested in actual visuals of this recently discovered phenomenon),
Patagonian Glaciers (weather remained clear: crew was to look
especially for glacier tongues on the W side of the Andean ice
fields), Mekong River delta (excellent sun glint detail for acquiring
delta coast detail), Delhi region, India (Dynamic event: Sun glint
opportunity left of track of the highly enigmatic stream patterns in
the Delhi region.  Sanskrit literature suggests that Delhi's river
[the Yamuna] flowed SW into the Arabian Sea 4000 years ago [instead
of SE into the Ganges].  Glint views are the most accurate and
detailed mapping method for remnant stream patterns), Angolan Biomass
Burning (looking left and right for early-season burning.  Crew was
also asked to try for sun glint views of the major wetlands along the
upper Zambezi River, left of track), Southeast Sudan wetlands
(Dynamic event. Extremely remote wetlands [in civil-war-torn southern
Sudan] on the lowlands at the foot of the Ethiopian mountains.
Looking left for sun glint opportunity), and Eastern Mediterranean
Dust (dust predicted again off north Africa [E coast of Libya/W coast
of Egypt] in advance of the big storm entering the western
Mediterranean). CEO images can be viewed at the websites
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

 - Continued -

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