This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

05 Apr 2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 4 Apr 2003

Part  1 of 2

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

The first reboost burn by Progress M-47/10P took place as scheduled,
with nominal performance (delta-V: 1.8 m/s, delta-altitude: 3.1 km).
The second reboost burn is planned for next Thursday, 4/10. [Est.
delta-V: 1.6 m/s; delta-altitude: 2.7 km].

After wakeup and breakfast, the crew started their fourth in-flight
session of the PuFF (pulmonary function in flight) experiment.
FE-2/SO Don Pettit set up and activated the hardware, followed by its
initial equipment calibration.  All three crewmembers then performed
the standard test.  At about 10:30am, Pettit powered it down (no
stowing).  [Today's activity served double-duty in meeting both
monthly and pre-EVA requirements of this test in the continuing
investigation of the effects of EVA and long-term micro-G exposure on
the pulmonary (lung) function.  It lays the groundwork for future
experiments which are key to understanding and maintaining crew
health.  Each PuFF session involves five lung function tests. It
utilizes the GASMAP (gas analyzer system for metabolic analysis
physiology) in the Human Research Facility (HRF), along with a
variety of other PuFF equipment such as a manual breathing valve,
flowmeter, pressure-flow module, pressure and volume calibration
syringes and disposable mouthpieces.] 

For next week's EVA video coverage (4/8), Pettit set up and checked
out the VTR (video tape recorder) bypass cable configuration on the
CVIU (common video interface unit) to provide additional camera views
on two separate Sony V10 monitors located at the Lab RWS (robotic
work station).  [Necessary VDS (video distribution system) routing to
two VTRs and VBSPs (video baseband signal processors) was performed
via S-band by the ground.] 

In other spacewalk preparations, Pettit installed batteries and
Metox (metal oxide) CO2 absorber canisters, as specified by the
ground, in his and the CDR's EMU (extravehicular mobility
unit)/spacesuits.  He and Bowersox also checked out the secondary
oxygen pack (SOP) of each EMU, then powered off the suit backpacks.
Preparations also included set-ups in the A/L (Airlock) equipment
lock.  A space-to-ground tag-up with specialists wound up today's
pre-EVA activities.

FE-1 Nikolai Budarin conducted the periodic inspection of porthole
windows in the Service Module (SM) and Docking Compartment (DC-1).
[Using measuring equipment, a digital camera and a voice recorder, he
assessed the condition of the exterior panes on windows 1, 3, 5, 12,
VL1 and VL2, to ascertain whether their appearance has changed (new
dents, scratches, spots or discolorations reducing transparency, or
whether old defects have grown larger.  The results were then
compiled in file tables and transferred to the central computer for
downlink.] 

Budarin also performed preventive maintenance in the Russian segment
(RS), cleaning the V3 fan mesh screen in the DC-1 and later changing
the filter cartridges in the PS1 and PS2 dust collectors of the FGB's
ventilation system (last time done: 3/3).

CDR Ken Bowersox conducted another inventory audit of on-board CWCs
(condensate water containers), recording changes in CWC status over
the last few days (last time done: 3/28). [The new two-man crew of
Expedition 7 will observe drinking water rationing (without detriment
to health maintenance, e.g., renal stone risk), but potable water
isn't the only concern here. Enough "technical" water needs to be
kept in reserve besides drinking water in case of unexpected recharge
requirements for the ITCS (internal thermal control system).  In
order to maintain good chemistry in the cooling loops, technical
water for ITCS does not contain the minerals that are added to
potable water for its safe use.]

Bowersox collected the FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) monitors
deployed two days ago in the Lab and stowed them.

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

Today's routine servicing of the SOZh life support system (including
ASU toilet facilities) in the SM fell to Sox.  He also did the
regular Lab payload status checkup as well as the preparation of the
daily IMS inventory delta file.

All crewmembers completed their daily physical exercise program on
TVIS (treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilization), CEVIS
(cycle ergometer with vibration isolation), RED (resistive exercise
device), and VELO ergometer cycle with load trainer.

After yesterday's deletion of the old HRM (heart rate monitor) data
files on the MEC (medical equipment computer), Bowersox today
transferred the accumulated TVIS and RED files to the computer for
subsequent downlink to the ground.

A software patch for the MEC has been delivered to Flight Control for
OCA uplink to the station.  [The software patch should fix  a problem
with the MEC, which has not been capable of supporting real-time data
downlink.]   At 1:30 pm EST, Bowersox set up and supported a ham
radio pass with students of Rushey Mead Secondary School (National
Space Center) at Leicester, England. [The school's amateur radio club
has been in the Science Department for 20 years and has previously
engaged in communications with the Shuttle and the UK astronaut Helen
Sharman when she was aboard the Mir station.  Ground station used
today is in the nearby National Space Center, frequented by thousands
of visitors.] 

At Johnson Space Center, the ISS Program Office today is holding the
formal 6 Soyuz Stage Operations Readiness Review (6S SORR).
[Objectives of the SORR include certification of the station's
readiness for 2-crew vs. 3-crew operations, of Expedition 7 for
launch on 6 Soyuz TMA-2 (ISS-6S) and on-orbit stage operations, and
of 6S cargo for launch.  Also covered are such topics as sufficiency
of the 6S manifest to meet minimum necessary cargo requirements,
consumables planning for the new increment, and the de-manning plan
if required.  Special topics include post-flight planning for the
returning Expedition 6 crew on 5 Soyuz TMA-1 (ISS-5S).] 

Launch of Soyuz 6S from Baikonur, Rep. of Kazakhstan (Central Asia),
continues to be set for 4/26 (Saturday).  Expedition 7 crew
assignments (announced 4/1) are Ed Lu (US) and Yuri Malenchenko
(Russia), with backups Michael Foale (US) and Alexander Kaleri
(Russia).  In addition to the crew, 6S will carry 155 kg logistics,
including food rations and high priority US cargo (such as crew
health support items, CDRA valves and filter, TVIS parts, and
computer disks).  Russian cargo will comprise 28 items, including 11
for science experiments.  [The Soyuz spacecraft is currently in final
operations before tanking.  Subsequent launch preparation steps are
crew fit checks (4/10), weighing/balancing (4/11-4/15), spacecraft
tanking (4/16), final ops and upper stage assembly (4/17-4/22),
mating with Soyuz launcher (4/23) and launch pad ops (4/24-4/26).]

If launched nominally, rendezvous and docking with ISS will be on
4/28 (Monday), at the FGB nadir port.  Undocking of 5 Soyuz TMA-1
with the current Expedition 6 crew will follow on 5/4, landing on the
same day in Kazakhstan (first landing of the new Soyuz TMA
version).  [Plans are being made for Russian and NASA personnel to be
in place at the landing site, staging out of Astana City via MI-8
helicopters.] 

 - Continued -

@Message posted automagically by IMTHINGS POST 1.30
---