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3\07 ISS On-Orbit Status 07-03-2003
Part 2 of 3

CMG-2 experienced a transient communications loss last night. This has
happened before and is "not completely unusual". The CMG recovered 
correctly by the automatic program and has since been back in the 
steering law.

The second part of the SSRMS (space station remote manipulator system) 
ops yesterday was successful. [Its survey of the P1 truss showed both 
RBVM thermal booties to be properly in place. The previous survey of 
the S1 truss was inconclusive for two of the seven thermal covers 
inspected. A second SSRMS inspection is being planned.]

The minor troubleshooting performed by Sox and Don yesterday on the 
SSRMS Lab DCP (display and control panel) Pause/Proceed switch, showed 
that in order to work OK, the switch needs to be thrown a bit more 
forcefully, in order to establish firm contact. [The two crewmates 
received some quick pertinent Canadian switch training, and no further 
action is required.]

The SSRMS was left in a position designed to perform the 
Moscow-requested survey of the #2 solar array of the Service Module 
(SM) with the portside Kurs-P antenna and its high-frequency feeder 
cable, which is suspect of being damaged. This survey is scheduled for 
3/10.

Good news: TsUP reported that Moscow will probably be able to meet all 
NASA downmass manifest requests for 5S/Soyuz TMA-1 (see also 
yesterday's status report).

CO2 (carbon dioxide) level in the Lab this morning was at 4.2 mmHg. 
Vozdukh is running nominally, and CDRA is not required. ppCO2 variance 
between USOS and RS continues to be on the order of only 0.2 mmHg.

Yesterday's ISS attitude change from XPOP to LVLH was successfully 
executed, including the handovers between USOS and RS motion control 
systems. However, during the maneuver an RGA (rate gyro assembly) 
"Caution" message was annunciated. Since the U.S. RGAs were (and 
currently are) not tied into the controlling navigation/steering loop, 
the event is somewhat puzzling; it is presently being investigated to 
provide better understanding.

The crew reported a noisy IMV (intra-modular ventilation) fan, with 
the air duct configuration as probably cause. Ground is busy on an 
appropriate troubleshooting plan.

In the interest of conserving precious resources, POC payload 
specialists have agreed to add 20 of their valuable MSG MiniDV tapes 
to the crew's limited tape supply for general systems use, as long as 
the last (6th) reuse is saved for science. [An appropriate plan was 
developed and uplinked, and Sox sent down his appreciation of this 
gracious gesture first thing this morning.]

Also in the spirit of resource conservation, Sox offered to eat more 
Russian food. Since it turns out that the next Progress, 11P, will 
carry less American food than previously expected, the CDR's 
willingness to increase conservation by utilizing Russian cuisine more 
than to date is being highly appreciated. (Chefs, Gourmets and Russia 
Travellers, take note!)

Today's targets for the CEO (crew earth observations program) were
Hyderabad, India (ISS had a nadir pass today over this Indian mega 
city in the Deccan Plateau about 150 miles NW of the Godavari River 
delta), Tropical Cyclone Kalunde (DYNAMIC EVENT TARGET: This small 
tropical cyclone lied to the right of track at the time of this pass. 
It continued to become better organized and with 90-knot winds should 
have developed an eye. The crew was to document the eye and cloud 
banding features of this weather system), Barcelona, Spain (this major 
city on the coast of northeastern Spain lied just to the right of 
track this pass), Tunis, Tunisia (the Tunisian capital is located on 
the coast just to the right of track this pass), and Khartoum, Sudan 
(the Sudanese capital is located at the convergence of the White and 
the Blue Nile Rivers. ISS had a nadir view this pass).

CEO images can be viewed at the website http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov

(continued)

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