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3\05 ISS On-Orbit Status 05-03-2003
Part 1 of 2

ISS On-Orbit Status 3/5/03

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted 
previously or below. Space Day 102 for Expedition 6 (from STS-113 
launch on 11/23/02).

After wake-up (1:00am EST), the crew received rave reviews of their 
Robotics operations yesterday. Not only did they accomplish all 
objectives with the SSRMS robotarm, but they also got ahead on 
tomorrow's objectives as well.

In the FGB module, FE-1 Nikolai Budarin deinstalled another
no-longer-required electronics box of the SUD motion control system, 
to make room for stowage, then took digital photographs of the exposed 
area for later downlink via OCA. [This time it was the UPLU-2 relay 
users input/output adapter of the program-logic control assembly, the 
former interface of the assembly to relay-controlled components.]

CDR Kenneth Bowersox conducted another session with the FOOT 
(foot/ground reaction forces during space flight) experiment, which he 
had prepared yesterday, starting with video setup for taping his 
subsequent standing EMG calibration (after TVIS harness donning, after 
running and harness removal, and at end of day), before completing the 
data collection session. [Wearing black Lycra biking tights with 20 
electrodes, and shoes fitted with insoles that measure impact forces 
on the bottom of the foot for the 12-hr session, Sox completed a 
typical on-orbit day while reaction forces against the ISS structure 
were recorded passively to determine how much stress his legs and feet 
endure. This provides better understanding of the bone loss and loss 
of muscle mass experienced by astronauts in zero-G (on Mir, for 
example, cosmonauts lost as much bone mass in a month as 
post-menopausal women do in a year). The experiment is led by the 
biomedical engineering department at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation 
in Cleveland, Ohio.]

FE-2/SO Don Pettit continued assisting the ground with MSG 
(Microgravity Science Glovebox) troubleshooting, today re-installing 
the P108 connector on the E-Box after rotating the rack. [This 
activity, one step further toward hopefully pinpointing the root cause 
soon, mirrored the P107 connector re-install he performed on Monday 
(3/3). The ground watched the Center Filter Tube Sensor, the Center 
Delta P Sensor Box and the MTL (moderate temperature loop) 
Out-Temperature Sensor Conditioner.]

Pettit also performed the daily routine inspection of the SOSh life 
support system, incl. ASU toilet system, while Bowersox conducted the 
regular routine checkup of the autonomous PCG-STES010 (protein crystal 
growth-single locker thermal enclosure system #10) payload in the Lab. 
Budarin worked on the IMS (inventory management system) delta file, 
tagging up with a ground specialist to straighten out IMS database 
incongruities which have cropped up.

In the interest of conserving videotape resources, Bowersox was 
provided, on his request, with a plan for reusing MiniDV videotapes 
(up to a total of 6 times). [The plan includes a process designed to 
help him stay organized on board and keep the ground in sync with the 
onboard resources status.]

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

Don Pettit conducted the periodic RED inspection, including 
retightening of its bolts (if required).

On the TVIS, Pettit performed IFM (in-flight maintenance) by replacing 
and properly torquing the treadmill's 16 clamp rope assembly screws. 
[These screws, which are coated with a sealant called Vibratite, are 
intended for one-time installation only. They were not replaced during 
a prior IFM -- which explains theproblem the crew encountered with a 
TVIS corner bracket.]

After yesterday morning's troubleshooting of the DOUG (dynamic 
operations ubiquitous graphics) failure to properly connect with the 
Lab RWS (robotics workstation) laptop, additional work on the ground 
has isolated the problem.  Its fix will not be available for 
tomorrow's SSRMS ops. [The problem was caused by a mismatch between 
the PCS laptop R3 load version, i.e., upgraded for 12A, and a 
not-yet-updated data file on the SSC (station support computer) 
system. Correction is in work.]

The crew downlinked a message of greeting to the 30th Anniversary
Public-Scientific Readings dedicated to the memory of Yuri Gagarin, a
traditional annual event.

(continued)

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