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1\28 ISS On-Orbit Status 28-01-2003
Part 1 of 2

ISS On-Orbit Status 1/28/03

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted 
previously or below. Today 17 years ago, we lost the Shuttle 
"Challenger" with its crew of seven: Dick Scobee, Michael Smith, 
Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnick, Greg Jarvis and 
Christa McAuliffe. Also sadly remembered: the loss of Roger Chaffee, 
Ed White and Gus Grissom in the Apollo 1 fire, yesterday 36 years ago.

Onboard the ISS, the crew began trash stowage on 9P/Progress M1-258,
accompanied by IMS (inventory management system) audit and video 
recording of the activities with the U.S. Sony PD 100 DVCAM. The video 
recording was downlinked at 12:20pm EST. Deorbit of the cargo ship is 
still set for next Saturday, 2/1 (separation 10:59am EST, entry 
interface 2:47pm).

The crew completed the scheduled fit check of the "Kazbeks", the three
contoured shock-absorbing seats in the Soyuz descent capsule (SA). 
This required them to don their Sokol pressure suits, take their seats 
and measure the gap between the top of the head and the top edge of 
the structure facing the head with a ruler. The results were reported 
to MCC-M.  [The Kazbek-Us are designed to withstand g-loads during 
launch and orbital insertion as well as during reentry and 
brake-rocket-assisted landing. Each seat has two positions: cocked 
(armed) and noncocked. In the cocked position, they are raised to 
allow the shock absorbers to function during touchdown. The fit check 
assures that the crew, whose bodies gain in length during longer-term 
stay in zero-G, would still be adequately protected by the seat liners 
in case of an emergency return.]

In the DC-1 "Pirs" docking module, FE-1 Nikolai Budarin performed the
regular (monthly) check-up on the circuit breakers (AZS) on the BVP 
amp switch panel -- they should all be On -- and the 14 LEDs of the 
fuses in fuse panels BPP-30 and BPP-36.

FE-2/SO Don Pettit worked on EXPRESS rack 3, preparing its ARIS 
(active rack isolation system) for testing with the new software load, 
adjusting the snubbers (pin/cup) to prevent hyperextension of the 
shock absorber pushrods, then calibrating the pushrods.

This was the last day for the current round of the Renal Stone 
experiment for Expedition 6, with Nikolai Budarin terminating his 
sample collections after breakfast and later stowing the equipment. 
[The Renal research, which investigates how to prevent kidney stone 
formation in zero-G, is a NASA/JSC program with Dr. Peggy Whitson as 
Principal Investigator (PI).]

Don Pettit reconfigured power and data cables for the EarthKAM 
payload, then unstowed, set up and activated the EarthKAM system. 
[EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students)) is 
using an ESC 460C electronic still camera mounted at the Lab's 
down-facing window, equipped with a 50mm lens (f1.4). Powered by 16Vdc 
from a 120 Vdc adapter, EarthKAM takes pictures by remote operation 
from the ground, without crew interaction. After its activation and 
checkout by the ground, it will be available for Middle School-ers, 
who will submit image requests and conduct geographic research. 
Currently, there are 27 middle schools slated to submit requests, 
including 10 schools new to the program. The requests will be uplinked 
in a camera control file to an SSC (station support computer) laptop 
which then activates the camera at specified times and receives the 
digital images from the camera's storage card on its hard drive, for 
subsequent downlink via OPS LAN. Images are then immediately posted on 
the Internet at 
http://datasystem.earthkam.ucsd.edu/cgi-bin/datasys/ek_images_station 
which already displays stunning imagery from previous EarthKAM flights 
on ISS. The current EarthKAM run is the last as a small pressurized 
payload; next time EarthKAM will operate from the WORF (window 
observational research facility). Principal investigator is Dr. Sally 
Ride, UCSD (University of California, San Diego).]

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

CDR Ken Bowersox performed the daily routine tasks of SOSh life 
support systems maintenance and IMS delta file preparation for 
downlink, while Pettit took the periodic CO2 (carbon dioxide) readings 
of the ACS (atmosphere control and supply) in SM and Lab with the 
portable CDM (CO2 monitor).

At 10:05am EST, MCC-M/TsUP began with the scheduled vacuum purge of 
the Progress 9P fuel (ZUG) and oxidizer (ZUO) lines, to vent prop 
residuals in the plumbing between Progress and SM into space. [Fuel 
purge (unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine, UDMH) began at 10:10am, 
oxidizer purge (nitrogen tetroxide, N2O4) at 11:40am, for about 13 
minutes. Planned video recording of the oxidizer line venting was 
cancelled.]

Later in the day, Nikolai Budarin set up the Russian MO-21 "Ecosphera" 
air sampler and incubation equipment, for atmospheric microbial air 
sampling scheduled for tomorrow, and started recharge of its power 
supply unit.  [MO-21 determines microbial contamination of the ISS 
atmosphere, specifically the total bacterial and fungal microflora 
counts and microflora composition according to morphologic criteria of 
microorganism colonies.]

All crewmembers performed their daily physical exercise, and Bowersox
completed the weekly checkup of the TVIS treadmill (a time and date 
check done just prior to powerdown or end-of-session).

MCC-M/TsUP was scheduled to conduct a data transmission test to the 
onboard central computer system via the FGB "Komparus" command and 
measuring system (KIS).

The crew was complimented on the Node starboard hatch window 
installation which they completed successfully over the weekend. [The 
leak rate was calculated to be less than six thousandth cubic 
centimeter per second, well within leak rate specifications. The 
go-ahead was given to tear down the VAJ (vacuum access jumper) leak 
check equipment and to close up the porthole frames with a blind 
gland.]

A 72-hour leak check on the high-pressure side of the newly (1/18) 
replaced O2 regulator in the Airlock to the PCA (pressure control 
assembly) was successfully concluded today. The regulator is sealing 
correctly.

The S1 radiator clearance check on 1/27, which included TRRJ (thermal
radiator rotary joint) rotation, observed with the SSRMS video camera, 
was completed, showing "great clearance": an ample distance of 14 
inches between the deployed S1 radiator panel and the P6 starboard 
radiator at closest approach.

Temperatures of the ETCS NTA (external thermal control system/nitrogen 
tank assembly) on the P1 truss have increased satisfactorily, leveling 
off at about 0 degC. [Checkout of the four NTA valves was successful; 
they all opened and are working correctly. Thus, the failure of the 
two Loop B heaters is a heater issue, not one of the entire assembly. 
Analysis continues on all expected flight attitudes between now and 
12A.1, to ensure safe hardware temperatures.]

An RPCM (remote power controller module) in the Lab, controlling 
Airlock equipment, has tripped. Preliminary data indicate no 
overcurrent event, which could have blown the fuse, but further 
analysis is needed to determine whether it is an RPC issue or a 
downstream-equipment issue. The RPCM is expected to be reset soon.

Avionics specialists have delivered all software products for the 
upcoming command and control software upgrade. The new software will 
be available on orbit in May.

(continued)

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