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21 Apr 2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 19 Apr 2003

Part 1 of 2

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted
previously or below.  Day 147 for Expedition 6 (since STS-113 launch,
11/23/02). 

On a nice, off-duty Easter Saturday, the crew did some "bunny hopping
in zero-G" going after mandatory maintenance and task-listed payload
activities.   Most of the crewmembers' morning was taken up with the
weekly 3-hr. house cleaning, working on all exposed interior surfaces
of the orbital home with vacuum cleaner, wet wipes and disinfectants,
including cleaning of fan screens (to avoid temperature rises).

FE-1 Nikolai Budarin worked on the Service Module's gas analyzer
(IK0501), setting up the IG-Z analyzer unit for an O2 (oxygen)
channel recalibration via line output voltage measurements, and to
bring gas analyzer readings out of the deadband (183 mmHg).  The work
was supported by MCC-M during a Russian comm pass.  IK0501 readings
have been inaccurate for some time. [IK0501 analyzes the air flow
pumped through it for humidity (H2O), oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide
(CO2) and hydrogen (H2), and converts its measurements into partial
pressure values going to a monitoring laptop and, if they exceed
limit values, to the caution and warning panel (PSS).] 

In continuing the last round of Expedition 6's renal (kidney) stone
prevention experiment activities, FE-2 Don Pettit today entered the
program by starting his dietary intake log, while CDR Ken Bowersox
and Budarin continued their parts by recording food intake and
collecting urine samples throughout the day for a 24-hour period,
then scanning each container label, recording their ID and stowing
each sample for return to Earth.  For Budarin, this finished his
current session.  [The NASA/JSC study investigates the effectiveness
of specific medication in reducing or eliminating the risk of kidney
stone formation in micro-G.  In the course of the long-range
experiment, the subjects take either potassium citrate or placebo
tablets.] 

Nikolai Mikhailovich conducted his daily checkup of the BIO-5
"Rasteniya-2/Lada-2" zero-G plant growth experiment.

New payload activities on the crew's "job jar" task list for the
weekend, at the crew's convenience, include an abbreviated final
session with the FOOT (Foot/Ground Reaction Forces During Space
Flight) experiment, and the repair activities for the ARCTIC-1
refrigerator/freezer, for which an updated 19-page list of procedures
was uplinked.  [For the ARCTIC troubleshooting, Pettit was asked to
notify MCC-H before tackling the task, so that ground support can be
readied.] 

Don Pettit performed the preparation of the IMS inventory system for
the daily automated export/import of updates.

All crewmembers completed their daily physical exercise program on
TVIS, RED, and CEVIS.

The crew held their weekly teleconference with the ISS Program
Office. 

Target areas for the Russian Uragan earth imaging program on
Budarin's task list for today, cloud cover permitting, were a
possible Volga River dam overflow, flooding in the Krasnodar region,
and shots of the Caucasuses, Carpathians and Eastern Russia.  [For
imaging the floodings of  Ukrainian and Russian rivers, Nikolai was
advised to use overlapping shots to gradually record hydrological
conditions from the nadir to the distance without focal length
change.] 

Flight Control was advised by the Flight Surgeon that accumulated MEC
(medical equipment computer) data files of HRM (heart rate monitor),
IFEP (in-flight examination program), RED (resistive exercise
device), WMK microbial analyses and FFQ (food frequency
questionnaire) are ready for OCA downlink.

A preliminary cargo list (manifest) for return payload on
5S/Soyuz-211 (TMA-1) was uplinked for next week's scheduled loading
activities.  The limited downmass includes a number of US payload
items, such as dosimeters, ZCG (Zeolite crystal growth) autoclaves,
film rolls, a 1-Gb PCMCIA microdisk, and sampling wipes.

In accordance with the standard Russian preventative measures plan
for return to gravity after long exposure to zero-G, Nikolai Budarin
is following, since 4/17, a protocol of taking certain food
supplements daily after breakfast and lunch, until landing day (5/4).

Science Update (Expedition Six -- 20th): Great appreciation was
expressed by Lead Increment Scientist Vic Cooley to the crew for
completing many activities this week.  Again, several InSPACE test
runs were completed.  The downlinked video data from those sessions
"are very exciting and the PI is looking forward to interpreting all
of the data".  Also, the crew was able to complete the GASMAP 90 Day
Health Check, as well as begin the final Renal Stone session for this
increment.  They started preparations for the ARCTIC repair next week
by participating in a conference with the PD (payload developer),
installing the MWA setup and removing ARCTIC from the EXPRESS Rack.
They capped off this week by completing the final PuFF session of the
increment.  "This crew has shown a tremendous dedication to
completing payloads activities and the Payloads community appreciates
your efforts". 

Extra-Vehicular Activity Radiation Monitors (EVARM):   EVARM badge
batteries have reached the end of their life, and no further data can
be collected. 

GASMAP/Pulmonary Function in Flight (PuFF):   The GASMAP 90 Day
Health Check this week was nominal and the error log data collected
is being evaluated on the ground.  There will be one final PuFF
(non-breathing) activity on 4/21 (Monday) to address the data archive
problem from March (much data, but not all, was copied to the Human
Research Facility [HRF] PC because the hard drive was full).

Renal (Kidney) Stone Experiment:  Completed for Increment 6.
Bowersox and Pettit continue taking their stone-prevention (or
placebo) pills.  Third and final session is underway.

Human Research Facility/Workstation (HRF WS):   Continuing.

Foot/Ground Reaction Forces During Space Flight (FOOT):  Nominal
operations are complete.

Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI):  Hardware is
stowed.  Activities for Increment 6 are complete.

Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS):  SAMS is nominal.
Currently analyzing data in support of InSPACE in addition to general
characterization efforts toward tracking down numerous unknown
disturbance sources. 

Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS):  MAMS is
nominal. Currently analyzing data in support of InSPACE in addition
to general characterization efforts toward tracking down numerous
unknown disturbance sources.

 - Continued -

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