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22 April 2003

ISS On-Orbit Status 21 Apr 2003

Part 1 of 3

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted
previously or below.  Week 21 begins, and this is Day 149 for
Expedition 6 (since STS-113 launch, 11/23/02).

The crew awoke to words of appreciation for the task list items
tackled over the Easter weekend and a reminder of the activities
ahead: a last big push until the handover to Expedition 7 next week,
today being the last Monday that they will have the station all to
themselves.  Arrival of 6S/Soyuz TMA-2 is expected next Monday
(1:56am EDT).

After station inspection and morning hygiene, before breakfast and
first exercise, all crewmembers underwent their last session of
regular periodic Russian biomedical assessments MO-8 (body mass
measurement, BMM) and MO-7 (calf volume measurement).  [FE-1 Nikolai
Budarin set up the BMM mass measuring device, which uses calibrated
springs to determine the subject's mass in weightless space, and
stowed it away after the tests, closing out the MO-7/MO-8 activities
for Increment 6.  Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with
the ISOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf,
using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference points, to provide a
rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of
countermeasures.]

Budarin performed the second experiment run of the Russian Plasma
Crystal-3 (PK-3, Plazmennyi Kristall 3) payload, setting up the
hardware and video recording.  The turbopump will be deactivated
again in the evening.  [During the day, Budarin monitored the
experiment, which today consisted of three parts: (1) study of
particle agglomeration without plasma (25 min.; (2) study of solitary
wave dispersion in structures at reduced pressure (20 min.); and (3)
study of residual charge of small particles after termination of
discharge (relaxation) at various pressures (40 min.).  Budarin also
had to update one experimental procedure per results of the first
experiment, using the time originally intended for coping the data to
PCMCIA (portable computer memory card international adapter) card.]

This was the last day for the final round of the renal stone
prevention experiment for Expedition 6, with FE-2/SO Don Pettit
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).]

As part of HRF (human research facility) historical documentation,
the crew took digital photography of renal stone logbook entries and
the outside/contents of pill packages used and unused (potassium
citrate and placebo tablets).

Budarin performed the periodic preventive maintenance of the Group A
ventilation fans in the Service Module (SM), which involves a
checkout of the ventilators and a thorough cleaning of fan screens
and flexible air ducts (last time done: 3/18/03).

Afterwards, he worked in the "Pirs" DC-1 docking module to change out
its two PF1 & PF2 dust filters and cleaning the mesh screens of the
V1 & V2 ventilator fans (last time done: 3/19/03).

CDR Ken Bowersox meanwhile busied himself in the SM, re-installing an
accelerometer of the U.S. IWIS (internal wireless instrumentation
system) behind one of the wall panels.  [After the Increment 5 crew
had installed the acceleration sensor in the SM in September '02, it
was discovered that its mounting plate had come loose from the hull,
floating behind the panel on its slack cable.  Sox reattached the
device and secured it with strips of gray tape, then took digital
photos for situational documentation.  IWIS uses radio-linked RSUs
(remote sensor units) in Node, Lab and SM to take structural
dynamics (vibratory) readings.  Ground engineers use these data of
the IWIS accelerometers and strain gauges in the ISS modules to
obtain acceleration (force) and strain (elongation) measurements
during many dynamic activities, such as vehicle dockings and thruster
firings.] 

Pettit spent 5.5 hours of his birthday yesterday to start the
troubleshooting on the ARCTIC-1 refrigerator/freezer.  [The failed
equipment is now disassembled, and more hours are scheduled this week
for Don to inspect the parts (which show considerable corrosion),
then clean and reassemble the ARCTIC to see whether its functionality
is restored, at least to some extent.]

Overnight, the ground commanded a VOA (volatile organics analyzer)
calibration run, which lasted about 3.5 hrs., then began another 3.5
hrs. of sample collection.  With the VOA still active, Bowersox,
after breakfast, collected air samples with the GSC (grab sample
container), required to be done simultaneously with VOA.  He also
deployed two passive FMK (formaldehyde monitoring kit) sampling
badges in the Lab, which collect atmospheric formaldehyde on a
sampling substrate for analysis in JSC laboratory facilities (last
time done: 4/2/03). 

The CGBA (commercial generic bioprocessing apparatus), running as a
functional test, was deactivated and closed down.  Its performance
since its activation on 4/7 has been nominal.

The EVARM (EVA radiation measurement) equipment was packed up and
stowed. 

Bowersox activated the HRF to download the latest PuFF data download
to its PC.  Later, HRF PC and Rack were powered off again  [While no
special breathing maneuvers were required any more, today's HRF PC
data downlink included one final PuFF activity, viz., archiving data
files from Sox's 3/20 PuFF session which had not been copied yet.
The ground now has a complete set of data files for this increment.]

With the planned InSPACE experiments done, the MSG (Microgravity
Science Glovebox) activities have come to an end.  [The glovebox has
worked nominally all this time.  The original overcurrent failure has
not recurred and remains unexplained.]

"Kolya" completed his regular daily 5-min. inspection of the BIO-5
Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 ("Plants-2") plant growth experiment.  Later, he
also performed the regular weekly inspection of the BRPK
air/condensate separator.

Don Pettit performed the daily routine maintenance of the SOZh life
support system (including the ASU toilet facility) and prepared the
daily IMS (inventory management system) "delta" file for updating the
IMS database, while Sox conducted the periodic Lab payload status
checkup. 

Bowersox and Pettit conducted another IMS (inventory management
system) audit, today focusing on so-called yellow-tagged items, for
which they had tagged up with MCC-H experts on 3/28 to discuss safety
and other inventory details.  [Yellow caution tags designate onboard
equipment for which the safety certification process for the U.S
and/or Russian segments has not been completed.]

The crew also continued their preparations for the upcoming handover
activities to the Expedition 7 crew on 4/28-5/3 and their own return
on Soyuz TMA-1 on 5/4.

All crewmembers performed their daily physical exercise program on
the RED resistive trainer, CEVIS cycle ergometer and TVIS
treadmill. 

 - Continued -

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