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18 Mar 2003

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

ISS On-Orbit Status 3/15/03

Part 2 of 2

Science Update (Expedition Six -- 15th):

Words of appreciation went up from Lead Increment Scientist Vic
Cooley to the crew for their continued support of payloads activities
for the extension of this increment. "The quality of your earth
observations imagery is spectacular. We are amazed at the different
shots that you have managed to capture, in particular, city lights at
night... Keep up the great work". 

Extra-Vehicular Activity Radiation Monitors (EVARM): The EVARM team
very much appreciates the weekly badge readings.

GASMAP/Pulmonary Function in Flight (PuFF): PuFF sessions have been
increased in frequency from monthly to every two weeks, as the
schedule allows, to improve investigators' statistics. Next PuFF will
be on 3/18 (Tuesday).

Renal (Kidney) Stone Experiment: Completed for Increment 6. Bowersox
and Pettit continue taking their stone-prevention (or placebo) pills.
Final session is planned for mid-April.

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

Foot/Ground Reaction Forces During Space Flight (FOOT): The Foot team
is looking forward to next week's data collection, which, it is
hoped, will be "as smooth and successful as the last. We love putting
one Foot in front of the other".

Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI): On hold until MSG
(Microgravity Science Glovebox) is operational. Remaining in MSG
until further notice.

Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS): SAMS is nominal. The
acceleration measurement team captured the reboost events on 3/12 and
3/13, and is preparing for the EVA in April, complete with possible
hammer application to the CETA light stanchion.

Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS): MAMS is nominal.
The acceleration measurement team captured the reboost events on 3/12
and 3/13, and is preparing for the EVA in April, complete with
possible hammer application to the CETA light stanchion.

Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System
(PCG-STES): Temperatures are nominal. Crystals are still growing.

Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal
Emulsions (InSPACE): On hold until MSG is operational.

Materials ISS Experiment (MISSE): In progress. Deployed outside.
Nominal and collecting data.

Zeolite Crystal Growth (ZCG): ZCG has finished science operations for
Inc 6. 

EarthKAM (EK): The students are looking forward to another cycle of
activities with this crew in early April.

Crew Earth Observations (CEO): Quick-look review of downlinked
imagery shows Don Pettit's spectacular aurora shots. The crew's
diligence in imaging the target sites uplinked is appreciated.

Today's targets for the CEO program (not using the Lab window due to
Flight Rule restriction of no exposure to direct sunlight) were
Chicago, Illinois (City at Night - Chicago was nearly nadir on this
night pass), and Khartoum, Sudan (City at Night - Khartoum should
have been an interesting target since the city is nested between the
Blue and White Nile). 

CEO images can be viewed at the websites
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:32am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude -- 391.3 km
Apogee -- 396.6 km
Perigee -- 385.9 km
Period -- 92.38 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.63 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0007946
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.59
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 125 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 24639

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times,
see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html

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