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More Details for 1999-09-09

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The International Space Station's systems continued to function normally this week, with no major problems. Troubleshooting continued on one of the Space Station's six batteries (Battery No. 1), which is not being used to provide electrical power. This battery is to be replaced by the STS-101 crew and may be returned to Earth for examination.

Flight control teams in Houston and Moscow continue to analyze data related to electronics associated with the battery, Battery No. 1. It was reconnected to the electrical bus for three orbits, not quite five hours, last Friday, then disconnected again. Instruments indicated the battery was charging and discharging in an unpredicted manner. The battery will be connected again tonight for further testing.

A decision is pending on whether to replace one or both of the electronic devices associated with Battery No. 1. Five other batteries continue to provide adequate power for the Space Station.

A pump test scheduled next week will transfer nitrogen through portions of the Station's propellant system. The test is designed to monitor the electrical system as it supports the pump and to check the function of the pump itself.

In late October, the pump is to be used to transfer propellant among the tanks aboard the Space Station to prepare it for subsequent docking with the Russian-built Service Module. The Service Module will be the third element of the Space Station and is now scheduled for launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in November.

The Space Station is oriented with Unity pointed toward Earth and Zarya pointed toward space in a slow spin to conserve fuel and maintain an even temperature for both modules. The Space Station is in an orbit with a high point of 244 statute miles and a low point of 234 statute miles, circling the Earth every 92 minutes. The complex has completed more than 4,550 orbits since launch of Zarya last November.

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