STS-107 Daily Science Report
January 24
The SOFBALL-2
test point 05A--—the first SF6 test point—was completed
successfully. The first burn produced one flame ball that lasted
1260 seconds, which is the longest test duration to date. The
first reburn attempt produced one flame ball that lasted 990 seconds.
A second reburn attempt produced one flame ball that lasted 530
seconds. The quality of the science data obtained from these three
burns was excellent. Pretest operations for test point 09A are
currently in progress.
SOFBALL-2 test point 09A was completed. This was a hydrogen/air
test point slightly richer than the leanest one we burned previously.
The first burn produced one flame ball that lasted for 450 seconds.
The reburn produced one flame ball that lasted for 210 seconds.
SOFBALL test point 12A was completed. This was the first methane/oxygen/sulfur
hexafluoride mixture burned in space. It produced one flame ball
that lasted for 300 seconds. The radiometer graph showed oscillations
at the start of the burn; we are awaiting video data to analyze
this phenomenon. The first reburn produced one flame ball that
lasted for 470 seconds. The second reburn produced one flame ball
that lasted for only 20 seconds.
Regarding CVX-2, we are currently
making the final temperature ramp of Pass 3, Tc + 0.003 K to Tc
– 0.001 K. We continue to take measurements at multiple frequencies
and amplitudes, and are still on schedule.
The CVX-2 instrument continues to perform well and on schedule.
The temperature soak at Tc + 0.05 K is completed and the temperature
is now ramping toward the critical temperature in preparation
for the third pass through Tc. Data is being collected at multiple
frequencies and amplitudes.
(CVX-2, later) We are currently slowly ramping the temperature
from Tc+0.05 K to Tc+0.003 K. The thermal status is normal, however
we have noticed that the gravity gradient attitudes have affected
our lid temperature. For this reason, we are requesting that the
shuttle orientation during the first two gravity gradient attitudes
of Critical Period #3 be rotated 180 degrees so the sun doesn’t
shine in the bay.
(CVX-2, later) We have completed ramping from Tc+0.05 K to Tc+0.003
K and we have started ramping from Tc+0.003 K to Tc-0.001 K. Data
is being collected at multiple frequencies and amplitudes. The
thermal status is normal, however the orientation of the Shuttle
toward the Sun is still causing the temperature of the lid to
change. Again, we have requested a modification to the Shuttle’s
attitude to address this issue. (see previous paragraph).
SAMS- FF and the Orbital
Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE)
continue to support ongoing SOFBALL test points on a 24-hour basis,
providing data to the SOFBALL team on each test point for science
correlation.
SAMS-FF is continuing to support ongoing SOFBALL-2 test points
on a 24-hour basis, and providing data to the SOFBALL-2 team on
each test point for their science correlation. There was a power
recycle of SAMS by Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla to reconnect
the SAMS Telemetry port to Experiment Data System Management Unit
(EDSMU). The ground system was back on line at 08/01:14 for the
SOFBALL 8a test point.
The OARE data downlink now appears to be
working; raw OARE data has been downlinked. Preliminary analysis
of these data (minus bias and location transformation corrections
that will be performed post-flight) suggests that high-quality
microgravity has been ensured by using free drift and various
inhibitors.
Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE) acceleration data
is being provided to SOFBALL after each data dump, which the science
team uses to correlate with their science data.
Mission Status Reports
January
31, 2003
January 30, 2003
January 29, 2003
January 28, 2003
January 27, 2003
January 26, 2003
January 25, 2003
January 24, 2003
January 23, 2003
January 22, 2003
January 21, 2003
January 20, 2003
