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Space Station Controllers Test Propellant, Electrical System
By Glen Golightly
Houston Bureau Chief
posted: 02:23 pm ET
16 September 1999
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0915isstestHOUSTON Controllers successfully concluded the first part of a test in preparation for docking the International Space Station with the Russian-built Zvezda service module. The stations electrical and propellant pump system was tested successfully early Wednesday morning, said ISS director Paul Hill. This weeks tests are a rehearsal for docking with the Russian module in November, when the station will use its attitude control jets for maneuvering. "We wanted to demonstrate to ourselves that we could transfer propellant and that we wouldnt have any electrical problems," he said. Controllers pumped nitrogen into the low and high-pressure fuel tanks for the stations attitude control jets. Late Thursday or early Friday, controllers will conduct the same test with the stations oxidizer tanks. The station has enough fuel for two attempts to dock with the Russian module. Hill said there was some concern about the electrical system since one of the stations six batteries was taken offline last month because of poor performance. The station can operate marginally on four batteries, but five are currently operating. He said controllers noticed nothing unusual about the electrical system during the test. Hill added controllers would probably make one more attempt to bring the battery online. "Its probably our last time to experiment with it," he said. "If its erratic or doesnt do anything, well just call it a day." Current plans call for the battery to be replaced in January on the next shuttle flight to the ISS.
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