The International Space Station (ISS) has been a cornerstone of human space exploration since its inception, serving as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory. On January 23, 2014, the ISS was in the midst of Expedition 38, a mission that focused on various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks. This article provides an overview of the ISS's status on that date, highlighting key activities and operational aspects.

Expedition 38 Overview

Expedition 38, which began in late 2013, was a collaborative mission involving astronauts from NASA, Roscosmos, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The crew members included:

  • Fyodor Yurchikhin (Roscosmos) – Commander
  • Oleg Kotov (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer
  • Sergey Ryazanskiy (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer
  • Mike Hopkins (NASA) – Flight Engineer
  • Koichi Wakata (JAXA) – Flight Engineer
  • Luca Parmitano (ESA) – Flight Engineer

During this expedition, the crew conducted a range of scientific experiments, maintenance tasks, and system checks to ensure the ISS's continued functionality and to advance our understanding of long-duration spaceflight effects on the human body.

Key Activities on January 23, 2014

On January 23, 2014, the ISS crew engaged in several significant activities:

  • Body Measures Investigation: Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata, with assistance from Flight Engineer Mike Hopkins, performed body marker instrumentation and collected calibration and body pose photos, along with circumference measurements. This session aimed to gather data on the magnitude and variability of changes in the human body during long-duration spaceflight. This was Wakata's flight day 80 session, marking the third of six planned measurements during the mission. ([nasa.gov](

Operational Status and Maintenance

During this period, the ISS faced several operational challenges:

  • Food Warmer Issue: The US Orbital Segment (USOS) Food Warmer experienced an overcurrent condition on January 16, 2014, leading to a trip of the associated Remote Power Controller (RPC). The crew was instructed not to use the food warmer until ground teams could troubleshoot the issue. ([nasa.gov](
  • Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Pump Status: On January 14, 2014, the Remote Power Controller associated with the JEM LTL Pump tripped open due to a spike in current from the pump. This caused a short-term loss of cooling for a subset of JEM systems. The Flight Control Team transitioned to single Low Temperature Loop mode and restored cooling for all JEM systems. JAXA specialists continued to investigate the cause and worked towards a forward plan. ([](

Scientific Experiments and Research

Throughout January 2014, the ISS crew conducted various scientific experiments and research activities:

  • ENERGY Experiment: Flight Engineer Mike Hopkins began a 10-day session of the European Space Agency's (ESA) ENERGY experiment, which involved collecting water samples from the Potable Water Dispenser in the US Laboratory module, collecting a urine sample, and logging all food and drink consumed. This experiment aimed to understand the energy requirements of astronauts during long-term spaceflight. ([nasa.gov](
  • Ocular Health (OH) Tonometry Examination: Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata, acting as Crew Medical Officer, measured Flight Engineer Mike Hopkins's blood pressure and vital signs, then conducted a vision and tonometry test. This was Hopkins's Flight Day 120 session, the final session he would conduct on-orbit for this test. The Ocular Health protocol aimed to monitor and assess the health of the crew's eyes during extended missions. ([nasa.gov](
  • Cosmo Shoot Operations: Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata set up the Cosmo Shoot laptop and 4K camera in the Cupola to capture images of the Earth's surface. He later removed the hardware and temporarily stowed it in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). This activity was part of the crew's ongoing efforts to document and study the Earth's environment from space. ([nasa.gov](

Cargo Operations and Resupply Missions

In January 2014, the ISS received resupply missions to ensure the station's operational capabilities and the crew's well-being:

  • Orbital 1 (Orb-1) Cygnus Mission: The Cygnus spacecraft launched successfully from Pad 0A at Wallops Flight Facility on January 9, 2014. This mission delivered 2,780 pounds of science experiments, hardware, and crew provisions to the ISS. The Cygnus spacecraft was berthed to the ISS on January 12, 2014, marking a significant milestone in commercial cargo operations. ([](
  • Progress 57P Launch: The Progress 57P spacecraft successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on October 29, 2014, delivering more than 2,987 pounds of cargo to the ISS. This mission was part of the ongoing efforts to maintain the ISS's supply chain and support the crew's needs. ([nasa.gov](

Conclusion

On January 23, 2014, the International Space Station was actively engaged in a range of scientific experiments, maintenance tasks, and operational activities. The crew's dedication to research and problem-solving ensured the continued success of Expedition 38, contributing valuable data to our understanding of human health in space and advancing the capabilities of long-duration spaceflight. The collaborative efforts of international space agencies and the ISS crew exemplify the spirit of exploration and scientific inquiry that drives human space exploration forward.

Sources

  • NASA — ISS Daily Summary Report – 01/23/14 —
  • NASA — ISS Daily Summary Report – 01/14/14 —