NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 13 October 2015
The six-member Expedition 45 crew focused on human research and physics Tuesday as NASA prepares for deep space missions and learns how to live in space for longer periods. Two astronauts are also getting ready for a pair of maintenance spacewalks beginning at the end of the month.
Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren teamed up in the morning for the Body Measures experiment, a study that explores how microgravity affects a crew member’s body measurements over time. Lindgren then moved on to researching smart materials under magnetic conditions, potentially improving the design and strength of buildings and bridges on Earth. Kelly also explored how a long-term spaceflight influences spacecraft piloting abilities.
Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui sampled the station’s water quality, worked on life support maintenance and replaced cable ropes on an exercise device. Yui also swapped out gear on a pair of U.S. spacesuits that Kelly and Lindgren will wear on two upcoming spacewalks, the first on Oct. 28 and the second on Nov. 6.
Veteran cosmonauts Sergey Volkov and Oleg Kononenko worked on two different crystal experiments, one of which studies liquid crystals and another that explores crystal magnetism. One-Year crew member Mikhail Kornienko worked on Russian maintenance tasks and monitored his blood pressure and heartbeat. He also took his turn, along with Kononenko, on the same Pilot experiment Kelly participated in Tuesday.
On-Orbit Status Report
Body Measures: Lindgren, with Kelly as the operator, completed his Flight Day 80 Body Measures data collection. Lindgren set up the cameras and video, donned the body marker instrumentation, and then collected the calibration and body pose photographs and physical body measurements. With Kelly’s assistance he collected the Neutral Body Posture video. NASA is collecting in-flight anthropometric data (body measurements) to assess the impact of physical body shape and size changes on suit sizing. Still and video imagery is captured and a tape measure is used to measure segmental length, height, depth, and circumference data for all body segments (chest, waist, hip, arms, legs, etc.) from astronauts before, during and after their flight missions.
Habitability: Today Kelly documented his recent observations related to human factors and habitability for the Habitability investigation. Habitability assesses the relationship between crew members and their environment in order to better prepare for future long-duration spaceflights to destinations, such as near earth asteroids and Mars. Observations recorded during 6 month and 1 year missions can help spacecraft designers determine how much habitable volume is required, and whether a mission’s duration impacts how much space crew members need.
Large Format Motion Picture Camera (IMAX): Yui connected the IMAX Codex to a Station Support Computer (SSC) for a downlink of recorded video files. IMAX filmmakers intend to produce a three dimensional movie called A Perfect Planet, using ISS-based video and images to show how natural and human forces shape planet Earth. The film will also showcase NASA’s exploration efforts and highlight the ISS as a platform for scientific research and a stepping stone to deep space exploration
Russian Pilot-T Experiment: Kelly performed a session for the Russian experiment Pilot-T. The goal of Pilot-T is to improve methods and develop equipment to assess and predict crewmember performance reliability during the execution of complex operator tasks (such as piloting a space vehicle or controlling transport and robotic equipment on the surface of a spacecraft) during various stages of long-term spaceflight.
Observation and Analysis of Smectic Islands in Space (OASIS) Glycerol/Water Fill: Kononenko filled the inkjet droplet device with glycerol and water in preparation for the experiment protocol on each sample container. OASIS studies the unique behavior of liquid crystals in microgravity, including their overall motion and the merging of crystal layers known as smectic islands. Liquid crystals are used for display screens in televisions and clocks, and they also occur in soaps and in cell membranes. The experiment allows detailed studies of the behavior of these structures, and how microgravity affects their unique ability to act like both a liquid and a solid crystal.
Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions-3 (InSPACE3): Lindgren inspected and documented the condition of the InSPACE vial assemblies. He also used the BCAT-3 Magnet to evenly distribute the particles in the vial assemblies to support further observations. InSPACE-3 studies magnetic colloidal mixtures under the influence of various magnetic fields. A magnetic colloidal fluid, a type of smart fluid, contains materials which solidify within the liquid when a magnetic field is applied to it, thus changing the physical properties of the liquid as a whole. Conducting these experiments on board the ISS allows scientists to examine in detail the network and arrangement of the ‘frozen’ solid structures unaffected by the force of gravity which can deform them on Earth.
Fine Motor Skills: On Monday, Kelly and Kornienko completed sessions of the Fine Motor Skills experiment. During the experiment they performed a series of interactive tasks on a touchscreen tablet. This investigation is the first fine motor skills study to measure long-term microgravity exposure, different phases of microgravity adaptation, and sensorimotor recovery after returning to Earth gravity. The goal of Fine Motor Skills investigation is to identify trends or variations in fine motor performance in microgravity over the duration of a year-long space mission; how fine motor performance on orbit compares with that of a closely matched participant on Earth; and how performance changes before and after gravitational transitions, such as during early flight adaptation and after return to Earth.
Journals: On Saturday and Monday Kelly performed Journals activities. The Journals investigation obtains information on behavioral and human issues that are relevant to the design of equipment and procedures used during astronauts during extended-duration missions. Study results provide information used in preparation for future missions to low-Earth orbit and beyond.
ISS Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Umbilical (IEU) Removal and Replacement (R&R): On September 23, the crew found a damaged seal on the coolant loop outlet port in the connector that connects the IEU to the EMU. Both IEUs were due to be changed out early next year due to life time expiration. The team elected to R&R both expiring IEUs to support upcoming EMU operations. Today, Yui completed the R&R and performed part 1 of the activation and checkout procedure. Part 2 of the activation and checkout procedure will be done tomorrow.
Water Sample and Analysis: Today, Yui collected two water samples from the Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) for inflight analysis. This was a regularly scheduled test to verify water quality. He then initiated a Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) sample analysis and stowed the other sample for incubation prior to microbial and coliform analysis on Thursday.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Checkout of antivirus scan results on SSC and report
BODYM – hardware setup
Tightening of QD screw clamps between DC1 and Progress #428
EDV (KOV) fill (separation) for Elektron or EDV-SV.
PILOT-T. Experiment Setup Tagup with specialists
HMS – Vision test
ISS Crew Conference with SSIPC Flight Director
WRS sampling
Search for insert-cables
Charging T? #718 Samsung tablet – start
PILOT-T. Experiment Run Tagup with specialists
WRS maintenance
Insert-cable S6 installation
HMS – vision questionnaire
BODYM – measurements for experiment
WRS maintenance
BODYM – measurements for experiment
PWD water sampling
MCD water composition analysis
PILOT-T. Experiment Run Tagup with specialists
?73 antenna HF link disconnection from ???-3
COULOMB CRYSTAL
????? ?????? ?? ??
Crewlock activation for SCU R&R
OASIS- Filling containers with water and Glycerol
EMU – long drying
Replacement of EXPRESS Rack 8 laptop hard drive
ER3 – upload of SW version 9.0 to laptop
COULOMB CRYSTAL. Data copying and downloading to hard drive for return r/g 0255
EMU – long drying
INSP3 – VIAL c/o
IMA? – connection to SSC
Flushing of Progress #428 Rodnik ??2 tank connectors with water
ARED – cable R&R
Acoustic dosimeters setup for installation on crew members
Charging ?? #718 Samsung tablet – end
WHC – Urine Receptacle and Insert R&R
ECG day-long monitoring (initiation)
KONTUR-2. Installation of master manipulator with adaptor on panel 418
Checkout of ??-1 sensors positioning
Day-long blood pressure monitoring (initiation)
Checkout of spare ??? EVV’s operation (004173R, ??1??_3_321_1, White bag II-1/256-1, ??? cover (yellow) (007223R)
Checkout of spare ??? EVV’s operation (004173R, ??1??_3_321_1, ????? ????? II-1/256-1, ??? cover (yellow) (007223R)
CMS – ARED quarterly maintenance
ER3 – laptop configuring for remote access
INSP3 – parts distribution in special assemblies
Video recording of greetings
PILOT-T. Experiment Run Tagup with specialists
ALGOMETRY. Experiment Run
Recovery of Soyuz #717 Samsung tablet
IMAX- Camcorder battery swap
IMS ops
Hardware prep for PAO
Hardware setup for ??-121/122? monoblock installation
Evening Work Prep
JRNL- journal entry
IMAX – HDD ?odex 512 GB Drive R&R
??1, ??2 dust filter R&R in FGB
KONTUR-2
TOCA – data recording
Evening Work Prep
IMAX – hardware powerdown
PILOT-T. Closeout ops
KONTUR-2. Removal of master manipulator with adaptor on panel 418
Preparation of reports for Roscosmos site
ECON-M. Observations and Photography
Completed Task List Items
Safety Video Followup [In Work]
61P USOS cargo unpack [In Work]
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Nominal System Commanding
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 10/14: Ocular Health, IEU Checkout, Node 1 Reconfig Cable Connector Re-clocking
Thursday, 10/15: Fundoscope, REBA H/W Checkout, OFV Measurements, Magvector
Friday, 10/16: Fundoscope, Ocular Health, X2R14, IMAX, CIR, EVA LLB Battery Charge
QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – On
Vozdukh – Manual
[???] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – On
[???] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) – Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Shutdown
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up
