NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 18 December 2015

The International Space Station’s mission managers are preparing for a likely unplanned spacewalk by Astronauts Scott Kelly and Tim Kopra no earlier than Monday, Dec. 21.
Late Wednesday, the Mobile Transporter rail car on the station’s truss was being moved by robotic flight controllers at Mission Control, Houston, to a different worksite near the center of the truss for payload operations when it stopped moving. The cause of the stall is being evaluated, but experts believe it may be related to a stuck brake handle, said ISS Mission Integration and Operations Manager Kenny Todd. Flight controllers had planned to move the transporter away from the center of the truss to worksite 2. The cause of the stall that halted its movement just four inches (10 centimeters) away from where it began is still being evaluated. Progress 62 is scheduled to launch at 3:44 a.m. EST Monday, and dock on Wednesday to the Pirs docking compartment at 5:31 a.m. Wednesday.

The ISS Mission Management Team met Friday morning and is targeting Monday for the spacewalk, but will meet again in a readiness review Sunday morning. Managers could elect to press ahead for Monday, or take an extra day and conduct the spacewalk Tuesday.

ISS Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Tim Kopra of NASA will conduct the spacewalk. It will be the 191st spacewalk in support of space station assembly and maintenance, the third in Kelly’s career and the second for Kopra. Kelly will be designated Extravehicular Activity crew member 1 (EV1) wearing the suit bearing the red stripes, and Kopra will be Extravehicular Activity crew member 2 (EV2) wearing the suit with no stripes.

A start time for the spacewalk either Monday or Tuesday has not yet been set, but NASA TV coverage will begin 90 minutes prior to the start of the spacewalk.

On-Orbit Status Report

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Status: Overnight, Robotic Flight Controllers attempted different techniques to move the Mobile Transporter (MT) to Worksite 4, none of which accomplished the task. During these attempts, the team observed the Port Crew Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) Cart move slightly with the MT, while the Starboard CETA cart did not. Therefore, the team is focusing on the possibility of a brake engagement associated with the Starboard CETA cart. Disengaging the CETA cart brake will require an EVA. Team 4 has been activated in order to plan for an EVA early next week in order to accomplish the task prior to 62P Docking on Wednesday.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparation: Kelly and Kopra prepared for an EVA early next week by initiating charge cycles for the Rechargeable EVA Battery Assemblies (REBA), Helmet Lights, Pistol Grip Tools (PGT), and Long Life Batteries (LLB). Two D4 cameras were configured and Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFERs) were checked out. In addition, the crew worked to resize Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs). EMU 3010 was resized for Kelly and EMU 3003 was resized for Kopra.

NanoRacks Module Installations: Kelly installed NanoRacks modules that arrived on the Orbital ATK-4 (OA-4) in a NanoRacks Platform-2 locker in the JEM Pressurized Module (JPM). These five modules contain a wide range of experiments developed by high school students, including water purification, protein crystallation, plant inoculation for disease protection, metal corrosion, etc. NanoRacks Platforms provide power and data transfer capabilities for NanoRacks Modules.

Marrow: Kelly retrieved air sampling hardware from the OA-4 vehicle for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Marrow investigation. Peake prepared and then temporarily stowed the hardware, which will be used to take breath and ambient air samples immediately after waking tomorrow. The Marrow investigation looks at the effect of microgravity on the bone marrow. It is believed that microgravity, like long-duration bed rest on Earth, has a negative effect on the bone marrow and the blood cells that are produced in the marrow. The extent of this effect, and its recovery, are of interest to space research and healthcare providers on Earth.

Cognition: Kopra performed his Flight Day 6 session of the Cognition experiment. The Individualized Real-Time Neurocognitive Assessment Toolkit for Space Flight Fatigue (Cognition) investigation is a battery of tests that measure how spaceflight-related physical changes, such as microgravity and lack of sleep, can affect cognitive performance. Cognition includes ten brief computerized tests that cover a wide range of cognitive functions, and provides immediate feedback on current and past test results. The software used allows for real-time measurement of cognitive performance while in space.

Journals: Kelly completed a Journals entry. The Journals investigation obtains information on behavioral and human issues that are relevant to the design of equipment and procedures used by astronauts during extended-duration missions. Study results provide information used in preparations for future missions to low-Earth orbit and beyond.

Veg-01: Kelly refilled the Veg-01 plant pillows with water. The Veg-01 investigation is used to assess on-orbit function and performance of the Veggie facility, focusing on the growth and development of seedlings in the spaceflight environment and the composition of microbial flora on the plants and the facility. For this run, Zinnias will be grown for 60 days and are expected to produce flowers.

Space Headaches: Peake completed another Daily Space Headaches questionnaire as part of his week-long series. The daily questionnaires are only scheduled immediately after arrival of a new crewmember to the ISS. Weekly questionnaires will be completed in subsequent weeks. Headaches can be a common complaint during spaceflight. The Space Headaches experiment will provide information that may help in the development of methods to alleviate associated symptoms and improvement in the well-being and performance of crew members in space.

Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

BSA Maintenance Initiation
LLB battery Charging
NANORACK Platform Install:
Cognition
SAFER Checkout
EMU Resize
BIOSIGNAL. Temperature check in Cryogem-03
ISS crew and ???? (RSA Flight Control Management Team) weekly conference
ECLSS Recycle Tank Remove and Replace
COSMOCARD. Closeout Ops
Cygnus Cargo Operations
IMS Tagup
TORU OBT
??? 428 (DC1) Stowage and IMS Ops
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill
Preparation of Hardware for SSU Checkout
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill
??? 428 (DC1) Stowage Completion Report
VCA1 Camera Adjustment
VEG-01 – Refilling Root Mat with Water
Removal of ???305 Light in Progress 428 (DC1) Stow the unit removed from ??? 428 ???305 to bag 407-34 (00050114R) (???1_??_407_1) Report to MCC ???305 No.
KUB6-C – Hardware Setup
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill
Cygnus Cargo Operations Tagup
JRNL – Journal Entry
KUB6-T – Hardware Setup
EPO – Photo Documentation
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Intravehicular Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (IV-TEPC) Relocate
PPS – Hardware Setup
RGN REC-TNK – Remove depress hose for nominal operations
Deactivation of ?? 718 Gas Analyzer
??? 428 (DC1) Activation, Air Duct Removal
Gas Analyzer Deactivation in ?? 719
Removing two [CA] 1, 2 TV cameras and ??2-14? light units in Soyuz 719 (Stow TV cameras (2) in ?? 718 ?? for return, Light Units – in ?? 719 ?? for disposal)
T2 CMS Introduction
Setup and Activation of ???? Equipment in DC1 for TV coverage “Removal of Quick Release Screw Clamps (???)” in MPEG2 format via Ku-band
Countermeasures System (CMS) – T2 treadmill – Glenn Harness Configuration
MELFI – Familiarization
On MCC GO Removal of Internal Transfer System (????) Quick-Release Screw Clamps and Video Recording of DC1-??? 428 Interface
ESA Weekly Crew Conference
Deactivation of ???? equipment in DC1 after TV coverage “Removal of Quick Release Screw Clamps (???)”
DC1-??? 428 (DC1) Hatch Closure
On MCC GO DC1-?? and ??-Progress 428 (DC1) hatch leak check
PPS – Bench Setup
OTKLIK. Hardware Monitoring
Soyuz 719 Samsung tablet charge – initiate
CIR – Experiment Ops
Portable Power Supply (PPS) Settings
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
CIR – Experiment Ops
MARROW – Air Sampling
CSA – Preliminary steps before blood sample collection
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
??? Maintenance
CIR – Experiment Ops
CONTUR-2. Experiment Session
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
Vacuum Cleaning of ??1 and ??2 air ducts in DC1
CIR – Rack Doors Close
CONTUR-2. De-installation of master arm with adapter from panel 418
EVA – Short Extravehicular Mobility Unit (SEMU) Refresher and Delta Training
Vacuum cleaning of SM Dust Filter Cartridges 1-4
Inspection and Photography of lower dust collectors ??1, ??2 in SM
Portable Power Supply (PPS) Experiment
IMS and Stowage Conference
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill
Evening Work Prep
RGN – Initiate drain into EDV
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
CONTENT. Experiment Ops
EML – Experiment Ops
Charging Soyuz 719 Samsung tablet – termination
RGN – Terminate water drain into EDV
Daily Planning Conference (S-band)
USOS Window Shutter Close
SHD – Weekly Questionnaire
COGN-T – Hardware Activation
Closure of SM window shutters No.6,8,9,12,13,14
ODF Books Update on IPAD ECON-M. Observation and Photography
URAGAN Observations and Photography
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media
Installation of inserts to ease opening of SM interior panel locks (Unstow ???????? ??????????? (Structural Elements) kit (004890R), ???1???_4_427_1, ??? No.1112 (004106J)
IMS Delta File Prep

Completed Task List Items
WHC KTO Replace

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Nominal Commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 12/19: 60P Undocking, EVA Preparations
Sunday, 12/20: EVA Preparations
Monday, 12/21: 62P Launch, ISS Tasks TBD

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 – Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Norm
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full Up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off