NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 29 March 2016
It will be rush hour at the International Space Station for the next two weeks as a pair of spaceships gets ready to launch new science, hardware and crew supplies to the Expedition 47 crew. As the crew prepares for the new shipments, they are already working on the latest research delivered Saturday on the newest Cygnus space freighter from Orbital ATK.
The Progress 61 resupply ship has been packed and is ready to undock from the Zvezda service module taking out the trash Wednesday morning. It will be replaced Saturday afternoon when the Progress 63 cargo craft arrives at the same Zvezda port. The 63P will launch Thursday at 12:23 p.m. EDT/4:23 p.m. UTC from Kazakhstan and will be covered live on NASA TV.
SpaceX is getting its Falcon 9 rocket ready in Florida for the April 8 launch of the Dragon cargo craft. Dragon will arrive at the station two days later. Once it is captured and installed to the Tranquility module, there will be six spacecraft attached to the space station for the first time.
The newest spacecraft at the station, Cygnus, arrived Saturday loaded with new science including the Gecko Gripper experiment. The crew began work on the advanced adhesive study today that could enable new touch-to-stick methods and catch and release technologies such as robotic crawlers that walk and work on the outside of spacecraft.
On-Orbit Status Report
Exposed Facility Unit (EFU) Adapter, Global Positioning System (GPS)/Wheel Demo Unit Installation: Peake opened the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Air Lock (AL) inner hatch and extended the Slide Table into the JEM Pressurized Module (JPM). Then, with assistance from Williams, he installed the EFU adapter to the Slide Table. The EFU adapter is a new type of facility platform that is used as an interface between JEM EFU and payloads. Up to 2 payloads can be attached to the EFU adapter by Inter-Vehicular Activity (IVA) in the JPM. Peake also installed the GPS/Wheel demo unit to the EFU adapter and retracted the Slide Table from the JPM back to the JEMAL.
Gecko Gripper Setup and Operations: Williams completed Gecko Gripper Force Gauge setup and data point collection. Live HD Camcorder video was used during the experiment to document crew operations. Williams completed the pull testing for all 5 grippers (2 small, 2 medium, and one large). Williams noted that the large gripper was very weak and sometimes pulled off the wall prior to any crew-induced force being applied to it. The payload developer is looking into possible causes for that behavior. The Gecko Gripper investigation tests a gecko-adhesive gripping device that can stick on command in the harsh environment of space. The technology promises to enable many new capabilities, including robotic crawlers that could walk along spacecraft exteriors; grippers that use a touch-to-stick method to catch and release objects; and sensor mounts that can work on any surface and be reused multiple times.
Thermolab Instrumentation for Circadian Rhythms: Peake began the first of a three day European Space Agency (ESA) Circadian Rhythms experiment by performing instrumentation with the Thermolab Double sensors, mounting the Thermolab Unit in the belt, connecting and powering on the Thermolab Unit, before beginning a 36 hour continuous measurement. When the measurement was complete, Peake transferred the data and stowed the hardware. The objective of the experiment is to get a better understanding of alterations in circadian rhythms in humans during long-term space flights. Such knowledge will not only provide important insights into the adaptations of the human autonomic nervous system in space over time, but also has significant practical implications by helping to improve physical exercise, rest- and work shifts as well as fostering adequate workplace illumination in the sense of occupational healthcare in future space missions.
Marrow: Williams took breath and ambient air samples after waking for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Marrow investigation. The experiment investigates the effect of microgravity on human 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.
Dragon On-Board Training (OBT): In preparation for SpX-8 arrival currently planned for April 10, the USOS crew practiced capturing the vehicle. During the session, the crew practiced a 30 meter (30M) approach, two Capture Point hold runs and 2m runs.
Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products (CPA-CP) Maintenance: Kopra completed this routine maintenance to replace the battery packs in all CSA-CPs and zero calibrate all units.
Sound Level Meter (SLM) Operations: Kopra measured the acoustic environment in the habitable areas of the ISS including the JPM, Node 2, US Lab, Service Module and Functional Cargo Block (FGB), by taking sound level readings. The data was downlinked to the ground for analysis.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
MARROW – Ambient Air Samples
Morning Inspection. SM ??? (Caution & Warning Panel) Test
Calf Volume Measurement / r/g 1787
HRF Urine Sample Collection [Aborted]
HRF – Sample Insertion into MELFI
HRF – Blood Sample Collection (subject)
HRF – Blood Sample Collection (operator)
HRF – Centrifuge 1 Configuration
Verification of anti-virus scan results on Auxiliary Computer System [???] laptops – Crew handover / r/g 8247
PFS – File transfer preparation
VIBROLAB. Monitoring hardware activation / r/g 1790
HRF – Centrifuge 2 Configuration
HRF – Sample Insertion into MELFI
Maintenance of SM ???-? Hatch Sealing Mechanism And Progress 429 (Aft) Hatch
EFU Adapter Item Xfer
OTKLIK. Hardware Monitoring / r/g 1588
XF305 Camcorder Setup
HRF – Blood Sample Collection Closeout Ops
TORU OBT. Tagup with Instructor r/g 1786
Cleaning FGB Gas-Liquid Heat Exchanger (???) Detachable Screens 1, 2, 3
HRF – Sample Insertion into MELFI
ESA Weekly Crew Conference
HRF Closeout Ops
On-orbit Hearing Assessment using EARQ
JEMAL – JEM Airlock Slide Table Extension to JPM Side
Bolt Hole Cleaning on JEM AL Slide Table
PFS – Conclude File Transfer
Attaching Passive Capture Mechanism to AirLock Slide Table
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
EFU – Adapter Installation
EFU Adapter Installation Closeout
GPS/Wheel Demo Unit Installation
??? Maintenance
Study of veins in lower extremities / r/g 1788
VIZIR. Running Experiment Ops aided with Photo Image Coordinate Reference System (????-?) r/g 1789
JEM A/L Slide Table Active Mechanism Tether Loop Installation
JEM Airlock Slide Table Retraction into JEM A/L from JPM
Initiation of Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operations
PAO Hardware Setup
HRF Urine Sample Collection
PAO Event
HRF – Sample Insertion into MELFI
Onboard Training (OBT) – Dragon Rendezvous and Docking Conference
Progress 429 (Aft) Activation, Air Duct Removal / Deactivation/Activation
Sony HVR-Z7ECamcorder Setup in SM (for video of SM Aft – Progress interface)
Onboard Training (OBT) – Dragon Rendezvous Procedures Review
Handover. clamp removal, hatch closure, leak check
Removal of Internal Transfer System (????) Quick-Release Screw Clamps and Video Recording of SM Aft -Progress 429 Interface / Deactivation/Activation
VIBROLAB. Copy and Downlink Data / r/g 1790
SLM data transfer
SM Aft – Progress Hatch Closure / Deactivation/Activation
Cleaning ventilation screens on FGB interior panels (panels 201, 301, 401) / FGB System Operations
On MCC Go ???-?? and Progress- ?? hatch leak check / Deactivation/Activation
OBT – Dragon Robotics Review
GECKO – Gripper Setup and Data Collection
IMS Delta File Prep
MPEG2 Video Downlink of Docking Assembly [???] I/F from SM via Ku-band
HRF – Equipment stowage after sample collection
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
ISS HAM – RADIO Deactivation
On-orbit Hearing Assessment using EARQ
SLM data transfer
Scheduled Maintenance of Compound Specific Analyzer- Combustion Products (CSA-CP)
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
Search for PFS Face Mask Kit
Thermolab – Instrumentation Ops for Circadian Rhythms
Completed Task List Items
None
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Elektron activation
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 03/30: 61P undock, ENERGY equipment gather, FINE Motor Skills, Cardio Ox, Safety Video
Thursday, 03/31: 63P launch, SPRINT VO2 ops, EMU swap, ENERGY Ops, Dragon OBT
Friday, 04/01: ENERGY ops, SPRINT VO2 ops, EVA loop scrub
QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – On
Vozdukh – Manual
[???] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – Off
[???] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) – On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Override
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) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up
