NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 24 August 2016
Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams established a new record for most time spent in space by a NASA astronaut today, surpassing 520 days in space over his four missions.
Williams will have a total of 534 cumulative days by the time he lands Sept. 6 in Kazakhstan. Former astronaut Scott Kelly had set the record on his year-long mission, and still holds the record for longest single spaceflight by a NASA astronaut at 340 days.
The International Space Station raised its orbit today ahead of Williams’ departure Sept. 6 with cosmonauts Oleg Skripochka and Alexey Ovchinin. After the trio undocks in their Soyuz TMA-20M spacecraft, ending Expedition 48, they will parachute to a landing in Kazakhstan about 3-1/2 hours later.
SpaceX’s Dragon will depart the station first early Friday morning for a splashdown in Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California. Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins continue loading Dragon with gear and science samples for analysis on Earth. Rubins and Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi will be at the controls of the robotics workstation when they command the Canadarm2 to release Dragon at 6:10 a.m. EDT Friday.
In parallel with the upcoming spacecraft departure activities, the crew continues to dedicate time to research a multitude of space experiments taking place on the orbital laboratory. The crew conducted research looking at heart function, plant growth in microgravity and executed a variety of student designed experiments. Researchers use the data collected from the advanced space experiments to improve health treatments on Earth, benefit a wide variety of industry sectors and help NASA plan journeys farther into space.
On-Orbit Status Report
ISS Reboost: This morning, an ISS reboost was performed using 63P R&D thrusters. This reboost was to set up for 46S landing.
Biological Rhythms 48 Holter Start: The crew began the operations phase of the Biological Rhythms experiment by attaching the Digital Walk Holter Electrocardiogram (ECG) and electrodes and initiating the first of two 24-hour measurements. The objective of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Biological Rhythms 48 is to study the effects of long-term microgravity exposure on heart function by analyzing an astronaut’s electrocardiogram for 48 hours.
Mouse Epigenetics Transfer and Reconfiguration Operations: Crewmembers detached the Mouse Habitat Cage Unit from the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) Incubator Unit (IU) Micro-G and 1G and transferred mice from Mouse Habitat Cage Unit to Transportation Cage Unit. The crew also reconfigured the CBEF video cables for the Image Processing Unit (IPU) and the Video Compression and Recording Unit 2 (VRU2).
NanoRack Module 9: The crew completed the last of the 5 NanoRack Module 9 experiment sessions by activating, deactivating, and shaking the mixture tubes to facilitate the experiment. Module-9 is a collection of student research projects utilizing the NanoRacks Mixsticks. Student teams from across the United States design their own experiments using flight approved fluids and materials. The investigation consists of several science experiments flown in a NanoRacks Module on board the ISS.
Plant Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) Regulation Preparation: To prepare for the Plant RNA Regulation investigation run that begins next month, the experiment containers on the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) Rotors A and B were replaced with new experiment containers. Plant RNA Regulation studies the first steps of gene expression involved in development of roots and shoots. Scientists expect to find new molecules that play a role in how plants adapt and respond to the microgravity environment of space, providing new insight into growing plants for food and oxygen supplies on long-duration missions.
Microgravity Experiment Research Locker Incubator (MERLIN)1: Last week MERLIN 1 was automatically safed after a false Payload Potential Fire warning annunciated due to out of limit temperature sensors. Today MERLIN 1 was repowered for troubleshooting. The temperature sensors are now in the expected range and will be monitored for 24 hours. Assuming no anomalous signatures during the monitoring period, the unit will be configured to an operational state tomorrow.
Dragon Packing:
– Polars 2 & 4 ISS to Dragon Transfer: The crew uninstalled and transferred Polars 2 and 4 from the EXPRESS Rack and install into Dragon.
– Payload Card Multilab Card Cube Removal: The crew removed the Multilab card(s) from the Payload Card Multilab facility for return.
– Lithium HydrOxide (LiOH) R&R: The crew replaced LiOH bags on Dragon in preparation for life support operations after ISS departure.
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: In preparation for the Trailing Thermal Control Radiator (TTCR) EVA planned for September 1, the CDR and FE-6 completed a procedures review. Following the review, the crew participated in a conference with ground teams.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
MORZE. Evaluation Using SPRUT-2
MORZE. Logging Liquid and Food (Medicine) Intake / r/g 3186
ISS Crew/SSIPC (Space Station Integration And Promotion Center) Conference
EMCS Valve Open
NANO Mixture tubes activation and shaking
CBEF Cable Reconfiguration
??? Maintenance
MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Tsentrovka, SENSOR Tests
On MCC Go Collecting condensate water samples from ???-?2? before Gas-Liquid Mixture Filter (???) into Russian Samplers, start / r/g 3195
BLR48 Starting Measurement
MOUSE Equipment Transfer Review
KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL r/g 3181
Relocate Double Coldbags for access to Dragon Lithium Hydroxide (LiOH) Enclosure
Evaluation of Orthostatic Stability with LBNP (without display and control panel)
DRAGON. Transfers
Dragon Lithium Hydroxide Filter Bag Remove and Replace
KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Copy and Downlink Data / r/g 3181
Countermeasures System (CMS), Sprint Exercise, Optional
MOUSE Epigenetics Item Gathering for the upcoming mouse ops
KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Hardware Teardown / r/g 3181
Evaluation of Orthostatic Stability with LBNP (without display and control panel)
DRAGON. Transfers
WRS Water Sample Analysis
Soyuz 720 Samsung Tablet Recharge, initiate
VCA1 Camera Adjustment
Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) Tank Drain
Plant RNA Regulation (PRR) Replacement of Experiment Container (EC) European Modular Cultivation System Experiment Container (??CS)
DOSETRK Questionnaire Completion
ALGOMETRIA. Experiment Ops / r/g 3182
Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain Part 2
Dragon Cargo Operations Conference
Terminate BSA Battery Stowage Assembly Maintenance Cycle
EMU Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Removal
MORZE. Logging Liquid and Food (Medicine) Intake / r/g 3186
Installation of REBA batteries
PAO hardware setup in LAB
Diagnostics of FGB Power Supply System ??-2 Filter Unit and ???-2 Main Bus Assembly r/g 3168
REBA powered equipment test
MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Strelau Test
Crew Prep for PAO / r/g 3193
CBEF Cable Reconfig
TV Conference with Teatral Magazine Editor r/g 3193
EVA Procedure Review
CALCIUM. Experiment Session 11 / r/g 3183
Terminate EMU LIB Battery Charge Operations
MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Cattell’s Test
EMU Metal Oxide (METOX) Canister Installation
EVA Procedure Conference
Polar 2 Transfer to Dragon
MORZE. Closeout Ops
WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
Crew Departure Prep
Polar 4 Transfer to Dragon
SPLANH. Preparation for Experiment / r/g 3191
EMCS Valve Closure
TOCA Data Recording
OBT Dragon Departure Review
CONTENT. Experiment Ops / r/g 3184
WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
CMS ARED Quarterly Maintenance
MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: SUPOS Test
IMS Delta File Prep
OBT, ROBoT onboard simulator, Release
POLAR Transfer Review
Evening Work Prep
CONTENT. Experiment Ops / r/g 3189
WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
PAYLOAD CARD MULTILAB CARD (PCML) Card Removal
MORZE. Experiment setup / r/g 3172
Soyuz 720 Samsung tablet recharge, terminate
Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Fill Part 3
POLAR Transfer Review
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Profile of Mood States (POMS) Questionnaire
CUCU Check
WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
MORZE. Logging Liquid and Food (Medicine) Intake / r/g 3186
Completed Task List Items
None
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Dragon departure OBT
Nominal ground commanding
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 08/25: Biological Rhythms 48, Double Cold Bag packing, Mouse Habitat Unit transfer for return, Dragon egress
Friday, 08/26: Dragon unberth, Biomolecule Sequencer ops, Biological Rhythms 48, Fine Motor Skills, HMS Fundoscope exam, Crew departure prep
Saturday, 08/27: Crew off duty
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 – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up
