NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 14 October 2016

The Orbital ATK Antares rocket rolled out to its launch pad in Virginia Thursday night carrying the American-made Cygnus cargo craft. Cygnus is scheduled to launch no earlier than Sunday at 8:03 p.m. EDT.
If Cygnus launches on time it will arrive at the station Wednesday morning and deliver about 2,400 kilograms of crew supplies and research. Cygnus will depart in late November and deploy a set of weather monitoring nanosatellites before conducting the Saffire-II internal combustion experiment.

Back in space, astronauts Kate Rubins and Takuya Onishi collected blood samples and spun them in a centrifuge before stowing them in a science freezer. Samples are collected before, during and after missions then analyzed by doctors to understand the effects of living in space on humans. Current human research experiments using the sample data include Biochem Profile, Cardio Ox and Repository.

Onishi also scanned his neck, thigh and heart with an ultrasound then checked his blood pressure. The biomedical study from Canada observes heart and blood vessel changes with results potentially improving health on Earth and in space.

Russia’s Progress 63 space freighter undocked from the International Space Station early Friday morning and burned up safely over the Pacific Ocean a few hours later. It will be replaced by a Progress 63 cargo craft in early December.

On-Orbit Status Report

63 Progress (63P) Undock: 63P undocked successfully from the Service Module (SM) aft port this morning at 4:37 AM CDT. Deorbit burn was completed at 7:50 AM CDT followed by atmospheric entry and destruction.

Vascular Echo Resting Ultrasound: FE-5 performed Vascular Echo resting ultrasound and blood pressure measurements this morning. With assistance from ground remote guidance teams, he was directed to scan the neck, thigh and heart. This Canadian Space Agency (CSA) investigation examines changes in blood vessels, and the heart, while the crew members are in space, and then follow their recovery on return to Earth. The results could provide insight into potential countermeasures to help maintain crew member health, and quality of life for everyone.

Blood Collections: FE-6, with assistance from FE-5, performed blood collections in support of several Human Research Experiments. Samples were collected, spun in the refrigerated centrifuge and placed in Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) for the Biochemical Profile, CardioOx, and Repository experiments. The Biochemical Profile experiment tests blood and urine samples obtained from astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. Specific proteins and chemicals in the samples are used as biomarkers, or indicators of health. Post-flight analysis yields a database of samples and test results, which scientists can use to study the effects of spaceflight on the body. The goal of Cardio Ox is to determine whether biological markers of oxidative and inflammatory stress are elevated during and after space flight and whether this results in an increased, long-term risk of atherosclerosis risk in astronauts. Twelve crewmembers provide blood and urine samples to assess biomarkers before launch, 15, and 60 after launch, 15 days before returning to Earth, and within days after landing. Ultrasound scans of the carotid and brachial arteries are obtained at the same time points, as well as through 5 years after landing, as an indicator of cardiovascular health. Repository is a storage bank that is used to maintain biological specimens over extended periods of time and under well-controlled conditions. This repository supports scientific discovery that contributes to our fundamental knowledge in the area of human physiological changes and adaptation to a microgravity environment and provides unique opportunities to study longitudinal changes in human physiology spanning many missions.

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

Marrow Breath And Ambient Air Sample Collection – Subject
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Double Spin Collection
HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Double Spin Configuration
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion
Personal CO2 Monitor Doff and Charge
Closing Shutters on windows 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14
HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Spin Conclude
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion
USOS Window Shutter Close
Soyuz 731 Samsung Tablet Recharge, Initiate
Microbe IV Sampling Sheet and White Tube Collection
Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Power On
Vascular Echo Resting Ultrasound Scan 135 Minutes – Subject
Preparation and Photography of Progress 432 Docking Assembly from SM Window No.26 during undocking from SM Aft
Switch ???-?? PEV to CLOSED position
24-hour ECG Recording (start)
Microbe IV Sample MELFI Insertion
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Conclude Stow
Vascular Echo CDL Holter Arterial BP Measurement – Subject
24-hour Blood Pressure Recording (start)
ISS HAM Radio Power Up
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) WSTA Fill
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain
XF305 Camcorder Setup
Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) Micro-G and 1G Wipe
Long Duration Sorbent Testbed Status Check.
Soyuz 731 Samsung tablet recharging, end
Strata Status Check
PK-4 data hard drives exchange
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Setup
Personal CO2 Monitor Donn
Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Downlink
Pre-pack PK-4 Hard Drives for return stowage on Soyuz
On-Orbit Hearing Assessment (O-OHA) with EarQ Software Setup and Test
Space Headaches – Weekly Questionnaire
PK-4 Video Monitor Deinstallation
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter gathering and measurements.
Meteor Shutter Open
Space Headaches – Weekly Questionnaire
Remote Workstation Monitor HD Video Downlink Deactivation RWS.
Personal CO2 Monitor Power Cycle

Completed Task List Items
Cup-PCS-Shell-Swap

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
63P Undock support
Vascular Echo support
SSRMS Configuration for Cygnus capture

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 10/15: Weekly Housekeeping, Crew Off Duty
Sunday, 10/16: HRF Body Measures, 47S Prepack, Crew Off Duty, OA-5 Launch
Monday, 10/17: SSK and MAS Sampling, Cygnus ROBOT training

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – Off
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 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Idle
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