NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 5 December 2016

The Expedition 50 crew is getting ready for next week’s arrival and capture of Japan’s sixth resupply ship, the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-6). The six station residents also worked on a pair of spacesuits and conducted a variety of human research experiments.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is set to launch its HTV-6 resupply ship Friday at 8:26 a.m. EST from the Tanegashima Space Center. Nicknamed “Kounotori,” the HTV-6 is delivering fresh fruit, experiment hardware, Cubesats, life support gear and new lithium-ion batteries. NASA Television will broadcast the HTV-6 launch live as well as its arrival next Tuesday at 6 a.m.

The new lithium-ion batteries will replace aging nickel-hydrogen batteries located on the S4 truss structure and upgrade the station’s power output. The replacement work will take place using a series of robotics maneuvers and spacewalks through mid-January.

Commander Shane Kimbrough and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet practiced next week’s HTV-6 robotic capture activities. The duo also reviewed the cargo craft’s rendezvous and approach maneuvers before its capture and installation to the Harmony module.

Kimbrough started his day with some plumbing work before scrubbing the cooling loops on two U.S. spacesuits. Pesquet assisted NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson in the morning with an ultrasound scan for the Cardio Ox study that explores the long-term risk of atherosclerosis in astronauts.

Whitson then moved on to collecting gear with cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov for upcoming work on the Fluid Shifts experiment. That experiment researches the pressure an astronaut experiences on the brain and eyes. Veteran cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko and Oleg Novitskiy worked on numerous Russian science experiments and life support systems.

On-Orbit Status Report

Human Research Program (HRP) collections and operations: Over the weekend, the crew continued sample collections for Biochem Profile, Repository, and Cardio Ox investigations. This morning the Cardio Ox subject donned an Electrocardiogram (ECG) and with operator assistance performed ultrasound scans of the Brachial and Carotid arteries.

The Biochem 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.
Repository is a storage bank that is used to maintain biological specimens over extended periods of time and under well-controlled conditions. This investigation archives biosamples for use as a resource for future space flight related research.
Cardio Ox determines 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 in astronauts.
At Home in Space: The crew answered the first of two At Home in Space questionnaires, the second to be scheduled at roughly Return-30 days (R-30). The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) experiment, At Home in Space assesses culture, values, and psychosocial adaptation of astronauts to a space environment shared by multinational crews on long-duration missions. It is hypothesized that astronauts develop a shared space culture that is an adaptive strategy for handling cultural differences and they deal with the isolated confined environment of the space craft by creating a home in space. At Home In Space uses a questionnaire battery to investigate individual and culturally related differences, family functioning, values, coping with stress, and post-experience growth.

Galley Rack Mod Kit Utility Outlet Panel (UOP) Power Cable Routing: The crew routed the UOP Power Cable for the Galley Rack from the Node 1 (N1) Port Hatch location to the Galley Rack Utility Interface Panel (UIP). This is one of several mod kit procedures to install power, data, cooling, and general outfitting of the Galley Rack prior to the activation of the N1 Galley rack and associated relocation of the Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) and Microgravity Experiment Research Locker Incubators (MERLINs) from the Lab to Node 1.

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance: The crew completed EMU 3003 and 3008 cooling loop maintenance. The maintenance included an ionic and particulate filtration (scrubbing) and biocidal maintenance (iodination) of both EMU suits and the Airlock cooling water loops.

On-Board Training (OBT) Robotics On-Board Trainer (ROBoT): The crew performed a training session during which they completed three HTV capture point hold runs. During this training session the crew practiced free drift timing, malfunction responses, and nominal rate approaches. This activity is in preparation for HII Transfer Vehicle 6 (HTV-6) capture currently planned on 13-December.

Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL) Operations: Over the weekend Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the Mobile Serving System (MSS) cameras and lights and maneuvered Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Arm1 as required to perform a second RELL survey of Radiator Beam Valve Module 1 (RBVM1) to gather more data as RELL spotted ammonia in this area on GMT 336-337. The SSRMS and SPDM were than maneuvered to install RELL on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock Slide Table. After the Japanese Experiment Module Orbital Replaceable Unit Transfer Interface (JOTI) was closed on RELL, SPDM Orbital Replaceable Unit (ORU) Tool Changeout Mechanism 1 (OTCM1) released RELL. MSS was maneuvered to park position, while JEM Slide table was retracted into the airlock with the RELL.

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

ARED Software Familiarization
Acoustic Dosimeter Setup Day 1
Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Setup Power On
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test
ARED Software Familiarization
Cardio Ox Ultrasound Preparation
EveryWear Biometric Patch charging
Cardio Ox Ultrasound Operations
Study Of Cardiac Bioelectric Activity At Rest
PILOT-T. Photography during Experiment Ops
??? maintenance
Cardio Ox CDL Holter Arterial BP Unit Battery Installation – Subject
Cardio Ox CDL Holter Arterial BP Measurement – Subject
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) WSTA Fill
Cardio Ox CDL Holter Arterial BP Hardware Doff – Subject
At Home In Space Questionnaire
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
DAN. Experiment Ops. Tagup with specialists
Galley Rack Mod Kit Utility Outlet Panel (UOP) Power Cable Routing
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) WSTA Fill
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Fill Part 3
BAR. Experiment Ops
Galley Utility Outlet Panel (UOP) Assist
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance
Exercise data D/L via OCA
??-2 Log file D/L
????-1? (pos. A301) Temperature Measurement.
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
SM Interior Panels Locks Audit
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance – Post Scrub Water Sample
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) WSTA Fill
MRM2 comm config to support the Experiment Ops
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance
KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Experiment Ops
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Setup
On-board Training (OBT) HTV Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) Session 1
MRM2 Comm Reconfig for Nominal Ops
????-1? (pos. A301) Temperature Measurement.
Packed Bed Reactor Experiment Lab Video Setup
Fluid Shifts Hardware USOS Gather
KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Data Copy and Downlink Data
MRM1 ????1, ????2 Cartridges Replacement (???1??_?_4 ????? 433-14 (00058352R). Update IMS)
FLUID SHIFTS. Connecting Ultrasound Equipment to Power Outlet
SM Interior Panels Locks Audit
EVA Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Scrub Deconfiguration
Fluid Shifts Hardware RSOS Transfer
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Setup
N2 Nadir Hatch to Unlatch Hardstop
Packed Bed Reactor Experiment Lab Video Return
Completed Task List Items

EVA Tool Gather for S4 Battery R&R [Completed Saturday]
Laptop Hardware Trash [Completed Saturday]
Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Frame Relabel [Completed Saturday]
Plug-in Plan (PiP) – Deploy Multi-Port USB Charger Station – NOD2 [Completed Saturday]
USB Jumpdrive return to MagVector front [Completed Saturday]
ER4 M1 Drawer Audit [Completed Sunday]
ESA PAO Recorded Message “France Info” [Completed Sunday]
ESA PAO Recorded Message “Space Food” [Completed Sunday]
ESA PAO Recorded Message “TF1 Video Postcard Crew Quarters” [Completed Sunday]
US Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Airlock Unstow [Completed Sunday]
EVA RET Inspection [Completed Sunday]
US Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tether Inspection [Completed Sunday]
Fluid System Servicer (FSS) Payload Water Reservoir (PWR) Gather [Completed Sunday]
SSC (Station Support Computer) 5 Battery Swap [Completed Sunday]
Stowage PMM Reconfiguration [Completed Sunday]
Crew Evaluation of New Food Items

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
MT Translation WS7 to WS5
SPDM RMCT Stow

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 12:06: JPM Cabin Smoke Detector Cleaning, HTV Offset Grapple OBT, Fine Motor Skills
Wednesday, 12:07: IMV Flow Measurements, JEMAL Slide Table Extend and RELL Removal, Fluid Shifts
Thursday, 12/08: FSS ITCS Coolant Loop Refill, Solar Array Mast Imagery

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 – 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) – Process
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up